WO1991004001A1

WO1991004001A1 - Device for the therapeutic massage of the reflex zones of the sole and foot

Info

Publication number: WO1991004001A1
Application number: PCT/HU1990/000030
Authority: WO
Inventors: Lajos Farkas
Original assignee: BAKAI, Péter
Priority date: 1989-09-15
Filing date: 1990-04-27
Publication date: 1991-04-04
Also published as: AU5567690A; HUT54913A; HU207938B

Abstract

The device contains massaging elements as balls (6), where a rotatably embedded shaft (5) is connected through geared down drive (4) of 50-85 r.p.m. output speed with the driving motor (3), where the ball or balls (6) are eccentrically fixed, and a footrest (9) is formed along their path. The balls (6) are evenly spaced along a circle in the plane or planes perpendicular to the shaft (5), for example they are fixed to the shaft (5) with radial pins (8) secured against turn around their own axis.

Description

DEVICE FOR THE THERAPEUTIC MASSAGE OF THE REFLEX ZONES OF THE SOLE AND FOOT

The present invention relates to a device containing ball-shaped elements for the therapeutic massage of the reflex zones of the sole and foot.

The ancient therapies and therapeutical devices pushed into the backround by the modern civilization recently have become popular again. These are the methods and devices of the natural healing and many of them are accepted or rediscovered by the medical practice. Such ancient cures are for instance the reflex therapy or the acupuncture.

The essence of the reflex therapy is that stimulation of certain areas of the skin has a healing effect. The stimulation can be achieved by massage, pressure (acupressure) or heat effect.

An earlier hardly known type of the massage is the one applied to the sole and palm. There is an extremely rich sensory nerve network on these parts of the human body, whereby the central nervous system and internal organs can be influenced.

The sole-massage is traditionally practised exclusively by hand where the thumb has a decisive role. Consequently, the massage is fairly tiring activity overburdening the hand just as any other types of massage.

Therefore, as a matter of fact, many attempts have been made to replace the tiring activity, or at least some parts of the massage with appropriate devices.

The most widely used device is a mechanism containing vibrating inserts. The massaging heads of varying shape are connected with the unit producing the vibrating motion, and the treatment is performed by pressing it to the surface to be massaged.

Drawback of the massage with treatment heads connected to electric vibrator is that the vibrator produces hard vibration which is unpleasant and not sufficiently effective. In addition, these devices are obviously not suitable for the massage of the reflex zones, since the character of the treatment is not identical with the effects achieved by hand.

Another widely used group of the massage devices produces the massaging effect with the aid of balls. The more simple machanisms contain balls arranged in one or several rows wherein the movement between the body surface and the balls goes with the massaging effect as it is disclosed in the US-PS No. 4.679.549.

Another massaging device functioning similarly with balls is described in the US-PS No. 4.577.625, wherein the balls are built into a glove, so this solution is a transition between the massage by hand and with a device.

The apparatus according to the US-PS No. 4.603.688 contains also balls but the hardness of the balls is neutralized by flexible arrangement. The pressing effect is produced with flowing water.

Face massaging appliance with balls is described in the US-PS No. 4.550.718. Here, a rotatably embedded disc is arranged on a handle, and balls are fitted into the cuts at the edge of the disc, so that they can be turned around their own axis in any direction.

Evidently, most of the devices described above are not suitable for the massage of the reflex zones in general and especially those of the sole.

There has been no suitable apparatus available up to now for therapeutic massage of the sole. However, several types are known for general refreshing massage of the sole. Apart from the mechanism provided with a row of balls as described in the earlier quoted US-PS No. 4.679.549, several turned and milled knobby billets of wood are widely used, which are rolled on the ground with the sole for general massage of the sole. Such appliances are described among others in the US- PS No. 4.712.539, or 4.648 387.

For similar purpose various devices were produced, which - placed on the ground and provided with different knobs - are used for certain massage of the sole by treading or walking on them in one place. One of there is described in the HU-PS No. 192.637, in which discs provided with rubber knobs of different height and arranged along concentric circles are used for treading massage of the reflex zones of the sole.

The foregoing clearly demonstrates that no appliance has existed so far for the therapeutic massage of the reflex zones on the sole and foot. Though this kind of massage of the sole overburdens the hands and it is fairly tiring. Thus, demand for a device sutiable for the therapeutical massage of the reflex zones of the sole and foot is quite reasonable.

The object of the present invention is therefore to provide a device in order to considerably reduce the massage by hand, and to restrict it to massage of the sole for diagnostic purpose only, and to those reflex zones and instances when the fine touch and movement of the hand are indispensable.

The device according to the invention, used for massage of the reflex zones on the sole and foot contains massaging elements shaped as balls, where the driving motor is connected - through a geared down drive running at 50 - 85 rpm speed - to a rotatably embedded shaft, on which the ball or balls are eccentrically fixed and a footrest is formed near their path.

The balls are made of wood, preferably of 45, more preferably 15-35 mm diameter, the eccentricity of which is adjustable in given case, and its distance from the geometric axis of rotation is suitably 0-60 mm.

The balls are evenly spaced along a circle in the plane perpen¬ dicular to the rotating shaft, and they are fixed to the shaft with radial pins secured against turn around their own axis. The balls could be fixed to the saft side by side in several planes, and 2 to 4, prferably 3 ball are in each plane.

The cover of the device is preferably shaped as footrest, so that at least part of its surface is tangential in relation to the path of the balls and it is provided with holes at the paths. The angle of the cover's inclination and/or its distance from the geometric axis of rotation are adjustable.

In addition, the device may be provided with tubular and/or bar- shaped footrest.

In a preferred embodiment of the device accorirding to the in¬ vention, one ball is coupled to the outer end of the shaft by an eccentric mechanism. A flexible shaft may also be arranged between the shaft and the eccentric mechanism.

The device according to the invention can produce nearly the same movement or effect that is achieved by the fingers in the course of massaging the sole. Intensity of the pressure and depth of the massage are regulated by adjustment of the footrest, size of the area to be massaged is variable with diameter of the balls, and frequency of the consecutive massaging movements is determined by the number of balls fixed to the shaft in the one plane.

The device can be used extremely well for regular massage of the sole, and its so far not mentioned advantage is that it allows precise, reliable and absolutely untiring massage of the sole for everyone.

The rows of balls of different diameter, - or in given case with different number of balls - containing several balls of different size used in a single appliance make it possible that all versions necessary for massage of the reflex zones of the sole are available without replacement of the balls or rows of balls, and the user has nothing else to do with the appliance but to start it and make the massage with the rows of balls in the required size, movement and arrangement.

As a consequence of the foregoing, the device according to the invention is suitable not only for individual use at home, but it could serve well in various institutions in the field of medication (hospitals, nursing homes), sports (fitness centers, sport clubs) and body hygiene (pedicure parlours, baths).

With the widely used method, the device according to the invention may become a routine matter everywhere, where the foot becomes exhausted due to movements over a long time: in department stores, leisure-time centers, museums, tourist centres, hotels, etc.

At the same time, the device according to the invention is of simple contstruction, its manufacture, putting into service and utilization require minimal cost.

Further details of the invention will be described by way of examples with the aid of accompanying drawing, in which

Figure 1 is a schematic longitudinal section of an embodiment of the device according to the invention and

Figure 2 is a cross section of another embodiment. As shown in figures, the device according to the invention is arranged in casing 1. This casing 1 stands on rubber blocks 2 to reduce incidental vibrations and hardness of the massaging effect.

Motor 3 is arranged inside the casing 1 connected with shaft 5 through geared down dirve 4.

Massage balls 6 are arranged on shaft 5 so that they are fixed on the perimeter of disc 7. As seen in Figure 1 the various discs 7 are of different diameter, thickness and even the diameter of the fastened balls varies.

In the embodiment shown in Figure 1 an eccentric pin 8 with a ball 6 is at the end of shaft 5 at the bearing in the wall of casing 1. Eccentricity of the ball 6 is minimal (1-2 mm), so it is suitable for punctiform treatment, mainly for the massage of small reflex zones. Footrest 9 is fastened to the wall of casing 1 allowing comfortable treatment.

Figure 1 presents the cross section of another embodiment of the appliance according to the invention, where the casing 1 is built up with base la and cover lb. Cover lb is provided with hole 10 along the path of balls 6, thus the balls - while turning - rise unobstructed above the level of cover lb, at the same time the cover lb performs the role of the footrest as well.

For adjustment to the appropriate position, the part of the cover lb forming the footrest is hinged 11 to the other parts of the casing 1. This way, the angle of inclination is adjustable with screw 12.

When the foot is put on the cover lb, massage with the balls 6 in the proper place is precisely adjustable by movement of the foot. When other zones of the foot are to be massaged, the casing lb can be removed, and by leaning the foot against the tube 13, the other parts of the foot can be fitted to the path of the balls 6.

In the embodiment presented in Figure 2 height of the balls is adjustable with the threaded pins 8 screwed into the threaded hole of tubular shaft 5 and their position can be fixed with counternut 14.

Speed of the shaft 5 in the device according to the invention should be between 50 and 85 r.p.m. to ensure effective hand massage. Naturally, value of the optimal speed depends also on the diameter of the path along which the balls move and on the number of balls arranged in a row. According to the experiences, three wooden balls of about 35, 25 and 15 mm diameter are generally optimal for massaging the reflex zones of the sole.

The device according to the invention allows steady and efficient massage and even anyone's own sole can be easily massaged. The device can be used by children too (over the age of 5), with regard to the fact that no accident hazard exists.

Advantage of the device is that the massage does not require the usual preparations (washing of foot, disinfection, applying cream), but it is just as effective in socks and stockings.

The regular use of the device improves the blood circulation of the sole, prevents kπottiπess in the reflex zones of the sole. It improves positoπ of the feet, and reduces the risk of callus. It can be used either as service, or in the working place, and it can be mass produced which offers the opportunity for individual use at home.

About 80 % of the hand massage can be replaced with the use of the device and crystallization can be resolved in a short time.

It should be noted that the examples are only for illustrating the invention, which in addition to those described can be produced in many forms within the scope defined by the following claims.

Claims

1. Decive for the therapeutic massage of the sole and foot with ball shaped massaging elements, characterized in that a rotatable shaft (5) is connected through geared down drive (4) of 50-85 r.p.m. speed with a driving motor (3) wherein the ball or balls (6) are eccentrically fixed and a footrest (9) is formed along their path.

2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the balls (6) are made of wood and their diameter is 10-45, preferably 15-35 mm.

3. Device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the distance between the balls (6) and the geometric axis of rotation is 20 - 60 mm.

4. Device according to any of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that eccentricity of the balls (6) is adjustable.

5. Device according to any of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the balls (6) are evenly spaced along a circle in a plane perpendicular to the shaft (5).

6. Device according to any of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the balls (6) are fixed to the shaft (5) with radial pins (8) secured against turn around their own axis.

7. Device according to any of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the balls (6) are fixed to the shaft (5) side by side in several planes, so that 2-4, preferably three balls (6) are in each plane.

8. Device according to any of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that a footrest is provided as a cover (lb) of the casing (1) of the device and at least a certain part of the surface of said cover (lb) is tangential to the path of the balls (6) and it is provided with holes (10) along the paths.

9. Device according to claim 8, characterized in that the angle of inclination of cover (lb) formed as footrest and/or its distance from the geometric axis of rotation are adjustable.

10. Device according to any of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that it is provided with tubular (13) or bar- shaped footrest.

11. Device according to any of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that one ball (6) is excentrically fixed to the outer end of shaft (5).

12. Device according claim 11, characterized in that the ball (6) is fixed to a pin (8) parallel with shaft (5).

13. Device according to claim 11 or 12, characterized in that a flexible shaft is between the shaft (5) and the eccentric mechanism bearing ping (8).