Patent GB-735366-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to massaging apparatus
IPC: B65D41/12
Filed: 1953-04-08
Abstract: 735,366. Massage appliances. GROSSI, L., and PETOT, P. April 8, 1953 [April 9, 1952], No. 9554/53. Class 81 (2). A vibro-heating massage appliance is characterized in that it comprises a rigid casing partly open, a heating resistance element and also a vibrator within the casing, and a flexible wall adapted to conform to the shape of the part being massaged, and which, at least in part, closes the opening in the casing, said heating resistance element and said vibrator respectively transmitting heat and vibrations to said wall. In the appliance shown in Fig. 2 an openbottomed rigid casing 4 encloses a vibratorelectromagnet 1, 1b, movable armature 2-and a heating resistance 5 encased in an insulating sheath the open bottom of the casing being closed by a flexible wall 7. The amplitude of the armature 2 may be varied by a spring- tensioned knob 3 and a switch arranged on the casing controls the current through the resistance 5. A vibration damping element 6 of rubber, asbestos, &c., is placed between armature 2 and resistance 5 and a similar element may be placed between resistance 5 and wall 7. The heating switch arrangement may be such that the current through the resistance 5 is increased as the pressure between wall and patient increases. In this case the vibrator circuit may also be controlled so that both vibrations and heating stop as soon as the appliance is removed from the patient. In a modified appliance, Fig. 5, a rubber plate 6a with ribs 6b is placed under the vibrator a heating element 5 being interposed between electrically insulating sheets 6c, 7b. The plate 6a is replaced, in other modifications, by an elastic metallic plate provided with flexible blades and a structure comprising a flexible plate connected to a supporting plate through a series of coil springs respectively. In an appliance adapted to effect massage around a limb, Fig. 9, the vibrator 1, 1b, 2a acts on a flexible envelope 11 containing an electrically insulating liquid and a heating resistance 5. The envelope 11 bears, on the outside, against a rigid belt comprising arms 13, 13a, hinged at 14, 14a, to the casing 4 and looked together, when in use, at 15. For purposes of application of this appliance to a limb the liquid within the envelope 11 is drained into a storage tank 17. In a modification of the liquid transmission apparatus of Fig. 9 the belt is replaced by a rigid cover shaped to conform to that part of the body to be massaged. Fig. 11 shows an appliance in which between an electrically insulating cover 20 protecting and sealing the vibrator and heating contents of the casing 4 and a removable fabric sheet 23 is placed a removable compress 22 impregnated with an ointment or cream. The fabric 23 may be replaced in a further modification by an easily cleaned removable perforated sheet. In yet another appliance the casing 4 is extended to include a handle, which may be removable, which houses the vibrator the vibrations from which are transmitted via a liquid filled envelope to a compress and.fabric sheet attached to the casing as shown in Fig. 11. Fig. 14 shows the appliance of Fig. 2 in which between a sealing cover 20, placed adjacent the heating resistance 5, and a perforated sheet 23 is housed a compress 22 which is kept in a liquid saturated condition by a finely perforated flexible pipe 27 which communicates with a reservoir 26 of curative liquid the flow of which is controlled by a needle valve 28. In a modification the pipe 27 is connected to a gas reservoir. Impregnated compresses may be used with the appliances of Fig. 9 and its modification.