Per the Smithsonian: Burton Skiles, of California, applied for a trademark on the term Relaxacizor in 1946, explaining that it referred to “ELECTRICAL DEVICES USED IN MUSCLE EXERCISING BY MEANS OF INTERRUPTED ELECTRIC CURRENTS.” Introduced to the market in 1949, the Relax-A-Cizor was touted as “An Easy Way to Reduce HIPS and ABDOMEN / No Diet / No Drugs / No Heat / No Massage.” William Jack Browner, also of California, obtained a patent on the gizmo in 1953. In April 1970, having become convinced that the device was dangerous, judge William P. Gray issued a permanent injunction against its sale.
Photo by Diamond.