This invention concerns a method of and means to achieve deep relaxation through extremely light tactile stimulation for the skin comprising a rack with filaments extending downwardly therefrom capable of being moved in more than one repetitive pattern and speed over the skin of the user.

A body massaging apparatus is described herein which includes a plurality of separate stroking devices and a remote power-pack device for energizing and controlling the stroking devices. All of the stroking devices comprise variable speed electric motors for moving stroking tools at gradually adjustable speeds. A rotating-type stroking-device comprises a universal attaching member which is capable of being attached directly to various types of limp, flexible, stroking materials for rotating them. In one embodiment the universal attaching member is a clamp. A clasping-type stroking device comprises a housing with an elongated jaw member pivotally attached to the housing. The variable speed motor is used to pivot the elongated jaw member toward and away from a jaw portion of the housing. Both the jaw member and the jaw portion are constructed with soft outer coverings thereon. A gripping-type stroking device comprises a housing with two gripping members, each having at least two gripping arms, extending outwardly from the housing. The variable speed motor drives the gripping members to pivot back-and-forth, about pivot points on the housing, thereby causing the gripping members to have backward and forward stroking motions. In one embodiment the two gripping members are moving in phase and in another embodiment their motion is 180.degree. out of phase. A rotational/swinging stroking device comprises a cylindrical helical-spring stroking tool which can be both rotated along a longitudinal axis or pivoted in a swinging motion. Also disclosed is a stand which can be used to mount the stroking tools of this invention at desired locations on a human body. The stroking tool stand comprises pliable legs and suction cups.

A device to physically massage a person, the subject lying in a horizontal position and the massaging device positioned over the subject. The massager is comprised of an outer cage in the form of a rectangular cubed structure and an inner carriage in the form of a square frame which is positioned within the cage. The inner carriage, fitted with and mounted on bearings, traverses horizontally toward and away from patient, on guiding tracks, tracks being rigidly mounted in outer cage, this movement being provided by a motor driven crank. The above mentioned carriage assembly houses 4 horizontally-mounted elongated arms, which are rectangular in form, extending out beyond the cage's perimeter and which are raised vertically by a motor driven crankshaft, then dropped by gravity on patient. A spring-assisted adjustable device is incorporated to effect the intensity of the arm drop weight on a patient. The above described massaging apparatus is mounted on an upright cylindrical pipe structure to facilitate its movement in a horizontal oscillating motion by a motor-mounted crank arm.

Massage apparatus for simulating a hand massage by a masseuse including a bracket having a plurality of flexible massage fingers for contact with the torso. The bracket is simultaneously reciprocal in a horizontal and vertical direction and can oscillate as the fingers massage the torso.

A massaging apparatus (28) which is designed to be located within the space (26) under a bed (20). The massaging apparatus (28) includes a mounting arm (108) which can be moved from the space (26) under the bed (20) and pivoted to an upright position. When in the upright position an elongated arm (32) is connected to the mounting arm (108) and pivotable in a direction toward and away from the bed (20). The elongated arm (32) includes a massaging device (50) mounted on its outer end thereof. The massaging device (50) is to be capable of being separately driven in a reciprocating manner. The elongated arm (32) is to be appropriately counterbalanced (198) so that the massaging device (50) will apply a slight downward pressure onto the human (22) who is being massaged. The mounting arm (108) is to be moved over a preprogrammed path (48) which will also move the massaging device (50) in the same path on the body of the human (22).