Patent ID: 7311682
Filing Date: 2007-12-25
Classification: A61H

Abstract:
1. Apparatus for massaging the spinal area of a person's back, comprising a table having a main frame and an upper surface for support of a person reclining in a supine position looking up; said table having a head end, a foot end, and opposed sides; an array of thrusters; each of said thrusters terminate in a back engaging fixture at an upper end thereof and having a lower end opposed to the upper end; said fixture includes spaced finger shaped protrusions depending therefrom and arranged to simultaneously engage and massage both sides of the spinal area; said upper surface has an upwardly opening, longitudinally extending groove formed therein that is equal distant from the table sides through which said thrusters extend; an elongated vibrating member for supporting and vibrating said thrusters, said vibrating member having opposed ends and positioned in underlying relationship respective said table surface for reciprocatingly receiving each of said thrusters which are arranged in spaced relationship along a medial length thereof to simultaneously bring said finger shaped protrusions into engagement respective both sides of the spinal area of the back, and biasing means at the lower end of each thruster; an upper slide bearing reciprocatingly receiving a medial length of said vibrating member; said opposed ends, respectively, of said elongated vibrating member are connected for movement between a crank means and a pivoted bearing means, respectively; and means for rotating said crank means to induce a rapidly reciprocating motion respective the longitudinal axis of the vibrating member while the longitudinal axis of each said thruster is moved in a circle about its vertical axis and of a magnitude whereby a vibratory sensation is effected respective the spinal area by rotating said crank means at a relatively high rate of rotation; an elongated spring plate positioned in underlying relationship respective said elongated vibrating member for engaging the biasing means of the thrusters to elevate each of the finger shaped protrusions into a curved plane that coincides with the curvature of the spinal area, whereby, said spring plate simultaneously engages the spring end of each thruster to thereby resiliently bias the thrusters into engagement with both sides of the spinal area.