# US 12,005,022 B2 · Massage tool rotatably attachable to a reciprocating motor > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,005,022 B2 - Document ID: US12005022B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 18/083,955 - Filed: 2022-12-19 - Published: 2023-06-15 - Granted: 2024-06-11 - Earliest claimed: 2019-04-08 - Applicants: Eddy Arnold Williams - Inventors: Eddy Arnold Williams - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12005022B2 ## CPC - A61H 23/02: with electric or magnetic drive - A61H 23/0254: {with rotary motor} - A61H 23/006: {Percussion or tapping massage (hand percussion A61H23/06)} - A61H 2023/002: {having a percussion element combined with a passive spacer element for bearing against the skin} - A61H 2201/0153: hand-held - A61H 2201/1207: with electric or magnetic drive - A61H 2201/149: rotation-linear or vice versa - A61H 2201/1678: Means for angularly oscillating massage elements - A61H 2201/1692: Enhanced rubbing effect - A61H: PHYSICAL THERAPY APPARATUS, e.g. DEVICES FOR LOCATING OR STIMULATING REFLEX POINTS IN THE BODY; ARTIFICIAL RESPIRATION; MASSAGE; BATHING DEVICES FOR SPECIAL THERAPEUTIC OR HYGIENIC PURPOSES OR SPECIFIC PARTS OF THE BODY (electrotherapy, magnetotherapy, radiation therapy or ultrasound therapy A61N) ## Abstract A massage tool includes a rod having a proximal end and a distal end, and a body follower having a proximal side and a distal side. The proximal end is configured for attachment to a reciprocating shaft of a reciprocating motor. The reciprocating shaft has a stroke axis and a stroke length, and the distal end of the rod is configured to rotatably attach to the proximal side of the body follower by means of a rotating joint defining a center of rotation. The distal side of the body follower may include a body contact area having a maximum length at least three times greater than a minimum distance from the center of rotation of the rotating joint to the body contact area. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A massaging apparatus, comprising: a hand-held reciprocating motor having a shaft configured to reciprocate along a stroke axis; a rod having a proximal end couplable to the shaft to maintain the rod in axial alignment therewith, and one or more distal ends attaching one or more body followers symmetrically disposed about a plane passing through the stroke axis, each of the one or more body followers configured to contact a body surface of a patient; and a swivel formed in the rod and configured to allow the rod to swivel around the stroke axis in response to the one or more body followers being translated against and around contours of the body surface. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The massaging apparatus of claim 1, wherein the swivel allows an operator to guide the one or more body followers about the body surface while maintaining the one or more body followers in contact with the body surface. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The massaging apparatus of claim 2, further configured to allow the operator to maintain the one or more body followers in contact with the body surface by adjusting an angle of the stroke axis with respect to the body surface. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The massaging apparatus of claim 1, wherein the swivel allows the one or more body followers to turn on the stroke axis in response to opposing forces generated from the one or more body followers engaging the body surface. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The massaging apparatus of claim 1, wherein the swivel allows the operator to turn the reciprocating motor about the stroke axis without causing the one or more body followers to turn on the body surface. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The massaging apparatus of claim 1, wherein the proximal end of the rod is removably couplable to the shaft by friction-fit. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The massaging apparatus of claim 1, wherein the proximal end of the rod is removably couplable to the shaft by friction acting between the rod and the shaft. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The massaging apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an o-ring providing friction acting between the rod and the shaft. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The massaging apparatus of claim 1, wherein a coupling, coupling the rod to the shaft, comprises the swivel. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The massaging apparatus of claim 1, wherein each of the one or more body followers defines a body contact area. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The massaging apparatus of claim 1, wherein each of the one or more body followers is connected to one of the distal ends of the rod by a rotating joint. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The massaging apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a rotating joint on at least one of the distal ends of the rod. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The massaging apparatus of claim 12, wherein the rotating joint and the swivel allow the distal side of each of the one or more body followers to remain parallel with a body surface being massaged as an angle of one of the body followers with respect to the stroke axis is varied by an operator. ### Claim 14 A tool, comprising: a hand-held reciprocating motor having a linear stroke axis; a contact area symmetrically disposed about a plane passing through the stroke axis; and a swivel coupling the contact area to the reciprocating motor, the swivel configured to allow the contact area to swivel around the stroke axis in response to the contact area being translated by hand against and around contours of an external surface. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The tool of claim 14, wherein the swivel allows the contact area in contact with the external surface to turn on the linear stroke axis in response to opposing forces generated between the contact area and the external surface. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The tool of claim 15, wherein the swivel allows an operator to turn the reciprocating motor about the linear stroke axis without causing the contact area to turn on the external surface. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The tool of claim 15, wherein the contact area comprises a curve, allowing the contact area to slide along the surface while reciprocating against the external surface. ### Claim 18 (depends on 14) The tool of claim 14, further comprising a plurality of contact areas disposed about the linear stroke axis.