US1481038A - Foot-massaging device - Google Patents

Description

- Jan. 15 1924.

M. E. STEPHEN$ON FOOT MASSAGrING'DEVICE Filed May. 23-, .1919

I Tnvenfior'. Mflin E. Sifaphenson s amed Jan. 1 5, 1924. I T ome STATES PATE T oFric-s;

irL-ron n srn'rnnnson, or search, uassa roo'r-nassaemo, nn'vrcn' Application fled any as, 1919. 80111110189368.

To all whom it may concern: I foot, but which likewise may be used to Be it known that I, Mmron E. S'IEPBIEN- massage the plantar-and other muscles. Y SON, a citizen of the United States, residing The massaging device disclosed.- in Fig. -1 at Boston, county of Suffolk, State of Mae comprises amember preferably having cy-f e sachusetts, have invented arr-Improvement lindrical ends '1, 2 adapted to'restupOn a so iii Foot-Massaging Devices, of WhlOh the flat supporting surface, said cylindrical end j following description, in connection with portions being connected by a central per- 1 the accompanying drawing, is a; specification 3 of general conoidal shape confotm-;- tion like characters on the drawing repreing substantially to the plantar and trans as sentmg'hke parts. Y verse arches of the foot. This conoidalpor-fsz This invention relates to improvements tionis provided with a series ofrhws'bf fin a-mas'saging apparatus, and part cularly protuberances inl staggered relation; The r a mechanism in orthopedic massaging approtuberances may he of any character but paratus designed to take the place of the desirably are of resilient material such as slow of manual massaging and give rubber, and which while comprisin a firmfli just e right amount of manipulation to surface will yield to ressureappliefi; the foot that is required by the use of a In operation the evice is laid upon the series of soft rubber protuberances o r floor, or any othersuitablesupport, the foot 1 fingers, which are so designed and POSI- placed upon the protuberances of the cen- 29 tioned as to knead and press in place the tralsection 3. The device is then rocked 76 flaccid muscles of the foot, which have lost or rolled back and forth upon the floor by their tone and natural elasticity and which the user, as eat amount of wei ht being .will cause themto function naturally. applied to tfid foot as maybe ound de- It has been generally recognized that slrable. By rolling the massaging-device $5 weak feet have by reflex action much to do back and forth upon thefioor the protubers so with the delicate nervous structure of the ances act through the superficial anddeep entire human system, and that many complantar fascid and manipulate the underplaints of obscure origin are overcome when lying plantar muscles" with a kneading the feet have been restored to their proper action, which simulates very closelytheo r- %'condition. v v ation of the fingers of a masseur. is as The object of the present invention is to massagin brin .to the foot the glow of provide a massaging apparatus which can a renewe circu ation, renews the flexibility be operated by the individual to knead and of the muscles, limbers up the action of the manipulate the fascia and muscles of the toes and makes the feet feel as if new life 35 foot, which particularly lie under the had returned to them. The continued use of Q0 plantar and transverse arches ofthe foot in. the device overcomes weakness of the foot, such a manner as to increase the circulation flat foot, distorted toes, ainful heels, foot and. to renew the flexibilit of the muscles, neuralgia, Hammer or ortons toe, and by to limber up the action 0 the toes, restore maintaining the proper circulation revents 9 the feet to a healthy condition. the growth of coins and bunions. e mas- 95 Other objects an features of the invensaging action upon the skin also maintains tion will more full appear from the followit in a healthy conditionntnd prevents the ing description an the accompanying drawannoyance of sweaty or too dry feet. By ing and will be pointed out in the annexed thus maintaining the-v feet in proper 'COIldb claims. tion by the use of this apparatus many of mo Preferred embodiments of the invention the nervous diseases, due to reflex action are disclosed in the accompanying drawarising from improper conditions of the in? in which feet, are overcome. It will be noted that i 1 is a perspective viewof a massag-' the conoidal portion 3 has a length greater ing evice particularl adapted to exercise than the transverse dimension of the foot 105 the muscles of the p ntar and transverse so that during the massaging operation the arches of the feet. foot will not contact with the cylindrical Fig. 2 is a pective view of a modiportions 1 and 2. -fied form of evice, particularly adapted 1'he apparatus disclosed in Fig. 2 com- $5 to massage the muscles of the ball of the prises a body portion having a curved bale no,

ile 'I have disclosed theinvention asparticularly useful for massaging the muscles of the foot,jit will be understood that it may be. used for massaging the muscles of the hand, or of any portion of the body to which it can be readily-adapted, and that instead of rockin or; rolling the device upon the floor under t e pressure of the foot or hand applied to the massaging surface, the device may be operated by the hand along the portionof the body to which the massaging ortion of the device is applied.

It wi 1 be understood that the particular mechanisms disclosed herein are illustrative and not restrictive and that various modifications maybe made 'within the meaning and scope of the following claims.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. A lfoot massaging-device comprising a rigid member having a curved portion adapted to rest upon a flat supporting surent convex protuberances adapted, when en gaged under pressure by the foot and the base rocked upon its supporting surface, to manipulate,

fascia and muscles of the foot.

2. A massaging apparatus comprisingarigid member having cylindrical ends, an

intermediate conoidal portion shaped to conform with the plantar arch. of the foot,.

knead, and exercise the plantarw andhaving a plurality of resilient protuberances adapted, when engaged under pressure by the foot and the device rolled back and forth upon the supporting surface, to manipulate, knead, and exercise the lantar fascia and muscles of the foot saio. cylindrical ends being spaced a distance apart greater than the transverse dimension of the fpkots 3. massa in ap aratus comprisin a rigid member ha ving cylindrical ends, an intermediate conoidal portion shaped to conform with the plantar arch of the foot, but having a length greater dimension of the foot, plurality dispose and provided with a of series of resilient protuberances in staggered relation and adapted,

when engaged under pressure by the foot, base rolled back and forth, tomaand the nipulate, knead, and exercise the plantar fascia and muscles ofthe foot.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this splecification.

MIL ON E. STEPHENSON,

than the transverse

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