WO2018189454A1

WO2018189454A1 - Apparatus for generating and delivering vibrations into the body, or into a part of the body, of a user, for the purpose of relaxing this person

Info

Publication number: WO2018189454A1
Application number: PCT/FR2018/050843
Authority: WO
Inventors: Grégoire MULLIEZ; Victor CHEVALLIER
Original assignee: Maans
Priority date: 2017-04-10
Filing date: 2018-04-04
Publication date: 2018-10-18
Also published as: FR3064909A1; EP3609461A1

Abstract

This apparatus (1) comprises: - one or more systems (2) for generating vibrations and a support surface against which the user rests when using the apparatus (1); - a rigid or semi-rigid intermediate transmission part (3) shaped to receive the body or a part of the body of the user, to which said system or systems (2) for generating vibrations are rigidly attached; and - at least one sealed flexible bag (4) forming said support surface, containing a fluid. According to the invention, - the intermediate transmission part (3) has a Young's modulus of between 0.01 and 70 GPa; and - the fluid contained in the bag (4) is a non-Newtonian and shear thickening viscous fluid (5), having a viscosity of between 0.1 and 200 Pa.s.

Description

APPARATUS FOR GENERATING AND DIFFUSING VIBRATIONS IN THE BODY, OR IN PART OF THE BODY, OF A USER PERSON,

FOR THE RELAXATION PURPOSES OF THIS PERSON

The present invention relates to an apparatus for generating and disseminating vibrations in the body, or part of the body, of a user for the purpose of relaxation of that person.

The constraints of modern life make relaxation equipment more and more necessary and desirable.

Various relaxation devices have been designed including a support surface for the user and one or more vibration generating systems that are transmitted to said surface and then to the body of that person.

The existing devices, however, do not give complete satisfaction in terms of transmission of vibrations and in terms of relaxation provided.

The present invention aims to remedy this deficiency.

Patent Application Publication No. US 2005/209539 A1 discloses an apparatus for generating and distributing vibrations in the body, or in a part of the body, of a user for the purpose of relaxation of this person, comprising :

one or more vibration generating systems and a bearing surface against which the user bears when using the apparatus;

a rigid or semi-rigid intermediate transmission piece, shaped to receive the body or part of the user's body, to which the one or more vibration generating systems are rigidly connected, so that the vibrations generated by this or these systems are transmitted to this intermediate piece; and

at least one flexible and watertight pouch forming said support surface, containing water.

This apparatus does not make it possible to remedy the said gap.

The publication of patent application No. US 2014/276255 A1 describes a similar device, which also does not make it possible to remedy said gap.

The device concerned by the invention comprises, in a manner known per se, one or more vibration generating systems, an intermediate transmission member and at least one flexible and sealed pouch forming said support surface, containing a fluid, such as than mentioned above. According to the invention, the apparatus comprises:

the transmission intermediate piece has a Young's modulus of between 0.01 and 70 GPa; and

the fluid contained in the pocket is a viscous non-Newtonian and rheo-thickening fluid whose viscosity is between 0.1 and 200 Pa.s.

By "rigid or semi-rigid" is meant that the material of the intermediate piece is self-supporting, that it does not adapt, or adapts weakly, to the shape of the body part of the user against which the apparatus is placed and is able to transmit the vibrations generated by the vibration generating system or systems. This intermediate piece may in particular be wood or synthetic material such as polycarbonate.

By "non-Newtonian and rheo-thickener" it is meant that the viscous fluid has a viscosity that increases as the fluid shear rate increases.

In practice, while the vibration generating system or systems are inactive, the user presses the part of his body intended to be relaxed against the said flexible bag or pockets, which allows this or these pockets to perfectly adapt to the shape of this body part; the vibration generating system or systems are then activated, and the generated vibrations are transmitted to the fluid contained by the bag or pockets by the intermediate piece and this or these pockets, which allows a hardening of the viscous fluid and therefore a perfect transmission of the vibrations to said body part. Said intermediate transmission part makes it possible, by its rigidity or semi-rigidity, to homogenize the transmission of vibrations to said one or more flexible and tight pockets. The viscous fluid according to the invention is particularly adapted to the transmission of vibro-tactile waves to the part of the body of the user person placed in contact with the flexible bag (s), since these waves are similar to a variation of the rate shearing in the fluid and that the rigidity of the intermediate transmission plate varies according to the frequency of the vibrations passing through it, always ensuring optimum transmission of these vibrations.

The intermediate transmission part may be in the form of a plate when the part of the body of the user to be relaxed is flat, by example when it comes to the back of this person, or in the form of a shaped shell to wrap this part.

Preferably, the viscous fluid is composed of a mixture of polyvinyl acetate, sodium tetraborate and water.

This composition is perfectly adapted to the constitution of the above viscous fluid.

The proportions of these components in the fluid may especially be as follows: from 20 to 60% of polyvinyl acetate, from 0.15 to 0.83% of sodium tetraborate and from 40 to 80% of water.

Preferably, each flexible and waterproof pouch is constituted by two pieces of a polyurethane film connected to one another at their edges.

The thus structured pocket has a deformability well adapted to the implementation of the apparatus according to the invention.

Preferably, each vibration generating system emits vibrations in a frequency range between 16 Hz and 16 000 Hz.

The higher the frequencies to be transmitted are in the bass (16 Hz to 140 Hz), the higher the rigidity of the diffusion surface of the vibrations that constitute the flexible bag (s) is high (Young's modulus greater than 10 GPa). In the same way, the higher the frequencies to be transmitted are in the high frequencies (2600 Hz to 16 000 Hz), the more this diffusion surface is flexible (Young's modulus less than 0.1 GPa). For intermediate frequencies (140 Hz to 2600 Hz), the diffusion surface has an intermediate rigidity (Young's modulus between 0.1 and 10 GPa).

The apparatus according to the invention can in particular be integrated into a chair, in particular the back of this chair, or to an object intended to be worn by the user, for example a lumbar belt or a vest. When integrated an object intended to be worn by the user, the device includes at least one battery constituting a reserve of energy for the operation of the vibration generating system or systems.

The apparatus may comprise a unique vibration generating system connected to said intermediate transmission member; it may also comprise a plurality of such systems, each being associated with a flexible and waterproof bag corresponding thereto. When the apparatus is intended for the relaxation of a person's back, it preferably comprises at least two flexible and waterproof pouches as mentioned above, arranged so as to extend parallel to the user's spine placed against these persons. pockets, on both sides of this spine.

This arrangement of the pockets makes it possible to transmit the vibrations generated by the vibration generating system to a large portion of the back of the user, without transmitting vibrations directly to the spine of this person, which would be uncomfortable for that person. this.

The apparatus may also include a third flexible and watertight pouch extending perpendicularly to the other two pockets and arranged to extend at the level of the lumbar vertebrae and the kidneys of the user.

The invention will be better understood, and other features and advantages thereof will become apparent with reference to the accompanying drawing, showing, by way of non-limiting example, a preferred embodiment of the apparatus in question.

FIG. 1 is a view of the apparatus from the front, and

Figure 2 is a sectional view along the line ll-ll of Figure 1, on a slightly enlarged scale.

The figures represent an apparatus 1 for generating and scattering vibrations in the back of a user for purposes of relaxation of this person.

The apparatus 1 comprises a vibration generating system 2, an intermediate plate 3 and three flexible and tight pockets 4 containing a viscous fluid 5. This apparatus 1 is intended in particular to be integrated in the back of a chair or to form itself. even this folder.

In the example shown, the system 2 is unique and is rigidly connected to the plate 3 in a substantially central zone of this plate. This is a system known in itself, especially that marketed under the reference Bass Pump III by the company Conrad Electronic SAS, Commercial Zone Englos the Giants, Lieu-dit du Hem Street, TSA 72001 SEQUEDIN, 59458 LOMME CEDEX, France.

The plate 3 is said to be "intermediate" in that it is intended to transmit to the pockets 4 and the fluid 5 the vibrations generated by the system 2. It has a generally trapezoidal general shape and dimensions such that it extends along the whole or most of the back of the user when the back is placed against the pockets 4. It is made of a rigid or semi-rigid material, according to a Young's modulus of between 0.01 and 70 GPa, made of wood or of synthetic material such as polycarbonate, and its function is not only to transmit the vibrations but also to distribute them over its entire surface, homogenizing so these vibrations.

The pockets 4 are of a flexible material, in particular are constituted by two pieces of a polyurethane film connected to one another at their edges by welding. They contain the fluid 5 in a sealed manner.

Two pockets 4 are arranged in the direction of the length of the plate 3, so as to extend parallel to the spine of the user person placed against these pockets, on either side of this spine, and the third Pocket 4 extends perpendicularly to the other two pockets, transversely to the plate 3 and at the lower part thereof, thus being arranged to extend at the level of the lumbar vertebrae and the kidneys of the user.

The arrangement of these pockets 4 thus makes it possible to transmit the vibrations generated by the system 2 to a large portion of the back of the user, without transmitting vibrations directly to the spine of this person, which would be uncomfortable for that person. this.

The pockets 4 together form a bearing surface against which the user presses his back while using the device 1.

The fluid 5 is a viscous fluid composed of a mixture of polyvinyl acetate, sodium tetraborate and water in the following proportions: from 20 to

60% polyvinyl acetate, 0.15 to 0.83% sodium tetraborate and 40 to

80% water.

This fluid is non-Newtonian and rheo-thickening, having a viscosity of between 0.1 and 200 Pa.s.

In practice, while the system 2 is inactive, the user presses his back against the pockets 4, which allows these pockets to perfectly adapt to the shape of the person's back; the system 2 is then activated, and the vibrations it generates are transmitted to the fluid 5 by the plate 3 and the pockets 4, which allows a hardening of the fluid 5 and therefore a perfect transmission of vibrations to the back of the user. The fluid 5 is thus particularly adapted to the transmission of vibro-tactile waves on the back of the user since these waves are similar to a variation in the shear rate in the fluid 5 and the rigidity the plate 3 varies according to the frequency of the vibrations which cross it, always guaranteeing an optimal transmission of these vibrations.

As is apparent from the above, the invention provides an apparatus for generating and diffusing vibrations in the body, or in a part of the body, of a user, allowing a perfect adaptation of the support surface of this body or body part to relax and therefore a perfect transmission of transmitted vibrations.

The invention has been described above with reference to an embodiment provided by way of example. It goes without saying that it is not limited to this embodiment but extends to all other embodiments covered by the appended claims. In particular, the apparatus 1 may be adapted to treat another part of the wearer's body that the back of this person, and may especially be portable, for example in the form of a lumbar belt or a vest; the plate 3 may be in the form of a non-flat piece, shaped to be adapted to the anatomy of the part of the body to be treated, in particular in the form of a shell.

Claims

Apparatus (1) for generating and scattering vibrations in the body, or part of the body, of a user for relaxation purposes of that person, comprising:

one or more vibration generating systems (2) and a bearing surface against which the user bears when using the apparatus (1);

an intermediate transmission part (3), rigid or semi-rigid, shaped to receive the body or part of the body of the user, to which the one or more vibration generating systems (2) are rigidly connected, so that the vibrations generated by this or these systems are transmitted to this intermediate piece (3); and

at least one pouch (4) flexible and sealed forming said bearing surface, containing a fluid;

characterized in that

the intermediate transmission piece (3) has a Young's modulus between

0.01 and 70 GPa; and

the fluid contained in the pocket (4) is a viscous (5) non-Newtonian and rheo-thickening fluid whose viscosity is between 0.1 and 200 Pa.s.

2. Apparatus (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the intermediate transmission part is in the form of a plate (3) when the part of the body of the user to be relaxed is flat, for example when it is the back of this person, or in the form of a shaped shell to wrap this part.

3. Apparatus (1) according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterized in that the viscous fluid (5) is composed of a mixture of polyvinyl acetate, sodium tetraborate and water.

4. Apparatus (1) according to claim 3, characterized in that the proportions of polyvinyl acetate, sodium tetraborate and water in the mixture are as follows: from 20 to 60% polyvinyl acetate, from 0, 15 to 0.83% sodium tetraborate and 40 to 80% water.

5. Apparatus (1) according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that each pocket (4) flexible and sealed consists of two pieces of a polyurethane film, connected to one another at the level from their edges.

6. Apparatus (1) according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that each system (2) for generating vibrations emits vibrations in a frequency range between 16 Hz and 16 000 Hz.

7. Apparatus (1) according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that it is integrated into a chair, in particular the back of the chair, or to an object intended to be worn by the user, by example a lumbar belt or a vest.

8. Apparatus (1) according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that it comprises a unique system (2) for generating vibrations, connected to said intermediate transmission part (3).

9. Apparatus (1) according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that it comprises a plurality of vibration generating systems, each associated with a flexible pouch and waterproof corresponding thereto.

10. Apparatus (1) according to one of claims 1 to 9, for the relaxation of the back of a person, characterized in that it comprises at least two pockets (4) flexible and sealed arranged so that s' extend parallel to the spine of the user placed against these pockets (4), on either side of this spine.

1 1. Apparatus (1) according to claim 10, characterized in that it comprises a third pouch (4) flexible and tight, extending perpendicularly to the other two pockets (4) and arranged to extend at the level lumbar vertebrae and kidneys of the user.