US2840071A - Electrical vibrating device in combination with a cushion - Google Patents

Description

S. L. M NAIR ELECTRICAL VIBRATING DEVICE IN COMBINATION WITH A CUSHION June 24, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed'Nov. 25, 1957 L LJ U JM ,1. BY

June 24, 1958 s. L. MCNAIR ELECTRICAL VIBRATING DEVICE IN COMBINATION WITH A CUSHION Filed Nov. 25, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 United States Patent G ELECTRICAL VIBRATING DEVICE IN COM- BINATION WITH A CUSHION Samuel L. McNair, Whitman, Mass. Application November 25, 1957, Serial No. 698,795

6 Claims. (Cl. 12833) This invention relates to an electrical vibrating device for use in combination with a resilient cushion.

Reference is made to my patent application Serial No. 668,137, filing date June 26, 1957, for an Electrical Vibrating Device.

One object of my invention is to provide a resilient cushion having an opening to receive an electrically operated vibrating device. The resiliency of the cushion combined with the vibrations of the device provide a gentle, vibratory movement of the head and neck, or any other part of the body that rests upon, or contacts the cushion. A healthful relaxation is thus attained, while receiving a massage through said vibrations.

Another object is to provide such a device that can be used separately from the cushion for other purposes.

A further object is to provide such a construction that the cost of manufacture is relatively low, thus bringing the invention within the price range of the ordinary consumer.

The foregoing and other objects which will appear as the nature of the invention is better understood, may be accomplished by a construction, combination and operative arrangement of parts such as is disclosed by the drawings. The nature of the invention is such as to render it susceptible to various changes and modifications, and therefore, I am not to be limited to the construction disclosed by the drawings nor to the particular parts described in the specification; but am entitled to all such changes therefrom as fall within the scope of my claims.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of my electrical vibrating device and a resilient cushion enclosing it.

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view thereof.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged, sectional view taken on the line 33 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a casing member.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of another casing member.

As illustrated, my vibrating device has a casing or supporting means which includes a saucer-shaped, casing member and another saucer-shaped, casing member 12. These two vibration transmitting members are spaced apart by four spacers or posts 14 having reduced threaded ends 16. At the two opposite ends of said spacers 14 are retainer portions 18 which are integral with said casing members 10 and 12. Said threaded ends 16 extend through said retainer portions 18, being held by nuts 17, to thereby maintain said spacers in predetermined position. This arrangement keeps said casing members 10 and 12 properly positioned in rigid predetermined opposing relationship and spaced apart, as at 19, to provide for circulation of air and to permit casing members to vibrate in phase unison when vibrations are transmitted to one of them.

Attached to said casing member 10 by screws 20 is a leg 22 of a U-shaped, vibrating member or clapper 24. This latter member projects into open space between said casing members 10 and 12, thus being free to vibrate unattached above said casing member 10.

Vibrating means in the form of an electric motor 26 is formed by clapper 24 and a coil and core assembly attached to another leg 28 of said clapper 24 and is held thereby, as shown in said Fig. 3. In operation, the vibration of said motor 26 vibrates leg 28 of said clapper member 24, thus causing vibration of the device itself which vibration is transmitted by members 10 and 12 in a manner hereinafter described. A rectifier 30, shown attached to said casing member 10 by a bolt 32 and nut 34, may be used to increase the intensity of said vibrations when connected in the following described manner:

An electrical connector plug 36, which may be connected to a suitable source of electricity, has a wire 38 extending therefrom to said motor 26. When said rectifier 30 is used, another wire 40 extends to it from said motor 26, and another wire 42 extends from said rectifier to said plug 36. Both said wires 38 and 42 extend through a strain relief bushing 44 mounted in said casing member 12.

The foregoing provides vibrating means, adaptable for use separately, if desired. It is especially effective when used in combination with a resilient cushion, such as illustrated, particularly in said Fig. 3.

As illustrated, I provide a resilient cushion 46 including two substantially parallel resilient members 48 and 50, which may be made of foam rubber, for instance, and which have inner surfaces in facing relationship and are positioned respectively in contacting relationship below and above said casing members 10 and 12, as shown. They surround the latter and extend beyond to provide side extension portions 52 and 54 respectively of said cushions 48 and 50, and which may be of additional thickness at points beyond said casing members 10 and 12, as shown in said Fig. 3. It is preferable to leave some space 56 between said resilient members 48 and 50 to permit circulation of air.

Said resilient cushion 46 preferably includes a flexible cover or outer enclosure member 58 having a pair of outer surfaces which member may be made of cloth or plastic, for instance, having vent holes 60 therethrough, and shown evenly beaded at the edges as at 62. This enclosure member, which is in planar contact with the outer surfaces of said resilient members 48 and 50, is provided with an opening which is closed by the usual sliding fasteners 64. At one end of said opening said electrical wires 38 and 42 preferably pass through to connect with said plug 36.

Both the vibrating device and said resilient cushion 46 cooperate in providing a pleasant massage, since the two resilient members 48 and 50 receive the vibratory motion, transmitting it in gentler form, through their qualities of resilience, to the person in contact with this assembly.

What I claim is:

1. A vibrating cushion comprising, in combination, a flexible cover presenting a pair of outer surfaces, a resilient foam structure enclosed within said cover and formed by two substantially parallel foam cushion portions with inner surfaces in facing relationship and with outer surfaces in planar contact with said cover throughout the area of said outer surfaces thereof, and a vibration de vice positioned between said inner surfaces of said foam structure and including a first vibration transmitting member in contact with one of said inner surfaces of said foam cushion structure and a second vibration transmitting member in contact with the other of said inner surfaces of said foam cushion structure, said vibration transmitting members being in opposed relationship, said device also including means holding said vibration transmitting members in rigid predetermined opposing position with respect to each other whereby said vibrationtransmitting members vibrate in phase unison when vibrations are transmitted to one of them, said device also including a vibration producing electric motor comprising a field coil and core assembly and also comprising a clapper having a portion thereof positioned to be magnetically attracted by, and biased against relative movement toward said coil and core assembly whereby upon energization of said coil relative motion takes place between said portion and said coil and core assembly, and said device also including means mounting said motor on one of said vibration transmitting members, whereby vibrations are produced by said motor and are transmitted by said vibration transmitting members through the respective foam cushion portions to the outer surfaces of said flexible cover.

2. A vibrating cushion as claimed in claim 1, wherein said clapper comprises a U-shaped mounting bracket for said coil and core assembly having one leg fixed to one of said'vibration transmitting members and having said coil and core assembly mounted upon the other leg.

3. A vibrating cushion as claimed in claim 2, which References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,135,312 Muckle Nov. 1, 1938 2,589,322 Archer 'Mar. 18,1952 2,687,717 Murphy Aug; 31, 1954 2,768,621 Wahl Oct; 30, 1956 2,786,465 Moxley Mar. 26, 1957 2,809,631 Smith et al. Oct. 15, 1957

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