1. A foot compression system, comprising:
a retractable, non-bendable pressure pad;
a spring coupled to the pressure pad, the spring configured to move the pressure pad into contact with a foot; and
a mechanism coupled to the spring, the mechanism operable to move the pressure pad out of contact with the foot by storing energy in the spring,
wherein the foot compression system is completely contained within an item of footwear.
2. The system of claim 1, wherein the mechanism stores energy in the spring at set time intervals that are pre-programmed within the foot compression system.
3. The system of claim 1, further comprising a latch configured to hold the spring in a compressed position and to release the spring to move the pressure pad.
4. The system of claim 1, further comprising a shaft, wherein the spring is disposed about the shaft, and wherein the shaft is configured to guide the spring during extension and compression of the spring.
5. The system of claim 1, further comprising a power supply coupled to the mechanism, wherein the power supply is completely contained within the item of footwear.
6. The system of claim 1, further comprising the item of footwear, wherein the footwear is configured with a flexible sole.
7. The system of claim 1, wherein the mechanism is an electric motor.
8. The system of claim 1, further comprising a sensor operable to determine whether a user of the system is walking, and wherein, responsive to input from the sensor, the pressure pad is not extended when the user of the system is walking.
9. The system of claim 1, wherein the spring is a compression spring.
10. The system of claim 9, wherein the compression spring is configured with a variable pitch.
11. The system of claim 9, wherein the compression spring is configured with a free length of between 5 mm and 30 mm, and wherein the compression spring is configured with a diameter of between 3 mm and 15 mm.
12. The system of claim 9, wherein the compression spring is configured with a spring constant of between 9 pound-feet per inch and 14 pound-feet per inch.
13. A method, comprising:
extending, via a spring, a retractable, non-bendable pressure pad into contact a first time with the venous plexus region of a foot to apply pressure to the venous plexus region of the foot, wherein the pressure pad and the spring are both completely contained within an item of footwear;
holding the pressure pad in contact with the venous plexus region of the foot for a period exceeding a selected duration;
retracting, via an electric motor coupled to the spring, the pressure pad out of contact with the foot by at least one of compressing or twisting the spring; and
extending, via the spring, the pressure pad into contact a second time with the venous plexus region of the foot.
14. The method of claim 13, wherein the extending the second time is responsive to an elapsed time from the retracting exceeding 15 seconds.
15. The method of claim 13, wherein the selected duration is 1 second.
16. A method of treating or preventing a medical condition selected from a group comprising deep vein thrombosis, edema, restless leg syndrome, venous insufficiency, plantar fasciitis, pulmonary embolism, or a wound, comprising:
moving, by a spring, a pressure pad a first time to bring the pressure pad into contact with a portion of a human body to compress the portion of the human body;
moving, by a mechanism, the pressure pad a second time to bring the pressure pad out of contact with the portion of a human body to allow the portion of the human body to at least partially refill with blood;
moving, by the spring, the pressure pad a third time to bring the pressure pad into contact with the portion of the human body to compress the portion of the human body,
wherein the spring, the mechanism, the pressure pad, and a power source for the mechanism are located entirely within an item of footwear.
17. The method of claim 16, wherein the mechanism is an electric motor.
18. A foot compression system, comprising:
a retractable, non-bendable pressure pad;
a spring coupled to the pressure pad, the spring configured to move the pressure pad into contact with a foot;
an electric motor coupled to the spring, the electric motor operable to move the pressure pad out of contact with the foot by storing energy in the spring;
a latch configured to hold the spring in a compressed position and to release the spring to move the pressure pad; and
a power supply configured to supply electricity to the electric motor, wherein the foot compression system is completely contained within an item of footwear having a flexible sole.
19. The system of claim 18, further comprising:
a compressible pad top coupled to the pressure pad, the compressible top configured to compress upon contact with a foot; and
electrical components configured to control operation of the motor and the latch.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. An adjustable bed frame comprising a bed frame base assembly having a head end and a foot end; a mattress support frame disposed within said bed frame base assembly also having a head end and a foot end corresponding to said head and foot ends of said bed frame base assembly; and a motor attached to said bed frame base assembly and said movable mattress support frame for raising and lowering said head end of said mattress support frame.
2. The adjustable bed frame of claim 1 wherein said bed frame assembly includes a pair of vertically disposed rails at said head end for guiding said mattress support frame.
3. The adjustable bed frame of claim 2 wherein said mattress support frame includes circular wheel devices disposed at said head end and said rails include vertical glide channels within which said circular wheel device are inserted to thereby guide the vertical movement of said mattress support frame.
4. The adjustable bed frame of claim 3 wherein said mattress support frame includes circular wheel devices disposed at said foot end and said foot end of said bed frame includes horizontal glide channels within which said circular wheel device are inserted to thereby guide the horizontal movement of said mattress support frame.
5. An adjustable bed frame for sleeping and reclining upon comprises:
an outer frame;
an inner frame rotatably coupled to the outer frame;
wherein the inner frame rotates about a tranverse axis to the longitudinal direction of the bed frame.
6. The adjustable bed frame of claim 5 wherein said mattress support frame supports a waterbed mattress.
7. The adjustable bed frame of claim 5 and further comprising
an electric motor capable of receiving wireless commands from a remote control unit;
said motor mechanically coupled to said inner frame;
said motor further able to rotate said inner frame;
wherein said inner frame is commanded to multiple inclination positions by a user through said remote.