Patent GB-369858-A (GB)
Title: Massaging device
IPC: A61H15/00
Filed: 1931-08-18
Abstract: 369,858. Massage apparatus. BLONDIN, M. C., 19, Rue Banes a Meudon, Seine-et-Oise, France. Aug. 18, 1931, No. 23276. Convention date, Aug. 19, 1930. [Class 81 (ii).] The apparatus comprises essentially a number of rollers 1, Fig. 1, preferably three, which are reciprocated radially with respect to a longitudinally reciprocated pad 37, the rollers being held against rotation while moving inwardly to produce between them an elevation of the skin which is then kneaded by the pad, and rotating freely on their outward movement, thus releasing the skin. The rollers are journalled in frames 3 pivoted at 4 to levers 5, which themselves are pivoted at 6 to levers 7. The levers 7 are pivoted at 8 to the framing 9 of the apparatus and are rocked periodically by a reciprocated rod 13 having a collar 14 to which the levers are connected by links 10, the connection being such that the speed of the rollers decreases as they approach one another. The levers 5, 7 are resiliently held in contact with one another by springs 35. The rod 13 carries a sleeve 15 pressed outwardly by a spring 17 abutting a collar on the rod but limited in movement by an internal flange in the sleeve which engages a screw 18 in the end of the rod. The sleeve 15 detachably carries the pad 37 and is prevented from rotating by a stud 33, on the part of the framing in which it slides, engaging a slot in the sleeve. The pad 37 is substantially triangular in shape. The levers 5 are provided with stops 34, 33, which engage the rollers 1 and their frames 3 respectively. On moving the rod 13 outwardly the rollers 1 engage the stops 34 and move toward one another without rotation, thereby producing an elevation of the skin, which is then kneaded by the movement of the pad 37 ; on the return movement the rollers move over to the stops 33 and rotate freely, thereby releasing the skin. Excessive movement of the rollers and the pad is taken up by the springs 35, 17, or such movement may be prevented by the engagement of the collar 14 with a resilently faced adjustable nut 39 screw-threaded on one of the pillars 28 of the frame. The rod 13 may be reciprocated by hand, by a crank or cam actuated by a pedal or motor or directly by a water or otherwise operated piston. As shown a pair of hand-grips 22, 27 are provided, the grip 27 being fixed to the framing or foldable thereon, as shown dotted for convenience of packing, and the grip 22 being pivoted to the frame at 24 and connected to the rod 13 by a link 20 ; the grip 22 is operated by the fingers and a spring 32, and carries a buffer 41 to reduce the shock of contact with the grip 27. A grip for the other hand is provided by an upstanding pillar 29. In a modification, Fig. 5, the rod 13 is connected by a link 58 with a connecting-rod 54 on an eccentric 53, the eccentric shaft 52 being driven, through pinions 51, 50 and belt-andpulley mechanism 47, 49, 48, 46, from an electric motor 68. The connection between the link 58 and the connecting-rod 54 comprises a link 56 pivoted to the gearing casing and having a slot in which a pin 55 on the connecting-rod is adjustable during operation, by a thumboperated lever 64 linked to the rod, in order to vary the stroke of the rod 13. The motor and gearing casing is provided with a handle 67, an adjustable pivoted handle 71, a hook 73 for suspension purposes, and a pair of resiliently shod feet 69. The massage apparatus proper is enclosed in a removable casing 60. In a further modification the collar 14, Fig. 1, may be slidable on the rod 13, the two members being separately reciprocated by eccentrics, cams or other means.