Patent Publication Number: US-8123708-B2

Title: Massage device

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENT APPLICATION 
     This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/625,255, filed Jan. 19, 2007, entitled “Massage Device,” by Chi-Wu Chiang, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,731,672, which itself is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/082,016, filed Mar. 16, 2005, entitled “Massage Device,” by Chi-Wu Chiang, now abandoned, which itself claims priority to and the benefit of, pursuant to 35 USC §119(a), Chinese patent application Serial No. 2004200456092, filed May 11, 2004, which are incorporated herein in their entireties by reference. 
     This application is also a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/103,785, filed Apr. 16, 2008, entitled “A Massage Device,” by Chi-Wu Chiang, now allowed, which itself claims priority to and the benefit of, pursuant to 35 USC §119(a), Chinese patent application Serial No. 200820091616.4, filed Jan. 15, 2008, entitled “A Massage Device,” by Chi-Wu Chiang, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
     This application also claims priority to and the benefit of, pursuant to 35 USC §119(a), Chinese patent application Serial No. 200920133730.3, filed Jul. 10, 2009, entitled “A Massage Device with Massaging Feet,” by Chichun Wu, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to a massage device, and more particularly to a massage device that utilizes a pair of massage feet to provide tapping massaging effects. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Simulated massaging or kneading of parts of the body to aid circulation or relax the muscles has gained popularity, particularly, among people who are lack of exercise. The simulated massaging or kneading effects can be achieved electromagnetically and/or mechanically by means of a massage device. For the electromagnetic massaging or kneading, such a massage device is configured to generate a series of electromagnetic pulses, which are regularly directed to parts of interest of the body so as to perform massaging or kneading thereon. However, the massaging or kneading area of the massage device is limited, and the massaging or kneading effects may not be very gentle. For the mechanical massaging or kneading, the massage device is usually designed to have a plurality of massage nodes and a driving system to drive the plurality of massage nodes to rotate so as to simulate massaging or kneading when applied to parts of interest of the body. Comparing to the electromagnetic massaging, the limitation of the massaging or kneading area is improved for the mechanical massaging. However, mechanical massage devices are relatively complex and costly. 
     Therefore, a heretofore unaddressed need exists in the art to address the aforementioned deficiencies and inadequacies. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention, in one aspect, relates to a massage device. In one embodiment, the massage device includes a base cover having a longitudinal axis and a plurality of guiding rails formed parallel to the longitudinal axis, and a rack mounted to the base cover and paralleled to the plurality of guiding rails. 
     The massage device further includes a carriage having a chassis member and a shield member placed over the chassis member to form a chamber therebetween, wherein the chassis member has a plurality of grooves formed such that when the carriage is engaged with the base cover, the plurality of guiding rails is received in the plurality of grooves of the chassis member and the carriage is longitudinally movable back and forth along the plurality of guiding rails of the base cover. 
     The massage device also includes a transmission assembly received in the chamber and secured in the carriage. The transmission assembly has a motor having an output shaft, a worm mechanically coupled with the output shaft of the motor, a worm wheel meshing with the worm, a first gear meshing with the worm, a first pinion coaxially extended under the first gear, a second gear meshing with the first pinion, a second pinion coaxially extended under the second gear, a third gear meshing with the second pinion, and a third pinion coaxially extended under the third gear and meshing with the rack such that when the motor is activated, it drives the worm to rotate, the rotation of the worm results in the rotations of the worm wheel and the first gear, the rotation of the first gear results in, in turn, the rotations of the first pinion gear, the second gear, the second pinion gear, the third gear and the third pinion, thereby moving the carriage along the plurality of the guiding rails of the base cover. In one embodiment, the worm wheel and the first gear are arranged such that a rotation direction of the worm wheel is perpendicular to that of the first gear. 
     Furthermore, the massage device includes a massage assembly comprising a driving shaft and a pair of massage members. The driving shaft has a first end portion and an opposite, second end portion defining a shaft body therebetween, and is coaxially engaged with the worm wheel by the shaft body such that when the worm wheel rotates, the driving shaft rotates accordingly. Each massage member comprises an eccentric wheel, a massage bracket, a guiding block and a massage foot. 
     The eccentric wheel has a first surface, an opposite, second surface, a bolt shaft protruded eccentrically from the first surface and a recess formed on the second surface for receiving one of the first and second end portions of the driving shaft such that when the driving shaft rotates, the eccentric wheel rotates accordingly so that the bolt shaft moves circumferentially around the recess. 
     The massage bracket has a first end portion and a second end portion defining a bracket body therebetween, a guiding bar protruded laterally from the first end portion, and a bracket recess laterally formed in the bracket body for receiving the bolt shaft of the eccentric wheel such that when the bolt shaft of the eccentric wheel moves circumferentially, the massage bracket moves accordingly. 
     The guiding block is mounted onto the shield member of the carriage in relation to the massage bracket, and has a crescent-like guiding slot for receiving the guiding bar of the massage bracket such that when the massage bracket moves in response to the circumferential movement of the bolt shaft of the eccentric wheel, the guiding bar of the massage bracket moves back and forth along the crescent-like guiding slot. 
     The massage foot is mounted on the second end portion of the massage bracket such that when the guiding bar of the massage bracket moves back and forth along the crescent-like guiding slot of the guiding block, the massage foot taps back and forth along an arc line corresponding the crescent-like guiding slot of the guiding block. 
     In one embodiment, the massage foot comprises a curved foot board engaged with the massage bracket, where the curved foot board has a plurality of protrusions. The massage foot further comprises a plurality of bearings rotatably attached to the curved foot board. The massage foot may further comprise a plurality of energy sources engaged with the curved foot board for generating heat and/or light, where the plurality of energy sources comprises at least one of thermal and optical sources, and wherein the thermal source has at least one of cement resistors and heating lamps, and the optical source has a light. Additionally, the massage foot may also comprises a base mounted onto the second end portion of the massage bracket, a middle board secured to the base, wherein the plurality of energy sources is mounted onto the middle board, and wherein the curved foot board is positioned over the middle board and secured to the base. 
     In another aspect, the present invention relates to a massage device. In one embodiment, the massage device includes a massage assembly comprising a driving shaft and a pair of massage members. The driving shaft has a first end portion and an opposite, second end portion defining a shaft body therebetween. 
     Each massage member comprises an eccentric wheel, a massage bracket, a guiding block and a massage foot. The eccentric wheel has a first surface, an opposite, second surface, a bolt shaft protruded eccentrically from the first surface and a recess formed on the second surface for receiving one of the first and second end portions of the driving shaft such that when the driving shaft rotates, the eccentric wheel rotates accordingly so that the bolt shaft moves circumferentially around the recess. The massage bracket has a first end portion and a second end portion defining a bracket body therebetween, a guiding bar protruded laterally from the first end portion, and a bracket recess laterally formed in the bracket body for receiving the bolt shaft of the eccentric wheel such that when the bolt shaft of the eccentric wheel moves circumferentially, the massage bracket moves accordingly. The guiding block has a crescent-like guiding slot for receiving the guiding bar of the massage bracket such that when the massage bracket moves in response to the circumferential movement of the bolt shaft of the eccentric wheel, the guiding bar of the massage bracket moves back and forth along the crescent-like guiding slot. The massage foot is mounted on the second end portion of the massage bracket such that when the guiding bar of the massage bracket moves back and forth along the crescent-like guiding slot of the guiding block, the massage foot taps back and forth along an arc line corresponding the crescent-like guiding slot of the guiding block. 
     In one embodiment, the massage foot comprises a curved foot board engaged with the massage bracket, where the massage foot further comprises a plurality of bearings rotatably attached to the curved foot board. The massage foot may further comprises a plurality of energy sources engaged with the curved foot board for generating heat and/or light, wherein the plurality of energy sources comprises at least one of thermal and optical sources, and wherein the thermal source has at least one of cement resistors and heating lamps, and wherein the optical source has a light. 
     The massage device further has a base cover having a longitudinal axis and a plurality of guiding rails formed parallel to the longitudinal axis, a rack mounted to the base cover and paralleled to the plurality of guiding rails, and a carriage having a chassis member and a shield member placed over the chassis member to form a chamber therebetween, wherein the chassis member has a plurality of grooves formed such that when the carriage is engaged with the base cover, the plurality of guiding rails is received in the plurality of grooves of the chassis member and the carriage is longitudinally movable back and forth along the plurality of guiding rails of the base cover. 
     The massage device also has a transmission assembly received in the chamber and secured in the carriage, wherein the transmission assembly comprises a motor  4  having an output shaft, a worm mechanically coupled with the output shaft of the motor, a worm wheel meshing with the worm, a first gear meshing with the worm, a first pinion coaxially extended under the first gear, a second gear meshing with the first pinion, a second pinion coaxially extended under the second gear, a third gear meshing with the second pinion, and a third pinion coaxially extended under the third gear and meshing with the rack such that when the motor is activated, it drives the worm to rotate, the rotation of the worm results in the rotations of the worm wheel and the first gear, the rotation of the first gear results in, in turn, the rotations of the first pinion gear, the second gear, the second pinion gear, the third gear and the third pinion, thereby moving the carriage along the plurality of the guiding rails of the base cover. 
     In one embodiment, the driving shaft is coaxially engaged with the worm wheel by the shaft body such that when the worm wheel rotates, the driving shaft rotates accordingly. 
     In operation, the motor drives the worm wheel and the first gear to rotate in perpendicular directions, wherein the rotation of the first gear drives the carriage to move along the plurality of the guiding rails of the base cover, and wherein the rotation of the worm wheel drives the pair of massage members to provide a tapping massage effect to a user. 
     These and other aspects of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of the preferred embodiment taken in conjunction with the following drawings, although variations and modifications therein may be affected without departing from the spirit and scope of the novel concepts of the disclosure. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The accompanying drawings illustrate one or more embodiments of the invention and, together with the written description, serve to explain the principles of the invention. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers are used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or like elements of an embodiment, and wherein: 
         FIG. 1  shows an exploded view of a massage device according to one embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  shows a partially exploded view of the massage device as shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  shows another partially exploded view of the massage device as shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 4  shows yet another partially exploded view of the massage device as shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 5  shows partially a massage device according to another one embodiment of the present invention, (a) a partially exploded view, and (b) a partially perspective view; 
         FIG. 6  shows a partially exploded view of a massage device according to one embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 7  shows a partially perspective view of the massage device as shown in  FIG. 6 ; 
         FIG. 8  shows another partially perspective view of the massage device as shown in  FIG. 6 ; and 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is more particularly described in the following examples that are intended as illustrative only since numerous modifications and variations therein will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Various embodiments of the invention are now described in detail. Referring to the drawings, like numbers indicate like components throughout the views. As used in the description herein and throughout the claims that follow, the meaning of “a”, “an”, and “the” includes plural reference unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Also, as used in the description herein and throughout the claims that follow, the meaning of “in” includes “in” and “on” unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. 
     The terms used in this specification generally have their ordinary meanings in the art, within the context of the invention, and in the specific context where each term is used. Certain terms that are used to describe the invention are discussed below, or elsewhere in the specification, to provide additional guidance to the practitioner regarding the description of the invention. The use of examples anywhere in this specification, including examples of any terms discussed herein, is illustrative only, and in no way limits the scope and meaning of the invention or of any exemplified term. Likewise, the invention is not limited to various embodiments given in this specification. 
     As used herein, “around”, “about” or “approximately” shall generally mean within 20 percent, preferably within 10 percent, and more preferably within 5 percent of a given value or range. Numerical quantities given herein are approximate, meaning that the term “around”, “about” or “approximately” can be inferred if not expressly stated. 
     As used herein, the terms “comprising,” “including,” “having,” “containing,” “involving,” and the like are to be understood to be open-ended, i.e., to mean including but not limited to. 
     The description will be made as to the embodiments of the present invention in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in  FIGS. 1-8 . In accordance with the purposes of this invention, as embodied and broadly described herein, this invention, in one aspect, relates to a massage device for providing tapping massaging effects. 
     Referring first to  FIGS. 1-4 , a massage device  100  is shown according to one embodiment of the present invention. The massage device  100  includes a base cover  1 , a rack  40 , a carriage  130 , a transmission assembly  140  and a massage assembly  150  having a pair of massage members  151 . 
     The base cover  1  has a longitudinal axis  111  and two guiding rails  112  formed parallel to the longitudinal axis  111 . The two guiding rails  112  are adapted for cooperating with the carriage  130  and translating the pair of massage members  151  along the longitudinal axis  111 . Other numbers of guiding rails  112  can also be utilized to practice the present invention. The rack  40  is mounted to the base cover  1  and paralleled to the plurality of guiding rails  112 . The base cover  1  may also have a series of ribs  113  and supporting structures  114  for supporting and securing a top cover  14  to form a housing for accommodating the carriage  130 , the transmission assembly  140  and the massage assembly  150  therein. The base cover  1  is made of a durable material, such as wood, plastic, alloy or the like. 
     The carriage  130  includes a chassis member  3  and a shield member  32  placed over the chassis member  3  to form a chamber therebetween. The chassis member  3  has two grooves  134  spaced-apart and formed on the bottom surface of the chassis member  3 . The two grooves  134  are configured and sized to receive the two guiding rails  112  of the base cover  1 , respectively. The cooperation of the guiding rails  112  of the base cover  1  and the grooves  134  of the chassis member  3  provides longitudinal guidance and support to the carriage  130  as it translates along the guiding rails  112 . That is, when the carriage  130  is engaged with the base cover  1 , the guiding rails  112  are respectively received in the grooves  134  of the chassis member  3  and the carriage  130  is longitudinally movable back and forth along the plurality of guiding rails  112  of the base cover  1 . Other numbers of grooves can also be utilized to practice the present invention. The number of grooves is corresponding to the number of guiding rails  112  formed in the base cover  1 . Additionally, the carriage  130  may also include a plurality of roller bearings  2 , which are each pivotally connected to the carriage  130  and are offset from the grooves  134  and adjacent thereto for engaging a bearing surface provide upon each guiding rail  112 . As the carriage  130  translates along the guiding rail  112 , the carriage  130  is bearingly supported by the roller bearings  2  as they engage the surfaces provided by the guiding rails  112 . 
     The transmission assembly  140  is received in the chamber and secured in the carriage  130 . The transmission assembly  140  has a motor  4  having an output shaft, a worm  5  mechanically coupled with the output shaft of the motor  4 , a worm wheel  8  meshing with the worm  5 , a first gear  34  meshing with the worm  5 , a first pinion  34   a  coaxially extended under the first gear  34 , a second gear  37  meshing with the first pinion  34   a , a second pinion  37   a  coaxially extended under the second gear  37 , a third gear  38  meshing with the second pinion  37   a , and a third pinion  38   a  coaxially extended under the third gear  38  and meshing with the rack  40 . Under this arrangement, when the motor  4  is activated, it drives the worm  5  to rotate, the rotation of the worm  5  results in the rotations of the worm wheel  8  and the first gear  34 , the rotation of the first gear  34  results in, in turn, the rotations of the first pinion gear  34   a , the second gear  37 , the second pinion  37   a , the third gear  38  and the third pinion  38   a , thereby moving the carriage  130  along the plurality of the guiding rails  112  of the base cover  1 . In one embodiment, the worm wheel  8  and the first gear  34  are arranged such that a rotation direction of the worm wheel  8  is perpendicular to that of the first gear  34 . The first gear  34  is also a worm wheel  8 . 
     Generally, each of the first gear  34 , the second gear  37  and the third gear  38  has a diameter that is larger than that of the first pinion  34   a , and the second pinion  37   a  and the third pinion  38   a , respectively. Additionally, each pair of the first gear  34  and the first pinion  34   a , the second gear  37  and the second pinion  37   a , and the third gear  38  and the third pinion  38   a  may be formed as a co-axially dual articulated gear. 
     The massage assembly  150  has a driving shaft  20  and a pair of massage members  151 . 
     The driving shaft  20  has a first end portion and an opposite, second end portion defining a shaft body therebetween, and is coaxially engaged with the worm wheel  8  by the shaft body such that when the worm wheel  8  rotates, the driving shaft  20  rotates accordingly. As shown in  FIG. 3 , in assembly, the driving shaft  20  is placed through a shaft bore  8   a  of the worm wheel  8 , preferably, at the middle of the shaft body of the driving shaft  20 . To ensure the worm wheel  8  and the driving shaft  20  to rotate synchronously, the worm wheel  8  and the driving shaft  20  are secured to together by a fastening pin  18 . Furthermore, a shaft bearing  16  is placed on the shaft body of the driving shaft  20  at each side of the worm wheel  8 . The shaft bearing  16  is configured such that the driving shaft  20  is freely rotatable back and forth. The worm wheel  8  is placed in an opening  32   b  defined in the shield member  32  of the carriage  130 , and covered by a worm wheel bracket  19  that is, in turn, mounted onto the shield member  32  of the carriage  130 . Additionally, each bearing  16  is placed in a corresponding bearing holding structure  32   a  of the shield member  32 , and is covered by a bearing bracket  16  that is, in turn, mounted onto the corresponding bearing holding structure  32   a  of the shield member  32 . 
     Each massage member  151  of the pair of massage members includes an eccentric wheel  17 , a massage bracket  9  ( 30 ), a guiding block  23 , and a massage foot  152 . 
     The eccentric wheel  17  has a first surface, an opposite, second surface, a bolt shaft  17   a  protruded eccentrically from the first surface and a recess  17   b  formed on the second surface for receiving one of the first and second end portions of the driving shaft  20  such that when the driving shaft  20  rotates, the eccentric wheel  17  rotates accordingly so that the bolt shaft  17   a  moves circumferentially around the recess. 
     The structures of the massage brackets  9  and  30  are essentially same, but the massage brackets  30  is for the left-foot side massage member  151  and the massage brackets  9  is for the right-foot side massage member  151 . Only the massage bracket  9  is described in details. The massage bracket  9  has a first end portion  9   a  and a second end portion  9   b  defining a bracket body  9   c  therebetween, a guiding bar  9   d  protruded laterally from the first end portion, and a bracket recess  9   e  laterally formed in the bracket body  9   c  for receiving the bolt shaft  17   a  of the eccentric wheel  17  such that when the bolt shaft  17   a  of the eccentric wheel  17  moves circumferentially, the massage bracket  9  moves accordingly. 
     The guiding block  23  is mounted onto the shield member  32  of the carriage  130  in relation to the massage bracket  9 , and has a crescent-like guiding slot  23   a  for receiving the guiding bar  9   d  of the massage bracket  9  such that when the massage bracket  9  moves in response to the circumferential movement of the bolt shaft  17   a  of the eccentric wheel  17 , the guiding bar  9   d  of the massage bracket  9  moves back and forth along the crescent-like guiding slot  23   a.    
     The massage foot  152  is mounted on the second end portion  9   b  of the massage bracket  9  such that when the guiding bar  9   d  of the massage bracket  9  moves back and forth along the crescent-like guiding slot  23   a  of the guiding block  23 , the massage foot  152  taps back and forth along an arc line corresponding the crescent-like guiding slot  23   a  of the guiding block  23 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 4 , in assembly, an end portion of the driving shaft  20  is placed in the recess  17   b  of the eccentric wheel  17  and secured thereto by a fastening pin  18  so that the eccentric wheel  17  rotates synchronously around the driving shaft  20  when the driving shaft  20  rotates. The bolt shaft  17   a  of the eccentric wheel  17  is received by a shaft bearing  16  that is, in turn, received in the bracket recess  9   e  of the massage bracket  9 . The shaft bearing  16  is configured such that the massage bracket  9  is rotatable relative to a bolt shaft  17   a  of the eccentric wheel  17 . The guiding bar  9   d  of the massage bracket  9  receiving a bearing member  24  is placed in the crescent-like guiding slot  23   a  of the guiding block  23 , so that the guiding bar  9   d  of the massage bracket  9  with the bearing member  24  is freely movable back and forth in the crescent-like guiding slot  23   a  of the guiding block  23 . Additionally, a washer  22  is attached to the free end of the guiding bar  9   d  of the massage bracket  9 . The massage foot  152  is mounted onto the second end portion of the massage bracket  9 . 
     Additionally, fastening means such as fastening pins  18 ,  33 ,  35  and  36  and screws  7  may be applied wherever it is needed to secure various components of the massage device  100 . 
     For such a massage device  100 , in operation, the motor  4  drives the worm wheel  8  and the first gear  34  to rotate in perpendicular directions. The rotation of the first gear  34  drives the carriage  130  to move along the plurality of the guiding rails  112  of the base cover  1 , while the rotation of the worm wheel  8  drives the pair of massage members  151  to provide a tapping massage effect to a user. Specifically, when the worm wheel  8  rotates, it drives the driving shaft  20  to rotate accordingly. The rotation of the driving shaft  20  results in the rotation of the eccentric wheel  17 , thereby causing the bolt shaft  17   a  to move circumferentially around the recess  17   b  of the eccentric wheel  17  (or the driving shaft  20 ) at a radius that is corresponding to the distance between the bolt shaft  17   a  and the recess  17   b  of the eccentric wheel  17 . The circumferential motion of the bolt shaft  17   a  of the eccentric wheel  17  results in the circumferential motion of the massage bracket  9  around the driving shaft  20  at the radius. Additionally, the massage bracket  9  also subjects to a motion back and forth along an arc line that is corresponding to the crescent-like guiding slot  23   a . Therefore, the two motions cause the massage foot  152  mounted onto the massage bracket  9  to tap back and forth so as to provide tapping massaging effects. 
     In one embodiment, as shown in  FIGS. 1-4 , and particularly in  FIG. 4 , the massage foot  152  comprises a base  11  mounted onto the second end portion  9   b  of the massage bracket  9 , a middle board  12  secured to the base  11 , and a curved foot board  13  positioned over the middle board  12  and secured to the base  11 . 
     The massage foot  152  also has a plurality of energy sources  12   a  mounted onto the middle board  12  for generating heat and/or light. The plurality of energy sources  12   a  includes at least one of thermal and optical sources. The thermal source may have at least one of cement resistors  44  and heating lamps. The optical source may have a light. In one embodiment shown in  FIG. 4 , the energy source  12   a  in includes a base frame  46  mounted onto the middle board  12 , a PCT board  45  positioned over the base frame  46 , a cement resistors  44  attached to the PCT board  45  and a cover  43  secured to the base frame  46  for covering the cement resistors  44 . 
     The curved foot board  13  may have different structure so as to provide desired massaging effects. For example, the curved foot board  13  may include a plurality of protrusions (not shown) so as to provide desired kneading massage effects when in use. The protrusions may include the plurality of energy sources  12   a.    
     Additionally, as shown in  FIG. 5 , the massage foot  552  includes a plurality of bearings  554  rotatably attached to the curved foot board  553 . Additionally, the massage foot  552  also has a base  511  attached to the curved foot board  553 , and a plurality of energy sources  512  including heating lamps and/or cement resistors, and lighting lamp and/or light emitting diodes (LEDs) mounted onto the base  511 . 
       FIGS. 6-8  show another embodiment of a massage device  600  according to present invention. Similar to the massage device shown in  FIGS. 1-4 , the massage device  600 , among other things, has a transmission assembly and a message assembly. 
     The transmission assembly has a motor  604  having an output shaft, a worm  605  mechanically coupled with the output shaft of the motor  604 , a worm wheel  608  meshing with the worm  605 , a first gear  634  meshing with the worm  605 , a first pinion coaxially extended under the first gear  634 , a second gear  637  meshing with the first pinion, a second pinion coaxially extended under the second gear  637  and meshing with the rack  640 . 
     The massage assembly has a driving shaft  620  and a pair of massage members. The driving shaft  20  has a first end portion and an opposite, second end portion defining a shaft body therebetween, and is coaxially engaged with the worm wheel  608  by the shaft body such that when the worm wheel  8  rotates, the driving shaft  20  rotates accordingly. Each massage member of the pair of massage members includes an eccentric wheel  617 , a massage bracket  609 , a guiding block  623 , and a massage foot  652 . 
     The eccentric wheel  617  has a first surface, an opposite, second surface, a bolt shaft protruded eccentrically from the first surface and a bore formed on the second surface for receiving one of the first and second end portions of the driving shaft  620  such that when the driving shaft  620  rotates, the eccentric wheel  617  rotates accordingly so that the bolt shaft moves circumferentially around the bore. The massage bracket  609  has a first end portion and a second end portion defining a bracket body therebetween, a guiding bar  609   d  protruded laterally from the first end portion, and a bore  609   e  formed through the bracket body for receiving the bolt shaft of the eccentric wheel  617  such that when the bolt shaft of the eccentric wheel  617  moves circumferentially, the massage bracket  609  moves accordingly. The guiding block  623  is mounted on the shielding member  632  and has a crescent-like guiding slot  623   a  for receiving the guiding bar  609   d  of the massage bracket  9  such that when the massage bracket  609  moves in response to the circumferential movement of the bolt shaft of the eccentric wheel  617 , the guiding bar  609   d  of the massage bracket  609  moves back and forth along the crescent-like guiding slot  623   a . The massage foot  652  is mounted on the second end portion of the massage bracket  609  such that when the guiding bar  609   d  of the massage bracket  609  moves back and forth along the crescent-like guiding slot  623   a  of the guiding block  623 , the massage foot  652  taps back and forth along an arc line corresponding the crescent-like guiding slot  623   a  of the guiding block  623 . 
     In this exemplary embodiment, the massage bracket  609  and the massage foot  652  are molded as a single member. Further, the massage foot  652  may have a plurality of thermal and/or optical sources  654 . 
     For the exemplary embodiment of the massage device  600 , in operation, when the motor  604  is activated, it drives the worm  605  to rotate, the rotation of the worm  605  results in the rotations of the worm wheel  608  and the first gear  634 , the rotation of the first gear  634  results in, in turn, the rotations of the first pinion gear, the second gear  637 , the second pinion gear, thereby moving the carriage  603  along the rack  640 . The rotation of the worm wheel  608  results in the rotation of the driving shaft  20 . The rotation of the driving shaft  620  results in the rotation of the eccentric wheel  617 , which causes the bolt shaft of the eccentric wheel  617  to move circumferentially around the driving shaft  620 . The circumferential motion of the bolt shaft of the eccentric wheel  617  results in the circumferential motion of the massage bracket  609  around the driving shaft  620 . Additionally, the massage bracket  609  also subjects to a motion back and forth along an arc line that is corresponding to the crescent-like guiding slot  623   a . Therefore, the two motions cause the massage foot  652  to tap back and forth so as to provide tapping massaging effects. 
     The foregoing description of the exemplary embodiments of the invention has been presented only for the purposes of illustration and description and is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed. Many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. 
     The embodiments were chosen and described in order to explain the principles of the invention and their practical application so as to activate others skilled in the art to utilize the invention and various embodiments and with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. Alternative embodiments will become apparent to those skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains without departing from its spirit and scope. Accordingly, the scope of the present invention is defined by the appended claims rather than the foregoing description and the exemplary embodiments described therein.