Motorized foot massaging device

An improved motorized foot massager having three pairs of massaging modules. Each pair of massaging modules is comprised of a centrally located motor and gear reduction assembly and a left and right set of massaging cams. Each cam set is comprised of a plurality of horizontally disposed shafts, each shaft having a plurality of off set cams. The front pair of massaging modules is intended for the toes and ball of the foot. The middle section is intended for the arch area and the Rear section is intended for the heal portion of the foot. The front and rear section are slidable and lockable so that the unit can be adjusted to a particular persons foot. A cloth housing covers the rotating cams to prevent a users toes from being pinched by the rotating cams. The center, arch massaging modules are able to be raised or lowered to accommodate for an individuals arch height. A heal guide attached to the rear massage modules helps a person place his or her foot in the proper location. An additional motor with off center weight mounted to its shaft is mounted to the main base which caused the entire unit to vibrate if so desired.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention relates to portable massaging devices and more 
specifically to a motorized portable massaging device directed toward the 
massaging of a persons feet. 
Various types of motorized foot massaging devices are known. The most 
common type is made using a motor with an off center weight mounted to the 
shaft. The motor is mounted to resilient rubber pads. which in turn mount 
to a base. The upper portion of the motor is attached to a foot plate 
which is made to vibrate by the oscillating action of the spinning motor 
shaft and attached off center weight. The vibration causes a general 
increase of blood circulation in the area of the foot being vibrated but 
does not effectively break up crystalline structures that build up in the 
foot as a result of stresses and strains of daily life. Another type of 
foot massager employees a motor and gear reduction system which drives a 
pair of slowly oscillating finger members which attempt to duplicate a 
masseurs fingers giving a deep tissue massage. This type of foot massager 
can break up the build-up of crystal structures in the foot, however, the 
user has to constantly move his or her foot to the oscillating finger 
members and the user can not be sure that the proper reflexology release 
points are being massaged. Moreover, the user does not have a choice of 
the height of the massaging fingers so that the user with sensitive feet 
must be careful to not put the full weight of ones leg over the 
oscillating massage finger. 
An entire science has evolved concerning the relief of stress in various 
parts of the human body by vigorous stimulation of specific areas located 
on the sole of the foot. This science is called reflexology and is 
practiced by many specialists around the world. For example, the area of 
the big toe is associated with relieving sinus problems. The area at the 
ball of the foot is associated with stomach disorders. Each specific area 
of the sole of the foot is connected to a different organ of the body 
according to those who practice reflexology. The current motorized foot 
massagers on the market today do not let the user customize the location 
of the massaging points to correspond to the users particular foot size 
and shape. Therefore these units will never adequately give a deep tissue 
massage to all the specific reflexology points of the sole of a users foot 
or feet while the users foot remains essentially stationary. 
OBJECT AND SUMMERY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION 
It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved motorized 
foot massaging device wherein multiple slowly rotating massaging cams can 
be positioned by the user so that the cams can stimulate the correct areas 
of the users foot regardless of the users foot size and shape. Another 
object of the present invention is to provide an improved motorized foot 
massaging device wherein there are a number of slowly rotating cams to 
effectively massage the entire foot or feet simultaneously without the 
need for the user to move his or her feet. It is a further object of the 
present invention to provide an improved motorized foot massaging device 
wherein the user can select to use or not use various sections of the 
massaging device to at any one time. Another object of the present 
invention is to provide an improved motorized foot massaging device 
wherein a vibrating foot plate can be activated along with the slowly 
rotating massaging cams. A further object of the present invention is to 
provide an improved motorized foot massaging device wherein the users foot 
can be positioned by means of a heal and to guide so that the foot remains 
in the optimal location for massaging points on the sole of the foot. It 
is a further object of the present invention to provide an improved 
motorized foot massaging device wherein the height of the massaging cams 
can be adjusted to allow the user to have a deep massage or a less deep 
massage. A further object of the present invention is to provide an 
improved motorized foot massaging device wherein the user can secure 
additional layers of padded material to the top surface thereby reducing 
the impinging effect of the rotating cams on the users foot. 
The above objects are accomplished by providing three sets of multiple 
rotating cams for each foot which can be slid forward and rearward to 
adjust to the users foot size. The central set of rotating cams can be 
raised or lowered to adjust for the users arch height. Each set of 
rotating cams is powered independently so that a user can elect to use 
one, two or all three sets of cams at any one time. An additional built in 
motor with off center weight attached to the its shaft can be activated by 
the user to give an additional vibrational massaging effect and increase 
blood circulation to the foot. A cloth cover encloses all the cam sets so 
that the users toes will not accidentally be pinched by the multiple 
rotating cams. An additional padded cover may be attached to the top of 
the cloth cover to further minimize the massaging effect of the rotating 
cams for those with more sensitive feet.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
Referring now to FIG. 1 a persons feet 2 are resting compfortably on the 
foot massaging device 4 of the present invention. The person is 
preferrably in a sitting position. The device is made up of three main 
sections, a right foot platform 6 a left foot platform 8 and a central 
section 10. FIG. 2 shows the device in more detail. Right foot platform 8 
and left foot platform 6 have thin, soft cloth covers 41, 42 and are 
slightly angled apart from one another so that the heels of the users feet 
are closer together than the toes of the users feet thereby more closely 
dupicating the normal resting position of a persons feet while in the 
sitting position. Dotted lines 16, 18 indicate where the users feet go. 
The central section 10 is covered by a hard shell made of either plastic 
or metal. Control switches 20, 22, 24, 28 are located on top of central 
cover 25 and are large and of a push on-push off type which can be 
operated by the users toe. Switch 20 activates the front massaging 
modules. Switch 22 activates the middle massaging modules and switch 28 
activates the rear massaging modules. The user may activate any or all of 
the massaging modules at any one time. Switch 28 activates a vibration 
mode which causes the entire unit to vibrate. Knob 26 controls the height 
of the middle massage modules as will be shown in FIG. 3. Heel rests 12, 
14 indicate where the user is to place his or her feet. Slide knobs can be 
loosened and slid forward or backward to adjust the heel and toe massage 
modules to accommodate a particular users foot as is shown in more detail 
in FIG. 3. 
FIG. 3 shows the foot massager of the present invention with the cloth 
covers removed. Six blocks 44, 46, 48, 50, 52, 54 of massaging cams can be 
seen. Blocks 44 and 50 are driven by motor and gear assembly 70. Blocks 46 
and 52 are driven by motor and gear assembly 68. Blocks 48 and 54 are 
driven by motor and gear assembly 66. The toe section is composed of cam 
modules 44 and 50 and motor drive 70 are mounted on a common carrier 300 
and can be slid forward or backward depending on the users foot size. Knob 
32 slides in slot 80 and can be screwed clockwise to lock the entire toe 
assembly in position. The arch section is composed of massage modules 46 
and 52 and motor assembly 68 and is in a fixed position. The heel section 
is composed of massage modules 48 and 54 and motor assembly 66 and is able 
to slide forward and backward to accommodate the users exact foot size. 
Knob 30 slides in slot 72. The entire heel assembly is locked in place 
when knob 30 is turned in a counter clockwise position thereby causing 
treaded shaft 31 to screw into side wall 110 which in turn clamps the 
shoulder washer on knob 30 to the side wall 72. FIG. 8 shows one complete 
toe section 400 which more clearly shows how the entire section is joined 
by a common base plate 300. Heel section 500 is set up in a similar way. 
Referring back to FIG. 3, each massaging module has velcro hook type 
fastener 200 attached to its outer most side and a mating loop type 
fastener is sewn into the inside of the cloth cover 42 thereby removably 
holding the cloth cover in place. The cloth cover allows a user to 
experience the benefit of the massaging cams 64 without the possibility of 
accidentally pinching a part of the foot such as a toe. Each massage 
module has three shafts. 98 containing a plurality of cam shaped massage 
cams 64. The massage cams 64 are positioned along the shaft 62 in such a 
way that each cam is set ninety degrees from the next. In this way the 
cams can stimulate each portion of the sole more completely. In the heel 
and arch modules a spur gear 95 attached to drive shaft 93 drives the 
center shaft 106 and spur gears 96, 97, to either side of the center gear 
95 drive the two shafts 104, 108 at either side of the central shaft 
106.In the toe module the same format is basically true except that there 
are intermediary gears 100 which cause all the shafts 62 and associated 
massage cams 64 to turn in the same counter clockwise direction thereby 
massaging the users toes in such a way as to not allow a pinching action 
which could occur if the cams 64 rotated in a clockwise direction. Flex 
coupling 64 is found connecting the main drive shaft 86 of each massage 
module to the motor and gear reduction drive shaft 88. This allows for the 
five degree change in angle between the two shafts 88 and 86. Motor 56 
located at the front of the entire assembly and attached to base plate 160 
spins off set weight 58 which causes a vibrating sensation which is 
transmitted to all the massage modules. The user then has the option of 
using the vibrator which tends to increase blood circulation. A plurality 
of large resilient rubber feet separate the main base plate 160 from the 
floor which isolates and enhances the vibration caused by motor 56 and 
weight 58 to the massage modules. 
Referring now to FIG. 4 Which is a reflexology chart showing the sole of a 
persons right foot; you can see that the science of reflexology teaches 
that each portion of a persons foot corresponds to a different part of a 
persons anatomy. For example, the heel of the foot relates to the sciatic 
nerve and the center of the big toe relates to the pituitary gland and so 
forth. The present invention is designed to allow a user to simultaneously 
massage all areas of the sole of both feet in such a way that all the 
reflexology points are enlivened thereby causing energy to flow to all 
corresponding anatomical parts shown in FIG. 4. 
FIG. 5 shows a section view of the arch portion of the massage unit of the 
present invention. In this view, the motor 130 and associated gear 
reduction trains 132, 134 are clearly shown. Motor 130 has a shaft 
protruding from each side to drive the gear trains 132 and 134. The final 
drive speed coming from the gear reduction train is approximately 30 
revolutions per minute. In order to accommodate the variation in arch 
height from one user to another, the massage modules 41 and 42 are hinged 
at points 120 and 122 so that the inboard portion of both massage modules 
can be raised or lowered by turning knob 26 which causes motor assembly 68 
to be raised or lowered when threaded shaft 90 interacts with treaded hole 
91 in motor housing 25. FIG. 6 shows massage modules 41 and 42 in the 
raised mode for a user who has high arches. 
FIG. 7 shows a section view of a massage module where an additional padded 
cloth 700 has been added under main cloth cover 42 so that a user with 
sensitive feet can experience the massaging effect with less discomfort. 
While the invention has been described in connection what are presently 
considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is to be 
understood that the invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiment, 
but, on the contrary, it is intended to cover various modifications and 
equivalent arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the 
appended claims.