Patent ID: 6612651
Filing Date: 2003-09-02
Classification: A47C

Abstract:
An apparatus for imparting substantially oscillatory motion to a subject, the apparatus comprising:a support assembly for supporting the subject, the support assembly capable of oscillation along a path of motion with respect to a fixed frame; and an oscillatory mechanism that defines the path of motion of the oscillating support assembly, the oscillatory mechanism including a linkage assembly for coupling the oscillating support assembly to the fixed frame, the linkage assembly comprising: (i) a first link having first and second portions, the first link being coupled at a first point of the first portion to a translation mechanism attached to the oscillating support assembly, the translation mechanism arranged to allow the first point to reciprocate along a substantially straight line; the first link additionally coupled at a second point of the second portion to the fixed frame, and having a connection point disposed between the first and second portions of the first link; and (ii) a second link having a first and second portions, the second link being coupled at a first point of the first portion to a translation mechanism attached to the fixed frame, the translation mechanism arranged to allow the first point to reciprocate along a substantially straight line, the second link additionally coupled at a second point of the second portion to the oscillating support assembly, and having a connection point disposed between the first and second portions of the second link, wherein the connection point of the first link is pivotally coupled to the connection point of the second link in such a manner as to permit relative pivotal motion of the first link with respect to the second link about a pivot axis substantially perpendicular to the path of motion of the support assembly; the first portion of the first link being offset with respect to the first portion of the second link in a direction transverse to the path of motion of the oscillating support assembly, and the second portion of the first link being offset with respect to the second portion of the second link in a direction transverse to the path of motion of the oscillating support assembly in such a manner as to allow at least one of the first point to the first link and the second point of the second link to pass through a plane transverse to the path of motion and containing the first point of the second link and the second point of the first link during the oscillation along the path of motion of the support assembly; a third link having first and second portions, the third link being coupled at a first point of the first portion to a translation mechanism attached to the oscillating support assembly, the translation mechanism arranged to allow the first point to reciprocate along a substantially straight line, the first link additionally coupled at a second point of the second portion to the fixed frame, and having a connection point disposed between the first and second portions of the first link; and a fourth link having first and second portions, the fourth link being coupled at a first point of the first portion to a translation mechanism attached to the fixed frame, the translation mechanism arranged to allow the first point to reciprocate along a substantially straight line, the fourth link additionally coupled at a second point of the second portion to the oscillating support assembly, and having a connection point disposed between the first and second portions of the fourth link; wherein the connection point of the third link is pivotally coupled to the connection point of the fourth link in such a manner as to permit relative pivotal motion of the third link with respect to the fourth link about a pivot axis substantially perpendicular to the path of motion of the support assembly, and the first portion of the third link being offset with respect to the first portion of the fourth link in a direction transverse to the path of motion of the oscillating support assembly, and the second portion of the third link being offset with respect to the second portion of the fourth link in a direction transverse to the path of motion of the oscillating support assembly in such a manner as to allow at least one of the first point of the third link and the second point of the fourth link to pass through a plane transverse to the path of motion and containing the first point of the fourth link and the second point of the third link during the oscillation along the path of motion of the support assembly.