Body vibration apparatus

• US 20050131319A1
• Filed: 09/20/2004
• Published: 06/16/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 09/19/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Power Plate North America
• Original Assignee: Power Plate North America
• Inventors: der Meer, Guus van
• Granted Patent: US 7,563,235 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 601/49
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 1/005 Moveable platforms, e.g. vibrating or oscillating platforms for standing, sitting, laying or leaning
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 23/0263 using rotating unbalanced masses

Abstract

A body vibration apparatus includes an at least partially rigid platform, a first motor coupled to the platform such that movement of the first motor imparts force to the platform. The first motor has a first shaft that rotates a first eccentric weight in a first direction, phase and plane. A second motor is coupled to the platform such that movement of the second motor imparts force to the platform. The second motor has a second shaft parallel to the first shaft that rotates in a second direction, which, in one embodiment, is opposite the first direction. A second eccentric weight is coupled to the second shaft in the first plane. The second eccentric weight rotates with the second shaft at the first phase.

Claims

1. A body vibration apparatus comprising:

an at least partially rigid platform;

a first motor coupled to the platform such that movement of the first motor imparts force to the platform, the first motor having a first shaft that rotates in a first direction;

a first eccentric weight coupled to the first shaft such that the first eccentric weight rotates with the first shaft at a first phase and in a first plane;

a second motor coupled to the platform such that movement of the second motor imparts force to the platform, the second motor having a second shaft parallel to the first shaft that rotates in a second direction; and

a second eccentric weight coupled to the second shaft in the first plane such that the second eccentric weight rotates with the second shaft at the first phase.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a motor drive providing power to the first motor and second motor; and

a controller controlling the power provided by the motor drive to the first motor and the second motor.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, further comprising a first interface coupled to the controller for selecting a desired characteristic of motor operation.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, where in the desired characteristic of motor operation is a frequency of motor rotation.

5. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the desired characteristic of motor rotation is an on or off power status of the first motor and the second motor.

6. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the desired characteristic of motor rotation is a duration over which power is supplied to the first motor and the second motor.

7. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the desired characteristic of motor rotation is a direction of rotation of the first motor, the second motor, or both.

8. The apparatus of claim 3, further comprising a second interface coupled to the controller for selecting the desired power setting.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the second interface is located closer to the platform than is the first interface.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a console coupled to the platform and projecting upward therefrom.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, further comprising a handlebar connected to the console.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a first motor mounting frame coupled to and at least partially supporting the first motor, the second motor, and the platform; and

at least one vibration mount coupled to and at least partially supporting the first motor mounting frame.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the at least one vibration mount is at least partially resilient.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the at least one vibration mount damps movement of the motor mounting frame more in a direction transverse to the first shaft than in a vertical direction.

15. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the at least one vibration mount is hollow.

16. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the at least one vibration mount has a substantially hexagonal cross-section.

17. The apparatus of claim 12, further comprising a metal baseplate supporting the at least one vibration mount.

18. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a third eccentric weight coupled for rotation about the first shaft proximate to the first eccentric weight; and

a fourth eccentric weight coupled for rotation to the second shaft proximate to the second eccentric weight.

19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the first eccentric weight includes a first rigid projection on a first side projecting toward the third eccentric weight,

wherein the second eccentric weight includes a second rigid projection on a second side opposite the first side projecting toward the fourth eccentric weight, and

wherein the first rigid projection and the second rigid projection are located such that when the first eccentric weight and the second eccentric weight are rotated in the respective first and second directions, the first and second rigid projections engage a proximate edge of the respective third eccentric weight and fourth eccentric weight to rotate them.

20. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein when the first eccentric weight is rotated in the first direction, the first eccentric weight rotates at an angle to the third eccentric weight, and wherein when the first eccentric weight is rotated in the second direction, the first eccentric weight rotates with the third eccentric weight.

21. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein when the second eccentric weight is rotated in the second direction, the second eccentric weight rotates at an angle to the fourth eccentric weight, and wherein when the second eccentric weight is rotated in the first direction, the second eccentric weight rotates with the fourth eccentric weight.

22. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first direction is opposite to the second direction.