Abstract:
A waterproof bathing slipper having a plurality of nodules for massaging and stimulating specific parts of the soles and sides of the users feet. The present invention includes static and electrically operated pulsating nodules disposed in such a manner as to stimulate specific regions of the foot as applied by the principles of reflexology.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is subject to U.S. provisional application Ser. No. 60/516,414, filed 3 Nov. 2003. 
     Please incorporate by reference all information in said provisional application into this instant application. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates generally to footwear and, more specifically, to a waterproof bathing slipper having a plurality of nodules for massaging and stimulating specific parts of the soles and sides of the users feet. The present invention includes static and electrically operated pulsating nodules disposed in such a manner as to stimulate specific regions of the foot as applied by the principles of reflexology. 
     The bathing slipper of the present invention may be adapted to different types of footwear such as flip-flops and sandals to name a few. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     There are other footwear devices designed for massaging the user&#39;s feet. While these devices may be suitable for the purposes for which they where designed, they would not be as suitable for the purposes of the present invention as heretofore described. 
     It is thus desirable to provide a massaging bathing shoe that uses batteries to actuate pulsating nodules that will stimulate the soles and sides of the user&#39;s feet. Static nodules are also provided and will stimulate the user&#39;s feet when standing or moving. 
     It is further desirable to provide a massaging bathing shoe that provides a means for removing water therefrom without the user having to remove the shoe to do so. 
     SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION 
     A primary object of the present invention is to provide a massaging bathing shoe having a plurality of electrically operated pulsating nodules to stimulate specific sections of the user&#39;s feet as determined by reflexology charts. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide a massaging bathing shoe that further includes a plurality of static nodules that massage the user&#39;s feet with the movement and the pressure applied by the user. 
     Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a massaging bathing shoe that has a low voltage power source and isolated wiring and circuitry to provide safe, maintenance free electricity to the pulsating nodules. 
     Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a massaging bathing shoe with an external power switch to enable the user to actuate and deactivate the pulsating nodules as needed while wearing the shoes. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide a massaging bathing shoe that may be adapted for use with other styles of footwear. 
     Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a massaging bathing shoe that is simple and easy to use. 
     Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a massaging bathing shoe that is inexpensive to manufacture and operate. 
     Additional objects of the present invention will appear as the description proceeds. 
     The foregoing and other objects and advantages will appear from the description to follow. In the description reference is made to the accompanying drawings, which forms a part hereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration specific embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. These embodiments will be described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention, and it is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and that structural changes may be made without departing from the scope of the invention. In the accompanying drawings, like reference characters designate the same or similar parts throughout the several views. 
     The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense, and the scope of the present invention is best defined by the appended claims. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES 
       In order that the invention may be more fully understood, it will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawing in which: 
         FIG. 1  is an illustrative view of the present invention in use. 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the present invention. 
         FIG. 3  is a side view of the present invention. 
         FIG. 4  is a top view of the present invention. 
         FIG. 5  is a top view of the sole of the present invention. 
         FIG. 6  is a bottom view of the sole of the present invention. 
         FIG. 7  is a sectional view of the present invention. 
         FIG. 8  is a sectional view of the present invention. 
         FIG. 9  is a top view of another variation of the present invention. 
         FIG. 10  is a sectional view of option A of the drain assembly of the present invention. 
         FIG. 11  is a sectional view of option B of the drain assembly of the present invention. 
         FIG. 12  is a sectional view of option C of the present invention. 
         FIG. 13  is a flow chart of option D of the drain assembly of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE REFERENCED NUMERALS 
     Turning now descriptively to the drawings, in which similar reference characters denote similar elements throughout the several views, the figures illustrate the Massaging Bathing Shoe of the present invention. With regard to the reference numerals used, the following numbering is used throughout the various drawing figures.
       10  Massaging Bathing Shoe of the present invention     12  insole     14  outsole     16  static cleansing and massage nodules     18  pulsating nodules     19  pulsating nodule groups     20  battery     21  on/off switch     22  electrical connection     24  drain valve     25  drain conduit     26  one-way check valve     28  reservoir     30  reservoir drain conduit     32  insert plug     34  nodule grips     36  hand pump     38  thermoelectric drain valve   

     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     The following discussion describes in detail one embodiment of the invention (and several variations of that embodiment). This discussion should not be construed, however, as limiting the invention to those particular embodiments, practitioners skilled in the art will recognize numerous other embodiments as well. For definition of the complete scope of the invention, the reader is directed to appended claims. 
       FIG. 1  is an illustrative view of the present invention in use. The present invention  10  is a bathing shoe or foot wear worn in a bath, shower, poolside, your backyard or beach that helps prevent contact with various germs on a walking surface. 
       FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the present invention  10 . Shown is the present invention  10 , a bathing shoe or footwear worn in a bath, shower, poolside or at the beach that helps prevent contact with various fungi or germs on a walking surface. Further comprising one-way drain valves  24  and massage and cleansing nodules. The bottom of said footwear incorporates gripping nodules  34  designed to be skid resistant to protect the wearer while walking or standing on slippery surfaces. 
       FIG. 3  is a side view of the present invention  10 . Shown is the present invention  10 , a bathing shoe or foot wear worn in a bath, shower, pool side or beach that helps prevent contact with infection from various germs on a walking surface. A removable insert plug  32  is included to allow for removal of fluid from the shoe without the user having to remove it from the foot. 
       FIG. 4  is a top view of the present invention  10 . Shown is the present invention  10 , a bathing shoe or foot wear worn in a bath, shower, pool side or beach that helps prevent contact with various fungi or germs on a walking surface. Further comprising one-way drain valves  24  disposed between massage and cleansing nodules  16 . 
       FIG. 5  is a top view of the sole of the present invention. Shown is the insole of the present invention comprising three vital components: a plurality of non-special static nodules  16 , a plurality of electrically operated specialized pulsating nodules  18  arranged in groups  19  that provide a pulsating up and down massage motion upon command and a plurality of drain valves  24 . The arrangement shown is for illustrative purposes and may be reconfigured accordingly without deviating from the object and intent of the present invention. The arrangement of the preferred embodiment of the present invention has the specialized nodules  18  grouped together and positioned to provide a penetrating massage in specific areas as defined by reflexology. The shoes of the present invention  10  may be manufactured with the special nodule groups  19  in different sizes and locations to stimulate various organs and body areas as required by the needs of the user. Low voltage electricity from a battery  20  is used to provide safety under all condition and the electrical connections  22  are isolated to further enhance safety and to assure the integrity of the electrical circuit during usage. Any suitable wiring configuration may be used and one possible wiring scheme is demonstrated in the illustration. However, the specific method of supplying electricity to the pulsating nodules  18  requiring power may be altered, modified and changed without affecting objectives and the gist of the present invention. 
       FIG. 6  is a bottom view of the outsole  14  of the present invention  10 . Shown is the outsole  14  of the present invention  10 . The bottom of said footwear incorporates gripping nodules  34  designed to be skid resistant to protect the wearer while walking or standing on slippery surfaces. 
       FIG. 7  is a sectional view of the present invention  10 . Shown is a sectional view of the present invention  10  showing the bottom and side cleaning modules  16  inside the shoe and the electrically operated specialized nodules  18 . A battery  20  supplies the power to the specialized nodules  18  when the power switch  21  is turned on thereby initiating the up and down motion of the nodules  18  on the insole  12  and sides of the shoe. Shown is one possible wiring configuration to supply power to the nodules  18  on the sides and the sole although any other suitable configuration may be adapted without altering the concept of the present invention. 
       FIG. 8  is a sectional view of the present invention  10  adapted to a flip-flop. Shown is a sectional view of the present invention  10  showing the pulsating nodules  18  and the static cleaning and massage nodules  16  on the top and a plurality of nodule grips  34  on the bottom. 
       FIG. 9  is a top view of the flip-flop variation of the present invention  10 . Shown is one possible wiring configuration for the electrical connections  22  to supply power from the imbedded battery  20  to the pulsating nodule groups  19  to provide for the up and down movement thereof for the vibrating/penetration action against the user&#39;s feet. 
       FIG. 10  is a sectional view of option A of the drain assembly of the present invention. Shown is option “A” of the drain assembly wherein a reservoir  28  is disposed between the insole  12  of the shoe and the outsole  14  to receive and retain excess water prior to draining. Water in the shoe passes through the one-way drain valves  24  into the reservoir. A threaded plug  32  is included to provide a point of egress to drain the reservoir  28  and the shoe without the user having to remove the shoe to do so. The electrical components have been omitted for reasons of clarity and because they have heretofore been duly addressed. The alternate options of the present invention  10  do not change the objectives thereof as the present invention  10  comprises a plurality of electrically operated pulsating massage nodules  18  and passive nodules  16  strategically positioned to take advantage of the principles of reflexology, a means for retaining fluid therein and a means for removing the fluid therefrom without removing the shoe. The alternate options of the present invention  10  seek to demonstrate some of the possible means for removing the fluid therefrom but said means is in no way limited to the methods shown in the illustrations. 
       FIG. 11  is a sectional view of option B of the drain assembly of the present invention  10 . Shown is option “B” of the drain assembly having the reservoir  28  as depicted in option “A” and further including a hand pump  36  that screws into the threaded recess of the reservoir drain conduit  30  for the threaded drain plug. Withdrawing the handle extracts all the water from the shoe. 
       FIG. 12  is a sectional view of option C of the present invention  10 . Shown is a sectional view of the present invention  10  having all components as shown in  FIGS. 1–11  with the drain valve elements eliminated. The user removes the water from the shoe simply by removing the shoe and pouring the water out. 
       FIG. 13  is a flow chart of option D of the drain assembly of the present invention  10 . Shown is a flow chart depicting the drain valves  38  of the present invention  10  having thermoelectric properties wherein the thermoelectric valves  38  remain closed as long as an electrical charge is applied thereto. A drain switch  21  is provided for the user to open when the shoe needs to be drained and the thermoelectric valves  38  respond to the absence of an electrical charge by opening and letting water pass therethrough to the exterior of the shoe. One-way check valves remain in place within the thermoelectric valves  38  to ensure that no exterior water enters the shoes through the valves. 
     It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or two or more together may also find a useful application in other types of methods differing from the type described above. 
     While certain novel features of this invention have been shown and described and are pointed out in the annexed claims, it is not intended to be limited to the details above, since it will be understood that various omissions, modifications, substitutions and changes in the forms and details of the device illustrated and in its operation can be made by those skilled in the art without departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention. 
     Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of the present invention that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily adapt it for various applications without omitting features that, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essential characteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this invention.