Abstract:
A therapeutic bed includes a body support apparatus having first and second ends and extends longitudinally therebetween. A wave production mechanism causes transverse waves to repetitively form and travel at a predetermined amplitude and a predetermined periodicity along a longitudinal axis of the body support from the second end to the first end thereof. The new bed is intended to decrease the occurrence of pressure sores upon a body supported on the bed by periodically varying the pressure asserted along the length of the body support apparatus against a body supported thereon.
Abstract:
An apparatus for full length and localized massage of a user's body includes a bed structure having a housing defining an interior chamber, a liquid reservoir basin beneath the chamber, and an upwardly-facing opening horizontally across which a resiliently flexible membrane is sealingly affixed in tensioned condition to form a user body support surface. The reservoir basin contains a quantity of a massage liquid, preferably water, with the remainder of the chamber being filled with air. A massage head having multiple liquid emission openings therein is disposed within the chamber for lengthwise traversing travel with the emission openings facing the membrane. A pump communicates with the reservoir basin and with a downstream series of conduits connected to the massage head for withdrawing the massage liquid from the reservoir basin and supplying the liquid under pressure to the massage head for emission against the underside of the membrane to transmit a massaging effect to the body of a user laying thereon.
Abstract:
A bed-type massaging apparatus having an elongate frame with a middle hinge so that the frame divides the bed into two parts which can be folded one over onto the other. A pair of roller-type massaging devices are supported on each of the frame halves and include rollers which extend transversely of the bed. Rotatable drive shafts extend transversely adjacent opposite ends of the bed and have drive wheels on the ends thereof joined together by endless driving belts or chains which extend longitudinally along opposite sides of the bed. These chains join to carriages associated with the massaging devices so that the massaging devices can be simultaneously moved in a pattern whereby they are simultaneously moved inwardly toward the center of the bed and then outwardly away from the center of the bed. A single drive motor is provided for driving one of the shafts.
Abstract:
A planar body stimulating assembly that includes a plurality of rows of spheroidal silicon rubber members connected by a single cable having ends alternately pulled by a single reciprocating shock absorbing tension assembly.
Abstract:
In the representative embodiment of the present invention described herein, several new and improved methods and apparatus are disclosed for simultaneously massaging the upper and lower back portions of a person lying face-up in a supine position on an upwardly-facing surface.
Abstract:
A passive exercise machine has a head pad on which the patient's head rests, two shoulder pads on which the patient's right and left shoulders respectively rest, two buttock pads on which the patient's right and left buttock respectively rest, and two foot pads. The aforesaid seven pads move respecting each other in predetermined ways. Two hip pads are mounted on the two buttock pads respectively. The right hip pad presses tightly against the outside of the patient's body at the right hip, and the left hip pad presses tightly against the outside of the patient's body at the left hip. Hence, the two hip pads, working together, provide a repetitive squeezing and loosening action against the patient's hips. Weighted midriff and waist belts are wrapped around the patient to cause friction over the upper torso and waist areas, and to create more strenuous exercise and a faster weight loss. An adjustable reciprocating arm over the head pad is provided.
Abstract:
A massaging apparatus comprises a pair of massaging wheels obliquely and eccentrically attached to a main shaft, a shifting mechanism for shifting the massaging wheels and main shaft in the direction of the length of a chair back rest or a bed, and a spacing changing mechanism for changing the spacing between the massaging wheels. The apparatus is designed to detect the position of the pair of massaging wheels and the spacing therebetween. It further comprises position selecting switches associated with the neck, shoulders, back and waist of the human body. When any one of these position selecting switches is operated, the shifting mechanism and the spacing changing mechanism as well as the rotative direction of the main shaft are automatically controlled in accordance with the detected shifted position and spacing of the massaging wheels.
Abstract:
A massaging apparatus comprises a series of massaging wheels mounted on a rotary shaft. A shifting shaft is arranged coaxially within the rotary shaft for shifting the latter in directions perpendicular to the rotary axis. A motor is coupled to both the rotary shaft and shifting shaft by means of a compact planetary type gearing which enables power to be split between the two shafts in an efficient manner so as to eliminate the need for the usual clutching mechanisms and their accompanying size and weight.
Abstract:
A vibrator mechanism, including a transducer and driving circuit, particularly adapted to vibrating a waterbed, includes two independently controlled vibration sources, each of which can generate vibration of varying amplitude and frequency. These two sources are typically mounted at opposite ends of a waterbed frame and vibrated at different frequencies so that interference waves may be produced within the water of the bed to produce a pleasing effect for the user. Additional circuitry is described which provides a time varying frequency and amplitude for each of the vibrators, and this circuitry is in turn controlled by a clock circuit so that, by using the time varying frequency and amplitude, the user may be slowly lulled to sleep or slowly awakened using the vibration within the waterbed as a stimulus for controlling the rate of falling asleep and waking up.
Abstract:
A massage arrangement includes a frame positioned against a vertical wall and a plurality of massage rollers to apply a massaging force to a body to be massaged. This body is located in a substantially vertical position between lateral sides of the frame. The frame is slanted and supported by a resilient member mounted between the wall and the upper end of the frame. The resilient member generates a force which yieldably supports the frame so the massage rollers may yield in direction away from the body to be massaged upon the advancing movement of the massage rollers in contact with the projecting parts of the human body.