A FOOT MASSAGER

Abstract: A foot massager is provided in the form of a footbath (1) having first and second foot receiving portions (10). The base (2) of the footbath (1), i.e. the part on which in use rest the feet of a user, is provided with a plurality of moveable massaging elements (31, 50) to perform a massaging function on the feet. In one embodiment the massaging elements are half-round projection (31) formed on a movable member (30) and which project through apertures (33) in an overlying fixed member (32), while in a second embodiment the massaging elements are rotating wheels (50) fixed on the first member (30).

Description: A FOOT MASSAGER This invention relates to a footbath and in particular to a footbath having a massaging function. Footbaths are known for soothing tired and aching feet. The footbath will comprise means for receiving water, optionally means for heating water, and optionally means for generating bubbles in the water to create a spa or jacuzzi-like effect. Also known are such footbaths provided with some form of massaging function. To date however the massaging functions provided by such prior footbaths have been very limited. GB 2156218A describes a footbath which is in addition provided with various massaging means. In particular a vibrator is provided in order to have a massaging effect on the calf of a user, while massaging projections act on the soles of the feet. A vibrator is provided so that the massaging projections exert a massaging function. US 4807602 discloses a footbath in which the feet rest on a surface provided with a large number of rubber nipples. In one embodiment these rubber nipples are mounted on a reciprocating support plate. US 4569337 discloses a massaging apparatus for the feet which is reversible between a dry condition in which it simply acts as a massager and a wet condition in which it acts as a footbath. A vibrator for effecting the massaging action is referred to, but is not described in any detail. US 4523580 discloses a footbath where the foot supports within the footbath are reciprocated to achieve a massaging effect. US 4513735 describes a footbath where foot supports are provided with protuberances, and in combination with a vibrating motor assembly and a vibrating plate these protuberances will carry out a massaging action. According to the present invention there is provided a footbath comprising, a bath unit for receiving a user's feet, a base having first and second foot receiving areas on which in use rest the feet of a user, said base being provided at said feet receiving areas with a plurality of moveable massaging elements, and drive means for moving said massaging elements, characterised in that the base of the footbath is provided with overlying first and second members, the lowermost of said first and second members being provided with said massaging elements, and said uppermost of said first and second members being provided with apertures corresponding to but larger than said massaging elements and through which said massaging elements protrude, and means for reciprocating the lowermost of said first and second members relative to the uppermost of said members whereby said massaging elements are caused to reciprocate within said apertures. Preferably the footbath includes heating means for heating the water therein, and/or means for circulating the water or to aerate the water or to generate a whirlpool effect. In one embodiment the apertures may be covered by a soft material, for example a soft plastics film, and the massaging elements do not in use come into direct contact with the foot. The massaging elements may be formed integrally with the lowermost of the two members, for example as projecting half circles, or more preferably they may comprise wheels mounted on the lowermost member for rotation about an axis normal to the direction of movement. Preferably the drive means comprises a cam member that acts upon said lowermost member to cause reciprocal movement thereof. In one embodiment the cam member may comprise an eccentric member received within a recess formed in the underside of said lowermost first member. In preferred embodiments of the invention the positions of the massaging elements within the feet receiving areas of the base of the footbath may be selected to correspond to predefined positions on the sole of a foot, and in particular to such positions that are considered to have an effect not only on the well-being of the foot but of the person generally. Some embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. l is an exploded perspective view of a first embodiment, Fig.2 is a side view of a detail of Fig. l, Fig.3 is a plan view of a second embodiment, and Fig.4 is a sectional view along line B-B in Fig.3. Referring firstly to Fig.1 there is shown a footbath comprising a bath unit 1 for receiving a user's feet. The bath unit 1 comprises a base 2 and side walls 3, the side walls 3 being of sufficent height to permit the bath unit 1 to hold enough water to completely immerse feet located therein. A first end of the bath unit 1 is left open and uncovered to define an aperture through which the feet of a user may be placed on foot receiving areas 10. A second end of the footbath may be covered by a removeable cover housing (not shown) within which are located control means for controlling temperature, bubbles, and the massaging function which will be described below. The footbath is also provided with an electric heating element which is controlled through the control means for heating the water in the footbath. For safety reasons the heating element is either electrically insulated and/or is provided with an interlock means to prevent current passing through the heating element while the bath is in use. Located within the footbath so as to rest on the base 2 are generally planar first and second members 30,32. The lowermost 30 of the two members is provided with a plurality of massaging projections 31 positioned at selected locations in areas of the lowermost member 30 corresponding to foot receiving areas of the footbath. The projections 31 in this embodiment are generally semi-circular in shape and are formed integrally with the lowermost member 30. The uppermost 32 of the two overlying members is provided with a plurality of apertures 33 corresponding in number and location to the projections 31 formed on the lowermost member 30. The apertures are slightly wider than the projections, and approximately twice the length in the direction of the heel-to-toe axis of a foot resting in the footbath. Thus the projections 31 project through the apertures 33 while allowing for relative movement of the projections 31 in the corresponding apertures. This relative movement is generated by the uppermost of the two overlying members being fixed while the lowermost member 30 is adapted to be driven along the axis A- A of Fig.2, ie along the heel-to-toe axis of a foot in the footbath. The lowermost member 30 is driven axially by a rotating cam member 34 which acts upon member 30 by a cam follower 35 formed thereon. The cam member 34 in turn is driven by a motor 36 through gearing 37. Each of the apertures 33 is provided with a covering of a soft plastics film 38 greater in area than the size of the aperture and being relatively flexible. By means of such film coverings the projections do not directly contact a foot and thus a smoother, massaging effect can be obtained. The position of the massaging projections 31 can in this embodiment in particular be appropriately chosen for maximum effect. For example the positions of the massaging elements can be chosen so as to correspond to those areas of the feet pressure on which is considered to effect other parts of the body or which are acupuncture points. The cam member 34, motor 36, and gearing 37 are all located within a housing portion 45 formed as part of the uppermost member 32. Also located within this housing is a fan 39 which is also driven by the motor 36 and gearing 37. Fan 39 serves to create a whirlpool effect in the water within the bath by drawing water through inlets 40 and discharging it through outlets 41, both the inlets and outlets being formed in the housing portion 45 of the uppermost member 32. Also provided in this embodiment is an electric heating element 42. Figs.3 & 4 show a second embodiment. The principal difference between the two embodiments lies in the nature of the massaging elements. In the first embodiment the elements are integrally formed with the lowermost of the first and second members 30,32. In the second embodiment, however, the massaging elements comprise rotating wheels 50 rotatably mounted on the first member 30 such that their axis of rotation lies in a plane parallel to the surface of the first member and at right angles to the direction of the reciprocating movement of the massaging elements. The first member 30 is provided with a plurality of shallow recesses 51 corresponding in number and location to the massaging elements 50 to facilitate the location thereof without the massaging elements projecting undesirably far from the surface of the first member, and bearing mountings 52 adjacent each said recess 51 for the rotatable mounting of the massaging wheels 50. By allowing the massaging elements to rotate a smoother massaging action may be obtained than with the integrally formed massaging projections of the first embodiment. As in the first embodiment the massaging wheels 50 protrude through the corresponding apertures 54 formed in the uppermost second member 32 so as to act upon the soles of feet resting thereon. As in the embodiment of Figs.1 & 2 the lowermost of the two members, first member 30 is caused to reciprocate relative to the upper second member 32 by means of a cam member. In this second embodiment the cam member comprises an eccentrically mounted circular member 55 which is located beneath the first member 30 and is received within an oval recess 56 formed in the underside of the first member. The eccentric member 55 is caused to rotate by being driven through a gear train from an electric motor as in the first embodiment, and rotation of the eccentric member causes the first member 30 to reciprocate in the heel-to-toe direction relative to the upper second member 32 and thus the massaging wheels 50 reciprocate within the apertures formed in the upper second member 32. In this embodiment the motor and any associared gearing are located in the base of the footbath beneath the first member 30. the operation of the footbath may be controlled from a control switch 60 formed on the top of one end wall of the bath unit 1. Similarly to the first embodiment, the second embodiment of Figs.3 & 4 may also be provided with water heating means, water circulating means 61 and aerating means which are conventional in themselves and do not need further description.

Claims: CLAIMS 1. A footbath comprising, a bath unit (1) for receiving a user's feet, a base (2) having first and second foot receiving areas (10) on which in use rest the feet of a user, said base (2) being provided at said feet receiving areas (10) with a plurality of moveable massaging elements (31,50), and drive means (34,55) for moving said massaging elements (31,50), characterised in that the base (2) of the footbath is provided with overlying first (30) and second (32) members, the lowermost (30) of said first and second members being provided with said massaging elements (31,50), and said uppermost (32) of said first and second members being provided with apertures (33,54) corresponding to but larger than said massaging elements (31,50) and through which said massaging elements (31,50) protrude, and means (34,55) for reciprocating the lowermost (30) of said first and second members whereby said massaging elements (31,50) are caused to reciprocate within said apertures (33,54). 2. A footbath as claimed in claim 1 comprising heating means (42) for heating the water therein. 3. A footbath as claimed in claim 1 or 2 comprising means (39,61) for circulating the water. 4. A footbath as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3 comprising means for aerating the water. 5. A footbath as claimed in any of claims 1 to 4 wherein the apertures (33) are covered by a soft material (38). 6. A footbath as claimed in any preceding claim wherein said massaging elements (31) are formed integrally with said lowermost member (30). 7. A footbath as claimed in any of claims 1 to 5 wherein said massaging elements comprise massaging wheels (50) mounted on said lowermost member (30) for rotation, the axis of rotation of said wheels (50) being substantially parallel to said lowermost member (30) and normal to the direction of reciprocating movement. 8. A footbath as claimed in any preceding claim wherein said drive means comprises a cam member (34,55) that acts upon said lowermost member (30) to cause said reciprocal movement in use. 9. A footbath as claimed in claim 8 wherein said cam member comprises an eccentric member (55) received within a recess (56) formed in an underside of said first member (30).

Inventors: CHAN WING-KIN, CHAN, WING-KIN
Applicants: CHAN WING KIN, CHINA PACIFIC TRADE LTD, CHAN, WING-KIN, CHINA PACIFIC TRADE LTD.
Application year: 1995
Main classification: A61H35
IPC codes: A61H15, A61H23, A61H35