EP2849713B1

EP2849713B1 - Vibroacoustic bed for the reduction of cellulite

Info

Publication number: EP2849713B1
Application number: EP13722582.7A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Diego KRISCAK
Original assignee: DIREDI Srl
Current assignee: DIREDI Srl
Priority date: 2012-03-22
Filing date: 2013-03-19
Publication date: 2017-10-25
Anticipated expiration: 2033-03-19
Also published as: WO2013140428A1; ITGO20120002A1; EP2849713A1; EP2849713B8

Description

Field of the Invention

The invention refers to a vibroacoustic bed equipped with reflex ducts.

Background of the Invention

In the last twenty years the resonant effect of the low frequency sinusoidal wave on the human body has been studied. Specific areas of the human body, stimulated by certain frequencies, resonate, recalling what ultimately we can suppose it is like the "diapason effect" by placing two in tune diapason on the same near frequency by hitting one also the other one resonates and starts to resonate to vibrate by emitting a sound wave of the same frequency.Vice versa, if the two diapason are not perfectly in tune on the same frequency it is not possible to achieve any result.
The resonant effect leads to the production of internal vibrations, by the treated subject, which are similar to a massage which spreads from the inside out.
The use of beds with sub-woofers or vibroacoustic beds, to treat the human body, has long been known.
EP1491228A2 describes a system whereby a massage bed is equipped with an electrodynamic sub-woofer with frequencies in the range 2-20 Hz. The subwoofer is placed underneath the flat surface on which the mattress leans.
WO1987/05497 describes a system which could condition through the sound the human body including a closed box with at least an opening for the sound where the sub-woofer is located and directed toward the body of the patient.
AT 509 544 A1 describes a vibroacoustic bed far the reduction of cellulite, in which the sound is produced by at least one electrodynamic sub-woofer placed below the piane of the bed and inserted into a large size box on the whole forming an acoustic box. Each sub-woofer is connectable to a power amplifier and this, in turn, to a sound card connected to a personal computer. Foresaid box is divided into two compartments by a vertical septum provided with an opening passing through. In said opening is housed the outer edge of the cone of at least one electrodynamic sub-woofer, positioned with its longitudinal axis horizontal.
However, in these vibroacoustic beds the resonant part of the patient's body is just that one placed close to the dispensed source.

Summary of the invention

According to the invention, a vibroacoustic bed as claimed in claim 1 is provided.
The purpose of this invention is making available a vibroacoustic bed to users allowing the reduction of cellulite both on the whole body and through localized stimulation. The bed vibroacoustic in question aims to achieve this and other purposes, the same bed consists of a wooden box of large size , four support feet, a mattress located on its upper base and at least one sub-woofer and two flexible hoses.
The sub-woofer is located inside the wooden box, together they make a loudspeaker.
The sub-woofers are connected together is series and in parallel or in push-pull.
Each sub-woofer is connected to external devices consisting of a power amplifier, a sound card and a personal computer.
The frequencies generated by the personal computer and emitted by the sub-woofer through the power amplifier and the sound card are between 30 Hz and 40 Hz or multiple both in sinusoidal single-frequency and multi-frequency.
The box is divided into two compartments by a vertical septum with at least an opening passing through. In each opening of the vertical septum, the outer edge of the cone of the sub-woofer is housed with its longitudinal axis horizontal.
The box has at least two reflex ducts inside the first compartment with an open end at the top of the box itself. In addition in the second compartment there are at least two more reflex ducts, they also have the outlet in the upper part of the box. Inside the second compartment there are two further lateral and frontal openings.
The dual load reflex system is used when the subject lies on the bed and the sound must be radiated on the whole body. The transmission of sound occurs through reflex ducts with the outlet in the upper part of the box. The lateral and frontal openings of the second compartment are closed by plugs. Given the need to generate frequencies belonging to the range of deep bass with a correct sound pressure, considering that in the dual load reflex the sub-woofer must be able to respond to the stresses at low frequency with good response and minimum distortion is preferable to use loudspeakers such as Woofer 15" and 18", which are characterized by a low frequency resonance and by a sound pressure of 30 Hz which is significant (above 70dB spl).
The symmetrical loaded system is preferable in case the subject, due to his reduced capacity motor, is not able to lie down on the bed. In this case a localized stimulation operates while the subject sits down on a chair. The reflex ducts, with the outlet in the upper part of the box are closed by plugs, while on each the frontal and lateral openings of the second compartment, the extremity of a flexible hose is fixed.
The sound propagates through lateral and frontal openings and from here in to the localized stimulation of the subject through flexible hoses.
Switching from one system to another can be easy implemented by closing the lateral and frontal openings and by leaving open the reflex ducts which lead in the upper part of the box, otherwise by closing the foresaid ducts and leaving open the lateral and frontal openings.
The base of the bed, which is made of the foresaid box, is used not only as a support to treat the subject but as sound-box of generated sound sinusoidal waves by allowing the diffusion of useful frequencies in the supported area.
By stimulating local areas subject to cellulite with sinusoidal sounds at frequency between 30 Hz and 40 Hz through a box which is made up of the sound-box itself and on the basis of the effect diapason, a resonant vibration induced is obtained resulting in dissolution of cellulite.
The sub-woofer can also emit sinusoidal multi frequency signals or sinusoidal signals generated simultaneously so that the application of more sound stress leads to more resonant specific areas at the same time, again based on the effect diapason.

As an example in the beneath table which refers to "Olav Skille" Vibroacoustic Manual, 1990" the number of subjects who detect the sensation of vibration in specific areas of the body:

FREQUENCY (Hz)	40	50	60	70	50	40	30	20	40
FEET	6	1	0	1	2	6	0	5	6
CALVES	22	4	0	0	3	26	22	6	22
THIGHS	8	1	2	0	3	4	7	15	8
SACRUM	2	6	5	10	15	1	2	4	2
LUMBAR BONES	1	11	6	1	4	0	0	6	0
CHEST	0	7	18	10	4	0	0	0	0
CERVICAL VERTEBRAE	0	4	2	4	2	0	0	0	0
SPINE	0	2	2	2	1	0	3	1	0
HEAD	0	1	2	11	0	0	0	0	0

FREQUENCY (Hz)	40	50	60	70	50	40	30	20	40
GENERAL	0	2	2	9	5	2	5	2

In the range from 20Hz - 80Hz the whole body resonates both on the epidermis and at a deeper level. In case, only the reduction of cellulite is meant the useful range is 30Hz - 40 Hz.

Brief description of the drawings

The subject of this patent is fully clarified in every significant feature by the description of a specific execution form, preferred but not exclusive of the illustrated bed by way of non-limiting in the enclosed drawings:

figure 1 is a side view of the bed;
figure 2 is a top view of the bed, without the mattress;
figure 3 is a longitudinal section of the box;
figure 4 is a frontal view of the bed;
figure 5 is a scheme of the connections.

Description of a preferred embodiment

The present vibroacoustic bed comprises a parallelepiped-shaped big wooden box 1 of large size. The box 1 is divided into two compartments by a vertical septum 1.1 provided with a passing through opening 1.2. In the opening 1.2 is housed the outer edge of the cone of a sub-woofer 2, located with its longitudinal axis horizontal. Two first reflex ducts 1.3 with an open end at the top of the box 1 are present inside the first compartment. Two second reflex ducts 1.4 with an open end at the top of the box 1 are present inside the second compartment. Two openings 1.5 with an open end on the side of the box 1 are further present inside the second compartment. On each side opening 1.5 is fixed the extremity of a flexible hose 3.
The box 1 is equipped with four support feet 1.6. On the upper side of the box 1 lies a mattress 4.
The sub-woofer 2 is connected to a power amplifier 5, which is placed outside the box 1. In turn the amplifier 5, is connected to a sound card 6. The input of the sound card 6 is connected to a personal computer 7.
The box 1 is a loudspeaker which can be used both with the dual load reflex system and a symmetrically loaded.
In the dual load reflex system the four reflex ducts 1.3, 1.4 facing upwards, under the mattress 4 of the box 1, are open and the sound radiates on the whole body of the subject. The side openings 1.5 are closed by plugs.
In the symmetrically loaded system the four reflex ducts 1.3, 1.4 are closed by plugs and the sound propagates through the side openings 1.5 and from here on, through flexible hoses 3 to the localized stimulation of the subject, who seats on a chair (not showed in the figures).
The sizing of the bed starts from the evaluation of the parameters, declared by the manufacturer, of Thiele and Small of the sub-woofer 2. It is necessary to calculate the width of the two compartments of the loudspeaker (Va and Vb) separated by the septum 1.1, frequency agree of the two Helmotz resonators (Fa and Fb) formed by the two compartments with the reflex ducts 1.3, 1.4 and the lengths (La and Lb) and diameters (Da and Db) of the two reflex ducts 1.3, 1.4. In sizing, a systematic response, possibly flat on the requested range, (30Hz-40Hz) and an adequate sound pressure level for the lowest frequency (30Hz) must be ensured.
In this case a very regular response is noticed, with frequency at 3db at about 17Hz for the lower and 70 Hz for the high frequencies. The reference pressure at 1m/2.83V is remarkable, more than 90 dB, with a maximum sound pressure of more 116dB. Besides, there are no problems as for the impedance or the maximum power bearable.
As described before in order to use the localized stimulation of the person, the four reflex upper ducts are closed 1.3,1.4 and the side openings 1.5 are used, with the symmetrical loaded system.
If the side openings 1.55 were positioned on the first compartment, the resulting tuning frequencies, by using flexible hoses 3 between 50cm and 2m length, are too low (between 7Hz and 3.6Hz).
But using the side openings 1.5 in the second compartment (with lower volume) frequencies in the area of interest are obtained.
By using a 0.5 m, 1 m and 2 m in length single hose 3 with 10 cm external diameter, according to the resonance frequencies formula of Hemoltz resonator: $F_{0} = \frac{c}{2 π} \sqrt{\frac{S}{(l + 0.8 \sqrt{S}) V}}$
where V=volume of the septum, S = surface of the duct, c = speed of the sound, the following frequencies are obtained:

F0.5 = 19.8Hz
F1 = 14.5Hz
F2 = 10.5Hz

To have an adequate sound pressure, the higher frequency, should be chosen that is 19.8 Hz, but in this case the flexible hose 3 is too short and it does not allow full operation. The only solution in that case is to use two flexible hoses 3, in which case the length of each flexible hose 3 doubles. For instance, by using a frequency agree at 20 Hz with two flexible hoses 3 of 10cm diameter and 1m in length the reference pressure is more than adequate, more than 78 dB in range between 10 and 20 Hz.
Also the maximum pressure is excellent, between 92 and 103 dB in the same frequencies interval. The impedance is not a cause for concern, while the maximum power at 10 Hz must be limited at 20 W. According to the ease of application, the two flexible hoses 3 can stand on the front or on the side of the bed.
Vibroacoustic bed, as conceived, is subject to further modifications and variations, within the scope of the claims.

Claims

A vibroacoustic bed for the reduction of cellulite comprising a box (1) of large size equipped with four feet support (1.6) and a mattress (4) which is placed on an upper base of the box, wherein the vibroacoustic bed further comprises an electrodynamic sub-woofer and in use sound is produced from the at least one electrodynamics sub-woofer (2) placed inside the box (1); said box (1) and sub-woofer (2) forming a loudspeaker; said box (1) being divided into two compartments by a vertical septum (1.1) with at least one passing through opening (1.2); in each opening (1.2) of the vertical septum (1.1) an outer edge of a cone of one of the at least one sub-woofers (2) being housed and positioned with its longitudinal axis horizontal; said vibroacoustic bed being connectable to external devices consisting of a power amplifier (5), a sound card (6) and a personal computer (7); said sound card (6) being connected to the power amplifier (5) and through its input to the personal computer (7); each sub-woofer (2) being connectable to the power amplifier (5); frequencies between 30Hz and 40Hz and multiples, both in sinusoidal single-frequency and multi-frequency being generatable by the personal computer (7) and emittable by the sub-woofer (2) through the power amplifier (5) and the sound card (6); at least two first reflex ducts (1.3) being inside the first compartment with their outlet in the upper base of the box (1); at least two second reflex ducts (1.4) being inside the second compartment with their outlet in the upper base of the box (1); at least two lateral or frontal openings (1.5) being further inside the second compartment; both the first reflex ducts (1.3) and the second reflex ducts (1.4) with their outlet in the upper base of the box (1) and the lateral or frontal openings (1.5) being equipped with removable plugs.
The vibroacoustic bed according to claim 1, wherein the vibroacoustic bed further comprises a flexible hose (3), wherein an end of the flexible hose is fixable on each lateral or frontal opening.
The vibroacoustic bed according to claim 1, wherein the vibroacoustic bed comprises more than one sub-woofer, said sub-woofers (2) being connected in series.
The vibroacoustic bed according to claim 1, wherein the vibroacoustic bed comprises more than one sub-woofer, said sub-woofers (2) being connected in parallel.
The vibroacoustic bed according to claim 1, wherein the vibroacoustic bed comprises more than one sub-woofer, said sub-woofers (2) being connected in push-pull.