US2927576A - Means for massaging, vibrating, exercising, relaxing and heat treating parts of the human body - Google Patents

Description

F. J. SIBERT March 8, 1960 2,92 7,576 G, RELAXING N BODY MEANS FOR MASSAGING, VIBRATING. EXERCISIN AND HEAT TREATING PARTS OF THE HUMA Filed DSG. 19, 1956 .......w Y ...w/t., ...Wvd

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Illia/Iliff United NIEANS FOR MASSAGING, VIBRATING, EXERCIS- ING, RELAXING AND I-EAT TREATING PARTS OF THE HUMAN BODY This invention relates to ways and means for massaging, vibrating, exercising, relaxing and heat-treating parts of the human body collectively or in predetermined sequences. The means and method of operation to be hereinafter described are especially adapted for use in hospitals, rehabilitation and oflice practice, rest rooms and beauty salons.

From the description which follows, it will be readily understood that the principal object of my invention is to substantially obviate all of the disadvantages of the present art and to allow massaging, vibrating exercising, relaxing and heat-treating parts of the human body to be done eiiiciently.

This device can be adapted to the individual requirements of the user instead of the user to the device.

It is also to be understood that although I may use, in my means, a special coin device of my own invention, it is not essential to the operation of the means.

In attaining the principal object, other ancillary objects will be observed from the following specification taken in connection with the annexed drawings wherein:

Figure 1 illustrates a semi-diagrammatical longitudinal section through the means employed yin my method;

Figure 2 is a View similar to Figure 1 but showing a modified form of the means shown in Figure l to create leg, thigh, and ankle massage;

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2 but of a still further modification showing the application of massaging, exercising and heat-treating to the buttocks, thighs, legs and ankles;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary sectional view through a modified form of body rest; and v Figure 5 is a fragmentary perspective section through one of the heat-treating massaging rollers.

In the drawings like numbers refer to corresponding parts.

A denotes the means as a whole which is composed of a supporting base structure B, a sliding body supporting unit B', a leg rest unit C, a fixed roller unit D, and a hinged roller unit E. The structure B is in the form of an elongated rectangular box having the side walls 1 and 2 and the ends 3 and 4. The top of the box is left open as indicated at 5. If desired, in order to strengthen the structure B, Wall 6 and 7 may be placed as indicated in the drawings between the walls 1 and 2. However, these are not required as the structure is sturdy enough if they are omitted. The structure B, however, may be provided with an internal box-like unit 8 intended to be used as a storage bin for -the units C, D and E when not in actual use. It is to be understood that the units C, D and E are required for various operations constituting functions and steps incorporated in my method and means. The units C, D and E are used singly or in co-acting relation, depending upon conditions and treatment from time to time. For instance, unit C may be used alone or combined with unit D or the unit E used alone. However, it will be noted from the drawings, that in all cases, the means always incortates l atent 2,927,576 Patented Mar. 8, 1960 to the details of the structure B, this structure B is provided with a hand grip stretch rod, or bar 9 rmly attached to the end wall 3 of thestructure B. The structure B may also be provided with a base or bottom 10. Attention is now directedto the construction of the body supporting unit B. This unit B is preferably of a flat, elongated, rectangular shape bed plate upon which infrared heating pads 13 may be placed over which is placed a suitable soft protective covering, and is attached as indicated at 11. Although 1 have shown several such pads in my drawing, it is to be understood that I may use only one or two such pads or dispense with them altogether, and use foam rubber padding as indicated at 12, or a combination of both. The bed plate of the unit B may be recessed as shown at 14, and have attached thereto, two or more vibratory units 15. These units 15 are placed relatively near the opposite ends of the unit B so that upon actuating these units, the position of the source of vibration imparted to the unit B will be, as they are used selectively, either near the upper portion of the body of the person reclining on the unit B, or near the buttocks area, or under both areas, and not directly beneath the central spine. Attached also to the bed plate of the unit B is a depending attaching piece 16, the purpose of which will be later described. Positioned in spaced relation longitudinally Within the structure B and firmly attached to the side walls 1 and 2 thereof, are pocket members 17 in and upon which roller bearings 16 are adapted to ride and upon which the unit B' is allowed to be supported and roll. It will be seen from the drawings, that these rollers are not attached to the members 17 or the unit B but are free to roll within the limits of the recesses in the members 17. In order to impart longitudinal movement to the unit B', I provide the motor 18, provided with suitable speed reduction which irai arts movement to the cam 20 and ring mounting 19 by means of the shaft 21. The cam ring 19 has an integral link 22 which is pivotally attached to the depending member 16 attached to the unit B. It will be understood from this description that by the action of cam member 20, the unit B will ride longitudinally forward and backwardly within the confines of the structure B, the amount of travel being determined by the throw of the cam 20 and the speed by the reduction means.

Referring now to unit C. This unit is constructed similar to that incorporated in unit B insofar that it may contain padding or heating pads and a vibrator 23, but it does not travel longitudinally, but, simply rests upon the side walls 1 and 2 and the end wall 4 of the structure B. The unit C is employed primarily in vibrating and hea-t-treating the legs while the body proper is being treated by stretching, vibrating, and massaging by the unit B. Referring again to the structure B. The structure B is further provided near its end wall 4 with a motor 24 having co-acting therewith a disc-like member 25 provided with a pivoted connecting rod 26 which, when the unit C is being used, is allowed to remain idle, the purpose of the motor 24, the member 25 and the rod 26 being explained later.

The unit D is of radically different construction to that of unit C. This unit D is of triangular shape inside elevation and consists of two side frame members 27 between which are rotatably mounted rollers 28, arranged in an ascending and a descending series, which may be just rollers, cushioned rollers, or infra-red heating roller 4urlfslherunitD maybe placed-diretbaunen the top of unit C, the bottom of the side pieces 27 resting firmly upon the An onfskid surfaceof unit C. Inusin'g lunit Dl ltlnebuttocl s are placed close. totheforward fend ,of the unit D and the upper leg over the first set of rollers 23, the calf and ankles Cont-acting-the second setof rollers 2 8. Thus, it will be seen that upon ,themovement of unit B forward and backward,the u nitD thru itsrollers, will massage the legs and ankles., while leaving the underknee free V'from any injury bycontacting unit D. f VIn-thisaring, reciprocating, vibrating body supporting area adapted or infra-red roller h eatingunits similartoZS in unit D, the

unit 31 b eing provided-with a hingingbase 33 so that the unitV E may be hingedlyattachedfto the structure B.

When the` unit E is attachedV to structure B.,the rod 26 is thenattached to the compound hinge 32and the section 3l) of the junit E allowed vto overhang ,the upper `end of end wall 4 of the structure B.

It will be understood from this description, Yas well vas b y the drawings, that upon activating the n-tor 24, Vthe u nt E will be given a knee action motionextending rearward from the hinge 33 attached to the structure B. Thus, when unit Eis employed, an exercising, and ilexins of thelimbs is achieved, as well as amas'sagejof the thighs, legs andankles, and to the buttocks, sincethe buttocks is placed directly in contact with the end of member 31 of vthe unit E. It will be also understood that before the unit E is mounted in thestructure B, the vmernbers or units C and D are not in place uponthe structure; the means also contemplatesthe use of asuitable timer, indicated at 34, a selective switch arrangement unit 35, and a coin unit 36. The, means above describedl makes it possible to actuate any motor units independently,in unison, or groups, 'to select any partof its entire function alone or in combination with any other; separate function and provides in one means the power to select any combinationof massagingvibrati ng, exercising, relaxing and heat-treating or `Stretching in ,any Sequencedesired, and forany Aduration without the n eed of a secondary means other thanthe use 0f Parisot which it itselfY is ,Composed- Y Although l haveshown only afew modications and views of my means', it is to be 1understood I may make various minor modicationsof my means without departing from the spirit of my invention, and all of the claims should be read in the light thereof.

I claim: v

1. Means for massaging, vibrating, exercising, relaxing and heat-treating parts 'of the human body comprising a stationary supporting structure, a longitudinal, oscillattionary structure, anti-friction rollers co-acting with 'the body supporting area, at least two vibratory units mounted upon the body supporting area, heating elements mounted within said body supporting area, a motor adapted xto impart back and forth motionto said body supporting area, a removable, cushioned massaging rollerfgridhinged at its forward end to the foot of the stationary supporting structure, a heating element for the roller-grid and means for imparting massaging action to said roller-grid.

2. Means for massaging, vibrating, exercising, relaxing and heat-treating parts of the human body comprising a stationary supporting structure, a longitudinal, oscillating, reciprocating, vibrating Ybody supporting area adapted to slide back and forth Within the upper area of the stationary structure, anti-friction rollers co-acting with the body supporting area, atleast two vibratory unitsrumgunted ironth bdycsupportiaearea, heating elements ,mounted within. said body'suppo'rtins atea, a .motor adapted. ferimpart back and forth motion to `saidbody supporting area, a removable, cushioned lmassaging and exing roller-grid, hinged at its forward end to the stationary supporting structure, and means contained withinthe stationary supporting structure for flexing said removable Avcixslliord massagingand ilexing roller-grid.

3. In a machine of the character described, a conv ponent functioning as a leg rest and comprising a series `of ascending, and aseries of descending, rollers, hingedly connected and over which a patients legs may be moved transversely for. massaging'action, the ascending series of rollers being pivotally mountedat one end, and directly hinged at its other end to one end of kthe descending series, a tirs-t stationary support on which lthe other end of the descending series is free to slide, a second stationary supportto which said ascending series is pivo-ted, said series being continuously movable to change the angle between them, motor-operated means for alternately increasing and diminishing the angle between the ascending and descending series of rollers by a raising and lowering action, whereby a knee action is produced for Vthe purpose of simultaneously massaging a patients legs while flexing and unexing them, said means restricted to raise and lower both said series of rollers between a horizontal andan above-horizontal position.

ReerencescCted'in the lle of'this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 941,673 Church Nov. '30,1909

2,666,429 vAlexander Ian 1,9, 1954 2,800,897 Ross July 30, 1957 2,819,713 Buck et al. lan.v 14, 1958 2,840,072 Stearns lune 24, 1958 FOREIGN PATENTS 524,416 Canada May l, 1956

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