Legs and Feet Massage Apparatus with Guide Rail Roller System
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing massage chairs and devices primarily focus on providing massaging benefits to the upper body areas, such as the back, with limited effective solutions for massaging the legs and feet, which are often overlooked in terms of comprehensive massage technology.
Innovation Solution
A legs and feet massage apparatus comprising a frame with guide rails, a feet massage roller assembly powered by a worm gear device and motor, and calf massage devices with energized solenoids, along with limit sensors to control the movement and prevent exit from the guide channels, providing targeted massage benefits to the feet, ankles, and calves.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If massage chairs focus on upper body areas, then back massage effectiveness is improved, but leg and foot massage coverage is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The massage apparatus is divided into distinct functional modules: a feet massage roller assembly for the feet, two sets of calf massage devices for the calves, and a motorized guide rail system. Each segment targets specific body parts independently, allowing comprehensive leg and foot massage coverage while maintaining focused effectiveness in each zone.
Solution Approach 2:
The massage chair is designed with multi-functional capability by integrating both upper body massage mechanisms and the newly added leg/foot massage apparatus into a single system. The guide rail system can accommodate different massage assemblies, making the chair versatile for massaging multiple body areas including back, legs, and feet.
2Adaptability or versatility
If guide rails are designed with bend sections, then roller device movement flexibility is improved, but manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The guide rails incorporate bend sections that allow the guide channels to change direction dynamically along the L-shaped path. This dynamic geometry enables the roller devices to move flexibly through vertical and horizontal sections while maintaining proper alignment through the curved transition zones, accommodating the complex motion requirements without excessive manufacturing precision demands.
3Reliability
If limit sensors are added to prevent roller device exit, then operational safety is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Limit sensors are positioned at the endpoints of the guide channels to detect when roller devices reach their travel limits. These sensors provide feedback signals to the control system, which then stops motor operation or reverses direction, preventing the roller devices from exiting the guide channels. This feedback mechanism ensures operational safety with minimal additional complexity.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The apparatus effectively provides massaging benefits to the legs and feet by moving roller devices along guide rails and using solenoid-driven calf massage devices, enhancing user comfort and relaxation by addressing the lack of comprehensive leg and foot massage solutions in existing technologies.
Implementation Method 1
a worm gear device; and a motor. The plurality of feet massage roller devices may be moved along the guide channels of the pair of guide rails by the motor powering the worm gear device to rotate the plurality of feet massage roller devices
Implementation Method 2
Each of the two sets of calf massage devices includes: a first or upper calf massage device; and a second or lower calf massage device... a wiring coil secured or attached to the inner side of the attachment plate, and a metal core or plunger secured or attached to the inner side of the wiring coil... the wiring coil is an energized solenoid coil that produces linear movement of the corresponding metal core or plunger so that punching massaging effects is provided to the calves of the user
Data Source
AI summary
A legs and feet massage apparatus for providing massaging effects to the legs and feet of a user includes a leg and feet frame and a legs and feet massage roller assembly. In one embodiment of an aspect of the invention, the legs and feet frame may include guide rails. Each guide rail includes an upper end, a lower end, an upper section, a lower section, a connecting section, and a guide channel. The roller assembly includes sets of massage roller devices that are spaced apart and that are rotated by a motor. The massage roller devices are moved along the guide channels by the motor whereby the massage roller devices move along the guide channels while also are adapted to provide massaging effects to the feet and legs of the user. In another aspect of the invention, a massage chair includes a legs and feet massage apparatus.