Massaging system having isolated vibrators
US6053880A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 8, 1998 |
| Grant date | Apr 25, 2000 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Sep 8, 2018 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10S5/915
- WIPO fieldMedical technology
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A massaging system for equipment such as a vehicle includes a pad; a heater element, and motorized vibrators in respective regions of the pad; a plurality of vibratory transducers for location relative to plural zones of the seat; a controller for selectively activating the transducers. Each of the vibrators is in a cavity of a main cushion member, the cavity being closed by an outer cushion member that supports an occupant, a soft isolation member being interposed between the transducer and the main cushion member. The isolation member can completely enclose the transducer; alternatively, the transducer can be bonded to the outer cushion member or a reinforcing sheet that is laminated thereto, the isolation member only partially enclosing the transducer. The isolation of the vibrators from the main cushion member provides improved selectivity of particular regions of a user's body to be massaged. Also, in multiple seating installations, unwanted vibration of one seat is suppressed during activation of vibrators in an adjacent seat. Also disclosed is a method for converting a padded support to produce isolated massaging.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.