Patent Abstract:
A heated vibrating foot massaging device for reducing tension in the feet of a user. The heated vibrating foot massaging device includes a base member having a plurality of wall members for pivotally supporting an elongate semi-circularly shaped massage unit. The massage unit incorporates both a vibrator assembly and a heater unit coupled to heating elements thereby providing both oscillatory and thermal comfort. A plurality of pressure points are positioned on the exterior surface for therapeudic action.

Full Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to foot massagers and more particularly pertains to a new heated vibrating foot massaging device for reducing tension in the feet of a user. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     The use of foot massagers is known in the prior art. More specifically, foot massagers heretofore devised and utilized are known to consist basically of familiar, expected and obvious structural configurations, notwithstanding the myriad of designs encompassed by the crowded prior art which have been developed for the fulfillment of countless objectives and requirements. 
     Known prior art includes U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,830,161; 5,131,383; 2,583,686; 5,251,620; 5,558,625; and Des. 243,557. 
     While these devices fulfill their respective, particular objectives and requirements, the aforementioned patents do not disclose a new heated vibrating foot massaging device. The inventive device includes a base member having a plurality of wall members for pivotally supporting an elongate semi-circularly shaped massage unit. The massage unit incorporates both a vibrator assembly and a heater unit coupled to heating elements thereby providing both oscillatory and thermal comfort. Pluralities of pressure points are positioned on the exterior surface for therapeutic action. 
     In these respects, the heated vibrating foot massaging device according to the present invention substantially departs from the conventional concepts and designs of the prior art, and in so doing provides an apparatus primarily developed for the purpose of reducing tension in the feet of a user. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types of foot massagers now present in the prior art, the present invention provides a new heated vibrating foot massaging device construction wherein the same can be utilized for reducing tension in the feet of a user. 
     The general purpose of the present invention, which will be described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide a new heated vibrating foot massaging device apparatus and method which has many of the advantages of the foot massagers mentioned heretofore and many novel features that result in a new heated vibrating foot massaging device which is not anticipated, rendered obvious, suggested, or even implied by any of the prior art foot massagers, either alone or in any combination thereof. 
     To attain this, the present invention generally comprises a base member having a plurality of wall members for pivotally supporting an elongate semi-circularly shaped massage unit. The massage unit incorporates both a vibrator assembly and a heater unit coupled to heating elements thereby providing both oscillatory and thermal comfort. Pluralities of pressure points are positioned on the exterior surface for therapeutic action. 
     There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto. 
     In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. 
     As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention. 
     Further, the purpose of the foregoing abstract is to enable the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally, and especially the scientists, engineers and practitioners in the art who are not familiar with patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure of the application. The abstract is neither intended to define the invention of the application, which is measured by the claims, nor is it intended to be limiting as to the scope of the invention in any way. 
     It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a new heated vibrating foot massaging device apparatus and method which has many of the advantages of the foot massagers mentioned heretofore and many novel features that result in a new heated vibrating foot massaging device which is not anticipated, rendered obvious, suggested, or even implied by any of the prior art foot massagers, either alone or in any combination thereof. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide a new heated vibrating foot massaging device that may be easily and efficiently manufactured and marketed. 
     It is a further object of the present invention to provide a new heated vibrating foot massaging device that is of a durable and reliable construction. 
     An even further object of the present invention is to provide a new heated vibrating foot massaging device which is susceptible of a low cost of manufacture with regard to both materials and labor, and which accordingly is then susceptible of low prices of sale to the consuming public, thereby making such heated vibrating foot massaging device economically available to the buying public. 
     Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new heated vibrating foot massaging device which provides in the apparatuses and methods of the prior art some of the advantages thereof, while simultaneously overcoming some of the disadvantages normally associated therewith. 
     Still another object of the present invention is to provide a new heated vibrating foot massaging device for reducing tension in the feet of a user. 
     Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new heated vibrating foot massaging device which includes a base member having a plurality of wall members for pivotally supporting an elongate semi-circularly shaped massage unit. The massage unit incorporates both a vibrator assembly and a heater unit coupled to heating elements thereby providing both oscillatory and thermal comfort. Pluralities of pressure points are positioned on the exterior surface for therapeutic action. 
     These together with other objects of the invention, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the invention, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference should be made to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there are illustrated preferred embodiments of the invention. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The invention will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein: 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a new heated vibrating foot massaging device according to the present invention. 
     FIG. 2 is a top view of the present invention. 
     FIG. 3 is a bottom view of the present invention. 
     FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the massage unit of the present invention. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to FIGS. 1 through 4 thereof, a new heated vibrating foot massaging device embodying the principles and concepts of the present invention and generally designated by the reference numeral  10  will be described. 
     As best illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 4, the heated vibrating foot massaging device  10  generally comprises a base member  12 . The base member  12  comprises a substantially flat plate member  14  and a plurality of base wall members  16 . The base wall members  16  are fixedly coupled to a top surface  18  of the flat plate member  14  symmetrically along a portion of a perimeter edge  20  of the flat plate member  14 . 
     Distal ends  22  of a massage unit  24  are pivotally coupled to an uppermost portion  26  of the base wall members  16 . The base member  12  is designed for supporting the massage unit  24  above a support surface for the purpose of permitting the user to utilize the massage unit  24  for reducing tension in the feet of the user. 
     The base wall members  16  are substantially perpendicular to the flat plate member  14 . The base wall members  16  are substantially angled wherein a height of the uppermost portion  26  of the base wall members  16  are substantially greater than a height of a lowermost portion  28  of the base wall members  16 . The base wall members  16  conform to an angle at which the feet of a user would be when contacting the massage unit  24 . 
     A bottom surface  30  of the base member  12  comprises a substantially friction-enhancing material  32  thereby permitting the user to utilize the massage unit  24  without slippage of the base member  12 . 
     The massage unit  24  is substantially semi-cylindrical. End portions  34  of the massage unit  24  are substantially smaller than a medial section  36  of the massage unit  24 . The end portions  34  are designed for abutting an inside surface  38  of the base wall members  16 . 
     The uppermost portion  26  of the base wall members  16  has a shaft hole  40 . The shaft hole  40  is designed for receiving a plurality of tension assemblies  42 . 
     The tension assemblies  42  comprise a tension knob  44  and a tension spring  46 . The tension spring  46  receives a shaft portion  48  of the tension knob  44  wherein the shaft portion  48  of the tension knob  44  is insertable through the shaft hole  40  of the base wall members  16  from an outer surface  50  of the base wall members  16  into a bore  52  of the end portions  34  of the massage unit  24 . 
     A threaded portion  54  of the shaft portion  48  is threadably couplable to the bore  52  of the end portions  34 . Upon tightening of the tension knob  44 , the tension spring  46  biases the tension knob  44  outwardly against the outer surface  50  of the base wall members  16  thereby creating frictional rotation adjustment of the massage unit  24 . 
     One of the end portions  34  of the base wall members  16  has a cavity  56 . The cavity  56  is an extension of the bore  52 . The cavity  56  is designed for receiving a spring member  58  and a battery  60  such that the shaft portion  48  of the tension knob  44  abuts the spring member  58  thereby biasing the battery  60  inwardly until fully received in the cavity  56 . 
     The massage unit  24  includes a vibrator member  62 . The vibrator member  62  is centrally located along a longitudinal axis of the massage unit  24  such that the vibrator member  62  is designed for creating an oscillation of the massage unit  24  for the purpose of stimulating the feet of the user. 
     The massage unit  24  has a vibrator switch  64 . The vibrator switch  64  is positioned on an exterior surface  66  of the massage unit  24  proximate the end portion having the battery  60 . The vibrator switch  64  is operationally coupled to the battery  60  and the vibrator member  62  such that the vibrator switch  64  is designed for actuating the vibrator member  62 . 
     The massage unit  24  includes a heater member  68 . The heater member  68  is located in the massage unit  24 . A plurality of heater elements  70  is integrally wound throughout a body portion  72  of the massage unit  24 . The heater elements  70  are heated by the heater member  68  when the heater member  68  is activated thereby warming the exterior surface  66  of the massage unit  24  for the purpose of soothing the feet of the user. 
     The massage unit  24  has a heater switch  74 . The heater switch  74  is positioned on the exterior surface  66  of the massage unit  24  proximate the end portion that has the battery  60 . The heater switch  74  is operationally coupled to the battery  60  and the heater member  68  such that the heater switch  74  is designed for actuating the heater member  68 . 
     The massage unit  24  has a plurality of pressure point members  76 . The pressure point members  76  have a substantially bulbous shape. The pressure point members  76  are numerously located on an exterior surface  66  of the massage unit  24  such that the pressure point members  76  are designed for stimulating the feet of the user for the purpose of relaxation and foot ecstasy. 
     As to a further discussion of the manner of usage and operation of the present invention, the same should be apparent from the above description. Accordingly, no further discussion relating to the manner of usage and operation will be provided. 
     With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention. 
     Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.

Technology Classification (CPC): 8