Abstract:
An electronic system for awakening especially deaf persons and for relaxing and soothing tired and aching muscles of persons who frequently develop body tiredness from overwork or due to some organic illness is described. The systems comprises an electric timer unit for setting a desired time of the day when a sleeper intends to be awakened, and a pulsative resonator unit connected to said timer unit through an electric cord and is positioned, during use thereof, under the sleeper&#39;s pillow. When the set time of the day arrives, the timer unit automatically triggers the pulsative resonator unit, which causes a repeated vibratory action under the pillow and awakens the sleeper. The system is provided with a double-throw switch within a dual electric circuit therein whereby the repeatedly occurring vibratory pulsations produced in one of the circuits therein can be altered to one of continuous vibratory pulsations for application in the means for relaxing of tired or aching bodily muscles and thereby soothing the body.

Description:
The present invention is related to a device for awakening a sleeper as well as relaxing the body muscles of persons who have frequent neck aches, shoulder aches, and general tiredness. The system is particularly concerned with the awakening of deaf persons who are generally unable to hear the sound of a buzzer or bell provided on all conventional alarm clocks. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     At the present time, the available awakening devices are usually incorporated in alarm clocks during manufacture thereof. Such available devices consist of either buzzers, bells, or other sound-producing means whereby a sleeper is awakened by the sound thereof. Such sound-producing devices for awakening are particularly intended for persons with normal hearing senses, thus unless the sleeper hears the alarm from the clock he cannot wake up by the manner intended. Furthermore, when two or more persons are sleeping in the same room, as in school dormitories, health or mental institutions, or certain homes, the sound from the clock alarm is not desirable because the sound will awaken other sleeping persons in the same room and possibly in other rooms when the bedroom doors are open, as usually they are, in a home. There has been occasions when a sleeper in a room containing other sleepers has hidden the alarm clock under his pillow so that he only can hear the sound of the alarm; however, such a procedure has not been completely satisfactory because by the time the clock is removed from underneath the pillow and the alarm stopped, sufficient time is elapsed between the removal of the clock and stopping the alarm as to awaken other people therein. The method is also cumbersome and annoying to the person using the clock under such conditions for awakening him. 
     A blind person as well as a normal person can be awakened by the use of conventional methods using alarm clocks. However, the same condition that prevails as for a normal person also prevails with blind person who happens to be sleeping in the same room with others. Furthermore, these methods of awakening are useless to a deaf person, since he cannot hear and be awakened by an acoustic means. 
     Other methods, such as the use of a high-intensity light projected on a sleeping person&#39;s face or on the ceiling having a reflective surface, such as a smooth white paint, have also been tried and found to be useless schemes because if a sleeper is not facing the light, which may be projecting, for example, from the left side of the sleeper and said sleeper may be sleeping on his right side or on his face, thus making the procedure or the method undesirable because unless the light is incident on the eyelids of the sleeper it will have no effect on the sleeper. The same condition is also true with a sleeping deaf person because of the same reasoning as stated. 
     It is thus seen that these earlier awakening devices or methods are not absolutely dependable, and consequently a device or system has been necessitated which will awaken a person, whether deaf, blind, or normal, without any limitation of conditions as imposed by the present methods. Consequently, the present invention has been created and developed to elimiate the disadvantages imposed by the present methods of awakening a sleeper. The present invention is reasonably simple in construction but is unique and effective in its method of operation. Furthermore, the system is adapted to be converted by a flick of a switch thereon into a relaxing and soothing device; the circuits to perform these functions have already been incorporated in the system. Also, the user of the latter mode of operation is not necessarily a sleeper but physically tired people, senior citizens having some form of bodily aches, tense muscles due to their sedentary conditions or age, and pain in muscles due to some type of organic illness can use the device to their advantage for these conditions or for awakening pusposes, or sickroom signalling for help from others, as will be understood from a review of the description in the specification. 
     The conversion of the device from one mode of operation, such as awakening a sleeper, to another mode of operation, such as relaxing and soothing a person with tired and aching muscles, enhances the system a double-function duty and makes it a useful, efficient, and positive-acting device. In addition, in another mode of operation using an illuminating lamp the device functions for signalling by a sick or bedridden person to others in the household to administer medicine or other necessities of life preservation. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is related to my recently patented invention entitled ALARM SYSTEM FOR SIGNALLING FOR EMERGENCY HELP, U.S. Pat. No. 3,911,425, issued to me on Oct. 7, 1975. The principal difference residing between the two inventions is that the patented device is constructed for use in a household as well as on the front entrance of an industrial building, bank, home, or similar establishments to alert others that some type of criminal act is in progress within the home, plant, shop, bank building, or the like. That device alerts others by producing a visual and acoustic (sound) signals, whereas the present device has been constructed to alert the user of the device and no one else. Although the present invention utilizes certain principles of the patented invention, the creation of sound is tabooed, and to that end it can be considered a modified species of the patented invention elaborated and refined in the present application. It is also evident that other persons in the immediate surrounding are definitely immune to the effects produced on a sleeper, or one relaxing his tired muscles; this is one of the most essential differentiating characteristics of the present system. In addition, the present system must and will awaken the sleeping person using it in a quiet manner and without disturbing other nearby persons, as well as being adaptable to the conversion into a relaxing and soothing device. 
     To achieve the awakening function, a principal object of the invention is to provide a means for producing interrupted pulsations in a unit adapted to be placed at a suitable location adjacent a person&#39;s body (preferably under his pillow) to stimulate the sleeping person&#39;s nerve center in a mild yet effective manner to cause the rousing of the person from his sleep. 
     A further object of the invention is to provide a timing mechanism which can be set to a predetermined time of the day so that at the relapse thereof said mechanism will trigger a current flow into a companion device electrically connected thereto for producing vibratory pulsations therein. 
     A still further object of the invention is to separate the pulsation producing device from the timing mechanism unit through a long electric cord so that the pulsation producing unit is completely isolated from the timing mechanism unit, thus eliminating any cumbersome assembly of mechanism from being placed under the pillow of a sleeper to awaken him. 
     Another object of the invention is the provision of a jack-and-plug means by which a connection is made between the unit containing the timing mechanism and the unit containing the pulsation-forming device, whereby when the pulsation-forming unit (the resonator, to be called hereinafter) is not in use it can be unplugged from the jack on the timing mechanism unit so that the timing mechanism can be used as an ordinary clock minus its alarm-producing section, which is eliminated in this invention. 
     One other object of the invention is the provision of a pulsation-forming means or the resonator which derives its vibratory pulsations not from a complex electronic circuit, a vibrating reed, buzzer, or bell device but by the creation therein a centrifugal unbalance in the rotating axis of a miniature motor means disposed in the circuit thereof. 
     Another object of the invention is the provision of electrical isolation of the timing mechanism from the resonator, the former operating from a household alternating current and the latter operating from a group of battery cells incorporated in the system, although a commercial battery eliminator can be used in place of the battery cells. 
     One other object of the invention is to construct a system which is adapted to operate both as an awakening device and as a device for relaxing tired or aching body muscles and thereby soothing the body of the system user and, to achieve this purpose, pertinent electronic circuits have been incorporated in the system. 
    
    
     Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the specification taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
     FIG. 1 is a general view of the system comprising the timing-mechanism unit and the resonator. 
     FIG. 2 is the rear view of the timing-mechanism unit or timer unit showing the time-setting knob, the resonator trigger release at the upper left side, and the partial views of the electric cords extending therefrom. 
     FIG. 3 shows the terminal parts of one species of the resonator and their arrangements therein, with the cover thereof removed. 
     FIG. 4 is the schematic circuit diagram of the system shown in FIG. 1. 
     FIG. 5 is a modified embodiment of the invention, with the timer unit shown on the left containing the power supply, the resonator being isolated from the timer unit by means of a cord and jack-and-plug attachment means. 
     FIG. 6 illustrated the schematic circuit diagram of the system shown in FIG. 5. 
     FIG. 7 is the long-axis cross-sectional view of the resonator unit shown in FIG. 5. 
     FIG. 8 is the top view of the radial cross section of the resonator unit taken at lines A--A&#39; shown in FIG. 7. 
     FIG. 9 is the centrifugally unbalance-forming mass provided at the terminal portion of the motor axis of the resonator unit shown in FIG. 7. 
     FIG. 10 is the general view of another modified form of the timer unit into which plugs the resonator shown in FIG. 5, the broken lines on the timer unit indicating the compartments within the unit that contain the power supply for the resonator. 
     FIG. 11 illustrates the manner the timing mechanism is utilized to close the circuit to the resonator; this arrangement is the same for all the embodiments shown in FIGS. 1, 5, and 10. 
     FIG. 12 is a lamp with a stand which contains a power supply, and is adapted to be connected to the timer units shown in FIGS. 5 and 10. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring to the drawings, numeral 1 in FIG. 1 designates the housing of the timing mechanism, numeral 2 designates the timer time display, and numeral 3 is the pulsative resonator which causes the awakening action in a sleeping person and is connected to the current-triggering mechanism (see FIG. 11) within the timer housing 1. The electric cord 4 connects the resonator 3 to said current-triggering mechanism and cord 5 transmits to the timing mechanism a current from a 115-volt alternating-current source, such as that available in a household current source. 
     FIG. 2 is the rear view of the timer housing 1 and contains thereon a knob 6 used for setting a predetermined time of the day for the operation of resonator 3, and lever 7 controls the release of the current-switching mechanism 13, shown in FIG. 11. When the lever 7 (FIG. 2) is in the in-position the current triggering mechanism 13 is locked so that the current trigger 11 cannot be operated; when the lever 7 is pulled outwards as far as it will go it releases the current trigger 11, whereby when the predetermined set time arrives said current trigger depresses the lever 12 and closes the current through current-switching mechanism 13. This latter action permits a current to be transmitted to the resonator 3 through the electric cord 4, for operation of said resonator 3. 
     On the front face of the timer housing 1 is the timer time display 2 which indicates the time of the day and contains an hour hand 8, minute hand 9, and the time-setting hand 10, which is set by means of the knob 6. Within the housing 1 and connected to the timing mechanism of the timer unit is a spring-biased lever 11, shown in FIG. 11. Lever 11 is the current trigger and when tripped by the timing mechanism on lapsing of the set time of the day it moves downwards in the diagram shown in FIG. 11 and depresses lever 12 to close the circuit, as shown by the solid lines. The broken lines show the positions of the levers 11 and 12 in a quiescent state of the switch 13, i.e., when the swtich 13 is open. As stated earlier, the current-triggering mechanism comprising the parts 11, 12, and 13, and the output leads 14 and 15 from switch 13 are the same in all the species shown in FIGS. 1, 5, and 10. 
     In the operation of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the plug 16 inserted into a household current outlet supplying a 115-volt AC current. This action starts the operation of the timing mechanism. The resonator, provided with a 6- to 8-foot long cord, is placed under the sleeper&#39;s pillow at any convenient area thereof, preferably about the mid-point of the pillow. If the sleeper desires to wake up at a given time, he sets the timer hand 10 to that specific time on the face 2 of the timer unit, using the knob 6. The knob is also adapted to move the hands 8 and 9 for adjusting them precisely to the time of the day. As a last step, lever 7 is pulled all the way out as far as it will go; this action releases the locking action of the lever 7 on the resonator trigger shown in FIG. 11, thereby when the set time arrives the trigger switch closes the circuit in 13, which action permits a current to flow therethrough into the resonator 3 through cord 4. Upon waking up, the user pushes the lever 7 all the way in; this action opens the resonator circuit and thereby prevents unnecessary battery drain. 
     In the embodiment shown in FIG. 3, the cover of the resonator 3 housing 17 is removed to show inside structures, which comprise electric batteries 18 and 19 (the number of batteries being exemplary), a current interrupter 20, a resonative pulsing member 21, and a lamp 22. A resistor of equivalent resistance of the lamp 22 may be substituted for lamp 22, if desired. The resonative pulsing member or pulser 21 is integrally attached to housing 17 by means of any suitable attaching means, such as an epoxy compound, so that any vibratory motion thereof is directly transmitted to said housing 17, causing it to resonate in unison with pulser 21. The batteries 18 and 19 are connected in series with each other and with current interrupter 20 in series relation thereto. Switch 13, shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, represents the trigger mechanism of switch 13 shown in FIG. 11. The pulser 21 could be a vibrator means or the motor-operated means marked by 46 shown in FIG. 7. Also, instead of the use of batteries 18 and 19, a battery eliminator of equal voltage and current can be used in the system. The battery eliminator draws a current from the same 115-volt AC source, as the timing mechanism, reduces the voltage and puts out a rectified direct current, the same as the batteries. 
     It will be noted that the lamp 22 is represented in broken lines in FIG. 4. The reason for this lies in the fact that if a conventional vibrator is used in the pulser 21, the latter will not start when the current-triggering switch 13 is closed, because the current interrupter 20, being in series with the pulser 21, has a current contact gap therein and a fine filament in adjacent relation to a theremosensitive element which opens and closes the main circuit through the pulser 21, which also has a contact gap in its normal factory-made structure. Accordingly, then, a light source or an equivalent resistor must be inserted between the current interrupter 20 and the batteries (18 and 19), since an incandescent lamp will carry therethrough a continuous current (no contact gap); this condition will permit the pulser (vibrator) 21 to operate. However, when the pulser is constructed in the manner shown in FIG. 7 (to be described presently), a lamp or a resistor is not needed, since the motor resonating means 46 shown in FIG. 7 draws a continuous current, thus permitting the operation of the current interrupter 20. 
     FIG. 5 represent another modified form of the invention and is the preferred embodiment of the invention. In the figure, the housing 23 includes therein the timer 24, which is the same structurally as that shown in FIG. 1 and operates in the same manner. An electric cord 25 transmits a 115-volt AC current from a household current outlet through the plug 26 when connected thereto. A second housing 27 located at the inferior aspect of housing 23 supports the housing 23 and includes therein either all the component parts shown in FIG. 3 minus the resonator 30 The inclusion of the power supply (batteries) 28 or battery eliminator 28A and the current interrupter (such as 21 or 34) in housing 27 offers the added advantage of making the resonator 30 smaller in size and lighter in weight; furthermore, such an arrangement isolates the resonating means 21 (FIG. 3) from the batteries, the current interrupter, and the lamp, if there be one. The isolation of the pulser or resonating means 21 (30, or 37) increases the operational lives of the component parts, since no vibration will be transmitted thereto, although in FIG. 3 all component parts except the pulser 21 are embedded in a shock-proof polyester or rubber material, not shown in the figure for clarity. 
     The housing 27 is permanently attached to or is integral with the housing 23, depending on the manner it is desired to construct the housings. The two housings can be molded in one piece, since they are made of a plastic material, such as bakelite, although metal or any other suitable material can be used in their construction. The timer 24 contains the same type of switching means 13 with analogous structure thereto. Wires 14A and 15A are analogous to the wires 14 and 15 of switch means 13, and pass through an interconnecting aperture, formed in the bottom wall of housing 23 and the top wall of housing 27, into the chamber within housing 27 and connect the resonator 30 through 6- to 8-foot long electric cord 31 and plug member 32 to the circuit of the component parts shown in FIG. 6. 
     The circuit, shown in FIG. 6, can be operated in two modes of operation: one mode of operation puts out a recurrently pulsating (repeatedly interrupted) current from the circuit thereof, by using either the flashing lamp 33 or current interrupter 34 (either one is installed during manufacture) and closing the switch 35 section 36; the second mode of operation puts out a continuous current by bypassing the lamp 33 or the current interrupter 34, by closing the switch 35 section 38 and passing the current through the current bypass or jumper 39 to jack 29. In the diagram in FIG. 6, the section 36 of switch 35 is open, as example. The current interrupter 34 is a thermosensitive means having therein a thermosensitive element and a resistant filament which carries the initially small current passing therethrough for heating said element which closes the circuit, permitting a larger current to pass therethrough. In the first mode of operation, the flashing lamp 33 operates as a current interrupter, since the resonator 37 is the type shown in FIG. 7; this mode of operation is used for awakening a sleeping person when used thereby, and the second and continuous mode of operation is used for relaxing and soothing tired and aching muscles, both of the modes using the resonator 37. The electric cord 31A is analogous to cord 31 shown in FIG. 5. 
     The double-throw switch 35 may be either a toggle switch, as shown in FIG. 5, or a push-on push-off type double-throw pushbutton switch. The reason for double-throw arrangement is that if one section, such as section 36, is open the other section, section 38, is closed and vice versa. However, section 38 of switch 35 has another function; it joins the power supply batteries 28 or battery eliminator 28A to the power supply 41 of a lamp 42 (FIG. 12), thus increasing the power to the lamp 42. The lamp 42 is provided with a housing 43, used as a lamp base as well as a compartment for holding the power supply or the batteries 41. The output of the power supply passes through lamp 42 and the double-wire electric cord 44 and its plug 44A to the jack 29, when the resonator 30 is not employed. 
     Lamp 42 is adapted to operate in two modes; a continuous mode for illumination, and an interrupted or flashing mode for signalling. In the first mode of operation, the current from battery 28 joins the current from battery 41, through section 38 of switch 35 and the jumper means 39. When section 36 of switch 35 is closed, the current from battery 28 passes through the flashing lamp 33 and jack 29 into housing 43, wherein it is joined by battery 41 to supply an interrupted current to lamp 42, which then flashes intermittently, about 60 times per minute. A shield 42A, which rotates at its base section, can be used to direct the illumination from the lamp 42 to any desired direction, thus preventing other persons that may be sleeping in the same room from being affected by the light from the lamp, i.e., they are not disturbed. 
     FIG. 7 shows the longitudinal or long-axis sectional view of the resonator 30, shown in FIG. 5. The resonator 30 comprises an elongated housing 45, of a nominal size, for example, 3 inches long by 2 inches wide by 1 inch deep, although it can be made of any other suitable size and configuration. The housing 45 can be made of any suitable material such as plastic or metal, plastic being preferable for its appearance, weight, and low cost, and various colored plastics or painted metal housing may be used as desired. The housing 45 includes therein principally a miniature motor 46 operable from a power source or batteries contained in housing 27 or in compartments 57 and 58. The motor 46 is provided with a shaft 47, at the terminal portion of which is a &#34;load&#34; or mass 48 located in the chamber portion 49 of the motor 46. The mass 48 may either be welded to shaft 47 or press-fitted at the slot 50 over the shaft 47. 
     Since, the mass 48 extends radially to the shaft 47, it produces an operational unbalance, in a centrifugal direction, in the shaft 47 at high rotational speeds and the unbalance increases as the shaft rotational speed increases. Furthermore, in order to magnify the unbalance at any speed, the shaft 47 is slightly bent at the base of the mass 48, the bend is so slight that it has not been shown in the figure, for sake of clarity. The weight of the mass 48 together with the slight bend in the shaft 47 causes a combined centrifugal force so great at the speeds the motor 46 is driven that the whole structure including the housing 45 vibrates in a plane at right angles to the axis of the housing 45. When a pulsating or interrupted current is transmitted into the motor 46 from, for example, the circuit of FIG. 6, the direction of vibration caused by the interrupted current in resonator 30 or 37, a resultant vibrating force, is produced which causes the motor housing 45 to resonate with a pulsative motion. The motor 46 is potted in housing 45 so that the whole mass of the resonator vibrates pulsatively as one unit; the potting material is shown as numeral 51 in housing 45. The two wires 52 and 53 emerging from housing 46 are shown schematically and are analogous to the electric cord 31 shown in FIG. 5. 
     In the operation of the device shown in FIG. 5, the timer 24 is set to the desired time by the manner described for the device shown in FIG. 1, the resonator 30 (or 37) is placed under the sleeper&#39;s pillow, and the plug 32 is inserted into the jack 29. With the timer 24 plugged into a 115-volt household current, when the set time of the day arrives the switch 13 closes (as described hereinabove) and the resonator 30 begins to resonate pulsatively. If a current interrupter, such as the interrupter 34, has been used in the circuit of FIG. 6, then the resonator 30 starts immediately to vibrate; but, if the flashlamp, such as lamp 33, is used, then the resonator 30 starts to vibrate continuously for a few second (about 5 to 8 second) before it begins to resonate pulsatively. The reason for a small delay is that it takes a few seconds for the thermosensitive element 54 of lamp 33 to heat up and deflect, thus closing the main circuit current through the lamp 33. When the element 54 cools it deflect in the opposite direction to open the circuit. 
     In FIG. 10, another modification of the invention is shown. This unit operates in exactly the same manner as that shown in FIG. 5, with the exception that the housing 55 is made of one piece and is elongated to make room for the timer 56 and for the circuit component parts shown in FIG. 6. Two chambers are provided in housing 55, one on each side of the timer 56, and are designated at the areas marked by broken lines as at 57 and 58, respectively. As in the embodiment shown in FIG. 5, the housing 55 is provided in the wall thereof with a double-throw switch means 59 having the same function as switch 35, shown in FIG. 5. A jack 60, similar to jack 29, located adjacent the switch 59, is adapted to receive the plug 32 of resonator 30 (or 37), or plug 44A of lamp 42. The jack is also adapted to receive any one of the plug shown. 
     The disclosure of the invention described herein represents the preferred embodiments of the invention; however, variations thereof, in the form, construction, and arrangement of the various component parts thereof and the modified applications of the invention are possible without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.