Tactile stimulator
First Claim
1. An apparatus for providing tactile stimulation of a body, comprising:
- a source of signals having a predetermined electrical characteristic;
means for decoding said electrical signals to produce a programmed sequence of operative output signals;
an article structurally adapted for receiving at least a portion of a body of a user in contact therewith, said article including a plurality of switches in a spaced array, each of said switches having an extendable portion which, when actuated, extends and moves an area of said article against a portion of said body of said user;
said switches being connected to said decoding means to receive said operative output signals to be actuated thereby according to said programmed sequence, whereupon said body is tactilely stimulated according to said sequence.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A tactile stimulator for causing information from a remote input source either manually or automatically to be transmitted or transposed through a converter such as a transducer or computer to an output driver to provide tactile stimulation to a user. In an preferred embodiment, a preprogrammed source of music is used to create patterns of movement and sound to create a touching and moving sensation on the body of a user to enhance the feel of the music by the user. In a manual mode, a keyboard is connected through a computer or multiplexer switching unit to permit the user to create a pattern of pleasurable or therapeutic stimulation, or to create a recorded program for later and repeated uses. In an alternative embodiment, a preprogrammed, therapeutic regime is provided to massage a user. Alternative uses of the invention are also disclosed.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. An apparatus for providing tactile stimulation of a body, comprising:
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a source of signals having a predetermined electrical characteristic; means for decoding said electrical signals to produce a programmed sequence of operative output signals; an article structurally adapted for receiving at least a portion of a body of a user in contact therewith, said article including a plurality of switches in a spaced array, each of said switches having an extendable portion which, when actuated, extends and moves an area of said article against a portion of said body of said user; said switches being connected to said decoding means to receive said operative output signals to be actuated thereby according to said programmed sequence, whereupon said body is tactilely stimulated according to said sequence. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method of tactilely stimulating at least a portion of a body of a user, comprising the steps of:
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providing a source of electrical signals having a predetermined electrical characteristic; decoding said signals to provide operative electrical output signals having a predetermined programmed sequence; providing an article having, in a spaced array, a plurality of switches each including a portion extendable upon actuation to move an area of the article; positioning at least a portion of the body in contact with at least one of the areas movable by the extendable portions; and actuating said switches in said spaced array to extend the extendable portions in accordance with said operative output signals, and thereby to tactilely stimulate at least a portion of said body of said user. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19)
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Specification