CA1166913A - Cushioned massager - Google Patents

Cushioned massager

Info

Publication number
CA1166913A
CA1166913A CA000378675A CA378675A CA1166913A CA 1166913 A CA1166913 A CA 1166913A CA 000378675 A CA000378675 A CA 000378675A CA 378675 A CA378675 A CA 378675A CA 1166913 A CA1166913 A CA 1166913A
Authority
CA
Canada
Prior art keywords
cushion
pouch
vibrating
secured
foot
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired
Application number
CA000378675A
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Robert J. Thurber
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Wahl Clipper Corp
Original Assignee
Wahl Clipper Corp
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Wahl Clipper Corp filed Critical Wahl Clipper Corp
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of CA1166913A publication Critical patent/CA1166913A/en
Expired legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • AHUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61HPHYSICAL THERAPY APPARATUS, e.g. DEVICES FOR LOCATING OR STIMULATING REFLEX POINTS IN THE BODY; ARTIFICIAL RESPIRATION; MASSAGE; BATHING DEVICES FOR SPECIAL THERAPEUTIC OR HYGIENIC PURPOSES OR SPECIFIC PARTS OF THE BODY
    • A61H23/00Percussion or vibration massage, e.g. using supersonic vibration; Suction-vibration massage; Massage with moving diaphragms
    • A61H23/02Percussion or vibration massage, e.g. using supersonic vibration; Suction-vibration massage; Massage with moving diaphragms with electric or magnetic drive
    • A61H23/0218Percussion or vibration massage, e.g. using supersonic vibration; Suction-vibration massage; Massage with moving diaphragms with electric or magnetic drive with alternating magnetic fields producing a translating or oscillating movement

Landscapes

  • Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Epidemiology (AREA)
  • Pain & Pain Management (AREA)
  • Physical Education & Sports Medicine (AREA)
  • Rehabilitation Therapy (AREA)
  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Animal Behavior & Ethology (AREA)
  • General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Public Health (AREA)
  • Veterinary Medicine (AREA)
  • Percussion Or Vibration Massage (AREA)

Abstract

ABSTRACT OF DISCLOSURE

A massaging device includes a cushion with two pouches formed on the top of the cushion for receiving the feet or hands of the user. The cushion and pouches are vibrated by a motor built into the cushion, which motor may be powered by line voltage or by batteries. A heating pad may be in the cushion, if desired, in order to supplement the vibration with a dry heat.

Description

~669~3 CUSHIONED MASSAGER

The invention relates to massagers, and more particularly to massagers which may be applied to many areas of the body, including the feet.
Vibrating pillows, hand held vibrators, or the like may be applied directly to many parts of the body to locally massage, relax and re-vitalize them. Generally, these pillows and similar devices do not surround the body parts, so that their effectiveness is somewhat limited.
Recently, foot massaging devices which use circulating water have become popular, perhaps because the feet often become sore and swollen. The water generally covers the feet completely, which maximizes the effect of the massage upon the eet. However, these circulating water devices are generally too small to be used in connection with other parts of the body, and usually they should set on the floor. ~lso~ such circulating water devices may not be transported easily, and they should not be use~ in moving vehicles, oEfices, waiting rooms, or the like.
Thus, there is a need for massaging devices which surround at least some parts of the body, such as the hands and feet without the messiness of circulating water, and which may be easily transported and used outside of the home.
Accordingly, an object of this invention is to provide new and improved massaging devices, especially for use on .
~ ~ the human body. Another object is to provide such ~'.
- . ~ .

~ ' ' ' ' . .
, ' ' I :~Bfi~13 01 massaging devices in a form suitable for use with most parts of 02 the body, and especially for surrounding parts of the body, such 03 as the hands or feet.
04 Still another ob~ect is to provide new and improved 05 massaging devices which surround certain parts of the body, such 06 as the hands or feet, but which do not use water and which may be 07 easily transported and used in moving vehicles, offices, waiting 08 rooms and the like.
09 In keeping with one aspect of the invention, a foot massager inclu~es a cushion with a covering having one or two 11 pouches for receiving the hands or feet. The cushion preferably 12 includes a vibrating energizer, such as an electro-magnetic 13 motor, a rotary motor with offset weight, or the like which may 14 be poweL^ed by any suitable means, such as line voltage or an auto or replaceable dry cell battery, for example. A heating 16 element or pad may also be placed in the cushion, if desired.
17 In general, the invention is an apparatus for massaging 18 various parts of a human body comprising a cushion, at least one 19 pouch secured to the cushion for receiving substantially an entire hand or foot inserted therein, and apparatus in the cushion for 21 vibrating the cushion and therefor the pouch.
22 The above-mentioned and other features of this invention 23 and the manner of obtaining them will become more apparent, and 24 the inventon itself will be best understood by reference to the following description of an embodiment of the invention taken in 26 conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

~ -';, '. , ' ~ ' ' tl6~ 3 Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the cushioned massager, in use;
Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the same cushioned massager, not in usel with the power cord stored in a pouch and the cover partially broken away to show heating pad;
Fig. 3 is a perspective, partially broken away, showing a vibratory unit for incorporation in the inventive cushion; and Fig. 4 is a plan view showing a magnetic solenoid type of motor which is used in the unit of Fig. 3.
A massager 12 (Fig. 1) includes a cushion 14 with two pouches 16 thereon. The massager 12 may be pressed against most parts of the body to relax muscles and relieve pain. Also, the feet or hands may be put in the pouches 16, if desired, so that the massaging effect of the device will substantially surround the entire feet or hands. The cushion 14 may be made of any soft, pliable and resilient core material, such as nylon, and includes a top 18, a bottom 20 and four sidewalls 22. A vibrating, preferably electro-magnetic solenoid motor, and any suitable cushion stuffing material are inside of the cushion 14. Also, a suitable heating unit 23 such as a heating pad, or the like may be placed inside the cushion 14, near the top 18, if desired. A zipper 24 may be used to remove and clean or replace the cushion cover and to gain access to the internal components of the device.

, .

Two pouches 26 are here shown as foot sized covers 26 are provided on top 18 of the cushion 14. The pouches or covers ~6 are secured to top 18 by sewing them to the cushion cover, or in other any suitable means.
Preferably, the pouches extend outwardly to side edges 28, 30 and 32, and a center seam 34 is stitched top 18 to form the separate pouches 16. The pouches 16 may be sized to accept the hands or the feet (or either) of the user.
A cord 36 provides power for the electric motor and heating pad, if used. The cord extends into the cushion 14 and may be stored in one of the pouches 16, when not in use. The end of the cord includes a suitable plug, as for making connection with a 60-c~cle 110 volt outlet, or a cigar lighter socket on an automobile. Replaceable dry cell batteries may also be built into the cushion itself.
'rhe pre~erred vihrator motor unit 48 is seen in Figs.
3 and 4. Two plates S0, 52, which may be metal, are held in a spaced parallel relationship ~y any suitable number of posts, bolts, or the like 54. These two plates 50, 52 are approximately the size of the cushion with due allowance for padding. The entire unit 48 may fit rather snugly into a cavity in a preformed foam rubber or similar cushion material.
Centrally located on one of the plates 50 is a generally upstanding flange 56 which may be an L-shaped bracket 58 (Fig. 4) having one flange secured to the plate. Mounted on the upstanding flange 56 is a , ~4--~ 1669~3 horizontally oriented U-shaped metal spring 58, with one leg 59 of the "U" secured to the 1ange 56 by spot welding, bolts or rivets 60.- Also, mounted on the bracket 56, and next to leg 59, is a laminate 62 forming a core for the solenoid.
The core 62 has two outwardly projecting arms 64, 66, separated by a flat section which is secured against spring member 59. A spool of wire 68 slips over one of the upstanding arms 66 of core 62. Wires 36 connect this spool of wire 68 to a power service via a rectifier 67 and an orf/on switch 70 (Figs. 1, 2). When the circuit, including the spool of wire 68, is energized, a magnetic field is created in the laminated core and in the ~ shaped spring 58 with an air gap 72 between the spring 58 and the core leg 66.
The preferred energizing current, derived via rectifier 67;~ is the half waves of one polarity which are formed by rectifying 60-cycle commercial house current.
Thus, the air gap is closed each time that a rectified hal wave cycle appears and opened each time that the half wave cycle disappears. As a result, there is a vibration which is translated through upstanding flange 56 and the spaced parallel plates 50, 52 to the feet or other body part within the pouches 16, 16.
While the dimensions of the device are not critical, they should be large enough to accommodate most hands and feet, yet small enough to he easily transported. In a 1 ~ 6~;g ~ 3 unit actually made, the cushion measured approximately eleven inches on each side. The center seam 34 was approximately in the middle of the top 18, and the individual pouches 16, 16 were about eight inches long.
The many advantages of this massaging device are self-apparentO The device may be used when in contact with virtually any part of the body, and may encompass and cover some entire parts of the body, such as the hands or feet, for example. The device may be easily transported, and used in any convenient location. of course, there will be other advantages apparent to those skilled in the art.
While the principles of the invention have been described above in connection with specific apparatus and applications, it is to be understood that this description is made only by way of example and not as a limitation on the scope of the invention. Therefore, the appended claims should be construed to cover all equivalent structures which fall within the true scope and spirit of the invention.

~d --6

Claims (20)

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:
1. Apparatus for massaging various parts of a human body comprising a cushion, at least one pouch secured to said cushion for receiving substantially an entire hand or foot inserted therein, and means in said cushion for vibrating said cushion and therefore said pouch.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said vibrating means includes a vibrating electro-magnetic solenoid motor, and means for applying power to said motor.
3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein there are two of said pouches formed in a removable cover secured to said cushion, said two pouches enabling an insertion of both hands or both feet.
4. The apparatus of claim 1 further including means for heating a body part which may be resting on said cushion or inserted into said pouch.
5. The apparatus of any one of claims 1, 2 or 4 wherein said cushion includes a top, a bottom and four sidewalls secured to said top and said bottom alongside edges thereof, and said pouch is secured to said side edges of said cushion,
6. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein said cushion includes a top, a bottom and four side walls secured to said top and said bottom alongside edges thereof, said pouch being secured to said side edges of said cushion.
7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said pouches are separated by a center seam extending across the middle of said top.
3. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the top of said cushion is approximately eleven inches on each side, and said pouches are approximately eight inches in length.
9. A vibratory member comprising a cushion having a resilient core and a cover with at least one pouch formed on the outer surface thereof, vibrating means within said cushion for vibrating the area of said cushion including said pouch, said vibrating means comprising a pair of plates held in a spaced parallel relationship and vibratory motor means mounted in the space between said plates, said core resiliently cradling said spaced parallel plates to enble them to vibrate freely under the influence of said motor means.
10. The member of claim 9 wherein said vibratory motor comprises a solenoid type motor secured to an upstanding flange on one of said plates.
11. The member of claim 10 wherein said means for selectively applying power comprises rectifier means for applying one half cycle of commercial power.
12. Apparatus for massaging various parts of a human body, said apparatus comprising a cushion, at least one pouch secured to said cushion, said pouch being soft and pliable, and being shaped and proportioned to receive a major portion of a hand or foot inserted therein, said pouch being collapsible so that a body part may also rest on top of the cushion without being inserted into the pouch, means in said cushion for vibrating both said cushion and said pouch.
13. The apparatus of claim 12 further including means inside said massaging device for dry heating a body part which may be resting on said cushion or inserted into said pouch.
14. A dry heated vibratory member comprising a cushion having a soft, pliable and resilient cover with at least one collapsible pouch formed on the outer surface thereof, heating pad means formed under said cover and near the top of said cushion, vibrating means within said cushion and under said heating pad means for vibrating the area of said cushion including said pouch, said vibrating means comprising a pair of plates held in a spaced parallel relationship and vibratory motor means mounted in the space between said plates, core means enclosed by said cover and resiliently cradling said spaced parallel plates to enable them to vibrate freely under the influence of said motor means.
15. Apparatus for massaging at least one human foot while said foot remains passive, said apparatus comprising powered vibration means, a cushion containing and enclosing said powered vibration means for vibrating said foot while said foot remains passively resting on said suchion, at least one pouch secured to said cushion, said pouch being soft and pliable, and being shaped and proportioned to receive a major portion of a human foot inserted therein regardless of the posture of the body of the human whose foot is in the pouch, said pouch being collapsible so that a body part may also rest on top of the cushion without being inserted into the pouch, said powered means enclosed within said cushion vibrating both said cushion and said pouch when power is applied thereto whereby the upper part of the foot is rubbed by the pliable pouch.
16. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein there are two said pouches formed in a removable cover secured to said cushion, said two pouches enabling an insertion of both feet.
17. The apparatus of claim 1 further including means inside said massaging device for dry heating said foot which may be either resting on said cushion or inserted into said pouch.
18. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein said pouches are separated by a center seam extending across the middle of a top of said cushion.
19. A power driven dry heated vibratory member comprising a cushion having a soft, pliable and resilient cover with at least one collapsible pouch formed on the outer surface thereof, said pouch being shaped and proportioned to receive at least a part of a human foot, heating pad means formed under said cover and near the top of said cushion, power driven vibrating means completely enclosed within said cushion and positioned under said heating pad means for vibrating the area of said cushion including said pouch, said vibrating means comprising a pair of plates held in a spaced parallel relationship and vibratory means means mounted within the space between said plates, said cushion comprising core means enclosed by said cover and resiliently cradling and containing said spaced parallel plates to enable them to vibrate freely under the influence of said motor means.
20. The member of claim 8 wherein said vibratory motor comprises a solenoid type motor secured to an upstanding flange on one of said plates, said upstanding flange acting as a lever arm to increase the mechanical efficiency of the vibrating motor.
CA000378675A 1980-06-27 1981-05-29 Cushioned massager Expired CA1166913A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US16379080A 1980-06-27 1980-06-27
US06/163,790 1980-06-27

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
CA1166913A true CA1166913A (en) 1984-05-08

Family

ID=22591583

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
CA000378675A Expired CA1166913A (en) 1980-06-27 1981-05-29 Cushioned massager

Country Status (6)

Country Link
JP (2) JPS5739846A (en)
AU (1) AU538998B2 (en)
CA (1) CA1166913A (en)
DE (1) DE3123647A1 (en)
IT (1) IT1142705B (en)
NL (1) NL8102762A (en)

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN109009967A (en) * 2018-08-03 2018-12-18 杭州看啊贸易有限公司 A kind of massage insole for sole

Families Citing this family (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE3615372A1 (en) * 1986-05-06 1988-02-04 Wolfgang Dorn Foot warmer with massage
DE102007036987A1 (en) * 2007-08-06 2009-02-12 Volkswagen Ag Method for sound transmission in motor vehicle, involves transmitting impact sound to passenger into interior of motor vehicle by impact sound generator
DE102011086231B4 (en) 2011-11-11 2021-01-21 Ernst Mussmann Transmission of structure-borne sound waves in a body
DE102016106166B3 (en) * 2016-04-05 2016-10-27 Faurecia Autositze Gmbh Foot massage device and motor vehicle seat with foot massage device

Family Cites Families (10)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US1566987A (en) * 1925-05-19 1925-12-22 Simmons Leo Electric warmer for the feet
US2438144A (en) * 1945-07-06 1948-03-23 Jr Benn A Bunyar Surgical brace
US2852021A (en) * 1955-10-28 1958-09-16 Wayland D Keith Half wave magnetic vibrating mattress
US2943620A (en) * 1958-02-24 1960-07-05 Frank J Sibert Pillow or cushion type vibrator
DE1835904U (en) * 1961-03-23 1961-08-03 Fred Hahn ELECTRIC HEATING PILLOW WITH OPENING POSSIBILITY TO COMBINE WITH A VIBRATING MASSAGE PILLOW.
DE1871288U (en) * 1962-11-15 1963-05-02 Fred Hahn FOOTBATH LOCATED ON A MASSAGE PILLOW OR PILLOW-LIKE VIBRATION BLOCK.
CA1041498A (en) * 1968-10-18 1978-10-31 Hoffmann-La Roche Limited Benzodiazepine derivatives
DE7700935U1 (en) * 1977-01-14 1977-06-02 Frenkel, Walter, 7483 Inzigkofen ADDITIONAL PART FOR MASSAGE PILLOWS, IN PARTICULAR FOR REFLEX ZONE MASSAGE OF THE SOLES
US4088127A (en) * 1977-01-21 1978-05-09 Clayton Donna M Massage appliance
US4151839A (en) * 1977-02-25 1979-05-01 Schwarz Peter W Exercise machine

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN109009967A (en) * 2018-08-03 2018-12-18 杭州看啊贸易有限公司 A kind of massage insole for sole

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
IT1142705B (en) 1986-10-15
JPS59130727U (en) 1984-09-01
JPS5739846A (en) 1982-03-05
NL8102762A (en) 1982-01-18
AU538998B2 (en) 1984-09-06
IT8148760A0 (en) 1981-06-25
DE3123647A1 (en) 1982-03-18

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