Patent GB-1348874-A (GB)
Title: Traveling massager assemblies
IPC: A61H15/00
Filed: 1972-03-14
Abstract: 1348874 A chair with massage apparatus NIAGARA THERAPY MFG CORP 14 March 1972 [18 March 1971] 11847/72 Heading A4J [Also in Division A5] A massage assembly for association with the backrest of a reclining chair, or a massage table, comprises a framework 100; a body-supporting hammock 104 secured at its periphery to the framework 100; a shaft 15 extending along a centreline of the hammock 104 and supported at its ends by the framework 100; a member 10 journalled on the shaft 15; and a massage carriage B having a baseplate 1 connected to the member 10 by resilient and flexible mounts 12, a frame 2 rigidly secured to the baseplate 1, resilient rollers 4 resiliently supported by the frame 2 and contacting the hammock 104. and at least one vibratory motor unit M-1 fixed to the baseplate 1. The shaft 15 is slowly rotated in one direction by a motor M-3, which rotation actuates a mechanism D for slowly reciprocating the member 10 and the carriage B along the shaft 15. The frame 2 supporting the rollers 4 comprises a pair of rods each having a U-shaped centre portion 2c, leg portions 2b extending from each end of the centre portions 2c and projecting from the baseplate 1, and axle portions 2a extending at right angles from the leg portions 2b. Each roller 4 has a tubular axial sleeve 5 formed from a material of low friction coefficient and journalled on one of the axle portions 2a. A second sleeve 6 of highly resilient material may surround the sleeve 5. Each roller may consist of a plurality of substantially spherical portions 4a which may be joined by neck portions 4a' or may not, Figs. 14 and 15, (not shown). The mounts 12 are positioned on opposite sides of the shaft 15. The member 10 has an axial bore defined by collars 13 through which the shaft 15 extends. Rollers (50a), (50b), Fig. 23, (not shown), are also mounted in the member 10 and are biased into contact with opposite sides of the shaft 15. The rollers may be tilted in opposite directions (r-r) and (s-s), Fig. 24, (not shown), by turning a plate 58 mounted on a wall of the member 10, thus causing translation of the member 10 along the  rotating shaft 15. At the ends of the shaft 15 are mounted cam collars (62a), (62b), Figs. 25A-25D, (not shown), rotating therewith, which turn the plate 58 to cause the direction of travel of the member 10 to reverse. The shaft 15 is resiliently supported at its upper end by a spring 20 attached to the framework 100, and at its lower end by a transverse bar (35), Fig. 8, (not shown), pivotably attached to the framework 100. The hammock 104 is made from a sheet of strong and flexible textile material. A slab 105 of highly resilient material such as sponge rubber is attached to one side of the sheet 104, and a liner 110 of strong and flexible material, which may be a plastics material, is secured to the other side of the sheet 104. The chair also includes a footrest (117), Fig. 1, (not shown), which is elevated when the backrest is inclined and has a vibratory motor (M-2). A heat pad 108 is provided in the backrest. All circuits are controlled by on-off switches and a single time switch, mounted in a control panel (65), Figs. 1, 3, (not shown).