US2943620A - Pillow or cushion type vibrator - Google Patents

4 'Claims. (Cl. 12824.1)

, This invention relates to cushion or pillow type vibrators which can be used for stimulating, exercising, flexing and reducing, and may be used as a single unit or in multiples. Heretofore, in inventions of this kind, it has been the practice to make them in such manner that they may be utilized as a single unit only, which has necessitated their being shifted about from one position to another if more than one area of the body is to be treated. It will be obvious, for example, if the treatment is being given to the shoulders and at the same time a treatment is desired for the feet, that it would be quite impossible to treat both areas simultaneously with a single unit as now on the market.

It will also be noted that in the present art there has been no attempt made to supply a treatment to many areas simultaneously. In fact, it has been impossible by the very fact that the means has been only one unit of a cubicle nature.

It is also to be noted that although attempts have been made to cover a large area, it has been impossible to conform the contacting surface of the treating unit to even the outlines of the human form, or to surround various portions of it simultaneously.

Furthermore even in the case of a fairly large applicating area, it has been impossible heretofore to instantaneously localize the area of the treatment within the applicating area. 7

Attention is now called to the fact that in the applicants invention, which is composed of a primary unit to which multiple units may be attached and inter-cooperated selectively, it will be seen that the primary unit and the other units in their preferred form incorporate an infra-red heating unit, independent of the vibratory source, thus permitting an extremely wide range of patterns of treatments to be possible simply by energizing or de-energizing one or the other source of energy.

Furthermore, as the applicants invention incorporates the ability to partially dis-assemble any one or all of the treating units each of which may be used independently in such condition, a great many diverse treatments may be provided which are utterly impossible by any invention 'at present.

Attention is also especially called to a very important feature of the applicants invention which permits him to arrange each individual unit, whether used individually or in multiple, in such manner as to create an accentuation of the blood flow in the most advantageous direction under any condition of application, thereby causing increased circulation. In the present art, although attempts have been made to create this effect, there has been no way for the user to know just how to orient such an application in such manner, and in fact the effect created by the construction of the application itself obviated any advantage being acquired by any orientation. The applicants invention overcomes this obstacle.

Attention is also directed to the fact that all inventions of this nature, as heretofore referred to, of the former art, have been only applicable to home treatment and the like, but because of the peculiar construction of the applicants invention, his is extremely useful for use in hospitals and sanitariums, and for the professional use of doctors, nurses and neuropathic clinics.

It is to be noted that in the applicants invention, because of his special construction, it is possible to apply benefical infra-red rays in treatment, or simply heat treatment, which is impossible in any other invention of a like character at present. It is true that some have attempted to do this but their construction does not permit such an intimate proximity to the source of beneficial infra-red rays. 7

Having thus described some of the advantages of my invention, and some of the disadvantages of the devices of the present art, to which my invention applies, attention is now directed to the accompanying specifications and drawings in which like numbers refer to like parts.

Referring now to the drawings:

Fig. 1 represents a face view of one of my improved heating devices, constructed according to the preferred form of my invention.

*Fig. 2 represents a front elevation of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 represents an end elevation of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 represents a rear elevation of Fig. 1.

(Fig. 5 represents a section on the line 5-5 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 6 represents a section on the line 66 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 7 represents a section on the line 7-7 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 8 represents a plan view similar to Fig. 1, but showing the method of removing the vibrating unit from the 7 container proper.

Fig. 9 represents a plan view of the vibrating unit re moved from the container proper.

Fig. 10 represents a plan view of the top and bottom plate used to support the vibratory unit.

Fig. 11 is a perspective View of the sponge rubber pads used in connection with my device.

Fig. 12 represents a horizontal transverse section through a modified form of my improved device, incorporating an infra-red heating pad.

Fig. 13 represents a vertical transverse section through the modified form of device shown in Fig. 12.

Fig. 14 shows the method of connecting together several separate vibratory and heating devices as disclosed in Figs. 12 and 13, so as to form an elongated treating area upon which a body may recline.

Fig. 15 is a view similar to Fig. 14 but showing an arrangement of the connected devices which permits a much larger area of treatment.

Fig. 16 is a fragmentary plan view of the arrangement as shown in Fig. 15 but showing how the attaching means may be provided in such manner as to permit a more compact arrangement of treating areas.

'Fig. 17 is a view similar to that shown in Fig. 14 but showing how they may be encased within a removable slip cover member so as to provide an elongated pillowlike vibratory heat treating area. a

Fig. 18 shows several of the individual treating devices operatively connected together in such manner as to provide a segmented, belt-like area, adapted to encircle.

portions of the human body.

Fig. 19 shows how the individual unitsimay be formed in hexagon shape, so that, when many are joined together, they may form a very compact common treating area.

the detachable heating units may be removed from some Patented July 5, 1960 Fig. 20 shows how a number of individual treating de-j vices may be arranged to provide treatment for various selected areas of the human body, and also how some of.

ferent arrangement of treating devices, including a boxlike arrangement at the hips and an extension for the upper torso.

Fig. 22 shows a hip arrangement similar to that shown in Fig. 21, one of the heating pads being used therewith, the heating pad being. under the control of a thermostat and a rheostat.

Fig. 23 shows the form of treating device as shown in Fig. 17 being used to treat the buttocks, legs and feet.

Fig. 24 is a fragmentary perspective sectionthrou'gh a modified form of treating device, composed of a pillow slip-like container having sponge rubber pads inserted therein, resting'upon several heat-treating pads.

Fig. 25 shows how the pillow slip-like. container may be rolled up when not in use.

' Fig. 26 shows a heat" treating pad composed of two joined heat treating areas being used to heat treat the torso of a human body.

Fig. 27' shows how the heat'tr'eatingpad shown in Fig. 26 may be folded to produce a small area of heat treatment.

'"Fig. 28 shows three of the treating devices being used to support a rigid board member upon which a body may recline for sunbaths. It will be noted that the treating devices are inter-connected so that they will co-act in unison and thus impart their treatment to. the body through the medium of the. rigid board.

Fig. 29 shows: two of. the individual treating devices interconnected but separated from each other, being in contact with a" bed;.one of the treating devices imparting vibratory motion to the head of the bed and the other heating the bed proper.

' Fig. 30 shows one of the individual treating devices being employed to heat and' agitate the medicant contained within a foot pan and at the same time vibrate the foot being treated.

' Fig. 31 shows how individual heating units may be arranged upon a bed and used to support foam rubber pads upon which a patient may lie.

It is to be understood also that the wiring is to be provided with switches so that the various vibrators are under full and easy control.

Although I have only shown a few modifications of my invention, it is to be understood I may make various minor changes in my construction without departing from the spirit of the invention and all of the claims should be read in the light thereof.

What is claimed is:

l. A device of the character described, composed of a plurality of ventilated flexible box-like containers coupled together by means of male and female snap fasteners associated with hand grips attached to each individual ventilated flexible box-like container, a plurality of vibrating units one of which is contained within each individual ventilated flexible box-like container, means for activating each individual vibratory unit independently of any other vibratory unit, means for adjusting the vibratory power of each. vibratory unit independently of another vibratory nnit, a plurality of infra-red heating pads, one of which is contained within each individual ventilated flexible box-like container, means for activating each individual infra-red heating pad independently of any other infra-red heating pad, and means for control ling each individual infra-red heating pad consisting of a rheostat and thermostat, said vibrating unit comprising a core and a coil for magnetizing the core and also comprising a biased clapper in operative relation to the core, a spring connecting the clapper, at one end, to the core, an adjustable weight on the other end of the clapper, and fan means carried by said weight for ventilating purposcs.