A device for creating vibration within a chair which provides a therapeutic benefit to users. The chair has a control for adjusting the frequency of the vibrations and the amplitude of the vibrations, providing a wide variety of therapeutic results. The circuit powering the vibration sources within the chair employs a unique design that acts as a heat sink, effectively drawing heat away from the vibration sources and thus extending their useful life. The vibration sources may be incorporated into the seating furniture of vehicles such as automobiles or airplanes to provide relief from the strain associated with trips of extended duration. The structure has a sufficiently low profile to lend itself to placement in seating used in vehicles which have rather stringent dimensional requirements.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
This invention relates generally to seating furniture including vibrational 
sources and a variable control circuit therefor to provide comfort and 
relief from strain. The device can also be used in a variety of vehicles 
to relieve passengers from the discomfort of long trips. 
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
The prior art in this area contains vibrational devices and seating 
furniture with incorporated vibrational devices. It is stipulated, 
however, that none of these prior inventions teach singly, nor render 
obvious when combined, the nexus of the instant invention as described and 
claimed subsequently. 
It is known in the prior art to teach the incorporation of vibrational 
devices within sitting furniture; however these devices do not extend this 
configuration into the vehicle environment strategically placed, profiled 
and variable, where the need for comfort is heightened due to a restricted 
ability to move about while traveling. Furthermore, the prior art fails to 
incorporate the advantages of adjustability of frequency and amplitude of 
vibration into any of their vibrational seating devices. 
The following patents reflect the state of the art of which applicant is 
aware and are tendered with the view towards discharging applicants' 
acknowledged duty of candor in disclosing relevant known prior art to the 
Patent Office. It is respectfully stipulated, however, that none of these 
patents teach when considered singly nor render obvious when considered in 
any conceivable combination, the claimed nexus of applicant's structure. 
______________________________________ 
INVENTOR PATENT NO. ISSUE DATE 
______________________________________ 
Poor, J. H. 3,613,671 October 19, 1971 
Carruth, E. I. 
3,854,474 December 17, 1974 
Christensen, E. 
4,232,661 November 11, 1980 
Yamazaki et al. 
4,465,158 August 14, 1984 
Hseu 4,559,929 December 24, 1985 
Jefferson, LV. 
4,607,624 August 26, 1986 
Hashimoto et al. 
4,686,967 August 18, 1987 
Barreiro, A. 4,718,408 January 12, 1988 
Hasegawa, T. 4,748,972 June 7, 1988 
Yamasaki, Y. 4,785,798 November 22, 1988 
Schmerda et al. 
4,851,743 July 25, 1989 
______________________________________ 
The patent to Yamazaki et al. is of interest since it teaches the use of a 
safety device for a vehicle seat which incorporates a vibrator 
therewithin. In essence, the focal point of this invention is to disable 
the electronic control circuit which energizes the vibrator in response to 
movement of the vehicle. In this way, the vibrator can only work when the 
car is stationary. 
The patent to Hasegawa teaches the use of a vehicle seat fitted with a 
massaging device in which a motor is disposed within an associated chamber 
and a coiled spring is arranged in an associated, related spring chamber 
with operative coupling between the motor and the coiled spring. In this 
way, when the motor is rotated at a speed high enough to generate 
vibration, the coiled spring resonates therewith. 
The patent to Christensen teaches the use of a body-massage apparatus 
wherein the circuit associated therewith energizes a motor by a train of 
triangular pulses modulated by a triangular pulse signal having a lower 
frequency than that of the triangular pulse train. 
The remaining citations show the state of the art further and are believed 
to diverge even further from the claimed nexus of the instant invention. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The instant invention is distinguished over the known prior art in a 
plurality of ways. One aspect of differentiation involves the housing 
according to the instant invention within which the vibrating 
instrumentality is disposed. In essence, the housing is formed from two 
half-shells collectively joined together to form an oval-shaped container 
within which the motor and eccentric is to be housed. The oval hollow is 
circumscribed by a flange extending along an area of juncture between the 
upper and lower shell portions. The housing in turn is nested within a 
hollowed out area on a conventional low profile seat commonly used in 
industries such as the automotive, aeronautical, mass transit, and theater 
seating industries. In essence, the foam associated with a portion of the 
chair is hollowed out to receive the vibrator housing therewithin. A 
peripheral flange of the housing may extend within a slit formed in the 
foam in order to beneficially enhance the vibratory pattern emanating 
therefrom. 
The rotational characteristic of the motor is controlled by a novel circuit 
which resolves a long-standing problem which has heretofore gone 
unresolved with respect to heat dissipation in controlling DC motors. In 
essence, an entire circuit loop is operatively coupled to the circuit to 
act, as a whole, as a component heat sink. 
Moreover, a voltage comparator and its accompanying gain loop which 
consists of a capacitor and series of resistors acts as a voltage 
stabilizer and regulator thereby supplying pulse width modulation in a 
novel manner with respect to vibrator circuits heretofore unknown in the 
prior art. In this way, motor protection has been effected with a minimal 
amount of unwanted heat generation, which has plagued prior art. 
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION 
The primary object of this invention is to provide a vibration source for 
reduction of strain in a user's muscles and joints, especially that strain 
produced from being seated for long, continuous periods. 
A further object of this invention is to incorporate the vibration source 
into a chair. In this way the user need not go through cycles of 
experiencing strain and seeking relief, but rather can be massaged while 
in the seat that would otherwise cause the strain. 
A still further object of this invention is to provide the vibration source 
with a control circuit whereby the frequency and amplitude of the 
vibration waves can be adjusted. 
Another object of this invention is to incorporate a seat fitted with a 
vibration source into a vehicle such as a car or plane. In this way the 
strain produced from long trips in cramped quarters may be alleviated. 
Another further object of this invention is to extend the operational life 
of the vibration source through unique heat dissipation from the circuit 
driving the vibration source. 
A further object of this invention is to enclose each vibration source in a 
separate enclosure facilitating ease of replacement and effective 
vibration propagation from the source to the use. 
A further object of the present invention is to provide a device as 
characterized above wherein an outer facia covering upper and lower 
furniture portions is provided having sufficient thickness and consistency 
to ameliorate and soften inner structural components which otherwise would 
directly contact an individual when in use. 
A further object of the present invention is to provide a device as 
characterized above wherein a power cord is provided which connects a 
motor to a power supply with a junction whereby additional vibration 
sources may be connected to the power supply. 
A further object of the present invention is to provide a device as 
characterized above wherein an electric circuit for providing a desired 
signal with substantial heat dissipating characteristics is provided and, 
when taken as a whole, acts as a heat sink. 
Viewed from one vantage point, it is an object of the present invention to 
provide a chair-like article of furniture for providing vibrational 
sensation having an upper furniture back portion providing support for a 
user's upper torso, a lower furniture seat portion providing support for 
the user's lower torso, wherein the lower seat and upper back portions are 
operatively coupled to generally define a chair. A plurality of electric 
motor vibration sources are located within the upper portion and lower 
portion of the furniture, a plurality of heat dissipating circuits are 
located between a power source and the vibration sources thereby reducing 
potential damage to the vibration source, a motor driving circuit which 
includes a comparator that supplies both pulse-width modulation and 
voltage regulation/stabilization while providing necessary voltage to 
drive said motor, and a speed control external to said circuit and 
operatively coupled thereto allows variation in vibrational frequency of 
said furniture. 
Viewed from a second vantage point, it is an object of the present 
invention to provide a vibrational source for use in vehicle furniture 
which has a low profile comprising in combination: an electric motor, a 
load shaft extending from said motor, an eccentric mass fixedly attached 
to said load shaft of said motor, a housing within which said motor and 
said eccentric mass are securely mounted, said housing including an upper 
cover with a plurality of screw holes and a lower base with a plurality of 
threaded columns fastened together with a plurality of screws, and a power 
cord connecting said motor to a power supply with a junction whereby 
additional vibration sources may be connected to said power supply. 
Viewed from yet a third vantage point, it is another object of the present 
invention to provide an electric circuit for providing a desired signal 
with substantial heat dissipating characteristics comprising in 
combination: a power source, a comparator operatively conditioned by said 
source for regulating voltage from said source for a voltage driven Mega 
FET, and a transistor loop operatively coupled to said source, said 
comparator and Mega FET including a plurality of resistors which, taken as 
a whole, acts as a component heat sink.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
Considering now the drawings where like references denote like parts, 
reference number 100 is directed to a chair including a vibration source 
for the relief of strain. 
The device consists of a vibration chair 100 as depicted in FIG. 1 
consisting of an upper furniture portion 41, a lower furniture portion 42, 
and a plurality of vibration sources 50. Both the upper furniture portion 
41 and lower furniture portion 42 are preferably comprised of: 
1. an outer facia or membrane 44 completely covering the upper furniture 
portion 41 and the lower furniture portion 42, and coming in contact with 
the user; 
2. a central core 45 within the outer facia 44; 
3. a plurality of cavities 46 similar in size and shape to the exterior of 
the vibrational source 50; and 
4. a support frame (not shown) which may be provided. 
The central core 45 provides structural support for the vibration chair 100 
and acts as a medium for propagation of the vibration waves from the 
vibration sources 50 to the outer facia 44 and on to the user. The outer 
facia 44 provides a buffer layer forming a more even distribution of the 
vibrational energy, and provides a substantially uniform surface. The core 
45 may include a frame reinforcement. The facia may be upholstered. 
Referring now to FIG. 2 where a vibration source 50 is described in detail, 
the exterior of the vibration source 50 is formed by an oval-shaped 
housing 60. The cavities 46 of FIG. 1 substantially conform in size to the 
external contour of the housing 60 so that the vibration source 50 can fit 
snugly within and effectively propagate vibrations from the vibration 
source 50 to the user. 
The oval-shaped housing 60 is composed of a cover 62 and a base 64. The 
cover 62 is primarily an oval-shaped construct with a hollowed out under 
side, forming a domed lid for the oval-shaped housing 60. The cover 62 has 
a plurality of screw holes 66 near its perimeter designed to allow screws 
68 to pass therethrough, fixing the cover 62 in place on top of the base 
64. Each screw hole 66 has a recessed portion 67 to allow the heads of the 
screws 68 to sink below the upper surface of the cover 62. The cover 62 
also has a downwardly extending lip 74 along the edge of the cover 62. 
Gaps 73 in the downwardly extending lip 74 exist to allow a power cord 90 
to pass therethrough. The downwardly extending lip 74 allows the cover 62 
to fit snugly over the base 64. 
The base 64 also has an upwardly extending lip 72 along the edge of the 
base 64. This upwardly extending lip 72 is slightly greater in perimeter 
than the downwardly extending lip 74 of the cover 62 allowing the cover 72 
and base 64 to come together with a close fit. Gaps 73 in the upwardly 
extending lip 72 exist to allow the power cord 90 to pass therethrough. 
The base 64 is primarily an oval-shaped construct with a hollowed out upper 
side, and a somewhat rectangularly shaped recess 65 in the center of the 
base 64. Recess 65 includes a floor 69 having ventilation apertures 69a. 
Side edges of recess 65 have an arcuate contour and side walls 63 of the 
recess are also both curved and slope outwardly to lip 72. A plurality of 
threaded columns 76 are fixedly attached to the upper side of the base 64 
but outside the recess 65, supported on a shelf 61 which peripherally 
circumscribes side walls 63. The columns 76 extend upwardly with the open 
portion on top facing the cover 62. Each threaded column 76 is in line 
with the screw holes 66 of the cover 62 and sized uniformly so that screws 
68 may pass through the screw holes 66 and fit appropriately into the 
threaded columns 76. Each shell 62, 64 may include a flange 99b and 99a, 
respectively, extending from lips 74, 72 respectively. The flange may nest 
within a complemental slit in the foam cavity 46 to further distribute the 
vibration. 
Within the recess 65 of the base 64 are a plurality of motor mounting 
threaded columns 86. These motor mounting threaded columns 86 are fixedly 
attached to the base 64 and extend in an upward direction with the open 
portion on top. Also within the recess 65 are a plurality of ribs 78. 
These ribs 78 are shaped with a lower flat edge fixedly attached to the 
upper surface of the base 64 within and on the floor defining recess 65. 
The ribs have two flat vertical edges and an upper arcuate edge forming a 
concave saddle. The plurality of ribs 78 are arranged in parallel planes 
substantially orthogonal to the long axis of the oval-shaped base 64. Also 
extending upwardly from the recess 65 of the base 64 is a plurality of 
motor end supports 79 against which one end of a motor abuts. Each support 
79 is substantially a rectangular flat plate. 
Upon the ribs 78 and against the motor end supports 79, within the recess 
65 of the base 64 fits a motor 52. This motor 52 is substantially 
cylindrical in shape with a radius of curvature similar to that of the 
upper arcuate edges of the ribs 78, forming a solid connection. A 
plurality of hold down straps 80 comprised of thin strips bent to form a 
radius of curvature similar to that of the motor 52 fit snugly over the 
motor 52. Extending horizontally outwardly from each end of each hold down 
strap 80 are attachment tabs 82. Preferably one attachment tab 82 is 
located on each end of each hold down strap 80. Each attachment tab 82 has 
a motor mounting screw hole 84 in its center allowing a screw 68 to pass 
vertically therethrough. The number of motor mounting threaded columns 86 
is equal to the number of attachment tabs 82. Each motor mounting threaded 
column 86 is sized and located so that when the motor 52 is on the ribs 78 
and the hold down straps 80 are on the motor 52, then the protruding 
attachment tabs 82 will be aligned directly above the motor mounting 
threaded column 86. This allows screws 68 to be placed through the 
attachment tabs 82 and into the motor mounting threaded columns 86 
providing a secure attachment of the motor 52 to the base 64. 
A load shaft 56 extends axially outwardly from the cylindrically shaped 
motor 52 on one end remote from supports 79. The load shaft 56 is 
operatively connected to said motor 52 so that when power is supplied to 
the motor 52, the load shaft 56 revolves about its long axis. Attached to 
the end of the load shaft 56 is a mass 54. The mass 54 is preferably of 
uniform thickness and substantially elliptical in cross-section. The mass 
54 is fixedly attached to the load shaft 56 with the long axis of the load 
shaft 56 normal to the plane that creates the elliptical cross-section of 
the mass 54. The point of attachment is not at the center of mass of the 
elliptical mass 54 but rather at some other point, for instance, one of 
the two foci ellipse. This unbalanced attachment of the mass 54 to the 
load shaft 56 creates the vibrations central to use of the chair 100. 
When the vibration source 50 is properly assembled and power is supplied to 
the motor 52, the mass 54 begins to spin, creating and imparting vibration 
to the motor 52. The vibration is propagated from the motor 52 through the 
ribs 78, motor end supports 79, and hold down straps 80 to the base 64 of 
the vibration source 50. Vibration also propagates through the cover 62. 
Thus, vibration then propagates from the vibration source 50 to both the 
central core 45 of the furniture portions 41 and 42 and also through the 
outer facia 44 to the individual user. 
The power is supplied to the motor 52 by way of a power cord 90 connected 
between the motor 52 and a signal box 59. The signal box 59 is located 
strategically near the user. Within the signal box 59 is the signal 
modifying and heat reducing circuit 40 as shown in FIG. 3. An input enters 
the signal modifying and heat reducing circuit 40 from a 12 volt power 
supply and exits the circuit 40 and signal box 59 by way of the power cord 
90. An adjustment dial 58 externally varies the voltage output of the 
circuit 40. 
Specifically, the signal modifying and heat dissipating circuit 40 is made 
up of an input terminal 1, through which a +12 volt input signal is 
applied to the circuit 40, which supplies the power supply line output to 
the motor at junction terminal 7 and also supplies opposing junction 
terminal 8 through linear variable resistor (pot) 9, transistor 10 and 
accompanying components, dual low-power voltage comparator 11 and 
accompanying loop, and MOSFET 12. MOSFET 12 is a higher current MOS type 
field effect transistor such as an RCA No. RFP25No05 or equivalent. More 
specifically, input terminal 1 supplies junction terminal 7 via node 6 
through conductor 2. Additionally, at node 6, a double-anode regulator 4 
protects the circuit from both negative and positive overloads. Junctions 
7, 8 may be configured to feed several vibrating sources. 
Further, input terminal 1 is connected through node 6 to diode 3, which 
prevents backflow of current due to any circuit irregularities, then to 
resistor 5 which is connected to capacitor 38. Capacitor 38 insures that 
the oscillator in comparator 11 starts. At node 16 the current branches 
off to conductor 13 (which is a quiet supply line/feedback loop) and to 
parallel resistors 14 and 15 and thence to the linear variable resistor 
(pot) 9. Pot 9 controls the speed of vibration by allowing the resistance 
to be externally varied. That is, when the resistance is varied in pot 9, 
voltage is varied likewise. Feedback loop 13 enables further speed control 
so that the output pulses are not irregular. This voltage variance is 
significant since the remainder of the circuit loop is voltage regulated 
due to MOSFET 12 and voltage comparator 11. 
The signal thus generated is applied to transistor 10 and its accompanying 
component loop. Specifically, the signal proceeds from pot 9 to resistor 
17 and in part to capacitors 18 and 19 and diode 20, then to voltage 
comparator 11. From resistor 17 the signal also proceeds directly to the 
transistor loop that consists of resistors 21-26, transistor 10, diode 27 
and capacitor 28. Diode 27, as depicted, prevents reverse polarity of 
MOSFET 12. 
Voltage comparator 11 and its accompanying gain loop, consisting of 
capacitor 36 and resistors 29-35 and 37, acts as a voltage 
stabilizer/regulator thereby supplying pulse-width modulation. Via 
oscillation line 39 (i.e. voltage comparator 11 output), comparator 11 
aids in the overall functioning of MOSFET 12, which requires high-voltage, 
saturating inputs to act properly. MOSFET 12, which leads to motor 
terminal 8, is the motor driver for this circuit. 
In this way, the signal modifying and heat reducing circuit 40 provides a 
means for both vibrational frequency and amplitude control solely through 
the adjustment dial 58 (connected to pot 9) and also provides for 
substantial heat reduction, thereby protecting the motor 52. This heat 
reduction results from the application of a pulse-modulated signal being 
applied to motor 52 rather than a constant voltage and current level. 
In use and operation, one seated in the chair 100 operatively conditions 
the knob 58 in order to energize the circuit shown in FIG. 3. The circuit 
in turn, imparts energy to the motor or motors allowing the load shaft 56 
to rotate, imparting spin on the eccentric 54 generating vibration through 
the housing. 
Others may resort to structural modifications of the above-described 
preferred embodiment of the invention without departing from its scope and 
fair meaning as set forth hereinabove and as further described hereinbelow 
in the claims. 
For example, although the circuit details were discussed within the 
framework of a DC circuit, AC power can be conditioned by means of a triac 
to achieve similar results. In addition, signal modifying and heat 
reducing circuit 40 which includes pulse width modulation although 
described in an analog environment, could also be digitized.