US3027892A

US3027892A - Bed vibrator

Info

Publication number: US3027892A
Application number: US30003A
Authority: US
Inventors: Stacy F Searl
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1960-05-18
Filing date: 1960-05-18
Publication date: 1962-04-03
Anticipated expiration: 1979-04-03

Description

April 3, S F SEARL BED VIBRATOR Filed May 18, 1960 X 39 INVENTOR.

3,027,392 Patented Apr. 3, 1962 3,027,892 BED VIBRATOR Stacy F. Seari, 924 Frank St., Galesburg, Ill. Filed May I8, 1960, Ser'. No. 30,003 11 Claims. (el. 12s- 33) This invention relates to therapeutic vibrating devices, and more particularly to an improved portable vibrating device for demountable attachment to a bed.

The invention comprehends a compact collapsible device which occupies a minimum amount of space and which can be readily applied to any bed having a boxspring and mattress supported on a frame.

.This invention is an improvement over the invention described in my co-pending application, Serial No. 757,831, filed August 2S, 1958 and now Patent No. 2,953,128.

As is known to those familiar with the art of bed vibrating devices, the great majority of the devices are in some way, either directly or indirectly, connected to the bed frame itself. An important disadvantage of having the vibrating device attached directly to the bed frame is that the entire bed frame tends to vibrate, causing undesirable noises, not only in the same room where the bed is located, but also in adjacent rooms. Thus the use of such an arrangement could prove highly impractical im a public building such as a hotel or hospital.

Although in some arrangements attempts have been made to cushion frame-mounted vibrating devices, these arrangements have not been entirely satisfactory, because the cushioning material tends to absorb the vibrations and thereby minimize their effect.

Other disadvantages of many of the conventional bed vibrating devices is that they are so large or unwieldy as to render their use impractical. Also, certain of the prior art devices are `so designed as to be applicable only to certain types or sizes of beds.

It is a primary object of this invention, therefore, to provide a compact collapsible portable vibrating device which can be readily applied to any bed having a box-spring and mattress supported on a frame.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a bed vibrating device which can be applied to a bed without attaching any portion of the device to the bed frame itself.

A more specific object of the invention is the provision of a bed vibrating device which can be supported entirely by the box-spring and mattress of a bed of any common design or size.

These and other objects of the invention will be apparent from an examination of the following description and drawings, wherein:

FIGURE l is a fragmentary bottom plan View of a bed vibrating device embodying features of the invention;

FIGURE 2 is a side elevational view, partly in vertical section taken on line '2-2, of the structure illustrated in FIGURE l;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged side elevational View, partly n vertical section, of a portion of the structure illustrated in FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is a vertical section of another portion of the structure illustrated in FIGURE 2; and

FIGURE 5 is a schematic view illustrating the application of the device in FIGURES 1-4 to a conventional boxspring and mattress of a standard bed.

It will be understood that, for purposes of clarity, certain elements have been omitted from certain views Where they are better illustrated in other views.

Referring now to the drawing for a better understanding of the invention, it will be seen that a device embodying features of the invention is shown as applied to a conventional box-spring S and a mattress M of a standard bed, the structure of the bed frame not being shown as it does not form any part of this invention.

The device includes a base 10 which is a relatively thin plate, preferably formed of plywood or a similar material, presenting a substantially flat upper surface for engagement with the underside of the box-spring KS, and having mounted on its underside a vibrating mechanism, indicated generally at 12.

The vibrating mechanism may be of varying forms, but is preferably of the type disclosed in my previously mentioned co-pending application. It includes an electric motor 14 having an enclosed shaft 16 with an eccentrically disposed weight i8 secured to the free end of the shaft.

The motor may be secured to the underside of the base plate l@ by means of a pair of spaced generally L-shaped preferably metallic mounting brackets 20, each of which comprises integrally formed horizontaly and vertically extending

elements

22 and 24, respectively, which may be attached to the base plate and motor by

bolts

26 and 28, respectively.

As best seen in FIGURE l, the base plate 1t) is provided at each side with a plurality of thin tlat elongated parallel iixed arms 30 which are spaced from each other longitudinally of the base plate and which project outwardly toward the sides of the bed. The fixed arms 30 may also be formed of plywood, or a similar material; and their inner ends may be detachably secured to the base plate by a plurality of bolt and nut assemblies 32, so that they can be easily removed for purposes of transportation or storage. When assembled for use the base plate and arms may be considered as an integral structure. If desired, of course, the base plate and arms may be formed as a one-piece unitary or integral structure.

At their outer ends the fixed arms 30 are each connected to one end of a band or connector 34, preferably formed of a relatively flexible, though non-elastic, material such as canvas. The bands are each of substantially the -same width as the arms 30 and their length is approximately equal to, or slightly greater than, the thickness of a standard box-spring.

The connection between each arm 30 and its related band 34 is preferably semi-permanent in n-ature and may be accomplished by the use of a metal clip 36 which serves to clamp the band to the end of the arm, and which in turn is secured to the arm by a plurality of rivets or bolt and nut assemblies 38.

At their opposite ends the bands 34 are each connected to an elongated relatively thin flat somewhat flexible movable arm 40 by a similar connection which also includes a clip 42 engaging the band and which is secured to the arm by other rivets or bolt and nut assemblies 44.

Although the movable arms 40 may be of the same general shape and size as the fixed arms, the movable arms are preferably formed of a more flexible material, suchas iibreboard.

Referring again to FIGURE 5 of the drawing, it will be understood that, after the device has been assembled, with the fixed arms secured to the base plate, the device can be easily applied to a bed without the need for any additional securing means whatsoever. The base plate is iirst placed in position under the box-spring and the upper or movable arms as inserted between the spring and mattress from opposite sides of the bed. The Weight of the mattress on the upper or movable arms serves to maintain the entire device in proper position.

In operation, as the motor shaft rotates, the eccentric weight sets up a vibration which is transferred to the base plate and fixed arms through the mounting brackets, and thence to the spring and to the mattress, both directly, through the spring, and also indirectly, through U the movable arms interposed between the spring and mattress. Thus, no part of the device is fastened or connected in any Way to the bed frame, and also no part of the device projects out from the sides of the bed to cause an obstruction. In fact, no part of the device is normally visible when the bed is made up. If desired, the arms 30 may be made adjustable in any manner to facilitate use of the device with beds of varying widths.

I claim:

l. In a collapsible vibrating device for demountable attachment to a bed having a mattress and box-spring supported on a frame, the combination of: a relatively thin base plate presenting a substantially flat upper surface for abutting engagement with the underside of the spring; a vibrating mechanism mounted on the underside of said base plate and including an electric motor with a shaft having a weight eccentrically mounted thereon; a plurality of relatively thin flat elongated xed lower arms having their inner ends demountably secured to said plate with their outer ends extending outwardly from opposite sides of the base plate toward the sides of the bed in spaced parallel relationship with each other; a plurality of elongated relatively thin at generally exible movable upper arms adapted to be interposed between the spring and mattress in spaced parallel relationship with each other in substantial vertical alignment with the related fixed lower arms, and with the outer ends of the upper arms located adjacent the sides of the bed and with the inner ends of the upper arms extending toward the center of the bed; and a plurality of flexible non-elastic bands adapted to engage the sides of the spring and having their opposite ends connected to the outer ends of the upper and lower arms, respectively.

2. In a collapsible vibrating device for demountable attachment to a bed having a mattress and box-spring supported on a frame, the combination of: a relatively thin base plate for abutting engagement with the underside of the spring; a vibrating mechanism mounted on the underside of said base plate; a plurality of relatively thin at elongated fixed lower arms having their inner ends demountably secured to said plate with their outer ends extending outwardly from opposite sides of the base plate toward the sides of the bed in spaced parallel relationship with each other; a plurality of elongated relatively thin flat generally flexible movable upper arms adapted to be interposed between the spring and mattress in spaced parallel relationship with each other in substantial vertical alignment with the related xed lower arms, and with the outer ends of the upper arms located adjacent the sides of the bed and with the inner ends of the upper arms extending toward the center of the bed; and a plurality of flexible non-elastic bands adapted to engage the sides of the spring and having their opposite ends connected to the outer ends of the upper and lower arms, respectively.

3. In a collapsible vibrating device for demountable attachment to a bed having a mattress and box-spring supported on a frame, the combination of: a relatively thin base plate presenting a substantially at upper surface for abutting engagement with the underside of the spring; a vibrating mechanism mounted on the underside of said base plate; a plurality of relatively thin flat elon` gated xed lower arms having their inner ends demountably secured to said plate with their outer ends extending outwardly from opposite sides of the base plate toward the sides of the bed in spaced parallel relationship with each other; a plurality of elongated relatively thin flat generally ilexible movable upper arms adapted to be interposed between the spring and mattress in spaced parallel relationship with each other in substantial vertical alignment with the related fixed lower arms, and with the outer ends of the upper arms located adjacent the sides of the bed and with the inner ends of the upper arms extending toward the center of the bed; and a plurality of bands having their opposite ends connected to the outer ends of the upper and lower arms, respectively.

4. In a collapsible vibrating device for demountable attachment to a bed having a mattress and a box-spring supported on a frame, the combination of: a base plate for abutting engagement with the underside of said spring; a vibrating mechanism on the underside of said base plate; a plurality of relatively thin flat lower arms demountably secured to said plate and extending outwardly from opposite sides of the plate toward the sides of the bed in spaced parallel relationship with each other; a plurality of elongated relatively thin flat generally flexible upper arms adapted to be interposed between the spring and mattress so as to extend transversely of the bed in spaced parallel relationship with each other; and a plurality of exible non-elastic bands adapted to engage the sides of the spring and having their opposite ends connected to the outer ends of the upper and lower arms, respectively.

5. In a collapsible vibrating device for demountable attachment to a bed having a mattress and box-spring supported on a frame, the combination of: a base plate presenting a substantially flat upper surface for abutting engagement with the underside of the spring; a vibrating mechanism mounted on the underside of said base plate; a plurality of relatively thin at elongated lolwer arms demountably secured to said plate and extending outwardly from opposite sides of the base plate toward the sides of the bed in spaced parallel relationship with each other; a plurality of elongated relatively thin flat generally exible upper arms adapted to be interposed between the spring and mattress so as to extend transversely of the bed in spaced parallel relationship with each other', and a plurality of exible bands having their opposite ends connected to the outer ends of the upper and lower arms, respectively.

6. In a collapsible vibrating device for demountable attachment to a bed having a mattress and a box-spring supported on a frame, the combination of: a base plate for abutting engagement with the underside of said spring; a vibrating mechanism on the underside of said base plate; a plurality of relatively thin at elongated lower arms extending outwardly from the base plate toward opposite sides of the bed in spaced parallel relationship with each other; a plurality of elongated relatively thin dat generally exible upper arms adapted to be interposed between the spring and mattress so as to extend transversely of the bed in spaced parallel relationship with each other; and a plurality of flexible bands having their opposite ends connected to the outer ends of the upper and lower arms, respectively.

7. In a collapsible vibrating device for demountable attachment to a bed having a box-spring and mattress supported on a frame, the combination of: a base plate for abutting the underside of the spring; a vibrating mech anism on the underside of the base plate; a pair of lower arms demountably secured to and extending outwardly from the base plate toward opposite sides of the bed; a pair of upper arms adapted to be interposed between the spring and mattress and extend transversely thereof; and a pair of exible bands interconnecting the lower arms to respective upper arms.

8. In a portable vibrating device for demountable attachment to a bed having a spring and mattress, the combination of: a base plate for abutting engagement with the underside of the spring; a Vibrating mechanism mounted on the underside of the base plate; one pair of arms extending from the base plate toward opposite sides of the bed; another pair of arms adapted to be received between the spring and mattress and extend inwardly from opposite sides of the bed; and a pair of bands connecting the arms of said one pair to the related arms of said other pair.

9. A device according to claim 8, wherein the arms of said one pair are demountably attached to the base plate.

10. A device according to claim 8, wherein the spring and mattress serve as the sole means of support for the device.

11. In a portable vibrating device for demountable attachment to a bed having a spring and a mattress disposed directly below and in substantial horizontal alignment therewith, the combination of: a relatively thin flat arm adapted to be received between said spring and said mattress; a base plate adapted to be mounted directly below and in abutting engagement fwith said spring;

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,017,840 Amet Feb. 20, 1912 2,512,621 Emerson June 27, 1950 2,574,945 Werner Nov. 13, 1951 2,920,619 McMillan Jan. 12, 1960