Improvements in Friction or Massage Apparatus.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 25th Aug., 1899-Accepted, 30th Sept., 1899
Improvements in Friction or Massage Apparatus.
I, HEINRICH MASCHMANN, of No. 21, Konigsweg Kiel, in the Empire of Germany,
Railway Employe, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what
manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement:―
This invention relates to friction or rubbing apparatus particularly designed
for treating the back of the human body, the said apparatus being adapted or
not, as desired, for use in connection with a bath.
The usefulness of the apparatus is greatly enhanced by so arranging the friction
roller that it is interchangeable, thus allowing the use of either a brush or of a
roller covered with soft material or with rotary balls or the like, as may be
desired. In the latter form, the apparatus serves for massage-purposes.
My invention will be more readily understood by reference to the accompanying
drawings in which the various figures show an apparatus constructed in accordance
with my improvements.
Figure shows the apparatus in connection with a bath.
Figure 2 is a side-elevation of the apparatus separately.
Figure 3 is a vertical section taken on the line A B of Figure 2.
Figures 4, 5, 6 and 7 are detail views showing various interchangeable rollers.
The apparatus consists of two uprights or standards a a¹ of channel section
arranged at opposite sides and connected together at the top and bottom by
cross-pieces or beams b and c.
The frame thus constructed is secured to
adapted to grip the upper edge of the bath.
upon the flange or rim of the bath at
set-screws f.
the bath at e by brackets d and d
To this end the brackets are seated
and they are kept in position by
The uprights or standards a al rest on the bottom of the bath and a roller-
holder is so arranged between them as to be capable of moving up and down in
the frame, the roller h being mounted in the end or sliding-blocks g¹.
The up and down movement is effected by means of ropes i i¹ passing over
pulleys or rollers as shown in Figure 2. An arm j carrying the guide rollers for
the ropes projects forwardly so as to bring the ends of the ropes within easy
reach of the person using the apparatus.
By pulling the rope i down the holder g g with its roller or brush h are
drawn upwards and the rope end shortens owing to it being fastened to the
lower end of the brush holder g and having to follow the same in its movement.
By pulling the rope ¹ the roller h is lowered again.
The roller h is tast on the spindle k and the latter is mounted in the blocks g¹.
At each end of the roller h there is fast on the spindle a grooved or cord-
pulley 7, and around this pulley there is looped a cord m the ends of which are
fastened to the crosspieces or beams c and b.
Thus when the roller h with its holder is moved up or down the cord m will
cause the grooved pulley to revolve and thereby also rotate the spindle and its

page_text: roller so combining with the up and down motion also a rotary motion of the
roller which generally is in the form of a brush.
Instead of the brush a roller provided with rings or balls such as that shown
in Figures 4 and may be used, thus enabling the apparatus to be effectively
used for massage purposes. Again the brush may be replaced by a roller
covered with soft material, such as loofah as shown in Figures 6 and 7.
The improved apparatus may if desired be employed independently of the
bath by fixing it to the wall and to this end it is provided with suitable holes n
for securing it to the wall.
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:
-
Friction or massage apparatus provided with a roller receiving combined up
or down and rotary motion, and consisting of a frame with guides a a¹ for
guiding the roller which latter is operated by ropes depending from a pro-
jecting arm and guided over pulleys; the rotary motion being obtained
through the intervention of a cord m looped over grooved pulleys keyed to the
spindle and attached by its ends to the upper beam c and the lower beam b
of the frame.
OFIL
1
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.