Abstract:
A chest vibrating device including a frame, shoulder pads, chest pad and back pad. The frame being configured to fit around an upper body of a user. The shoulder pads extending from the frame to rest the frame on shoulders of the user. The chest pad extending from a front inside of the frame towards a chest of the user. The back pad extending from a rear inside of the frame towards a back of the user. The vibrating unit attached to the frame which produces a vibration that travels from the vibrating unit, through the frame onto the chest pad and at least one back pad.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION 
   The present invention generally relates to devices used to for people with Cystic Fibrosis or other lung conditions which obstruct air ways and the lungs. More specifically, the present invention relates to a chest device which produces vibrations in the chest area to loosen obstructions in air ways and the lungs. 
   Most devices on the market to relieve the congestion of lungs are driven by air pressure for the creation of vibration. These devices are usually big on the user and create mobility problems for the user. Finally, these devices are not directed to the bottom lobes of the lungs, where most infections begin. 
   It is an object of the present invention to provide device which produces a vibration to loosen obstructions in air ways and the lungs which is self contained and allows mobility of the user. 
   SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
   A chest vibrating device including a frame, shoulder pads, chest pad and back pad. The frame being configured to fit around an upper body of a user. The shoulder pads extending from the frame to rest the frame on shoulders of the user. The chest pad extending from a front inside of the frame towards a chest of the user. The back pad extending from a rear inside of the frame towards a back of the user. The vibrating unit attached to the frame which produces a vibration that travels from the vibrating unit, through the frame onto the chest pad and at least one back pad. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a chest vibrating device according to the present invention; 
       FIG. 2  is a front view of a chest vibrating device according to the present invention; 
       FIG. 3  is a partial rear exploded view of a chest vibrating device according to the present invention; 
       FIG. 4  is a partial cutaway perspective view of a hinge and shoulder pad according to the present invention; 
       FIG. 5  is a partial perspective view of a clamping unit according to the present invention; 
       FIG. 6  is a partial perspective view of a female version chest pad according to the present invention; and 
       FIG. 7  is an exploded view of a vibrating unit according to the present invention. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
   The present invention is a chest vibrating device  10  which is attached to the user, as shown in  FIGS. 1-7 . The chest vibrating device  10  includes a frame  12 , chest pad  16 , back pads  18 , shoulder pad  20 , clamping unit  22  and vibrating unit  24 . The chest vibrating device  10  vibrates and transfers vibrations to the lungs of the user. This clears the lungs by loosening obstructions in the air ways. The chest vibrating device  10  is fully adjustable to fit all sizes and can be fitted for both male or female users. The chest vibrating device  10  can be used for people with Cystic Fibrosis or other lung conditions with obstructed air ways. 
   The frame  12  includes a left arm, right arm, cross-member  30  and clamp support  32 . The left and right arms  26 ,  28  each include back pad rails  34  and housing rail receivers  36 . As shown in  FIG. 3 , each back pad rail  34  extends from a inside surface of the left and right arms  26 ,  28  at the rear half  38  of the frame  12  to connect to the back pads. Each back pad rail  34  includes a plurality of holes  40  along the back pad rail  34 . Each housing rail receiver  36  is a pair of rails  42  extending outward from the left and right arms  26 ,  28  at the rear half  38  of the frame  12  and includes a plurality of aligned holes  44 . The left and right arms  26 ,  28  each include a hinge  46  along their length at about the half way point, as shown in  FIGS. 1-2  and  4 . The hinges  46  allow the opening and closing of the frame  12  for entrance by the user.  FIG. 4  shows the employment of a ball hinge  48  and a flexible hinge cover  50 . The hinge cover  50  is used to reduce wear, for looks and for safety of the user. The cross-member  30  is attached to the front half  52  of the left and right arms  26 ,  28 . As shown in  FIG. 1 , the cross-member  30  includes holes  54  to allow the adjustment of positioning of the left and right arms  26 ,  28 . Fasteners  56  are used to attach the cross-member  30  to the left and right arms  26 ,  28 . The left and right arms  26 ,  28  also include clamp supports  32  attached to the rear half  38  of the left and right arms  26 ,  28 . The clamp supports  32  extend from the rear and towards the front of the frame  12 . A clamping unit  22  is attached to the cross-member  30  and the clamp support  32  on each side of the frame  12 . The clamping unit  22  is fully adjustable to various size users. The clamping unit  22  shown in  FIGS. 1-2  and  5 - 6  is similar to belt-buckle combinations used in ski boots and in-line skates. 
     FIGS. 1-2  show a male version of the chest pad  16  and  FIG. 6  shows a female version of the chest pad  60 . The male chest pad  16  is mounted to the inside front half  52  of the left and right arms  26 ,  28  using fasteners  62  and rubber mounts  64 . The male chest pad  16  is sized such that the chest pad  16  extends down to vibrate the lower lobs of the lungs. The female chest pad  60  includes an upper pad  66 , lower pad  68  and pad bar  70 . The upper pad  66  is connected to the top of the pad bar  70 . The lower pad  68  is connected to the bottom of the pad bar  70 . The pad bar  70  includes adjustment holes  72  and is connected to the cross-member  30  using fasteners  74  and rubber mount  76 . The upper pad  66  is sized to produce vibrations in the top of the lungs. The lower pad  68  is sized to produce vibrations that reach not only the front of the lower lungs, but also the sides of the middle and lower lobs. The pad bar  70  is curved to wrap around the chest of a female. 
   The back pads  18  are sized to reach from the upper to the lower lobs of the lung. The back pads  18  include back pad rail receivers  78 , as shown in FIG.  3 . Each back pad rail receiver  78  is a pair of rails  80  extending outward from the rear of the back pads  18  and includes a plurality of aligned holes  82 . The back pads  18  are mounted to the left and right arms  26 ,  28  by sliding the back pad rails  34  between the rails  80  of the back pad rail receiver  78 . Then, one of the holes  40  of the back pad rail  34  is aligned with a set of aligned holes  82  of the back pad rail receiver  78  and a fastener  84  is inserted to secure the back pads  18  to the left and right arms  26 ,  28 . The shoulder pads  20  are curve shaped to fit over the shoulders of the user and include shoulder pad supports  86 , as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 4 . The shoulder pad  20  are designed to transfer the weight of the invention to the shoulders of the user. The shoulder pads  20  should be padded for comfort of the user.  FIG. 1  shows the shoulder pad supports  86  attached permanently using a technique such as welding, while  FIG. 4  shows the shoulder pad supports  86  mounted between two plates  88  extending from the left and right arms  26 ,  28 . The mounting as shown in  FIG. 4  includes holes  90  through the two plates  88  and the shoulder pad support  86  and fasteners  92  are used to connect the two plates  88  and the shoulder pad support  86 . The chest pad  16 , back pads  18  and shoulder pads  20  can include a coating that molds to the shape of the user for comfort. 
   The vibrating unit  24  is shown in  FIGS. 1-3  and  7 . The vibrating unit  24  includes a housing  94 , housing rails  96  and vibrator  98 . The vibrator  98  is show as a motor  100  which rotates an off-set weight  102  to cause vibrations. The motor  100  is usually of the type that runs on twelve Volt DC or one-hundred-and-twenty Volt AC. The motor  100  is mounted to the inside back  104  of the housing  94 . The housing  94  includes a housing cover  106  for safety. The housing rails  96  extend outward and along the outside back  108  of the housing  94 . The vibrating unit  24  is mounted to the frame  12  by inserting housing rails  96  between the rails  42  of the housing rail receivers  36  of the left and right arms  26 ,  28 , and fastening using fasteners  110  through holes  97 . The vibrations generated by the vibrator  98  are transferred through the housing  94  and the housing rails  96  onto the frame  12  and then to the chest and back pads  16 ,  18 . 
   The operation of the chest vibrating device  10  is as follows. The user adjusts the position of the left and right arms  26 ,  28  along the housing rails  96  and cross-member  30  for proper sizing. The user lifts the front half  52  of the left and right arms  26 ,  28  upward along the hinges  46  to enter the frame  12 . Then, the user slips into the frame  12  and closes the front half  52  of the left and right arms  26 ,  28  along the hinges  46 . Finally, the user uses the clamping unit  22  to secure the frame  12  about the user, such that the chest pad  16  and back pads  18  are pressured against the user. The chest vibrating device  10  can then be turned on to create vibrations. The vibrations transferred to the chest and back pads  16 ,  18  are passed onto the lungs through the chest and back of the user. As shown in  FIG. 1 , the chest vibrating device  10  can include a controller  112  to vary the intensity of the vibrations to create different strengths of vibrations to clear secreted mucus from the lungs. 
   While different embodiments of the invention have been described in detail herein, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that various modifications and alternatives to the embodiments could be developed in light of the overall teachings of the disclosure. Accordingly, the particular arrangements are illustrative only and are not limiting as to the scope of the invention that is to be given the full breadth of any and all equivalents thereof.