US3322117A - Orbit circulation activator and mount therefor - Google Patents

Description

May 30, 1967 E. M CAW ORBIT CIRCULATION ACTIVATOR AND MOUNT THEREFOR Fil ed Oct. 18,

5 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

E. M CAW 3,322,117

ORBIT CIRCULATION ACTIVATOR AND MOUNT THEREFOR May 30, 1967 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 18, 1965 m L N\ \mm N INIMN R m A TTOl-PNEY May 30, .1967 E. M CAW ORBIT CIRCULATION ACTIVATOR AND MOUNT THEREFOR 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 7 Filed Oct. 18, 1963 INVENTOR EARL Mc 04W ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,322,117 ORBIT CIRCULATION ACTIVATOR AND MOUNT THEREFOR Earl McCaw, 525 Stockton St., San Francisco, Calif. 94108 Filed Oct. 18, 1963, Ser. No. 317,381 9 Claims. (Cl. 128-33) The invention, in general, relates to devices for applying a massaging or toning action to the muscles and fatty tissue of the body. More particularly, the invention relates to the combination of a portable circulation activator which may be removably supported on a pedestal, ottoman or like body serving as a mount therefor; which can be effectively used when placed against any support; and which can be connected into any source of electrical energy whether installed on automotive vehicles, marine craft or aircraft.

It is perhaps well known that there have been developed heretofore and available to the public many different types of hand manipulated devices for application to the body in an attempt to tone body muscles and to relieve pain. Most of these hand-manipulated devices have varying degrees of effectiveness but all have the limitation or incapacity for self-application to many portions of the body; it being necessary to utilize the services of an attendant to reach and effect action in certain areas of the body. Other types of these units on the market are the so-called stationary or pedestal type which permits the toning of muscles and body tissue, such as the calf of the leg or the bottom of a foot while seated or in an inclined position; such pedestal type of vibrator usually being quite expensive to manufacture and hence economically prohibitive to the average person of low income. The present invention is directed to obviating inherent disadvantages of prior devices for the treatment of the human body and also is directed to a dual-purpose massaging unit which not only can be self-manipulated and handled by a single person to tone muscles and tissue in all areas of the body but which also combines the manually operable and pedestal type massaging device in a single unit.

A primary object of the present invention is to provide an orbit circulation activator which is self-contained, except for the prime mover, and which affords placement thereof in any desired position for imparting massaging action to any and all parts of the body at will and without the help of an attendant.

Another important object of the invention is to provide an orbit circulation activator of the indicated nature which is additionally characterized by the inclusion of components enabling a user to maintain complete control of the massaging action thereof.

A still further object of my invention is to provide a combined circulation activator and mount therefor of the aforementioned character which is relatively inexpensive to manufacture and to maintain.

Another important object of the present invention is to provide an orbit circulation activator of the aforementioned nature which is additionally characterized by its ready installation and connection to electrical outlets wherever installed, so that the unit can be employed in automotive vehicles, marine craft, aircraft and the like.

Other objects of the invention, together with some of the advantageous features thereof, will appear from the following description of a preferred embodiment and certain modified embodiments of the invention which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. It is to be understood, however, that I am not to be limited to the precise embodiments shown, nor to the precise arrangement of the 3,322,117 Patented May 30, 1967 components thereof, as my invention, as defined in the appended claims, can be embodied in a plurality and variety of forms:

Referring to the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a sectional elevational view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention as exemplified. in a pedestal or ottoman functioning unit and as packaged for shipping or transportation.

FIG. 2 is a view of the embodiment of FIG. 1 and taken on the line 22 thereof.

FIG. 3 is a front elevational view of another embodiment of the invention both in a portable container and separate therefrom, portions of the container being broken away to illustrate the disposition of a power unit and leads therefrom.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged vertical sectional view of certain driving components and connections of the embodiment of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 4 but taken from another direction to illustrate the cable for connecting to a source of power.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a modified embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a view taken on the line 77 of FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the invention as a self-contained orbit circulation activator applied to the upper region of a persons back, this view showing electrical leads for connecting the unit to a source of electrical energy.

FIG. 9 is a side elevational view of a preferred embodiment of the invention, as exemplified in a self-contained orbit circulation activator, illustrating the self-application thereof to the center of the back of a user in a sitting position.

FIG. 10 is a partial perspective view showing the selfapplication of the activator to the back of the neck of a user.

FIG. 11 is a view similar to the view of FIG. 9 but with the user in an inclined position.

FIG. 12' is a view of the circulation activator selfapplied to the region of a users body just above the knees with the user in a sitting position.

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the invention with the self-contained circulation activator removed from its transporting container or mount and a user standing on the activator to massage the bottom of the feet of the user.

FIG. 14 illustrates the circulation activator in position on the top of an ottoman, pedestal or mount with the user lying prone and a leg raised to vibrate the calf thereof.

FIG. 15 is a perspective view of the self-contained circulation activator held by a hand of the user against a region of the left hip while in a reclining position.

FIG. 16 is an elevational view of the self-contained circulation activator resting on the floor, this view having a fragmentary showing of a user lying on the activator to massage the back muscles.

In its preferred form, the orbit circulation activator and mount therefor of my present invention preferably comprises a yieldable pad of generally cylindrical form, a base on said pad; said base having an opening the-rein, a bearing mounted in said base and spanning said opening; said bearing having a passage therethrough eccentrically disposed in relation to the center of said opening, a prime mover, a driven shaft projecting from said prime mover and fitted in said passage of said bearing, together with means for actuating said prime mover to effect orbiting movement of said yieldable pad, and a mount for removably retaining said yieldable pad whereby said pad may be driven to afford a massaging action while the pad is seated on said mount as well as when removed therefrom.

As exemplified in a modified embodiment of the present invention, the same preferably comprises a self-contained circulation activator consisting of a base, a drive mounted in said base, a yielda-bfe elongated pad having a concave outer surface secured to said base, together with a bearing mounted in said base adjacent to said drive; said bearing having an opening therethrough eccentrically disposed in relation to the center of the bearing, a driven shaft connected to said drive and fitted into the opening in said bearing, and means for actuating said shaft to effect orbiting movement of said yieldable pad whereby when applied to portions of the body circulation is promoted by the massaging action of the pad.

As particularly illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 2 inclusive of the annexed drawings, the preferred embodiment of my present improvements includes as principal components a yieldable pad, a mount for removably retaining said pad, and means for effecting orbital movement to said pad whether retained on said mount or off the same; said pad, said mount and said means being generally designated herein and in the annexed drawings by the refence numerals 11, 12 and 13, respectively.

While the pad 11 may take any desired configuration, I preferably form such cushion in a generally cylindrical shape, see the right side of FIG. 3 and preferably construct the same of the circular base 14, which preferably is formed of relatively hard, solid rubber so that when the pad is seated on a wood surface, such as a hardwood floor, or on a tile surface such as the title surface of a bathroom floor, all not shown, a sufiicient coefficient of friction is set up between the bottom of the base 14 and such floor, thus reducing the likelihood of movement of the pad relative to a floor to a minimum. The pad 11 also includes a relatively thin sheet 16, preferably fabricated of Masonite or of relatively hard wood or of a light-weight metal, such as aluminum, to which the rubber base 14 is cemented, as well as includes a top consisting of a yieldable cylindrical section 17, fabricated of sponge rubber, which is cemented or otherwise fixedly secured to a circular board or metal sheet 18, see FIG. 1; the section 17 and sheet 18 being retained as a unit in spaced relation to the base 14 as more particularly hereinafter described.

. In accordance with my present invention in an orbit circulation activator with self-contained pro ulsion means,

I preferably mount a suitable motor, not shown, in a casing 19 which is secured by means of small screw-bolts 21 to the sheet 16 at approximately the central area of the sheet; the motor being electrically connected to a source of electrical energy, not shown, by means of a suitable electrical cord 22 carrying a conventional pronged connector 23 for fitting into a standard electrical outlet box, not shown. The shaft of the motor extends through the top of motor casing 19 and carries a small gear 24 which is arranged for meshing engagement with a companion gear 26, .the latter being carried on a stub shaft 27 which is keyed in a bearing 28 by a key 25. Bearing 28 is secured by means of opposed brackets 29 and 31 and bolts 32 to the sheet 18 of the top of the cushion 11; such bearing 28 having an eccentrically arranged passage 33 for the passage of the stub shaft 27 thus affording an eccentric connection between the driving motor and the cushion top. Thus, with the electrical connector 23 of cord 22 plugged into an electrical outlet to start the motor housing in casing 19 and with the top of the section 17 yieldably connected to the base 14, as hereinafter described, a constrained orbital action is imparted to the yieldable pad 11.

In order to connect the top and bottom of the cushion 11 together for permitting orbital action of the top 4. of the cushion, I preferably fashionthe sheets 16 and 18 with opposed holes 34 and 36, respectively, whichv are arranged in corresponding spaced relationship circumferentially of the sheets 16 and 18 adjacent their peripheries so that the holes 34 and 36 are in alignment when the centers of the sheets 16 and 18 are in registry. In each of the holes 34 of sheet 16 I mount an upstanding pin 37 which is secured in position by means of a nut 38, and in each of the holes 36 of the sheet 18 I mount a depending pin 39 which is secured in position by means of a nut 40. The two sheets 16 and 18- are yieldably connected together at the pins 37 and 39 thereof :by means of short rubber tubing 41, the opposite ends of'which are slipped over and retained on the opposed pins 37 and 39', as clearly shown in FIG. 1. The orbital movement imparted to the section 17 of pad 11 upon starting of the propelling motor is constrained by the rubber connectors or tubing 41 which twist slightly, as indicated, during such constrained orbital movement of the pad.

To prevent marring or other damage to the sponge rubber section 17, I preferably provide a leather or composition cover 42 thereon which is snugly'h-eld thereon by means of cement or like adhesive. In order to prevent accumulation of dust within the pad, I preferably removably mount an annulus 44 of soft rubber or the like around the otherwise exposed annular or peripheral space between the sheets 16 and 18 of the bottom and top, respectively of the pad 11.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, the preferred embodiment of my circulation activator may be conveniently removably seated and used upon any suitable mount such as an ottoman or pedestal, but preferably upon a portable container, see FIGS. 1 and 3, which is generally designated by the reference numeral 12 and which is provided with a removable carrying strap 47; the strap conveniently carrying a buckle 48 at each opposite extremity for securing the strap to posts 49 secured at diametrically opposite points on the container.

The contain-er 12 as shown in FIG. 1 comprises a bottom 53 and removable cover 51, the uppermost portion of bottom 53 being terminated to form circumferential edge 58. Annular ring 55, having cylindrical 'side wall 55b and horizontal radially inwardly extending flange 55a, is shaped to fit immediately within the mouth or opening of bottom 53 and is removably secured therein as explained hereinafter. In addition, sidewall 55b 7 is shaped to form an outwardly protruding annular bead 54 which extends over edge 58 of container bottom 53. Cover 51 includes the downwardly etxending cylindrical side wall shown and is fabricated along the lowermost portion thereof to form outwardly protruding-bead 57.

and inner annular recess 56 which is shaped to fit snugly over annular bead 54. Thus cover 51 may be placed in operative closed position as shown in FIG. 1 on container 7 bottom 53 by positioning the cover as shown in the drawing with annular head 54 cooperatively engaged within recess 56. The flexibility of the cover which may be made of thin metal, plastic, or the like, permits easy manual placement or removal by merely snapping the cover on or off of bottom 53 and the bead protruding outwardly from section ring 55.

Pad 11 in the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 may be seated and held within container bottom 53 by placement therein of pad base 14 into contact with radially inwardly extending flange 550, as shown in the drawing.

More particularly, base 14 is formed as shown to have an outside diameter adapted for slidable insertion thereof into the mouth or opening defined by the cylindrical wall 55b of annular ring 55, said base then being supported on flange 55a with the top of pad 11, Le. yieldable section 17, positioned above the container bottom and annular ring 55 in place therein.

With the strap 47 and cover 51 of the portable container removed, the bottom of the container 12 serves as an ottoman or pedestal on which the pad 11 rests. Notwithstanding that the base 14 of the pad 11 fits into the opening defined by annular ring 55 secured in the top portion of the bottom of the container, starting of the motor housed in casing 19 will impart constrained orbital movement to the top or yieldable section 17 of the pad. Thus, a person can be seated in a chair and can rest the calf of his leg or place the bottom of a foot on top of the yieldable pad, see FIGS. 13 and 14, start the motor, and receive massaging action to the calf or the foot, thus relieving tired muscles at these locations of the body. An opening 61 is formed in the bottom 53 of the container to permit passage therethrough of the electrical cord 22.

Should an immobilized person desire to have the pad 11 applied to the upper region of the back, as illustrated in FIG. 8 of the annexed drawings, an attendant or friend may remove the pad from the mount 12 as well as the cord 22, and plug the connector 23 thereof into a suitable electrical outlet to start the orbital action of the yieldable section 17, and then apply the pad with the use of both hands, to the region of the back desired to be messaged. Or, if not immobilized the person himself may remove the pad and cord from the container mount 12 and apply the yieldable pad with its orbital movement to any desired area of his body, as shown in FIGS. 9, 10, 11, 12, 1S and 16 of the drawings.

A modified embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in FIGS. 3 to 5 inclusive of the annexed drawings. In this modification, the motor 113 is not contained in the circulation activator but is a separate, independent unit which can either be seated on the bottom of the interior lower compartment of a container 112 or other mount, or at any convenient location. The container 112 can be in all respects similar to the container 12 of the embodiment of FIGS. 1-2, including the removable carrying strap 147 with buckles 148 at its opposite extremities for removably fastening the strap to posts 149 on the container, and including the annular ring having annular bead 154 protruding radially outwardly therefrom, said ring including a flange for removably seating a circulation activator, as stated, therein; such pad or activator being generally designated in FIGS. 3-5 inclusive, by the reference numeral 211 and being of slightly different construction than the pad 11 of the embodiment of FIGS. l2 due to the absence of a self-contained motor. In this modification, however, the circulation activator 211 may be utilized in the same manner as in the embodiment of FIGS. 1-2. That is to say, it may be removably seated on any suitable mount, such as an ottoman or pedestal, or preferably on a container 112, or it may be employed separate and apart therefrom all as indicated in FIGS. 8-16 inclusive.

In accordance with the invention in the modification illustrated in FIGS. 3-5 inclusive of the annexed drawings, I preferably construct the circulation activator with a circular base 214 of solid rubber and with a flat bottom extending at its periphery into an upstanding rim. To the rubber base 214, I cement a circular sheet 216 made of Masonite or light-weight metal. In spaced relation to but connected together as hereafter described, I provide a top orbit yieldable section 217 to the bottom of which is cemented a circular sheet 218. To impart constraiiied orbital movement to the yieldable section 217 with such top section of pad 211 yieldably connected to the base 214, I provide a suitable motor 113 housed within the compartment defined by the hollow bottom portion of the container 112. Alternatively, motor 113 may set up in any convenient location if the circulation activator 211 is to be employed separate and apart from the container. A conventional flexible cable 222 with suitable connectors 223 and 223 at its opposite ends is provided for establishing driving connections between the motor 113 and certain drive components hereinafter specified; and a standard electrical cord 224 is provided for connecting the motor 113 to a source of electrical energy, not shown.

As particularly shown at the right of FIG. 3 as well as in FIGS. 4 and 5, I mount a gear box 225 by means of suitable screw-bolts 225' to sheet 216 of base 214 and provide suitable bearings therein for a pair of driven shafts 226 and 227 arranged at right angles to one another. Shaft 226 extends beyond the rim of base 214 through a bearing 228 at one side of the base and is suitably turned at its outer end for removably receiving the connector 223' of the flexible cable 222, see FIG. 4, and carries on its inner end within the box 225 a relatively small pinion or bevel gear 229 which is arranged for meshing engagement with a companion bevel gear or pinion 230 carried on the inner end of driven shaft 227. As shown in the enlarged views of FIGS. 3 and 4, the driven shaft 227 extends above the gear box 225 and is formed with a reduced outer end 227 which is keyed in a bearing 231 retained by brackets 232 which are secured by means of screw-bolts 232 to the sheet 218 of the top section of the orbital activator 211; such bearing 231 fitting an opening in sheet 218 and having an eccentrically arranged passage 233 therein for the reception of the reduced end 227 of shaft 227. A key 227k is provided for establishing a driving connection between shaft 227 and eccentric passage 233.

As in the case of the embodiment of FIGS. 1-2, the circulation activator 211 of the modification of FIGS. 3 to 5 inclusive is constructed of two yieldably connected members including the top comprising the yieldable section 217 and attached sheet 218, and the solid rubber base 214 with attached circular sheet 216. These members are similarly connected together by fashioning the opposed sheets 216 and 218 with a series of correspondingly spaced holes 234 and 236, respectively, arranged circumferentially of the sheets adjacent to their peripheries. In each of the aligned opposed holes 234 is disposed an upstanding pin 237, secured in position by a nut 238, in opposition to similar but depending pins 239 retained in holes 236 of sheet 218 by nuts 240. The yieldable connection also includes a series of resilient or yieldable tubes 241 of rubber or like material, the ends of which are fitted and retained upon the opposed pins 237 and 239. Upon impartation of constrained orbital movement to the yieldable section 217 of pad211 through the action of motor 113 and the above described connections and drive components, together with the eccentric mounting of the pad, the tubes 241 twist slightly as shown at the right side of FIG. 3.

It is clear that the circulation activator 211 can be seated on the lower portion of container 112 and can be given an orbital movement upon the starting of motor 113 with the flexible cable connected to the drive shaft of the motor as well as to the driven shaft 226, or the activator 211 can be removed from the pedestal or lower portion of container 112, with the motor 113 remaining within the container as shown in FIG. 3 or removed therefrom and set up at any desired spot, to effect independent use of the pad 211 in the same manner as in the case of the circulation activator 11 of the preferred embodiment, all as depicted in FIGS. 816 inclusive of the annexed drawings.

A further modification of the invention is illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7 of the accompanying drawings, and is suitable for ready manipulation with one hand by any user; the circulation activator of this particular modification preferably takes the form shown in FIG. 7 with the outer functional face of the pad shaped to a concave configuration to fit curved areas of the human body. The activator of this embodiment is designated generally by the reference numeral 311 and is self-contained in that the propulsion means, not shown, may be mounted within the pad itself in the form of a so-called pancake motor, with its electrical leads connected into a pad-contained socket 7 with electrical contacts for the reception of a connector plug carried on the end of a conventional electrical cord, all not shown, for connection to a source of electrical energy, also not shown. Or, the blood circulation activator 311, like the blood circulation activators of my present invention hereinabove described, and designated by the reference numerals 11 and 211, may be driven from an external motor with a flexible cable drive, all in the manner described above and illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 5 inclusive of the drawings.

The modification of FIGS. 6 and 7 preferably is fashioned with streamlined characteristics into a smaller size pad 311, and to an elongated rectangular shape with a concave outer functional surface 312, as shown, rather than of a flat circular form as in the case of the other described embodiments of the invention. Preferably, the modified pad 311 is formed with a rectangular base 314 with a fiat bottom and to a size that it fits the palm of an average size hand so that it can be easily picked up and manipulated with the one hand. The botttom 314 conveniently is made of relatively hard rubber and is cemented or otherwise secured to an inner flat base 316 fabricated of a rigid material, such as hard wood or a thin rectangular sheet of metal; the pad 311 including an upper section 317 of sponge rubber defining the exterior concave surface 312, together with a suitable covering of a rubber composition material, and a rectangular sheet 318 of Masonite or other rigid material to which the resilient or yieldable section 317 is cemented. A suitable gear box 319 is secured Within the pad 311 and to the base 316 1 thereof by means of a suitable small screws or bolts 321; such gear box 319 serving to house and mount for rotation a pair of shafts 326 and 327 which are arranged in right angle relation to one another and which carry meshing gears 328 and 329, respectively. The shaft 327 projects above the gear box 319 and is mounted in a bearing 331 which is aflixed by means of opposed plate 332 and 332' in the Masonite sheet 318; such shaft 327 being eccentrically mounted for rotation in bearing 331 by extending the same through a passage 333 which is offset from the-center of the bearing.

The upper section 317 of the blood circulation activator 311 is yieldably mounted on and in respect to the base 314 by means similar to those employed in the other described embodiments. That is to say, I provide a series of upstanding pin 337 on base 314 and a series of opposed depending pins 339 on the plate or rigid sheet 318; such pins 337 and 339 being arranged in opposed aligned pairs, and I also provide a series of flexible tubes 341 which are slipped over such opposed pairs of aligned pins to flexibly or yieldably join the yieldable section 317 of the pad 311 to the base thereof. Upon actuation of the meshing gears .328 and 329, section 317 is caused to move in a constrained orbital path until the energy or driving power for such gears is stopped.

It is to be understood that the appended claims are to be accorded a range of equivalents commensurate in scope with the advances made over the prior art.

I claim:

1. An orbit circulation activator and mount therefor comprising a cylindrical pad consisting of a rigid base and a resilient section movably mounted on said base, a hearing in said section, a shaft eccentrically mounted in said bearing, actuatable means mounted on said base and connected to said shaft for driving the same upon actuation of said means to effect orbital movement of said section relative to said base, and a mount for said cylindrical pad consisting of a cylindrical portable container, and an annular flange Within said containeron which said pad is removably seated, said flange forming means for supporting the top of said pad above the container.

-2. An orbit circulation activator and mount therefo comprising a cylindrical pad consisting of a base and a resilient section movably mounted on said base, a bearing secured to said section, a shaft eccentrically mounted in said bearing, actuatable means on said base and connected to said shaft for driving the same upon actuation of said means to effect orbital movement of said pad relative to said base and to promote blood circulation of an area of, the human body engaging said pad while undergoing orbital movement, an electrical cord having one end operbly connected to said actuatable means and the other endoperably connected to a source, of electrical energy for actuating said means, and a mount for said pad consisting of a portable cylindrical container having an opening in a wall thereof for passing said cord, and an annular flange on said container 'upon which said pad may be removably seated, said flange forming means for supporting the top of said pad above the container.

3. In an orbit blood circulation activator, a cylindrical pad consisting of a rigid base and a resilient section movably mounted on said base, a series of upstanding pins on said base, a series of pins secured to and depending from said section in opposed relation to said upstanding pins on said base to provide a series of opposed pairs of pins, and a plurality of yieldable tubes, one of said yieldable tubes being fitted on a respective pair of said series of opposed pairs of pins, and means for moving said resilient section in a contained orbital path through the media of said tubes.

4. In an orbit blood circulation activator, a pad consisting of a rigid base and a resilient section movably mounted on said base, and means for effecting a constrained orbital movement of said resilient section while mounted on said base; said means comprising a series of upstanding pins secured to said base, a corresponding series of pins depending from said section and so arranged as to provide a series of aligned opposed pairs of pins, and a plurality of resilient members, one said resilient member being fitted over the opposed ends of each pair of aligned opposed pins which yield when movement is imparted to said resilient section. V

5. In an orbit circulation activator as defined in claim 4 wherein said resilient section comprises a cushion of sponge rubber, and a circular rigid sheet cemented to the bottom of said cushion.

6. In an orbit circulation activator as defined in claim 4 wherein said means for effecting a constrained orbital movement of said resilient section comprises a bearing secured to said resilient section, a shaft eccentrically mounted in said bearing, and an external drive for said shaft.

7. An orbit blood circulation activator comprising a cylindrical pad consisting of a rigid base and a resilient section movably mounted on said base, a bearing secured in said section, a shaft eccentrically mounted in said hearing, an electrical motor, an electrical cord connected to said motor and connected to a source of electrical energy for driving said motor, a motor driven flexible cable, a

first gear connected to said motor driven cable, a second gear on said first named shaft and in meshing engagement with said first gear whereby actuation of said motor by connection thereof to a source of electrical energy effects orbital movement of said resilient section of said pad 7 relative to said base through said first gear and second gear and said first named shaft'eccentrically mounted in said bearing and whereby circulation of blood in an area of the human body engaging said resilient section may be activated, and a mount for said circulation activator consisting of a portable cylindrical hollow container in which 7 said motor may be housed; said container having a first opening in a wall thereof for passing said electrical cord and having a second opening in a wall thereof for passing said flexible cable, and an annular flange on the interior of said container for removably seating said cylindrical pad, said flange forming means for supporting the top of said pad above the container.

8. An orbital circulation activator as defined in claim 7 wherein said resilient section is yieldably mounted on said base.

9. An orbit circulation activator as defined in claim 7 and including a series of upstanding pins on said rigid base, a series of pins depending from said resilient section and arranged in alignment with said upstanding pins to provide a series of opposed pairs of aligned pins, and a resilient tube joining each pair of opposed aligned pins to effect a yieldable mounting of said resilient section on said rigid base.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Torrison 128-45 X Sawyer et al 128-56 McNair 12833 Heide 12833 McCaw 12846 RICHARD A. GAUDET, Primary Examiner.

10 L. W. TRAPP, Assistant Examiner.

Claims (1)

1. AN ORBIT CIRCULATION ACTIVATOR AND MOUNT THEREFOR COMPRISING A CYLINDRICAL PAD CONSISTING OF A RIGID BASE AND A RESILIENT SECTION MOVABLY MOUNTED ON SAID BASE, A BEARING IN SAID SECTION, A SHAFT ECCENTRICALLY MOUNTED IN SAID BEARING, ACTUATABLE MEANS MOUNTED ON SAID BASE AND CONNECTED TO SAID SHAFT FOR DRIVING THE SAME UPON ACTUATION OF SAID MEANS TO EFFECT ORBITAL MOVEMENT OF SAID SECTION RELATIVE TO SAID BASE, AND A MOUNT FOR SAID CYLINDRICAL PAD CONSISTING OF A CYLINDRICAL PORTABLE CONTAINER, AND AN ANNULAR FLANGE WITHIN SAID CONTAINER ON WHICH SAID PAD IS REMOVABLY SEATED, SAID FLANGE FORMING MEANS FOR SUPPORTING THE TOP OF SAID ABOVE THE CONTAINER.

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