Vibrating footwear

• US 5,592,759 A
• Filed: 01/26/1995
• Issued: 01/14/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 01/26/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Co-Jo Sports, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Co-Jo Sports, Inc.
• Inventors: Cox, Donald R.
• Primary Examiner(s): KAVANAUGH, JOHN T
• Application Number:
  US08/378,560
• Time in Patent Office: 719 Days
• Field of Search: 36/141, 36/136, 36/132, 36/137
• US Class Current: 36/141
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 1/0054 provided with magnets, magnetic parts or magnetic substances
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 3/00 Footwear characterised by the shape or the use
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 3/34 with electrical or electronic arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 7/146 provided with acupressure points or means for foot massage
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2205/12 Feet
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 23/0263 using rotating unbalanced masses

Abstract

An article of footwear made to vibrate by either of two types of vibrating motive members and associated with the structure of the shoe to transmit the vibrations generated to the foot of the wearer. Two vibrating motive members are described, a motor having an off-center shaft-mounted weight and pulsating-type motor.

Claims

1. A shoe comprising;

a shoe upper;

a sole having a sole cavity opening within the sole;

a removable member intermediate the sole and sole cavity and a wearer'"'"'s foot;

a motor assembly inserted at least partially into the cavity and releasably mounted within the sole cavity and having a generally flat surface to both support the removable member and transfer vibration from the motor assembly to the wearer'"'"'s foot and the shoe through the removable member;

a battery operated vibrating means included with the motor assembly and located within the cavity; and

an actuator switch.

2. The shoe as defined in claim 1 wherein the vibrating means is a motor having an off-center shaft mounted weight.

3. The shoe as defined in claim 1 wherein the vibrating means is a pulsation device.

4. The shoe as defined in claim 3 wherein the pulsation device further includes a frequency, pulse and amplitude regulation device.

5. The shoe as defined in claim 1 wherein the vibration transfer member further comprises an arch projection to enhance transfer of the vibrating means vibrations.

6. The shoe as defined in claim 1 wherein the actuator switch is integral to the vibration means.

7. The shoe as defined in claim 6 wherein an outer sole further comprises an aperture to allow the user access to the actuator switch.

8. The shoe as defined in claim 1 wherein the actuator switch consists of a magnetic switch in combination with a spring loaded magnetic plunger.

9. The shoe as defined in claim 1 wherein the vibrating means further includes a timer for providing a desired a duration of vibration produced by the vibrating means.

10. The shoe as defined in claim 1 wherein the vibrating means further comprises a self-cooling fan assembly, wherein the fan assembly disturbs air proximate the rotating shaft which acts to cool the vibration means and the surrounding space.

11. The shoe as defined in claim 1 further including a ventilation system to cool the user'"'"'s foot, wherein the vibrating means includes a rotating shaft, wherein a portion of the rotating shaft disturbs air proximate the rotating shaft which acts to cool the surrounding space and therefore the user'"'"'s foot proximate the space.