Acupressure apparatus

An acupressure apparatus includes a tub configured to receive the user's feet for acupressure treatment, an acupressure station having a pair of designated foot placing areas for facilitating accurate positioning of the feet on the acupressure station, a plurality of upward projections formed on an upper surface of the acupressure station, and a plurality of watering holes formed around the projections, and a water supply conduit connected to the bottom wall of the tub for supplying compressed water by operation of a water pump. The watering holes formed in the acupressure station are directed to acupressure points of the feet such that the compressed water delivered through the watering holes provides acupressure stimulations to the acupressure points of the feet.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a system and apparatus for providing massage and therapeutic effects to a human body by applying acupressure treatments to a body part of a user. More particularly, the present invention relates to an acupressure system capable of providing acupressure massage effects onto the human feet by applying a pressurized water spray through a plurality of nozzle holes oriented to acupressure points of the body part, in particular, the feet, thereby, providing therapeutic and healing effects to the human body. The effects may include soothing and relaxation of the body and mind, promoting blood circulation, reducing body pains, and relieving abnormal symptoms and curing diseases, and so on.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Acupressure is recognized as an old oriental therapy and healing method which originated in Asia a long time ago. It uses the same or similar principles as acupuncture, but does not use needles for the treatment. Acupressure typically utilizes the technique pressing acupressure points on the human body, such as the feet, hands, and face, etc.

According to the oriental medical principles, the feet and hands of the human body include corresponding points or regions that are connected to all important organs of the body, and typical oriental acupressure techniques (or reflexology techniques) address effective methods on how to apply a suitable amount of pressure on specific points on the body parts to promote human health or prevent diseases, based on the knowledge that applying pressure on such pressure points for a certain duration helps the circulation of the energy and blood flow in the human body and corresponding organs thereof.

FIG. 9illustrates a foot reflexology chart showing acupressure points or acupressure regions in the feet, along with indications of related body organs and/or symptoms to be treated or relieved by applying physical pressures thereon.

Based on the reflexology techniques, acupressure therapists often press such acupressure points in the feet of their patients using tools (such as wooden sticks) and fingertips, for example, using the distal tip areas of their thumbs, index and middle fingers. However, such acupressure treatments require specialized acupressure and reflexology skills and techniques by the specialists thereof. They also need regular, repetitive, and time and efforts consuming works to achieve their intended objectives of the acupressure treatments.

As one example of such acupressure devices, an acupressure mat is known in the art, which has a plurality of upward projections arranged on the mat in regular pattern, for example, by arranging the projections aligned in multiple rows and columns. The acupressure mat is often put on the floor in front of a kitchen sink to provide acupressure stimulations on the feet of the users doing the kitchen work while standing on the mat. Another known acupressure device is a pair of sandals or slippers with a plurality of upward projections arranged on the upper sole surface in regular pattern to provide acupressure effects on the wearer. These acupressure devices may provide beneficial massage effects to a certain degree. However, it may be difficult to obtain noticeable therapeutic results to the users as the optimal acupressure points for the particular persons cannot effectively be pressed or stimulated due to the limitations by the regularly arranged pattern of the projections since the pattern does not match or correspond to the specific acupressure points of the feet.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, in consideration to handle or overcome aforementioned and other shortcomings of the conventional acupressure devices and techniques thereof, the present invention is directed to novel systems and related methods thereof, that are capable of providing effective acupressure stimulations onto the human feet utilizing pressurized spraying water, more particularly, by squirting pressurized water directed through a plurality of nozzle holes that are directed to specific acupressure points of the feet, thereby, effectively providing therapeutic and healing effects to the human body, such as relaxing the body, promoting blood circulation, and reducing body pains, and relieving abnormal symptoms, and so on.

According to an aspect of the invention, an acupressure apparatus includes a tub having a side wall member and a bottom wall member and configured to receive the feet of a user in the tub for acupressure treatment; an acupressure station positioned in the tub, the acupressure station having a pair of designated foot placing areas for facilitating accurate positioning of the feet of the user on the acupressure station for acupressure treatment, a plurality of upward projections of predetermined heights formed on an upper surface of the acupressure station, and a plurality of watering holes formed in the upper surface of the acupressure station beside the projections; and a water supply conduit connected to the bottom wall member of the tub for supplying compressed water by operation of a water pump connected to the water supply conduit. The watering holes formed in the upper surface of the acupressure station are directed to acupressure points of the feet such that the compressed water delivered through the watering holes of the acupressure station provides acupressure stimulations to the acupressure points of the feet.

According to one preferred embodiment, the acupressure station of the apparatus has a water distribution pipe system coupled thereto, and the water distribution pipe system includes at least one main conduit of bigger conduit size, and a plurality of branch conduits of smaller conduit size in fluid communication with the main conduit, with said branch conduits being connected, in fluid communication, to the plurality of watering holes.

The main conduit of the water distribution pipe system may include a central conduit running outwardly from a central area and a circumferential conduit running along a circumferential area, and the branch conduits are directed in radially inward directions from the circumferential conduit.

According to another preferred embodiment, the acupressure station of the apparatus includes an upper panel having a plurality of upward projections and a plurality of watering holes on an upper surface of the upper panel, and a lower panel securely attached under the upper panel, with a water chamber defined between the upper panel and the lower panel, and wherein the water chamber is in fluid communication with the plurality of watering holes.

The upper panel preferably has a planar lower surface, and the lower panel has a raised flange area and a lowered base portion which forms the water chamber when the lower panel is securely attached under the upper panel.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

With reference to the drawings, an acupressure apparatus, in particular, a foot acupressure apparatus of the present invention, and components for the apparatus are described and illustrated herein according to the principles of the invention. Even though the present invention is particularly described in connection with a foot acupressure apparatus and related methods thereof, it is not limited thereto and may be applied to other similar acupressure apparatuses, such as a hand acupressure apparatus utilizing the same and similar acupressure principles and concepts disclosed in this application, or that can otherwise be derived or recognizable, without undue experiments, upon reading the full disclosure of the application. Thus, it is intended that the foot acupressure apparatus and related methods of foot care described in this invention disclosure can also be used for similar acupressure apparatuses and associated methods for treating other body parts such as hands.

Referring toFIGS. 1-3, the acupressure apparatus according to one preferred embodiment of the present invention is depicted and described herein for illustrating the principles of the invention and main components of the apparatus. It is noted that the acupressure apparatuses of the present invention (including the embodiments ofFIGS. 4-8) can be constructed and suitably used as a part of commercial pedicure and/or spa operations, or they can be constructed for personal health and foot care uses at home.

The acupressure apparatus100includes a housing102of desired appearance, which is configured to install or accommodate components and parts of the apparatus thereto for the acupressure operation. A tub or foot compartment104is disposed at a suitable location on the housing102. A user occupying seat190, preferably having a bottom cushion, a pair of arm rests, and back support, is optionally disposed at the upper side of the housing102for facilitating adequate placement of its feet in tub104while the user is seated on the seat190. A water faucet185is preferably provided for supplying warm or cold water to the tub104to wash the feet of the user and for subsequent acupressure operations in wet environment (if preferable) while placing the feet in the warm water filled in the tub, which will be described later in detail. The apparatus may optionally include a connection port187for hooking the apparatus to the hot/cold water lines of the house or facility having furnace/heater (not shown) for heating the water. Otherwise, the apparatus may have a heater (not shown) installed in the housing102to provide heated water for the acupressure operation.

For the acupressure operation of the device, a water supply motor or pump150and associated plumbing components for the operation are located within housing102for providing and discharging the water to and from the apparatus. Such plumbing components include a water supply pipe152for providing compressed water delivered from the pump150to the bottom hole106of the tub104, which water will be subsequently directed to the acupressure station as will be described below in detail.

The tub104has a water circulation pipe170connected to a side wall of the tub at predetermined height from the bottom inner surface of the tub, and the water circulation pipe170is used for circulating the water in the tub back to a water reservoir (not shown) in the housing102, which water is subsequently filtered by a filter (not shown), and is reused and redirect to the acupressure station through the water supply pipe152by operation of the pump150. The water circulation pipe170is useful for the wet operation of the device, operating the acupressure apparatus while placing the feet of the user in the tub filled with the water. The wet operation is recommended to prevent the pressurized water from splashing out of the apparatus. However, the present invention is not intended to be limited thereto, and the apparatus can be operated in a dried state, that is, operating the acupressure apparatus without filling the water in the tub104. For the dry operation, it is recommended to have suitable coverings or curtain securely installed in the tub around the feet in order to prevent the pressurized water spray from splashing out of the apparatus.

The apparatus further includes a drain pipe180connected to the bottom wall of the tub104to drain the used water from the apparatus through drain line182after completion of the acupressure operation.

The apparatus may optionally include a control device (not shown), such as micro-computer or other programmable control device, for appropriate operation of the acupressure apparatus, and a temperature controller (not shown) for heating and maintaining the water in the bathtub to a suitable temperature for bathing and acupressure operation.

The acupressure station and associated components of the apparatus are described below with reference toFIGS. 2 and 3in particular.

The acupressure station includes an acupressure panel, which is typically composed of an upper panel110and a base panel120coupled together by bolts and nuts (not shown) that are secured via a plurality of screw holes119. The bolts and nuts can be regular bolts and nuts, such as standard bolts and nuts which require screwing tools for installment, or they can be special fasteners such as wing bolts and wing nuts conveniently used for easy screwing and unscrewing operation by hand.

As shown inFIG. 3, the upper panel110includes a pair of footing holes112and114respectively having the shape of the left and right feet of the human to facilitate adequate positioning of the feet on the station, and the base panel120includes, within the footing hole areas, a predetermined number of bumps or projections116and a predetermined number of watering holes (or nozzles)118formed around the bumps on an upper surface of the base panel120. The total number of the projections116in the two footing areas is preferably in a range between forty (40) and one hundred fifty (150). Each projection116preferably has a round bar shape of suitable size (e.g., ¼ to ½ inch diameter) with convex upper surface for contacting the feet, and with a height in a range from one third (⅓) to two third (⅔) inches, preferably, about one half (½) inch. Having the projections116of such optimal height, the bottom contact surface of the feet can maintain suitable gaps from the watering holes118of the apparatus. The user may optionally utilize the projections116as acupressure projections to apply acupressure stimulations on the feet by pressing the feet against the projections.

The watering holes118are specifically located at, and oriented and directed to, the corresponding locations of the effective acupressure points of the feet that are recognized by the reflexology or acupressure sciences (seeFIG. 9, for example). Each watering hole118has a hole diameter between about ⅛ to about ¼ inch, and the total number of the watering holes118in the two footing areas is preferably in a range between twenty (20) and ninety (90), more preferably, between fifth (50) and eighty (80). As described above, the water supplied to the acupressure station is compressed in operation by the pumping motor150to provide suitable acupressure stimulations to the acupressure points. The pressure of the water discharging at the watering holes is preferably in a range between 5 psi (above the local atmospheric pressure) and 35 psi (above the local atmospheric pressure), and the size of the holes are selected to have the optimal pressures in the discharging holes.

In the embodiment as shown, the acupressure station is formed of two panels (i.e., the upper and base panels110and120) coupled together. However, the invention is not limited thereto, and the acupressure station can alternatively be formed of a single structure member (of moldable material, for example) with the footing areas (e.g., footing grooves) formed on its upper surface, and the projections and watering holes formed within the footing areas. The acupressure station (e.g., the upper and base panels110and120) can be made of various known structural materials, for example, such as stainless steel, plastic materials, stones, marbles, and artificial marbles, and have the thickness and sizes suitable for the footing station of the apparatus. The acupressure station (e.g., the upper and lower panels110and120) can be made of various known structural materials, for example, such as stainless steel, plastic materials, stones, marbles, and artificial marbles, and have the thickness and sizes suitable for the footing station of the apparatus.

A water distribution pipe system130is coupled under the acupressure station to provide pressurized water through the watering holes118. The water distribution pipe system130includes one or more main tube members of bigger size and branch tube members of smaller size. In the embodiment as shown inFIG. 3, the main tube member of bigger size is composed of a central pipe132running outwardly from a central area of the device, and a circumferential pipe134connected to the central pipe132and running along a circumferential area thereof, for example, running in a circular or similar shape as illustrated. The branch tube members of smaller size are connected to the circumferential pipe134, in fluid communication thereto, and they are directed in radially inward directions from the circumferential conduit to provide connections to the watering holes118. The water distribution pipe system130may optionally include the same number of flexible connection tubes for the connection to their corresponding watering holes118, as illustrated inFIG. 2.

The central pipe132of the water distribution pipe system130is connected to the water supply pipe152by suitable connection means known in the art. One preferable connection method is described below with reference toFIG. 2. As shown inFIG. 2, the central pipe132includes a connection port138with a female screw formed at a lower end thereof, to which a coupling male screw158of connection member156is connected by screw coupling. The connection member156further includes a female screw portion159, which is in turn connected by screw coupling to a male screw portion154of the water supply pipe152through which pressurized water is supplied by operation of the pumping motor150to perform the acupressure treatment. In order to provide water-tight sealing to the plumbing components, the apparatus further includes several sealing members, such as sealing rings162placed between the juncture of the connection member156and the water supply pipe152, and rubber seal160which is placed over the juncture of the connection port138and the male screw158and also inserted to the bottom hole106of the tub104(seeFIG. 1).

Referring now toFIGS. 4-6, the acupressure apparatus according to another preferred embodiment of the present invention is described herein.

The acupressure apparatus200includes a housing202of desired appearance, which is configured to install or accommodate components and parts of the apparatus thereto for the acupressure operation. A tub or foot compartment204is disposed at a suitable location on the housing202. A user occupying seat290, preferably having a bottom cushion, a pair of arm rests, and back support, is optionally disposed at the upper side of the housing202for facilitating adequate placement of its feet in tub204while the user is seated on the seat290. A water faucet285is preferably provided for supplying warm (or cold) water to the tub204to wash the feet of the user and for subsequent acupressure operations in wet environment (if preferable) while placing the feet in the warm water filled in the tub. The apparatus may optionally include a connection port287for hooking the apparatus onto the hot/cold water lines of the house or facility having furnace/heater (not shown) for heating the water. Otherwise, the apparatus may include a heater (not shown) installed in the housing202to provide heated water for the acupressure operation.

For the acupressure operation, a water supply motor or pump250and associated plumbing components for the operation are located within lower housing202for providing and discharging the water to and from the apparatus. Such plumbing components include a water supply pipe252for providing compressed water delivered from the pump250to the bottom hole of the tub204, which water will be subsequently directed to the acupressure station as will be described below in detail.

The tub204has a water circulation pipe270connected to a side wall of the tub at predetermined height from the bottom inner surface of the tub, and the water circulation pipe270is used for circulating the water in the tub204back to a water reservoir (not shown) of the housing202, which water is subsequently filtered by a filter (not shown), and is reused and redirect to the acupressure station through the water supply pipe252by operation of the pump250. The water circulation pipe270is useful for the wet operation of the device, which is operated while placing the feet of the user in the tub filled with the water. The wet operation is recommended to prevent the pressurized water from splashing out of the apparatus. However, the present invention is not intended to be limited thereto, and the apparatus can be operated in a dried state, that is, operating the acupressure apparatus without filling the water in the tub204. For the dry operation, it is recommended to have suitable coverings securely installed in the tub around the feet in order to prevent the pressurized water spray from coming to splash out of the apparatus.

The apparatus further includes a drain pipe280connected to the bottom wall of the tub204to drain the used water from the apparatus through drain line282after completion of the acupressure operation.

The apparatus may optionally include a control device (not shown), such as micro-computer or other programmable control device, for appropriate operation of the acupressure apparatus, and a temperature controller (not shown) for heating and maintaining the water in the bathtub to a suitable temperature for bathing and acupressure operation.

The acupressure station and associated components of the apparatus are described below with reference toFIGS. 5 and 6in particular.

The acupressure station includes an acupressure panel, which is typically composed of an acupressure panel210and a lower panel230coupled together by bolts and nuts (not shown) that are secured via a plurality of screw holes219. The bolts and nuts can be regular bolts and nuts, such as standard bolts and nuts of various type which require screwing tools for installment, or they can be special fasteners such as wing bolts and wing nuts that can conveniently be used for easy screwing and unscrewing operation by hand.

As shown inFIG. 7, the acupressure panel210is formed of a single panel member, and includes a pair of footing grooves212and214formed in the upper face of the panel, the grooves212and214respectively having the shape of the left and right feet of the average person in order to facilitate adequate positioning of the feet on the station. Within the footing groove areas of the acupressure panel210, a predetermined number of bumps or projections216and a predetermined number of watering holes (or nozzles)218are formed around the bumps on an upper surface of the panel. Each projection216preferably has a round bar shape of suitable size (e.g., ⅓ to ½ inch diameter) with convex upper surface for contacting the feet, and with a height in a range from one third (⅓) to two third (⅔) inches, preferably, about one half (½) inch.

It is further noted that the acupressure panel210may alternatively be constructed with two panel members combined together, namely, with the upper panel member (with a pair of footing holes therein) and the base panel member (with the projections and watering holes therein) attached under the upper panel in a manner similar to the previous embodiment ofFIG. 3. The watering holes218are specifically located at, and directed toward, the corresponding locations of the effective acupressure points of the feet that are recognized by the reflexology or acupressure sciences (seeFIG. 9, for example). The total number of the watering holes218in the two footing areas is preferably in a range between twenty (20) and ninety (90), more preferably, between fifth (50) and eighty (80). As described above, the water supplied to the acupressure station is compressed in operation by the pumping motor250to provide suitable acupressure stimulations to the acupressure points. The pressure of the water discharging at the watering holes is preferably in a range between 5 psi (above the local atmospheric pressure) and 35 psi (above the local atmospheric pressure), and the size of the holes are selected to have the optimal pressures in the discharging holes.

The lower panel230includes a raised planar flange portion232with screw holes219formed there-through for coupling the lower panel to the acupressure panel210with bolts and nuts (not shown), and a planar base panel portion234with vacant chamber space236to be formed between the two panels210and230when they are assembled into a unit.

The acupressure station (e.g., the panels210and230) can be made of various known materials such as stainless steel, plastic materials, stones, marvels, and artificial marvels, and have the thickness and sizes suitable for the footing station of the apparatus.

A sealing225(e.g., water-proof packing or seal, and O-ring, etc.) is securely placed between the two panels210and230to provide water-proof engagement when the panels are secured by the fasteners. A central hole238is formed through the planar base portion234, to which the plumbing components to be described below are to be connected.

As shown inFIGS. 4 and 5, an annular ring member265is tightly fitted to the central hole238of the lower panel230with annular rubber seal267engaged there-between. The annular ring member265includes a central through hole for allowing water passage there-through, and is tightly coupled to the water supply pipe252by suitable connection means known in the art. One preferable connection method is described below with reference to the drawings. The annular ring member265preferably includes a female formed in the inner hole, and a coupling male screw258of connection member256is screw coupled to the female screw of the annular ring265. The connection member256further includes a female screw portion259, and which is in turn connected by screw coupling to a male screw portion254of the water supply pipe252through which pressurized water is supplied by operation of the pumping motor250to perform the acupressure treatment. In order to provide water-tight sealing to the plumbing components, the apparatus further includes several sealing members, such as sealing ring262placed between the juncture of the connection member256and the water supply pipe252, and rubber seal260which is placed over the juncture of the annular ring member265and the male screw258and also inserted to the bottom hole of the tub204(seeFIG. 4).

It is further noted that the foot size of the users can be varied. In order to adequately positioning the feet, the acupressure stations can be made to have different footing sizes. For example, their footing holes (or grooves)212and214can be made into several standardized sizes (e.g., small, medium, large, and extra-large, etc.), or into specific foot-size ranges (e.g., 130-140 mm, 140-150 mm, 150-160 mm, 160-170 mm, etc.). In this manner, the acupressure station of desired size can be selected by the individual user. Thus, it will be beneficial to make the acupressure panel210easily interchangeable in order to accommodate different foot sizes. Accordingly, it is preferable that the apparatus uses special fasteners (not shown), such as wing bolts and wing nuts, that are to be easily coupled into the screw holes219by hand without using screwing/unscrewing tools.

FIGS. 7 and 8illustrates another exemplary embodiment of the acupressure panel member of the acupressure station, in whichFIG. 7is a photographic illustration of the acupressure panel in a state before attaching the projection members thereto, andFIG. 8is a photographic illustration of the upper panel in a state after attaching the projection members thereto. In this embodiment, the panel210′ (or110′) is made of plastic materials or artificial stone (e.g., artificial marble) and molded into one single member, and a plurality of watering holes218(or118) are formed at, and directed to, the corresponding acupressure points of the feet known in the acupressure science as described before. Here, the locations of the watering holes are selected in light of the foot reflexology chart ofFIG. 9, however, adding slightly more effective acupressure locations thereto further in view of other similar foot reflexology charts known in the related science.

According to this embodiment, the acupressure panel210′ is preferably coupled to the lower panel (e.g.,230) by connection methods other than the conventional bolt-and-nut type connection utilizing the screw holes219(seeFIG. 6). For example, the acupressure panel210′ and the lower panel230′ can include a male screw and a mating female screw, respectively, around the side circumferences thereof, that can be used for screw coupling the two panels to make the acupressure station. For another example, the acupressure panel210′ and the lower panel can include bayonet type connection means (not shown) around the corresponding side circumferences of the upper and lower panels, which can be used for rotating-coupling to form the acupressure station. This type of alternative connection methods (other than the conventional bolt-and-nut connection) may be useful as the connection can be made easily by hand without using special tools such as screw drivers or wrenches.

It is further noted that the acupressure station and/or the upper panel (e.g., panel210and110) can alternatively have different footing configurations other than the footing grooves or footing holes as shown inFIGS. 3 and 6. For example, the upper panel can have line drawings, imprints, or other known indicia showing the shape of the feet, which can be used to facilitate placing of the feet at adequate locations for the acupressure treatment.

It is further noted that the footing surface areas on which the projections (116,216) and the watering holes (118,218) are formed, are shown to have a flat or planar surface in the preferred embodiments disclosed above. However, each footing area can alternatively have a curved surface corresponding to the bottom surface of the human feet. The projections (116,216) and the watering holes (118,218) can also be formed in perpendicular directions relative to the particular surface curvature where the projections and holes are located.

As described above, the acupressure apparatus of the present invention is preferably used in wet operation condition, namely, by performing the acupressure treatment while placing the feet in the warm water filled in the tub and circulating the water utilizing the water recirculation pipe (170,270). In operation, the water temperature for the acupressure treatment is preferably to be set in a range between 35-45° C., or cooler if the user prefers, and the optimal operation time is set for 10-20 minutes, or longer depending on the preference of the user, in order to maximize the acupressure effects.

While preferred embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that many changes and modifications may be made without departing from the invention in its broader aspects. The appended claims are intended to cover, therefore, such changes and modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.