CA2110665A1

CA2110665A1 - Multi-functional massage unit for sole acupuncture

Info

Publication number: CA2110665A1
Application number: CA 2110665
Authority: CA
Inventors: Cheng Cheng-I
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1993-12-03
Filing date: 1993-12-03
Publication date: 1995-06-04

Abstract

A multi-functional massage unit for sole acupuncture mainly utilizes a motor to drive the horizontal disk with a two- or four-phased wave-like convex surface above a gear box. These components are fitted in a box and the left and the right sole graph are drawn on the cover of the box. Various orifices for massage poles are situated in the graphs according to the locations of sole acupoints. Since the wave-like convex disk is driven by the motor through a gear box, it rotates to automatically push the massage poles up and down in such a balanced way that the pathological acupoints of the soles can be presses and massaged continuously, symmetrically and thoroughly without noise and extra labor.

Moreover, on one end of the box is placed a medicine-heating device featured by heating water with a heater, compressing the medicine steam into the chamber under the cover of the box, and, eventually, spurting the steam from the pores beside of the orifices on the sole graphs to simultaneously press and steam the acupoints thus giving a double massage effect.

Description

~ ~ 2110665~

A MULTI-FUNCTIONAL MASSAGE UNIT FOR SOLE ACUPUNCTURE

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a multi-functional massage unit for sole acupuncture. In particular, this unit features a horizontaI disk with a wave-Iike convex structure and some ro~Pntrically positioned massage poles upon the disk. As the disk rotates, each massage pole is pushed up and down, according -to the height of the disk surface beneath the poles thus giving a symmetric massage effect. Moreover, in the massage unit is a steam chamber wherein an electric heater boils the water and the steam is piped into the chamber underneath the sole graphs. The out-spurted steam can stimulate the soles, relaxing muscles and tendon~ thus giving the massage effect efficiently. Furthermore, on one side of the steam ch~mher is a hose connected to the outer part of the massage unit. The steam syringe on the other end of the hose can be hand-held to steam the affected parts at ease to reach a satisfied double effect of massage and therapy.

It is noted that, as ~aterial civilization develops, people are more constrained by living space and tend to be lazy and in lack of exercises. This results in vulnerability to various diseases. Therefore, .

in the present twentieth century, charity-minded people came out to develop sole massage units based on the theory -that sole acupoints can affect the nerves throughout the whcle h~lm~n body. However~ there are a variety of available soie massage units in such forms of rollers, rotators, pedals, or even the gravelly stèpping pathc in p~arks.

Among the traditional massage units, the rollers have granular warts on the massage pole. As the polè
rolls, only a fractional part of the sole is in contact and massaged by the pole because of the constraint of tangent angle. Besides, it has to be operated on a hard smooth ground thus causing a damage of the roller.
The electrical rotator is another type. lt is dotted with warts of diverse size. Nevertheless, with prolonged operation of the rotator, the sole is apt to get torpid because of the continuous vibration and friction.

The gravelly stepping path is the third alternative. People may benefit exercise and health by watking on it. However, limited by the weather and using space, the path can not offer massage service at any time and any place which is the only drawback.

_ 3 _ ZliO665 Considering the various factors and drawbacks mentioned above as well as the fact that sole massage units are surprisingly effective in alleviating my pain of disease, thus I endeavored to research on a massage unit most beneficial to human physiological health based on my personal experience in use o`f traditional massage units. I followed ~he principles regarding diverse acupoints on the sole and the $heory of steaming and acupressing to design a innovated massage uni After progressive revision and e~perimentation, I
eventually invent the multi-functional massage unit of sole acupuncture with the grant and praise of massage therapists and acupuncturists.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The main purpose of this invention is to provide a massage unit structure featured by a horizontal disk with ~ wave-like convex surface and some concentrically positioned massage poles upon the disk. The operating process is that a motor first drives the speed-varied gears in the gear box, and the gears cause the disk to rotate thus automatically pushing the poles up and down for the sack of the wave-like surface. The diaméter of the disk is long enough to sustain all the massage poles beneath the left and the right sole graph. The poles vibrate up and down and, thus, continuously acupress the .. . . . .

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~ - 4 - 2110~65 sole. This automatic sole massage effect features the invention.

The secondary purpose of this invention is to provide a massage unit construction for simultaneous muscle-relaxing and steaming therapy. It features several pores among massage poles on, the sole yraphs, which purt steam from an enclosed heated cha~her underneath. An external hose is led ~nto the other medlcine-heated chamber to provide a kind ~f steaming therapy. Thus, the double effects of pole-pushing massage and muscle-relaxiny steamin~ therapy are simultaneously achieved.

1~ The third purpose of this invention i5 to provide a massage unit ccmposed of a hor$zontal dis~ with a wave-like- convex ~urface which can, when r~tating, push massage poles upward and downward. The pushing force is symmetric and balanced, thus the disk can sustain the ~hole weight of a adult. ~ne reason is that there are multiple eve~-phased waveforms around a conve~ disk. As the disk rotates, 'due to the even phases of the waveform and concentr`ically positioned massage poles across the dis~ center, the poles are automatically pushed up and down thus giving a balanced force to sustain the body weight.

.. ... _ .. .. , .. . . _ _ .

~ - 5 - 2110665 The fourth purpose of the invention is to provide a massage unit construction with easily detachable components. Massage poles protruding above both sole graphs are inscribed with screw threads on the tips (similar to bolts) and the pole heads are designed as nuts which can be tightened or detached from the poles.
With various pole heads, different massage effects are achieved.

The fifth purpose of this invention is to provide with massaging heads made of natural stones or p-lastics in the shape of mushrooms for the natural physiotherapeutic massage effect.

The sixth purpose of this invention is to provide a massage unit construction with variable numbe-r of massage poles to satisfy the need for certain acupoints to be massaged. It features that variable length and number of massage poles can be fit to variable acupoints based on the medical theory regarding different reflex regions on th~ soles.

The seventh purpose of this invention is to provide a massage u~it construction featured by continuously locatable acupressing and massage. A rotating convex disk is large enough to sustain all massage poles within both sole graphs. ~in~e ~h massage pole is . .

211~66~

automatically pushed up and down (as mentioned before) to massage certain acupoint, the sole never gets numb after prolonged use of the massage unit, thus achieving better massage effect.

The eighth purpose of this invention is to provide a massage unit construction~ suitable for movable steaming therapy. It features a medicine heater to spurt medicine s~eam and a hose stretched outside the massage unit. On the other end of the hose is a steam syringe which can ~e held close to any àcupoin~ or affected part as users want for steaming therapy. It achieves the double effects of massage and steaming therapy for other parts on the h~ n body.

B~IEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is the three-~;~ntional perspective diagram of the massage unit invented.

FIG. 2 is the sectional diagram of the ~assage unit invented.

FIG. 3 is the sectional diagram of the ~-~CAge pole ass~hly of the massage unit invented.

FIG. 4 is the side-view diagram of the sole massage .. . . . . . ..

:211~665 using the massage unit invented.
;
FIG. 5 is the partial decomposition diagram of the massage unit invented in perspective.

FIG. 6 is the perspective diagram of the wave-like convex disk comprised by the masæage unit invonted.

FIG. 7 is the side-view diagram of the disk showed in FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 is another sectional view of the structure of the massage poles dic$10sed in the present invention.
:

1~ FIG. 9 still another secitonal view of the structrue of the massage poles disclosed in the present invention.

BETAILED DESCRIPTIO~ OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIME~T

Preferred embodiment of this invention is described as belo~ in detail with the aid of the dia~rams. It manifests the construction, characteristics, effects,purposes and other merits of 2~ the invention.

2~ 0~665 FIG. 1 and 2 show the three-dimentional perspective and sectional dia8ram of the massage unit, respectively.The massage unit is mainly composed of a box(l)J a set of the massage poles(2)j driving mechanism (3), a medicine heater (4) and a power swith (~). The box (1) consists of a base (11) and a cover (12). On the ri ht o~ the cover (12) is the power switch (5); on tne center are the left and the right sole graph where exist many orifices (61) for the massage poles, corresponding to therapeutic acupoints of the sole, and many steam pores (62). Under the sole graphs (6) draw on the cover (12), i.e. ln the box, is a chamber with sleeves (20) and orifices(22) for massage poles (21). To insulate the chamber (7), the 1~ sleeves (20) have to be put and fixed on the orifices (71) of the chamber (7) through the cover (12) orifices (61). The massage poles (21) can be put through the slee~es (20) and positioned ln place under the cover (12). As shown in FIG. 3, to locate the massage pole, a pin (50) has to fi~ a wheel (60) in the U shape notch of the massage polc (213.Moreover, maassage poles (21) ma~ be designed into the structures as indicated in FIGS. 8. and 9, whereupper shell (212) and lower shell (213) are assembled into an oval shaped body, of ~hich the lower shell body (213) and the contacting part of convex dis~ 8. can be designed in such a way 21106~6S

g that circular steel shots (2130) are housed therein to cope with different shapes as indicated in FIG. 8 to enable massage po~les (21) to rotate in 360 when being pressed against by convex disk (8) which is moving up and down or as indlcated in FIG. 9, and the ball shaped bottom side of lower shell body ~213) can serve as a means for contacting convex disk (8). In addition, in order to directly enhance the effect of massage, as indicated in FIG. 9 a magnetic block (214) can be installed inside upper shell body (212) and lower shell body (213), so that its massage will become more effective b~ means of the functioning of magnetism of magnetic block (Z14) in coordination with the up and down pessing motion of convex disk (8). A driving 1~ mechanism (3) which comprises a motor (30) and a gear box (31) is fixed on the base (11). The axis protruding above the gear box (31) is screwed to a horlzontal convex disk (8) o~ whlch the surface is t-~o-phase or four-phase wave-like. On one end of the base is flxed a medicine heater (4) with one pipe (41) connected to the chamber (7) under the co~er (12) which forms a channel. Furthermore, a hose (42) is stretched out of the mediclne heater (4~ to the outside of the co~er (12) and a steam syringe (9) is attached to the 2~ tip of the hose ~42). To.lnsulate the heat, the syringe (9) lS equipped with a heat-proof handle. (91).

/ ~ 3 -- 211066~
After positioning the dri~ing ~h~njsm (3) and the me~icine heater (4) on the base (1~), the cover (12) contain~ng the massage poles (21) should be put and fixed on the base ~11) such that the wheel (60) of the massage pole just contacts with the wave-like convex disk (8). Besi~e~, t~e nut (101) of the massaging head (10~) made of the natural ~tone or plastics can be screwed to the threaded tip (211) of the ~assage pole (21). Refer to FIG. 2 and 4 for a demonstration of the massage operation. Turn on the power button at the power switch(5) using the foe to start the motor ~30 ~n~ the gear box- (31~. The wave-like convex disk ~as shown in FIG. 6) above the gear ~ox (31) is thu~ ~riven to rotate and automatically push the massage poles up and down for the sake of four-phased ~ave-l$ke convex surface. Since this surface is symmetric across the disk center, the pushing force is balanced. Through the continuous Yibratlon of the massage poleR with constant speed, the corresponding acupoint~ of the soles ,in different reflex regions can be pressed aAd massaged in - a balanced way.

As the massage pole~ (21) are pushed up and down by the conve~ disk (8), th~ steam from the medicine heater (4) i~ being directed into the chamber ~7) through the pipe (41) and then spurts out of the cover (12) from the pores (62) on the sole graphs (6). This results in a - .

- ll - 211 0~ 6S
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double effect of steaming therapy to help relax the muscles and tendons while massaging the acupoints of the soles.

A hose (42) stretching out of the medicine heater (4) can be used separately or simultaneously to steam other affected parts of the body when the soles are - massaged and acupressed. It features that a detachable steam syringe (9) is attached to the t~r~in~l of the hose ~42), and can be put inside with a special herb pack (not shown in the diagrams, it's mainly a drug pack for Chinese steaming therapy) and can also be held to steam other affected parts up to needs with a heat-proof handle (91) on the end of the syringe.
As shown in FIG. 5t it features that the massaging heads (100) can be attached to or det~che~ from the threaded tips (211) of the massage poles (21) to partially satisfy ~he massage effect of certain sole acupoints.

To sum up, it is easiLy noted that this invention has the clinical value and, especially, can reach a massage effect of the sole acupoints. Besides, this invention has not yet been announced in any publication or shared the same construction structure of any traditional massage unit. What all the diagrams depict --. ~ . ,.

above only specifies a preferred embodiment of this invention and, thus, should not restrict the range of embodiment. That is, whatever variation znd modification of the structure and features of this invention as to be outlined below should be cl~i~s~.

Claims

1. a multi-functional massage unit for sole acupuncture characterized by a horizontal convex disk with a wave-like surface which is motor-driven through a gear box, a medicine heater, and multiple massage poles with detachable screwed massaging heads wherein the convex disk can be designed to have a two- or four-phased wave-like surface, all of the mentioned components should be fitted in a box of which the cover has one left- and one right-sole graph, and the orifices for massage poles situate in the sole graphs according to the locations of the sole acupoints; and a operating process characterized by a rotation of a horizontal wave-like convex disk caused by a motor and a gear box to push the message poles up and down in a balanced way, thus achieving a continuous and symmetric message effect at each pathological acupoint without noise and extra labor.

2. a multi-functional massage unit for sole acupuncture as claimed in Claim 1 wherein on one end of the box is situated a medicine-heating device characterized by heating water with a heater, compressing the medicine steam into the chamber under the cover of the box, and, eventually, spurting the steam from the pores beside of the orifices on the sole graphs to simultaneously press and steam the acupoints thus giving a double massage effect.

3. a multi-functional massage unit for sole acupuncture as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the thread of the massage pole can be screwed with a nut of the oval massaging head made of a natural stone or plastics.

4. a multi-functional massage unit for sole acupuncture as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the massage poles of various lengths are replaceable with longer ones to intensively massage the specific pathological acupoints thus achieving an immediate therapeutic effect.

5. The multi-functional massage unit for sole acupuncture as described under Claim 1, where the structure of the massage pole can be made in an oval shaped body with the upper shell body and the lower shell assembled together, and a magnetic block can also be installed inside the upper and lower shell bodies, of which the lower shell body and different designs are allowed for the contacting part of convex disk according to indiv-idual mode of operation, and steel shots or ball-shaped bottom side can also be fitted therewith to enhance its massage effect.