Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
131 1 168
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MASSAGI~G_D~VICE
5'he present inven~ion relates to the massaging ~rt
and more particularly to an imp.roved massaging head for
use in a massaging device to perform deep muscl~
massage.
There are man~ types of massag.ing machines. Some
of these use a vibration te~hnique which is satisfactory
for a surfa~e massage, bu~, th.is te~hnique rarely
provides a deep mus~ular petrissage or kneading. Deep
muscular pe-trissag* promotes muscle decontraction by a
direct stretching act.ion, Xt also promotes b~tter
circukltion by hel.ping ring out the metabolic by-
products ancl waste materials forcing quicker Venousevacuatioll, thus facilitating arterial blood flow which
in turn accelerates tissue regeneration.
The present invention provides a massaging device
whi~h has the ability to provide a deep mus~ular
petxissage and a deep tran~verse fri~tion. Preferably,
the massay:ing deviee can also provide a deep circular
fri~tion.
Deep ~ran~verse friction in muscular lesion~ is
used to ~obllize the mus~le, i.e. ~o separate the
adhesions foxmed by the scar tissue between individual
muscle fibers. The mos~ potent form of massaye i~ deep
friction according to J. H. Cyriax in his published
medical boolc entitled, "Texthook of Orthopaedic
Meclic~ine". Deep friction massa~e can reach structures
far helow tlle surfac~e of the body, it assists in
breaking down adhesions, promotes absorption of effusion
and the relief of stasis.
The present invention provides in a massaging
device having a remote variable speed power drive means,
a receptacle handle with rotatable connection means for
a replaceable massage head, and flexible ex-tension shaft
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joining the power drive ~learls to the rotatable
connection means in the recep~acle handle, the
improvemen-t o a replaceahle massaye head comprising:
- a ro-tatable disc portion havincJ engac3ement means
to the rota-tahle connection means in the receptacle
handle, the ro-tatable clisc portion having a plurality of
subs-tantially similar cy].indrical fingers with semi~
spher.ic.al ends protrudincl from -the disc portion in a
circle a~out axis of rotation of the disc portion, the
cylindr:Lcal fingers even:ly spaced apart about the
c:ircle, ancl a straight sided finger protrucling from the
d:Lsc portion at the axis of rotation, the finyers formed
of resilient material.
In another aspect, the invention provides a
massaging device haviny a remote variable speed power
drive means, a receptacle handle with ro-tatable
connection means for a replaceable massage head, ancl
flexible extension shaft jc)ininc3 the power drive means
to -the rotatable connec-tion means in the receptacle
handle, the improvement of a replaceable massage head
comprising
- a rotatable disc port.ion having engagement means
to the rotatable connection means in the receptacle
handle, the rotatable disc portion haviny a plurali~y of
substantially similar cylindrical iingers with semi-
spherical ends pro-truding from the disc portion in a
circle about axis of rotation of the disc portion, the
cylindrlcal f:Lngers evenly spacecl apart about the
circle, and a s-traight s:ided einger protrudincl from the
disc portion a~ the axis of rotcltion, the EincJers Eormed
of resilient materi.a]
The inventioll also extends to a massclclincl clevice,
comprising:
- a massage head, inclucliny a rotatable tdisc
portion haviny a plurality of subs-tantially similar
cylinclrical finqers with semi-spherical encls protrudillcl
from the disc portion in a circle about axis of rotation
1 3 1 1 1 68
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of the disc portion, th2 cylindrical finyers evenly
spaced apart about the circle, and a straiyht ~ided
fin~er protrudin~ from the disc portion at the axis of
rotation, the fingers formed of resilient materla.l;
- a power drive in driving relationship with said
~assage head for rotating same.
The invention also comprehends a rotat~ble m~ssage
head for use in a massaging device of the type
comprising a massage head power drive means, said
massage head includ:i.ny a rotatable disc portiol- for
connection to the power drive means o~ the massaging
device, saicl disc portion havin~ a plurality of
substan-tially similar cylindrical fingers with semi-
spherical encls protruding irom the disc portion in acircle about axi.s of rotation of the disc portion, the
cylindrical fingers evenly spaced apar~ about the
circle, and a straight sided finyer protruding from the
disc portion at the axis of rotation, the fingers formed
of resilient material.
Yet, the invention provides a massaging device
having a variable speed power drive means, a receptacle
handle with rotatable connection means for a replaceable
massage head, and transmission means joinin0 the power
drive means to the rotatable connection means in the
receptacle handle, the improvement comprisiny:
~ a first replaceable massage head with a rotatable
disc portion having engagement means to the rotatable
connection means in the re~eptacle handle, the rotatable
disc portion haviny a plurality of substantially similar
cylindrical fingers with semi-spherical ends protruding
from the disc portion in a circle about axis of rota-tion
of 1he disc portion, the cylindrical fingers evenly
spaced apart about the circle, and a straight sided
finger protrudiny from the disc portion at the axi.s of
rotation, the finyers formed of resilient material; and
~.r,.~
1 31 1 1 68
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- a second replaceable massage heacl with a non-
ro-tatable disc portion having lock connection means -to
the receptacle handle, at least two rotatable eccentric
cylindrical fingers wi~h semi-spherical ends protruding
froln the disc portion, the e~centric cylindrical fingers
evenly spaced from a c~enter of the disc portion, the
finyers formed of resilient material, drive means to
rokate tips of thè two eccenkric f:Lngers in counter
rotatiny dlrections, the clrive means havlng engagement
means to the rotatable connecltion means in the
receptacle handle.
In drawings whi~h illustrate embodiments o~ the
invention
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131 1 168
FIG 1 is an isometric view showing one
embodiment of the massaging device according -to the
present invention with one type of massage head fitted
thereto;
FIG 2 is an isometric view showing another type
of replaceable massage head;
FIG 3 is a partial sectional longitudinal view
through the recep-tacle handle shown in FIG l;
FIG 4 is a sectional longikudinal view through
the massage head shown in FIG 1;
FIG 5 is a sectional longitudinal view through
the massage head shown in FIG 2;
Referring now to the drawings~ in one embodiment
a massaging device 10 comprises a power head 11 having
a variable speed electric motor and gear box with a
speed control knob 12 for varying speed of the unit.
The power head 13 may be attached to the ceiling either
by a rail so that it moves from one side of the room to
another, or alternatively, may be on a swinging arm
attached eithe~ to the wall or to a stand. In this
manner, the power head 11 is placed high up in a room
generally above a table, bed or the like~ where a
person is receiving treatment.
The power head 11 has a connection 14 to a
flexible extension shaft 15. The shaft 15 connects to
a custom molded receptacle handle 16. A first
replaceable massage head 17 is shown in FIG 1 mourlted
to the receptacle handle 16 and a second replaceable
massage head 18 is shown in FIG 2. Whereas two types
of replaceable heads 17 and 18 are shown, it will be
apparent that other types of heads may be supplied for
attachment to the receptacle handle 16.
1 31 1 1 68
Details of the receptacle handle 16 are shown in
FIG 3, the handle portion 20 is hollow having a shaft
21 extending down -the center and ending in a connecting
drive plug 22 with straight sides and a spring held
ball for snap connection to a ~ocket. The receptacle
handle 16 has a hollow cylindrical end portion 24 with
an engagement pin 25 for engagement with the sec~nd
replaceable massage head 18. When the massage head 17
or 18 is snapped into the hollow cylindrical end
portion 24 of the receptacle handle 16, khe end of the
massage head is flush with the cylindrical end portion
24 as illustrated in FIG 1.
The first replaceable massage head 17 is shown
in FIG 4 and described as the deep muscular petrissage
head. A cylindrical disc 30 fits into the cylindrical
end portion 24 of the receptacle handle 16. A drive
socket 31 extends inwards from the disc 30 and is
rigidly attached to the cylindrical disc 30. The drive
socket 31 fits over the connecting plug 22 having a
detent to engage the spring held ball to provide a
positive connection so that when the shaEt 21 in the
handle 16 rotates, the circular disc 30 also rotates.
There is a space left free for the disc 30 to rotate
and not engage the engagement pin 25 in the end portion
24. A guide ring 34 is provided at the base of the
drive socket housing 31 to rub on the inside surface of
the hollow end portion 24 of the handle 16. On the
surface of the cylindrical disc 30 six substantially
similar protruding cylindrical Eingers 32 with
semi-spherical ends are positioned equidistant apart in
a circle about the axis of rotation oE the cylindrical
disc 30. The protruding fingers 32 are made of
resilient material such as rubber and in one embodiment
are an inch in diameter extending for two inches Erom
the surface oE the disc 30. In the center of the
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disc 30~ protruding out~ards, is a center finger 33
which is substantially square and also made of
resilient ma-terial. Whereas the center finger 33 is
shown as being square, it may be triangular or
rectangular, provided it has flat sides. In the
embodiment illustrated, the center finger 33 is the
same length as the cylindrical fingers 32, but may be
either slightly longer or shorter. The purpose of the
flat surface on the center finger 33 is to provide a
pinching action to the muscles between the cylindrical
fingers 32 and the flat surface of the center finger
33. Whereas six cylindrical fingers 32 are
illustrated, this number may be more or less depending
upon the massage re~uirements.
The second replaceable massage head 18 is shown
in FIG 5 and has a cylindrical disc 4, which fits into
the cylindrical end portion 24 of the handle 16. An
engagement aperture 42 is provided to line up and
engage the engagement pin 25 in the end portion 24 in
the handle 16 so that when the replaceable head 18 is
fitted to the handle 16, the cylindrical disc 40 cannot
rotate, and is locked -to the handle. A drive socket 43
is mounted on a shaft 44 and positioned in the center
interior of the circular disc 40 ~or connection to the
connecting plug 22 in the end portion 24 of the
handle 16. The shaft 44 is mounted on bearings 45 so
that it rotates within the circular disc 40 and has a
pinnion gear 46 engaging two separately mounted bevel
gears 47 on each side o the center axis each having an
axis of rotation tilting inwards. The separately
mounted bevel gears 47 are each connected to an
eccentric pin 48 which extends through a bearing 49 to
protrude from the surface of the circular disc 40.
Each eccentric pin 48 is located within a cylindrical
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Einger 50 attached to the surface of the circular disc
40 such that when the eccentric pin 48 rotates, the tip
51 of the finger 50 rotates in a circle whereas the
base of thr- finger is stationary. In the embodiment
shown, the finger 50 is a sheath with the eccentric pin
~8 rotating within the sheath so that the surface of
the sheath does not rota-te, but the tip 50 is deformed
in a circular motion. As can be seen in FIG 5, the
drive mechanism is similar to that of an egg beater,
the eccentric pins 48 are counter rotating and when
used as a massage provide deep circular friction.
In one embodiment the fingers are one half in
diameter and spaced about one inch apart at the disc
portion. The two fingers 50 tilt inwards, so the
distance between the fingers at the tips 51 is about
three quarters of an inch without takin~ into account
the eccentricity. The tips 51 have an eccentric
rotation of approximately one quarter inch diameter.
In both cases, the speed of the device may be varied by
the speed control knob 12 on the power head 11. In the
case of the second replaceable massage head 17, the
fingers 50 are formed of resilient material to allow
the eccentric pin 48 to rotate within.
The materials of construction are preferably
aluminum or hard plastic for the circular discs 30 and
40 of both replaceable massage heads 17 and 18.
Various changes may be made to the embodiments
shown herein without departing from the scope of the
present invention which is limited only by the
following claims.
