Cushion for relieving fatigue and reforming sleeping position

• US 20030131414A1
• Filed: 01/08/2003
• Published: 07/17/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 01/11/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kwang-Ho Lee
• Original Assignee: Kwang-Ho Lee
• Inventors: Lee, Kwang-Ho
• Granted Patent: US 6,694,550 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 5/632
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 20/021 Foot or leg supports
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 20/023 Arm supports
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 31/005 Use of aromatic materials, e.g. herbs
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/0207 heated
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/0214 cooled
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/0257 by a heat accumulator, e.g. a sand or liquid reservoir
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/102 with aromatherapy
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/105 with means for delivering media, e.g. drugs or cosmetics
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/5007 computer controlled
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 23/0263 using rotating unbalanced masses
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2021/0016 by the smell sense
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2021/0022 by the tactile sense, e.g. vibrations
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 21/00 Other devices or methods to cause a change in the state of consciousness; Devices for producing or ending sleep by mechanical, optical, or acoustical means, e.g. for hypnosis

Abstract

Disclosed is a cushion for relieving fatigue and reforming a sleeping position. The cushion includes a cylindrical sponge, and first, second and third driving motors placed in the sponge to apply vibrations to a user. A controller controls the first, second and third driving motors to generate the vibrations. The cushion also has a cylindrical plastic frame having open ends so that one end of the sponge is fixed in the frame, and an inner cover covers the sponge and first and second molded bodies of the frame. A vessel receiving a battery is inserted into an end of the frame, and a cap covers an opening of the vessel and is equipped with an input unit and a display unit of the controller. An aromatic case is mounted to the cap and has an aromatic material therein for releasing the aroma, and an outer cover covers the inner cover and the frame. A warming or cooling sheet, having pockets sewn on an internal surface thereof to accommodate hot or cold packs, is detachably (mounted to an external surface of the outer cover for emitting warmth or coolness. The user lies on his or her side while wrapping the arms and legs around the cushion or holds the legs on the cushion, whereby the spine of the user becomes straight and blood circulation is improved, thus reforming the sleeping position and recovering from fatigue.

Claims

1. A cushion for relieving fatigue and reforming a sleeping position, comprising:

a cylindrical sponge having a predetermined length;

first, second and third driving motors placed in the sponge to apply vibrations to the body of a user for relieving fatigue;

a controller for controlling the first, second and third driving motors to cause the motors to generate the vibrations;

a cylindrical plastic frame produced through a molding process and having open ends so that one end of the sponge is inserted into and fixed in the plastic frame;

an inner cover covering the sponge and first and second molded bodies of the plastic frame;

a vessel inserted into an end of the plastic frame and receiving a battery therein;

a cap covering an opening of the vessel and equipped with an input unit and a display unit of the controller;

an aromatic case mounted to the cap and having an aromatic material therein for releasing the aroma of the aromatic material; and

an outer cover covering the inner cover and the plastic frame.

2. The cushion as defined in claim 1, wherein said controller comprises a microprocessor controlling operations of the motors;

the battery applying power required for operating the motors;

the input unit inputting instructions of the user to the microprocessor;

the display unit displaying instructions of the user inputted by the input unit and a charged state of the battery;

first, second and third drive units outputting drive signals so that at least one of the first, second and third driving motors is selectively driven for a predetermined time period in response to a control signal outputted from the microprocessor when a manual button of the input unit is operated; and

a DC power jack applying DC power from an external power source for charging the battery and applying power required for operating the motors to the microprocessor.

3. The cushion as defined in claim 1, wherein said input unit comprises a power button applying electric power to the microprocessor and the first, second and third driving motors;

a manual button inputting instructions of the user to the microprocessor for manually controlling the first, second and third driving motors to operate the motors for a predetermined time period;

a strong button inputting an instruction of the user for generating a strong vibration from the first, second and third driving motors; and

a weak button inputting an instruction of the user for generating a weak vibration from the first, second and third driving motors.

4. The cushion as defined in claim 1, wherein said display unit comprises a power display lamp showing power applied to the microprocessor and the first, second and third driving motors upon switching-on of a power button of the input unit;

a manual mode display lamp showing power applied to the microprocessor and a manual control mode for the first, second and third driving motors upon switching-on of a manual button of the input unit; and

a liquid crystal display showing a charged state of the battery.

5. The cushion as defined in claim 1, wherein said inner cover is formed in the shape of a bag, comprising an internal layer of gauze and an external layer of a fabric coated with ceramic powders generating anions sewn together.

6. The cushion as defined in claim 1, wherein one end of said inner cover is wrapped around an open end of the second molded body of the plastic frame to be inserted into said open end and clamped by a clamp, thereby being locked to the plastic frame.

7. The cushion as defined in claim 1, wherein said aromatic case has a plurality of holes formed on a lid covering an opening thereof, with an opening ratio of the holes being regulated by a slide plate slidably mounted to an inner side of the lid to control a release rate of the aroma, and said cap is provided with a slot to open and close the lid.

8. The cushion as defined in claim 1, wherein the outer cover is made of a woven fabric material which is easily washable and exhibits a desired softness.

9. The cushion as defined in claim 1, wherein the outer cover is made of hemp cloth or nonwoven fabric for use in summer.

10. The cushion as defined in claim 1, wherein the outer cover is made of wool or synthetic fiber for use in winter.

11. A cushion for relieving fatigue and reforming a sleeping position, comprising:

a cylindrical sponge having a predetermined length;

first, second and third driving motors placed in the sponge to apply vibrations to the body of a user for relieving fatigue;

a controller for controlling the first, second and third driving motors to cause the motors to generate the vibrations;

a cylindrical plastic frame produced through a molding process and having open ends so that one end of the sponge is inserted into and fixed in the plastic frame;

an inner cover covering the sponge and first and second molded bodies of the plastic frame;

a vessel inserted into an end of the plastic frame and receiving a battery therein;

a cap covering an opening of the vessel and equipped with an input unit and a display unit of the controller;

an aromatic case mounted to the cap and having an aromatic material therein for providing the aroma of the aromatic material;

an outer cover covering the inner cover and the plastic frame; and

a warming or cooling sheet having a plurality of pockets sewn on an internal surface thereof for accommodating hot or cold packs, and being detachably mounted to an external surface of the outer cover for emitting warmth or coolness to a user.

12. The cushion as defined in claim 11, wherein said warming or cooling sheet comprises a multi-layered fabric sheet;

the pockets sewn on an innermost waterproof fabric layer of the multi-layered fabric sheet, with a slit formed in each of the pockets;

the hot or cold packs releasably placed into the pockets through the slits and emitting warmth or coolness to a user;

a Velcro fastener comprising hook and pile pieces having a predetermined width and respectively mounted along the internal surface of a first longitudinal edge of the fabric sheet and an external surface of a second longitudinal edge of the fabric sheet for detachably attaching the warming or cooling sheet to the outer cover; and

a plurality of elastic bands mounted at regular intervals to the internal surface of the fabric sheet in a latitudinal direction so that the outer cover is held firmly in place.