Foot massager

• US 4,347,838 A
• Filed: 03/10/1980
• Issued: 09/07/1982
• 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): Pinkham, Richard C.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Moy, Carl
• Application Number:
  US06/128,501
• Time in Patent Office: 911 Days
• Field of Search: 15/110, 15/188, 15/215, 128/24 R, 128/24.3, 128/28, 128/33, 128/44, 128/51-57, 128/60, 128/62 R, 128/64, 128/67-69, 128/80 R, 128/80 D, 128/581, 128/582, 128/205.25, 128/38, 128/39, 272/96
• 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 2015/005 multiple on the same axis
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2205/12 Feet
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 23/02 with electric or magnetic drive
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 7/00 Devices for suction-kneading massage; Devices for massaging the skin by rubbing or brushing not otherwise provided for electro-medical massage devices applying electric current by contact A61N1/18

Abstract

The invention comprises 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. The beaded rollers may be mounted on the parallel bars or formed with integral stub shafts inserted in socket holes in the frame.

Claims

1. A foot massager comprising a supporting frame, a plurality of non-cylindrical beaded rollers rotatably attached to the frame to dispose the beaded rollers into a generally convex arcuate massaging surface and positioned to place the beads in staggered relation to the beads of the next adjacent roller, and 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.

2. The foot massager of claim 1 wherein the rotatable spindle is substantially formed as a convex truncated conical surface of revolution.

3. The foot massager of claim 1 wherein the rotatable spindle is substantially formed as a concave truncated conical surface of revolution.

4. The foot massager of claims 1, 2 or 3 wherein two spindles are mounted on opposite sides of the frame.

5. The foot massager of claim 1 wherein at least one roller is formed with a stub shaft extending therefrom and the frame is formed with a socket to engage the stub shaft.

6. The foot massager of claim 5 wherein an antifriction bushing engages the stub shaft and socket.