US2542221A - Foot massaging and vibrating device - Google Patents

Description

Feb. 20, 1951 v H. E. WALTERS 2,542,221

FOOT MASSAGING AND VIBRATING DEVICE Filed Dec. 7, 1948 5 Sheets-Sheet l 28 I L 3 J2 I 79 INVENTOR.

HERBERT E. WALTERS H. E. WALTERS FOOT MASSAGING AND VIBRATING DEVICE Feb. 20, 1951 5 $heets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 7, 1948 JNVENTOR.

W L A W T a E B R E H Feb. 20, 1951 WALTERS 2,542,221

FOOT MASSAGING AND VIBRATING DEVICE Filed Dec. 7, 1948 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR. HERBERT E, WALTERS tem of the wastes of fatigue. also has the effect of .exercisingandstrengthening Patented Feb. 20, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FOOT MASSAGINGFAND' VIBRATING DEVICE Herbert E. Walters, San Francisco, Calif., assignor to Wendell .Kindley, Oakland, Calif., and T..L.-Hyde, The Dalles, Oreg.

Application-December 7, 1'948, Serial No.-63-,'923

(Clo128-46) 8 Claims.

feet aids the circulationof ithesblood the legs thereby permitting the return to. the venous sys- Such massaging the muscles of the feet :andcontributes xtothe elimination of many common :ioot ailments.

When massaging'of the natureisyperformedmanually, the desired results are obtainedonlyafteria strenuous and time consuming lation of the feet.

One of the objects of this invention is the. provision of a foot massager which will-effect Tmechemically a complete massaging of the :feet in a few minutes.

Another object of the invention-is the provision of a footmassager which will impart abeneficial vibrating motion simultaneously to both the metatarsal arch and theheel .of the foot, thereby simulating the practiced manipulations ofs anexperienced masseur.

Still another object of the invention istheprovision of a mechanicalfoot massager-of compact proportions, which may be .automatically -correctly positioned with respect to thebodytto. insure beneficial results.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the specification anddrawings.

In the drawings Fig. 1 is a plan view .ofthe massager detached from its support and-partially broken away .and in section to show structure.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view zof.za,.,portiontof.the massager as taken along lines -2--2 of Fig. .1.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view of .a portion of .-.the massager as taken along lines 3--3 of. Fig.1.

Fig. 4 is .a sectional view .of .a'portion :ofzthe massager as taken alonglines 4-'-4 .of Fig.1.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken alonglines 5- 5 physical manipuof Figs. 3 and 1, showing the spring audits-associated mechanism.

Fig. 6 is a side elevational view of the massager along with its supporting structure :and chair, several of the diiferent positions of the massager being indicated in dotted lines.

Fig. 7 is an end elevational view of the structure shown inFig. 6 except for theich'air; which is omitted for clarity, and takenfrom the endmf the structure opposite .thechair.

Fig. 8 is. aschematic diagramsof thevparallelogram defined. byithefsupporting: stnuctureotvlthe massager.

and lsrespectively (Fig. 3). 'electric motor is provided with coaxial extension WTheLmechanism-LOI the massaging device is preferablywsupponted 'within 1 two box-line casingsxfiF'igl), an "outer casing generally'designated: land-.anrinner casing generally designated 2. The inner casing 2. is :spaced from the'outer casing I .by means of vibration insulators -3wso that any undesirable mechanical vibrations crerateduwithin. the mechanism will 1 not be transferred :to'. the .outer. casing.

An electric motor 4 .islpositionedwithin the ininerzcasing andis secured to one:side of said casinguby means ofnbracketsxta and bolts and nuts-6 The shaft :01 the shafts H}, H on. opposite sides of the motor and eachis formed-withan eccentrictportion 13 ad- .jacent :each of .thebrackets 5 .and spaced outwardly therefrom away from the motor. Con- Jmovementof the connecting :rods on extension "shafts l0, isgprevente'd by washers I5, I 6 on nsaid shafts. A pulley 1.1. is secured on shaft l0 by key I8 and is adapted to drive a belt l9;for a ;,purpose to be described.

- .Disposed :within casing 2 rand parallel to. shafts 10, fl lyista driven shaft 2| .(Fig. 4) having atone :of .its ends a .pulley 22 keyed thereto by keyf23 and adapted to be driven by belt 19. Shaft 21 bymeans of brackets .29 (Fig.2).

'Connecting. rods :30 are mounted. .on eccentric :zportionsfilaof shaft 21 .inxa .similar :manner .as

' connectingi'rods [4 .are mounted .on eccentric :portions l'3.'ofishafts 110,11.

.Heelsisupports 3 5 are. threadedly secured to the ings I. 2, whenthercarriage2521s:moved along rods 28. The web of carriage 25 is apertured as at 4| (Fig. 1) to allow connecting rods 39 to pass through the same.

As best seen in Fig. 2 when the users foot is placed on the massager with the heel of the foot on the heel support 35 the metatarsal support 35 may be moved relative to the heel support by moving carriage 25 to accommodate whatever size of foot is to be massaged. The limits of travel of metatarsal support 36 are shown in Fig. 2 wherein the dot-dash lines indicate the metatarsal support, and its associated mechanism in the position closest to the heel support while the position most remote from the heel shown in full line.

An effective arrangement of idler pulleys 45, 46 permits the carriage 25 to be moved along rods 28 to various positions while the mechanism is running. Idler pulley 55 is journalled on pin 41 which in turn is secured in boss 38 on a wall of easing 2; Boss 48 and washer 49 at opposite sides of the pulley prevent movement of pulley .45 axially along pin 47. Idler pulley it is journalled on a pin 52 carried on one end of lever 5|. The lever 5! is pivotally connected to casing 2 adjasupport is cent the end of shaft I by mea'nsof pin 53 which pin is coaxial with shaft l 0. The end'of lever opposite that end on which pulley 45 is journalled is connected to tension'spring 54 which spring yieldably urges the pulley dfi against belt i9. Thus it'is seen that the belt I9 which drives shaft 2! is opened out by means of pulley 45 while 'a predetermined tension isprovided in the belt 19 by means of pulley 46 and spring 54. As shaft 2| is moved towards the motor shaft the tension in belt I9 which would otherwise relax is mainbe described.

:The connecting rods i l, 30 are pivotally connected intermediate their ends to one of the ends of links 58, 59 respectively and links58, 59 are in turn pivotally connected at their opposite ends.

to brackets 60, 6| respectively (Fig. 2); Brackets 69 are rigidly secured to a side of the casing 2 adjacent hole 31 and brackets Bl are rididly secured to the web of channel-like carriage 2.5 ad- ,jacent holes 4|. vThus it is seen'that not only is a reciprocating motion imparted to connecting rods 14, 30 but also a swinging or oscillatory motion in direction transversely of the axis of the connecting rods [4, 39. It is readily apparent that the distance between supports 35, 36 is thus 'continuously'changed although such changemay be relatively'small. It is also apparent that the arcuate motions of supports 35; 36 will never remain in phase because of belt slippage. As a result the footis continually subject to changing (forces in a directionlongitudinally of the foot as well as reciprocating forces transversely of the foot. 'It'has been found that the motions this imparted to the foot are extremely beneficial and simulate to a great extent the practical manipulations .of an experienced masseur.

For the purpose of moving carriage, 25 to an adjusted position toward or away from the heel supporting assembly a handwheel 65 (Fig. 3) is provided on the outside of the outer casing l centrally of the heel supports 35. This handwheel 65 is rigidly secured to shaft 55 which in turn is rotatably secured in plate 61. Plate 61 in turn is rigidly connected to the casing 2 and serves to support a pinion 58 which is rigidly secured to shaft 66. Plate 69, is provided on the opposite side of pinion 68 from plate 61 and is secured to plate 6i by means of bolts 10. A hole is formed in plate 69 throughwhich hub H of pinion 69 is positioned.

An elongated connecting rod 14 '(Fig. l) is disposed between plates B'l, 69 adjacent one of its ends and is provided with a rack 15, the teeth of which are in mesh with the teeth of pinion 58. The opposite end of connecting rod 14 remote from pinion 68 is rigidly connected to carriage 25 by means ofbrackets 16. Inner casing 2 is slotted at 13 to allow brackets 16 to pass through the same. Thus it is seen that rotation of handwheel 65 will cause movement of carriage 25 to a position toward or away from the heel supporting assembly. An indicating hand 11 may be carried by handwheel 65 and indicia '78 may be marked on the outercasing 2 so that the handwheel may be rotated to a position indicating the shoe size of the user before the feet are placed on the massager, thus providing an effective means of obtaining the proper position of metatarsal support 36 relative to heel support 35.

Thus it is seen that the mechanism which transmits the vibrations to the foot supports 35, 36 is compact and neat in appearance. The foot supports-3 5, 3B and the handwheel 55 are the only members that are not entirely within the casing I. To provide ready access to the mechanism within the casings a door 79 (Fig. 2) may be formed flush with the outer wall of easing 2 and a locking device such as shown at 89 may be employed to securely close the entire unit.

An important feature of the present invention resides in the supporting means employed to position the massaging device relative to a chair on which the user is seated. Referring to Figs. 6, '7 it is seen that a chair Bl of comfortable proportions preferably made of tubular steel is adapted to be used in conjunction with the massager so that the proper proportions between the chair and the massager and the proper angle of inclination of the foot supports 35, 36 is insured at all times. A platform 82 is positioned on horizontal longitudinal extensions 83 of the front legs of the chair and said extensions are supported by legs 89. Cross piece 85 (Fig. 7) serves right angles to the generally vertical portion and a is hingedly secured to the massager by hinge 88.

Inaddition to the center support 81 the massager is secured relative to chair 8| by outer supports 90. These outer supports are, at their lower ends; continuations of extensions 83 and I extend horizontally away from platform 82 and 15 are bent back upon themselves in. a similar man'- ltrgsaagaai hef as-centcr support 1 81. However, the outer supportsware provided wima hinge 8| intermediateLthe platform 82- and the massager for-a purpose to be described. The outer supports 98 extend upwardly from hinge 9i and are inclined to the same angle as center support '81 and-fare bent'at right angles adjacent-their' upper end and secured to casing i-shy means of-lelbowsLBZ.

integrally secured to the inner sideofcasing 1 an bosses 93 provided with holes 84 which holes register with holes '95 in elbows 92 (Fig."-3). Bolts 98 arethreadedly secured in holes 95 and fthecasingd is rotatably mounted on-the 'shanks of bolts Siiby means of bosses 93.

The supportingstructure above described is proportioned to create a parallelogram, the cor- .ners .of-which .are defined by hinge 88, .hinger86,

*hingesSl and bolt .96. Thus, when the massager is :moved from the full line position to the .dotted line position in Fig.6 the casing I-remains at all itimesinclined to the same angle to the vertical. By virtueof this parallelogram the user may seat 'himself .on the chair 8f, .place .his .feetmon .the supports 35, .38 .andxpush on the massager until a comfortable position is attained withoutmoying his feeton the supportsdfi, 3B. .A..diagrammatic arrangement of the .:parallelogram .is .shown in Fig.8.

For the purpose of providing a predetermined resistance to i-this movement of the massager,

springs 98 are provided within the casing I and One end of each spring 98 is pivotally connected tolboss89 by means of pin if!!! and the other end .;of spring-98 is pivotally connected to arm [8| which arm :is apertured adjacent one of its-ends to receive the spring 98. The opposite end of arm Ifll is rigidly secured to the head of bolt 96 and thus becomes in effect a rigid extension of support 90, inasmuch as bolt 96 is threadedly secured to elbow 92. As best seen in Fig. 8 which is a schematic arrangement of the parallelogram, the spring 86 becomes extended when the massager is pushed away from the chair 8|.

To insure a smooth movement of the massager at all points in its travel a shock absorber I03 is provided under the platform 82. An elongated upwardly extending link I84 is pivotally connected at its lower end to the outer end of the operating arm 95 of the shock absorber and is pivotally connected at its upper ends to hinge 88. A stop lug I86 may be rigidly secured to the link [04 above the platform 82 and lug I81 similarly secured to link I84 under the platform so that the travel of the massager may be limited as desired.

It is to be understood that the detailed drawings and descriptions are not to be considered restrictive of the invention, but merely illustrative thereof.

I claim:

1. In a foot massaging device, a housing, a pair of spaced foot engaging elements within said housing projecting from a side of said housing for engaging each of the feet of a person, a power actuated mechanism and motor therefore within said housing connected with said elements for vibrating said elements, a supporting base, pairs of parallel links, means pivotally connecting the links of said pairs respectively to each other at their opposite ends and with said supporting base support and said housing to permit swinging-of said housing to d'i'ffei'ent"positionseandifoi holding said housing against rotation about its respective axes during such movement whereby said elements will face in substantiallythe same direction during said swinging, a *spring connected withsaid housing and with one 'of said links for yieldably holding saidhousing at one end Qf'its swinging movement, and a stop for limiting the metionof said links at-said ofisaid movement.

*2. In afoot massaging device, a housing a pair of spacedfoot engaging elements within said housing projecting from a side of said housing forzengaging-each of the feet of a person, a power actuated mechanism and "motor therefore within said housing connected with said elements for vibrating said elements, asupporting base, pairs of parallel links, means pivotally *connecting'the links of said pairs respectively to each other at their opposite ends and with said supporting :base 'support-andsaid housing topermit swinging of said housing to different positionsandfor holding said housingagainst rotation about its respective axes during such movement whereby said elements will "face in substantially thesame .directi'onduring said swinging, a spring connected with said housing and with one 'ofsa'id zlinks for yieldablyholding said: housing at one .end .of its swinging "movement, and .astop for limiting the motion 'of said linkssat said one end :of said movement, .said support including asset .spacedsole 'engaging'elements adapted to engage the sole of each .foot atthe. heel and metatarsal portions-respectively, ;a pair of spacedrshaftssupported for rotatioma pair of reccentricson each of said shafts and a rod connectingeach .of said eccentrics with said elements respectively with the eccentrics on one of said shafts being connected with the elements adapted to engage the heel portions of said soles and with the eccentrics on the other shaft being connected with the elements adapted to engage the metatarsal portions whereby said elements will be caused to reciprocate simultaneously upon rotation of said shafts, a stationary support adjacent each of said :rods and a link pivotally connected at its ends with each rod and the support adjacent thereto for causing oscillation of each rod in a plane disposed longitudinally of the foot and element thereon upon reciprocation of said elements, and means for rotating said shafts.

4. In a foot massaging device having a pair of spaced sole engaging elements adapted to engage the sole of each foot at the heel and metatarsal portions respectively, a pair of spaced parallel shafts, an inner housing enclosin said shafts, a carriage on which one shaft of said pair is rotatably supported for bodily movement toward and away from the other shaft of said pair, means supporting said carriage within said inner housing for said bodily movement. means supporting the other shaft of said pair in a fixed position within said housing and for rotation about its axis, a pair of eccentrics on each of said shafts, a rod connecting each eccentric with said elements respectively, a motor connected with one of said shafts for rotating the same, a pulley on each shaft and a belt connecting said pulleys for causing simultaneous rotation of said shafts, an outer housing, means supporting said inner housing spaced within said outer housing with said rods extending through one of the walls of said outer housing and with said elements outside said outer housing. v 5. In a foot massagin device having a-p'air-iofspaced sole engaging elements adapted to engage.

the elements adapted to engage the metatarsalpor- .tions whereby said elements will be reciprocated 'upon rotation of said shafts, a pulley on each of said shafts, an endless belt extending over said pulleys for causing simultaneous rotation of said shafts upon rotation of one of them, power means connected with one of said shafts for rotating the same, means supporting saidone shaft and the eccentrics, rods and elements connected therewith for bodily movement toward said other shaft,

means for so moving said one shaft, and auto-o matic belt take-up means in engagement with said belt for automatically maintaining the same under tension at all times.

6. In a foot massaging device that includes a seat for a person and a mechanical foot massager provided with sole engaging elements projecting from one side thereof, means supporting said massager and said seat for bodily movement of said massager as a unit and said seat respectively in a direction toward and away from each other to different distances under the influence of pressure applied by said feet against said elements whereby said one side will be held in a fixed position relative to the axis of said massager during said bodily movement.

7. In a foot massaging device that includes a seat for a person and a mechanical foot massager provided with sole engaging elements projecting from one side thereof, means supporting said 'ri assager and said seat for bodily movement of said massager as a unit and said seat respectively in;a direction toward and-away from each other todifferent distances under the influence of pressure applied by said feet against said elements whereby said one side will be held in a fixed position relative to the axis of said massager during said bodily movement, said means including links pivotally connected to said massager.

8. In a foot massaging device that includes a seat for a person and a mechanical foot massager provided with sole engaging elements projecting from one side thereof, means supporting said massager and said seat for bodily movement of said massager as a unit and said seat respectively in a direction toward and away from each other to different distances under the influence of pressure applied by said feet' against said elements whereby said one side will be held in a fixed position relative to the axis of said massager during said bodily movement, said means including links pivotally connected to said massager, and a spring yieldably resistin movement of said massager-in a direction away from said seat.

HERBERT E. WALTERS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

' UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 837,979 Trotter Dec. 11, 1906 1,998,522 Pyles Apr. 23, 1935 2,002,586 Ryberg May 28, 1935 2,255,066 Lamb Sept. 9, 1941

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