Patent Publication Number: US-6213963-B1

Title: Apparatus for the massaging of toes

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims the benefit of and incorporates by reference prior filed Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/082,010 filed Apr. 16, 1998 entitled “Toe Massager”. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention. 
     The present invention relates to a foot massage device operated by a drive means such as an electric and/or battery powered motor. More specifically, the present invention relates to a foot message device having a plurality massaging fingers providing a massaging effect to the toe of a user. 
     2. Prior Art. 
     The prior art disclosed various types of massagers. Typical examples of such massagers are exemplified in the disclosures of U.S. Pat. No. 4,807,602 issued to Scarborough on Feb. 28, 1989 which discloses a hydro-massaging device, U.S. Pat. No. D157,306 issued to Vogt on Feb. 14, 1950 which discloses an electrical foot vibrator, U.S. Pat. No. 5,447,491 issued to Bellandi on Sep. 5, 1995 which discloses an anticellulitis massaging device operated by an electric motor and U.S. Pat. No. 3,499,439 issued to Boller on May 26, 1967 which discloses a hand-held massaging device utilizing inner mesh gears carrying one or more massaging implements. 
     As the prior art above demonstrates these devices are suited for their intended purposes, however, nothing in any prior art discloses a device which is suited for the purpose for providing a massaging effect on and between the toes of a foot. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention generally relates to a foot massaging device, in particular to a device which is able to provide a massaging effect between the toes of a foot which utilizes the plurality of massaging fingers. 
     The massaging fingers provide a massaging effect to the toes of the user. The primary embodiment of the invention envisions a device which is used on a single foot. However, alternative embodiments envision the device configured in such a manner at to be able to provide a massaging effect to both feet of a user. 
     The present invention utilizes a drive means connected to a motion transfer apparatus to provide movement to a plurality of massaging fingers. The drive means can include an electrical and/or battery power motor. The motion transfer apparatus can include a combination of intermeshed gears, shafts and other motion transferable components. A housing is utilized to provide protection and give an aesthetic appearance to the drive means, motion transfer apparatus and massaging fingers. 
     In operation, a user positions his foot within an opening contained within the housing, positioning the massaging fingers between his toes. Power is then supplied to the drive means by a power source means, such as an electrical power source. The drive means, which is engaged to the motion transfer apparatus, provides movement to the apparatus. This movement is transferred by way a series of components, such as gears and shafts, to the massaging fingers, causing the fingers to move in such a manner as to provide a massaging effect to the user. 
     Another embodiment of the invention envisions the device configured in such a manner as to accommodate both feet of a user in order to be massaged simultaneously. 
     Another embodiment of the invention envisions a device with multi-layered massaging fingers. The fingers would be positioned between and on the tops of a users toes. 
     Another embodiment of the invention envisions the massaging fingers to move in a piston like manner over the tops of the user&#39;s toes. 
     The primary object of the present invention is to provide a foot massaging device which incorporates advantages over the existing prior art. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide a foot massaging device which is able to provide a massaging effect between a user&#39;s toes. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide a foot massaging device which is able to simultaneously provide a massaging effect to the toes of both feet of a user. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide a foot massaging device which is able to provide a massaging effect between and on top of a user&#39;s toes. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of the present invention. 
     FIG. 2 shows a top view of the internal components of the present invention. 
     FIG. 3 shows a side view of the internal components of the present invention along line  3  as shown in FIG.  2 . 
     FIG. 3A shows a side view of the internal components of the present invention along line  3 A as shown in FIG.  2 . 
     FIG. 3B shows a side view of the internal components of the present invention along line  3 B as shown in FIG.  2 . 
     FIG. 3C shows a side view of the internal components of the present invention along line  3 C as shown in FIG.  2 . 
     FIG. 4 shows a top view of a massaging finger component of the present invention. 
     FIG. 5 shows a side view of a massaging finger component of the present invention. 
     FIG. 6 shows a perspective view of a massaging finger component of the present invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring now to the figures, a foot massaging device  10  according to the present invention is shown. As generally illustrated in FIG. 1, a foot massaging device  10  having a housing  70  covering a drive means  16 , a motion transfer apparatus  40  and a plurality of massaging fingers  20  is shown. Power is supplied to device  10  by a power source means  14 . When power is supplied to device  10 , drive means  16  provides movement to motion transfer apparatus  40  which in turn provided movement to the massaging fingers  20 , causing a massaging effect upon the toes  5  of a users foot  7 . 
     As shown in FIG. 1, power source means  14  for the preferred embodiment of the present invention is shown to be an electrical power source, such as a standard wall socket. This is merely illustrative. Other power source means which could provide power to device  10  are considered as part of the scope of the present invention. 
     As shown in FIG. 1, drive means  16  for the preferred embodiment of the present invention is shown to be an electrical motor. This is merely illustrative. Other drive means, such as a battery powered motor, are considered as part of the scope of the present invention. 
     As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, motion transfer apparatus  40  generally includes a plurality of motion transfer components, such as gears and shafts. As illustrated in FIG. 2, the motion transfer apparatus  40  of the preferred embodiment of the present invention has a drive shaft  17  connected to drive means  16 . A first gear  42  is connected to drive shaft  17 . Second gear  44  is intermeshed with first gear  42 . Connected to second gear  44  is a fourth gear  45  which is of a smaller outer diameter than second gear  44 . Third gear  46  receives rotational motion from second gear  44  by first shaft  48 . 
     A fifth gear  54  is intermeshed with the cogs of fourth gear  45 . A sixth gear  52  is intermeshed with the cogs of third gear  46 . Fifth gear  54  and sixth gear  52  receive rotational motion from third gear  46  and fourth gear  45  respectively. 
     A first idler  53 , having a first slide path  58 , is connected by a first slide peg  50  to fifth gear  54 . A second idler  55 , having a second slide path  60 , is connected to sixth gear  52  by a second slide peg  51 . First idler  53  and second idler  55  are connected by a second shaft  56 . 
     As shown in FIGS. 4 through 6, each massaging finger  20  generally has a massaging portion  22  and a securing portion  24 . Massaging portion  22  has a curved spine  28  having a sinusoidal wave shape extending from securing portion  24 . Spine  28  is flexible in order to adjust to the specific foot size of the user. A plurality of brush arms  30  are secured to spine  28 . The brush arms  30  are flexible and are of a variety of lengths in order to provide a variety of massaging effects. 
     Securing portion  24 , which has a plurality of shaft adjustment holes  26 , is secured to motion transfer apparatus  40 . In the preferred embodiment, securing portion  24  is shown to have four shaft adjustment holes  26 . This is merely illustrative. Securing portion  24  may have multiple shaft adjustment holes or a single shaft adjustment hole. As shown in FIG. 4, shaft adjustment holes  26  are offset from each other. This provides a staggered configuration in order to provide alignment with the natural curvature of a human&#39;s foot. 
     In the preferred embodiment, each massaging finger  20  is secured to second shaft  56  wherein second shaft  56  interfits within one of the shaft adjustment holes  26  contained within securing portion  24 . 
     In operation, power is provided to drive means  16  by power source  14 . Drive means  16  provides rotational movement to drive shaft  17 . Due to the interconnection between the gears and shafts of motion transfer apparatus  40 , movement is transferred from drive shaft  17  through motion transfer apparatus  40  to the plurality of massaging fingers  20  which are connected to second shaft  56 . Each massaging finger  20  then moves accordingly. This movement causes friction between a user&#39;s toes and brush arms  30  of each massaging finger. This friction stimulates the user&#39;s toes in a soothing fashion causing a massaging effect. 
     Whereas, the present invention has been described in relation to the drawings attached hereto, it should be understood that other and further modifications, apart from those shown or suggested herein, may be made within the spirit and scope of this invention. 
     The claims and the specification describe the invention presented and the terms that are employed in the claims draw their meaning from the use of such terms in the specification. The same terms employed in the prior art may be broader in meaning than specifically employed herein. Whenever there is a question between the broader definition of such terms used in the prior art and the more specific use of the terms herein, the more specific meaning is meant. 
     While the invention has been described with a certain degree of particularity, it is manifest that many changes may be made in the details of construction and the arrangement of components without departing from the spirit and scope of this disclosure. It is understood that the invention is not limited to the embodiments set forth herein for purposes of exemplification, but is to be limited only by the scope of the attached claim or claims, including the full range of equivalency to which each element thereof is entitled.