EP1759679A1 - Foot massaging apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

The apparatus has a case (1) whose upper part forms a plate (2) for receiving foot of a user and having a massage unit (3) for arch of foot and a massage unit (4) for foot, where the units are arranged on both sides of a median axis of the plate. The unit (3) has a rotating massage element (14) which turns around an axis perpendicular to the plate and is moved by a common actuating system which utilizes a single horizontal axis electric motor and single transmission. The unit (4) undergoes a tapping movement in a base zone of a heel.

Description

The present invention relates to the field of massage and reflexology devices more particularly for the treatment of feet.

Foot treatment devices are typically used to stimulate circulation, massage the foot, soothe cramps and stop muscle tension. The means generally used to achieve these goals are vibratory devices. An example of such a device is given in the document FR 1 513 564 where the vibratory device is associated with the inclined top plate of the apparatus. However, such a device has the disadvantage of providing only one type of stimulation for the entire foot area, which is sometimes insufficient, especially for the area of the arch that does not reach contact with such a vibrating tray.

The document US 5,681,266 discloses a foot receiving plate having apertures through which projections protrude selectively tapped by underlying actuating means. If these protuberances prove effective in stimulating the heel area, their action is practically not felt at the level of the arch.

A solution has been presented in the document US 5,797,859 which discloses a massage apparatus comprising a foot receiving tray through which protrude two rotating massage elements with arch massage balls. The tray is supported, via elastic means, by a base placed on the ground. The base of the apparatus contains an electric motor, a clutch and associated mechanisms rotating two rotating sets of massage balls and able to produce, at the same time, vibrations throughout the support plate of the feet. The apparatus utilizes a single motor to produce two types of stimulation, either a simple rotational bias of the two sets of massage balls simultaneously, or a combined solicitation of rotation of the two sets of balls and vibration of the entire plate. Apart from the limited number of massage possibilities offered by this device, it was found that the engine was very stressed in operation, that the combined solicitations produced heating which encroached on the life of the engine and, therefore, on that of the device. Moreover, during the combined urging of rotation and vibration, the feet of the user tend to slip out of contact with the massage balls under the effect of the vibrations of the entire tray.

The same problem was encountered with the devices described in the documents US 6,149,611 and US 4,414,963 where, similarly to the preceding document, the massage apparatus each comprise a vibratory plate and two rotary massage elements arranged within the plate. Thus, when the entire plate starts to vibrate, the user's feet move gradually and no longer maintain contact with the rotating massage elements, which impinges on the effectiveness of the stimulation of the arch.

To overcome this defect, a solution has been described in the document WO 97/49372 where the foot of the user is guided by an enclosure in the form of ankle requiring the foot to come into contact with three massage units placed along the soles of the feet. To be even more effective, a force application device is placed at the top of the foot. The apparatus utilizes a single actuation motor of three separate massage devices and employs complex motion transmission mechanisms and systems. Such a device is very cumbersome, complex and noisy in operation.

The object of the invention is to overcome the aforementioned drawbacks and to propose a foot massage device capable of offering effective stimulation of the various zones of the feet, by adapting to their morphology, while being of a small footprint and simplified construction.

Another object of the invention is to provide a foot massage device able to provide a stable support of the feet of the user during the massage, while offering multiple and effective treatments of the foot area.

Another object of the invention is to provide a silent foot massage device in operation and the life of its components is improved.

Another object of the invention is to provide a massage device capable of performing several foot treatments, which can be achieved economically, while being reliable in operation.

These aims are achieved with a foot massage apparatus comprising a housing whose upper part forms a stable receiving platform for the user's feet comprising at least a first arch massage unit comprising a rotary massage member and a minus a second foot massage unit, the massage units being set in motion by drive means located within the housing, since the second massage unit comprises means arranged to perform a localized tapping movement. in the seat area of the heel.

The massage apparatus according to the invention has at least two distinct massage units, located on a stable foot receiving platform for matching, one independently of the other, with predetermined areas of the sole of the foot. of the user. These units are thus arranged at a distance from each other in order to be able to apply different massage actions. Thus, the first massage unit comprises at least one rotary massage element and is intended to stimulate the reflex zones of the arch. The second massage unit has a tapping action at the heel.

The term "stable plateau" includes a plateau which, while part of an apparatus having means for vibrating a massage unit of a foot zone, comprises at least one foot sitting zone. submitted to vibrations when the means generating vibrations are activated. The stable plateau is a plateau that is not subject to vibrations as a whole. Thus, at least a portion of the tray, for example the frame, is stable, non-vibrating, and is fixed to a base, or even to the feet placed on the ground. When the device is actuated, the user's feet placed on the tray can then keep their seat and their positioning established for example with respect to marks within the tray. The feet of the user can thus receive massage actions located in specific areas at the level of the foot without there being any movement in the plane of the plate.

By a tapping movement is understood a vibratory movement or back-and-forth having a main component. Preferably, this component is oriented substantially perpendicularly to the plate. By movement located in the seat area of the heel, it is understood that the movement is carried out only in an area of the foot receiving tray corresponding to the place where the heel of the user is based when he takes as a reference the foot arch massage unit. Such a zone is therefore delimited in the surface of the plate and has a surface of dimensions comparable to those of a heel of foot which can thus be registered. The second massage unit locally stimulates the heel, allowing the toes or another part of the user's foot to rest firmly on a stable plateau, which is then not entirely subject to vibration, for a better positioning of the foot on the heel. plateau and therefore increased efficacy of the treatment.

In addition, such a localized arrangement of a tapping massage unit makes it possible to arrange, on the same plate, other massage units having complementary functions without unduly complicating the construction of the apparatus. Thus, the tapping massage unit produces a foot relaxing effect which can then or in parallel be stimulated by an adjacent reflexology unit. Indeed, it was found during tests that to obtain good results during a massage, especially when done in depth, you must first relax the treated area. Thus, it was observed a synergistic effect of the two massage units, when the second massage unit relaxes the foot while the first massage unit, deported compared to the second, performs a real stimulation, deep, the soles of the feet, which also take a firm and stable support on the board.

Advantageously, said first massage unit comprises means arranged to match the profile of the arch and the second massage unit comprises means arranged to match the profile of the heel.

The profile of such a massage tray provides an intimate contact with the profile of the foot allowing, on the one hand to orient the foot relative to the plate of the device and, on the other hand, to transmit all the stimulations produced by the device. Thus, the first massage unit is protruding relative to the plate, while the second is flat, or slightly recessed.

For example, the foot receiving tray comprises a first plantar massage unit disposed substantially on one of the median axes of the tray, preferably the horizontal median axis, and a second heel massage unit. arranged in the extension of the first or slightly offset out of the tray so that the two massage units can best follow the morphology of the foot of the user when it is placed on the tray.

According to an advantageous aspect of the invention, the two massage units are arranged one behind the other in a footprint zone defined from at least one mark disposed in the upper part of a stable plate. .

Such a marker, fixed or adjustable, can be in the form of a protuberance, or a cavity on the surface of the plate, allows the toes to bear on this marker and perform a stretching thereof. Such a device thus offers a third type of foot stretching treatment, in addition to the treatments performed by the first and / or second massage unit, and a better orientation and a better wedging of the foot on the plateau of the foot. 'apparatus.

Preferably, said second massage unit comprises a pin plate set in motion by a vibrating assembly.

One could have envisaged a tapping massage unit having one or more protruding massage fingers moved together but staggered in time, or each individually by a cam mechanism, electromagnets, etc. However, it is preferred, for reasons of constructive simplicity, to use a single plate, flat or concave, on the upper surface of which are arranged several pins, being uniformly distributed, the pins then acting on the entire area of the heel simultaneously.

Advantageously, said plate is mounted via an elastic bellows to the receiving plate of the feet.

This makes it possible to isolate the vibrating zone from the entire plate and thus prevent the transmission of vibrations to the other components of the apparatus.

Preferably, the plate and the vibrating assembly are supported at the foot receiving tray by means of a resilient bellows.

It would have been possible, certainly, to fix the vibrating assembly to the base of the case and to attach only the plate with pins to the plate of the apparatus by means of an elastic bellows. However, it is preferred to connect the plate and the vibrating assembly to the foot receiving tray so that the effect of the vibrations is transmitted optimally only to the seating area of the heel to the plate, while isolating the rest of the apparatus. .

Advantageously, said bellows has a hardness of between 60 and 80 Shore.

For these values of its Shore hardness, such a bellows ensures, at the same time, a good transmission of vibrations to the plate with vibrating pins for the stimulation of the heel, as well as a good maintenance of the plate and the assembly vibrating, without excessive deformation of the bellows.

Preferably, the vibrating assembly comprises an electric motor of horizontal axis which rotates a flyweight mounted at the end of its output shaft.

Such a feeder construction then produces, in a simple and efficient manner, oscillations having a component substantially perpendicular to the plane of the plate.

Advantageously, the vibrating assembly produces vibrations having a component substantially perpendicular to the plate with an amplitude of between 0.1 and 0.5 mm.

It has been established during the tests that low amplitude vibrations, produced in the heel area, perpendicular thereto, allow to relax the foot effectively. The perpendicular component of the vibrations is advantageously provided by the characteristics of the elastic bellows, in particular because it is more rigid in the plane of the plate than perpendicular to the plane of the plate.

Preferably, said first massage unit comprises a rotary massage element which rotates about an axis substantially perpendicular to the foot receiving plate.

Such a vertical rotation massage unit ensures a good stimulation of the blood circulation of the arch.

Advantageously, said massage element comprises balls mounted free to rotate about the axes perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the massage element.

Each massage element then performs an additional movement of rotation around its axis which, combined with that of the support, provides a better stimulation of the arch.

Preferably, said massage element comprises a central protuberance and peripheral massage balls.

The central protuberance then corresponds to the top of the arch and the peripheral massage balls, arranged further back, follow the contour of the peripheral part of the arch, so that the arch is massaged over a major part of the arch. its surface.

Advantageously, the apparatus comprises two first massage units and two second massage units arranged on either side of the median axis of the receiving plate of the feet.

Such an apparatus makes it possible to treat both feet simultaneously with separate massage units, to adapt the geometry of the massage units to each of the feet and, optionally, to be able to choose, for each foot, the most appropriate treatment.

Preferably, said second massage units are moved by a common vibrating assembly.

For the sake of constructive simplification, a single flywheel motor is used to stimulate both zones of the heels simultaneously.

According to a first embodiment of the invention, said first massage units are set in motion by a common actuating system.

Such a system then uses a single engine and a single transmission to simplify construction and reduce costs.

Advantageously, said actuation system comprises an electric motor horizontal axis driving a transmission inside a closed gearbox with output axes perpendicular to the plate.

Such a horizontal motor arrangement provides both a small footprint of the actuating system, and quiet operation of the apparatus, the transmission gears being located inside a closed gearbox.

In a second embodiment of the invention, said first massage units each comprise its own actuating system.

This then makes it possible to choose the operating mode for each foot, for example by using for each transmission system a servo-controlled system with variable speed adjustment of each right or left massage unit.

Advantageously, said actuating system is provided with means for adjusting the position of a first massage unit with respect to the plane of the receiving plate of the feet.

Such lateral or angular adjustment allows the user to orient the massage unit relative to the plane of the tray according to the morphology of his foot.

In an alternative embodiment of the invention, said marker is a massage roller.

This allows for better stretching of the toes when touching a massage roller which then rotates about its longitudinal axis. This massage roller is preferably rotatably mounted, but it can also be motorized.

Advantageously, the housing is supported on the ground by means of flexible feet.

Such flexible feet allow, by deforming, to dampen the force exerted by the feet of the user on the plate and thus to prevent this effort does not unduly load the massage units.

Preferably, the foot receiving tray comprises at least one IR lamp.

Such an apparatus allows additional treatment, by heat, to further relax the treated foot area.

Advantageously, the apparatus comprises programmable microprocessor control means.

The apparatus includes means for controlling the operation of electrical components, including electric motors, IR lamps, etc. comprising a programmable microprocessor electronic card. This allows the user to either recall a massage session via a pre-recorded program or set up another massage session as desired.

Preferably, the apparatus comprises control means actuated remotely by the user.

The apparatus is generally provided with control buttons preferably located on the tray. For a better comfort of use, one can also provide the device of a remote control for a remote actuation of the apparatus.

• la figure 1 est une vue en perspective de l'appareil de l'invention;
• la figure 2 est une vue éclatée de l'appareil de la figure 1, le plateau de réception des pieds étant enlevé pour plus de clarté;
• la figure 3 est une vue éclatée de la deuxième unité de massage de l'appareil de l'invention.

The invention will be better understood with the study of the embodiments taken in no way limiting and illustrated in the accompanying figures in which:

• Figure 1 is a perspective view of the apparatus of the invention;
• Fig. 2 is an exploded view of the apparatus of Fig. 1 with the foot receiving tray removed for clarity;
• Figure 3 is an exploded view of the second massage unit of the apparatus of the invention.

The massage apparatus shown in FIG. 1 comprises a housing 1 supporting in the upper part a tray 2 for receiving the user's feet, of generally rectangular shape, comprising a first massage unit 3 and a second massage unit 4. The housing 1 is hollow and forms a closed chamber with the plate 2. After mounting the plate 2 in the upper part of the housing 1, the latter can then receive the components of the device, in particular the drive means of the massage units . In use, the housing 1 is placed on the ground and for this purpose comprises feet 7 terminated by flexible tips. The plate 2 is flat, but it is supported by the rim of the housing 1 which itself is inclined downwards towards the user. The plate 2 thus forms an inclined plane seat for the feet of the user. The angle of inclination of the tray is low, of the order of 10 ° -15 °, but it can be adjustable by changing the height of the feet 7 located at the rear of the housing 1, the latter can then be screwed or The feet 7 at the front of the device are fixedly mounted relative to the housing 1. A handle 8 is located at the front of the device and the makes it easily transportable by the user. Control buttons 9 are provided in the upper part of the plate 2 and can be actuated directly by the foot of the user to control the operation of the apparatus.

The first massage unit 3 and the second massage unit 4 are located one behind the other on the plate 2 and define, with at least one mark 5 situated in the upper part of the plate 2, an impression zone of the Feet 6. More particularly in the example shown in Figure 1, a large elongated mark 5a is provided at the base of the toes and four small circular markers 5b are provided at the intervals of the toes of the foot of the user.

In the example shown in the appended figures, the marks 5a, 5b are fixed, being protuberances formed in the surface of the tray, the massage units 3 and 4 are also mounted fixed relative to the tray. In this embodiment, a footprint area 6 for an average size 39 is defined between the upper part of a marker 5 and the lower part of the second massage unit 4. This zone is therefore able to receive a range of foot sizes ranging from a female average size to a male average size. Thus, for women, an average size has a length of 237 mm, a width at the toe joint 91 mm and a heel width of 63 mm. For men, an average size has a length of 260 mm, a width at the toe joint of 98 mm and a width at the heel of 65 mm.

In a variant not shown in the drawings, at least the pins 5 are mounted so that their position can be adjusted forwards or back along the plate to adjust the distance relative to the second massage unit 4. In addition, the first massage unit 3 would then be made so that it can be adjusted forwards and backwards and / or laterally and / or angularly so as to be better adapted to the size of the foot as well as to that of the arch of the foot. user.

Although it could be smaller in size to massage one foot at a time, the tray 2 of FIG. 1 is constructed to receive the user's two feet side by side for stimulation. Thus, the apparatus comprises, on either side of its vertical median axis, two footprint zones 6 each having pins 5, first massage units 3 and second massage units 4, as well as two control buttons 9.

Each of the first two massage units 3 comprises a massage element 14 rotatably mounted about an axis perpendicular to the plate. As best seen in Figure 2, a massage element 14 comprises four massage balls 15, making a 90 ° angle between them, mounted free to rotate about the rods 17 supported together with the massage balls 15 by a support 18 The support 18 is made in two parts, where the upper part 19 is a cover provided with a central protuberance 16 partially covering the massage balls 15 held, with their rods 17, by the lower part 20 of the support 18. The upper part of the support 18 passes through the plate 2, while its lower part communicates, under the plate, with an output axis of an actuating system 22.

The actuating system 22 is common to the first two massage units 3 and comprises a gearbox 23 whose input is coupled to the horizontal output shaft of a first electric motor 24. More particularly, the drive shaft output of the first electric motor 24 is a worm 25 which drives a first toothed wheel 26 which in turn drives a second toothed wheel 27 whose axis corresponds to that of the support 18 of the massage element 14 which it drives in a rotational movement perpendicular to the plate 2. The worm 25 and the gears 26 and 27 are arranged inside a housing in two parts, upper 28 and lower 29, closed with which they constitute the gearbox 23. The motor flange is fixed directly to the housing of the gearbox 23, which has the effect of significantly reducing the operating noise of the device. The first electric motor 24 and the gearbox 23 are supported by the plate 2 by means of fixing screws.

Each of the second massage units 4 comprises a circular pin plate 35 delimiting a circular zone of seat of the heel in the surface of the plate 2 for receiving the feet. As best seen in Figure 3, each second massage unit 4 comprises a circular plate 31 slightly concave, provided with through holes 32 and below the fixing projections 33. The pins 35 are made in the form of several fingers protruding, evenly distributed on a slightly concave circular base 36. The base 36 has below the tubes 37 for attachment to a vibrating assembly 45, as will be explained later.

The second massage unit 4 is mounted on the plate 2 by means of an elastic bellows 40 of generally annular shape. More particularly in the example shown, the inner flange 41 of the elastic bellows 40 is sandwiched between the periphery of the plate 31 and that of the base 36. The outer flange 42 is mounted on the inner face of the plate 2 using a flange 43 annular and fixing screws 44.

Vibrating assembly 45 comprises a spacer 46 having two lateral arms 47 each provided with four fixing buffers 48. A second electric motor 50 is fixed by a flange 49 in the central portion of the spacer 46. A flyweight 52 is fixed to the end of the horizontal output shaft 51 of the motor 50 and is rotated by the latter. The vibrating assembly 45 is made integral with the plate 31 and the base 36 having the pins 35 when the fixing projections of the plate 31, passing through the tubes 37 of the base 36, come to bear on the pads 48 to the end of an arm 47 of the spacer 46 and are held together by fixing screws 38. Thus, the vibrating assembly 45 is mounted by means of the elastic bellows 40 to the tray 2 for receiving the feet and thereby transmits The vibrations produced by the vibrating assembly 45 are then absorbed by the bellows 40, which thus isolates each of the second massage units 4 from the remainder of the plate.

The elastic bellows 40 is made of a rubber of the EPDM type having a hardness of between 60 and 80 Shore, preferably 70 Shore. Moreover, by its shape and its dimensions, the bellows 40 is more rigid laterally (in the plane of the plate) than perpendicularly to the plane of the plate. For example, the bellows 40 has an annular shape whose outer diameter is 64 mm, the inside diameter of 40 mm and a wall thickness of about 3 mm.

The pins 35 are made in one piece with the base 36 of a hard plastic material, for example polycarbonate, by an injection technique.

The plate 31 is preferably made of a plastic material, for example ABS, by an injection technique.

The massage apparatus according to the example described further comprises an electrical supply cord (not shown in the figures) control means located inside the housing 1 of the device. These control means comprise a printed circuit board connected via micro switches and connection cables to the electric motors 24 and 50 which drive the massage units of the apparatus. The control buttons 9 are provided on the plate 2 to operate the micro switches and then control the operation of the motors. Thus, a first button 9 located on the left side of the plate 2 controls the vibration regime of the second massage unit 4 and the button 9 on the right controls, it, the rotational speeds of the massage elements 14 of the first unit of massage 3.

By way of example, the first electric motor 24 which actuates the massage elements 14 can rotate at a low speed of about 60 rpm and at a high speed of about 70 rpm. The transition from one mode to another is done by simply pressing the control button 9 on the right.

In the same way, the second electric motor 50 can also be controlled according to two speed levels, in particular a slow speed of about 1600 rpm and a high speed of about 2200 rpm. This allows each second massage unit 4 to vibrate in two vibration modes, at about 27 Hz and 37 Hz respectively. The transition from one regime to another is by a simple press on the control button 9 located at left.

In operation, after having chosen the preferred operating mode, the user places his feet on the footprint areas 6 of the plate 2 by centering the arch of each foot on the protuberance 16 of a first massage unit 3 and by placing the heel in contact with the pins 35 of a second massage unit 4 and finally by wedging his toes on the markers 5. When set in vibration, the pins 35, given their number and arrangement, of the amplitude low vibration generated and also their hardness, exercise locally, at the heel, a slight hitting movement, perpendicular to the heel and which has the effect of relaxing the foot. The reflex zones of the arch of the foot, which foot is relaxed during the massage operation and which bears steadily on the plateau, can then be stimulated intensely, even at a high speed, for a massage effect felt in depth. Moreover, the massage elements 14 of the first two massage units 3 turn in opposite directions, from the inside to the outside of the tray, in the direction of the venous return, improving blood circulation at the level of the feet.

In a variant not shown in the figures, the plate may comprise one or more IR lamps for a heat treatment of the treated zone. The lamps may be mounted beneath the first and second massage units or in place of one of them, or even beside the massage units on the foot receiving tray. For example, an IR lamp can be mounted under a dome having a configuration close to that of the first massage unit 3 and thus conforming to the profile of the arch.

In another variant, the operating mode of the device can be controlled remotely with a remote control.

Other variants and embodiments of the invention may be envisaged without departing from the scope of these claims.

Thus, by modifying the shape of the section of the bellows, it is possible to modify the direction of the vibrations transmitted to the seat area of the heel. For example, a taller than wider cylindrical bellows could be used to transmit vibrations in the plane of the tray rather than perpendicular to it. By way of example, such a bellows could have a diameter of about 40 mm, a wall thickness of 4 mm and a height of the tube greater than 15 mm.

Moreover, by modifying the construction of the gears of the gearbox, the axis of rotation of each of the first two massage units may not be vertical, but inclined relative to the plate. In a variant, this angle can also be varied by an adjustment system provided for this purpose.

In another variant, each of the first massage units comprises its own actuation system controlled by a variable speed drive. It could also be provided with its own positioning system and adjustment of this positioning in the plane of the tray.

In another variant, the marks 5 may be flexible rolls, made for example of rubber, which rotate freely about their axis and have the effect of an improved stretching of the toes.

Claims (23)

Foot massage apparatus comprising a housing (1), the upper part of which forms a stable tray (2) for receiving the user's feet, comprising at least a first massage unit (3) of the arch, comprising a massage element rotary unit (14) and at least one second foot massage unit (4), the massage units being set in motion by drive means located inside the housing (1), characterized in that the second unit massage device (4) comprises means arranged to perform a tapping movement located in the seat area of the heel. Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that said first massage unit (3) comprises means arranged to match the profile of the arch and the second massage unit (4) comprises means arranged to match the profile of the heel. Apparatus according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the two massage units are arranged one behind the other in a footprint area (6) defined from at least one mark ( 5) disposed in the upper part of a plateau (2) stable. Apparatus according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said second massage unit (4) comprises a plate (31) with pins (35) set in motion by a vibrating assembly (45). Apparatus according to claim 4, characterized in that said plate (31) is mounted via an elastic bellows (40) to the plate (2) for receiving the feet. Apparatus according to one of claims 4 or 5, characterized in that the plate (31) and the vibrating assembly (45) are supported on the foot receiving plate (2) via a bellows (40). elastic. Apparatus according to one of claims 5 or 6, characterized in that said bellows (40) has a hardness of between 60 and 80 Shore. Apparatus according to one of claims 4 to 7, characterized in that the vibrating assembly (45) comprises an electric motor (50) of horizontal axis which rotates a flyweight (52) mounted at the end of its shaft output (51). Apparatus according to one of claims 4 to 8, characterized in that the vibrating assembly (45) produces vibrations having a component substantially perpendicular to the plate with an amplitude of between 0.1 and 0.5 mm. Apparatus according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said first massage unit (3) comprises a rotary massage element (14) which rotates about an axis substantially perpendicular to the plate (2) for receiving the feet. Apparatus according to claim 10, characterized in that said massage member (14) comprises massage balls (15) rotatably mounted about the axes perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the massage member. Apparatus according to one of claims 10 or 11, characterized in that said massage element comprises a central protuberance (16) and peripheral massage balls (15). Apparatus according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises two first massage units (3) and two second massage units (4) arranged on either side of the median axis of the plate (2) receiving feet. Apparatus according to claim 13, characterized in that said second massage units are moved by a common vibrating assembly. Apparatus according to one of claims 13 or 14, characterized in that said first massage units (3) are set in motion by a common actuating system (22). Apparatus according to claim 15, characterized in that said actuating system (22) comprises an electric motor (24) of horizontal axis driving a transmission inside a closed gearbox (23) with output axes perpendicular to the plate (2). Apparatus according to claim 13, characterized in that said first massage units (3) each comprise its own actuating system. Apparatus according to claim 15, characterized in that said actuating system is provided with means for adjusting the position of a first massage unit (3) with respect to the plane of the platform (2) for receiving the feet. Apparatus according to one of claims 3 to 18, characterized in that said marker (5) is a massage roller. Apparatus according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the housing is supported on the ground by means of flexible feet. Apparatus according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the plate (2) receiving feet comprises at least one IR lamp. Apparatus according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises microprocessor control means programmable. Apparatus according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises control means actuated remotely by the user.

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