US5020518A — Travelling roller massage apparatus

Claim 1

Independent Claim 93 words

Massage apparatus comprising: track means; a travelling carriage mounted for movement along the track means; a housing on said carriage; at least one massaging element carried by said housing; a pair of motors in said housing, including a drive motor for driving said carriage along said track means, and a kneading motor with unidirectional output for driving said massaging element with a pulsating pressure; a crank arm for rotatably mounting said massage element; and pivot means for pivoting said crank arm, including a cam contacting the crank arm, driven by the kneading motor.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 93 words

Massage apparatus comprising: track means; a travelling carriage mounted for movement along the track means; a housing on said carriage; at least one massaging element carried by said housing; a pair of motors in said housing, including a drive motor for driving said carriage along said track means, and a kneading motor with unidirectional output for driving said massaging element with a pulsating pressure; a crank arm for rotatably mounting said massage element; and pivot means for pivoting said crank arm, including a cam contacting the crank arm, driven by the kneading motor.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 174 words

Massage apparatus comprising: a pair of spaced guide bars; a travelling carriage mounted for movement along the pair of spaced guide bars, between first and second end portions; a housing on said carriage; at least one massaging element carried by said carriage; a drive bar between said guide bars; a drive motor in said housing for driving said carriage along said drive bar; said pair of guide bars and at least a portion of said drive bar extend through said housing; mounting means for rotatably mounting a pair of said massage elements, one laterally opposite the other, said mounting means comprising a first double-ended shaft, each end mounting a massage element, and a first crank arm having a first end for mounting the shaft; and kneading means for applying pulsating pressure with said massage element while travelling between end portions of said guide bars, said kneading means comprising a pivot mounting for said crank arm, a cam in contact with said crank arm and a kneading motor in said housing for driving said cam.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 174 words

Massage apparatus comprising: a pair of spaced guide bars; a travelling carriage mounted for movement along the pair of spaced guide bars, between first and second end portions; a housing on said carriage; at least one massaging element carried by said carriage; a drive bar between said guide bars; a drive motor in said housing for driving said carriage along said drive bar; said pair of guide bars and at least a portion of said drive bar extend through said housing; mounting means for rotatably mounting a pair of said massage elements, one laterally opposite the other, said mounting means comprising a first double-ended shaft, each end mounting a massage element, and a first crank arm having a first end for mounting the shaft; and kneading means for applying pulsating pressure with said massage element while travelling between end portions of said guide bars, said kneading means comprising a pivot mounting for said crank arm, a cam in contact with said crank arm and a kneading motor in said housing for driving said cam.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 25 words

The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said drive motor and said kneading motor are laterally opposite one another, on either side of said drive bar.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 45 words

The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the mounting means further comprises a second double-ended shaft, each end thereof mounting a massage element, and a second crank arm having a first end for mounting the shaft, the first and second crank arms driven by said cam.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 27 words

The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the first and second crank arms comprise a dogleg with an intermediate pivot point and a free end contacting said cam.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 20 words

The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the free ends are disposed side-by-side, at axially adjacent positions on said output shaft.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 46 words

The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the first and second crank arms have an intermediate pivot mounting disposed between laterally offset legs, one leg mounting said shaft, the legs laterally offset one from the other to engage said cam at one side of said gear rack.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 101 words

Massage apparatus comprising: track means; a travelling carriage mounted for movement along the track means, between first and second end portions; a housing on said carriage; at least one pivotally mounted crank arm; at least one massaging element rotatably mounted to said crank arm; a pair of motors in said housing, including a drive motor for driving said carriage along said track means and a kneading motor for driving said crank arm so as to apply a pulsating pressure with said massaging element; and a cam driven by said kneading motor in contact with the crank arm for pivoting displacement thereof.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 101 words

Massage apparatus comprising: track means; a travelling carriage mounted for movement along the track means, between first and second end portions; a housing on said carriage; at least one pivotally mounted crank arm; at least one massaging element rotatably mounted to said crank arm; a pair of motors in said housing, including a drive motor for driving said carriage along said track means and a kneading motor for driving said crank arm so as to apply a pulsating pressure with said massaging element; and a cam driven by said kneading motor in contact with the crank arm for pivoting displacement thereof.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 28 words

The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said track means comprises a pair of spaced guide bars, and said motors laterally oppose one another, one adjacent each guide bar.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 30 words

The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said track means further comprises a drive bar between said pair of guide bars, said motors lying on opposite sides of said drive bar.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 24 words

The apparatus of claim 10 wherein said pair of guide bars and at least a portion of said drive bar extend through said housing.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 41 words

The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said drive motor is reversible, said apparatus further comprising sensors at end portions of said drive bar coupled to said drive motor to send an electrical signal thereto to reverse the direction of rotation thereof.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 42 words

The apparatus of claim 12 wherein said sensors comprise photocell means, said apparatus further comprising electronic circuit means carried by said carriage and coupled to said sensors and to said drive motor for controlling the direction of rotation of said drive motor.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 18 words

The apparatus of claim 13 further comprising a control housing on said carriage, enclosing said electronic circuit means.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 22 words

The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the kneading motor is unidirectional and includes a cam contacting the crank arm for pivoting thereof.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 15 words

The apparatus of claim 8 further comprising a vibration producing motor supported by said carriage.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1994-06-03	1994-12-03	1995-06-04	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1998-06-03	1998-12-03	1999-06-04	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2002-06-03	2002-12-03	2003-06-04	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Travelling roller massage apparatus

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