Abstract:
An acupressure massage pad formed of generally resilient material wherein the pad includes nodes that replicate the curvature of the apex of a human finger or knuckle to allow an individual to perform acupressure or reflexology massage without assistance.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     The present invention relates generally to a system and methods by which a user can apply acupressure to the user&#39;s foot or feet passively. More particularly, the invention relates to apparatus and methods through the use of which a user can apply acupressure to the user&#39;s foot or feet passively simply by standing on a mat having nodes of a size and shape, and arrangement as detailed herein.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     Acupressure is described as an ancient healing art that was first developed in Asia some 5,000 years ago. Acupressure, like acupuncture and reflexology, seeks to free the energy or “qi” that are said to run in regular patterns, or “channels” throughout the body and over its surface. These channels, also called meridians, are described to be like rivers that flow through the body to maintain, irrigate, and nourish the tissues. An obstruction in the free flowing movement of these energy rivers are likened to a dam that causes the energy to back up, thereby creating imbalance and pain.  
         [0003]     A practitioner of acupressure applies gentle uniform and firm manual pressure through his or her fingertips or knuckles on key points on the surface of the skin to stimulate the body, release muscular tension, and, overall, promote the circulation of blood and the body&#39;s energy in order to aid healing.  
         [0004]     Rather than through the use of pressure applied through his or her fingertips, a practitioner of acupuncture inserts sterilized, stainless-steel needles (some as fine as a human hair) into specific acupuncture points located near or on the surface of the skin. Acupuncture points are said to be areas of designated electrical sensitivity. More specifically, the insertion of needles at these points is thought to stimulate various sensory receptors that, in turn, stimulate nerves that transmit impulses to the hypothalamic-pituitary system at the base of the brain. The hypothalamus-pituitary glands are responsible for the release of neurotransmitters and endorphins, the body&#39;s natural pain-killing hormones. It is estimated that endorphins are 200 times more potent than morphine. The substances released as a result of acupuncture are said to relax the whole body and regulate serotonin in the brain, the latter of which is known to play a role in human and animal disposition.  
         [0005]     Stimulating the acupuncture points can influence the meridians such as by unblocking the obstructions at the dams and reestablishing the regular flow through the meridians. A more scientific explanation of acupuncture is that the stimulation of the certain energy trigger points of the body by acupuncture needles prompts the body to release certain hormones and chemicals that can reduce pain, regulate the endocrine system, and calm the nervous system.  
         [0006]     Reflexology—the science of the application of acupressure—focuses on the nerve endings in the hands and feet for relaxation and to improve health. Reflexology stimulates the nerve ends and specific zones, called reflex zones, that correspond to areas of the body. The feet are important areas of stimulation and healing because many nerves stemming from all areas of the body terminate at the feet. The reflex zones in the feet are most commonly used in reflexology since these zones correspond to various parts of the body, including major organs and glands. More specifically, specific reflex zones in the feet correspond to ten energy zones of the body. By massaging certain areas on the feet, it is possible to bring a response in a corresponding, but remote organ, gland or tissue area of the body.  
         [0007]     One accepted principle in reflexology is that various toxins, primarily acids and calcium, can accumulate and crystallize around the nerve endings. This crystallization is thought to impair the function of these nerve endings, and the organ, gland, or tissue that is served by these nerves. By massaging the various points on the feet, the crystallized deposits are thought to be removed, thereby restoring normal nerve function and ultimately health to the correlating organ, gland, or tissue. Stimulating an area—that does not necessarily have crystallized deposits—can stimulate a natural healing response in the correlating region of the body.  
         [0008]     In reflexology, it is often necessary to apply pressure consistently over a specified period of time in order to promote the healing process. Manual application, either by the affected person or even a practitioner, of the required pressure for any extended period of time is generally impossible to achieve. Furthermore, it is virtually impossible for a person to manually self-stimulate many of these points and still be able to carry on other tasks.  
         [0009]     A wide variety of mats are known on which individuals can stand and obtain a sensation. Some of these mats are sized for a single foot. Others are sized to cover large areas. Some include upper surfaces having elements that are readily pliable and collapse under the weight of an individual, thereby producing a “soft” feel to the foot. Others have raised features such as thin columnar projections that are used to produce an agitating sensation or textural elements that function to scrub the surface of the foot.  
         [0010]     U.S. Pat. No. 4,329,981 to Dungl teaches a foot massage mat having what are described as “hill-like raised portions or protuberances” that press or squeeze the sole of the foot thereby causing an “agitation” of the different reflex zones. The raised portion or protuberances and the intermediately disposed valleys are described and shown as being “approximately the same size as a footprint of a healthy grown human”. The Dungl protuberances are sized and shaped to fit into the free space formed below the foot arch while simultaneously the heel and the region of the toe ball rests in the intermediately disposed valleys. More specifically, Dungl teaches that the height of the raised portion should be greater than the height of the arch of the foot. Dungl teaches the use of different sized mats in order to accommodate different size feet. In addition to the uniform arch sized raised portions, Dungl teaches a mat having a different sized pebble-like surface structure and a mat having a surface design of adjacently arranged naps.  
         [0011]     U.S. Pat. No. 5,158,073 to Bukowski teaches an acupressure foot massage mat having an upper surface from which protrude a multiplicity of conic structures—formed from a material to provide a firm point pressure to a foot—in a random dispersal pattern. Bukowski teaches that the conic structures have different diameters and lengths. Bukowski teaches that the conic structures have corresponding conic cavities opening from the lower surface of the mat in order to enhance the non-slip surface by functioning as suction cups that temporarily adhere to a smooth surface to prevent slipping.  
         [0012]     U.S. Pat. No. D294,212 to Siai et al. discloses a seating pad including an upper surface pattern of what appears to be two types of generally identical hemispherical protrusions and a bottom surface of generally truncated cones.  
         [0013]     U.S. Pat. No. D194,255 to Altmeyer et al. teaches a foot exerciser that is of oval shape and includes a multiplicity of pointed protrusions that are shown to vary in height from the center to the edges.  
         [0014]     A demand therefore exists for a system and method by which an individual can apply the same or generally the same amount and type of pressure to his or her foot or feet that an acupressure practitioner would apply, but passively and without the need for the services of the acupressure practitioner. The present invention satisfies this demand.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0015]     The acupressure methods and systems of the present invention is designed to allow an individual to self-perform acupressure, that is, without assistance of an acupressure practitioner, and passively simply by standing on the apparatus and utilizing the relevant methods described herein.  
         [0016]     The system of the present invention includes a pad sized and shaped to accommodate at least one foot of an individual. The pad, in one preferred embodiment, is formed or molded in one-piece of a pliable plastic material of moderate rigidity, that is, a material that slightly, but not completely deforms upon application of that pressure generally generated by a foot of a standing adult. The system and method is especially effective where the pad comprises a flexible polymeric selected from the group consisting of polyurethane, natural rubber, synthetic rubber, natural elastomers and synthetic elastomers. One preferred embodiment of the pad includes a bottom surface that is non-slip and a top surface that includes a plurality of nodes.  
         [0017]     The pad includes an upper surface which is of a size and shape to accommodate all or a portion of a single adult foot. Preferably, the pad upper surface is of a size and shape so that one or both feet of an adult can be comfortably accommodated thereon while the pad is positioned in the desired application site. For example, a pad that is intended for use in a generally rectangular shaped application—such as on the inner horizontal surface of bathtub—may have width and length dimensions that are unequal to provide a generally rectangular or oval shape, while a pad intended for positioning on the floor of a square-shaped shower stall may have generally equal dimensions to provide a generally square or circular shape. The pad may have other sizes and shapes—to satisfy space or application limitations or aesthetics.  
         [0018]     So that the pad may be used without the pad slipping out from under the individual, thereby possibly causing the individual to fall, the pad in one preferred embodiment includes a bottom surface having non-slip features. Examples of such non-slip features include roughened or ribbed surface treatments or suction cup-like elements or an adhesive suitable to prevent the mat from slipping or sliding. The embodiment of the pad with a bottom surface having such non-slip features allows the pad to be safely used in wet applications—such as in a shower or bath—or in dry applications—such as the smooth tile or polished wood floor found in kitchens (e.g., in front of the sink).  
         [0019]     The top surface of the pad preferably includes a smooth surface, with a generally non-slip texture that includes an array of nodes positioned to render a non-agitating acupressure effect to a person standing thereon. In one preferred embodiment of the node array, each of the nodes are of a generally convex shape and sized and shaped according to the size and shape of the tip of an adult human finger or the upper surface of an adult hand knuckle and those portions that are immediately adjacent to these areas of an adult human body. Another embodiment of the nodes is shaped similar, but sized slightly proportionally larger than the size of the tip of an adult human finger or hand knuckle. For purposes of this application, nodes having the size and shape of an adult human finger tip or hand knuckle will be termed “finger tip nodes”. The finger tip nodes are organized on the top surface of the pad so that the user may comfortably and passively stimulate—that is, apply that type of directly firm pressure that an acupressure practitioner would provide to produce what is generally believed to be a soothing experience—but not agitate—that is, cause what is generally believed to be an uneasy or discomforting or generally painful reaction—to one or both of his or her feet. To this end, and in order to avoid over stimulation and/or to allow the user to experience the soothing sensation produced by the pad in a controlled fashion one foot at a time, and to prevent agitation of the user&#39;s foot or feet, the pad may include a rest portion having a limited number of or no finger tip nodes. One preferred embodiment of the rest portion includes a configuration or material having a non-slip surface texture of on or in which the user&#39;s foot or feet may rest. Maximum benefit is obtained when an individual places his or her foot or feet onto the stimulation portion of the pad and the foot or feet are bare or are covered by a thin-layered sock.  
         [0020]     It is, accordingly, a general object of the present invention is to provide an easy and efficient system and methods by which acupressure massage may be provided passively and without the assistance of another in a planned or controlled manner to a user&#39;s foot or feet.  
         [0021]     Another object of the present invention is to provide acupressure massage passively without the assistance of another through the use of a pad having an array of finger tip nodes, each node of which is sized and shaped to simulate the tip of an adult finger or an adult hand knuckle and the portion generally adjacent to the same.  
         [0022]     It is another object of the present invention to provide a new and improved pad for massage that is easy to maintain, store, and transport.  
         [0023]     These and other objects and advantages of the present invention are apparent from the subsequent detailed description of the preferred embodiment and the claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.  
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0024]      FIG. 1  is a top view of a pad constructed according to one embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0025]      FIG. 2  is a top view of a pad constructed according to another preferred embodiment of the present invention and including a stimulation area and a rest portion.  
         [0026]      FIG. 3  is a top view of a pad constructed according to an additional preferred embodiment of the present invention and including a stimulation area, having separate stimulation array areas of finger tip nodes, and a rest portion.  
         [0027]      FIG. 4  is a fragmentary sectional view of a pad taken substantially along line  4 - 4  shown in  FIG. 2 , with a human finger also shown to further identify the size and shape of one preferred embodiment of a finger tip node according to the invention.  
         [0028]      FIG. 5  is a fragmentary sectional view of a pad taken substantively along line  5 - 5  shown in  FIG. 3 , with a human finger shown to further identify the relative size and shape of preferred embodiments of different finger tip nodes according to the invention and also to identify a preferred embodiment of the non-slip features.  
         [0029]      FIG. 6  illustrates the details of the use of a preferred embodiment of the invention that is sized and shaped for an application and that includes a stimulation area and a rest portion on which one or more feet may be placed.  
         [0030]      FIG. 7  illustrates the details of an additional preferred embodiment of the invention including a stimulation area and a rest portion on or in which one or more feet can be placed. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0031]     A system that permits an individual to passively apply acupressure to his or her feet according to the present invention is identified in the accompanying drawings as  21 . The system  21  includes a pad  31 .  
         [0032]     The pad  31  includes a base  33  having an upper surface  51  and lower surface  41  and surrounding edge wall  37 . The pad  31  may include a border  108  adjacent to and along the surrounding edge wall  39  of the pad  31 .  
         [0033]     So that the pad  31  may be used not only in applications and on application surfaces  301  that are wet but also on generally smooth or glossy, embodiments of the present invention may include a base  33  having a lower surface  41  with one or more non-slip features  43 . Such features  43  may include a non-slip composition, texture, and/or structure. One example of a non-slip feature  43  is a gripping element  44 . The gripping element  44  can be a composition or a texture exposed at or forming a part or all of the lower surface  41  so as to facilitate general releasable or non-releasable adherence to the application surface  301 . An example of a gripping element  44  is an adhesive layer shown in  FIG. 4 . Another example of a non-slip feature  43  is a structural element  45 . Raised flexible elements that can adhere to an application surface  301  through suction developed within a cavity  46  thereby lessen the tendency of the pad  31  to slip over a smooth or glossy or wet surface  301 .  FIG. 5 . illustrates one embodiment of such structural elements  45 , commonly known as “suction cups”.  
         [0034]     In certain embodiments, such as those illustrated in  FIGS. 1-6 , the base  33  is formed, such as through molding, into a generally sheet-like structure  34  and made from a flexible material or materials, such as types of plastic, rubber, or composites, so that the pad  31  may form a generally flat surface even on application surfaces  301  that are not totally flat. For wet applications, the material from which the pad  31  is made is water resistant.  
         [0035]     Other embodiments of the system  21  include a pad  31  having a base  33  formed to include walls  91  that raise and space the upper surface  51  significantly above the application surface  301 .  FIG. 7  illustrates one such embodiment of a pad having such walls  91 .  
         [0036]     A plurality of finger tip nodes  61  rise above the pad  31  and over the upper surface  51  such that an inter-nodal surface  55  extends between the nodes  61 . The finger tip nodes  61  are preferably distributed over a portion or generally all of the upper surface  51  of the pad  31  so that a user can achieve contact between at least a portion of one of his or her feet and more of the surfaces  63  of the nodes  61  on the upper surface  51 .  
         [0037]     Each node  61  is generally rounded and semi-spherical in shape. More specifically, each node  61  has a shape that simulates the curvature of the apex of the human finger tip or knuckle that is used to produce acupressure and conduct reflexology exercises and, rather than a sharp sensation to a specific point on a foot, a more general localized sensation to the foot. A foot placed on a finger tip node  61  of the present invention receives a general pressure to an area similar to that delivered by a practitioner when he or she uses his or her finger tip or knuckle to apply pressure to the foot. While the base  33  and finger tip nodes  61  may be separately formed and subsequently joined together, the base  33  and nodes  61  may also be of a unitary construction, such as molded in one piece out, for example, of a pliable plastic material of moderate rigidity or a rubber material.  
         [0038]     In order to generally replicate the acupressure effect, each finger tip node  61  has an upper node surface  63  having a size and shape generally identical or proportional to the tip of an adult finger or the surface of an adult hand knuckle.  FIG. 4  provides a comparison of the shape of upper node surface  63  and an human adult index finger. The nodes  61  shown in the  FIGS. 2 and 4  embodiment of the pad  31  are generally identical to the size and shape of an adult finger. The nodes  61  shown in the  FIG. 5  embodiment of the pad  31  are not uniform in size and include nodes  61  that are not only, generally identical to the size and shape of an adult finger tip, but also nodes  61 A that are generally proportional to, but slightly larger than the tip of an adult finger.  
         [0039]     One embodiment of pad  31  is illustrated in  FIG. 1  and includes base  33  having a surrounding edge wall  37 —organized to form length edge walls  38 A,  38 B and width edge walls  39 A,  39 B in which the walls  38 A,  38 B are longer than the walls  39 A,  39 B so as to provide a generally rectangular shape. One preferred embodiment of a pad  31  having such a shape may have one length edge walls  38 A,  38 B of 28 inches and width edge walls  39 A,  39 B of 16 inches. A pad  31  having a base  33  of such dimensions can fit on an application surface  301  such as the surface of a bathtub and accommodate both feet of a user thereon. However, as explained, the overall dimensions of the pad  31  may be of varying dimensions in order to facilitate use of the pad  31  in different applications. The nodes  61  are arranged on the upper surface  51  of the embodiment of the pad  31  shown in  FIG. 1  to form a node array  65  that extends across generally the entire upper surface  51  and, so that the entire surface  51  constitutes a stimulation area  71 . As a result, a user can make contact between his or her foot or feet and any one or more nodes  61  simply by stepping onto the pad  31 . The user can take a rest from the further application of acupressure to his or her feet by stepping off the pad  31 .  
         [0040]     Another preferred embodiment of the pad  31  is shown in  FIG. 2 . The  FIG. 2  embodiment of the pad  31  includes a stimulation area  71  of the pad  31 —formed from nodes  61  organized in a node array  65 —and a rest area  91 —that includes no nodes  61 . The rest area  91  is sized and shaped to allow a user to remain on the pad  31  yet avoid engagement with nodes  61  so as not to receive acupressure on one or more of his or her feet.  
         [0041]     An additional preferred embodiment of the pad  31  is shown in  FIG. 3 . The  FIG. 3  embodiment of the pad  31  includes a stimulation area  71 —that includes a node array  65 —and a rest area  91 . More specifically, the node array  65  includes a first node arrangement  67  of nodes  61  to form a first stimulation portion  77  of stimulation area  71  and an added node arrangement  68  of nodes  61 A to form an added stimulation portion  78  of stimulation area  71 . Because nodes  61 A are proportionate to, but slightly larger than those nodes  61  in stimulation portion  67 , a user may provide sensation to his or her foot by stepping onto stimulation portion  78  that is different and more generalized from that which is provided by the nodes  61  in stimulation portion  77 . Each of the areas  71  and  91  of the  FIG. 3  embodiment of pad  31  preferably are of dimensions so that a user can place at least one of his or her feet thereon. For example, in one embodiment the area  71  may have an approximate width of 15 inches and an approximate length of 12 inches. While the nodes  61 ,  61 A may be arranged to form other patterns in the embodiments of pad  31 , the nodes  61  in the  FIG. 3  embodiment are organized—as are the nodes in the  FIGS. 1 and 2  embodiments—in a first node arrangement  67  of columns  67 A and rows  67 B and while the nodes  61 A are organized in an added node arrangement  68  of columns  68 A and rows  68 B. The number of columns  67 A,  68 B, and rows  68 A,  68 B may vary. The  FIG. 3  embodiment includes a first node arrangement  67  of eleven columns  67 A and twenty-two rows  67 B of nodes  61 . In the illustrated embodiment, each node  61  is generally equally spaced apart from each other. Each node  61  of area  71  may measure approximately ½ to ⅞ inch in diameter and ½ inch high from the top surface  101  of the pad  31  to the highest point “A” of the node  61 .  
         [0042]     Each of the nodes  61 A of the added stimulation portion  78  of the  FIG. 3  embodiment is proportionately larger than the nodes  61  in first node arrangement  67 . More specifically, the nodes  61 A can measure 1 to 1¾ inch in diameter and measure ¾ inch high from the top surface  101  of the pad  31  to the highest point A 1  of the node  61 A.  
         [0043]     The rest area  91  includes no nodes  61 ,  61 A. The upper surface  51  of the rest area  91  of the preferred embodiment shown in  FIG. 3 , while generally smooth, has a texture or finish or surface layer to provide a non-slip surface. A user may place portions or all of his or her foot or feet into the rest area  91  so the user may selectively exclude areas of the foot from receiving acupressure. The rest area  91  may be sized to accommodate an entire foot or both feet at the same time.  
         [0044]     The pad  31  shown in  FIG. 3  can be placed on any surface including one having a carpet or a tile floor. The bottom surface  103  of the illustrated embodiment includes structural elements  45 —that is, “suction cups”—to prevent the mat from slipping or sliding. The non-slip surface on the bottom surface allows the pad  31  to be safely used in the shower or bath or on a tile floor such as in the kitchen in front of the sink.  
         [0045]      FIG. 6  illustrates another embodiment of pad  31 . The border  108  of the pad  31  defines a generally oval shape for this embodiment. The  FIG. 6  embodiment of this pad  31  includes a stimulation area  71 —including a node array  65  of nodes  61  arranged in columns  67 A and rows  67 B—and a rest area  91  plus an aperture wall  201 —defining an aperture  211  which may, for example, be placed over a drain  311  opening through application surface  301  such as in a shower area.  
         [0046]      FIG. 7  illustrates another preferred embodiment of pad  31  that includes a base  33  having an edge wall  37  organized to form length edge walls  38 A,  38 B that oppose width edge walls  39 A,  39 B with the walls  38 A,  38 B and  39 A,  39 B having a height “H” so as to space the upper surface  51  from the application surface  301 . The upper surface  51  includes an upper surface support  35  and edge walls  38 A,  38 B and  39 A,  39 B having sufficient resiliency to support the weight of an adult standing on the upper surface  51 . Additionally, the walls  38 A,  38 B, and  39 A,  39 B are generally impermeable and the rest area  91  is depressed relative to the stimulation  71  area to provide a receptacle  99  as an element of the rest area  91  in which a fluid may be placed so that a user may soak one or more of his or her feet.  
         [0047]     While the present inventions and what is considered presently to be the best modes thereof have been described in a manner that establishes possession thereof by the inventors and that enables those of ordinary skill in the art to make and use the inventions, it will be understood and appreciated that there are many equivalents to the exemplary embodiments disclosed herein and that myriad modifications and variations may be made thereto without departing from the scope and spirit of the inventions, which are to be limited not by the exemplary embodiments but by the appended claims.