Improvements in Gymnastic, Massage or like apparatus.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 12th Dec., 1899-Accepted; 3rd Feb., 1900
Improvements in Gymnastic, Massage or like apparatus.
I, ERNST FREDRIK GÖRANSSON, Mechanical Engineer, of Grefmagnigatan 13,
Stockholm, Sweden, 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 a gymnastic, massage or like apparatus which, unlike the
apparatus already known is not operated by the hand, but is provided with a rigid
support fixed or standing on the floor. It is characterised partly by a vertical rod
which is given a rapid reciprocating motion up and down and on which are mounted
the various rubbers or parts for administering the various motions to a person sitting
lying or standing near it, and partly by the construction of the rod itself which is
composed lengthwise of two parts the upper one of which can be removed and a
cushion applied instead on the lower part, so that it is possible with the same
apparatus to obtain alse so-called saddle-sitting vibrations, treatment of the back and
body of the patient or user in a lying down position, etc. The apparatus is so
constructed that with slight alterations it can be driven either by hand or by belt
from a line-shaft, or by a motor.
The apparatus is illustrated in the accompanying drawings,
In Figure 1 as viewed from one side,
In Figure 2 in front-view partly in section on the line x-y of Figure 1, and
In Figure 3 in a plan view.
Figure 4 shows the apparatus as arranged for back or body treatment, and
Figure 5 shows an attachment for head massage or treatment.
A is the frame proper in which the crank or eccentric shaft B with belt-pulley C
and fly-wheel C¹ is journalled in boxes D, E and F. The connecting-rod consists of
two rods H secured to the head G and jointed by means of pins I to a plate K
secured to the lower part I of the above mentioned vertical rod, the upper
part L of which is composed of a tube inserted in the lower part and secured
by a set-screw L or the like, so as to be readily released. The rod is
guided in a socket M secured to or forming part of the frame A and surround-
ing the lower end of the rod, and by a pin 0 entering its upper end and
attached to an arm P which is rotatably mounted on or in the frame A and
is secured in position by a set-screw Q. When the latter is slackened the arm P can
be elevated and turned to one side if the tube L¹ is not required for use. The
rod L L is given a reciprocating motion up and down when the shaft B is rotated.
On the tube L¹ is a holder T which, by loosening its thumb-nut U, can be pushed up
and down on the tube and secured in different positions. In this holder various
rubbers or appliances may be secured one of which is shown in the drawing, viz.: a
sinall cushion V which in the rapid up- and down-motion of the rod communicates a
vibrating or rubbing motion to different parts of the body as they are pressed against
it. Another appliance, shown in Figure 5, consists of a segment plate A² provided
with a bar A¹ and fitted with rubber balls A³. When this appliance is mounted on
the holder T an up- and down-movement is communicated to the balls, so that a
person placing for instance his head under it receives so-called head-massage or

page_text: treatment. The shoulders and neck may be treated with the same appliance. The
feet and legs may be operated upon if the patient places himself on a chair and the
calves of his legs on a padded wooden plate K¹, which being secured to the plate K
by a thumb-nut X forms a cross-piece with the rod L L. Figure 4 shows the
apparatus when the arm P with its pin O is turned to one side, the tube L¹ being
removed and a cushion Y placed over the padded plate K¹. A person may place
himself astride or transversely on said cushion while holding on to the handles Z,
and when the cushion is reciprocated rapidly up and down he is treated to a so-called
saddle-sitting vibration. For treating the back or body the patient or user places
the padded bench B¹ on one side of the apparatus and the padded stool B² on the
other, and lies upon them in the desired position.
The advantage of constructing the apparatus in this manner lies in the fact that
it need be provided with but one crank for administering all the usual motions, and
consequently the apparatus, which is well adapted for home-use, is simple in con-
struction, takes up a comparatively small space, and can with great facility be driven
by hand-power.
When the apparatus is to be driven by belt a fast and a loose pulley are mounted on
the shaft.
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. A gymnastic, massage or like apparatus comprising a two part rod as L L
mounted vertically in a rigid frame and adapted to be reciprocated rapidly up and
down by suitable means on which rod appliances for administering the desired
motions may be mounted in suitable holders substantially as described.
2. In combination with apparatus of the kind described a cross-piece as K¹ on
the vertical rod, for use in the treatment of the feet or legs, substantially as
described.
3. In apparatus of the kind described, a vertical rod in two parts, the upper part
being adapted to be removed and replaced by a cushion on the lower part substantially
as and for the purpose described.
4. An appliance for mounting on apparatus of the kind described consisting of a
segment plate provided with a suitable shank and fitted with elastic balls or
rubbers, as A³, substantially as described.
5. The complete massage or like apparatus substantially as described or illustrated
in Figures 1, 2 and 3 or in Figure 4 of the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 12th day of December 1899.
BOULT, WADE & KILBURN,
Agents for the Applicant.