The present invention relates to massaging shoes systems.
The following patent publications are believed to represent the current state of the art:
U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,113,850 and 6,464,654.
The present invention provides massaging shoes and massaging shoe systems.
There is thus provided in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention a massaging shoe including a shoe body portion formed of a vibration transmitting material and having an interior surface which includes a multiplicity of integrally formed raised surface elements and a vibrator operative to generate vibrations, the vibrations being transmitted via the vibration transmitting material and the integrally formed raised surface elements to a foot of a wearer of the shoe.
In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention the shoe also includes a massaging control system operative to control the vibrator of the at least one massaging shoe. Preferably, the vibration transmitting material is an elastomeric material. Preferably, the vibrator includes an internal power source and an integral motor mechanism operative to generate the vibrations.
Preferably, the interior surface includes surface portions which engage the sides and top of the foot of the wearer of the shoe. Preferably, the interior surface also includes a bottom surface portion which engages the underside of the foot of the wearer of the shoe. Alternatively, the integrally formed raised surface elements are also formed on a shoe insert which is inserted into the shoe.
Preferably, the shoe also includes at least one elastic gore. Additionally, the shoe also includes at least one fastening strap. Preferably, the shoe also includes an electrical connection operable for connecting the shoe to an external power source. Preferably, the internal power source is a chargeable power source. Preferably, the chargeable power source is a battery. Preferably, the integral motor mechanism includes an integrated circuit operative to control the integral motor mechanism.
Preferably, the integral motor mechanism also includes at least two discrete eccentric drive motors, each of the motors operable to generate vibrations which are transmitted throughout respective forward and rearward parts of the shoe. Preferably, the integral motor mechanism also includes two drive motor casings for encasing the eccentric drive motors. Preferably, the casings are operative to acoustically insulate the drive motors.
In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention the combination of the vibration transmitting material and the two discrete eccentric drive motors are together operative to achieve generally homogeneous dispersion of the vibrations throughout the shoe to the multiplicity of integrally formed raised surface elements.
There is also provided in accordance with another preferred embodiment of the present invention a foot massaging system including at least one massaging shoe, the shoe including a shoe body portion formed of a vibration transmitting material and having an interior surface which includes a multiplicity of integrally formed raised surface elements and a vibrator operative to generate vibrations, the vibrations being transmitted via the vibration transmitting material and the integrally formed raised surface elements to a foot of a wearer of the shoe, and a massaging control system operative to control the vibrator of the shoe.
In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention the shoe also includes a massaging control subsystem operative to control the vibrator of the at least one massaging shoe. Preferably, the system also includes a battery-powered remote control device operable for controlling the massaging control subsystem of the at least one massaging shoe. Preferably, the remote control device is operable to configure the massaging control subsystem of the at least one massaging shoe to operate the vibrator at one of several operating speeds, and to operate the vibrator for the duration of a selectable time period.
Preferably, the vibration transmitting material is an elastomeric material. Preferably, the vibrator includes an internal power source and an integral motor mechanism operative to generate the vibrations.
Preferably, the interior surface includes surface portions which engage the sides and top of the foot of the wearer of the shoe. Preferably, the interior surface also includes a bottom surface portion which engages the underside of the foot of the wearer of the shoe. Alternatively, the integrally formed raised surface elements are also formed on a shoe insert which is inserted into the shoe.
Preferably, the shoe also includes at least one elastic gore. Preferably, the shoe also includes at least one fastening strap. Preferably, the shoe also includes an electrical connection operable for connecting the shoe to an external power source. Preferably, the internal power source is a chargeable power source. Preferably, the chargeable power source is a battery.
Preferably, the integral motor mechanism includes an integrated circuit operative to control the integral motor mechanism. Preferably, the integral motor mechanism also includes at least two discrete eccentric drive motors, each of the motors operable to generate vibrations which are transmitted throughout respective forward and rearward parts of the shoe. Preferably, the integral motor mechanism also includes two drive motor casings for encasing the eccentric drive motors. Preferably, the casings are operative to acoustically insulate the drive motors.
In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention the combination of the vibration transmitting material and the two discrete eccentric drive motors are together operative to achieve generally homogeneous dispersion of the vibrations throughout the shoe to the multiplicity of integrally formed raised surface elements.
The present invention will be understood and appreciated more fully from the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the drawings in which:
Reference is now made to
The foot massaging system of
The vibration transmitting material is preferably an elastomeric material such as ethylene-vinyl acetate. The vibrator preferably includes a power source and an integral motor mechanism which generates the vibrations.
As shown in
Preferably, an elastic gore 104 is formed in the top surface of shoe 102 and provides for snug fitting of shoe 102 to a wearer's foot. Additionally, a fastening strap 106 is preferably provided for further fastening of shoe 102 to the wearer's foot.
A chargeable power source 107 (
Preferably, a battery-powered remote control device 110 is provided for controlling the motor mechanism of each of a pair of shoes 102. Preferably, remote control device 110 can be used to set the motor mechanism of each of a pair of shoes 102 to operate at one of several operating speeds, and to operate for the duration of a selectable time period.
Turning now to
It is a particular feature of the present invention that the combination of the vibration transmitting properties of the elastomeric material and the two discrete eccentric drive motors 122 and 124 together achieve generally homogeneous dispersion of vibrations throughout massage shoe 102 to the multiplicity of integrally formed raised surface elements 100, thereby providing a massaging sensation to the foot of the wearer of shoe 102, not only to the underside of the foot, but also to the side and top portions of the wearer's foot. It is another particular feature of the present invention that the generally homogeneous dispersion of vibrations throughout massage shoe 102 to the multiplicity of integrally formed raised surface elements 100 is operative to improve blood circulation in the wearer's foot.
It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that the present invention is not limited by what has been particularly shown and described hereinabove. Rather, the invention also includes various combinations and subcombinations of the features described hereinabove as well as modifications and variations thereof, which would occur to persons skilled in the art upon reading the foregoing and which are not in the prior art.
This is a National Stage of International Application No. PCT/IL2012/000004 filed Jan. 5, 2012, claiming priority based on U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/435,884 filed Jan. 25, 2011, the contents of all of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind | 371c Date |
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PCT/IL2012/000004 | 1/5/2012 | WO | 00 | 7/12/2013 |
Publishing Document | Publishing Date | Country | Kind |
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WO2012/101625 | 8/2/2012 | WO | A |
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Entry |
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U.S. Appl. No. 61/435,884, filed Jan. 25, 2011. |
An International Search Report and a Written Opinion both dated May 16, 2012, which issued during the prosecution of Applicant's PCT/IL2012/000004. |
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Number | Date | Country | |
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20130303952 A1 | Nov 2013 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
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61435884 | Jan 2011 | US |