Foot massager

• US 4,198,962 A
• Filed: 05/26/1978
• Issued: 04/22/1980
• Est. Priority Date: 05/26/1978
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Kerry Mccauley
• Original Assignee: Kerry Mccauley
• Inventors: McCauley, Kerry
• Primary Examiner(s): Trapp, Lawrence W.
• Application Number:
  US05/909,762
• Time in Patent Office: 697 Days
• Field of Search: 128/57, 128/25 B, 128/24.3, 128/36, 128/33
• US Class Current: 601/63
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 15/00 Massage by means of rollers, balls, e.g. inflatable, chains, or roller chains
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2015/0028 disc-like, i.e. diameter substantially greater than width
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2015/005 multiple on the same axis
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2205/12 Feet
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 23/02 with electric or magnetic drive

Abstract

An improved foot massage device having a plurality of rotatable balls forming a generally convex surface. The balls are mounted on parallel bars in turn supported in a frame suitable for placement on the floor. A detachable electric vibrator is mounted within the frame to impart a vibrating and massaging action to the balls through the frame. The user merely places his foot upon the massager and moves the foot back and forth to have a gentle massaging and vibrating action imparted to the foot. Mounted on the frame is a generally vertical conical spindle that is rotatable and formed to impart the massaging and vibrating action to the arch of the foot when placed in contact with the spindle.

The vibrator is conveniently detachable from the underside of the foot massager. Attachable to the vibrator are a general massage attachment and a special spinal roller attachment.

In an alternate version the rows of balls are staggered to provide a lateral squeezing and stretching action to the foot simultaneous with the up and down longitudinal squeezing and stretching as the foot is moved over the balls. In this version the balls may be separate or in the form of beaded rollers.

Claims

1. A foot massager comprising a supporting frame, a plurality of parallel rods and a plurality of rotatable balls mounted on the rods, the rods being attached to the frame to dispose the balls into a generally convex arcuate massaging surface, and a detachable vibrator attached to the frame beneath the massaging surface and located within the frame, the vibrator attachment means being adapted to transmit vibrational energy to the frame and thereby to the balls, the improvement characterized by,

the attachment means including a pair of parallel rods located beneath the massaging surface and rigidly attached to the frame, a plurality of grips adapted to engage the pair of parallel rods and means to retain the grips in tight engagement with the pair of parallel rods for the transmission of vibrational energy to the frame.

2. The foot massager of claim 1 including a rotatable spindle attached to the frame and extending above the convex arcuate massaging surface, the spindle being substantially formed as a concave truncated conical surface of revolution.

3. The foot massager of claim 1 wherein the means to retain the grips in tight engagement include a symmetric clip engageable with the pair of parallel rods.

4. The foot massager of claim 1 including a hand held general massage attachment comprising a frame adapted to engage the vibrator when detached from the foot massager frame, a plurality of rods mounted on the massage attachment frame, a plurality of rotatable balls mounted on the rods, and the attachment means being adapted to tightly engage the massage attachment frame for the transmission of vibrational energy to the frame and balls.

5. The foot massager of claim 4 wherein the attachment means include a plurality of grips adapted to engage the massage attachment frame and a separate clip to retain the massage attachment frame to the vibrator.

6. The foot massager of claim 1 including a spinal massage attachment comprising a frame adapted to engage the vibrator, a plurality of rods mounted on the spinal massage attachment frame and a plurality of rotatable rollers mounted on the rods, the rollers formed with a convex surface of revolution on a portion thereof and a concave surface of revolution on another portion thereof, and the attachment means adapted to tightly engage the spinal massage attachment frame for the transmission of vibrational energy to the frame and rollers.

7. The foot massager of claim 6 wherein the attachment means include a plurality of grips adapted to engage the spinal massage attachment frame and a separate clip to retain the spinal massage attachment frame to the vibrator.

8. The foot massager of claim 1 including dual rotatable spindles attached to the frame on opposite sides of the massager and extending above the convex arcuate massaging surface, the spindles being substantially formed as a concave truncated conical surface of revolution.

15. The foot massager of claim 4 wherein the balls on a rod of the general massage attachment are positioned in staggered relation to the balls on the next adjacent rod.

9. A foot massager comprising a supporting frame, a plurality of parallel rods and a plurality of rotatable balls mounted on the rods, the rods being attached to the frame to dispose the balls into a generally convex arcuate massaging surface and the balls on a rod being positioned in staggered relation to the balls on the next adjacent rod, a rotatable spindle attached to the frame and extending above the convex arcuate massaging surface, said rotatable spindle being substantially formed as a non-cylindrical surface of revolution.

10. The foot massager of claim 9 wherein the rotatable spindle is substantially formed as a concave truncated conical surface of revolution.

11. The foot massager of claim 10 wherein two spindles are mounted on opposite sides of the frame.

12. A foot massager comprising a supporting frame, a plurality of parallel rods and a plurality of rotatable beaded rollers mounted on the rods, the rods being attached to the frame to dispose the beaded rollers into a generally convex arcuate massaging surface and the beaded roller on a rod being positioned to place the beads in staggered relation to the beads of the next adjacent roller, a rotatable spindle attached to the frame and extending above the convex arcuate massaging surface, said rotatable spindle being substantially formed as a non-cylindrical surface of revolution.

13. The foot massager of claim 12 wherein the rotatable spindle is substantially formed as a concave truncated conical surface of revolution.

14. The foot massager of claim 13 wherein two spindles are mounted on opposite sides of the frame.