Stick-slip frictional swivel coupling for a massage tool reciprocated at forced frequency
OwnerEddy Arnold WILLIAMSinventor
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Abstract
A hand-held massaging system includes a swivel coupling for removably attaching a massage tool to a reciprocating motor having a shaft having a stroke axis and a stroke length. The swivel coupling consists of a thrust journal and a cylindrical cup, an inner diameter of the cup providing a swivel bearing and bottom of the cup forming a thrust bearing. When the shaft reciprocates at a forced frequency, the thrust journal is retained within the cup by stick-slip friction that allows the thrust journal to swivel within the cup and to slip along the stroke axis. The thrust journal and cup attach between the massage tool and the shaft.
Claims20
A swivel coupling for removably coupling a massage tool to a reciprocating shaft of a reciprocating motor, the shaft having a stroke axis and a stroke length, the swivel coupling comprising:
- a cup having a swivel bearing, a thrust bearing, a rim, and a coupling diameter;
- and
- a thrust journal stick-slip frictionally fit to the cup allowing the thrust journal to swivel within the swivel bearing and to slip along the stroke axis during reciprocation of the shaft.
The swivel coupling of 11, wherein the friction spring is integrally formed on the thrust journal, the friction spring having one or more attached friction shoes that engage the swivel bearing and extend within the slip groove.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.