US2852021A - Half wave magnetic vibrating mattress - Google Patents

Description

Sept. 16, 1958 J. D. JEssUP HALF wAvE MAGNETIC VIBRATING MATTRESS Filed Oct INVENTOR. JACOB D. JESASUP BY 6 21/ HL2/@14% s AGENT United States Patet 2,352,021 HALE WAVE MAGNETIC VIBRATING MATTRESS Jacob D. Jessup, Wichita Falls, Tex., assignor to Wayland D. Keith, Wichita Falls, Tex.

Application October 28, 1955, Serial No. 543,429

3 Claims. (Cl. 12S-33) This invention relates to improvements in therapeutic mattresses and more particularly to therapeutic mattresses which will give a controlled amplitude of the high frequency, vibratory movement to the spring foundation of an inner-spring type mattress, which movement is transferred to the padded portion of the mattress so as to give passive exercise of a frequency and amplitude to impart a soothing, relaxing effect to the muscles and nerves of an individual resting on the mattress.

Various mattresses have been proposed heretofore which impart gyrating or vibrating movement, but these, for the most part are operated by an electric, rotary motor of a character which employs brushes, bearings, armatures and the like, which are subject to heating when contined in a relatively close place, and would therefore present a fire hazard, particularly when used with inflammable material such as the padding and covering of4 a mattress. frowned upon by tire underwriters laboratories as being unsafe.

The present invention particularly stresses and em:

phasizes the safety of the device presented herein, as well as the Vfact that the amplitude of the vibratory movement can be minutely controlled from zero to the maximum rated amplitude, thereby giving the result desired, whether a gentle soothing motion to quiet an infant, to the maximum movement to relax an athlete or other hardy adult, or the movement may be varied to give the result desired.

An object of this invention is to provide a mechanism l for imparting to a mattress or the like, a vibratory movement of an amplitude or vibration which may be accurately controlled.

Another object of the invention is to provide a vibrating mechanism to be installed in conjunction with the framework of an inner-spring mattress so that the vibratory movement will be transmitted to each and every spring within the mattress.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a vibrator unit for a mattress which may be removed from or replaced into the mattress from the exterior thereof, without the necessity of any internal connections within the mattress.

Yet a further object of the invention is to provide a vibrating unit for a mattress or the like, which is operated by rectified, alternating current in such manner as not to require contact points to excite the vibratory movement of the vibrating element.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an electrical vibrating unit for a mattress or the like which is free of nre hazard, that is, the unit does not have such electrical elements as brushes, points or other elements which are subject to arcing.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide an electrical vibrator device which has a selenium half wave rectier so as to convert the usual sixty cycle electricity into a rectified current which usually gives 3600 pulsationsV per minute to the vibrating element.Y

With these objects in mind and others which will become manifest as the description proceeds, reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings in which like reference characters designate like parts in the several views therein, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective View of a mattress of the innerspring type with parts broken away and shown in Section to bring out the details of construction;

Fig. 2 is lan enlarged perspective view of the vibrating unit shown apart from the mattress, with parts broken away andshown in section to bring out the details of construction;

Fig; 3 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view takenV on the line 3-3 of Fig. l, looking in the direction indicated by the arrows;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary detail view showing the method of connecting the vibration transmitting elements to the springs of the inner-spring mattress;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional, detailed View taken through a portion of the case which houses the vibrating unit, and showing the method of insulating the housing with sound deadening insulation;

Fig. 6 is a wiring diagram of the electrical elements and the vibrator;

Fig. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken through one of the bolts which attach the vibrating unit to the mattress frame, and showing the particular Such structures have heretofore been manner of mounting the vibrating element by the rubbe cushioning elements; and j Y Fig. 8 is a diagrammatic plan view of a mattress with parts broken away and showing two vibrating units installed therein.

With more detailed reference to the drawing, the numeral 1 designates generally a mattress of the innerspring type, having upper and lower frame members 2 and to which spiral coil springs 4 are attached in the usual manner, as by transverse spiral, pigtail springs 6, Fig. 4, which pigtail springs are entwined between adjacent edges of springs 4 both atfthe top and bottom thereof. The adjacent longitudinal rows of springs are connected together by means of clips 3 in the usual manner. It is preferable to have thin, metal, longitudinal straps 10 looped around each of the frame members 2 and secured together by fastening means 12, such as rivets or the like, so that the thin metal straps will normally be relatively taut, so that any vibration accorded to the frame members 2 will be transmitted through straps 10 to the springs 4 connected thereto and to the opposite end member 2.

It is preferable to have the straps ll connected by clips 14 to the ends of adjacent pairs of helical springs 4, that is, as viewed in Fig. 4, the straps 10 which attach to adjacent pairs of springs 4 by clips 14 along the lower ends of the springs, while along `the next row of springs the straps attach to the upper ends of helical springs 4, and so on, alternating the rows of springs, thereby, one of the straps 10 is connected to each individual spring 4, either at the top or bottom thereof throughout the entire mattress, with the exception of the end rows of springs 4 which are attached to the member 2 by the strap 10 being looped over the frame and over the upper portion of the spring 4, as will best be seen in Fig. 3.

One end of the mattress, as shown in Fig. l, or both ends thereof, as shown in Fig. 8, may have a frame member generally indicated at 16, which frame member has a channel har t8 having a central, inturned U-yoke por-V tion 19 therein to receive the housing of the vibrator unit, designated generally at 32. Upright bars 20 are secured to channel bar 18, by rivets or the like, as indicated at 22 in Fig. 3. The upright bars 20 have the ends thereof inturned as shown at 24 to encompass the frame members 2, so as to rigidly `hold the upper and lower frame fmembers a spaced distance apart, as will best be seen in Figs. l and 3. The inner two upright members 20 have bolts 26 secured thereto, as by welding, so that the threaded end portion of each bolt projects outward to register Vwith the `respective holes 28 formed Within the plate 30 of the vibrator unit, designated generally by the numeral 32.

A rubber bushing member -34 is threaded over each of the bolts 26 and is positioned .intermediate the outer faces of upright members 20 and the inner face of vibrator plate 30. A rubber grommet 36 is tted within each of the holes 28 and projects outward and is fitted intermediate washer 38 and nut 40 on the respective bolts so as to completely support the vibrating elements 32 on rubber in such manner that the vibrations transmitted to the frame' members 2 will be through the rubber elements 34 and 36, thereby cushioning the vibrations and dampening any hum or noise which may occur within the vibrating mechanism 32.

The vibrating element generally designated at 32 is preferably housed within casing 42 which is riveted to plate 3i) by means of rivets 44. The inner surface of plate 30 and the inner and outer surfaces of casing 42 are coated with a lire resistant, sound deadening insulation 46, as indicated in Fig. 5. By having the core 48 of the coil S mounted on a rubber cushioning member 52 and secured thereto by means of a bolt 54, the vibrating element is further cushioned to minimize the noise and to make the vibrations of the armature 56 more gentle. The core 48 is Vpreferably of the double magnetic closed iield type core so as to present the maximum flow of magnetic iluX through the central post portion 58 of the core and through each end post portion 60, which portions 58 and 60 are integral with the base of the core 48. The magnetic flux will ow through armature 56 when the coil 50 is energized by the iiow of current through wires 62. The armature 56 is resiliently mounted, as by arcuately formed spring 64, which spring is attachably secured to one of the upright posts 60 by means of cap screws 66 and which spring is also attached to armature 56 by means of rivets 68, so the spring 64 will hold the armature 56 a spaced distance above the ends of the upright post portions 58 and 60. Which arrangement will give the maximum vibration eiiiciency without the armature 56 coming into contact with the upper ends of post portions 58 and 60.

With vibrator unit 32 mounted in an end of the mattress, such as shown in Fig. l, the unit is ready ,for connection of the wires 62 with the control elements.

In the form of the invention as shown in Fig. 8, vibrator units 32 and 32a are mounted yin respective opposite ends of mattress 1a and wires 62 and 62a are connected to the respective vibrator units and to a variable resistance, rectifier and timer unit 74, substantially as shown diagrammatically, in full outline and in dashed outline in Fig. 6. It is preferable to have the variable resistance, rectifier and timer enclosed within a single housing, such as indicate-d diagrammatically at 75, in Fig. 8.

A half-wave rectifier 70 is provided within the `circuit formed between the wires 62 so that the conventional alternating current, to which plug 72 is connected, will direct alternating current through a timer 74, through a protective fuse 76 and a rheostat control unit 78, and through the coil 50 of the vibrator unit 32, so as to cause a vibration of the armature 56. The electrical timer 74, which is of the conventional commercial type, may be set to run for any desired length of time and to automatically shut off at the end of such period. The rheostat 78 is of the current limiting type so as to limit the iiow of `current through the rectifier 70 and coil 50, consequently the flow of current may be so regulated through the coil 50 as to give from zero amount of current therethrough to the unimpeded -liow of current therethrough.

' Therefore the magnetic iiux induced by the coil will be proportional to the liow of current therethrough, consequently thereaction on the armature 56 .will also be proportional to the magnetic ux flowing therethrough. In this manner the amplitude of the vibrations within the mattress, chair or the like, can be directly controlled by the rheostat 78 to give the desired magnetic attraction to armature 56.

With the vibrator unit assembled, as indicated at 32 in Fig. 2, and with the rubber cushioning elements 34 in place and with the rubber grommets 36 in place within holes 28, and with the holes 28 in register with bolts 26, and vwith the edge covering 3 of the mattress open between adjacent central upright bars 20, the unit 32 may be litted into a space or recess encompassed by U-yoke 19, but not in contact therewith, and with the bolts 26 projecting outwardthrough plate 30, Washers 38v and nuts 40 may be placed thereon and the nuts tightened so as to iirmly hold the vibrating unit 32 in place, and with the unit in place, as indicated in Fig. 3, at one end of a mattress, or with a unit in place at each end of the ,mattress as shown in Fig. .8, the device is ready for operation, and with the unit 32 connected by means of wires 62 to the'control elements as shown in Fig. 6, the timer may be set and the mattress is ready to be accupied by an individual who wishes to receive the relaxation given by the vibration of the mattress. Since the timer 74, which has a time switch which time switch will automatically open the circuit at the expiration of the period of time for which the timer is set, therefore, the vibration stops. Therefore, if the gentle, passive exercise has lulled the individual to sleep, there will be no necessity for him, or'anyone else to turn off the vibrator, as this will have been done automatically. It is also to be understood that the `intensity of the vibration can be controlled vto vary from very gentle Ato fairly vigorous, depending on the results desired and the individual requirements.

While the invention has been described in some particularity for use in a mattress, it may readily be applied to couches, upholstered chairs, and other pieces of furniture upon which to rest.

While the invention has been described in some detail, and illustrated in one embodiment thereof together with a modification, it is to be understood that changes may be made in the minor details of construction and adaptations made to different installations without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:

l. A passive massaging and exercising device for use in combination with an inner spring mattress having series of longitudinally and transversely arranged rows of helical spring coils within a peripheral frame, and a rigid frame Vmember attached to the upper and lower sides of said peripheral frame at one end of said longitudinal rows of springs and vso shaped to define a recess within said rigid Vframe member within said mattress, longitudinal, taut metallic strap members attached to the opposite ends of the peripheral frame on the respective sides and extending across alternate, longitudinal rows `of said helical spring coils on one side, and across the other longitudinal rows of said helical spring coils on the other side thereof, each of said metallic straps being attached vin relatively non-movable relation to adjacent pairs of helical spring coils, a base plate, a vibrator unit comprising a core mounted on and secured to said base plate, a eld coil iixed on said core, an armature resiliently supported near said core and within the magnetic field of said coil when said coil is energized; a one-half wave rectilier unit connected within an electrical circuit to said coil and to a source of alternating current, a variable resistance in said circuit to vary the amplitude of vibration of said armature, a vibrator cover, a sound deadening insulation covering at least one of the surfaces of said cover, fastening means securing said cover to said base plate, and fastening means securing said base plate to said rigid frame. I

2. A device as set forth -in claim 1, wherein said mattress has a second rigid frame similarly attached to the opposite end of said peripheral frame, and a second, similar vibrator unit, which second vibrator unit is similarly secured to said second rigid frame.

3. A passive massaging and exercising device for use in combination with an inner spring mattress having series of longitudinally and transversely arranged rows of helical spring coils within a peripheral frame, and a rigid frame member attached to the upper and lower sides of said peripheral frame at one end of said longitudinal rows of springs and so shaped to define a recess within said rigid frame member within said mattress, longitudinal, taut metallic strap members attached to the opposite ends of the peripheral frame on the respective sides and extending across alternate, longitudinal rows of said helical spring coils on one side, and across the other longitudinal rows of said helical spring coils on the other side thereof, each of said metallic straps being attached in relatively non-movable relation to adjacent pairs of helical spring coils, a base plate, a vibrator unit comprising a core mounted on and secured to said base plate, a iield coil xed on said core, an armature resiliently supported near said core and within the magnetic field of said coil when said coil is energized; a one-half wave rectiier unit connected within an electrical circuit to said coil andto a source of alternating current, a vibrator cover, a sound deadening insulation covering at least one of the surfaces of said cover, fastening means securing said cover to said base plate, and

fastening means securing said base plate to said rigidv frame.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,253,857 McCann Cct. 14, 1941 2,425,655 Tompkins Aug. 12, 1947 2,512,621 Emerson e .Tune 27, 1950 2,541,468 Ebert Feb. 13, 1951 2,730,236 Missien Ian. 10, 1956

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