US2025936A - Foot treating apparatus - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 31, 1935.

C. M. CLEARMAN FOOT TREATING APPARATUS Filed Dec. ,8, 1934 3 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR (iarizsjf. (Yea/"man,

/ ATTORNEY 1935. c. M. CLEARMAN 2,025,936

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FOOT TREATING APPARATUS Filed Dec. 8, 1934 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR ATTORNEY Patented Dec. 31, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FOOT TREATING APPARATUS Charles M. Clearman, Morristown, N. J.

Application December 8, 1934, Serial No. 756,675 8 Claims. (01.128-261) This invention relates to means for treating the feet; and the invention has reference, more particularly, to a novel mechanism for automatically applying a medicament to the feet of the user.

This invention has for its principal object to provide a novel apparatus, suitable for use in gymnasiums, golf-club locker or dressing rooms, hospitals, chiropodists consulting rooms or in any other places where foot treatment, for ring worm of the foot commonly known as athlete's foot, is desired to be carried out; the apparatus being of such character that the persons desiring the treatment may be enabled to selfadminister the same. To this end the novel apparatus comprises a receptacle in which the foot may be inserted and means for automatically applying to the thus inserted foot, as by spraying thereon, a medicament suited to the particular ailment desired to be treated.

The invention has for a further obect to provide a novel means for initiating and controlling the operation of the apparatus, whereby a predetermined or measured application of medicament is assured without undue waste; means being provided whereby the apparatus is subject to manual control for starting its operation but whereby its operation is automatically terminated after a given treatment is consummated.

Other objects of this invention, not at this time more particularly enumerated, will be understood from the following detailed description of the same.

An illustrative embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of the novel foot treating apparatus according to this invention; and Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same.

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal vertical section, taken on line 3-3 in Fig. l, but drawn on an enlarged scale; Fig. 4 is a transverse vertical section, taken on the line 4--4 in Fig. 3; Fig. 5 is a longitudinal vertical section, taken on line 5-5 in Fig. 4; and Fig. 6 is a schematic view of the electric circuits and control devices which govern the operation of the apparatus.

Similar characters of reference are employed in the above described views, to indicate corresponding parts.

Referring to the drawings, the reference character l indicates the housing or casing of the apparatus, which is preferably provided at its upper forward end portion with a downwardly inclined top-wall portion II, and which further provided with a removable bottom plate l2. Suitably secured to the inclined top-wall portion ll of the housing or casing, across an opening l3 therein provided to receive the same, is a footplate I which supports a suitably shaped hollow boot adapted to provide a receiving chamber i6 into which may be thrust the foot desired to be treated, said chamber l6 having an entrance opening I! through said boot-plate l4. Preferably said boot-plate and boot are integrally 10 formed by a metal casting, said casting tapering toward its inner or toe end, and being provided, intermediate said toe end and the entrance opening l1 and at its upper wall, with an inwardly projecting angular offset or shoulder i8, for purl5 poses subsequently to be referred to. When the boot-plate I4 is fitted to and secured to the housing or casing top-wall portion H, the boot [5 is disposed within the interior of said housing or casing I 0. Afiixed within the heel portion of the boot iii, are spaced transverse heel-rest bars IS, the same extending between the side walls of the boot, and at a level spaced above the bottom wall thereof. When assembled to and within the housing or casing ID, the boot [5 is disposed in an inclined position, with its bottom portion sloping downwardly from the toe end thereof toward the heel end thereof, and-provided in said bottom portion, at the heel end, are one or more drainage openings 20.

Mounted within the housing or casing I0 is a container or reservoir 2| in which is stored a supply of the medicament solution which is desired to be applied to the foot under treatment.

If desired, the reservoir 2i is provided with a filling connection or fitting 22 which extends through the wall of the housing or casing ill for exterior projection therefrom.

Connected with the inner or toe end of the boot I5 is any suitable form of atomizer valve which is arranged, in any suitable manner, for communication with the content of the reservoir 2|. lllustrative of one practical form of atomizer valve and communicating means between the same and the reservoir content, there is shown in the drawings, a valve casing 23 having a vertical branch 24 which is connected with the upper end of a stand-pipe member 25. An intercommunicating conduit 26 is connected between the lower end of the reservoir 2| and the lower end of said stand-pipe member 25, whereby a quantity of the medicament solution from the former is delivered into the latter. Extending forwardly from the valve casing 23 is a discharge branch 21, which is preferably provided with a restricted Venturi-tube section 28. The free end of said discharge branch 21 is provided with a coupling nipple 28 engaged through the toe-end wall of said boot IS, the same being further provided, within the interior of the latter, with a discharge nozzle 29. Mounted within the valve casing 23 is a solution delivery tube 30, the lower end portion of which extends downwardly through the branch 24 into the column of medicament solution contained within the stand-pipe member 25. At its upper end, said tube 30 is provided with a laterally and forwardly turned discharge portion 3| which terminates within the Venturitube section 28 of the. discharge branch 21. Extending rearwardly from the valve casing 23 is an air intake branch 32. Said valve casing 23 is further provided with an inwardly opening check-valve 33, which communicates with the atmosphere.

Means are provided for delivering air under pressure to the atomizer valve, thereby to operate the latter, and thereupon deliver into the boot I an application of the medicament solution for discharge upon the foot inserted thereinto for treatment. Preferably such air delivery means comprises an air compressor or pump having means for actuating the same. Illustrative of one form of such air electric motor 34 located within the housing or casing ID to serve as a source of power. .The compressor or pump is actuated through a power transmission, the same comprising a gear-box 35 through which extends a drive shaft 36. This drive shaft 36 is aligned with and coupled to the motor armature shaft 31, by any suitable formof coupling means 38, so as to be driven by the motor. Affixed on the drive shaft 36, within the gear-box 35, is a worm 39. Also mounted in and by said gear-box 35 is a transverse driven shaft 40 upon which is fixed a worm gear 4| which meshes with and is driven by said worm 39. Afiixed upon an end of said driven shaft 40, which projects exteriorly from the gear-box 35, is a crank-arm.

42. The gear-box 35 serves to enclose and house the worm and worm gear transmission, and is so arranged that it may be charged with a suitable lubricant, either oil or grease, whereby its smooth running with a minimum of friction is assured. The worm and worm gear transmission serves as a reduction gearing, whereby the air compressor or pump is driven at a desired speed. Supported upon the gear-box 35 is a platform 43, which is provided with a shelf-portion 44 arranged above and adapted to overhang the location of the crank-arm 42. The air compressor or pump comprises a. cylinder 45 having an open lower end aflixed to said shelf-portion 44 in registration with an opening 46 provided in the latter and aligned above the crank-arm 42. Reciprocable in the cylinder 45 is a plunger or piston 41 of suitable form, the same being preferably provided, at its inner end, with a flexible flanged washer 48. A connecting rod 49 is pivotally connected by its lower end to said crank-arm 42, and by its upper end to the wrist-pin 50 with which the plunger or piston 41 is provided. An air delivery conduit 5| is connected in communication with the upper end of the pump cylinder interior, and extends therefrom to the atomizer valve, being connected with the air intake branch 32 of the latter.

Means are provided for initiating and controlling the operation of the air compressor or pump by starting and stopping the motor whereby the same is actuated. This means is so devised that the motor may be started by manipulatable means subject to actuation by the user of the apparatus, but is automatically stopped upon completion of an operative impulse or cycle of pump actuation, whereby the apparatus functions to 5 provide a treatment of predetermined duration and quantity without undue waste, and whereby the operator, after starting the functioning of the apparatus, cannot inadvertently leave the apparatus in running condition with consequent waste. The means for this purpose are subject to more or less wide variation, and consequently may take various forms, either solely mechanical or electro-mechanical. One illustrative form of means calculated to furnish such desired control of the functioning of the apparatus, and showing a preferred electromechanical form thereof, comprises the following devices. Included in the main power supply circuit serving the motor 34, comprising the incoming line 52 and the outgoing line 53 is a main circuit make and break switch 54 of the toggle type, and of any suitable detail construction as well known to the electrical art. This switch is provided with an oscillatable lever 55 adapted to control the circuit make and break contacts of the same in such manner that when e. g. the lever 55 is swung to the left the circuit is interrupted and when swung to the right the circuit is closed. This main switch 54 may be suitably located anywhere within the housing or casing l0, but is preferably aiiixed upon the platform 43.- Mounted adjacent to one side of said main switch 54 is a switch closing solenoid 56, and adjacent to the other side of said main switch is a switch opening solenoid 51. These solenoids 56-51 are arranged in opposed relation, a reciprocable armature bar 58 common to both extiiding therebetween. By a slot and pin connecti 59, said main switch lever 55 is coupled to an intermediate portion of said armature bar 58.

The field winding of the switch closing solenoid 56 is connected in a shunt circuit comprising the ingoing line a leading from the main incoming circuit line 52 and the outgoing line b leading back to the main outgoing circuit line 53. Said shunt circuit is subject to the control of a manual switch means. Preferably this manual switch means is carried by a standard which is mounted on top of the housing or casing ID, to extend upwardly therefrom to a point conveniently accessible to the hand of the operator, when the latter stands in front of the apparatus in position to make use thereof; although it will be obvious that any other form or arrangement of means found expedient for mounting the manual switch devices may be employed. The standard, as shown, comprises a hollow or tubular column 60, terminating at its upper end in a forwardly and laterally projecting hand grip member 6 1. Within the 6 hollow upper end of said column 60 are mounted a pair of suitably insulated spring contact elements 62 and 63, the same being normally spaced apart in opposed relation, to one of which, e. g. the element 62, is connected the ingoing line a and to 65 the other of which, e. g. the element 63, is connected the outgoing line b passing through the solenoid 56, these lines extending from the interior of the housing or casing l0 through the interior of the column 60. Affixed to the column 60 is a casing 64 in which is slidably mounted a spring retracted push-pin 65, the inner end of which extends through the wall of said column to operatively engageone of said spring contact elements, as e. g. the contact element 63. At its outer end 7 said push-pin 64 is provided with an exteriorly projecting chamfered nosing 66. Mounted on fulcrum lugs 61, connected with the underside of said hand grip member 6|, is a pivoted spring retracted hand-lever 68, provided at its inner end with a pivoted dog 69, which is stopped by a stop shoulder 10 against upward yielding movement relative to said hand lever 68, but which is down wardly yieldable against the tension of a positioning spring 1|.

The field winding of the switch opening solenoid 51 is also connected in a shunt circuit comprising the ingoing line a: leading from the main incoming circuit line 52 and the outgoing line y leading back to the main outgoing circuit line 53. This shunt circuit is subject to the control of an automatic switch means. Mounted in a suitable location upon the side of the gear-box 35 are a pair of suitably insulated spring contact elements 12 and 13, the same being normally spaced apart in opposed relation. Connected to one of said elements, e. g. the element 72, is the ingoing line :1: which passes through the switch opening solenoid 51, and connected to the other of said elements, e. g. the element I3, is the outgoing line 3,! leading back to the main outgoing circuit line 53. Means operative by the revolution of the pump actuating crank-arm 42 is provided for eifecting suitably timed shunt circuit closing engagement of said contact eleto be operatively engaged by the crank-arm 42,

when the latter passes through the top of its orbit, and has thereby completed the operative upward stroke of the plunger or piston 41 within the pump cylinder 45, and preferably said push-lever 14 is provided with a laterally and outwardly projected cam-nosing I6 engageable by said crankarm under such circumstances.

Disposed within the housing or casing l0, and positioned beneath the drain openings 20 in the heel of the boot I5, is a removable drip-pan or catch-basin 11. The housing or casing I is preferably provided with a removable door 18 in its front wall, which, when opened, gives access to the interior of the housing or casing for the insertion or removal of the drip-pan or catch-basin T! as may be required.

Having now described an illustrative embodiment of the novel foot treating apparatus, according to this invention, its operation in use will now be set forth.

The user, desiring to effect application of the medicament solution to his feet, takes position in front of the apparatus and inserts a foot into the boot l5. The insertion of the foot into the boot, positions the toes thereof within the toe end of the boot and opposed to the spray nozzle 29, with the heel of the foot resting upon the bars I9, whereby the major portion of the sole of the foot is spaced above the boot bottom, so as to prevent obstruction of the drain openings 20. When the foot is thus placed in the boot l5, the user grasps the hand-grip member 6|, with the fingers around the hand-lever 66, and by squeezing action lifts upward the outer arm of the latter, thereby causing the pivoted dog 69 to move downwardly in passing engagement with the chamfered nosing 66 of the push-pin 65, thus thrusting the latter inwardly. The inward movement of the push-pin 65 causes the same to engage the contact element 63 and thereupon move the same into engagement with the contact element 62, thus closing the shunt circuit ab through the main switch closing solenoid 56. The solenoid 56 is thereupon momentarily energized, and consequently attracts the armature bar 58, causing the latter to move from left to right. This movement of the armature bar 58 is transmitted to the main circuit switch arm 55, which is consequently swung to the right, thus closing the main switch 54, so that operating current is delivered through the main circuit 52 53 to the motor 34. Owing to the fact that the dog 69 passes downwardly beyond the push-pin nosing 66, the push-pin 65 will thereupon be retracted by its spring means, so that the contact elements 6263 will again separate to interrupt the shunt circuit ab, and consequently the solenoid 56 will only be energized long enough to close the main switch 54, even though the operator should retain grasp of the hand-lever 68. 20 When the operator releases the hand-lever 68, its spring means will return the same to normal initial position, whereupon, the dog 69 in moving upwardly past the push-pin nosing 66' will yield thereto without causing inward movement of the push-pin 65 and consequent closing of the contact elements 62-63. It will thus be seen that the operator can only control the starting of the motor 34, subject to the stopping thereof by automatic means herebelow described. The advan- 80 tage of this arrangement lies in the fact, that the operator cannot effect, by the initial manual control, any continuous running of the motor with consequent unnecessary and wasteful discharge of the medicament solution; nor can the operator 85 leave the apparatus in a running condition.

By the operation of the motor 34 power is transmitted through the gearing 39- to the crank-arm 42, whereby the latter is revolved, to draw downward the plunger or piston 41 in the pump cylinder 45. On such downward movement of the plunger or piston, air is drawn into the cylinder 45, such air entering through the inwardly opening check-valve 33 of the atomizer valve 23 to pass through the conduit 5| into the 45 cylinder interior above the plunger or piston. It may here be noted, that the check-valve 33. although shown in connection with the atomizer valve 23, need not necessarily be so located but may be connected anywhere in the conduit line 5| or with the cylinder itself if desired. Air having been thus delivered into the cylinder by the suction stroke of the plunger or piston 47, continued revolution of the crank-arm 42 thereupon effects the upward or compression stroke of the plunger or piston. On such upward stroke of the plunger or piston, the air in the cylinder is com pressed and discharged through the conduit 5| and thence through the atomizer valve 23. Movement of the air through the atomizer valve 23, operates on the well-known atomizing principle, to take up and atomize the medicament solution from the stand-pipe member 25, whereby a fine spray or mist of the same is discharged through the nozzle 29 into the boot interior i6, and is thus sprayed over, around and between the toes of the foot inserted in the boot, thus adequately applying the medicament thereto. It may here be pointed out that the internal offset shoulder |8, provided in connection with the upper wall of the boot l5. serves to prevent outward discharge of the sprayed solution through the boot entranceway l1, and also to deflect downwardly any accumulation of the solution on the upper wall of the boot toe-portion, so that all excess solution may eventually drain to the boot heel portion, and thence through the drain 12-43, closes the shunt circuit :r-y through the main switch opening solenoid 51, whereby the latter is energized. Energization of the solenoid 51 attracts the armature bar 58, causing the same to move from right to left. This movement of the armature bar 58 is transmitted to the main circuit switch arm 55, which is consequently swung to the left, thus opening the main switch 54, so that flow of operating current to the motor 34 is interrupted, and said motor stops. As the motor comes to a stop, sumcient' momentum remains to carry the crank-arm 42 out of engagement with the cam-nosing 16 of the push-lever Id, so that the latter, under its resilient tension swings back to normal position, thus permitting the contact elements l2-'-13 to again separate, thereby interrupting the shunt circuit a:y and deenergizing the solenoid 51. Upon these occurrences, the mechanism is automatically stopped in normal initial position, ready for repetition of its operative cycle when the latter is again initiated. Under these circumstances, the user removes the treated foot from the boot l5, and inserts the other foot, thereupon repeating the above described operations, after which the apparatus maybe left, ready for use by the next user.

I am aware that many changes could bemade in the above described constructions, and that apparently widely difierent embodiments of this invention could be made without departing fromv the scope thereof; consequently it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

I claim:-

1. In an apparatus of the kind described, a chambered boot having an entranceway, an atomizer means communicating with the interior of said boot at the toe end thereof, said boot having a heel rest spaced above its bottom, said boot having a transverse inwardly ofi-set shoulder in connection with its upper wall intermediate the entranceway and toe end thereof, said boot having drain means leading outwardly through its bottom wall, a catch basin below said drain means, means to supply a medicament substance to said atomizer means, and means to discharge air under pressure to said atomizer means.

2. In an apparatus of the kind described, a chambered boot having an entranceway, an atomizer means communicating with-the interior of said boot at the toe end thereof, said boot having a heel rest spaced above its bottom, said boot having a transverse inwardly ofi-set shoulder in connection with its upper wall intermediate the entranceway and toe end thereof, said boot having drain means leading outwardly through its bottom wall, a catch basin below said drain means, means to supply a medicament substance to said atomizer means, an air pump means to deliver air under pressure to said atomizer means, means for operating said air pump, manually controlled means for starting said pump operating means, and automatic means for stopping said pump operating means upon conclusion of a predetermined actuating 5 cycle.

3. In an apparatus of the kind described, a chambered boot having an entranceway, an atomizer means communicating with the interior of said boot at the toe end thereof, means to sup- 10 ply a medicament substance to said atomizer means, an air pump means to deliver air under pressure to said atomizer means, said pump means comprising a cylinder having a plunger reciprocable therein, a revolvable crank-arm for re- 15 ciprocating said pump plunger, an electric power motor, transmission means between said 1110- tor and crank-arm, manually controlled means for starting said motor and automatic means for stopping said motor upon conclusion of a 20 predetermined operative cycle of said air pump means comprising a cylinder having a plunger 30 reciprocable therein, a revolvable crank arm for reciprocating said pump plunger, an electric powcr motor, transmission means between said motor and crank-arm, a main circuit leading from a source of electrical energy through said motor, a main switch in said main circuit, electromagnetic; means for moving said main switch to main j circuit closing-condition, a shunt circuit serving said electro-magnetic means, a manually controlled circuit make and break in said shunt circuit, asecond electro-magnetic means for moving'sjaidmaln switch to main circuit interrupting conditio'nfasecond shunt circuit serving said second electro-magnetic means, and automatically controlled circuit make and break means in 45 said second'shunt circuit operative upon conclusion of a predetermined cycle of air pump means actuation.

5. In apparatus of the kind described, a. boot into which the foot may be inserted, an atomizer means communicating with the interior of said boot, said boot having an entranceway out of line relative to the path of discharge from said atomizer means, means to supply a medicament substance to said atomizer means, an air pump means to deliver air under pressure to said atomizer means, an electric motor for actuating said air pump means, a main circuit serving said motor, manually controlled means for closing said main circuit to start said motor, and auto- 69 matic means for interrupting said main circuit to stop said motor upon completion of a predetermined cycle of air pump means operation.

6. In apparatus of the kind described, a boot intowhich the foot may be inserted, an atomizer means communicating with the interior of said boot, means to supply a medicament substance to said atomizer means, an air pump means to deliver air under pressure to said atomizer means, said pump means comprising a cylinder having 70 a plunger reciprocable therein, a revolvable crank-arm for reciprocating said pump plunger, an electric power motor, transmission means between said motor and crank-arm, a main circuit leading from a source of electrical energy through said motor, a main switch in said main circuit having an actuating lever, a main switch closing solenoid, a main switch opening solenoid, an armature bar common to both solenoids and operatively connected with said main switch actuating lever, energizing circuits for each solenoid, a manually controlled circuit make and break for the circuit of said main switch closing solenoid, and an automatically controlled circuit make and break for the circuit of said main switch opening solenoid.

7. In apparatus of the kind described, a boot into which the foot may be inserted, an atomizer means communicating with the interior of said boot, means to supply a medicament substance to said atomizer means, an air pump means to deliver air under pressure to said atomizer means, said pump means comprising a cylinder having a plunger reciprocable therein, a revolvable crank-arm for reciprocating said pump plunger, an electric power motor, transmission means between said motor and crankarm, a main circuit leading from a source of electrical energy through said motor, a main switch-in said main circuit having an actuating lever, a main switch closing solenoid, a main switch opening solenoid, an armature bar common to both solenoids and operatively connected with said main switch actuating lever, energizlng circuits for each solenoid, a manually controlled circuit make and break for the circuit of said main switch closing solenoid, an automatically controlled circuit make and break for the circuit of said main switch opening solenoid, and a push lever means operatively engageable by said crank-arm upon completion of a predetermined cycle of air pump operation to actuate said last named circuit make and break.

8. In an apparatus of the kind described, a boot into which the foot may be inserted, an atomizer means communicating with the interior of said boot at the toe end thereof, said boot having an entranceway out of line relative to the path of discharge from said atomizer means,

means to supply a medicament substance to said 20 atomizer means, an air pump means to deliver air under pressure to said atomizer means, means for actuating said pump, and means to control said pump actuating means.

CHARLES M. CLEARMAN.

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