US2045814A - Apparatus for massaging and exercising the feet - Google Patents

Description

June 30, 1936. A, K. WERLER Ef FEET 2 sheets-sheet 1` gmx ZVma/f rj /KMZ' Filed July 8 APPARATUS FOR MASSAGING AND EXERCISING TH .lune 30, 1936.

A. K. WERLER APPARATUS FOR MASSAGING AND EXERGTSXNG THE FEET Filed July 8, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 J7 y 4 35,9 Y

Patented June 30, 1936 TED sTArss orties Albert K. Werler, Chicago, Ill.

Application July 8, -1935, Serialv No. 30,269

11 Claims. (Cl. 12S- 57) This invention relates. to improvements in apparatus for massaging and exercising theufoot and more particularly to a power driven yfoot massaging and exercising device, especially adapted to strengthen and correct the arches of the foot. Y Y Y My invention has among `other objects to provide a new and improved power driven apparatus of the class described constructed in anovel manner for massaging the arch of the foot with a rolling motion by means of reciprocably driven resilient members moving in a path conforming substantially to the instep or metatarsal arch of the foot. Another object` of my invention is to provide a new and improved form Yof massaging member which is formed to conform substantially to the transverse arch or instep of the foot. Still another object of my invention is to provide 'a more simplified and efficient device of the class described than formerly, which may be adjusted to efficiently operate on varying sizes and forms of feet with a varying intensity to suit the individual patient. t

Other objects of my invention will appear from time to time as thefollowing specification proceeds. v

My invention may best be understood by reference `to the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective View illustrating one embodiment of my invention; Y Y v v Figure 2 is an enlarged planwview of `the device shown in Figure 1, with parts broken away and shown in horizontal section in order to more clearly illustrate certain details of my invention; j

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken substantially along lines 3-3 of Figure 2, with several of the parts in different positions than in Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken substantially along lines 4--4 of Figure 2; and

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken substantially along lines 5-5 of Figure 2. Y Y

In the drawings, the' embodiment of Ymy Vin'- vention illustrated is preferably shown as being enclosed in a casing Ill mounted on a tilting platform II for adjustment to conform to the position of the feet upon which it is to operate and includes generally a pair of vmassaging rollers I2, I2 reciprocably movable in an arcuate path conforming substantially tothe contour of the metatarsal arch of the foot. Saidrollers taper from a greater diameter towards the inner ends thereof to a smaller diameter towards the outer ends thereof and are of a contour which substantially'conforms to a transverse section taken through the instep or metatarsal arch of theaveragefoot. Foot rests I4, I4 are provided to support each ofthe patients feet. Said foot rests have a transverse opening in the center thereof with- `5 in which said massaging rollers are mounted to reciprocably move. Said foot rests are vertically adjustable in a manner which will hereinafter be more fully described to vary the intensity of the massaging action or permit the device to 10 be adjusted to varying sizes of feet and are providedwith adjustable heel rests I5, I5 against which the back of the heel is adapted to rest.

Referring now in particular to the details of my invention as shown in the drawings, thetilt- 15 ing platforml II is mounted on a base I6, herein preferably shown as being made from wood, by means of a pair of hinges I8, 8 so the entire mechanism may be tilted about a transverse horizontal axis as is best illustrated in Figures 1 20 and 3.

lSuitable means are provided for tilting said tilting frame and holding it in an adjusted position, which as herein shown includes an upstanding threaded shaft I9. Said shaft has a 25 ball 25 formed integral with its lower end which is journaled in a ball-shaped socket formed in a member 2l extending forwardly from the base I5, and said shaft is threaded within a threaded sleeve 22 secured to a hinged member 23 extend- 30 ing forwardly from the tilting platform II. A handle 24 is suitably secured to the upper end of said shaft so that said shaft may readily be r0- tated for tilting said tilting platform.

The rollers I2,4 I2 are mounted for reciprocable 35 movement in an arcuate path extending. longitudinally of the platform I I on a pair of aligned shafts `25 and 25, the end of Yone of which shafts is threaded within the end of the other for assembly purposes. A suitable pin (not shown) is 40 lprovidedto hold said shafts from rotation with respect to each other during operation of the dev1ce. Y The shafts 25 and 26 are provided with suitable bus'hing members 29, 29 adjacent the outer 45 ends of the rollers I2, I2 which ride in arcuateshaped guides or slots 35, 35 formed in upstanding side walls 3I, 3l of a channel-shaped member 32 secured to the tilting platform II in a suitable manner. Said arcuate-shaped guides 50 are formed so that said rollers may move in a path substantially conforming to the instep or metatarsal arch. i

The shafts 25 and 25 are supported intermediate their ends in a suitable arcuate slot formed 55 in an upstanding stem 33 of a T-iron 34 secured to the bottom of the channel-shaped member 32 intermediate the sides thereof.

Guide rollers 35, 35 are mounted on the shafts 25 and 26 outwardly of the bushing members 29, 29 andabut suitable guides formed in members 36, 36 extending along the outer sides of the side walls 3|, 3| and depending from the top of the casing I0 in order to cut down vibration and noise in the apparatus. Said guide rollers are abutted by suitable links 31, 31 which, in turn, abut suitable heads formed on the outer ends of said shafts. Said links extend forwardly of said shafts and their outer ends are journaled on aligned crank pins 39, 39 which are herein shown as being cap screws threaded in the aligned disks 40, 4D eccentric of the center thereof. Said disks are secured to the outer ends of a transverse shaft 4| vso that rotation thereof will rotate said disks and reciprocably move the shafts 25 and 26 in the arcuate guides 30, 30. Means are provided for rotating the rollers I2, I2 as they are being reciprocably driven in the arcuate guides 39, 39 by the links 31, 31, which as herein shown, comprises a spur gear 43 keyed on the shaft 25 and meshing with a gear sector 44 secured to one side of the stem 33 of the T- iron 34j It should herein be noted that the rollers I2, I2 are mounted to rotate with the shafts 25 and 26 and that while said rollers may be made from any suitable material they are herein preferably shown as being made from a resilient material such as rubber so formed that the inner sides thereof engage the instep, as has hereinbefore been described.

The shaft 4I and disks 49, 40 are rotatably driven by means of a suitable motor 45, herein preferably shown as being an electric motor. Said motor is secured to the forward portion of the tilting frame i6 in a suitable manner and has a worm '46 secured to its motor shaft, which drives a worm gear 41 keyed to the shaft 4I.

Referring now in particular to the details of the foot rests I4, I4 and the means under control of the patient for vertically adjusting them to vary the intensity of the massaging action of the rollers I2, I2 and adjust the device to conform to varying sizes of feet, each of said foot rests being similar, one only will herein be -described in detail. The foot rest i4 includes a member 49 having relatively at forward and rearward ends with a channeled depression in the center thereof of less lateral dimensions than the forward and rearward ends of said member. The channeled depression of the member 49 exten-ds beneath the roller I2 and forms an opening within which said roller moves and the inside of said member adjacent said channeled depression is of greater width than the outer side thereof to permit said roller to freely move therein. A suitable resilient 'materiaL such as rubber, is provided on upper faces of the forward and rearward ends of said member to provide a comfortable non-slippable rest for the foot.

VA pair of parallel spaced guide members 50, 50 is secured to opposite sides of the forward and rearward ends of the member 49. Said guide members have depending spaced legs 5I, 5I which engage the outer face ofa pair of parallel spaced frames 52, 52 secured to and extending upwardly from the channel shaped member 32 in spaced relation with respect to each other, so

rthat, one of said frames is in alignment with the rearward portion of the member 49 and the other of said frames is in alignment with the forward portion of said member. Thus, a slidable guide is formed for the foot rest I4 for guiding said foot rest in a vertical direction and preventing lateral displacement thereof.

The means for vertically moving said foot rest in said guides includes a pair of parallel spaced shafts 54, 54 journaled in the side walls 3| and 33 and the support frames 52, 52. One of said shafts is journaled beneath the forward portion of the foot rest I4 while the other of said shafts is journaled beneath the rearward `portion of the under surface of said foot rest, and each of said shafts have an upstanding cam member 55 mounted thereon between the side walls of the support frame 52. As herein shown, said cam members have parallel spaced arcuate engaging surfaces which engage the under portion of the guide members 50, 56 at a substantial distance from the longitudinal center of said foot rest. Each of said cam members is held from movement with respect to said shaft by means of a set screw 56 so that pivotal movement of said shafts and cam members will cause vertical movement of the foot rest I4.

The shafts 54, 54 are simultaneously pivoted for pivoting the cam members 55, 55 in parallel relation with respect to each other by means of a pair of parallel links 51, 51, each of which links is secured to an outer end of said shafts. Said parallel links are in turn connected together by means of a pair of links 59, 59 which are pivotally connected at their free ends to an operating lever 60 disposed intermediate said parallel links.

The operating lever 60 is provided with a bifurcated lower end which is pivotally mounted o-n a pin 6I extending from a boss 62 extending outwardly from the sidewall 3|. A gear sector 63 is mounted on the pin 6I between the prongs of the bifurcated portion of said lever arm and is secured to the side wall 3| by means of suitable pins which act as stops for said operating lever. Said gear sector forms a ratchet which is adapted to be engaged by a spring pressed pawl 64 pivoted to said lever arm. Said pawl is controlled by means of a rod 65 pivoted at its upper Vend to one lever arm of a release lever 66 which release lever is in turn pivoted to the lever arm 60 adjacent the upper portion thereof. The pawl 64 is yieldably engaged with the desired tooth inthe gear sector 63 by means of a compression spring 61 encircling the rod 65 and abutting sai-d pawl at one of its ends and a fixed abutment 68 extending from said lever arm at its opposite end (see Figure 4).

It may now be seen that theV foot rests I4, I4 may be elevated or lowered in a simplied manner and held in various desired positions of adjustment during the massaging operation. It should be noted that inasmuch as each shaft 54 extends to the center of the apparatus only, as is best shown in Figure 5, that said foot rests may be adjusted independently of each other.

Each heel rest I5 is of such a form that it may conform to the back of the heel and is mounted for adjustment both longitudinally and transversely of the foot rest I4. Said heel rest is mounted at its rearward end on a member 1I by means of a pin 12 mounted in a slot 19 extending transversely of said member. Said pin is provided with a head which engages the under surface of said member. The upper end of said pin is threaded and has a clamping lever 13 which is adapted to engage a rearward projection from said heel rest, through which the pin 12 passes,

th'e Iirre'nfllcer il, i' said heel resty may be transversely adjusted with"respe`ct tothe foot.

Vrest lflfand held in an adjusted positionlwith respect thereto by means of the clarnpin'gleverV 13. The memberfll is' mounted on the upper end off av bolt '15. Said bolt is mounted in a longitudinal slot 'l formedri'n the member 49 and its head engages the under surface of the member @Sand the insides of the guide members 50, 50 which form a longitudinal guide therefor. A thumb screw l1 is threaded on the opposite end of said bolt for holding the member 'H and heel rest i5 in a longitudinally adjusted position with respect-to said foot rest. Y

It will be seen from the foregoing description that the apparatus forming the subject matter of my invention is so arranged as to massage the metatarsal arch of the foot with a rolling reciprocatory motion by means of power driven resilient rollers conforming substantially to a transverse section taken through the arch of the foot. It will also be seen that the apparatus may be adjusted to varying forms and sizes of feet; that the intensity of the massaging action may be adjusted by vertically adjusting the foot rests I4; and that while the patient may stand on the apparatus during the massaging operation, if desired, the apparatus is adjustable so that the patient may comfortably rest in a sitting position.

While I have shown and described one form in which my invention may be embodied, it will be understood that the construction and arrangement of the various parts may be changed or altered without departing from the spirit or scope thereof. Furthermore, I do not wish to be construed as limiting myself to the precise construction illustrated, excepting as it may be limited in the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. An apparatus for massaging the foot comprising a foot support, a roller disposed intermediate the ends of said foot support and extending above the top thereof, means for guiding said roller in an arcuate path disposed in a vertical plane and conforming substantially to a longitudinal section taken through the metatarsal arch of the foot, and power driven means for lrotating said roller and simultaneously reciprocably moving said roller in said arcuate path.

2. A foot massaging apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein the roller is shaped to conform substantially to the metatarsal arch of the foot and wherein the foot support is vertically adjustable to conform to varying sizes of feet and vary the intensity of the massaging action on the foot.

3. In a foot massaging and exercising apparatus, a frame, a foot support mounted thereon for adjustable movement with respect thereto in a vertical direction, said foot support having a transverse opening intermediate the ends thereof, and a massaging roller guided in said frame for reciprocable movement with respect thereto in an arcuate path disposed Within said opening and conforming substantially to the arch of the foot.

4. In a foot massaging apparatus, a frame, a foot support mounted thereon for adjustable movement with respect thereto in a vertical direction, said foot support having a depression intermediate the ends thereof equal substantially to the length of the metatarsal arch of the foot, a motor, a massaging roller guided in said frame and disposed within the longitudinal limits of said depression, means driven by said motor for re- 'sai'd' motor." v I jvftmassaging apparatus in accordance wim-'claim )4, wherein the massaging viro-11er is te Athe metatarsal'aehjof the foot.

515A; foot massaging apparatus 'in accordance 'with claim q'4,- wherein the-*massaging rainer is ,formed to co'iifrm `subsi;initiaux; to theiiietatarsm arch of tnlfobtarid wherein .said roller is positively rotated while being' 'reciprocab-,ly driven by formed to conform substantially to the metatarsal arch of the foot, wherein said roller is positively rotated while being reciprocably driven. by said motor, and wherein the means for rotating said 1 roller comprises a gear coaxial with said roller for rotating said roller, and a gear sector fixed to said frame and meshing with said gear.

7. A foot massaging and exercising apparatus comprising a frame, a pair of parallel spaced foot 2 supports mounted thereon and having openings therein, a roller disposed in said openings in each of said foot supports and mounted for reciprocable arcuate and rotational movement with respect thereto in a longitudinally extending arcu- 2 ate path, power driven means for reciprocably moving said rollers, and aligned vertically disposed arcuate guides for guiding said rollers in said longitudinally extending arcuate paths which are arranged to conform substantially to a longitudinal section taken through the metatarsal arch of the foot. y

8. A foot massaging and exercising apparatus comprising a frame, a pair of parallel spaced foot supports mounted thereon and having openings therein, a roller disposed in said openings in each of said foot supports and mounted for reciprocable arcuate and rotational movement with i respect thereto in a longitudinally extending arcuate path, power driven means for reciprocably moving said rollers, and aligned vertically disposed arcuate guides for guiding said rollers in said longitudinally extendingl arcuate paths which are arranged to conform substantially to a longitudinal section taken through the metatarsal arch of the foot, and means for varying the intensty of the massaging action of said rollers comprising means for vertically adjusting said foot supports.

9. A foot massaging and exercising device comprising a frame, a foot rest mounted on said frame, a tilting platform forming a support means for said frame and adapted to tilt about an axis disposed transversely to said foot rest and disposed beneath and rearwardly of the rearward end thereof to adjust said foot rest for varying positions of the foo-t while the patient is in a sitting position, a pair of aligned arcuate guides in said frame conforming substantially to the metatarsal arch of the foot, a roller guided for movement in said Iguides in the central portion of said foot rest and adapted to extend above said foot rest, andv power driven means for reciprocably moving said roller in said guides.

10. A foot massaging and exercising device comprising a frame, a foot rest mounted on said frame, a tilting platform forming a support means for said frame and adapted to tilt about an axis disposed transversely of said foot rest and guides in said frame conforming substantially to the metatarsal arch of the foot, aroller guided for movement in said guides in the central portion of vsaid foot rest and' adapted to vextend above said foot rest, power driven means'for4 reciprocably moving said roller in said guides, and means for varying the intensity of the massaging action Vo'fsaid roller comprising means for vertically adjusting said foot rest.v

11i An ap'a'ratus for massaging the foot comprising a foot support vertically adjustable to vary the intensity ofthe' massaging action'on the foot and adapt the apparatus to. conform to vary`- ing sizes of feet, a roller shaped to conform substantially .to the transverse larch of the foot, means for guiding Vsaid roller for reciprocable movement in lan arcuate path conforming substantially to a longitudinal' section taken through the metatarsal arch, and means for rotating said roller'and simultaneously moving said roller in said arcuate path.

ALBERT K. WERLER.

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