US2431979A - Motor-driven massaging instrument - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 2, A1941. M. A. AMER MOTOR DRIVEN MASSAGING INSTRUMENT Filed Feb.' 24, 1947 /NVENTOR Hwy/27e mef TT'oRA/EY Patented Dec. 2, 1947 UNITED S TATES PATENT A'() `FF'FI5(.`,:E

'MGTRSDRWEN MASSAGING INSTRUMENI Myrtle A. Amer, Los Angeles, Calif.

.Application February 24, 1947, Serial No. 730,259

- This invention relates trramot'o'r''drivenaph-v .to an improved Vmeans for adi'usting the extent of the massaginglm'ovement 4given to said applicator duringits Ymotor vdri-ven operation.

The invention also pertainsv to anew combined manual andfmechanical ymethod of'givi'ng a massage `to the surface ofthe-human body to stimulate circulatio-n of the blood with a View to removing abnormal conditions *resulting from a faulty circulation.

Among the'objects-of theinvention are-to provide a more eflicient-means for applying a deep and vigorous massageto theskinand underlying tissues of the human body; t'o provide an improved means for '-,regulating the .extent of the massaging movement; and to prnvidezanapllicator having an improved .arrangement .of multiple air rarifying, or suction, cups utilizable to apply a vigorous yet cushioned, andtherefore painless massage. l

A more specific-object listo-provide a massaging means particularly well adapted to massage the scalp in a vigorous yet painless manner thus to stimulate the circulation of the scalp, and hair, improve the condition of the hair and safeguard against baldness, and dandruif,

Other objects, advantages and features of the invention will hereinafter appear.

Referring to the accompanying drawing, which illustrates a preferred embodiment of the invention,

Fig, 1 is a side elevation of the appliance partly in section on line I-I of Fig, 2.

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the applicator portion of the device, partly in section on line 2--2 of Fig. 1. The lower portion of the applicator housing being removed.

Fig. 3 is a bottom plan view of the applicator.

Fig. 4 is a cross section on line 4--4 of Fig, 1.

Referring in detail to the drawing, the device is shown combined with a motor-carrying body 5 having a handle 6 through which are led the current-supplying conductors I and 8 which also pass through the flexible cable 9. Th-e motor Il rotates in a non-gyratory manner, the shaft I2 which, in turn, adjustably carries the crank arm I3.

The preferred means for attaching said applicator to said shaft includes an arm I3 which as it appears i'n'crnssl septionirr Fig.2= hasfawidened upper portion I5, this'p-art of the' arrm'being'sli'dably iitted int'olasgro'ove :I5 :extending ldiametrically vacross tneextremity of .the shaft I2, the dovetal joint thus providedinsuring a secure and rigid attachment of the crank arm I3 ktofsaid shaft IZ, which carries it. and by which it .is driven.

Aspeedreducing mechanism Ifll `is positioned between the lmotor I'I--and its .drivenshaft I2 'to facilitate theiuse of aihiglierfsp'eedmotor for applying a relatively :slow Jgyratory motionV to 1 the shaft I1.

In order toadjust `radially the arm lIll so as to vary theextent ofthe gyratorymovement 'given to the applicatorzshaft Il, said arm is provided' with artrapezoidallateralextension I8 and a :set screw I'SLisfprovidedron the-'side `ofsaid.extension I8, the'linner end :of saidscrewnb'elng projectable into the groove I6 likewise trapezoidal, its mouth being contracted. Saidlscrew .can be clamped against the sidevofithe: arm I-3.l :'Sai'd'shaft I'I has an enlarged endrportion .to :which-thepinzi is formed.A The'rubber.applicator'headl22 istmounted rby means for said :pin upon ball #bearings 23l which vbearingseare interposed between saidihead and lthe arnns:enlargement ,'20, thus rotatably mounting saidhead upon .its shaft ..2 I..

The stationary housing 26 is secured to the motor casing 5 by screws 21 and extends up around the lower portion of the casing and also down around said shaft I2. The lower extremity cf the housing 26 is formed with radial seat 28 into which is fitted a spring ring 29. Said head 22 is also provided with a radial groove 30 into which is fitted a spring ring 3|. An elastic rubber, or flexible brous tube, 32 is secured in the grooves 28 and 30 by the rings 29 and 3l respectively, 1.o provide a complete dust and safety housing for said moving parts contained therein and also to protect the operator from said moving parts.

It is to be seen that the diameter of the lower end of the stationary tubular housing member 26 is sufliciently great to encircle the path of the outer end of the crank arm I3 even when the latter is so adjusted as to provide for the desired eccentricity of movement of the applicator head 22. Therefore the upper end portion of the ilexible tube 32, which is attached exteriorly around the lower end of said housing portion, does not interfere with the rotation or gyrations of said crank arm or of the applicator shaft I'I, the latter shaft always extending parallel to the produced axis of the shaft I2, An angular lengthening of the shaft I2 is thus produced.

The appliance is provided with the usual speed and current control lever 33.

In using the device the operator, having adjusted the speed control 33 for the desired speed, will utilize the handle 6 to press the multiple vacuum cup applicator 22 against the surface of the body with the desired amount of force and will manually impart an auxiliary gyratory movement thereto to supplement the gyratory movement of the mechanically driven applicator head 22. It will be noted that the manually graspable handle 6 extends at right angle to the applicator driven shaft l2, thus enabling the operator more eniciently to combine a, manual gyration of the applicator with the mechanical gyration thereof.

I claim:

1. In a motor driven massaging instrument having a mechanically rotated shaft, there being a groove with a contracted outer side extending diametrically across an extremity of said shaft, a rigid crank arm slidably dovetailed into .said groove, clamping means adjustably securing said arm in said groove to hold the former in various positions of longitudinal adjustment, and an applicator means including a-shaft carried by said crank arm and projecting laterally therefrom, thus producing an angular lengthening ofthe rst recited shaft.

2. In an electrically driven, manually supportable massaging device, a casing, a motor therein, a shaft projecting from said casing and driven by said motor, a massaging applicator, means eccentrically mounting said applicator on the projecting portion of said shaft, said mounting means including a crank arm rigidly attached to said shaft, and a manually graspable handle carried by said casing and extending at a right angle to said shaft, thus enabling the operator conveniently manually to impart additional gyration tothe applicator.

3. The subject matter of claim 2, and said crank arm being adjustable to vary the extent of the mechanical gyration of said applicator.

4. In a motor driven massaging instrument, a motor driven shaft having an outer end portion spaced away from the motor, a tubular housing concentrically surrounding said shaft to a point adjacent to the outer end of the latter, a crank 4 arm secured to and extending transversely of said outer end portion of said shaft, an applicator shaft fixed to said crank arm and cooperating therewith to produce an angular lengthening or extension Vof the first recited shaft, an applicator head concentrically carried by the outer end of said applicator shaft, and a exible tube surrounding said crank arm and applicator shaft, one end portion of said tube being in a secured surrounding relation to the outer end of said tubular housing and the opposite end thereof being in a secured surrounding relation to said applicator head.

5. The subject matter of claim 4, and said tubular housing having an external groove around its outer end portion over which the inner portion of said flexible tube is fitted, and a retaining ring surrounding said tubular housing and seated in said groove.

6. The subject matter of claim 4, and said applicator head having a groove around it over which the outer end portion of said flexible tube is fitted, and a retaining ring surrounding said tubular housing and seated in said groove.

'7. In a motor driven massaging instrument, a motor, a rigid shaft structure rotated thereby, and an applicator head concentrically secured to the outer part of said shaft structure, said head having an elastic body engaging portion, said shaft structure being rigid throughout its length and having in its midlength portion a crank element which imparts a gyratory massaging movement to said head when said shaft structure rotates.

8. The subject matter of claim 7, and said crank element being adjustable to vary the extent of said gyratory movement of said head.

MYRTLE A. AMER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number

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