US851510A - Massage apparatus. - Google Patents

Description

No. 851,510. PATENTED APR. 23, 1907. G. W. FITZ & P. W. HITGHINGS,

MASSAGE APPARATUS. APPLICATION FILED MAR. s, 1905.

' being adapted to impart heat to the acting same parts in all the figures.

composed of a ho low shell 12 of metal or internally threaded socket 13 for engage- UNITED STATES GEORGE FITZ,

PATENT orrron. Y

OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, AND FREDERIC vWADE HITCHINGS, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO.

MASSAGE APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed March 3, 1906. Serial No. 304,126.

To all whom it wtay concern:

Be it known that we, GEORGE W. FITZ, of Boston, in the county of Suffolk andState of Massachusetts, and" FREDERIo WADE HITCH- INGS, of Cleveland, in the county of Cuyahoga and State of Ohio, have invented certain new. and useful Improvements in Massage Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

' This invention relates to a massage apparatus, and has for its object to enable heat and mechanical vibration -to be applied simultaneously to the human body in the treatment of disease. The invention consists first in an apparatus of the character specified, comprising an applicator, means for vibrating it, and means for applying heat toits acting surface.

The invention also consists in an appiicator adapted to be attached to mechanism for vibrating it, and provided with an internal chamber or cavity adapted to contain a medium for heating its acting surface.

' The invention'also consists in an applicator provided internally with a heater, which in cludes an electrical resistance, the said heater surface of the applicator.

Of the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification,-Figure 1 represents aside elevation of a massage apparatus or vibrator, provided with an applicator embodying our invention. Fig. 2 represents a 1 erspective view of the applicator detached.

ig. 3 represents a longitudinal section of the a plicator. Fig. 4 represents an end view of t e same. Fig. 5 represents a section on line 55 of Fi 3. ,Fig. 6 represents an end view of the e ectric heater. Fig. 7 represents an enlargement of a portion of Fig. -3. Figs. 8 and 9 represent sectional views of modifications.

The same letters of reference indicate the Our improved a plicator is here shown as other suitable material, having at one end an ment with the externally threaded end of a rod or shank 14, forming a part of the vibrating apparatus. The said apparatus may be of any suitable construction, such, for example, as that shown in Letters Patent of the United States to George W. Fitz, N 0. 795,2 12,

In the embodiment of our invention, shown in Figs. 1 to 6 inclusive,-the shell 12 is provided with a removable end piece or head 15,

on which the socket 13 is formed, said headhaving a screw thread or other detachable connection with the body ofthe shell. VVithin the shell is an electric heater, comprising a resistance coil 16 and suitable means for supporting the same within the shell. The convolutions of the coil are preferably disposed in a series of concentric layers, separated from each other by annular layers 18 of sheet mica, the wire of the coil being continuous and extending from layer to layer through or across the intermediate separating layers 18. The resistance coil is supported by a spool, comprising a central rod or core 19, having at one end a screw thread to engage the inner portion-of the threaded socket 13, and at its opposite end a head or enlargement, a sleeve 20, mounted on the core 19, and end pieces or heads 21, 22 afiixed to the sleeve 20. 23 rep.- resents a disc or plate, which is preferably of annular form, and is made of insulating material, preferably of vulcanized fibre. This plate sup orts two binding posts or screws 2424, W ich bear upon contact plates 25 25, affixed to the head 21, said contact plates being in electrical connection with the terminal portions 160 of the CQll wire 16. The binding posts 24 are adapted to engage flexible conducting wires 26, which are enclosed in a cable 27, the latter passing through an orifice 28 in the removable end piece 15. The wires 26 are connected with the binding posts or screws 24. The flexible conducting wires 26 are connected with a suitable source of electricity, the connection being through a suitable switch, whereby the current may be turned on and off.

It will be seen that when the resistance coil is electrified, the heat developed is radiated and conducted to the shell 12 so that the lat ter imparts heat to the body being operated upon. This simultaneous application of heat and mechanical vibration is useful in the shell through an orifice 31, said orifice being provided with a suitable stopper 32, as shown in Fig. 8. In Fig. 9 we show an applieator adapted to be heated externally by the impingement of a gas or other flame upon its external surfaces. In this 'case the shell is made in two sections separably connected at 32,- so that the shell may be conveniently filled 'th asbestos, powdered soap stone,

'sand or any other heat retaining substance.

which the resistance coil is mounted is adapted to be readily attached to and detached from the casing of the applicator, so that the removal of the coil for examination and the substitution of a fresh coil is a comparatively simple matter. The cable 21 is preferably reinforced at the point where it joins the easing and for a short distance adjacent thereto by a wrapping 35 of wire, as shown in Fig. 2.

The hollow applicator formed as shown in Figs. 8 and 9 may be heated by means of a chemical solution or composition, which is of .such nature that heat will be generated and malntained for a considerable period by the crystallization of a crystallizable ingredient or ingredients of the composition.

We believe ourselvesto be the first to provide an applicator or massage appliance with an electric heater located in close proximity to the actingsurface of the applicator. e do not, therefore, limit ourseives to an electrically heated applicator provided with means for engagement with mechanism for vibrating it, as the applicator may be pro; vided with means whereby it may be operated by hand.

We claim: r

1. An apparatus for the treatment of disease, comprising an applicator, means for positively vibrating it and means for applying heat to its acting surface. I

2. An applicator having means for holding a heating medium in operative relation to its acting surface, and means for engagement with a device or mechanism for positively vibrating the applicator.

3. An applicator having an electrical heater operatively related to its acting surface, means for positively vibrating the applicator and flexible conducting wires electrically connected with the heater and'extending therefrom.

4. An applicator having a cavity or chamber, means for vibrating the applicator, an electrical resistance coil located in said chamber, and flexible conducting wireselectrically connected with said coil.

5. An applicator having a resistance coil operatively related to its acting surface, means for vibrating the applicator, means including flexible conducting wires for closing a circuit through said coil and means for regulating the heat developed in said coil.

6. An applicator comprising a hollow casing, means for vibrating it, an electrical heater comprising a resistance coil adapted to enter said casing, and means for detachably securing the coil to the casing.

7. An applicator comprising a hollow casing, means for vibrating it, an electrical heater comprising a resistance coil adapted to enter said casing, a spool or holder supporting said coil and having a core or stem detachably engaged with the casing.

8. An applicator comprising a hollow casing meansfor vibrating it, said casing having a detachable end piece or head adapted for detachable connection with the vibrating means, and a holder detachably secured to said head and supporting a resistance coil.

9. An applicator, comprising a hollow casing, having a detachable end piece or head, provided with an internally threaded socket, a holder adapted to detachably engagethe said socket, and a resistance coil supported by the holder, and means engaging saidsocket to vibrate the applicator.

10. An applicator having an internal electrical heater, flexible conducting wires electrically connected with the heater and ex tending from the applicator, and a flexible cable enclosing the said Wires and provided with a wire wrapping at and adjacent to its junction with the applicator, and means for vibrating-the applicator.

11. In combination. an applicator, an electrical heater operatively related to the acting surface of the applicator, and means for positively vibrating the applicator.

12. In combination, an applicator, an elec- "tric heater operatively related to its acting surface, means for positively vibrating the applicator and heater, and flexible conduct ing wires connected with the heater and ex\ tending therefrom.

In testimony whereof we have aflixed our signatures, in presence of two witnesses.

GEORGE W. FITZ. FREDERIC WADE HITCHINGS.

VV'tnesses to G. W. F.:

LOUISE A. REILLY, RACHEL KENT Firz.

Nit'nessesv to F W. H.:

ELISABETH 0. HAINES, MARY F. HITCHINGS.

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