IP Library Granted Patent US 7,427,274
Granted Patent B2
US 7,427,274 · App. 10/844,944 · Granted Sep 23, 2008

Method and apparatus for providing a modifiable massager

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,427,274
App. No.
10/844,944
Granted
Sep 23, 2008
Kind
B2
Abstract

A massage base having a top surface contains at least one massage node base wherein the massage node base is motile in relation to the massage base. At least one massage node is mounted on each of the massage node bases and at least partially protrudes from the top surface. The massage node is mounted for rote movement in relation to the massage base. A motor, connected to the massage node base, engages the massage node in rote movement in relation to the massage base.

Claims (42)

1. A foot massage device comprising:

a massage base having a top surface;

at least one massaging pad on the massage base, the at least one massaging pad being configured to receive at least a portion of at least one foot and being configured to massage a sole of the at least one foot;

at least one massage node base within the massage base and located beyond one end of the at least one massaging pad, wherein the at least one massage node base is rotatable in relation to the massage base about a first axis to a fixed position;

at least one massage node mounted on the at least one massage node base and at least partially protruding from the top surface, wherein the at least one massage node is mounted for rote movement in relation to the massage base about a secondary axis while the at least one massage node base is limited to the fixed position, the secondary axis being non-collinear and substantially parallel with the first axis; and

at least one motor connected to the at least one massage node base whereby the motor enables rote movement of the at least one massage node in relation to the massage base.

2. The massage device of claim 1 wherein the rote movement, for which the at least one massage node is mounted, is rotational movement about the secondary axis.

3. The massage device of claim 1 comprising two massage node bases, each of the massage node bases having one massage node mounted thereon.

4. The massage device of claim 1 further comprising a massage node membrane at least partially blanketing the at least one massage node.

5. The massage device of claim 1 further comprising at least one heat massaging plate mounted to the at least one massaging pad on the massage base.

6. The massage device of claim 1 comprising a plurality of massage node bases, wherein the massage node bases are rigidly interconnected.

7. The massage device of claim 1 comprising a plurality of massage node base, wherein the at least one motor further comprises one motor for each of the massage node bases.

8. The massage device of claim 1 wherein the at least one motor moves with the at least one massage node base when the at least one massage node base rotates about the first axis.

9. The massage device of claim 1 wherein the at least one massage node comprises two massage nodes and a combined motion of the rote movement of the two massage nodes is a shiatsu motion.

10. A method of altering a massage node layout on a foot massaging device, said method comprising the steps of:

providing the foot massage device comprising:

a massage base with a top surface;

at least one massaging pad on the massage base, the at least one massaging pad being configured to receive at least a portion of at least one foot and being configured to massage a sole of the at least one foot;

at least one massage node base in the massage base and located beyond one end of the at least one massaging pad;

at least one massage node mounted on the at least one massage node base, the at least one massage node at least partially protruding from the top surface, wherein the at least one massage node is mounted for rote movement in relation to the massage base; and

a motor connected to the at least one massage node base; rotating the at least one massage node base about a first axis to a fixed position, within and in relation to the massage base;

positioning at least one foot on the massage device such that a portion of the at least one foot contacts the at least one massaging pad and a portion of the at least one foot contacts the at least one massage node; and

engaging the at least one massage node in repeated rote motion about a second axis while the at least one massage node base is limited to the position, the secondary axis being non-collinear and substantially parallel with the first axis.

11. The method of claim 10 further comprising the steps of:

moving the at least one massage node in relation to the massage base before the step of rotating the at least one massage node base; and

moving the at least one massage node again in relation to the massage base after the step of rotating the at least one massage node base.

12. A foot massage system comprising:

a massage base;

at least one massaging pad on the massage base, the at least one massaging pad being configured to receive at least a portion of at least one foot and being configured to massage a sole of the at least one foot;

a means for providing a kneading motion with the means being located within the massage base and beyond one end of the at least one massaging pad, for massaging a portion of the foot with a kneading motion about a secondary axis; and

a means for rotating the kneading means about a first axis to a fixed position, the first axis being non-collinear and substantially parallel with the secondary axis,

wherein the means for kneading is limited to operating in the fixed position, and the means for rotating the kneading means is within the massage base.

13. The massage system of claim 12 further comprising a means for power for powering the means for rotating the kneading means.

14. A foot massage device comprising:

a massage base having a top surface;

at least one massaging pad on the massage base, the at least one percussive massaging pad being configured to receive at least a portion of at least one foot and being configured to massage a sole of the at least one foot;

a planar rotational surface disposed within a rotational track on the top surface of the massage base and configured for rotation relative to the massage base about a first axis, the A planar rotational surface being located beyond one end of the at least one percussive massaging pad;

at least two massage node bases positioned on the planar rotational surface, wherein each of the at least two massage node bases are configured for rotation relative to the massage base about one of at least two secondary axes while the planar rotational surface remains stationary relative to the massage base, the at least two secondary axes being non-collinear with the first axis;

at least one massage node mounted on each of the at least two massage node bases and extending upwards from the at least two massage node bases; and

a motor connected to the at least two massage node bases.

15. The massage device according to claim 14 , wherein the rotational surface rotates along the rotational track.

16. The massage device according to claim 15 , wherein the rotational surface and the at least two massage node bases are substantially coplanar.

Assignments (3)
TERMINATION AND RELEASE OF SECUIRTY INTEREST IN INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RECORDED AT REEL 046539/FRAME 0357 Recorded Nov 18, 2018
From: SANPOWER (HONG KONG) COMPANY LIMITED
To: BROOKSTONE COMPANY, INC.; BROOKSTONE PURCHASING, INC.; BIG BLUE AUDIO, LLC
Reel/Frame 047597/0847 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jul 11, 2018
From: BROOKSTONE COMPANY, INC.; BROOKSTONE PURCHASING, INC.; BIG BLUE AUDIO LLC
To: SANPOWER (HONG KONG) COMPANY LIMITED
Reel/Frame 046539/0357 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jul 9, 2014
From: WELLS FARGO BANK
To: BROOKSTONE, INC.; BROOKSTONE COMPANY, INC.; BROOKSTONE INTERNATIONAL HOLDINGS, INC.; BROOKSTONE HOLDINGS, INC.; BROOKSTONE PROPERTIES, INC.; BROOKSTONE PURCHASING, INC.; BROOKSTONE PUERTO RICO, INC.; BROOKSTONE STORES, INC.; GARDENERS EDEN, INC.; BROOKSTONE MILITARY SALES, INC.; BIG BLUE AUDIO LLC; BNM, LLC
Reel/Frame 033282/0721 →