Massaging mechanism

April 23, 1935.

M. ANDIS

MASSAGING MECHANISM

Filed Nov. 4, 1931

1,998,696

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Patented Apr. 23, 1935

1,998,696

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE

1,998,696

MASSAGING MECHANISM

Mathew Andis, Kacine, Wis.

Application November 4, 1931, Serial No. 572,923

Claims.

My invention relates to improvements in massaging mechanisms, with particular reference to that class of mechanisms in which a set of massaging tools or so-called applicators are to be 5 vibrated in contact with the skin of the patient.

The object of my invention is to provide means for removing and replacing inexpensive applicators with such facility that each applicator may be thrown away upon completion of the mas10 saging operation and other applicators substituted for the next patient, thus making transmission of disease impossible.

Further objects are to provide the vibratory mechanism with a detachable coupling member 15 adapted for interlocking engagement with the applicators, and to provide the applicators with standardized sockets to receive the coupling member and interlock therewith in such a manner that the applicator will be adequately held during M q. massaging operation.

Further objects are to provide improved coverings for the coupling member whereby the same may be kept in a perfectly sanitary condition and the working parts of the driving mechanism ade35 quately protected, the coupling member being adapted to be removed And cleansed after each massaging operation.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of an electromagnet30 ically operated massaging mechanism equipped with my improved coupling and with dotted lines Indicating the connection of a bell-shaped applicator therewith.

Figures 2 and 3 are side elevations of inter35 changeable applicators with their socketed portions in section drawn to planes intersecting their sockets.

Like parts are identified by the same reference characters throughout the several views.

The casing 10, electromagnet II, armature 12, and the vibratory post 13 extending through a tubular boss 14 on one wall of the casing, are similar to the corresponding parts illustrated and described in my Patent No. 928,612, issued Oct. 3, 45 1933. For the purposes of this application these parts may be assumed to be of ordinary construction except as hereinafter described.

It will be observed that the vibratory post 13 has a threaded socket in its outer end to receive 50 a screw 15 having an enlarged shank 17 and a polygonal portion 18 embedded in a headpiece 19 preferably formed of hard rubber or other suitable composition material capable of being cast upon the metal portions 17 and 18 of the connector. 55 This headpiece 18 is preferably provided with a (CL 128—55) roughened or milled band 20 to facilitate.screwing the connector into engagement with the post 13.

An apertured cap 21, preferably of rubber, is fitted over the tubular boss 14 with its aperture in a position to allow the screw 15 to extend there- 5 through into engagement with the post 13, the margins of the cap 21 fitting snugly about the connector at the base of the screw. The enlarged portion 17 of the connector is preferably beveled or conically tapered so as to readily enter the 10 aperture in the cap and distend the marginal material sufficiently to ensure a close fit.

A head member 19 is provided with a knob 24, having a neck 25 of relatively small diameter and an annular flange at its extremity. The axis of 15 the knob is preferably coincident with the axis of the connector and of the vibratory post 13, and the face of the head piece 19 around the knob is preferably flat. The outer surface of the knob is also substantially flat, whereby broad 20 bearing surfaces in two different planes are provided for the flexible applicator.

Each applicator member 28, 29 or 30 is provided with a socket 27 which corresponds in con- _ztour with the knob 24 and neck 25, and the sock- 25 eted portion of each applicator is formed of resilient material, vulcanized rubber being preferred, whereby it may be engaged with the knob by manual pressure applied to stretch the neckengaging portion in order to allow the knob to 30 pass into the enlarged knob-receiving portion of the socket.

The bell-shaped applicator 28 disclosed in Fig. 1, the pronged applicator 29 disclosed in Fig. 2, and the applicator 30 having a sponge rubber face 35 31 as shown in Fig. 3, have a hub portion 32 in which the socket 27 is formed, and while this hub portion may be sufficiently resilient to allow it to be readily stretched over the knob, its tension is sufficient to hold it firmly in engagement with 40 the knob during a massaging operation.

The entire applicator contains only a small quantity of material whereby each applicator may be thrown away and a similar applicator substituted with little, if any, expense in excess of that 45 required for cleansing applicators in an antiseptic bath after each massaging operation.

By my improvement it is not only possible to discard each applicator after a single massaging operation, but it is also possible to remove the 50 connector and cleanse it after each operation. The connector will ordinarily be restored and repeatedly used with new applicators or massaging tools in successive massaging operations. However, the connector is also comparatively inex- 55

1,998,696 pensive and may be discarded and another connector substituted whenever extreme precautions are to be taken against the transfer of disease. By making the connectors readily detachable 5 from the actuating mechanism and its casing, complete replacement as well as complete cleansing of connectors are facilitated.