U.S. patent number 3,595,223 [Application Number 04/756,983] was granted by the patent office on 1971-07-27 for massaging device.
Invention is credited to John Frank Castagna.
United States Patent |
3,595,223 |
Castagna |
July 27, 1971 |
MASSAGING DEVICE
Abstract
A body manipulating and massaging device which includes means
for alternately lifting and lowering selected body portions while
the body is in a supine condition, to effect a simulated massaging
effect; and further, to lift spaced body portions while
simultaneously lowering spaced body portions immediately adjacent
the lifted body portions and alternating these operations in a
rhythmic manner, to further simulate a massaging action.
Inventors: |
Castagna; John Frank (Brooklyn,
NY) |
Family
ID: |
25045866 |
Appl.
No.: |
04/756,983 |
Filed: |
September 3, 1968 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
601/55; 92/13;
601/148; 5/713 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A61H
9/0078 (20130101); A61H 2201/0134 (20130101); A61H
2201/0149 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A61H
23/04 (20060101); A61h 009/00 () |
Field of
Search: |
;128/33 ;103/38 ;92/13
;5/348,349 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Gaudet; Richard A.
Assistant Examiner: Dunne; G. F.
Claims
I claim:
1. A device for manipulating the human body comprising base means,
said base means comprising a plurality of laterally adjacent rigid
panels and means for hinging said panels together, pad means on
said base means, said pad means comprising a pair of chamber
sections, each chamber section comprising a plurality of parallel
chamber portions, and a manifold portion interconnecting said
chamber portions, said manifold portions being of thickness less
than that of said chamber portions, said chamber sections being
arranged in interfitted relation with the chamber portions of one
section being disposed respectively between chamber portions of the
other section, the manifold portions of said sections being in
superposed relation, the combined thickness of said manifold
portions being substantially equal to the thickness of one of said
chamber portions, and means for alternately expanding and
contracting the chamber portions of said chamber sections in a
sequential manner, to thereby alternately raise and lower body
portions relative to said base means.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Various devices have been suggested for massaging the human body.
Such devices are mainly of the vibratory type operating at high
frequencies. These devices also are arranged for operation at
somewhat lower frequencies through complicated motor driven
linkages, or the like. However, they all rely on a vibratory action
which is quite different from the hand massage as practiced by a
masseuse.
Accordingly, an object of this invention is to provide an improved
device of the character described, which more closely simulates
hand massaging.
Another object of this invention is to provide a device of the
character described which is in the form of a mat for contacting
selected portions of the human body; such mat having one or more
chambers defined by flexible walls, the chamber or chambers being
alternately expanded and collapsed to induce a lifting and lowering
of the pertinent body portions.
A further object of this invention is to provide a device of the
character described, wherein a mat is comprised of a plurality of
laterally adjacent, flexible walled chambers which are in a closed
circuit with air moving means whereby predetermined chambers are
progressively expanded while other chambers are progressively
contracted in response to predetermined air movements; thereby
allowing certain body portions to be lifted while other body
portions are lowered, with a reversing pattern of the lifting and
lowering operations at predetermined frequencies.
Still another object of this invention is to provide a device of
the character described and including a chambered mat of selected
configuration and a selected pattern of chambers which at any given
time are being selectively expanded and contracted, to produce a
body-manipulating action which closely simulates hand
massaging.
Other objects will in part be obvious and in part hereinafter
pointed out.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a massaging device embodying
the invention disposed on a contour chair as a support for the
same;
FIG. 2 is a schematic showing of a system including the massaging
means and auxiliary equipment for the same;
FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view showing the chambered
elements of the device;
FIG. 4 is a top plan view showing the chambered elements in
assembled relation;
FIG. 5 is an end view thereof;
FIG. 6 is a top plan view showing another form of the chambered
elements;
FIG. 7 is a top plan view showing still another form of the
chambered elements.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Referring in detail to the drawings, and particularly to FIG. 1,
the massaging device embodying the invention, is generally
indicated at 10; the same being supported on a sectionalized
contour chair 11, together with a combination operating and control
console 12 and flexible conduits 13, 14 connecting the console with
the device 10.
The chair 11 comprises the usual sections 15, 16, 17 together with
a headboard 18 and a footboard 19. The chair 11 is mounted on a
rolling base 20 having rollers 21. A mattress or the like M is
disposed on chair 11 and in turn supports device 10. The device 10
may take single or multiple form for suitable disposition in
respect to selected portions of the human body which are to be
manipulated or massaged; the individual reclining on chair 11.
The device 10 is in flexible mat form and comprises a series of
laterally adjacent, thin rigid panels 22 which may be formed of
plywood or the like. The panels 22 are held in hinged relation to
each other by a sheet of fabric 23 adhesively secured to the top
surfaces thereof. A flexible chambered construction generally
indicated at 25 is mounted on panels 22. The same may comprise a
pair of comblike sections 26, 27 of a configuration and dimensions
to allow the same to be interfitted to form a rectangular shaped
mat of substantially uniform thickness. The sections 26, 27 are
formed of fabric which has been impregnated with rubber, plastic or
the like, to render the same air impervious and of limited
elasticity.
Section 26 comprises fingerlike, parallel portions 28, 29 and 30
which are hollow and in intercommunicating relation by way of a
transverse manifold portion 31 provided with an inlet 32.
Similarly, section 27 comprises parallel hollow chamber portions
33, 34 and 35 which are in intercommunicating relation by way of a
manifold portion 36 having an inlet 37.
The sections 26, 27 are interfitted to provide a composite mat 25
having substantially flush top and bottom surfaces, by way of
cutout portion 38 on section 26 and a corresponding cutout portion
39 on section 27. Thus, portions 28--30 are in alternating, lateral
relation to portions 33--35, as indicated in FIGS. 4, 5. A fabric
envelope E of stretchable material encases mat 25 and its
supporting panels 22; allowing the mat to flex and take desired
positions in respect to the human body overlaying the same, as in
chair 11.
The mat 10 is adapted to lift spaced portions of the human body
overlying the same, while adjacent body portions are being lowered,
with successive alternation of these operations to produce a
simulated kneading or hand massage effect. Accordingly, air is
introduced into the chambers of one of sections 26, 27 while
simultaneously air is being withdrawn from the chambers of the
other section; such action being repeated in an alternate
manner.
To this end, there is provided within console 12 a pair of
collapsible air chambers 40, 41 which are connected in a closed
circuit with sections 26, 27 of one or more mats 25 by way of
inlets 32, 37 thereof. Each of chambers 40, 41 comprises a flexible
walled portion 42 with rigid headers 43, 43' and rigid base
supports 44, 44'.
Each of the chambers 40, 41 is alternately expanded and contracted
with one chamber being expanded while the other is contracted. For
this purpose there is provided an inverted T-shaped rocker member
45 having a horizontal arm portion 46 which is connected at the
outer ends thereof to headers 43, 43' by links 47, 47'. The arm
portion 46 is pivoted at its midpoint as at 48.
Rocking motion is imparted to member 45 by means of a motor 49
having a speed control 50, which is connected to a crank means 51
by means of a belt 52 and pulleys 53, 54. A crank arm 55 is
pivotally connected at one end thereof to crank means 51, as at 56
and is pivotally connected at the other end thereof to a nut 57, as
at 58. Nut 57 is slidably mounted in a slot 59 formed in the
vertical arm 60 of member 45 and in threaded engagement with a
screw member 61 mounted in slot 59 for rotation. A flexible cable
62 connected at one end to an outwardly projecting end of screw
member 61 and at the other end thereof to a crank handle 63, to
adjust the position of nut 57; provides for regulation of the
amplitude of movement of member 45.
Chambers 40, 41 are arranged for communication with one or more
mats 25, and for the purpose of illustration, such connection is
made to two mats 25, 25', FIG. 2. Here the mat 25 is located in
contact with upper portions of the human body while mat 25' is in
contact with lower portions of said body.
Thus, chamber 40 is connected to inlets 32, 32' of mats 25, 25'
through conduits 65, 66 and 66' while chamber 41 is connected to
inlets 37, 37' through conduits 67, 68 and 68'. Valves, not shown,
may be suitably located in the conduits to provide for use of mat
25 or mat 25'; or mats 25, 25' simultaneously. The air within the
pads 25, 25' may be warmed by the use of electric resistance
elements indicated by 69, which are suitably embedded within inlets
32, 37; 32', 37 or the conduits connected to the same. A rheostat
control indicated at 69' on console 12, regulates the heat supplied
by the elements 69.
It will be apparent that with the body B resting on pads 25, 25'
and motor 49 in operation; the chambers 40, 41 will displace air in
a manner to alternately expand and contract one set of chambers
28--30 and to alternately contract and expand the other set of
chambers 33--35; thus lifting and lowering adjacent portions of
body B, to provide a kneading or massaging effect.
Since the weight of body B will determine the maximum expansion of
the chambers of mats 25, 25'; it may be necessary to introduce
additional air into the system, as in the case of bodies of greater
weight. To this end, an air tank 70 is provided with a pump 71 and
motor 72 for operating the same, together with a supply conduit 73
and a valve 74, to introduce air as required into conduits 66,
68.
It is understood that mats 25, 25' may have varying patterns of
chambers to provide desired patterns of kneading or massaging
effects. Thus, as shown in FIG. 6, the pad 80 is made up of a set
of chambers 81 suitably interconnected to each other and a second
set of chambers 82 suitably interconnected to each other; with an
inlet 83 for chambers 81 and an inlet 84 for chambers 82. Here the
individual chambers 81, 82 are arranged in checkerboard
fashion.
Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 7, the pad 85 is made up of spaced
chambers 86 in alternating relation with spaced chambers 87, with
arcuate lines 88 separating the adjacent chambers. Inlet 89 is
connected to interconnected chambers 86 while inlet 90 is connected
to interconnected chambers 87.
It is also understood that water or other hydraulic fluid may be
used in lieu of air to effect the expansion and contraction of the
chamber portions of mats 25, 25'. In such case, suitable pump and
valve means may be provided to move the liquid into and out of said
chamber portions to produce the desired body lifting and lowering
actions.
* * * * *