IES85605Y1 - A method and apparatus for stimulating a reproductive reflexology point on a foot of a subject - Google Patents

Description

A method andapparatus for stimulating a reproductive reflexology point on a foot of a subject The present invention reiates to a method and apparatus for stimulating a reproductive reflexology point on a foot of a subject, and in particular, to a method and apparatus for stimulating the libido of the subject.

According to the invention there is provided apparatus for stimulating a reproductive reflexology point on a foot of a subject, the apparatus comprising a housing adapted to abut the foot of the subject at two spaced apart opposite sites thereof, at least one of the sites containing the reproductive reflexology. point, a vibrating means for vibrating at least the portions of the housing abutting the site of the foot containing the reproductive reflexology point for transferring vibrations to the site thereof to stimulate the reproductive reflexology point.

In one embodiment of the invention a heating means is provided for heating the ‘housing at least at the portions thereof abutting the sites of the foot of the subject.

In another embodiment of the "invention the housing is a hollow housing, and preferably, the vibrating means comprises a vibrator located in the housing.

Advantageousiy, the vibrator is an electrically powered vibrator.

In another embodiment of the invention the heating means is located in the housing, and preferably, is provided by an electrically powered heater, and advantageously, a heat transfer means is provided for transferring heat from the heating means to the respective portions of the housing abutting the sites of the foot.

In another embodiment of the invention a battery is provided for powering the vibrating means and the heating means, and preferably, the battery is housed within the housing. Alternatively, the vibrating means and the heating means are adapted ‘to be powered by a mains electricity supply, and preferably, by the mains electricity supply through a step-down transformer.

In another embodiment of the invention a control circuit is provided for controlling the operation of the heating means, and preferably, the control circuit activates the heating means to initially bring the temperature of the housing adjacent the portions thereof to abut the sites of the foot of the subject to a predefined temperature prior to placing" the device on the foot, and preferably, a sensor is provided for monitoring the temperature of the respective portions of the housing which are to abut the sites of the foot of the subject. in another embodiment of the invention the control circuit is responsive to the temperature sensor for either deactivating the heating element on the temperature of the housinggadjacent the portions thereof to abut the sites of the foot when the temperature of the said portions exceeds the predefined temperature. flirt” anotherlembiodiment of the invention the control circuit is responsive to the sensor determining that the temperature of the portions of the housing to abut the sites of the foot reaching the predefined temperature for operating the heating means at a lower level for maintaining the temperature at the portions of the housings to abut the sites of the foot for maintaining the temperature thereof at the predefined temperature. in one embodiment of the invention at least a portion of the housing is of U-shape A construction, and preferably, a portion of the housing is adapted to extend across the heel of a foot of the subject, and preferably, the housing extends from the said heel portion on respective opposite sides thereof to the portions which are to abut the respective sites of the foot.

In another embodiment of the invention a securing means is provided for securing the housing on a foot of the subject, and preferably, the securing means comprises a strap adapted to extend just beneath the ankle and above the bridge of the foot from one end of the housing to the other.

Ideally, the housing comprises a resilient material to accommodate different widths of feet of different subjects.

Advantageously, the securing means is adjustable.

Advantageously, an outer surface of the housing is covered by a cover layer comprising relatively soft material, and preferably, at least the portions of the housing vvhich are to abut the foot of the subject are covered with the cover layer. In one embodiment of the invention the cove layer comprises a fabric material, in another embodiment of the invention the cover layer comprises a plastics material.

In a further embodiment of the invention the housing is adapted to abut the reproductive reflexology point of a foot of the subject corresponding to the uterus or prostate, in another embodiment of the invention the housing is adapted to abut the foot of the subject adjacent the reproductive reflexology point of the pelvic musculature.

In a still further embodiment of the invention the housing is adapted to abut the reproductive reflexology point of a foot of the subject corresponding to theovaries or testes thereof.

In one embodiment of the invention a pair of the apparatus is provided, one apparatus being provided for each foot of the subject.

The invention also provides a method for stimulating a reproductive reflexology point of a foot of a subject, the method comprising vibrating a site of the foot of the subject containing the reproductive reflexology point. Preferably, the site is vibrated by applying a vibrating means to the site, and advantageously, the vibrating means is heated prior to applying the vibrating means to the site of the foot of the subject.

In one embodiment of the invention the reproductive reflexology point is stimuiated using the apparatus according to the invention.

Additionaluly the invention provides a method for improving the libido of a subject by stimulating a reproductive reflexology point of a foot of the subject by vibrating a site of the foot of the subject containing the reproductive reflexology point, and preferably, the reproductive reflexology point is stimulated using the apparatus according to the invention.

The invention will be more clearly understood from the following description of an embodiment thereof, which is given by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a perspective view of apparatus according to the invention for stimulating a reproductive reflexology point on a foot of a subject, 1 Fig. 2 is a front elevational view of the apparatus of Fig. 1, Fig. 3 is a side elevational view of the apparatus of Fig. 1, Fig. 4 is a transverse cross-sectional side elevational view of the apparatus of Fig. 1 on the line lV-IV of Fig. 2, Fig. 5 is a block representation of an electrical circuit of the apparatus of Fig.

Fig. 6 is a side elevational view of the apparatus of Fig. 1 in use on a foot of a subject illustrated from the outside of the foot, Fig. 7 is a side elevational view of the apparatus of Fig. 1 in use on a foot of a subject illustrated from the inside of the foot, and Fig. 8 is a diagrammatic view of a pair of the apparatus of Fig. 1 in use on respective feet of a subject. _ Referring to the drawings, there is illustrated apparatus according to the invention, indicated generally by the reference numeral 1, for stimulating three reflexology I points of reproduction on the foot 2 of a subject in order to stimulate the libido of the subject. The reproductive reflexology points are identified in Figs. 6 to 8 and are the reflexology point A which corresponds to the uterus or the prostate, the reflexology point B which corresponds to the pelvic musculature, and the reflexology point C which corresponds to the ovary or testes. The apparatus 1 is provided in pairs. one apparatus for each foot 2, and the apparatus for the respective feet 2 are similar to each other.

Each apparatus 1 comprises a housing 4 of hollow construction defining a hollow interior region 5, and typically, the housing 4 will be formed as two half shells secured together. The housing 4 comprises two spaced apart side portions 4 which are joined by a central portion 8. The side portions 7 are adapted for embracing opposite sides of the heel of the foot below the ankle thereof, and the central portion 8 is provided to extend slightly beneath and behind the heel of the foot 2. A securing means, namely, a strap 10 which is provided in two halves joined by a buckle 11 extends from one side portion 7 to the other side portion 7 for facilitating securing the housing 4 to the foot 2.

The housing 4 may be of any suitable material, and may be of metal, but more typically will be of a plastics material, and the material of the housing 4 will be. chosen, and ‘the centralportion 8 will be dimensioned so that the central portion 8 will be slightly resilient for facilitating drawing of the side portions 7 towards each other for accommodating different widths of heels of the feet of different subjects.

The side portions 7 are sized to embrace the opposite sides of the foot 2 adjacent the heel and beneath the ankle, and to abut the respective opposite sites of the foot adjacent the heel thereof which contain the respective reproductive reflexology points A and C corresponding to the uterus or prostate and the ovary or testes. respectively. The central portion 8 of the housing is sized to abut the site beneath the heel which contains the reproductive reflexology point corresponding to the pelvic musculature.

A vibrating means, namely, a vibrator 18 is located in the hollow interior region 5 of the central portion 8 of the housing 4 for vibrating the housing 4 in order to transmit vibrations to the reproductive reflexology points A, B and C. A heating means provided by an electrically powered resistive heater 19 is also located in the hollow interior region 5 of the housing 4 for raising the temperature of the housing 4 to a predefined temperature, which in this embodiment of the invention is approximately °C, so that the temperature of the housing is approximately 5°C above body heat.

A control circuit 20 is located in the hollow interior region 5 for controlling the operation of the vibrator-18 and the heater 19. A timer 22 located in the hollow interior region 5 times the period of time during which the vibrator 18 "should be operable. Atemperature sensor 23 also located in the hollow interior region 5 monitors the temperature of the housing 4, and the control circuit 20 is responsive to signals from the temperature sensor 23 for controlling the operation of the heater 19.

An alerting means, in this embodiment of the invention provided by a piezoelectric sounder 25 located in the housing 4 outputs an audible signal under the control of the control circuit 20 on the temperature sensor 23 detecting that the temperature of the housing 4 is at the predefined temperature. A pair of button operated switches 26 and 27 located in the housing 4 are provided for activating the control circuit 20 to operate the vibrator 18 and the heater 19 respectively. A battery 30 located in the hollowinterior region 5 of the housing 4 is provided for powering the control circuit , the vibrator 18 and the heater 19.

Although not illustrated, the housing 4 of each apparatus 1 is covered by a cover layer of relatively soft material, which in this embodiment of the invention is a soft textile material to provide comfort to the subject.

In use, a pair of the apparatus 1 are provided, one for each foot of the subject.

Initially when it is desired to stimulate the libido, a subject operates the button switch a 27 of each apparatus which in turn operates the control circuit 20 for activating the heater 19. On activation of the switch 27 the control circuit 20 monitors the temperature sensor 23 of the corresponding apparatus, and on the temperature of the housing 4 reaching the predefined temperature of 42°C, the control circuit 20 activates the piezoelectric sounder 25 to output an audible sound in order to indicate to the user that the housing 4 of the corresponding apparatus 1 is at the predefined temperature.» Once the temperature of the housing,4 has been raised to the predefined temperature, the control circuit 20 operates the heater of the corresponding apparatus 1 in order to maintain the temperature of the housing at the predefined temperature of 42°C.

On the housing 4 of eachapparatus being raised to the predefined temperature, the housings 4 are secured to the heel of the subject by the conesponding straps 10 and buckles 11. The housings 4 are secured to the heel of the subject so that the respective side portions 7 thereof abut the sites of the feet containing the reproductive reflexology points A and C corresponding to the uterus/prostate and the ovaryltestes, respectively, and the central portion 8 of each housing 4 abuts the reproductive reflexology point B corresponding to the pelvic musculature.

With the two apparatus 1 attached to the respective feet of the subject, the subject then activates the button switch 26 of each apparatus 1, which in turn activates the control circuits 20 to operate the vibrators 18 of the respective apparatus 1.

Simultaneously with activating the vibrators 18, the respective control circuits 20 operate the corresponding timers 22 for timing a five—minute period during which the vibrators 18 should operate. On the respective timers 22 having timed the five- minute period. the control circuits 20 of the respective apparatus 1 deactivate the corresponding vibrators 18.

It has been found that a five-minute period during which the reproductive reflexology points are subjected to vibrations is sufficient for significantly raising the libido of the ‘ subject.

While the apparatus according to the invention has been described as comprising a housing of a specific shape and construction, it will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art that the housing of the apparatus may be of any other suitable size, shape or configuration, which would be suitable for abutting the sites containing the reproductive reflexology points in the foot of a subject. It will also be appreciated that instead of providing a pair of apparatus, a single apparatus may be provided, and in which case, the feet of the subject would be sequentially subjected to vibration by the apparatus.

While the apparatus has been described as comprising a hollow housing, in certain cases, the housing may be of a solid construction, and the vibrator may be embedded in or mounted exteriorly on the housing, and additionally, the heater may be embedded in or mounted exteriorly on the housing. It is also envisaged that in certain cases the battery may be provided externally of the housing, and a single battery may be provided for operating the vibrator and the heater of each apparatus of a pair of apparatus.

While the apparatus has been described as being provided with a heater for heating the housing, it is envisaged that the apparatus may be ‘provided without a heater.

It is also envisaged that instead of being powered by a battery, the apparatus may be powered by mains electricity, in which case, it is envisaged that the mains electricity would be supplied to the respective apparatus through a step-down transformer, and typically, the transformer would be adapted to output a supply voltage to the respective apparatus at a safe level, typically, up to 12 volts.

While the housing has been described as being of a resilient material to facilitate drawing of the side ‘portions thereof towards each other to accommodate different sizes of feet, it will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art that this, while it is preferable, is not essential, since the apparatus could be provided in many different width fittings. Indeed, even where" the housing is provided to have somevresilience, a number of housings of different width fitting may also be provided, for example, in sizes of small, medium and large.

While the control circuit has been described as comprising a timer and a temperature sensor, while this is advantageous, it is not essential.

The invention is not limited to the embodiment hereinbefore described, which may be varied in construction and detail.

Claims (5)

Claims

1. An apparatus for stimulating a reproductive reflexology point on a foot of a subject, the apparatus comprising: a housing adapted to abut the foot of the subject at two spaced apart opposite sites thereof, at least one ofthe sites containing the reproductive reflexology point; a vibrating means for vibrating at least the portions of the housing abutting the site of the foot containing the reproductive reflexology point for transferring vibrations to the site thereof to stimulate the reproductive reflexology point.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1 in which the housing is adapted to abut the reproductive reflexology point of a foot of the subject corresponding to the uterus or prostate.

3. An apparatus according to claim 1 or 2 wherein the housing is adapted to abut the foot of the subject adjacent the reproductive reflexology point of the pelvic musculature.

4. An apparatus according to any preceeding claim wherein the housing is adapted to abut the reproductive reflexology point of a foot of the subject corresponding to the ovaries or testes thereof.

5. An apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings. reI)g4620