Vibrating/massage chair
First Claim
1. A chair-like article of furniture for providing vibrational sensation to a user, comprising:
- (a) an upper furniture back portion providing support for the user'"'"'s upper torso;
(b) a lower furniture seat portion providing support for the user'"'"'s lower torso, said upper furniture back portion and said lower furniture seat portion operatively coupled to generally define a chair;
(c) a plurality of electric motor vibration sources located within said upper furniture back portion and said lower furniture seat portion;
(d) a motor driving circuit means for supplying both pulse-width modulation and voltage regulation/stabilization while providing necessary voltage to control said electric motor vibration sources said motor driving circuit means including a comparator; and
(e) a speed control external to said motor driving circuit and operatively coupled thereto allowing variation in vibrational frequency of said electric motor vibration sources connected to said motor driving circuit.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A device for creating vibration within a chair which provides a therapeutic benefit to users. The chair has a control for adjusting the frequency of the vibrations and the amplitude of the vibrations, providing a wide variety of therapeutic results. The circuit powering the vibration sources within the chair employs a unique design that acts as a heat sink, effectively drawing heat away from the vibration sources and thus extending their useful life. The vibration sources may be incorporated into the seating furniture of vehicles such as automobiles or airplanes to provide relief from the strain associated with trips of extended duration. The structure has a sufficiently low profile to lend itself to placement in seating used in vehicles which have rather stringent dimensional requirements.
290 Citations
17 Claims
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1. A chair-like article of furniture for providing vibrational sensation to a user, comprising:
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(a) an upper furniture back portion providing support for the user'"'"'s upper torso; (b) a lower furniture seat portion providing support for the user'"'"'s lower torso, said upper furniture back portion and said lower furniture seat portion operatively coupled to generally define a chair; (c) a plurality of electric motor vibration sources located within said upper furniture back portion and said lower furniture seat portion; (d) a motor driving circuit means for supplying both pulse-width modulation and voltage regulation/stabilization while providing necessary voltage to control said electric motor vibration sources said motor driving circuit means including a comparator; and (e) a speed control external to said motor driving circuit and operatively coupled thereto allowing variation in vibrational frequency of said electric motor vibration sources connected to said motor driving circuit. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A vibrational source, comprising:
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(a) An electric motor; (b) a load shaft extending from said electric motor; (c) an eccentric mass fixedly attached to said load shaft; (d) a housing within which said electric motor and said eccentric mass are securely mounted, said housing including an upper cover with a plurality of screw holes and a lower base with a plurality of threaded columns fastened together with a plurality of screws; (e) a motor driving circuit means for supplying both pulse-width modulation and voltage regulation/stabilization while providing necessary voltage to control said electric motor vibration sources; (f) a speed control external to said motor driving circuit sources, said motor driving circuit means including a comparator vibrational frequency of said electric motor vibration sources; and (g) a power cord for connecting said electric motor to said motor driving circuit. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. An electric circuit for providing a desired signal with substantial hear reduction characteristics for use in a vibrational structure, comprising:
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(a) a power source; (b) a voltage driven MOSFET; (c) a comparator, said comparator being operatively coupled to said power source, said comparator producing a pulse-width modulated voltage signal to operate said MOSFET; and (d) control means for varying the amplitude of said pulse-width modulated voltage signal. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17)
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Specification