EP0296231B1

EP0296231B1 - Somatic musical exposure system

Info

Publication number: EP0296231B1
Application number: EP88901121A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Byron C. Eakin
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1987-01-02
Filing date: 1988-01-04
Publication date: 1993-06-23
Anticipated expiration: 2008-01-04
Also published as: DE3881968D1; GB8820708D0; GB2208104A; CA1322909C; ATE90863T1; DE3881968T2; WO1988004919A1; AU1181488A; GB2208104B; JPH01502322A; EP0296231A1

Abstract

Somatic musical exposure system for a person in recumbent position. The person lies on substantially rigid and laminar supporting means (12, 42, 72) above an air chamber (31, 61) of a sound housing (30, 60') with means (38a, b, c, d; 68a, b, c) providing it with music-emanating upward via the air chamber to the person so supported. The person-supporting means is itself mounted via resilient decoupling means (14, 44, 74) to a fixed frame (20, 60), which also supports the sound housing. The system may be either unitary (10) or modular (40) in form.

Description

This invention relates to means and methods whereby a recumbent listener exposed to music experiences not only audible sensations but also tactile sensations therefrom.
Since time immemorial, music has been recognized as being somehow soothing to the spirit as well as pleasing to the ear. Many people believe they work or study better within a musical environment, and some types of music are considered relaxing. Many recent developments in sound generation and reproduction equipment have accentuated and facilitated music appreciation. Music encourages such bodily activity as dancing and is now a common accompaniment to individual and group exercise programs.
Bodily well-being is enhanced by voluntary exercise, but if such exercise is impracticable or is not well distributed throughout the body or is carried to excess a form of passive exercise or "massage" often proves beneficial. Similarities between repetitive exercise and massaging movements, on the one hand, and various mechanical actions, on the other hand, have let to numerous mechanized beds, chairs, and tables. Music also has its repetitive aspect, so it is not surprising that music is common in active and passive exercise activity.
Indeed, efforts have been made to apply musical or other sonic vibrations more broadly to the body than merely to the ears. Thus, Nohmura in U.S. Patent 3,880,152 and 4,055,170 and Martimaas in U.S. Patent 4,023,566 disclose sitting or reclining means with loudspeakers directed toward the back of the person thereon, but their systems are too loosely coupled to the supported person to be conducive to the best effects. DE-A-2 846 859 similarly discloses reclining means incorporating a loudspeaker. Other inventors have employed liquid media for transmitting various vibrations to the body, but as such systems are too tightly coupled they are even less pertinent.
My somatic musical exposure system remedies the failings of the prior art and provides new levels of entertainment and passive exercise with many benefits for those exposed thereto.
In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a somatic musical exposure apparatus for exposing a recumbent person to music, comprising:
housing means (30,60) provided with music-emanating means (38,68) and defining an upwardly opening air chamber (31,61),
substantially rigid means (12,42,72) for supporting the person above the air chamber (31,61) in somatic exposure to music emanating from the music-emanating means (38,68),
and mounting means (14,34,44,64) between the housing means and the person supporting means (12,42,72) whereby the person supporting means in use support the person above the air chamber (31,61),
characterised in that
said mounting means (14,34,44,64) is resilient.
Preferably the resilient mounting means extends substantially along the periphery of the person-supporting means.
Preferably additional resilient mounting means are located within the peripheral mounting means.
Preferably the apparatus further comprises frame means which supports the housing means.
Preferably the housing means is supported indirectly, via a border member, by the frame means.
Preferably a resilient support connects the border member to the frame.
Preferably the housing means is supported via hangers from the border member.
Preferably the frame means has vertical slats with intervening slits.
Preferably the housing means comprises a substantially horizontal partition means defining thereabove the upwardly opening air chamber and supporting therein the music-emanating means.
Preferably the resilient mounting means for the person-supporting means is supported by the partition means.
Preferably the music-emanating means comprises a plurality of loud-speakers.
Preferably the apparatus includes a head rest on the border member and a pair of spaced apart loud-speakers located below and at opposite sides of the head rest.
Preferably the person-supporting means is substantially laminar.
Preferably the person-supporting means is foraminous in part for passage of music vibrations from the music-emanating means to the person.
Preferably the apparatus is a pair of half-length modules for location end to end.
Preferably the mounting means are striplike.
According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided a somatic musical exposure procedure comprising supporting a recumbent person on a somatic musical exposure apparatus according to the present invention and exposing the person to music.
A system in accordance with the invention may enhance the overall exposure of a listener to musical vibrations, and may transmit musical vibrations to the body as well as to the ears of a listener, thereby providing a somatic musical exposure system.
Preferrred features and embodiments of the invention are hereinafter described by way of non-limiting example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a first embodiment of the present invention in unitary apparatus form;
Fig. 2 is a plan view thereof, taken at II-II in Fig. 1 and partly cut away to reveal the interior;
Fig. 3 is a plan of the supporting frame and base thereof, taken at III-III in Fig. 1, less its supported components; and
Fig. 4 is a medial side elevational section of the same embodiment, taken at IV-IV in Fig. 2;
Fig. 5 is a plan view of an alternative embodiment of the invention in multiple modular, rather than unitary, form;
Fig. 6 is a fragmentary side sectional elevation, taken just under the outer sidewall, at VI-VI in Fig. 5;
Fig. 7 is a fragmentary transverse sectional elevation, taken just offset from halfway, at VII-VII in Fig. 5; and
Fig. 8 is a side sectional elevation of an alternative contoured body-supporting member useful in either embodiment.

Figs. 1 to 4 show first apparatus embodiment 10 of the present invention from various vantage points. Fig. 1 is a side view, featuring relatively thin top portion 9, which includes border member 15 with head rest 16 at its left end. Underneath is an extensive vertically slatted base with end pedestals 17 and 19 at the left and right, respectively, and raised sidewall 18. The slats of the base are spaced apart by intervening slits (indicated simply by vertical lines), being useful for absorption of undesired or reverberating sound.
Fig. 2 shows apparatus 10 in plan, as indicated at II-II on Fig. 1, but in part cut away to reveal successive layers and its interior components otherwise shown in broken lines. Generally rectangular, partly curvilinear border member 15, arcuate at the corners and recessed laterally along its sides, surrounds rectangular body-supporting laminar member 12, which is covered by mat 11. Resilient supporting strip 14 extends along and under a striplike rectangular edge of the laminar body-supporting member, and similar short strips 34 underlie and support it intermediately. Actually only the top portion (stippled) of such strips is resilient. Interior components, indicated in broken lines as being underneath the top, and others in solid lines where the top is broken away, include loudspeakers 38a, b, c, d, along with crossover networks 37. Fig. 3 shows frame 20 in plan, as taken at III-III in Fig. 1, underneath top portion 9 but omitting the interior components supported by the frame. Spaced parallel pair of sidewall pieces 21a, 21b terminate at inside faces of corner pieces 25a, 25d at the left and corner pieces 25b, 25c at the right along inside faces of endwall pieces 23a at the left and 23b at the right, and also along the inside faces of two pairs of flanking pieces 27a, 27b at the left and 29a, 29b at the right aligned with the intervening recesses along the sides. The resilient supports for the top portion overlie the two ends of the endwall and one end part of each of the flanking pieces to interconnect it non-rigidly (partially decoupled) to the frame.
Fig. 4 shows first apparatus embodiment 10 in sectional elevation taken at IV-IV in Fig. 2. Interior components on the center line appear unsectioned, and such components not present along the longitudinal vertical plane do not appear, but exterior parts of base pedestals 17 and 19 beyond the plane of the view do appear to round out the view. This view features formerly unseen sound housing 30, which resembles a bathtub, being open at the top and closed at its bottom 39, and at both its vertical sidewalls (not visible here) and its inclined ends 33, 35. The housing is lined or double-walled with a sound-absorbing layer designated by primed, otherwise identical reference numerals. The sound housing is supported indirectly by the frame, via hangers 32 extending down from border member 15--whose resilient support on the frame was noted in connection with Fig. 3--to connect with partition panel 36 of the sound housing. The partition extends across the sound housing at a level above the bottom and below the top edges to support various upwardly oriented loudspeakers: 38a (full range, say several dozen HZ to above 15 kHz), 38b (horn tweeter, from 7 or 8 to about 20 kHz), 38c (mid-range, from about 1 to 7 or 8 kHz), and 38d (woofer, from about 20 Hz to 1 kHz). Spaced thereabove by intervening air chamber 31 is body-support 12 overlain by mat 11. Openings 13 at intervals through the body-support render it in part foraminous, and resilient peripheral strip 14 and short intermediate strips 34 carry the laminar support (and mat) on the partition panel.
Operation of this first apparatus embodiment is readily understood. A person lies on the resilient mat overlying the rigid body-supporting lamina, with his or her head on the head rest. The person usually lies supine but optionally may be prone or even lying on one side. Via a control panel (not shown) such person or an operator switches on the amplifiers tuned to a musical program on radio, audiotape, etc. Musical vibrations from the loudspeakers reach the ears of the person through the surrounding air much as from any source and reach the person's body through the intervening air chamber, in part through vibration of the supporting rigid lamina and the mat thereon (if present) and in part more directly through the openings in the lamina with or without such intervening mat.
Figs. 5 to 7 illustrate second apparatus embodiment 40 of this invention in modular form. In these views, components corresponding more or less closely to those of the previous embodiment are designated by reference numerals greater by 30. Accordingly, it is unnecessary here to mention every numbered component or part. This embodiment may be equipped with a base or merely legs, but--as it also may be placed directly on the floor or on a bed, table, etc.--no base or legs are shown.
Fig. 5 shows, in plan, module 40a (with head rest 46) at the left, and module 40b at the right (with foot rest 46'). Loudspeakers 68a and 68d underneath the top are indicated in broken lines, as are peripheral (see Fig. 6) and intermediate resilient decoupling supports 44 and 64 therefor. The pair of individual modules may be separate--and be placed together as shown--or may be held together with hinges or the like to enable them to be folded for better portability.
Fig. 6 shows left module 40a fragmentarily in section, as taken at VI-VI in Fig. 5, just within the exterior near wall. Here sound housing 60 is rather compact, with partition panel 66 supported by uprights 62 on bottom 69 lined with layer 69'. Air chamber 61 overlies the partition panel and underlies the top portion made up of rigid lamina 42 and overlying resilient mat 41. Left wall 63 of the chamber is notched to receive and support the end of the partition panel and is contiguous with the mat but not with the laminar body support, which rests on resilient peripheral and intermediate supports 44 and 64, for an appropriate degree of decoupling to allow limited movement.
Fig. 7 shows left module 40a sectioned just within the end wall not shown in the preceding view. Visible here are many of the components shown in the preceding view, as well as front and rear walls 51a and 51b of the sound housing--along with their linings 51a' and 51b'. In this embodiment, the external walls (unprimed numerals) extend to a floor, table, bed, etc. (not shown) and function as frame 60; whereas layer 60' (primed numerals) functions as the sound housing proper.
Operation of this second apparatus embodiment does not differ substantially from that of the first embodiment. Electrical connections (not shown) of the respective modules may be entirely separate, or one may plug into another one. One may be used alone, as by a child or other short person. Added modules may be interposed or be placed side by side.
Fig. 8 shows third embodiment 70 of the body support of this invention having lamina 72 contoured to accommodate human bodily configuration and being hollowed underneath. Such body-supporting member may be used without an overlying mat and provide via openings (foramina) 73 therein even more direct passage for music vibrations than with a covering mat.
The apparatus of this invention may be constructed from readily available materials. The body support, the frame, housing, and base (if any) may be made of wood or of any of many polymeric plastic compositions. Lining layers may be of cork or of wood or plastic with openings recessed therein or of plastic foam, for example. Loudspeakers are available from many electrical supply houses. If desired, the loudspeakers or equivalent sound-emanating equipment may be located elsewhere and the sound therefrom be piped into the sound housing and via the air chamber toward a person on the body support.
The benefits of the inventive apparatus and method have been mentioned but should be experienced rather than merely described. Many persons find the experience to be a blend of entertainment, relaxation, and invigoration. Others would emphazise resulting effectiveness at work, study, or play.
Just as many business, commercial, and industrial firms and organizations are providing exercise facilities for their personnel, thereby enabling them to work more effectively, so can the present invention benefit them. Thus, manufacturing of the apparatus of this invention will aid the economy both directly from its manufacture and sale and indirectly through increasing the output of persons using such equipment.
Various embodiments have been presented here. They may be modified, as by adding, combining, or subdividing parts or steps, while retaining advantageS and benefits of the present invention.

Claims

A somatic musical exposure apparatus for exposing a recumbent person to music, comprising:
housing means (30,60) provided with music-emanating means (38,68) and defining an upwardly opening air chamber (31,61),
substantially rigid means (12,42,72) for supporting the person above the air chamber (31,61) in somatic exposure to music emanating from the music-emanating means (38,68),
and mounting means (14,34,44,64) between the housing means and the person supporting means (12,42,72) whereby the person supporting means in use support the person above the air chamber (31,61),
characterised in that
said mounting means (14,34,44,64) is resilient.
A somatic musical exposure apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the resilient mounting means (14, 44) extends substantially along the periphery of the person-supporting means (12, 42, 72).
A somatic musical exposure apparatus according to claim 2, wherein additional resilient mounting means (34, 64) are located within the peripheral mounting means (14,44).
A somatic musical exposure apparatus according to any preceding claim further comprising frame means (20) which supports the housing means (30).
A somatic musical exposure apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the housing means (30) is supported indirectly, via a border member (15), by the frame means (20).
A somatic musical exposure apparatus according to claim 5, wherein a resilient support (24) connects the border member (15) to the frame (20).
A somatic musical exposure apparatus according to either of claims 5 and 6, wherein the housing means (30) is supported via hangers (32) from the border member (15).
A somatic musical exposure apparatus according to any one of claims 4 to 7, wherein the frame means (29) has vertical slats with intervening slits.
A somatic musical exposure apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the housing means (30, 60) comprises a substantially horizontal partition means (36, 66) defining thereabove the upwardly opening air chamber (31,61) and supporting therein the music-emanating means (38, 68).
A somatic musical exposure apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the resilient mounting means (14, 34, 44, 64) for the person-supporting means (12, 42, 72) is supported by the partition means (36,66).
A somatic musical exposure apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the music-emanating means (38, 68) comprises a plurality of loud-speakers.
A somatic musical exposure apparatus according to claim 11, including a head rest (16, 46) on the border member (15) and a pair of spaced apart loudspeakers (38, 68) located below and at opposite sides of the head rest (16,46).
A somatic musical exposure apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the person-supporting means (12, 42, 72) is substantially laminar.
A somatic musical exposure apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the person-supporting means (12, 42, 72) is foraminous in part for passage of music vibrations from the music-emanating means (38,68) to the person.
A somatic musical exposure apparatus according to Claim 1 as a pair of half-length modules (40a, 40b) for location end to end.
A somatic musical exposure apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the mounting means (14,34,44,64) are striplike.
A somatic musical exposure procedure comprising supporting a recumbent person on a somatic musical exposure apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 16 and exposing the person to music.