Massaging machine

A massaging machine which uses a plurality of spring-loaded metal fingers which move vertically up and down the back of an individual sitting in a chair. A relatively large portion of the back is involved and the action simulates that of a skilled masseur thus providing relief from stress and pain.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention relates to a motor driven massager which can be built 
into the back of a chair. The use of sliding finger pressure has been 
shown to be beneficial in the treatment of many ailments pertaining to 
bones and muscle structures. This type of therapy is expensive because of 
the skill and time required for each treatment. As a result many devices 
for applying a massaging action to the human back by a motor driven 
mechanism have been developed. These devices employ drums, spheres or 
disks which roll up and down a person's back while he lies face down on a 
bed, stands against a vertically moving roller set or sits in a reclining 
chair in the back of which are contained moving massage elements. 
DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART 
The massaging machines of Fujimoto (U.S. Pat. No. 4,079,732), Tanaka et al 
(U.S. Pat. No. 4,149,531) and Yamasaki (U.S. Pat. No. 5,352,186) are 
typical of electric massaging machines which are in the literature. These 
all employ twin disks or spheres which press on and roll along the spine 
while the person being massaged reclines in a chair. Fujimoto employs a 
threaded drive rod for vertically moving a carriage containing massaging 
spheres and a limit switch at each end of the carriage to reverse the 
motor. A second motor in the carriage imparts independent massaging motion 
to the spheres. The machine is relatively complex and expensive but does 
impart a finger-like pressure which simulates the hands of a masseur. 
Tanaka et al employ a similar drive mechanism with limit switches but uses 
elastomer covered disks to press on and roll along the sides of the spine. 
There is no simulation of finger pressure and movement. Yamasaki employs 
an elaborate spring system to force two disks into the back and to roll 
alongside the spine. This apparatus employs two motors, is complex and 
doesn't provide "finger" pressure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
The operation of the massaging machine will now be described with 
references to FIGS. 1-4. In FIG. 1 the stationary frame made up of the 
rails 1 and 1' is rigidly attached to the back of a chair 16. A 
vertically-moveable plate 3 is mounted between the rails so that it is 
able to slide. A horizontal slot 6 is cut in plate 3 and accommodates the 
horizontally-moveable segment 14. A disk 12 is mounted between segment 14 
and shaft 18 of the slow speed motor 17 (FIG. 2). The disk is mounted 
concentrically while the segment 14 is mounted off axis. As the motor 
turns, segment 14 moves horizontally while the vertical component of the 
motion is taken up by plate 3 sliding in rails 1 and 1' vertical, 
oscillating motion of plate 3 is thus obtained without the use of limit 
switches or reversible motors as is the case in some prior art. This type 
of cranking arrangement is a known machine element called a Scotch yoke. 
Its application to massaging mechanisms to achieve compactness and lower 
manufacturing costs is however unique to the present invention. 
Mounted in plate 3 are a plurality of flanged massaging fingers 10 having 
rounded ends (FIGS. 2 and 3). The fingers pass through and are free to 
slide in collars 19 which have been fixed into plate 3. The flanges 5 of 
each finger are held in contact with the back of plate 3 by flat leaf 
springs 4 which are mounted to the plate by the bolts 11. The vertical 
motion of plate 3 produces simultaneous movement in direction A--A' of all 
the fingers. The varied horizontal resistance corresponding to the 
curvature of the user's back causes movement in direction B-B' (FIG. 3) 
against the force of the springs. The overall effect is the creation of 
moving force in the skin and the creation of a deep massage effect. 
Body support plate 8 is fixed at top and bottom to rails 1 and 1' as shown 
in FIGS. 1, 2 and 4. It contains the vertical slots 9 to accommodate the 
passage of the massage fingers 10. The weight of the user rests against 
support plate 8 and doesn't affect the pressure exerted by the fingers. 
Other embodiments of the invention would include the use of compression 
springs for the fingers, a variable speed motor and other cranking means 
for producing oscillating motion.