Whole body vibrator

• US 7,594,878 B1
• Filed: 06/27/2008
• Issued: 09/29/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/27/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Constantinos Joannou
• Original Assignee: Constantinos Joannou
• Inventors: Joannou, Constantinos
• Primary Examiner(s): Thanh; Loan H
• Assistant Examiner(s): NGUYEN, TAM M
• Application Number:
  US12/163,183
• Time in Patent Office: 459 Days
• Field of Search: 482/51, 482/54, 482/68, 482/79, 482/80, 482/142, 482/148, 482/907, D21/334, D21/419, D21/669, D21/686, D21/688, 601/27, 601/29, 601/30, 601/31, 601/51, 601/53, 601/67, 601/68, 601/69, 601/70, 601/71, 601/85, 601/89, 601/90, 601/91, 601/98, 601/99, 601/100, 601/115, 601/116, 601/118
• US Class Current: 482/54
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 1/005 Moveable platform, e.g. vibrating or oscillating platform for standing, sitting, laying, leaning
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/5076 Frequency sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 22/0235 driven by a motor

Abstract

This invention relates to a whole body vibrator platform which is attachable to a treadmill. The treadmill belt provides the power to move the platform, translating the horizontal, linear, belt movement into vertical oscillations through one or more eccentrically mounted rollers which support the platform. A person standing on the vibrator platform experiences a vertical vibration at frequencies established by the linear velocity of the treadmill belt.

Claims

1. A whole body vibrator for attachment to a treadmill having a frame and a moving belt whereby, when the whole body vibrator is attached to the treadmill, the motion of the belt of the treadmill provides a vibratory motion, the whole body vibrator comprising:

a) a platform on which a user may stand;

b) a roller for contacting the belt of said treadmill wherein the roller is a unitary roller that comprises two outer ends and extends width-wise across the platform on its underside;

c) a shaft passing though the roller, said shaft being eccentrically located with respect to said roller and having shaft ends which extend beyond the ends of said roller;

d) rotary bearings attached to said platform and positioned at the ends of said shaft connecting said platform to said roller, and

e) a forwardly extendable linkage for connecting said platform to the frame of a treadmill to localize the platform on the belt of the treadmill and restrict longitudinal movement of the platform with respect to the belt, wherein the linkage is laterally flexible

whereby, when the whole body vibrator is placed on the treadmill belt with the linkage connecting the platform to the frame of the treadmill, the advancement of the treadmill belt will cause the platform to effect an oscillating motion suited to provide a user, who stands on the platform, with a whole body vibration experience.

2. A whole body vibrator as described in claim 1 in combination with a treadmill having a frame and a moving belt wherein the roller is positioned on the belt for rolling thereon upon displacement of the belt, and wherein the linkage is connected between the platform and the frame of the treadmill to restrict longitudinal movement of the platform relative to the belt.

3. A whole body vibrator as described in claim 2 wherein the roller provides the sole contact between the whole body vibrator and the treadmill belt.

13. A whole body vibrator as described in claim 2 wherein the linkage is a unitary, longitudinally stiff member having first and second ends, the first end being connected to the platform through a bracket located on the platform and the second end being connected to the frame of the treadmill.

14. A whole body vibrator as described in claim 2 comprising a resilient layer in the form of a sleeve extending over the portion of the surface of the roller that will contact the belt to better distribute the load arising from the weight of the user more evenly on the belt and to reduce noise.

15. A whole body vibrator as described in claim 2 comprising:

a) a magnetic element mounted on the roller,

b) a sensor for detecting the presence of the magnetic element carried by the platform at a position to detect the magnetic element as it rotates past the sensor,

c) a display controller connected to the sensor for generating a signal based upon the rotational velocity of the roller wherein the signal is indicative of the frequency of oscillation of the platform, and

d) a display connected to the display controller to receive the signal generated by the display controller.

4. A whole body vibrator for attachment to a treadmill having a frame and a moving belt whereby, when the whole body vibrator is attached to the treadmill, the linear motion of the belt of the treadmill provides a vibratory motion, the whole body vibrator comprising:

a) a platform on which a user may stand;

b) a roller for contacting a belt of a treadmill wherein the roller is a unitary roller that comprises two outer ends and extends width-wise across the platform on its underside, the roller being positioned beneath the platform so as to support the platform,

c) a support provided at the outer ends of the roller comprising a bearing linkage that permits the roller to rotate eccentrically; and

c) a forwardly extendable linkage for connecting the platform to the frame of a treadmill to localize the platform on the treadmill'"'"'s belt and substantially restrict longitudinal movement of the platform relative to the belt, wherein the linkage is laterally flexible

whereby, when the whole body vibrator is positioned on the belt of the treadmill and the linkage is connected to the frame of the treadmill, the advancement of the treadmill belt will cause the platform to effect an oscillating motion suited to provide a user, whose feet are positioned on the platform, with a whole body vibration.

5. A whole body vibrator as described in claim 4 wherein the bearing linkage comprises eccentrically mounted axle stub ends carried at the outer ends of the roller.

6. A whole body vibrator as described in claim 4 wherein the roller supports the platform through the respective ends of an eccentrically positioned axle shaft fixed within and extending through the length of the roller.

7. A whole body vibrator as described in claim 4 wherein the roller supports the platform through the respective ends of an eccentrically positioned axle shaft extending through the length of the roller and wherein the roller is free to rotate around the shaft.

8. A whole body vibrator as described in claim 4, 5, 6 or 7 in combination with a treadmill having a frame and a moving belt wherein the roller is positioned on the belt for rolling thereon upon displacement of the belt, and wherein the linkage is connected between the platform and the frame of the treadmill to restrict longitudinal movement of the platform relative to the belt.

9. A whole body vibrator as described in claim 8 wherein the roller provides the sole contact between the whole body vibrator and the treadmill belt.

10. A whole body vibrator as described in claim 8 wherein the linkage is a unitary, longitudinally stiff member having first and second ends, the first end being connected to the platform through a bracket located on the platform and the second end being connected to the frame of the treadmill.

11. A whole body vibrator as described in claim 8 comprising a resilient layer in the form of a sleeve extending over the portion of the surface of the roller that will contact the belt to better distribute the load arising from the weight of the user more evenly on the belt and to reduce noise.

12. A whole body vibrator as described in claim 8 comprising:

a) a magnetic element mounted on the roller,

b) a sensor for detecting the presence of the magnetic element carried by the platform at a position to detect the magnetic element as it rotates past the sensor,

c) a display controller connected to the sensor for generating a signal based upon the rotational velocity of the roller wherein the signal is indicative of the frequency of oscillation of the platform, and

d) a display connected to the display controller to receive the signal generated by the display controller.