Massage apparatus

What is this patent about?

’946 is related to the field of personal massage devices, specifically power-operated foot massagers designed to alleviate muscle tension and fatigue. Traditional home massagers typically rely on simple vibration, rollers, or kneading balls that move in a uniform direction, often failing to provide the targeted, multi-directional stimulation required for effective reflexology. The invention addresses the need for a more sophisticated mechanical interface that can deliver localized pressure and thermal therapy simultaneously to specific regions of the foot, such as the arch or heel.

The underlying idea behind ’946 is the use of a dual-element concentric drive system that allows two separate massage surfaces to rotate independently within the same footprint. By nesting a circular inner member inside an annular outer member, the device can apply shear forces and complex kneading patterns that a single rotating head cannot achieve. This geometry allows the motor to drive the two surfaces in opposite directions, creating a counter-rotational effect that stretches and kneads the skin and muscle tissue more effectively than standard unidirectional massagers.

The claims of ’946 focus on a massage center architecture where an outer massage member at least partially surrounds an inner massage member in a concentric configuration. The independent claims specifically protect the mechanical coupling of these members to a motor to enable separate rotation, the specific implementation of two such centers spaced apart for simultaneous foot treatment, and the integration of a heating assembly directly within the rotating members. This ensures that the therapeutic heat is applied precisely at the point of mechanical contact.

In practice, the invention utilizes a planetary-style gear train to translate the motor's output into counter-rotating motion. A central gear shaft drives the inner massage member, which then transfers motion through intermediate counter-clockwise gears to a ring gear located on the hub of the outer member. Both members are topped with covers containing captured massage balls that act as rolling pressure points. This arrangement allows the device to maintain high torque and consistent rotation even when the user applies significant body weight to the massage centers.

The system differentiates itself from prior art by embedding infrared lamps directly onto a rotating printed circuit board within the massage heads. By using a brush-and-conductor plate assembly, the device maintains electrical continuity to the lamps while they spin, allowing the heat source to move with the massage nodes. Furthermore, the use of translucent covers ensures that the infrared energy penetrates the skin efficiently, combining deep-tissue mechanical kneading with thermal therapy in a way that stationary heating elements or simple vibrating pads cannot match.