Improvements in Massage Apparatus
Year: 1897

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Massage Apparatus
KARL VIKTOR HALLBERG, of Skilnaden 4, Helsingfors, Finland, Physician, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention and n what manner the same is to be performed,
to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
The characteristic feature of this massage apparatus and vibrator which I call a
"Petrisseur" consists in its contact piece having a circular or curved motion so as to
describe a closed curve on the surface treated, the apparatus differing in this respect
from those hereto fore employed in which the contact piece either has a hammering
motion or reciprocates along a limited path on said surface. As a result the
operation of the apparatus is more uniform and at the same time greater benefit is
derived from the inassage and the latter is also rendered more agreeable.
In the annexed drawing Fig. 1 shows a longitudinal section of the apparatus, and
Fig. 2 a detail of the latter. Figs. 3 and 4 represent a modified construction, and
Fig. 5 another modified form of the apparatus.
The apparatus consists of a handle or sleeve A through which passes a spindle B
which at one end, where it protrudes from the handle is connected to a flexible
shaft C serving to transmit a rotating motion to the spindle. At its other end the
spindle B is provided with an arm D which is jointed to another arm E which passes
through a central hole in the bottom of the capsule-like ferrule F on the end of the
handle and which arm E at its extremity is provided with a spherical enlargement
or part G forming the contact piece previously mentioned. It is easily seen that
when the spindle B is rotated the enlarged portion or bulb receives a circular motion
the arm E swinging about like a conical pendulum guided in its motion by the arm D
and the hole in the ferrule F. The arin D is formed, with a slot for the end of the
spindle B, Fig. 2, and is secured to the latter by means of a screw bolt or the like.
By loosening this bolt and by moving the arm D transversely in one direction or the
other across the spindle the radius of rotation of the contact piece G may be increased or
decreased. To enable the arm E to be lengthened or shortened the latter may be
formed as a tube to receive a neck on the contact piece G said neck being
provided with a pin projecting from one side of it and entering a helical slot in the
tube, along which slot there are at several points formed lateral recesses into which
the aforesaid pin can drop or be engaged. Another adjustment can be made by
means of the handle itself. The latter is for this purpose divided in two halves
which are screwed together as shown in Fig. 1. When one half is turned with
reference to the other the handle will be lengthened or shortened. In the former
case the radius of rotation of the contact piece G will be decreased and in the latter
case said radius will be increased.
In the modified form shown in Figs. 3 and 4 the arm E is attached directly to the
spindle B the end of which is shaped as a fork in which the arm E is held by means
of a screw. Fig. 5 represents the same arrangement with the addition of a segment
or bow H extending from the spindle and arranged concentrically to the pin I which
may be employed instead of the clamping screw so as to pass through the arm E
which may be secured to it in the desired position by means of a clamping
screw

page_text: It might thus be said that the contact piece G forms the extremity of the
spindle B and that the end of the latter is diverged from or out of line with the
axis of the spindle so as to give when rotated a circular motion to the contact piece.
Furthermore it apparent that the apparatus might easily be so constructed as to
cause the contact piece to describe an ellipse or other closed curve.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is :-
1. A massage apparatus consisting of a handle through which passes a spindle
adapted to be connected at one end to a flexible or other driving shaft while its other end
terminates in a contact piece out of line with or diverging from the axis of the
spindle whereby on rotation of the spindle the contact piece is caused to describe a
closed curve on the surface to which it is applied substantially as described.
2. In apparatus of the character described the arrangement of a contact piece on
the extremity of an arm (E) which passes through a central passage in a capsule
like ferrule (F) secured to one end of the handle of the apparatus and which arm
inside the ferrule is jointed to a transversely adjustable arm (D) on the spindle (B)
substantially as described.
3. In apparatus of the character described a tubular lever arm E and a contact
piece provided with a neck or extension adapted to be adjustable inserted into the
tubular lever arm substantially as described.
4. In apparatus of the character described a transversely divided handle the
parts being screwed together so as to admit of the handle being lengthened or
shortened for the purpose of increasing or decreasing the radius of rotation of the
contact piece substantially as described.
5. In apparatus of the character described the arrangement of a contact piece
forming the extremity of an arın inserted into a fork at the end of the spindle
and adapted to be clamped to this fork by means of a screw for the purpose of
enabling the arm to be adjusted to form a greater or smaller angle with the
spindle substantially as described.
6. In the arrangement specified in Claim 5 the arrangement of a segment
or bow issuing from the spindle (B) and arranged concentrically to a clamping
screw or pin the arm being secured to said seginent or bow by means of a
clamping screw substantially as described.
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