An Improved Electro-massage Roller Appliance.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 26th July, 1894
Complete Specification Left, 26th Apr., 1895-Accepted, 6th July, 1895
.
I HENRY CHARLES RISBOROUGH SHARMAN of St. Ives; Wilton Road; Merton,
Surrey Gentleman do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
An invention för facilitating the combined application of electricity-and massage
(or medical rubbing)" to the human body. It consists of the ordinary or any other
special type of massage-rubber, but is so arranged, as to contain in the handle, reel,
or other part of the appliance an electric battery (either with or without faradio-
coil). It is so arranged that one end of the reel or roller constitutes the positive
pole, and the other end the negative pole (or independent wheels may be added
one at each end of the reel to convey the positive and negative currents respectively)
so that when, the appliance is in use and the roller (with or without extra wheels
touches the body the circuit is completed and the electric current, either galvanic
or faradic, passes beneath the skin from pole to pole. The faradic current can he
applied at will-either by the operator pressing a button, turning a screw, moving
a switch, or lever,, or by such other arrangement as may be deemed advisable in
manufacture.
An Improved Electro-massage Roller Appliance.
I HENRY CHARLES RISBOROUGH SHARMAN of St. Ives, Wilton Road; Menton,
in the County of Surrey, Advertising, Agent, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, to sbé: «particularly
described and, ascertained in and by the following statement!:-
An invention for facilitating the operation of massage and electricity by
combining the ordinary massage roller or a modification thereof with a means of
generating the current of electricity within the instrument itself. The electricity
which may be either a faradic or a galvanic current, is generated by means of
rollers or their equivalent having felt or other absorbent material in..contact
therewith, metal discs of dissimilar metals under a like condition or by a wet or
dry battery or pile situated in the handle or containing case to which the rollers
are attached.
The form of the instrument may be that of any of the usual types of apparatus
known as massage-rollers with such modifications as may be required by the varied
uses to which the instrument may be applied.
For the purpose of a better description of some of the forms of my apparatus
with modifications thereof I append drawings hereto in which :-
Fig. I. Sectional view in which :—
Metal rollers for wheels A turn on insulated shaft or spindle B supported by
metal frame or fork G. attached to handle D. J, a series of copper and zinc discs
placed in a containing case having insulating and absorbent material such as felt E

page_text: between the said discs J. When a galvanic action is required some vinegar or
other exciting fluid is placed on the felt &c. so that a current is set up and is
conducted through G brushes to the roller electrodes and thence to the skin &c.
Fig. II. Sectional view.
Rollers or wheels of dissimilar metals are employed running on insulated
spindle B. These rollers of preference made of copper and zino serve the purpose
of plates or elements of a wet pile or battery having discs of felt &c. E between
each of the said rollers &c. When this felt &c. is soaked in vinegar or other
excitant the galvanic action is at once set up and passes to the skin by contact with
the same.
Fig. III. Sectional view.
A. Metal or metal coated rollers on spindle B.
C. Metal frame attached to handle D.
This handle is hollow and contains a dry battery F with conducting wires K
leading to brushes G. To form a "make and break" when required I place metal
studs H on one or both of the rollers or wheels. When necessary to have a
faradic current from the roller electrodes I add a small induction coil with suitable
switch for completing the circuit.
Fig. IV. Sectional view.
The same form of apparatus as Fig. III except that handle D contains wet pile
instead of the dry cell. These. discs J of copper and zinc or of carbon and zinc
with felt &c. in between soaked with salt and water, sal ammoniac &c. have wires
from top and bottom discs which conduct the current to insulated frame C and
which carries the current through metal washers M to the roller electrodes.
I do not confine myself to any particular form or design and employ either a
simple galvanic or a faradic current according to requirements the only essential
detail being that the current so used shall be generated by means of a wet or dry
cell or battery in the handle or case to which the roller electrodes aforesaid are
attached substantially as herein described and set forth.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is

page_text: CLAIM IV.
In a combined apparatus for medical rubbing rollers &c. which act as conductors
of the current from a battery, pile &c. either with or without a coil or "make and
break" arrangement such current to be generated within the apparatus substantially
as herein described and set forth.
Dated this 26th day of April 1895.
HENRY CHARLES RISBOROUGH SHARMAN.