With Drive Means Patents (Class 601/126)
  • Patent number: 10391021
    Abstract: A casing defining an internal chamber having a skinfold formed therein when it is applied to a patient's skin, said fold coming into contact with the lower edges of the chamber. The chamber is defined by two lateral walls and by two transverse walls, at least one of said transverse walls being formed of a flap capable of having a pivoting motion, to induce the coming closer and the drawing away from each other of the lower edges of said transverse walls in contact with the skinfold. The flap is hinged in the vicinity of its upper end on the lateral walls. The pivoting of the flap is obtained by means of a geared motor fixedly assembled within said flap, and having its output shaft rotating a cam, received in a cam race fastened to one of the lateral walls of the internal chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2019
    Assignee: LPG Systems
    Inventor: Arnaud Fuster
  • Patent number: 8696606
    Abstract: There is provided a continuous passive motion (CPM) machine with integrated mechanical deep vein thrombosis (DVT) prophylaxis for providing simultaneous CPM therapy and DVT prophylactic therapy to a human patient. The passive motion machine may include a base, at least one motor, one or more hinged frame rails, one or more support or suspension structures and a roller assembly. The hinged frame rails are driven to impart CPM to a patient's limb. The roller assembly can be a single roller, a multiple roller unit, or a belt and roller apparatus. A motor and connecting drive rotates the roller assembly. The roller assembly engages the patient's limb and the one or more rollers apply a mechanical DVT prophylaxis therapy to the limb, reducing the risk of blood clotting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2014
    Assignee: Continuous Motionflow, LLC
    Inventors: David Jacofsky, Jeffrey Lyman
  • Publication number: 20120316478
    Abstract: A massage machine includes a body supporting portion which supports a body of a person to be treated and a massage mechanism which moves inside the body supporting portion along a body height direction of the person to be treated. The body supporting portion is divided in the body height direction into a base portion and a movable portion. The body supporting portion extends and contracts when the movable portion moves relative to the base portion. The massage machine is capable of adapting to the body size of the person to be treated by changing the treatment range of the massage mechanism by extending or contracting the body supporting portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 7, 2012
    Publication date: December 13, 2012
    Applicant: Family Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Nichimu Inada, Tomoki Nagamitsu
  • Patent number: 8282585
    Abstract: A massager system includes one or more gear trains coupled to a motor to rotate at least a pair of shafts that each supports a pair of nodules for rotation about the associated shaft. A pillow-shaped outer housing surrounds the motor and number of coupled gear trains with the nodules protruding above the outer housing to facilitate contact with a selected bodily region to knead or otherwise stimulate surface skin in a bodily region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Inventors: Jane Ding, Yu Bo Ding
  • Publication number: 20080312568
    Abstract: An angular adjusting mechanism for use in a massage device of a massage machine comprises a frame including a swing seat axially disposed thereon for pivotally rotating the angle and including upper and lower massage rollers provided thereon, and between the frame and the swing seat being defined with an angular adjusting mechanism, wherein the angular adjusting mechanism includes a bush axially fixed on the frame, the swing seat includes a driver attached thereon for urging the rotation of a screw, and another end of the screw screws with the bush; thereby during the rotation of the screw, the screw may vertically displace along the bush and actuate the swing seat to axially rotate along the frame for adjusting the swing angle and increasing the support strength of the upper and lower massage rollers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2007
    Publication date: December 18, 2008
    Inventor: Ko-Po Chen
  • Patent number: 7465296
    Abstract: The hot medicinal compress apparatus is a therapeutic and hearth care medical device which has heating, medicament and rolling functions. It includes a heater (2) and a cartridge (3) carrying a medicinal compress layer. The heater (2) includes a heating element and a heat conducting tube (4) in which the heating element is mounted and at both ends of which a front round step member (10) and a rear round step member (10?) having a through hole are respectively arranged; at another end of the front round step member (10), a washer and a demountable baffle ring (18) are provided and fixed by a screw nut (12), while at another end of the rear round step member (10?), a handle (1) is arranged, in which a through hole is provided and on which a control switch is mounted. The cartridge (3) is comprised of a metal tube (17) and a medicinal compress layer which is wrapped around the metal tube (17).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2008
    Inventor: Hang Chun Chau
  • Publication number: 20070173749
    Abstract: A massage mechanism includes a housing containing substantially uni-directional roller components. The rollers are able to rotate in one direction, but either not easily or not at all in the opposite direction. Each roller of a total of two rollers is able to rotate in a direction that is opposite of the other roller. The effect of the described configuration is that as the roller massage device moves across a skin surface of a patient, a leading edge roller is able to roll, while a trailing edge roller is held stationary, or substantially stationary. The stationary roller on the trailing edge of the roller massage device pushes against the skin, generating a skin fold. The skin fold can be further generated and magnified by the provision of a vacuum pressure within a chamber of the roller massage device, suctioning the skin up into the device, working in conjunction with the rollers. In addition, an electromagnetic force can be applied to the skin fold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 19, 2007
    Publication date: July 26, 2007
    Applicant: BioCellulase, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher Edwin Williams, Elliot Lach
  • Patent number: 7238163
    Abstract: A treatment device for a user's hand and/or wrist. The treatment device includes a housing having an outer surface defined at least partially by a membrane adapted for placement against the user's hand and/or wrist. The treatment device creates localized outwardly deformations in the membrane adapted to create a massaging effect in the user's hand and/or wrist.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2007
    Inventors: Scott Fried, Luke W. Michas, Jeremy C. Howard, Phil Bussone, David J. Moretti, Sean J. Albert
  • Patent number: 7217248
    Abstract: This invention relates to a chair, particularly to one provided with a massage device positioned in a seat, backrest, thigh rest or armest. The massage device is composed of a frame and massage roller unit consisting of plural rows of massage rollers fixed in the frame. Two pivotal plates are provided with a center shaft hole for center shaft and two shaft holes respectively for a center shaft and two independent shafts to fit pivotally therein and string each row of the massage rollers. The center shaft is pivotally connected with the inner side of the frame, enabling the massage roller device rotate with the center shaft as a pivot. So when a user rests the body on the massage device, he/she shifts the body to get massage function by the massage surface of the massage roller device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2007
    Inventor: Chuan-Shen Lin
  • Patent number: 7153283
    Abstract: A cranial massage helmet includes a plurality of resilient massage wheels mounted on its inner surface for application to the head of a user. The massage wheels travel along a number of tracks bonded to the inner surface of the helmet. An individual stepper motor drives each wheel. A control system, which may be contained within a hand-held controller, contains a programmed logic controller for directing drive cards that are wired to each individual motor for independent control of each massage wheel. A variety of massage modes are made possible by the control system. The control system also includes audio components allowing a user of the helmet to select an audio program that may be heard through earphones mounted in the helmet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2006
    Inventors: Gabrielle H. Triolo, Detlef Kramer
  • Patent number: 7052476
    Abstract: A lie-down massager includes a base frame having an elongated top panel, through which an elongated top opening is formed, a rider, a guide member movably engaged between the base frame and the rider so as to enable the rider to make a horizontally reciprocal movement, massage bumps that move vertically and/or horizontally along the elongated top opening of the elongated top panel of the base frame, and a lifter that holds the massage bumps and adjusts the height of the massage bumps. Air shock absorbers are provided between the massage bumps and the lifter so that movement of the massage bumps by the rider and the lifter is flexible and more adapted to human body contour.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2006
    Inventor: Hakjin Kim
  • Patent number: 7022092
    Abstract: A massaging mechanism includes a first rotary shaft supported in a right-and-left direction right and left swing arms relatively rotatably mounted on the first rotary shaft, massaging heads each secured to an upper and a lower end portion of each of the swing arms, a bracing member engaged with each of the swing arms to restrain the swing arm from rotating in connection with rotation of the first rotary shaft, a first operating mechanism for swinging the swing arms in opposite directions in the right-and-left direction to each other so that a right and left pair of massaging heads respectively secured to the upper end portions move toward each other while the massaging heads respectively secured to the lower end portions of the swing arms are moved away from each other in the right-and-left direction, and vice versa, by the rotation of the first rotary shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2006
    Assignee: Daito Electric Machine Industry Company Limited
    Inventors: Nobuzo Shimizu, Satoru Shiraishi, Shu Lv
  • Patent number: 6960174
    Abstract: A therapeutic treatment machine alternatingly applies compression and traction to a patient. A frame includes: a platform having an upper body support pad with controllable resistance to forward and backward displacement; rollers supporting the lower back, buttocks and thighs; and a motor-driven foot support displaceable forward and backward predetermined distances and speeds. Tubular frame members fit over and adhesively engage arms projecting orthogonally from a corner section. Legs telescopically receive leg support members extending orthogonally from the arms. Compression and traction are each forcefully effected by motor rotation converted to longitudinal reciprocation of a linkage that drives the foot support. The patient's feet are held in place against footplates by clamps supported on a T-bar cross member having a stem extending forwardly through a longitudinal slot in the footplates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2005
    Inventor: Randall Fenkel
  • Patent number: 6926683
    Abstract: A massaging apparatus that includes at least one massaging element in a housing and extending therefrom for use in manipulating a subject's tissue and further including a radiant heat source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2005
    Assignee: Tensor Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Michael Kochman, Amir Waldman
  • Patent number: 6881195
    Abstract: A massage device with rollers distributed in a plurality of roller shafts has a casing with a hollow opening top section, a pair of belts or chains at the left and right sides of the casing; a plurality of roller shafts inserted into the sleeves of the belts or chains. A plurality of rollers are installed on the roller shafts and the upper portion of each roller is protruded from the open section of the casing for massaging user. A plurality of transversal plates are placed in the casing. The transversal plates have driving gears and driven gears which are engaged to the belts. The gears are driven by a motor. Thereby, when the motor is actuated, the gears will be driven to rotate and thus the roller rotates. Thereby, by the massage device with rollers distributed in a plurality of roller shafts, the area of massage is larger by distributing the rollers on the open section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2005
    Inventor: Dong-Her Wu
  • Patent number: 6808500
    Abstract: This creation is to provide a kind of roller massager structure improvement, which is primarily consisting of a seat body, a drive motor, a sliding seat, a second drive motor and a rocker arm type massaging roller set. The massaging roller sets are pivoted at the ends of a drive rod and is driven by the second drive motor indirectly, which is characterized by two pilot end heads eccentrically fitted at the two ends of the drive rod respectively, while a pilot end head at one end is provided with a radial slot, together with a bolt installed on the drive rod, that pilot end head can rotate itself depending on the different rotating directions of the drive rod, thus change the relative attitude to the pilot end head at another end; through this, the entire set can accomplish the practical improvements of achieving motions of rising and sinking, as well as automatic switching between two massaging modes rocking and kneading.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2004
    Inventors: Yu Cheng-Yi, Huang Chia-Min
  • Publication number: 20040186399
    Abstract: A leg massage installation comprised of a roller to massage nerve centers on the foot; two pressboards fixed to the peripheral of a cam disk; the center of the camdisk being inserted onto a spherical part of a linkage shaft; a drive disk each fixed to both sides of the linkage shaft; one end of the linkage shaft being incorporated to the roller by means of a shift mechanism; the turning roller to drive the linkage shaft for reciprocal turning through the shift mechanism, and the drive disk twists for both pressboards to reciprocally swing towards the roller massage nerve centers on the feet and leg muscles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 17, 2003
    Publication date: September 23, 2004
    Inventor: Jung-Chun Tseng
  • Publication number: 20040171972
    Abstract: A massaging mechanism includes a first rotary shaft supported in a right-and-left direction, a pair of right and left swing arms relatively rotatably mounted on the first rotary shaft, a plurality of massaging heads each secured to an upper end portion and a lower end portion of each of the swing arms, a bracing member engaged with each of the swing arms so as to restrain the swing arm from rotating in connection with rotation of the first rotary shaft, a first operating mechanism for swinging the swing arms in opposite directions in the right-and-left direction to each other so that a right and left pair of massaging heads respectively secured to the upper end portions are moved toward each other while a pair of right and left the massaging heads respectively secured to the lower end portions of the swing arms are moved away from each other in the right-and-left direction, and vice versa, by means of the rotation of the first rotary shaft, and a second operating mechanism linked to the bracing member for rec
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 5, 2003
    Publication date: September 2, 2004
    Inventors: Nobuzo Shimizu, Satoru Shiraishi, Shu Lv
  • Patent number: 6758792
    Abstract: A waist-twisting machine includes a post, a fixing base, a moving mechanism, a hoop body and a hull. The fixing base is movably combined with the post to move up and down, and the moving mechanism is deposited in the fixing base, consisting of a power source to rotate a gear unit, which then rotates two rotating arms connected with an interacting arm to make a horizontal movement in a circle as a hula hoop does. The hoop body is connected with the interactive arm to be moved in the same track as the interactive arm, with numerous massage rollers fixed on an inner surface of the hoop body. Then a user standing in the hoop body can be compelled to move together with the hoop body, with the waist thus twisted and massaged at the same time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2004
    Inventor: Kuo-Yi Chang
  • Patent number: 6702766
    Abstract: Massage apparatus consisting of a treatment head connected to a suction circuit, the said treatment head comprising a box (B) that can be operated manually, comprising an internal chamber (C) open at its base, which chamber is defined by two fixed side walls (P1, P2) and two transverse surfaces (T1, T2) arranged facing one another between the two side walls (P1, P2), at least one of these surfaces (T1) consisting of the periphery of a roller (1) driven positively in rotation, the suction circuit opening into the said chamber (C) and making it possible to create suction when the apparatus is applied against the body of the patient, which suction tends to form a fold of skin pressing against the transverse surfaces (T1, T2), characterized in that the positive drive of the roller (1) is obtained via a geared motor unit mounted fixed and coaxially inside it, and in which the output shaft (5) of the reduction gear comprises means of coupling to the said roller (1), the said apparatus being associated with means fo
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2004
    Inventor: Louis-Paul Guitay
  • Publication number: 20040030274
    Abstract: A massage device with- rollers distributed in a plurality of roller shafts has a casing with a hollow opening top section, a pair of belts or chains at the left and right sides of the casing; a plurality of roller shafts inserted into the sleeves of the belts or chains. A plurality of rollers are installed on the roller shafts and the upper portion of each roller is protruded from the open section of the casing for massaging user. A plurality of transversal plates are placed in the casing. The transversal plates have driving gears and driven gears which are engaged to the belts. The gears are driven by a motor. Thereby, when the motor is actuated, the gears will be driven to rotate and thus the roller rotates. Thereby, by the massage device with rollers distributed in a plurality of roller shafts, the area of massage is larger by distributing the rollers on the open section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 8, 2002
    Publication date: February 12, 2004
    Inventor: Dong-Her Wu
  • Patent number: 6663540
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an improved treadmill which includes a massaging body suitable for massaging the soles of the feet and mounted on a base plate between a tread frame. A wear-resistant film is interposed between the walking belt and the massaging body so as to prevent the massaging body from abrasion. Accordingly, the soles of the feet are stimulated to achieve massaging effect by means of the massaging body when the operator treads on the walking belt for walking or jogging exercise.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2003
    Inventor: Ping-Hui Huang
  • Publication number: 20030225351
    Abstract: A pad structure of a back roller massage device comprises the following components. A bottom pad has a long concave portion. A long roller massage device is positioned at the concave portion. A plate-like frame has a size slightly larger than that of the roller massage device. The plate-like frame is exactly embedded into the concave portion of the bottom pad. A friction tolerant cloth pad has a size suitable for being placed into the plate-like frame so as to seal a top surface of the frame; thereby, the plate-like frame being tightly engaged into the concave portion of the bottom pad. The friction tolerant cloth pad completely encloses the top of the roller massage device. Only the rollers eject against the friction tolerant cloth pad so as to be formed as a top portion. Thereby, the roller massage device is hidden in the friction tolerant cloth pad.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2002
    Publication date: December 4, 2003
    Inventor: Dong-Her Wu
  • Publication number: 20030050578
    Abstract: A massage device includes a main body provided with a supporting groove in which a calf of a leg can be disposed, a sliding member slidably inserted into the main body, and a first massager for massaging the calf. The first massager is installed on a rear side of the supporting groove and includes an electric motor, a power transmission device for converting a rotational motion of the motor into a reciprocal motion, and a first massage member for massaging the calf while moving along the supporting groove. The first massage member is fixed on the power transmission device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 16, 2002
    Publication date: March 13, 2003
    Inventor: Jeong-Joo Suh
  • Patent number: 6517499
    Abstract: An massage device includes, within a suction enclosure, a first reversible motor having a power shaft output which provides input to a gear assembly for mechanically converting reciprocating rotational motion of a power shaft to reciprocating linear motion. This reciprocating linear motion is communicated to respective opposing massage applicator rollers to facilitate compressive and de-compressive action suitable for application to human tissue in the treatment of cellulite and related conditions. Disposed within the same housing as the first motor is a second reversible motor which, thru a belt system, selectably and synchronously rotates and counter-rotates both rollers independently of their compressive and de-compressive action. The suction function is actuated upon any operation of the second motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2003
    Inventor: Mercedes R. Pereira
  • Publication number: 20020156404
    Abstract: A massage device has a base casing, a cover casing engaging with the base casing, a driving mechanism disposed in the base casing, at least a rotating disk, and at least a massage ball set. The driving mechanism has a motor and at least a gear disk driven by the motor. A shaft is disposed on the gear disk. The massage ball set has a main rod, a three-way frame disposed on the main rod, and three rolling balls disposed on the three-way frame. The shaft is driven by the gear disk. The rotating disk is driven by the shaft. The massage ball set is driven by the rotating disk.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 23, 2001
    Publication date: October 24, 2002
    Inventor: Shu-Yu Kuo
  • Patent number: 6409690
    Abstract: A massage device for massaging feet of user has a rotary member rotatably supported on a base and having a number of massage projections for massaging the feet of the user. A handle is supported above the base for supporting the upper portion of the user. The upper surface of the rotary member is preferably upwardly curved for increasing the massaging effect of the massage projections. The handle may be stored in the bottom of the base. A latch may be used to selectively lock the rotary member to the base for preventing the rotary member from rotating relative to the base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2002
    Inventor: Sherry Chen
  • Patent number: 6402710
    Abstract: A motor-driven massaging bar is constructed to include a controller, a DC motor connected to and controlled by the controller, a shell fastened to the controller to hold the DC motor on the inside, and a massaging unit mounted on one end of the shell and coupled to the output shaft of the DC motor, the massaging unit including a shaft coupled to the output shaft of the DC motor, a ball holder, a bottom ball table and a top ball table fastened together to hold swivel balls around the periphery for massaging and supported on rolling steel balls at the ball holder, and a conical cap covered on the top ball table.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2002
    Inventor: Yu Hsu
  • Patent number: 6319212
    Abstract: a massaging apparatus (1) having a suction chamber (17) and having a pump (41) for the generation of a partial vacuum in the suction chamber (17) the pump (41) is mounted on a support (9) of the massaging apparatus (1) with the aid of elastic mounts (64, 65) and first noise reduction means (70) have been provided upstream of an inlet (50) of the pump (41) and second noise reduction means (71) have been provided downstream of an outlet (51) of the pump (41).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2001
    Assignee: U.S. Philips Corporation
    Inventors: Ingo Müller, Arthur Putzer, Frans Van Der Vinne
  • Patent number: 6312396
    Abstract: A massaging apparatus (1) comprising a housing (5) having a bottom wall (11) and a suction chamber (12) bounded by chamber walls (13, 14, 15, 16) and a pump (19) for the generation of a partial vacuum inside the suction chamber (12) and thus forming a skin fold (20) which is drawn into the suction space inside the suction chamber (12), as well as at least one roller (21, 22) to be placed onto a body area (3), comprises at least in an area of at least one wall (14), preferably a chamber wall (14), an apparatus part, preferably two cylinders (32, 33), which is movable with respect to this chamber wall (14), and these cylinders (32, 33) are movable, i.e. rotatable, with respect to the chamber wall (14) by the skin of the skin fold (20) drawn into the suction chamber (12), which results in only a comparatively low friction between the chamber wall (14) and the skin of the skin fold (20).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2001
    Assignee: U.S. Philips Corporation
    Inventor: Ingo Müller
  • Patent number: 6309364
    Abstract: The invention concerns a massage and skin suction apparatus comprising a housing whereof part (1a) of the wall is shaped to be used as a prehensile element and whereof the other part comprises at least a pair of parallel massaging rollers (6, 7) spaced from each other, each roller being mounted pivoting about its axis of revolution, said rollers (6, 7) being associated with means for driving them in rotation when they are in contact with the skin tissue, to exert thereon two opposed forces for pulling a portion of said tissue in the space separating them, in order to pinch it and a chamber connected to a suction source and provided with a suction aperture (4a), said suction aperture (4a) and said pair of massaging rollers (6, 7) being arranged on said housing for placing them simultaneously in contact with a portion of the skin tissue. The invention is characterised in that the edge of said suction aperture (4a) extends laterally at the peripheral surface of one (7) of said rollers (6, 7).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2001
    Assignee: SEB
    Inventors: Muriel Cathaud, Jean-Pascal Delay
  • Patent number: 6258048
    Abstract: An electric foot massaging assembly is provided including a slipper mount. A flexible slipper is positioned on the slipper mount with an opening formed in an upper extent thereof for receiving a foot therein. A roller assembly includes a plurality of rollers mounted on the slipper mount for massaging a foot within the slipper. A motor is included for rotating the rollers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2001
    Inventor: David L. Montague
  • Patent number: 6210349
    Abstract: A roller massaging apparatus includes a massaging portion having a plurality of bar-shaped rotatable rollers. The rollers are circumferentially mounted to the massaging portion at a certain interval. The roller massaging apparatus also includes a driving mechanism for rotating the massaging portion around an axis thereof and a stimulating member disposed at an upper side of the massaging portion. The stimulating member is pushed up by the rollers. A mutual positional relationship between the massaging portion and the stimulating member is changed by moving as least one of the massaging portion and the stimulating member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2001
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Works, Ltd.
    Inventors: Haruhiko Naruse, Keiji Hata, Yoshiyuki Miyake, Toyohito Hasegawa, Mikio Ito
  • Patent number: 6196984
    Abstract: A portable massage device having kneading, finger rolling and tapping rolling features, so as to provide three kinds of massage effects. In order to provide these massage effects, a driving mechanism is disposed on a fixed plate and includes a driven rotary shaft. The speed of the driving mechanism can be changed, and two drum shaped tube members are provided which include a plurality of kneading members. The drum shaped tube members are oriented adjacent opposite ends of the driven shaft, and a pair of round plates are provided at the inner ends of the respective drum shaped members so that kneading massage can be provided. Finger rolling and tapping rolling massage can be provided by the kneading members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2001
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Protec Fuji
    Inventor: Kouji Hashimoto
  • Patent number: 6117094
    Abstract: A massaging apparatus includes: a massaging unit movable along the height of a user on the back side of the user; a drive unit for moving the massaging unit along the height of the user; and a control unit for controlling the drive unit so as to position the massaging unit, the control unit including a storage part for storing position data of massaging effective spots as specified position data, and an execution part for reading a data item out of the specified position data and positioning the massaging unit based on the data item thus read.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2000
    Assignee: Family Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yasuo Fujii
  • Patent number: 5961475
    Abstract: A massage device that includes a casing having a pair of opposed transverse walls and side walls to define an open bottom chamber. The bottom of the transverse walls having convex edges extending the length of the opening. At least one of the transverse walls being capable of moving toward and away from the opposing transverse wall and a suction device is arranged to draw air through the chamber and thus draw skin into said chamber when the device is applied to a patient's body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 5, 1999
    Assignee: LPG Systems
    Inventor: Louis-Paul Guitay
  • Patent number: 5935088
    Abstract: A massaging apparatus includes a hollow housing having a centrally disposed hollow chamber with an opening at the bottom out of which extends two power driven rollers. A handle is provided on the housing in addition to a hollow extending portion communicating with the central chamber for connection to a vacuum source. A flywheel motor disposed within the hollow chamber is coupled to an auxiliary power source disposed within the hollow housing. A centrifugal squirrel cage fan is disposed on the motor shaft at one end with a driving pulley on the other end of the motor shaft that is coupled to the pair of elongated rollers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 10, 1999
    Inventor: Marguerite Bosley
  • Patent number: 5891064
    Abstract: In a massaging apparatus (1) with two rotatable rollers (14, 15), which are spaced apart transversely to their roller axes (16, 17), at least one of the rollers being rotationally drivable by a roller drive motor (25), and with a suction chamber (39) disposed in the area of the two rollers (14, 15) and communicating with a pump (50) via an air-transfer line (49) for generating a vacuum in the suction chamber (39) so as to form a skin fold (57) which is drawn into the suction chamber (39), there has been provided a control device (80), preferably formed by an electropneumatic vacuum switch, which is responsive to a partial vacuum and which communicates with the suction chamber (39), the roller drive motor (25) being adapted to be turned on under control of the control device (80) when a given vacuum is reached in the suction chamber (39).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 6, 1999
    Assignee: U.S. Philips Corporatiion
    Inventors: Johannes J. Van Herk, Albrecht Griesshammer
  • Patent number: 5807288
    Abstract: A pad type roller massager comprising an upper supporting bracket and a lower supporting brackets, an upper bracket cover and a lower bracket cover, a driving mechanism, a guiding column A, a sliding block, an eccentric motor, a positioning cover for motor, a position controller, a plurality of screws S, and a rollers assembly is provided. The upper and lower supporting brackets are connected by those pair of guiding column which are parallel with each other. A sliding block is moveably attached to the guiding columns and may move upward and downward along the guiding columns. The upper supporting bracket is enclosed with an upper bracket cover and the upper supporting bracket is rotationally disposed with a pulley therein. The lower supporting bracket is also enclosed with a lower bracket cover and the lower supporting bracket is disposed with a worm gear motor which in turn meshed with a worm gear having a pulley formed thereof. A belt is guided via the pulley and the worm gear having pulley.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 15, 1998
    Inventor: Dong-Her Wu
  • Patent number: 5792080
    Abstract: A massaging apparatus has a capability of self-adjusting a massage strength for giving an optimum massaging effect for individual users. The apparatus includes a supporting frame on which a user rest and an applicator projecting from the supporting frame to be pressed against a user's body. The applicator is driven to move for applying a massaging force to the user's body. A pressure sensor is provided to monitor a pressure applied back to the applicator from the user's body as a counter-action of applying the massaging force to the user's body and to provide an output indicative of the monitored pressure. A strength-adjustor is included to vary a projecting amount of the applicator from the supporting frame and/or an operational speed of moving the applicator in order to adjust a massage strength applied to the user's body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 11, 1998
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Works, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazumi Ookawa, Masatoshi Dairin, Haruo Sugai, Hikoyoshi Hara
  • Patent number: 5772615
    Abstract: An improved motorized foot massager having three pairs of massaging modules. Each pair of massaging modules is comprised of a centrally located motor and gear reduction assembly and a left and right set of massaging cams. Each cam set is comprised of a plurality of horizontally disposed shafts, each shaft having a plurality of off set cams. The front pair of massaging modules is intended for the toes and ball of the foot. The middle section is intended for the arch area and the Rear section is intended for the heal portion of the foot. The front and rear section are slidable and lockable so that the unit can be adjusted to a particular persons foot. A cloth housing covers the rotating cams to prevent a users toes from being pinched by the rotating cams. The center, arch massaging modules are able to be raised or lowered to accommodate for an individuals arch height. A heal guide attached to the rear massage modules helps a person place his or her foot in the proper location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 30, 1998
    Inventors: Bill M. Elder, Kenneth Tarlow
  • Patent number: 5769798
    Abstract: A massage apparatus includes a motor driving in rotation a drive shaft and a massage head. Supports for the massage head are adapted to allow axial movement and angular displacement of the massage head relative to the drive shaft. Furthermore, the radial and axial supports are fitted so as to actuate the massage head towards a stable equilibrium position and to permit axial movement and angular displacements of the massage head from the equilibrium position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 1995
    Date of Patent: June 23, 1998
    Inventor: Jean Frajdenrajch
  • Patent number: 5769799
    Abstract: A massaging support device for a body has two separately controllable massaging zones. A plurality of generally cylindrical rollers extend transversely across first and second support frames and are arranged in substantially parallel relationship. One set of rollers is provided with a central circumferential depression to align with the spine of the body when cradled in or on the support device. The rollers are provided with eccentric journals which cause the rollers to raise and lower against the body during rotation. By controlling the speed and direction of the roller rotation enhanced massaging is achieved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 23, 1998
    Inventor: Dallas K. Daughtry
  • Patent number: 5759163
    Abstract: A breast massager including: (a) a cup for supporting a breast, the cup having an inner surface for supporting the breast, a tip corresponding to the tip of the breast, and an opening at the tip of the cup; (b) a rotator attached to the tip of the cup, the rotator having a rotating shaft protruding into the cup via the opening at the tip of the cup; (c) at least one flexible rod having a length, a first end and a second end, the first end of the rod being attached to the rotating shaft of the rotator in the cup, the rod being capable of conforming to the inner surface of the cup; and (d) a plurality of skin-contacting elements attached to the rod along the length of the rod; wherein, the rotator is capable of sweeping the rod along at least a portion of the inner surface of the cup to roll the skin-contacting elements against a breast supported by the inner surface of the cup.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 2, 1998
    Inventor: Jong H. Hwang
  • Patent number: 5755677
    Abstract: A guide unit (4) is held by a holding unit (1) in a predetermined state and has a guide section (4e). A travelling unit (21a, 21b) is so mounted on the guide section (4e) as to be freely run. The travelling unit (21a, 21b) is driven, by a drive unit (10), in reciprocatory motion along the guide section (4e). Roller supports (35) are mounted on the travelling unit (21a, 21b) and massage rollers (53) are mounted on the roller support (35) such that their rotation center lies in a direction intersecting with a run direction of the travelling unit (21a, 21b). At least one of the roller support (35) and massage roller (53) is rotatably mounted on the travelling unit (21a, 21b).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 26, 1998
    Assignee: France Bed Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Teruo Masuda, Shoji Ohshita, Fumihiro Yoshidome
  • Patent number: 5711758
    Abstract: A handy body massager including a casing defining a substantially U-shaped handle, a barrel supported on rollers in two roller holders between two opposite ends of the handle and having massaging rollers supported on roller racks around the periphery and a fixed connecting block on the inside, a motor fixedly mounted in a motor chamber at one end of the handle, a reducing gear coupled to the motor shaft of the motor and having an output shaft fixedly connected to a connecting block of the barrel and adapted for turning the barrel upon the operation of the motor, a massaging disk coupled to the output shaft of the reduction gear outside the casing and having a plurality of massaging rollers turned about a respective wheel axle at an outer side for massaging.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 27, 1998
    Inventor: James Tseng
  • Patent number: 5474521
    Abstract: A foot sole massager includes a machine base supported on the ground by stands. A center opening is provided in the base, and two handrails extend upward at two opposite sides. Two lines of different massaging rods are arranged within the center opening. A first massaging rod includes plurality of raised portions, and a second massaging rod includes a plurality of tubular portions arranged in parallel. Each tubular portion includes a through hole, so that the second massaging rod is elastically deformable. A slide plate is disposed in contact with the massaging rods, and a motor is controlled to reciprocate the slide plate through an eccentric wheel and a link, causing the slide plate to turn the massaging rods to massage the user's soles. An adjusting mechanism is provided to change the turning angle of the massaging elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 1994
    Date of Patent: December 12, 1995
    Inventor: Hsi-Hsin Yang