US3313296A - Power driven reciprocating massaging device - Google Patents

Description

P. E. RUUSKA April 1 1,

POWER DRIVEN RECIPROCATING MASSAGING DEVICE Filed May 22, 1964 PAUL E. RUUSKA INVENTOR.

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ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,313,296 POWER DRIVEN RECIPROCATING MASSAGING DEVICE Paul E. Ruuska, Medical-Dental Bldg, 509 Olive Way, Seattle, Wash. 98101 Filed May 22, 1964, Ser. No. 369,556 4 Claims. (Cl. 128-51) This invention relates to massaging devices. More particularly, the invention relates to mechanically driven massaging devices designed for local massaging of the human body.

It is the principal object of this invention to provide a power operated device for causing reciprocal movement of a massaging element. The device is placed in supporting position on the patients body adjacent the area to be massaged and the massaging element of the device is engaged with the flesh of the area to be treated only when the massaging element is moving in the direction of flow of blood toward the heart.

It is also an object of this invention to provide the device of this invention with a frame structure reciprocally mounting a rack bar which is equipped with a massaging roller; said bar being reciprocally actuated by a geared driving connection with a reversible electric motor and automatically controlled by reversing switch means in the delivery of current to the motor.

Further objects and advantages of the invention reside in the details of construction and combination of parts of the device and in its mode of use and operation as will hereinafter be fully described.

In accomplishing the above mentioned and other objects of the invention, I have provided the improved details of construction, the preferred forms of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein- FIG. 1 is a side view of the present massaging device, with a portion of its housing or frame broken away for illustrative and explanatory purposes.

FIG. 2 is a forward end view of the device with parts broken away for better understanding and explanatory purposes.

FIG. 3 is a front elevation view of a different form of massaging roller designed for use with the device.

FIG. 4 is a front elevation view of still a different form of massaging roller and an alternative roller mounting means.

Referring more in detail to the drawings:

In FIG. 1, the present massaging device is designated in its entirety by reference numeral and it is therein illustrated in its application for treatment of the localized area on a portion of the arm 12 of a patient.

In its present form of construction, the device 10 comprises a housing 14 of rectangular, box-like form that is equipped on its top side with a handle 15 and on the bottom surface of its lower wall with a resilient pad 16 to prevent discomfort during use of the device.

Mounted horizontally in and extending longitudinally of the housing 14 is a rack bar 18 that is reciprocally contained in guideways 1919' formed through the front and rear end walls, respectively, of the housing so that the rack bar extends forwardly and rearwardly from the housing, as seen in FIG. 1. At its forward end, the bar 18 mounts a yoke or cross-arm 20 with downwardly and forwardly directed legs 2121. A resilient concave massaging roller 22 is rotatably mounted by' and between the legs for rolling contact with the area to be treated.

The rack bar 18 is formed with teeth 18a along its lower edge substantially to its full length and the bar is adapted to be reciprocally actuated by a driven gear 23 that is operatively meshed with the toothed rack. The gear 23 is fixedly mounted on a drive shaft 24 which ex- 3,313,296 Patented Apr. 11, 1967 tends from a gear reduction unit 25 mounted on and driven by an electric motor 26. The motor is partially contained in a mounting socket 27 formed in the housing 14 as illustrated in FIG. 2.

Automatic reversal of the motor is effected as the rack bar reaches to the end of its reciprocal movement in opposite directions. This change of direction of the motor and resulting movement of the rack bar is effected through engagement and actuation by the opposite ends of the bar with the circuit reversing switches 28 and 29 that are mounted, respectively, adjacent the guideways 19-19 on the front and rear walls of the housing. The switches are actuated by the contact therewith of shouldered opposite end portions 18b and 18c of the rack bar incident to the bar reaching the full distance of reciprocal travel in either direction.

Assuming the present device to be constructed as described, its use is as follows: Assuming, for example, that the top area of the patients arm above the elbow is to be treated. The padded base 16 of the housing 14 is rested against on the arm adjacent the area of treatment with the massaging roller 22 engaged against the arm for rolling travel across the area to be treated. The operator holds on the device by means of its handle 15 in proper position and with a desired degree of pressure on the roller. The starting of the motor effects the reciprocal actuation of the rack bar 18 through the reduction driving gearing and with the full travel of the bar 18 in either forward or reverse direction, the direction of movement of the rack bar is reversed as a shoulder 18b or engages the reversing switches 28 or 29.

For proper massaging, the massaging pressure or action is always in the direction of flow of blood through the veins toward the heart. Therefore, assuming the device is being used to massage the upper arm, the device is positioned with the pad on the upper arm adjacent the elbow. As the rack extends toward the patients shoulder, the roller is caused to engage the flesh of the patient and the device is tipped by the aperator toward the direction of movement of the roller so that a pressure is applied by the roller as it moves toward the patients shoulder. When the rack reaches the end-of its movement toward the patients shoulder, the shoulder 180 of the rack bar will engage the switch 29 and thereby cause the motor and rack bar to move in the opposite or retracting direction. During such movement in the retracting direction, the operator will tilt the unit rearwardly so that the roller is raised or moved upwardly out of engagement with the arm. When the shoulder 18b of the rack bar engages switch 28, the roller is again caused to engage the arm and the cycle is repeated for as many times as desired prior to moving to another location on the patients body.

Electrical current is supplied to the motor 26 by means of a conventional electric cord 26a.

The roller may be of any desired material but it is preferred to use a semi-resilient material with a non-abrasive surface coating, so as to eliminate skin irritation. The material from which the rollers are made may vary depending upon the extent of treatment or location on the body.

It is anticipated that the selection of a massaging roller of proper configuration may be made to best suit the area under treatment and I have illustrated two alternative designs or configurations in FIGS. 3 and 4, which are designated 22a and 22b-22b, respectively. In FIG. 4, I have illustrated an alternative form of roller mounting wherein the bar 18 terminates in two stub shafts 3tl30 which project at right angles from opposite sides of the bar. In this construction, a two piece roller 22b- 22b is employed. This construction and roller mounting has an advantage in that no metal is protruding to engage and irritate the users skin.

A massaging device of the character and mode of operation hereinbefore described will provide improved and desired massaging similar to that accomplished when using the hands but the use of the device makes the treatment relatively elfortless for the person administering the treatment. Also, it will give a more uniform treatment which will be beneficial to the patient.

I have illustrated and described a relatively simple and uncomplicated device to produce the desired results, however, it will be readily understood that changes in the details of construction of the device may be made without departing from the teaching of my invention. It is also possible that the device could embody vibrating means if such is deemed desirable. Also, other mechanical constructions may be employed for reciprocating the bar and roller.

What I claim as new is:

1. A portable device for massaging the human body comprising a housing, a reversible motor in said housing, a movable bar mounted in and extendable from opposite ends of said housing, means interconnecting said motor and bar for longitudinal reciprocal movement of said bar, a massaging roller mounted at one end of the bar for rolling contact upon the area to be massaged, said housing being relatively small and portable and adapted to be positioned and firmly held on the body adjacent the area to be massaged.

2. A massaging device as in claim 1 including two switches, one of said switches being mounted on each of the opposite end walls of said housing and interconnected with said motor, said switches being so positioned to be engaged by means on said bar incident to the travel of the bar to its extreme movement in one direction whereby the direction of rotation of the motor is reversed when a given switch is engaged.

3. A massaging device according to claim 11 wherein said housing is provided on its bottom surface with a resilient pad for resting upon a part of the patients body during use of the device and is equipped with on the top thereof with a handle for placement of the device in position of use.

4. A massaging device according to claim 1 wherein the bar is formed at one end with a yoke with spaced downwardly extending arms and said massaging roller is rotatably mounted by and between said arms.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,128,790 8/1938 Barbour 128-52 2,320,261 5/1943 Bulfalow 128-57 2,441,686 5/1948 Cohen 12841 ROBERT E. MORGAN, Acting Primary Examiner.

RICHARD A. GAUDET, Examiner.

L. W. TRAPP, Assistant Examiner.

Claims (1)

1. A PORTABLE DEVICE FOR MASSAGING THE HUMAN BODY COMPRISING A HOUSING, A REVERSIBLE MOTOR IN SAID HOUSING, A MOVABLE BAR MOUNTED IN AND EXTENDABLE FROM OPPOSITE ENDS OF SAID HOUSING, MEANS INTERCONNECTING SAID MOTOR AND BAR FOR LONGITUDINAL RECIPROCAL MOVEMENT OF SAID BAR, A MASSAGING ROLLER MOUNTED AT ONE END OF THE BAR FOR ROLLING CONTACT UPON THE AREA TO BE MASSAGED, SAID HOUSING BEING RELATIVELY SMALL AND PORTABLE AND ADAPTED TO BE POSITIONED AND FIRMLY HELD ON THE BODY ADJACENT THE AREA TO BE MASSAGED.

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