US2752915A

US2752915A - Foot massager

Info

Publication number: US2752915A
Application number: US482812A
Authority: US
Inventors: Clifford D Riblet
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1955-01-19
Filing date: 1955-01-19
Publication date: 1956-07-03
Anticipated expiration: 1973-07-03

Description

C. D. RIB LET FOOT MASSAGER July 3, 1956 Filed Jan. 19, 1955 ,2 3 INVENTOR z'fiZ e t ATTORNEY FOUT MASSAGER Clifford D. Riblet, Gallon, Ohio Application January 19, 1955, Serial No. 482,812

6 Claims. (Cl. 128-57) This invention relates to a novel device for use in massaging the foot which is so constructed that no injury will be caused to the bones or muscles of the foot by the use of the massager.

More particularly, it is an aim of the invention to provide a massager which can be placed upon the floor for use by a person while in a seated position and which is so constructed that a maximum degree of comfort will be afforded to the user due to the unique configuration of the massager.

A further object of the invention is to provide a massager the only moving parts of which are actuated by contact of the foot therewith.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a massager including a rotatably mounted element which is engaged and rotated by contact of the sole of the foot therewith and which is so arranged relatively to a supporting structure thereof, to encourage application of a considerable pressure by the foot on said rotatable mounted part in order to effect movement of the foot relatively to the massager to thus obtain a very effective massaging action.

Various other objects and advantages of the invention will hereinafter become more fully apparent from the following description of thedrawing, illustrating a presently preferred embodiment thereof, and wherein;

Figure l is a top plan view of the foot massager;

Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional view thereof on a reduced scale relative to Figure l, and taken substanw tially along a plane as indicated by the line 2-2 of Figure 1, and t Figure 3 is a cross sectional View of the massager, taken substantially along a plane as indicated by the line 33 of Figure 1.

Referring more specifically to the drawing, the foot massager in its entirety is designated generally 5 and includes a body portion or base, designated generally 6, which may be formed of any suitable material such as certain metals or wood. The body portion or base 6 is preferably solid in order to be of sufficient weight to maintain a position in which it is placed, while the massager is in use. The base 6 is elongated, as illustrated in Figure 1, is relatively wide, and is of substantial vertical thickness, as seen in Figures 2 and 3. The base 6 has a substantially flat bottom surface 7 of substantial area both lengthwise and crosswise thereof, to which is preferably secured a plurality of spaced pads {l of any suitable non-marring material, such as felt or rubber, and on which the foot massager 5 rests when supported in a normal manner, for example illustrated in Figures 2 and 3, with the pads 8 bearing on a horizontal supporting surface 9, such as the floor.

The base 6 has end portions extending beyond the ends of the bottom surface 7 thereof, including a forward end portion 10 and a rear end portion 11. Said base or body portion 6 has a top surface 12 which is convexly bowed longitudinally from end-to-end thereof. Said top surface 12 is also inclined downwardly from near the fornited States Patent 0 2 ward end 10 to the rear end 11. with a recess or depression 13 of substantial size which opens outwardly of the top surface 12, substantially midway of the side edges thereof, as seen in Figures 1 and 3, and which is disposed substantially nearer the forward end 10 than the rear end 11 of the base 6, as seen in Figures 1 and 2. Accordingly, as seen in Figure 2, the part of the top surface 12 located between the depression 13 and the rear end 11 and designated 12a, is disposed below the level of the forward part of the top surface 12, designated 12]), which is disposed between the forward end 10 and said depression 13. Furthermore, the rear end of the top surface part 12a is located substantially below the level of the front top surface portion 1212, as seen in Figure 2.

A substantial part of a ball or sphere 14 is disposed within the depression or recess 13. Said ball or sphere 14 is provided with a diametrical bore 15 through which extends a shaft or axle 16. The ends of the shaft or axle 16 are preferably journalled in bushings 1'7 and 18. The bushing 17 is disposed in the inner end of a bore 19 which opens into the recess 13 and outwardly of a side wall 20 of the base 6. The bushing 18 is disposed in the enlarged inner end 21 of a bore which opens into the recess 13 and which has a restricted outer portion 22 opening outwardly through the other side wall 23 of the base 6. The outer end of the bore 1? is closed by a plug 24 and the bore portion 22 is closed by a plug 25 of smaller diameter than the plug 24. The shaft 16 is driven through the bore 15 while the sphere id is disposed with a major portion thereof in the recess 13, after being first driven through the bore llland the bushing 17 contained therein and with the leading end of the shaft 16 thereafter being advanced into the bushing 18. This is accomplished with the plug 25 in place and the plug 24 removed. For removing the shaft. 16 and sphere 14, both plugs arelremoved and a pointed instrument is inserted through the bore portion 22 for driving the shaft 16 outwardly through the bore 19; Any other suitable means may be provided for applying a ball 14 and shaft 16 to the base 6 and for mounting the ball or sphere 14 for rotation in the recess 13.

As seen in Figures 2 and 3, the sphere 14 is supported by the shaft or axle 16 spaced from and out of contact with the base portion surrounding and defining the recess 13 for free rotation of the ball or sphere relatively to the base. The shaft or axle 16 is disposed beneath and adjacent the level of the paft of the top surface 12 which is disposed immediately above the ends of said axle so that while a major portion of the sphere 14 is contained in the recess 13, the minor part thereof which is disposed above the level of the surface 12 is of considerable proportion, as seen in Figures 2 and 3. it will also be noted that the open top part of the recess 13 located adjacent therear top surface portion 12a is disposed below the level of the open top part of the recess 13 which is disposed adjacent the front top surface por tion 121;, so that a greater portion of the sphere 14 is exposed adjacent the rear top surface part 12a than adjacent the front top surface part 12b. The ball or sphere 14 is preferably formed of relatively solid or firm sponge rubber.

The user preferably assumes a seated position when using the massager 5. The massager 5 is placed upon the floor 9, as best illustrated in Figure 2 and as pre viously described, in front of the seated position of the user and with the rear end 11 nearest the user. Either foot F, from which the shoe has been removed, can then be placed on the massager 5 and longitudinally thereof with the heel H of the foot disposed above or resting on the rear top surface portion 12a and with either the ball B of the foot or the instep l engaging; on the upper The base 6 is provided part of the sphere 14. The position of the foot F as seen in Figure 2 may be assumed as an initial or starting position in using the massager 5. It will be noted that the heel H is disposed substantially below the level of the forward part of the foot, made possible by the fact that the top portion 12a is disposed below the level of the top portion 12b of the base 6. Accordingly, as the foot F is moved forwardly of the massager 5 from right to left as seen in Figure 2, the foot must be moved in an upward direction thus causing considerable pressure to be exerted by the ball B and thereafter by the instep I on the upper part of the sphere 14 in moving the foot forward relative to the top surface 12. This results in substantial pressure being exerted by the underside of the foot against the upper part of the sphere 14 in this forward movement of the foot so that the sphere 14 by a lengthwise rolling engagement with the sole of the foot will accomplish a very effective massaging action. As more of the sphere 14 is exposed adjacent the top portion 120, than adjacent the top portion 1.211, as the foot is moved forwardly from its positionof Figure 2, a substantial area or part of the instep I will be simultaneously engaged and massaged by the exposed part of the sphere 14 which is located adjacent the top surface portion 12a, to thus effect a massaging action which will penetrate to a considerable depth relative to the foot. The sphere 14 is also located nearer the forward end v of the base than the rear end 11, so that with the instep I resting on the upper part of the sphere 14 and with the hell H out of contact with the rear top surface portion 12a, the foot may be rocked in an up and down motion for efiectively treating fallen arches and with the forward part of the foot moving up and down above the top surface portion 12b and the heel moving up and down above the rear top surface portion 12a. This action is readily accomplished due to the fact that the forward top surface portion 12b is of a relatively short length so that the forward end of the foot F can be disposed forwardly thereof and will not strike the surface portion 12b during its downward swinging movement. Thus, either a back and forth lengthwise movement of the foot over the sphere 14 or an up and down rocking movement, or a combination of such movements may be utilized in massaging either foot.

The sphere 14 when thus utilized will effectively massage the foot muscles for increasing the circulation of blood through the foot and for relieving aches and pains. The sphere 14 is formed of firm sponge rubber which will not cause injury to the bones or muscles of the feet, yet which is sufiiciently solid to accomplish the desired massaging action. It will be apparent that the massager 5 may be conveniently used while in a seated position reading, working or otherwise occupied.

Various modifications and changes are contemplated and may obviously be resorted to, without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention as hereinafter defined by the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. A foot massager comprising a base adapted to rest on a horizontal supporting surface, said base being elongated and including a foward end and a rear end and having a top surface convexly bowed longitudinally from end to end of the base and of a length greater than the length of a human foot, said base having a depression opening outwardly of the top surface and spaced from the ends thereof, said top surface being smooth except for said depression and including a rear portion extending from the depression to the rear end of the base and which is inclined downwardly to a greater extent than a forward portion of said top surface which is disposed between the depression and the forward end of the base, said rear portion being disposed below the level of the forward portion, and a spherical member rotatably mounted in said depression and having a part disposed above said top surface and adapted to be en gagged by the underside of a foot'to be massaged, saidrear portion of the top surface providing a heel rest adapted to be slidably engaged by the heel of the foot.

2. A foot massager as in claim 1, a shaft extending diametrically through said spherical member and journalled in portions of the base, said shaft extending through said depression, beneath and adjacent the top surface of the base and being disposed transversely of the base.

3. A foot massager as in claim 2, said spherical member being supported for free rotation in said depression by said shaft, and said spherical member being formed of relatively firm sponge rubber.

4. A foot massager as in claim 1, means supporting said spherical member for free rotation within said depression and about an axis disposed transversely of the base, the rear portion of said top surface sloping downwardly and away from the spherical member to a substantially greater extent than the forward portion of said top surface.

5. A foot massager as in claim 4, said forward portion of the top surface of the base being of a length substantially less than the length of the rear portion of the top surface of the base.

6; A foot massager as in claim 1, said depression and spherical member being disposed substantially nearer the forward end than the rear end of the base, and means supporting said spherical member for free rotation in said depression about an axis disposed transversely of the base, the open top of said depression being inclined downwardly and rearwardly relatively to said base whereby a greater part of a rear half of the spherical member than the forward half thereof is disposed in an exposed postion above said top surface of the base.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,780,479 Grifiith Nov. 4, 1930 2,168,842 Kesteven Aug. 8, 1939 2,223,263 Michaelson Nov. 26, 1940 2,534,412 Burnett Dec. 19, 1950