An Improved Massaging Device.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 18th Aug., 1899-Accepted, 21st Oct., 1899
An Improved Massaging Device.
I, Dr. med. ADOLF SCHAPER, of 25, Schöneberger-Ufer, Berlin W., in the
Empire of Germany, do hereby declare the nature of my invention and in what
manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described in and ascer-
tained by the following statement:
The present invention has reference to an improved device for massaging
purposes and it relates more especially to the arrangement of the revoluble balls
upon a yielding axle. Devices, serving the same purpose and having likewise
balls, which by being pressed unto and passed over the part of the body to
be massaged rotate and subject the part to the desired treatment, are known but
they all have the disadvantage of being too rigid. The uneven pressure exerted
by the hand or hands of the operator with the ordinary devices is transmitted
with the same uneveness to the part to be treated and often causes thereby.
more injury than benefit.
I obviate this great disadvantage by simply interposing springs between the
handle of the device and the axle of the revoluble balls. Any uneveness in the
pressure is thus taken up by the springs and the pressure of the balls
upon the
part to be treated is consequently always uniform.
In order to make my invention more readily understood, I have illustrated
it on the accompanying drawing, which shows a side elevation of my improved
device.
a represents the handle; W, 63 are helical springs, preferably of nickeled steel
wire. The one end of the spring not fastened in the handle, is bent rectangularly
to the axis of the spring, extends parallel to the handle and serves as axle for
the balls d. The extreme end of this extension is threaded. The free end of the
spring 63 is bent into a loop or eye e, into which the threaded end of the ball
axle is introduced. A nut prevents the parts from inadvertently becoming
disengaged.
Upon the rectangular extension of the spring 61 a sleeve c is arranged which
is provided with flanges c¹ at either end in order to keep the balls_d in their
relative position. These balls d freely turn upon the said sleeve. In order to
exchange the plain balls, shown in the drawing, for ribbed or studded ones, the
nut f is taken off, the free threaded axle end is disengaged from the loop or eye e
of the spring 63 and the sleeve with the balls is removed and replaced by a
similar sleeve carrying the desired set of balls. The parts are then connected
again as above described.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is: -
1: In a massaging device in combination the handle a, the helical springs 61,
63, the balls & turning freely upon the rectangularly bent extension of the said
spring 6 and the loop or eye shaped end e of the said spring 63 engaging the
free end of the said extension, substantially as described.

page_text: 2: In a massaging device in combination the handle a, the helical spring b₁
the free end of which is bent parallel to the said handle and is threaded at its
extreme end, a sleeve c riding upon the said free end of the spring 61 and
carrying a set of revoluble balls & between flanges c¹, a spiral spring 6ª, the
free loop or eye shaped end of which is adapted to surround the threaded end of
the said rectangularly bent free end of the said spring b¹ and a nut f, fitting the
said thread, the parts being constructed, arranged and working substantially as
described with reference to the drawing.
Dated this 16th day of August 1899.
W. REICHAN,
Agent for the Applicant, Berlin, W., Friedrichstrasse 160.