Abstract A massage unit used for therapeutic purposes such as to loosen and mobilize bronchial secretions in humans; to improve blood circulation, and; to relax muscles, has a motor unit which transmits rotary motion to a cable engaged to an applicator unit. The applicator unit has a lower gripping portion which rotatably mounts an eccentric drive assembly which is drivingly coupled to the cable so as to be oscillated by cable rotation. An elbow-shaped tube extends upwardly and outwardly from the eccentric assembly so that an application pad mounted on the outer end of the elbow is moved in a circular path around an axis extending parallel to the surface of a patient's body and also parallel to the surface of an application pad, which allows the pad to impart a percussive and a directional massage stroke when it is applied to the body. The resultant force transmitted to the body has two components: one perpendicular to the body to loosen congestive material, and one force component parallel to the body to mobilize congested material in a selected direction.
A massage apparatus operable by a human for therapeutic application to a patient comprising: (a) a base section having a portion to be gripped by the human; (b) a member mounted eccentrically on the base for eccentric rotation while the grippable base section portion is stationary; (c) drive linkage extending through the grippable portion and engaged with the eccentric member to rotate the eccentric member while the base is stationary; (d) an application surface to be applied to the body of the patient; (e) an elbow member having a first end connected to the eccentric member for orbital movement of said first end, and a second offset end connected to the application surface to revolve the application surface by orbital movement of said first end while the grippable portion is stationary.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
131 words
A massage apparatus operable by a human for therapeutic application to a patient comprising: (a) a base section having a portion to be gripped by the human; (b) a member mounted eccentrically on the base for eccentric rotation while the grippable base section portion is stationary; (c) drive linkage extending through the grippable portion and engaged with the eccentric member to rotate the eccentric member while the base is stationary; (d) an application surface to be applied to the body of the patient; (e) an elbow member having a first end connected to the eccentric member for orbital movement of said first end, and a second offset end connected to the application surface to revolve the application surface by orbital movement of said first end while the grippable portion is stationary.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
12 words
The structure of claim 1 wherein the application surface is substantially flat.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
11 words
The structure of claim 1 wherein the application surface is resilient.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
29 words
The structure of claim 1 further comprising a cable drivingly connected to the linkage, and a motor connected to the cable to rotate the cable and drive the linkage.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
150 words
A massage apparatus operated by a human for therapeutic use comprising: (a) a base section having a portion to be gripped by the human; (b) drive linkage extending through the grippable portion; (c) a dish member mounted on the base and drivingly engaged with the drive linkage for orbital movement by the drive linkage; (d) a hub mounted eccentrically relative to the linkage above a portion of the dish, and means to counterbalance the rotation of the hub; (e) an oscillation plate mounted about the hub for orbital movement; (f) an applicator surface to be applied to the body of the patient; (g) an elbow member having a first end connected to the oscillation plate for orbital movement of said first end, and a second offset end connected to the applicator surface to revolve the applicator surface by orbital movement of said first end while the grippable portion is stationary.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
150 words
A massage apparatus operated by a human for therapeutic use comprising: (a) a base section having a portion to be gripped by the human; (b) drive linkage extending through the grippable portion; (c) a dish member mounted on the base and drivingly engaged with the drive linkage for orbital movement by the drive linkage; (d) a hub mounted eccentrically relative to the linkage above a portion of the dish, and means to counterbalance the rotation of the hub; (e) an oscillation plate mounted about the hub for orbital movement; (f) an applicator surface to be applied to the body of the patient; (g) an elbow member having a first end connected to the oscillation plate for orbital movement of said first end, and a second offset end connected to the applicator surface to revolve the applicator surface by orbital movement of said first end while the grippable portion is stationary.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
14 words
The structure of claim 5 wherein the application surface is resilient and substantially flat.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
30 words
The structure of claim 5 further comprising a cable drivingly connected to the linkage, and a motor drivingly connected to the cable to rotate the cable and drive the linkage.