Patent Description:
Furthermore, the invention relates also to a method for generating and transmitting the harmonic vibrations generated starting from an audio source, in particular for exerting a massaging action on a human being.

As known, several transducers exist that are able to convert the audio waves into harmonic vibrations for different purposes, for example for exerting a massaging action on a person. Normally, for this purpose, the transducer is fixed by screws, bolts, or other fixing elements, to a resonant structure to which the person to be subjected to the aforementioned massage, is arranged in contact, also said vibro-massage, mainly with the purpose to reduce the tension and to produce a relaxing effect on the body and, therefore, on the muscles, the skeletal apparatus, and the internal organs.

An example of such a resonant structure provided with the aforementioned transducer for exerting a vibro-massage on the body of a person is described in <CIT>.

In this case, the vibro-massage unit comprises a resonant structure, a source of an audio signal arranged to generate an audio signal and a sound transducer which generates vibrations at a frequency and an amplitude modulated on the basis of the audio signal. The transducer is arranged in contact with the resonant structure at a predetermined point in such a way to be able to propagate the vibrations in a differentiated way selectively concentrating the vibrations on the basis of their frequency and their amplitude in determined areas, obtaining in this way a selective distribution of the vibrations.

However, the vibro-massage unit described in <CIT> provides a resonant structure of static type, therefore its response in terms of propagation of the vibrations and vibrating action produced on the person who is arranged in contact with the same change only if the frequencies of the audio signal emitted by the audio source change.

Other prior art solutions with the aforementioned drawbacks are described in <CIT>, <CIT>, <CIT>, <CIT>, <CIT> and <CIT>.

The present invention is directed to a system for generating and transmitting harmonic vibrations according to claim <NUM> and a method for generating and transmitting harmonic vibrations according claim <NUM>. Additional features and embodiments of the invention are defined in the dependent claims.

Further aspects of the present disclosure, essential for understanding the invention and either encompassed by the claimed invention or not, are provided below.

It is, therefore, an object of the present disclosure to provide a system for generating and transmitting harmonic vibrations that is able to generate a response of dynamic type by the resonant structure.

It is another object of the present disclosure to provide a system for generating and transmitting harmonic vibrations which is easy and quick to install and to disassemble with respect to the chosen structure for propagating harmonic vibrations and which provides an absolutely non-invasive engagement.

It is still an object of the present disclosure to provide a system for generating and transmitting harmonic vibrations to a human being belonging to a vegetable species, in particular an arboreous species, or tree, used as resonant structure of the system, at least as a part of the same.

It is also an object of the present disclosure to provide a method for generating and transmitting the vibrations having analogous advantages.

These and other objects are achieved by a system for generating and transmitting vibrations comprising:.

whose main characteristic is that the body for propagating vibrations has an elongated geometry and is oriented along a vertical or substantially vertical direction, and that the vibration transmission device comprises:.

Preferably, the body for propagating vibrations comprises at least a tree through which the harmonic vibrations are propagated.

In an embodiment foreseen, the vibration transmission device can be provided with at least a first and a second engagement portion arranged to engage the body for propagating vibrations between them.

In particular, the first and second engagement portions can be configured to move from a rest configuration to an engagement configuration causing the same to move away from each other up to reach a spaced position, which, advantageously, allows the body for propagating vibrations to be positioned between them.

More in particular, the first and the at least a second engagement portion can be arranged for engaging the body for propagating vibrations following an elastic return of the same from the spaced position towards the rest configuration.

Advantageously, the vibration transmission device can be provided with:.

In particular, a housing body can be, furthermore, provided configured to house the aforementioned transducer. More in particular, the housing body can be integral to the vibration transmission device.

Advantageously, the housing body is adapted to transmit the harmonic vibrations produced by the transducer to the vibration transmission device.

Advantageously, the vibration transmission device can be made of a material configured to transmit harmonic vibrations.

In particular, the aforementioned material configured to transmit harmonic vibrations can be selected among:.

In a possible embodiment of the invention, an amplifier can be provided between the sound waves source and the transducer. In particular, the amplifier can be configured to interface the sound waves source and the transducer with each other.

Advantageously, the sound waves source and the transducer can be configured to communicate with each other through respective transmission modules. These can be selected among:.

In particular, the aforementioned determined frequency of the audio signal is a sonic frequency. More in particular, a frequency higher than <NUM>. Preferably, the aforementioned determined frequency of the audio signal is comprised between <NUM> and <NUM>.

In particular, the or each engagement portion can be configured, for example shaped, to engage at least a branch, or the trunk, of the tree, for example to encircle the same in a removable and non-invasive way.

According to another aspect of the disclosure, a method for generating and transmitting vibrations comprises the steps of:.

wherein said step of propagation is carried out by removably engaging said transducer with said propagation body by a vibration transmission device comprising:.

In particular, the aforementioned body for propagating vibrations comprises at least a tree through which said harmonic vibrations are propagated.

The invention will now be shown with the following description of its exemplary embodiments, exemplifying but not limitative, with reference to the attached drawings in which:.

With reference to the <FIG>, a system <NUM>, according to the invention, for generating and transmitting vibrations, in particular harmonic vibrations, comprises a sound waves source <NUM> which emits an audio signal at a determined frequency, in particular, a frequency higher than <NUM>-<NUM>, preferably between <NUM> and <NUM>, or more in general an audio signal belonging to a determined range of frequencies, preferably between <NUM> and <NUM>, and a transducer <NUM>, for example a sound transducer, or a tactile transducer, operatively connected to the sound waves source <NUM> and configured to convert the audio signal coming from the sound waves source <NUM> into vibrations, in particular harmonic vibrations and/or mechanical vibrations. The system <NUM> provides, furthermore, a body for propagating vibrations, or a resonant body, through which the harmonic vibrations <NUM> is propagated, in determined directions. It is, furthermore, provided a transmission device <NUM> configured to transmit the harmonic vibrations produced by the transducer <NUM> to the body for propagating vibrations <NUM>. This latter has an elongated geometry and is oriented along a vertical or substantially vertical direction.

As diagrammatically indicated in <FIG>, the propagation body <NUM> can comprise a tree, preferably a live tree, for example a tree of a public park, or a private garden, but also a structure having the shape of a tree, but of artificial type. More in particular, the tree <NUM> comprises, in general, a plurality of branches and a trunk <NUM> oriented along a vertical or substantially vertical direction <NUM>. In other words, the longitudinal axis of the trunk <NUM> substantially coincides with the aforementioned vertical direction <NUM>. In particular, the tree <NUM>, or other propagation body, comprises a base portion <NUM>, for example the roots, positioned below a ground level <NUM> of the area where the propagation body <NUM> is positioned.

In particular, the vibration transmission device <NUM> can be positioned at the propagation body <NUM>, for example a tree, in a lateral position (see for example the <FIG>) with respect to a sagittal and/or frontal plane, or central or substantially central position, with respect to the same (see for example the <FIG> and <FIG>). The propagation direction of the vibrations involves, however, mainly the trunk <NUM> of the tree <NUM> which is crossed by the vibrations from above towards below.

The vibration transmission device <NUM>, for example made of a material chosen among wood, metal, plastic, composite material, comprises a receiving portion <NUM> integral to the transducer <NUM> at which the transducer <NUM> transmits the harmonic vibrations to the transmission device <NUM>, and an engagement portion <NUM> configured to removably engage the vibration transmission device <NUM> to the body for propagating vibrations <NUM> at respective contact surfaces <NUM> and <NUM>. More precisely, the aforementioned engagement portion <NUM> is arranged to engage the body for propagating vibrations <NUM>, from above. In particular, in order to cause the engagement portions 40a-40d to move from the rest configuration to the engagement configuration, the aforementioned transmission device <NUM> is positioned, from above, on the body for propagating vibrations <NUM>.

In this way, the vibrations mainly propagate along the aforementioned vertical direction <NUM>, or substantially vertical, which coincides with the longitudinal axis of the body for propagating vibrations.

More in detail, the harmonic vibrations which are transmitted to the body for propagating vibrations <NUM> propagate through the same generating a subjective response which is different from a propagation body to another, but that, anyway, involves all the body which is crossed from the above towards below. The modality through which the propagation of vibrations and sound occurs across a body in fact, mainly depends on the structure of the body that, in particular, is linked to the material of which it is made of, and mainly to the density of the same. The system <NUM> according to the invention allows, therefore, to provide a unique sensorial experience which can be transmitted to one or more people <NUM>, or other living beings, at the same time. More in detail, the sensorial experience can be transmitted to one or more people, or other living beings, <NUM> that can be directly positioned in contact with the body for propagating vibrations <NUM> (as diagrammatically shown in <FIG>) and through the surface on which the same is positioned, for example the ground (as diagrammatically shown in <FIG>). In fact, for example, in case of a tree <NUM>, the harmonic vibrations transmitted to the trunk <NUM> propagate along a vertical or substantially vertical direction <NUM>, up to reach the roots <NUM> and from these to the soil where they are located. The or each person <NUM> who is present in the area where the system <NUM> is installed will, therefore, receive the harmonic vibrations indirectly from the tree <NUM> through the soil staying in an erect or seated position, or laying down, and, therefore, not necessarily arranged in direct physical contact with the tree <NUM>. In addition to the above, the propagation of the harmonic vibrations and, advantageously, at least in part of the sound waves diagrammatically shown in the figures with concentric waves <NUM>, occurs through the structure of the tree in such a way that in addition to change from tree to tree, can also be different for the same tree after a certain period of time between an installation and the following because the tree, since it is a living being, is subjected to continuous change of its structure and, therefore, of the mode through which the propagation of the vibrations occurs, and, in case, of the sound through the same. Therefore, the present invention allows to have a tactile and sensorial experience that is always different and, therefore, unique all the times that is experienced by a person or a group of people. Furthermore, the system according to the present invention allows to obtain considerable benefits to the health of the trees on which is installed precisely because of the propagation through their structure of the aforementioned audio waves and harmonic vibrations that exert a revitalizing action on the same and, therefore, on people who experience the aforementioned tactile experience.

As diagrammatically shown, for example in <FIG>, the transmission device <NUM> is provided with at least a first and a second engagement portion 40a and 40b, in the case of <FIG>, four engagement portions 40a-40d adapted to move from a rest configuration where they do not engage the propagation body <NUM>, in particular the tree, to an engagement configuration where they engage the propagation body <NUM>, for example at least a branch <NUM> of the tree, or the trunk <NUM> of the same, in a removable and, preferably, non-invasive way, in such a way not to cause any trauma to the chosen tree. In all the cases, the body for propagating vibrations coincides with the trunk <NUM> of the tree <NUM>, which, therefore, is crossed, in any case, by the vibrations along the aforementioned vertical or substantially vertical direction <NUM>.

However, the possibility is also provided that the engagement portions <NUM> can be present also in a number greater than <NUM>, for example a number comprised between <NUM> and <NUM>, advantageously between <NUM> and <NUM>.

In particular, each engagement portion 40a-40d can be an elongated portion having a free end 41a-41d. In this way, the engagement portion <NUM> is able to engage bodies for propagating vibrations <NUM> of any shape, in particular having a complex shape. More precisely, the different free ends 41a-41d are adapted to be positioned at different contact zones or portions of the body for propagating vibrations <NUM>, in such a way to transmit the same to a respective portion of the produced harmonic vibrations.

More in particular, during the engagement of the body for propagating vibrations <NUM> by the plurality of engagement portions 40a-40d, the respective free ends 41a-41d can be adapted to gradually move away from each other.

At the engagement configuration, the receiving portion <NUM> can be, advantageously, positioned higher than the free ends 41a-41d of the engagement portions 40a-40d.

In particular, the other end 42a-42d of each engagement portion 40a-40d, opposite to the free end 41a-41d, is the one closer to the transducer <NUM>. More in particular, at least two other ends, or second ends, 42a and 42b and/or 42c and 42d of at least <NUM> engagement portions 40a-40d are connected to each other by a connection portion <NUM>, advantageously in such a way to form said receiving portion <NUM>, to propagate the vibrations produced by the transducer <NUM> from one to another up to the free ends 41a-41d of the engagement portions 40a-40d. Preferably, the connection portions <NUM> are arranged in such a way to be superimposed to one another in order to transmit the vibrations produced by the transducer <NUM> to all the engagement portions 40a-40d.

In the embodiment that is shown from <FIG>, four engagement portions 40a-40d are connected to a single connection portion <NUM>, in such a way to form said receiving portion.

In the case of <FIG> and <FIG>, the transmission device <NUM> is adapted to move from the rest configuration to the engagement configuration by forcing the engagement portions 40a-40d to move away, in particular to elastically move away, from each other. More precisely, as diagrammatically shown in <FIG>, once that the force which has, as disclosed above, caused the engagement portions 40a-40d to move away from each other, these tend to go back to the respective starting positions corresponding to the rest configuration, engaging in this way the body for propagating vibrations <NUM>, in particular one or more branches <NUM> of tree <NUM>.

In the embodiments that are diagrammatically shown in the figures from <NUM> to <NUM>, the vibration transmission device <NUM> is provided with a first and at least a second engagement portion 40a and 40b and with at least a clamping member <NUM>, for example a clip, in particular made of metal. More precisely, each clamping member <NUM> is adapted to reversibly move from a clamped configuration (see <FIG>) where it is adapted to keep the first and second engagement portions 40a and 40b in the engagement configuration, to a disengagement configuration, that is shown in <FIG> for an embodiment of the invention, where it is adapted to allow the first and second engagement portions 40a and 40b to move in the rest configuration in order to allow to remove them.

More in detail, in the embodiments of <FIG>, two couples of engagement portions 40a, 40b and <NUM>'a, <NUM>'b are provided in such a way to allow the vibration transmission device <NUM> to be anchored at two points of the body for propagating vibrations, in particular the tree <NUM>. In particular, the transducer <NUM>, or the housing body <NUM> inside of which it is housed, can be mechanically connected to the or each engagement portion <NUM> and <NUM>' by a link element <NUM>. This can provide a first link arm 38a, advantageously straight, integral to the transducer <NUM> and/or the housing body <NUM>, and two link arms 38b and 38c which ramify from the first link arm 38a in order to connect this latter respectively to the first and the second connection portion <NUM> and <NUM>'.

As shown for example in the <FIG>, <FIG> and <FIG>, the device for transmitting vibrations <NUM>, in particular harmonic, or mechanical, vibration, is, furthermore, provided with a housing body <NUM> configured to house the aforementioned transducer <NUM>. More in particular, the housing body <NUM> is integral to the transmission device <NUM>. In particular, the housing body <NUM> is adapted to transmit the harmonic vibrations produced by the transducer <NUM> to the vibration transmission device <NUM>. Advantageously, the housing body <NUM> can be provided with a main body provided with an aperture through which the transducer <NUM> can be introduced into, or extracted from, the main body. Furthermore, the housing body <NUM> can be provided with a closure, or a lateral wall, adapted to move from an opening position to allow to reach the inside of the aforementioned main body through the aforementioned aperture, and a closing position to avoid that dust, rain, leaves, or other foreign bodies, can reach the transducer <NUM> compromising the correct operation of the same.

As diagrammatically shown in <FIG>, between the sound waves source <NUM> and the transducer <NUM> an amplifier <NUM> can be provided configured to interface the sound waves source <NUM> with the transducer <NUM>.

According to what is provided by the invention, the sound waves source <NUM> and the transducer <NUM> can be operatively connected to each other by a wire connection (see <FIG> and <FIG>), or by respective transmission modules <NUM> and <NUM>. These can be chosen, for example, among modules for Bluetooth transmission, modules for WI-FI transmission, USB modules, or a combination thereof. More precisely, the sound waves source <NUM> can be a plant stereo, but also an electronic device, such as a smartphone, a PC, a tablet, a laptop, a device of Echo-dot type, and similar electronic devices, in particular provided with audio card (see <FIG>).

As diagrammatically shown in the <FIG> and <FIG> and in detail in <FIG>, according to an embodiment provided by the present invention, the transmission device <NUM> can provide at least a first and a second transmission portion <NUM> and <NUM>, each of which having a substantially "U", or substantially "V" shape. More precisely, the first and the second transmission portion <NUM> and <NUM> are, advantageously, positioned in such a way to intersect one another, for example by superimposing, as in the case illustrated in the <FIG>, <FIG> and <FIG>, or penetrating one another for a determined depth (case not shown in figure per simplicity) in such a way to define the aforementioned receiving portion <NUM>. At the receiving portion <NUM>, both if it is a crossing or a superimposing portion, or a planar surface, positioned, preferably, substantially at the respective centre lines, the transmission device <NUM> can provide a link element <NUM>, advantageously a link arm, or pin, adapted to mechanically connect the first and/or the second transmission portion <NUM> and <NUM> with the aforementioned housing body <NUM>, or directly with the transducer <NUM>. For example, the link element <NUM> can be adapted to house in a through or a blind hole provided at least in one, or both, the transmission portions <NUM> and <NUM>. The at least two transmission portions <NUM> and <NUM> can be connected by or more supplementary link elements <NUM> transversally arranged to each other, or inclined at predetermined angles, with respect to the respective engagement portions <NUM>, in the case of <FIG> the engagement portions 40d and 40b.

As shown, for example, in <FIG> the aforementioned transmission portions <NUM> and <NUM> are respectively provided with at least a respective engagement portion <NUM>. In the case of <FIG>, both the transmission portion <NUM> and the transmission portion <NUM> are, respectively, provided with a first and a second engagement portion 40a, 40b, and 40c, 40d. Generally, the transmission device <NUM> can be provided with a number n of engagement portions, for example n can be comprised between <NUM> and <NUM> and each transmission portion can be provided with a number n' of respective engagement portions <NUM>, with n' comprised between <NUM> and <NUM>.

Still with reference in particular to the <FIG>, <FIG> and <FIG>, but that, however, can be adopted also for the other embodiments according to the present invention, in an embodiment of the invention, the engagement portions 40a-40d can be fastened to the propagation body <NUM>, for example to one or more branches <NUM> of the tree, by or more anchoring members <NUM>, such as cables, chains, tapes, in particular elastic tapes, and similar. More in particular, the or each anchoring member <NUM> is adapted to embrace and clamp between them the or each branch <NUM> and the or each engagement portion <NUM>, in order to guarantee that the transmission device <NUM> is kept in the correct installation position.

As diagrammatically shown in the alternative embodiment of <FIG>, the system <NUM>, according to the invention, can provide at least a first and a second transducer 20a and 20b, each of which, advantageously, housed in a respective housing body 25a and 25b. Each transducer 20a, 20b can be engaged to a respective branch 7a, 7b, or to the same branch, by a respective transmission device 30a and 30b provided with respective engagement portions 40a and 40b. More in particular, each transmission device 30a and 30b can be provided with a link arm, for example a link arm or pivot adapted to mechanically connect the respective housing body 25a, 25b to the respective engagement portion 40a, 40b.

In the further alternative embodiment provided by the present invention, the transmission device <NUM> can be provided with at least an engagement portion <NUM> configured to move from a compacted configuration to an expanded configuration where is adapted to engage the propagation body <NUM>, for example the tree. More precisely, the engagement portion <NUM> can be adapted to move from the compacted, or minimum lateral encumbrance, configuration, to the expanded configuration causing, for example, by a rotation or a translation, a plurality of engagement portions <NUM> to rotate about respective hinge points <NUM>. This can, for example, be obtained causing a movable portion <NUM> to which first ends of the engagement members <NUM> are fixed, to slide from or towards a fixed portion <NUM>, to which second ends of the engagement members <NUM> are fixed, along a link bar <NUM> adapted to directly connect the transducer <NUM>, or the housing body <NUM> inside of which the same is housed, to the engagement members <NUM>.

This solution is particularly advantageous, in the case that the propagation body <NUM>, in particular the tree, is provided with a cavity. Also this solution is for the propagation body <NUM>, in particular the tree, absolutely non-invasive.

As diagrammatically shown in the further embodiment of the invention of <FIG>, the system, according to the invention, for generating and transmitting harmonic vibrations can be also directly applied to a person <NUM>. More precisely, in this case, the body for propagating vibrations <NUM> is constituted by person <NUM>. More in particular, in this case, each engagement portion, for example four engagement portions 40a-40d are adapted to removably engage, from the above, the vibration transmission device <NUM> to the person <NUM> through who, therefore, the vibrations are propagated at respective contact surfaces <NUM> and <NUM>, along the aforementioned vertical or substantially vertical direction <NUM>, that, in this case, substantially coincides with the longitudinal direction of the person <NUM>.

Claim 1:
System (<NUM>) for generating and transmitting harmonic vibrations comprising:
- a sound waves source (<NUM>) configured to emit an audio signal at a predetermined frequency;
- a transducer (<NUM>) operatively connected to said sound waves source (<NUM>) and configured to convert said audio signal emitted by said sound waves source into harmonic vibrations;
- a vibration transmission device (<NUM>) configured to transmit said harmonic vibrations produced by said transducer (<NUM>) to a body for propagating vibrations (<NUM>) in predetermined directions, said vibration transmission device (<NUM>) comprising a receiving portion (<NUM>) integral to said transducer (<NUM>) adapted to receive said harmonic vibrations from said transducer (<NUM>) and comprising a first engagement portion (40a) and at least a second engagement portion (40b, 40c, 40d) each being an elongated portion having a free end (41a-41d) and another end (42a-42d) opposite to said free end, said opposite end (41a-41d) forming part of the receiving portion (<NUM>);
said system (<NUM>) being characterised in that the first engagement portion (40a) and the at least second engagement portion (40b, 40c, 40d) configured to removably engage said body for propagating vibrations (<NUM>) having an elongated geometry and said body for propagating vibrations being oriented in a vertical or substantially vertical direction (<NUM>), said first engagement portion (40a) and said at least a second engagement portion (40b, 40c, 40d) being arranged to make contact from above said vibration transmission device (<NUM>) with said body for propagating vibrations (<NUM>) at respective contact surfaces (<NUM>,<NUM>), wherein the contact surfaces are configured to ensure that harmonic vibrations propagate from the engagement portions through the vibration-propagating body in said vertical or substantially vertical direction (<NUM>); and in that at least an anchoring member (<NUM>) arranged to fasten said first engagement portion (40a) and at least said second engagement portion (40b, 40c, 40d) to said body for propagating vibrations (<NUM>), said or each anchoring member (<NUM>) being arranged to embrace and clamp said first engagement portion (40a) and at least said second engagement portion (40b, 40c, 40d) in order to guarantee that the transmission device (<NUM>) is kept in a correct installation position.