Interactive therapeutic mat

• US 9,775,768 B2
• Filed: 06/03/2013
• Issued: 10/03/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 01/26/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ii, Keith Duane Cheatham
• Original Assignee: Ii, Keith Duane Cheatham
• Inventors: Cheatham, II, Keith Duane
• Primary Examiner(s): Fuqua, Shawntina
• Application Number:
  US13/908,029
• Publication Number:
  US 20130296745A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,583 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2007/0024 Back
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2007/0079 connectable to car battery
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 7/007 characterised by electric heating
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 7/08 Warming pads, pans or mats A61F7/02 takes precedence; Hot-water bottles
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/0134 Cushion or similar support
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/0138 incorporated in furniture
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/0188 Illumination related features
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/0207 heated
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/0228 heated by an electric resistance element
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/1284 using own weight
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/5048 Audio interfaces, e.g. voice or music controlled
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/5058 Sensors or detectors
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/5079 Velocity sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/5082 Temperature sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/5084 Acceleration sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/5097 wireless
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2205/081 Back
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2205/086 Buttocks
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2205/12 Feet
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 23/00 Percussion or vibration massage, e.g. using supersonic vibration; Suction-vibration massage; Massage with moving diaphragms apparatus for passive exercising A61H1/00; generating or transmitting mechanical vibrations in general B06B
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 23/02 : with electric or magnetic drive
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 7/001 : without substantial movement between the skin and the device
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 1/003 : to auxiliary motors, e.g. for pumps, compressors

Abstract

A therapeutic mat is described. The mat provides therapeutic relief in the form of vibratory motion and/or heat. The mat or pad is particularly useful as a floor mat in a vehicle. The mat includes provisions to enable powering the mat from a 12-volt direct current source, such as used in an automobile or other vehicle. A massage module can be removed from the mat to facilitate cleaning of the mat. The mat may also include one or more upwardly extending provisions for massaging the arch region of a user'"'"'s feet. Also described are illuminated mats. The lights of a mat can operate based upon the operation of another mat, pulsations of the massage module, or based upon acoustic levels in the vehicle.

Claims

1. A vehicle floor mat, the mat comprising:

a thin, planar, flexible member defining an upwardly directed first face, an oppositely directed second face, and an interior hollow region between at least a portion of the first face and the second face, the flexible member sized and shaped to reside along the floor of a vehicle cabin;

a massage module removably disposed in the interior hollow region of the flexible member, the massage module emitting vibratory motion upon application of electrical power to the massage module;

at least one illuminating element affixed to the flexible member and visible along the first face of the flexible member upon application of electrical power to the illuminating element;

control provisions;

wherein the control provisions are configured to control the operation of the massage module and the at least one illuminating element, such that the operation of the illuminating element is dependent upon and follows the operation of the massage module.

2. The vehicle floor mat of claim 1, wherein the massage module is configured to operate in a pulsating mode with an actuation time period in a range of from 0.1 seconds to 5 seconds, and a nonactuation time period of from 0.1 seconds to 5 seconds, the at least one illuminating element thus also operating with an actuation time period and a nonactuation time period which are substantially the same as those of the massage module.

3. The vehicle floor mat of claim 1, further comprising:

at least one fixation component adapted to engage with a corresponding other fixation component disposed along a vehicle floor.

4. The vehicle floor mat of claim 1, further comprising:

at least one light transmission component incorporated within the mat.

5. The vehicle floor mat of claim 4, wherein the light transmission component is selected from the group consisting of an optical fiber, a light tube, and combinations thereof.

6. The vehicle floor mat of claim 1, further comprising:

at least one component selected from the group consisting of (i) at least one light sensor, (ii) at least one acoustic sensor, (iii) provisions for generating an audible output, (iv) provisions for providing wireless communication of the mat with another component, (v) a heating element emitting heat upon application of electrical power to the heating element, and (vi) combinations of (i)-(v).

7. A vehicle floor mat, the mat comprising:

a thin, planar, flexible member defining an upwardly directed first face, an oppositely directed second face, and an interior hollow region between at least a portion of the first face and the second face, the flexible member sized and shaped to reside along the floor of a vehicle cabin;

a massage module removably disposed in the interior hollow region of the flexible member, the massage module emitting vibratory motion upon application of electrical power to the massage module;

at least one illuminating element affixed to the flexible member and visible along the first face of the flexible member upon application of electrical power to the illuminating element;

an acoustic sensor and control provisions incorporated in the mat and configured to provide a control output signal based upon acoustic parameters sensed by the acoustic sensor;

wherein the control provisions are configured to control the operation of the at least one illuminating element based at least in part upon the control output signal, such that the operation of the illuminating element is dependent upon and follows the acoustic parameters in the vehicle.

8. The vehicle floor mat of claim 7, further comprising:

at least one fixation component adapted to engage with a corresponding other fixation component disposed along a vehicle floor.

9. The vehicle floor mat of claim 7, further comprising:

at least one light transmission component incorporated within the mat.

10. The vehicle floor mat of claim 9, wherein the light transmission component is selected from the group consisting of an optical fiber, a light tube, and combinations thereof.

11. The vehicle floor mat of claim 7, further comprising:

at least one component selected from the group consisting of (i) at least one light sensor, (ii) provisions for generating an audible output, (iii) provisions for providing wireless communication of the mat with another component, (iv) a heating element emitting heat upon application of electrical power to the heating element, and (v) combinations of (i)-(iv).

12. A plurality of vehicle floor mats comprising:

a primary vehicle floor mat including (i) at least one illuminating element, (ii) at least one vibratory component, and (iii) control provisions for controlling operation of the at least one illuminating element and the at least one vibratory component;

at least one secondary vehicle floor mat, each secondary vehicle floor mat comprising (i) at least one illuminating element, and (ii) at least one vibratory component, wherein operation of the at least one illuminating element of the secondary vehicle floor mat and the at least one vibratory component of the secondary vehicle floor mat are controlled by the control provisions of the primary vehicle floor mat.

13. The plurality of vehicle floor mats of claim 12, wherein the operation of the at least one vibratory component of the secondary vehicle floor mat and the at least one illuminating element of the secondary vehicle floor mat follow the operation of the vibratory component of the primary vehicle floor mat.

14. The plurality of vehicle floor mats of claim 12, the primary vehicle floor mat further including an acoustic sensor, wherein the control provisions of the primary vehicle floor mat are configured to provide a control output signal based upon acoustic parameters sensed by the acoustic sensor, wherein the control provisions of the primary vehicle floor mat are configured to control the operation of the at least one illuminating element of the primary vehicle floor mat based at least in part upon the control output signal, such that the operation of the at least one illuminating element of the primary vehicle floor mat is dependent upon and follows acoustic parameters in the vehicle.

15. The plurality of vehicle floor mats of claim 14, wherein the illuminating elements of the at least one secondary vehicle floor mat are configured to operate at least in part based upon the control output signal of the primary vehicle floor mat.

16. The plurality of vehicle floor mats of claim 12, wherein the at least one secondary vehicle floor mat includes (i) a passenger'"'"'s front side floor mat, (ii) a driver'"'"'s side rear floor mat, and (iii) a passenger'"'"'s side rear floor mat.

17. The plurality of vehicle floor mats of claim 12, wherein the primary vehicle floor mat and each secondary vehicle floor mat further includes provisions for providing wireless communication between the primary vehicle floor mat and the secondary vehicle floor mats.

18. The plurality of vehicle floor mats of claim 12, wherein (i) the primary vehicle floor mat is a thin, planar, flexible member defining an upwardly directed first face, an oppositely directed second face, and an interior hollow region between at least a portion of the first face and the second face, (ii) at least one vibratory component of the primary vehicle floor mat is a massage module that is removably disposed in the interior hollow region of the primary vehicle floor mat, the massage module emitting vibratory motion upon application of electrical power to the massage module, (iii) the at least one illuminating element of the primary vehicle floor mat is visible along the first face of the flexible member upon application of electrical power to the illuminating element, (iv) the secondary vehicle floor mat is a thin, planar, flexible member defining an upwardly directed first face, an oppositely directed second face, and an interior hollow region between at least a portion of the first face and the second face, (v) at least one vibratory component of the secondary vehicle floor mat is a massage module that is removably disposed in the interior hollow region of the secondary vehicle floor mat, the massage module emitting vibratory motion upon application of electrical power to the massage module, and (vi) the at least one illuminating element of the secondary vehicle floor mat is visible along the first face of the flexible member upon application of electrical power to the illuminating element.