Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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FOOTWEAR HAVING MULTIPLE MASSAGE DEVICES AND METHOD
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The following includes information that may be useful in
understanding the present
disclosure. It is not an admission that any of the information provided herein
is prior art nor
material to the presently described or claimed inventions, nor that any
publication or document
that is specifically or implicitly referenced is prior art.
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0002] The present invention relates generally to the field of footwear of
existing art and more
specifically relates to massaging footwear.
RELATED ART
[0003] To massage is to repeatedly apply pressure to the body as a
therapeutic technique.
Massage techniques may be done with hands, fingers, feet, other parts of the
body, or a mechanical
device. A massage may be applied to various parts of the body. A massage may
be useful for
treating physical pain, discomfort, and stress. Potential benefits for a
recipient may also include
reduced anxiety, depression, blood pressure, and heart rates. Some types of
massage therapy have
been developed to target specific combination of massage points in order to
treat specific types or
areas of pain.
[0004] Unfortunately, a massage usually requires a recipient to maintain a
stationary position
so that a massage therapist or a machine may massage the recipient. This may
require devoting an
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unsuitable amount of time without being able to complete other tasks
simultaneously. A suitable
solution is desired.
[0005] U.S. Pat. No. 8,632,481 to Zheng Shi et al relates to a therapeutic
shoe. The described
therapeutic shoe includes a main body, a sole located at one side of the main
body, a vibration
layer, and a power generating module. The vibration layer is located between
the main body and
the sole. The power generating module includes a power generating unit, a
rectifying circuit and a
vibration device, which are electrically connected in series. The power
generating unit generates
and induces induced current.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known
footwear art, the present
disclosure provides a novel footwear having multiple massage devices and
method. The general
purpose of the present disclosure, which will be described subsequently in
greater detail, is to
provide a footwear having multiple massage devices and method.
[0007] A footwear is disclosed herein. The footwear includes a sole, a
plurality of massage
units, and a controller. The sole provides a support to the underside of a
user's foot when the user
is wearing the footwear. The massage units each include a channel, a plunger,
a spring, and an
actuator. The plunger is disposed within the channel and may slide within it
linearly. The plunger
has a shaft which terminates in an applicator, the applicator being round and
configured to provide
pressure to the user's foot. The spring is configured to maintain the plunger
within a contact-
position when at rest. This contact-position occurs when the plunger is
maximally distal to the
spring. The actuator is able to draw the plunger against the spring and
release the plunger in
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repetition when energized, enacting a massaging action. The controller is able
to selectively engage
the actuators.
[00081 According to another embodiment, a method of selectively massaging a
portion of a
user's foot is also disclosed herein. The method of selectively massaging a
portion of a user's foot
includes providing the above-described footwear, predetermining a first-
selection of massage-
units chosen from the massage-units, energizing the actuators corresponding to
the first-selection
of massage-units, actuating the first-selection of massage-units, and
optionally, predetermining
additional selections of massage-units.
[0009] For purposes of summarizing the invention, certain aspects,
advantages, and novel
features of the invention have been described herein. It is to be understood
that not necessarily all
such advantages may be achieved in accordance with any one particular
embodiment of the
invention. Thus, the invention may be embodied or carried out in a manner that
achieves or
optimizes one advantage or group of advantages as taught herein without
necessarily achieving
other advantages as may be taught or suggested herein. The features of the
invention which are
believed to be novel are particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in
the concluding portion
of the specification. These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the
present invention will
become better understood with reference to the following drawings and detailed
description.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0010] The figures which accompany the written portion of this
specification illustrate
embodiments and methods of use for the present disclosure, a footwear having
multiple massage
devices and method, constructed and operative according to the teachings of
the present disclosure.
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[0011] FIG. 1 is a cutaway view of the footwear during an 'in-use'
condition, according to an
embodiment of the disclosure.
[0012] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the plurality of massage-units of
the footwear of FIG.
1, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0013] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the footwear of FIG. 1, according to
an embodiment of
the present disclosure.
[0014] FIG. 4 is a cutaway view of the footwear of FIG. 1, according to an
embodiment of
the present disclosure.
[0015] FIG. 5 is a flow diagram illustrating a method of use for
selectively massaging a portion
of a foot of a user, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0016] The various embodiments of the present invention will hereinafter be
described in
conjunction with the appended drawings, wherein like designations denote like
elements.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0017] As discussed above, embodiments of the present disclosure relate to
a footwear and
more particularly to a footwear having multiple massage devices and method as
used to improve
the massaging of a foot of a user.
[0018] Generally, the footwear includes a sole with a plurality of massage-
units attached to
the sole. A controller may regulate operation of the massage-units. The
massage-units protrude
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upwardly to engage a foot of a user resting on top of the sole within the
footwear. Each massage
unit includes a plunger riding within a channel, an actuator beneath the
plunger which may retract
the plunger away from the user's foot, and a coil spring separating the
plunger from the actuator.
The coil spring maintains the plunger in a position distal to the actuator.
The plunger is limited in
its travel and may not pass beyond a stop in the channel. With this structure,
repeatedly energizing
and deenergizing the actuator of one massage unit may cause the plunger to
repeatedly reciprocate
in a massaging action against the user's foot while in use. In a preferred
embodiment, the controller
contains a program for selecting multiples of the massage-units as desired by
a user. This may be
accomplished by an external device able to customize programs for the
controller or may be
integral to the controller and the footwear in some embodiments. This may
enable a user to target
specific regions of the user's foot for specific therapies and applications.
[0019] In
one embodiment, the disclosure may further include a software program,
particularly
an application for use with a mobile device or other computing device. The
program may include
a user interface for programming and selecting patterns for targeting specific
regions of the user's
foot while using the footwear. The program may enable the computing device to
be in wireless
communication with the footwear such that the computing device can initiate
the massaging action
of the footwear in accordance with pre-programmed patterns. In particular, the
user interface may
provide a user with options for specified zone therapies for activating
particular regions of the
footwear corresponding to regions of the foot. In one example, a zone therapy
program may be
selected by a user to engage massage units corresponding to the innermost
centers of both the left
and right feet. In some therapies, this may correspond to a particular
therapeutic application, such
as reducing pain to the kidneys of the user of the footwear. Additional
features engagable by the
user interface may include selectable rates of massage unit pulsation or a
constant pressure mode.
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Built-in programs may be based upon in-use reflexology practices, as well as
customizable
programs in some embodiments. The software program may also include tutorials
and other
educational features.
[0020] Referring now more specifically to the drawings by numerals of
reference, there is
shown in FIGS. 1-4, various views of a footwear 100.
[0021] FIG. 1 shows a footwear during an 'in-use' condition 50, according
to an embodiment
of the present disclosure. Here, footwear 100 may be beneficial for use by a
user 40 to selectively
massage a portion of a foot of a user. As illustrated, footwear 100 may
include sole 110, insole
160, plurality of massage-units 120, controller 130, and cuff 140. Footwear
100 may be able to
massage foot 10 of user 40. Sole 110 may be configured to support underside 15
of foot 10 of user
40, with plurality of massage-units 120 being embedded within sole 110. Insole
160 may be
disposed on top of sole 110, such that insole 160 provides cushioning between
foot 10 and sole
110. Insole 160 may be malleable and may be configured to cushion foot 10 of
user 40 against
plurality of massage-units 120. Thereby, plurality of massage-units 120 may be
able to provide
pressure via a massaging action to foot 10 through displacement of insole 160.
In alternative
embodiments, plurality of massage-units 120 may pass through insole 160.
Controller 130 may be
in electrical communication with plurality of massage-units 120 and may be
configured to
selectively engage one or more of plurality of massage-units 120. Preferably,
footwear 100 is a
boot as shown.
[0022] FIG. 2 shows footwear 100 of FIG. 1, according to an embodiment of
the present
disclosure. As above, footwear 100 may include plurality of massage-units 120.
Each of plurality
of massage-units 120 may include channel 122, plunger 124, spring 126, and
actuator 128. Plunger
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124 may be configured to slide within channel 122 and may have shaft 125
terminating in
applicator 127. Applicator 127 may be round in a preferred embodiment and may
be configured
to provide pressure to foot 10 (FIG. 1) when actuator 128 is energized. In
alternative embodiments
applicator 127 may be flat or have other contours. Spring 126 may be
configured to maintain
plunger 124 in contact-position 129, such that contact-position 129 may be
distal to spring 126.
Spring 126 may be a coil spring able to be compressed between plunger 124 and
actuator 128.
Actuator 128 may be configured to draw plunger 124 against spring 126 and
release plunger 124
in repetition, thereby effecting a massaging action when foot 10 (FIG. 1) is
placed against plurality
of massage-units 120 and alternatively insole 160 (FIG. 1). Channel 122 of
each of plurality of
massage-units 120 is characterized by channel-axis 174, channel 122 being a
cylinder, such that
channel 122-axis passes through the center of channel 122. Preferably, channel
122 and plunger
124 are each cylindrical, such that plunger 124 is nested within channel 122
may only travel
linearly within channel 122 along channel-axis 174. Plunger 124 of the massage
unit may further
include flange 170. Channel 122 of the massage unit may also further include
constriction 172.
Flange 170 may be annular and concentric to plunger 124, while constriction
172 may likewise be
annular and concentric to channel 122. Flange 170 may be structured and
arranged to impinge
upon constriction 172, having dimensions that prevent flange 170 from passing
beyond
constriction 172, thereby retaining plunger 124 within channel 122. Flange 170
may be configured
to prevent plunger 124 from leaving channel 122 despite forces being enacted
upon plunger 124
by spring 126 and actuator 128. Preferably, actuator 128 is an electromagnet
configured to draw
plunger 124 against spring 126 when energized. Channel 122, plunger 124,
spring 126, and
actuator 128 may all be cylindrically shaped and may each be arranged
concentrically to one
another.
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[0023] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of footwear 100 of FIG. 1, according to
an embodiment
of the present disclosure. Cuff 140 may itself include aperture 142. Aperture
142 may be
sufficiently large for ankle 30 (FIG. 1) of user 40 (FIG. 1) to pass through
aperture 142. Cuff-axis
144 may pass centrally through aperture 142. Cuff-axis 144 may be disposed
approximately
parallel to cylinder-axis 174 (FIG. 2). Footwear 100 may further include
electric resistance heater
150. Electric resistance heater 150 may be configured to produce heat when
energized and may be
disposed within cuff 140 of footwear 100. In one embodiment, cuff 140 of
footwear 100 may be
elastic. In another embodiment, cuff 140 of footwear 100 may include exterior
146, strap 148, and
hook-and-loop fastener 149. Hook-and-loop fastener 149 may be configured to
affix strap 148 to
exterior 146, such that strap 148 may circumscribe cuff 140, and may constrict
cuff 140 about
ankle 30 (FIG. 1) of user 40 (FIG. 1) when hook-and-loop fastener 149 is
engaged.
[0024] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of footwear 100 of FIG. 1, according to
an embodiment
of the present disclosure. Plurality of massage units 120 may be in electrical
communication with
power source 190, switching means 192, and controller 130 (FIG. 1). Power
source 190 may be
able to selectively engage each of plurality of massage-units 120
independently via controller 130
(FIG. 1). In this way, a specific combination of plurality of massage-units
120 may be engaged in
order to target and massage a particular area of the foot as desired by user
40 (FIG. 1). In one
embodiment, controller 130 (FIG. 1) is programmable, such that user 40 (FIG.
1) may select
customizable combination 180 of the plurality of massage units 120 to energize
while in use. Power
source 190 may be in electric communication with controller 130 and each of
actuators 128 (FIG.
2) in combination, such that the power source 190 may selectively engage each
of actuators 128
(FIG. 2) independently via controller 130. Preferably, power source 190 is a
battery. Switching
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means 192 may enable user 40 (FIG. 1) to selectively connect the power source
190 to plurality of
massage-units 120 manually.
[0025] Upon reading this specification, it should be appreciated that,
under appropriate
circumstances, considering such issues as user preferences, design preference,
structural
requirements, marketing preferences, cost, available materials, technological
advances, etc., other
structural arrangements such as, for example, different footwear structures,
additional massage
features, alternative arrangements of massage devices, etc., may be
sufficient.
[0026] FIG. 5 is a flow diagram illustrating a method for selectively
massaging a portion of a
foot of a user, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. In
particular, the method for
selectively massaging a portion of a foot of a user 500 may include one or
more components or
features of the footwear 100 as described above. As illustrated, the method
for selectively
massaging a portion of a foot of a user 500 may include the steps of: step one
501, providing a
footwear able to massage a foot of a user, the footwear comprising: a sole
configured to support
an underside of the foot of the user; a plurality of massage-units each
including a channel, a
plunger, the plunger being configured to slide within the channel, the plunger
having a shaft
terminating in an applicator, the applicator being round, a spring configured
to maintain the
plunger in a contact-position, the contact-position being distal to the
spring, an actuator configured
to draw the plunger against the spring and release the plunger in repetition;
and a controller
configured to selectively engage the actuators; step two 502, predetermining a
first-selection of
massage-units chosen from the plurality of massage-units; step three 503,
energizing the actuators
corresponding to the first-selection of massage-units; step four 504,
actuating the first-selection of
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massage-units; and step five 505, predetermining a second-selection of massage-
units chosen from
the plurality of massage-units.
[0027] It should be noted that step 505 is an optional step and may not be
implemented in all
cases. Optional steps of method of use 500 are illustrated using dotted lines
in FIG. 5 so as to
distinguish them from the other steps of method of use 500. It should also be
noted that the steps
described in the method of use can be carried out in many different orders
according to user
preference. The use of "step or should not be interpreted as "step for", in
the claims herein and is
not intended to invoke the provisions of 35 U.S.C. 112(0. It should also be
noted that, under
appropriate circumstances, considering such issues as design preference, user
preferences,
marketing preferences, cost, structural requirements, available materials,
technological advances,
etc., other methods for selectively massaging a portion of a foot of a user,
are taught herein.
[0028] The embodiments of the invention described herein are exemplary and
numerous
modifications, variations and rearrangements can be readily envisioned to
achieve substantially
equivalent results, all of which are intended to be embraced within the spirit
and scope of the
invention. Further, the purpose of the foregoing abstract is to enable the
U.S. Patent and Trademark
Office and the public generally, and especially the scientist, engineers and
practitioners in the art
who are not familiar with patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine
quickly from a cursory
inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure of the
application.
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