Patent Publication Number: US-6217533-B1

Title: Portable vibrating units having different speeds

Description:
This invention relates to massagers, and more particularly, to bed massagers which create unique pulse/wave effects using two vibrating units which each contain two motors. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Massagers arc available in a variety of configurations. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,730,707 discloses a device having two vibrating units which can be placed under a mattress or chair, wherein each motor/unit can be separately and variably controlled. Similarly, U.S. Pat. No. 5,545,125 describes a massaging device having two to sixteen motors which can be individually controlled. U.S. Pat. No. 5,462,515 discloses a massaging device having two vibrating units, and suggests that the motors which cause vibration can have different set powers or speeds. U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,140,976 and 4,559,929 disclose vibratory units having two motors, in which one motor is spaced at 90° relative to the other motor. However, all of these devices are limited in their ability to create unique pulse effects and wave effects, particularly with a simple, inexpensive control system. Accordingly, there is a need for a massaging device which provides unique pulse/wave effects. There is also a need for massaging devices which provide such unique effects with a simple, inexpensive control system. 
     Accordingly, one object of this invention is to provide new and improved massaging devices. 
     Another object is to provide new and improved massaging devices which create unique pulse/wave effects. 
     Still another object is to provide new and improved vibrating devices which create unique pulse/wave effects with a relatively simple, inexpensive control system. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In keeping with one aspect of the invention, a massaging device includes two vibrating units and a control unit. Each vibrating unit has two motors oriented at 90° relative to each other. The motors preferably have different power ratings, and are capable of operating at different speeds. 
     The control unit provides individual control of the two vibrating units. In addition, each motor in each vibrating unit can be separately and variably controlled. In at least one mode of operation, the speeds of a selected motor in each vibrating unit are fixed by the control system so that they necessarily operate at different speeds, out of phase with each other. The speeds of the other motors in the vibrating units are variably controlled over a range of speeds. 
     The vibrating units can easily be placed between a box spring and an upper mattress of a bed, horizontally separated at some distance. The device can also be used with a chair, a pillow or the like. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The above-mentioned and other features of this invention and the manner of obtaining them will become more apparent, and the invention itself will be best understood by reference to the following description of an embodiment of the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
     FIG. 1 is a diagram of a massaging device made in accordance with the principles of the invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a detailed view of the vibrating units in the massaging device of FIG. 1; and 
     FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the massaging device of FIG. 1 in use. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     As seen in FIG. 1, a massaging device  10  includes two vibrating units  12 ,  14 , a control unit  16  and a power source  18 . Electrical power is sent to the control unit  16  through a power line  20 . The vibrating unit  12  receives power through a line  22 , and the vibrating unit  14  receives power through a line  24 . 
     The vibrating unit  12  (FIG. 2) includes a motor  26  which has an eccentric weight  28 . The weight causes vibrations when the shaft of the motor  26  turns. A second motor  30  having an eccentric weight  32  is also included in the vibrating unit  12 . The motor  26  has a shaft  34 , and the motor  30  has a shaft  36 . The shaft  36  is transverse to, and is preferably oriented at about a 90° angle to the shaft  34 . 
     The motors  26  and  30  preferably produce different power levels, and can be operated over a range of speeds. For example, the motor  26  can be a large motor which is operable in either a high or a low setting, and the motor  30  can be a small motor having a continuously variable speed setting. 
     Similarly, the vibrating unit  14  includes motors  38 ,  40 , which respectively include eccentric weights  42 ,  44 , and shafts  46 ,  48  oriented at about 90° to each other. The motors  38 ,  40  are also different sizes, and can be operated over a range of speeds. The motor  38  can also be a large motor and the motor  40  can be a small motor. The motors  38 ,  40  can have speed ranges like those of the motors  26 ,  30 . 
     Referring again to FIG. 1, the control unit  16  has a power on/reset switch  50 , which preferably turns the unit on for a predetermined time period such as twenty minutes. An LED  52  indicates that the timer is running and power is on. An on/off/continuously variable speed control  54  is provided for the motor  30 , and a high-low-off control  56  is provided for the motor  26 . An on/off/continuously variable speed control  58  is provided for the motor  40 , and another high-low-off control  60  is provided for the motor  38 . A power off switch  62  is also provided, in order to turn the device off before the predetermined amount of time passes. 
     In one mode of operation, the variable speed controls  56 ,  60  are configured so that large motors  26  and  38  necessarily operate at different speeds for any combination of settings. This avoids the occurrence of monotonous vibration, so that a pulse/wave effect will occur at any setting. 
     For example, the motor  26  can be controlled to operate at about 3600 rpm at high speed and 3100 rpm at low speed. Correspondingly, the motor  38  can be controlled to operate at 3700 rpm at high speed and 3200 rpm at low speed. The speeds can be controlled easily and inexpensively by providing different voltages to the motors using a resistive voltage divider or the like. 
     The small motors  30 ,  40  can be controlled to operate at variable speeds from about 1200 rpm up to about 2500 rpm. Various known control methods can be used, such as pulse control. 
     In this mode of operation, the user can operate one or both of the large motors at high or low speed, with or without simultaneously operating one or both small motors at a desired speed within their operating ranges. However, when the large motors of the two vibrating units run simultaneously, an interesting pulse effect is achieved because the two large motors necessarily operate out of phase with each other. When both motors are running in both vibrating units, other interesting pulse/wave effects are created. 
     The massage device  10  can be used in a bed by placing the vibrating units  12 ,  14  between a box spring mattress  64  and a spring mattress  66 , as in FIG.  3 . The cables  22 ,  24  are preferably about 5½ and 6½ feet long, so that the control unit  16  can be easily kept outside of the mattresses. The vibrating units  12 ,  14  can be in any suitable place between the mattresses. For example, the vibrating unit  12  can be placed about 18 to 24 inches from the end of the mattresses, for placement under the head, with the vibrating unit  14  located about 24 to 36 inches away from the unit  12 , in the area of the lower body or legs. 
     As another example, the vibrating units  12  and  14  can both be placed about 18 to 24 inches from the end of the mattress, with unit  12  placed 18 to 24 inches from the left edge of the mattress, for placement under one shoulder, and with the vibrating unit  14  located about another 24 inches away from the left edge of the mattress, in the area of the other shoulder. The massaging device  10  could also be used in a chair, with pillows, or a variety of other applications. 
     The massage unit  10  may be powered by line voltage or batteries, as desired. A low voltage source powered by line voltage, such as a 12 volt direct current converter, is preferred. 
     The many advantages of this invention are now apparent. The user has many choices and can create interesting pulse/wave effects. However, the user is assured of creating the out of phase effect because the control system limits and predetermines the speeds of the large motors. The control system is easy to operate, and is inexpensive because of its straightforward design. 
     While the principles of the invention have been described above in connection with specific apparatus and applications, it is to be understood that this description is made only by way of example and not as a limitation on the scope of the invention.