Mood altering device

• US 4,777,937 A
• Filed: 07/30/1985
• Issued: 10/18/1988
• Est. Priority Date: 07/30/1985
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Tranquil Times Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Tranquil Times Incorporated
• Inventors: Rush, Charles, Guinan, Peter J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kamm, William E.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Sykes, Angela D.
• Application Number:
  US06/760,487
• Time in Patent Office: 1,176 Days
• Field of Search: 128/1 C, 128/1 R, 128/745-746
• US Class Current: 600/27
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2021/0027 by the hearing sense
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2021/0044 by the sight sense
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/0648 the light being directed to the eyes
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/0656 Chemical light sources
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/0618 Psychological treatment

Abstract

The invention features a method and apparatus for altering the mood of an individual. A facial mask is provided that excludes external stimuli while providing visual and auditory stimulation designed to influence the brain wave pattern.

The visual stimulus introduces a continuous, uniform light of a particular color. The light stimulus is designed to produce an effect known as ganzfeld, wherein there occurs a complete loss of visual sensation.

Claims

1. A mood altering device adapted to cause the user to have a loss of the sense of visual externality and experience a sense of relaxation, comprising a facial mask adapted to fit over the eyes forming an opaque shield adapted to completely cover the eyes against entry of outside light, said facial mask including electroluminescent strip means in said shield adapted to glow, said electroluminescent strip means adapted to provide a substantially continuous unvarying light of substantially uniform color, said light adapted to induce a hypnotic-like ganzfeld effect, and auditory stimulation means adapted to provide pink noise.

2. The invention of claim 1 wherein said pink noise is a substantially continuous, monotonous sound simulating the sound of flowing water.

3. The invention of claim 1 whereinn said facial mask further includes integral stimulation means adapted to provide pink noise.

4. The invention of claim 1 wherein said shield is a single shield shielding both eyes.

5. The invention of claim 4 including a single glowing strip.

6. The invention of claim 4 including a plurality of selectable electroluminescent strips in said shield each adapted to glow in a selected color.

7. The invention of claim 1 including a plurality of selectable electroluminescent strips in said shield each adapted to glow in a selected color.

8. A method of altering the mood of an individual adapted to cause a loss of the sense of visual externality and experience a sense of relaxation, comprising the steps of providing sheilding to eyes from all external light, providing an electroluminescent glow of substantially continuous unvarying light of substantially uniform color, said light adapted to induce a hypnotic-like ganzfeld effect, and providing auditory stimulation means adapted to provide pink noise.

9. The invention of claim 8 wherein said provided pink noise is a substantially continuous, monotonous sound simulating the sound of flowing water.

10. The invention of claim 8 including the step of providing glow in a selected color.