Adjustable Foot Massage Protrusions for Acupoint Targeting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing foot massage apparatuses are not designed to enhance specific bodily functions such as blood circulation, migraine relief, and weight reduction, and do not accommodate different foot sizes effectively.
Innovation Solution
A foot massage apparatus with adjustable protrusions and a driving mechanism that allows for customizable massage patterns, featuring replaceable footprint plates and a combination of vertical and horizontal adjustment mechanisms to fit various foot sizes and apply cyclic pressure on specific acupoints.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If fixed massage patterns are used, then the device structure is simple, but it cannot enhance specific bodily functions or accommodate different foot sizes
Solution Approach 1:
The massage plate is divided into multiple independent protrusions that can be individually adjusted in position and height, allowing different massage patterns to be created by selecting and positioning specific protrusions rather than using fixed patterns for all applications
Solution Approach 2:
The protrusions are made adjustable in both horizontal position and vertical height through mechanical adjustment mechanisms, transforming the static massage plate into a dynamic system that can be reconfigured for different massage needs and foot sizes
Solution Approach 3:
The same adjustable protrusion system serves multiple functions: it can create different massage patterns for various bodily functions (blood circulation, migraine relief, weight reduction) and accommodate different foot sizes, replacing the need for multiple dedicated devices
2Adaptability or versatility
If fixed protrusion positions are used, then the device structure is simple, but it cannot accommodate different foot sizes
Solution Approach 1:
The protrusions are equipped with horizontal adjustment mechanisms that allow their positions to be moved along the massage plate, enabling the device to adapt to different foot sizes and shapes rather than being limited to a fixed configuration
Solution Approach 2:
Each protrusion is independently adjustable in position, allowing fine-tuning of the massage pattern to match the user's specific foot anatomy and size requirements
3Adaptability or versatility
If uniform pressure is applied, then the device structure is simple, but it cannot provide targeted massage for specific acupoints
Solution Approach 1:
The vertical adjustment mechanism allows each protrusion to be independently adjusted in height, enabling different pressure levels to be applied to specific acupoints and reflex zones on the foot, creating localized intense pressure where needed rather than uniform pressure across the entire foot
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the pressure parameter by adjusting the vertical position of individual protrusions, allowing the same device to provide both gentle and intense pressure as needed for different therapeutic goals and acupoint stimulation requirements
Data Source
AI summary
A foot massage apparatus comprises: a housing (5); a pair of replaceable footprint plates (4) with holes (40) arranged according to a particular foot massage pattern, which are placed on an upper plate (51) of the housing (5); protrusions (2; 3) protruding from the holes (40) of each replaceable footprint plate (4); a vertical adjustment mechanism provided in the housing (5), for adjusting the height of the protrusions (2; 3); a horizontal adjustment mechanism provided in the housing (5), for adjusting the horizontal position of the protrusions (2; 3); and a driving mechanism provided in the housing (5), for driving the protrusions (2; 3) to move up and down cyclically. The foot massage apparatus of the present invention has the advantages of enhancing a particular bodily function and fitting different foot sizes.