Sound and vibration transmission pad and system

• US 7,918,308 B2
• Filed: 05/13/2009
• Issued: 04/05/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/10/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Round River Research Corp.
• Original Assignee: Daniel E. Cohen
• Inventors: Cohen, Daniel E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Enad; Elvin G
• Assistant Examiner(s): LUKS, JEREMY AUSTIN
• Application Number:
  US12/465,501
• Publication Number:
  US 20090250982A1
• Time in Patent Office: 692 Days
• Field of Search: 181/150, 181/144, 181/145, 181/147, 181/153, 181/160, 181/161, 181/167, 181/169, 600/27, 600/28, 601/46, 601/47, 601/48, 601/49, 601/56, 601/57, 601/58, 601/64, 381/301, 381/105, 381/106, 381/108, 381/151, 381/190, 381/351, 381/388, 297/452.13, 297/452.37, 297/217.4
• US Class Current: 181/150
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/0138 incorporated in furniture
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2203/0425 Sitting on the buttocks
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2203/0443 substantially horizontal
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2205/062 Shoulders
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 23/0236 using sonic waves, e.g. using loudspeakers
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 5/023 in a chair, pillow
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 5/04 Circuit arrangements, e.g. for selective connection of amplifier inputs/outputs to loudspeakers, for loudspeaker detection, or for adaptation of settings to personal preferences or hearing impairments combinations of amplifiers H03F3/68; stereophonic systems H04S

Abstract

The present invention is directed to a pad and sound transmission system which is adapted to directly transmit audible sound waves into the body at high intensity levels. In one embodiment, the subject invention includes a back pad and a seat pad. Each pad includes a speaker module having an acoustic speaker disposed within the pad and surrounded by a plurality of different layers.

Claims

1. A chair comprising:

a seat portion comprising a vibration source; and

,

a back portion comprising a speaker, a layered plurality of materials, and a resonant chamber, wherein at least a portion of the resonant chamber is defined within an aperture extending through at least one material of the layered plurality of materials, and wherein at least a portion of said aperture is configured to be positioned between the speaker and a user sitting in the chair.

2. The chair of claim 1, wherein the layered plurality of materials comprises a plurality of different foam elements.

3. The chair of claim 2, wherein the different foam elements have different degrees of compressibility.

4. The chair of claim 2, wherein the different foam elements have different degrees of acoustic conductance.

5. The chair of claim 1, wherein the speaker and the vibration source can each be independently controlled by the user.

6. The chair of claim 1, wherein the back portion of the chair comprises a plurality of speakers.

7. The chair of claim 6, wherein each speaker can be independently controlled by the user.

8. The chair of claim 1 further comprising an amplified sound source having an automatic volume control.

9. The chair of claim 8 further comprising a decibel sensor in communicationwith the automatic volume control.

10. The chair of claim 1 further comprising at least one activation switch located within the back portion, the seat portion, or both, the activation switch being in communication with an amplification system.

11. A chair comprising:

a seat portion comprising a vibration source; and

a back portion comprising a speaker and a resonant chamber, said back portion and said seat portion each comprising a layered plurality of materials,

wherein at least a portion of the resonant chamber is defined within an aperture extending through at least one material of the layered plurality of materials in the back portion of the chair, and wherein at least a portion of said aperture is configured to be positioned between the speaker and a user sitting in the chair.

12. The chair of claim 11, wherein the layered plurality of materials comprises a plurality of different foam elements.

13. The chair of claim 12, wherein the different foam elements have different degrees of compressibility.

14. The chair of claim 12, wherein the different foam elements have different degrees of acoustic conductance.

15. The chair of claim 11, wherein the speaker and the vibration source can each be independently controlled by the user.

16. The chair of claim 11, wherein the back portion of the chair comprises a plurality of speakers.

17. The chair of claim 16, wherein each speaker can be independently controlled by the user.

18. The chair of claim 11 further comprising an amplified sound source having an automatic volume control.

19. The chair of claim 18 further comprising a decibel sensor in communication with the automatic volume control.

20. The chair of claim 11 further comprising at least one activation switch located within the back portion, the seat portion, or both, the activation switch being in communication with an amplification system.