Patent Publication Number: US-2007100262-A1

Title: Purr-like vibration device

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
      This application relates generally to devices attached to the body for providing a therapeutic result.  
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
      There is considerable opinion suggesting that vibrations at low frequencies and low amplitude intensities have therapeutic value. For example, scientists have shown that certain vibrations can aid bone growth, heal fractures, relieve pain, add strength and repair tendon and muscle, improve joint mobility, reduce joint swelling, and relieve breathlessness. Therapeutic frequencies for the generation of muscle strength lie between 2-100 hertz (Hz). Cat purr frequencies coincidentally correspond to vibration frequencies used in treatment for bone growth/fractures, pain, edema, muscle growth/strain, joint flexibility, dyspnea, and wounds. As many feline owners will testify, a cat&#39;s purr seems to relax them, confirming what researchers have demonstrated, that stroking a purring cat can lower human blood pressure and pulse rate, as well as increase feelings of peace and well-being. Exposure to frequencies at the 20 to 50 Hz range increases bone density (house cats generally purr in the range of 20 to 50 Hz and otherwise generate strong frequencies between 25 and 150 Hz). Therefore, it can be said that the affects of such vibration frequencies are both physical and psychological.  
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      According to an aspect of the present invention, a therapeutic device adapted to be worn over an affected part of the body has an outer cover having an interior cavity; a switch; and an electronic vibration device responsive to the commencement and continuation of movement across the surface of the switch, which may be operable in both vertical and horizontal directions, the vibration device emitting a simulated cat purring vibration. The device is covered by a pliable material. In one aspect of the invention, the vibration mechanism is mechanically coupled to the outer material. The device includes an electrical circuit for interconnecting the vibration device to a switch that controls the vibration device producing the simulated cat purring vibration.  
      According to another aspect of the present invention, a therapeutic device is worn on a body part such as user&#39;s wrist for providing vibration therapy. When worn on a wrist the device comprises in combination a wristband for being disposed about a wrist joint about the area of the palmar carpal ligament, the radius and the ulna bone structure and the brachioradialis muscle at the muscle position over the radius bone at the wrist, the wristband having a hook and loop means for adjustably securing the wristband about the wrist joint; an outer cover having an interior cavity secured to the wristband; and an electronic vibration device responsive to commencement and continuation of movement across the surface of a switch operable in both vertical and horizontal directions, the vibration device emitting a simulated cat purring vibration, and being positioned within said interior cavity. The vibration is felt in the vicinity of the wrist and also through the fingertips that move across the surface of a switch to keep the vibration active. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
      The invention is best understood from the following detailed description when read in connection with the accompanying drawing. The various features of the drawings are not specified exhaustively. On the contrary, the various features may be arbitrarily expanded or reduced for clarity. Included in the drawing are the following figures:  
       FIG. 1  illustrates a hand having disposed about the wrist an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.  
       FIG. 2  illustrates a hand having disposed about the wrist an exemplary embodiment of the present invention having an attached outer cover in the shape of a cat.  
       FIG. 3  illustrates an electromechanical circuit according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
      In the figures to be discussed, the circuits and associated blocks and arrows represent functions of the process according to the present invention, which may be implemented as electrical circuits and associated wires or data busses, which transport electrical signals. Alternatively, one or more associated arrows may represent communication (e.g., data flow) between software routines, particularly when the present method or apparatus of the present invention is a digital process.  
      The invention is designed to be used over any part of any area of the body, which might benefit from vibrations in the specified spectrum. By way of description and not limitation,  FIG. 1  illustrates one embodiment of a therapeutic device  10  disposed about the wrist in an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. The therapeutic device  10  emits a cat purr-like vibration, which is soothing and healing, and includes in combination a mounting band, such as wristband, that may be disposed about a wrist joint about the area of the palmar carpal ligament, the radius and the ulna bone structure and the brachioradialis muscle at the muscle position over the radius bone at the wrist to provide vibrational movement; a releasable fastener for adjustably securing the wristband about the wrist  21  joint whereby the wristband  24  provides the support and placement for providing therapy at a part of the back portion of the user&#39;s wrist during use of the device, the support extending from over the area of the brachioradialis muscle at the muscle&#39;s position over the radius bone at the wrist, over the transverse carpal ligament. As will be apparent from the function of the device, such a mounting band might be applied to other joints or muscles throughout the body.  
      As shown in  FIG. 1  the therapeutic device  10  comprises an outer cover  25  having an interior cavity; and an electronic vibration device (unshown) responsive to commencement of and continuation of movement of across the surface of a switch operable in both vertical and horizontal directions, said vibration device emitting a simulated cat purring vibration, said device being positioned within said interior cavity of the outer cover  25 . A simulated cat purring vibration is a low-amplitude vibration with a frequency between about 15 Hertz and about 150 Hertz. A moving pressure on the surface of a switch may cause the switch to close. The switch may remain closed for a selected period. The switch may be disposed under the outer cover, such that moving contact on the outer cover, such as by the finger of a user exerting light pressure on the outer cover, closes the switch. The switch may be configured to be responsive to contact moving only in one direction, to contact moving in both one direction and an opposite direction (such as vertical and horizontal), or in any direction.  
      In accordance with the present invention,  FIG. 1  illustrates, a wristband  24 , comprising strap portions  17  and  18 , securely disposed about the user&#39;s wrist joint. The wristband  24  is positioned about the user&#39;s wrist  21  approximately at the radius and ulna of the wrist  21 . The wristband  24  has any suitable separable fastening means that can be employed to enable the user to easily remove and adjust the strap portions  17  and  18  about the user&#39;s wrist  21 . One such preferred fastener is a separable fastener sold under the trademark “Velcro” comprising a patch of loop pile fabric that can be secured to the top part of strap portion  17 , and a patch of hook type fabric that can be secured to the bottom part of strap portion  18 . The same type of loop pile fabric-hook type fabric separable fastener can be used for releasably securing the extended portion of support member  15 , which may be used to attach a vibration device to the wristband in the manner as described herein below. Although there is illustrated in the drawings a left hand  22  on which the device may be worn by a user, it is to be understood that the present invention is equally applicable to a right hand. The vibrations emitted by the device are felt in the vicinity of the body part, such as the wrist  21  and also through the fingertips that move across the surface of a switch  34  ( FIG. 3 ) to keep the vibration active.  
      In accordance with a feature of the present invention, support member  15  is fastened to the wristband  24  along a part of the back portion of the user&#39;s wrist such that the support member is positioned over the radius bone at the wrist and transfers active vibrations from a vibrator device  25 . The wristband  24  in combination with a vibration device is typically enclosed in a material  26 , which may be in the shape of a cat in accordance with the present invention both positioned on a user&#39;s wrist in a manner which will tend to add a palliative effect to the user&#39;s wrist and mental state. The shape of a cat in accordance with the present invention forms an outer cover, which is generally pliable such as by way of example and not limitation, animal fur, fake fur, or other soft fabrics and materials and in one aspect of the invention coupled to the vibration device  25 .  
      As further illustrated in  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2  include a flap member  27 , which is pulled over flexible support member  26  and releasably fastened to the top surface  28  thereof. Fastening the flexible support member in this manner, in addition to fastening the bottom surface of the support member to lie in against the back portion of the user&#39;s hand, provides an additional means for securing the support member on the user&#39;s hand in the proper position.  
       FIG. 3  illustrates one embodiment of an electromechanical circuit of the present invention that emits a vibration frequency in a range from about 15 hertz to about 75 hertz. A battery  30  supplies power to a vibration device  36  through a conventional circuit comprised of a switch  34  and a vibration control means such as resistor  32 . The switch  34  provides for the continuation of movement as stimulated by movement across the surface of a switch, operable in both vertical and horizontal directions, whereby the vibration device emits a simulated cat purring vibration. The resistor limits the current to the vibration device as one means to increase or reduce the vibration frequency. The vibration device may include any electromechanical transducer, such as a disk vibrator, piezoelectric device, motor, or solenoid that produces a mechanical vibration having a frequency in a range from about 20 hertz to about 75 hertz in response to an electrical input. Mechanical connection  38  is any means that transfers the vibrations from the vibrator  36  directly to the wrist  21  or to a damping device  40 . The vibration device may emit a sound at the same frequency range as the vibration frequency. Optionally, a sound emitting device may be provided to emit a sound at a frequency in a range between about 15 Hertz and about 75 Hertz. Mechanical connection  38  may, for example, be embodied in the support member  15  or integrally connected thereto. The damping device  40  may be made from any material, such as a rubber, plastic or other type of material that produces a broadly radiated vibration to the user&#39;s wrist  21  approximately at the radius and ulna of the wrist  21 .  
      While the present invention has been described with reference to the illustrative embodiments, this description is not intended to be construed in a limiting sense. Various modifications of the illustrative embodiments, as well as other embodiments of the invention, will be apparent to those skilled in the art on reference to this description. It is expressly intended that all combinations of those elements that perform substantially the same function in substantially the same way to achieve the same results are within the scope of the invention. Substitutions of elements from one described embodiment to another are also fully intended and contemplated.