THERAPEUTIC VIBRATION APPARATUS

APPAREIL VIBRANT THERAPEUTIQUE

English Abstract

A therapeutic vibration apparatus (10), includes a motor (54), operated
vibration platform (38). The motor drives a drive shaft (56), on which a fixed
weight (62) is eccentrically mounted. Further, a rotatable weight (64) is
eccentrically mounted to the drive shaft. The fixed weight includes a stop
protruding outwardly and the rotatable weight is positioned on the drive shaft
at a location to be caught by the stop when the shaft is rotating. A
controller is used to change the direction of rotation of the motor so that
when the drive shaft is rotated in one direction, the rotatable weight is
caught by the stop on a side aligned with the eccentric portion of the fixed
weight and when the motor is reversed in direction the weight is caught on the
other side of the drive shaft in opposition to the eccentric portion of the
fixed weight.

French Abstract

L'invention concerne un appareil vibrant thérapeutique (10) comportant une plateforme vibrante (38) entraînée par un moteur (54). Le moteur entraîne un arbre d'entraînement (56) sur lequel une masse fixe (62) et une masse rotative (64) sont montées excentriquement. La masse fixe comporte une butée faisant saillie vers l'extérieur et la masse rotative est disposée sur l'arbre d'entraînement de manière à être saisie par la butée lorsque l'arbre tourne. Un contrôleur sert à modifier le sens de rotation du moteur de telle manière que, lorsque l'arbre d'entraînement tourne dans un sens, la masse rotative est saisie par la butée sur un côté aligné avec la partie excentrique de la masse fixe, et lorsque le moteur change de sens, la masse est saisie sur l'autre côté de l'arbre d'entraînement, sur le côté opposé à la partie excentrique de la masse fixe.

Claims

I Claim:
1. A therapeutic vibration apparatus comprising:
a vibration platform having an upper surface and a
bottom surface;
a reversible motor mounted to the bottom surface of
the vibration platform and connected to a drive shaft
having a longitudinal axis;
a fixed weight eccentrically mounted to the drive
shaft and secured thereto;
a rotatable weight eccentrically mounted to the
drive shaft in rotatable relation thereto;
the fixed weight further including a stop protruding
outwardly from the fixed weight adjacent to the drive
shaft and extending in a direction parallel with the
longitudinal axis of the drive shaft;
the rotatable weight positioned on the drive shaft
at a position to be caught by the stop when the drive
shaft is rotating; and
means for reversing the direction of rotation of the
motor.
2. The therapeutic vibration apparatus according to
Claim 1 further including a pair of spaced apart pillow
block bearings mounted to the bottom surface of the
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vibration platform for receiving and supporting the drive
shaft and wherein the fixed weight and rotatable weight
are mounted to the drive shaft between the pillow block
bearings.
3. The therapeutic vibration apparatus according to
Claim 1 including a base frame for resting on a ground
surface and a resilient support connected between the
base frame and the vibration platform for resiliently
supporting the vibration platform in spaced apart
relation above the base frame.
4. The therapeutic vibration apparatus according to
Claim 3 wherein at least two resilient supports support
the vibration platform and wherein at least one of the
resilient supports has a height less than at least one of
the other resilient supports.
5. The therapeutic vibration apparatus according to
Claim 1 further including means for increasing the mass
of the fixed weight.
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Description

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THERAPEUTIC VIBRATION APPARATUS
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a therapeutic
vibration apparatus which includes a vibration platform
on which a user stands, sits or lies.
It is well known that vibratory stimulation benefits
a user in several different ways including increasing
strength; increasing bone density; increasing
flexibility; and increasing blood circulation. Further,
the user may also experience suppression of pain,
increased lymph drainage, suppression of cellulite and
enhance the mental well being.
Devices for vibratory stimulation of the human body
are known such as described in United States Patent
No. 6,923,773.
The prior art devices known do not have the
capability of easily changing the vibration amplitude on

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The prior art devices known do not have the capability of
easily changing the vibration amplitude on the vibration of the
vibration platfornt. The present invention provides an improved
device which enables a user to select a vibration amplitude
appropriate for the use.
SUMMARY OF INVENTION
Certain exemplary embodiments can provide a therapeutic
vibration apparatus comprising: a vibration platform having an
upper surface and a bottom surface; a reversible motor mounted to
the bottom surface of the vibration platform and connected to a
drive shaft having a longitudinal axis; a fixed weight
eccentrically mourited to the drive shaft and secured thereto; a
rotatable weight eccentrically mounted to the drive shaft in
rotatable relatiori thereto; the fixed weight further including a
stop protruding outwardly from the fixed weight adjacent to the
drive shaft and extending in a direction parallel with the
longitudinal axis of the drive shaft; the rotatable weight
positioned on the drive shaft at a position to be caught by the
stop when the dri.ve shaft is rotating; and means for reversing
the direction of rotation of the motor.
Certain exemplary embodiments can provide a therapeutic
vibration apparatus comprising: a vibration platform; a vibrator
for vibrating the vibration platform; a base frame for testing on
a ground surface; and a resilient support connected between the
base frame and the vibration platform for resiliently supporting
the vibration platform in spaced-apart relation above the base
f rame .
Other embodirnents provide a therapeutic vibration apparatus
including a motor operated vibrator mounted beneath a vibration
platform on which a user stands, sits or lies. The motor drives
a drive shaft on which a fixed weight is eccentrically mounted.
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Further, a rotatable weight is eccentrically mounted to the
drive shaft in rotatable relation thereto. The fixed weight
includes a stop protruding outwardly from the fixed weight
adjacent to the drive shaft and extends in a direction parallel
with the longitudinal axis of the drive shaft. The rotatable
weight is positioned on the drive shaft at a position to be
caught by the stop when the shaft is rotating. A controller is
also provided for changing the direction of rotation of the
motor so that wheri the drive shaft is rotated in one direction
the rotatable weiqht is caught by the stop on a side aligned
with the eccentric: portion of the fixed weight and when
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the motor is reversed in direction the weight is caught
on the other side of the drive shaft in opposition to the
eccentric portion of the fixed weight. Thus, the
amplitude of vibration can be increased or decreased
simply by changing the direction of rotation of the
motor.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
In order that the invention may be clearly
understood and readily carried into effect, a preferred
embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way
of example only, with reference to the accompanying
drawings wherein:
Fig. 1 is a front perspective view of a therapeutic
vibration apparatus according to the present invention;
Fig. 2 is a left side perspective view of the
invention shown in Fig. 1;
Fig. 3 is a bottom view of the invention as shown in
Fig. 1 with portions removed;
Fig. 4 is a rear elevational view of the invention
shown in Fig. 1 with portions removed;
Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a fixed weight used
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with the present invention;
Fig. 6 is a right side perspective view of the fixed
weight shown in Fig. 5;
Fig. 7 is a perspective view of a rotatable weight
used with the present invention; and
Fig. 8 is a rear view of the rotatable weight shown
in Fig. 7.
DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
A therapeutic vibration apparatus 10 according to
the present invention is shown in Fig. 1. The apparatus
10 includes a handle bar 12 which is attached to a "U"
shaped support frame 14 with an upright support standard
16 as shown in Fig. 2. The distal ends of the "U" shaped
support frame 14 are attached to a base frame 18 with
bolts 20 as shown in Fig. 2. The "U" shaped frame 14 is
provided with a pair of rollers 22 so that when the
upright support standard 16 is tilted the vibration
apparatus 10 can be easily moved to a different location.
As shown in Fig. 3, the base frame 18 is a
rectangular frame having four frame members 24, 26, 28
and 30. A non-skid support 32 is mounted at each of the
four corners of frame 18 as shown in Fig. 3. In
addition, an adjustable height non-skid support 33 is
mounted to frame member 28 as shown in Fig. 1.
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A series, of resilient supports are mounted to the
base frame 18 as shown in Figs. 3 and 4. Four resilient
supports 34 are provided with one resilient support 34
located at each corner of the base frame 18. An
additional two intermediate resilient supports 35 are
located on each of the base frame members 24 and 28.
Further a central resilient support 37 is located between
the respective two intermediate resilient supports 35 on
the base frame members 24 and 28.
In a preferred embodiment, the resilient supports
34, 35 and 37 are constructed of a rectangular sheet of
rubber material which has been bent into an arch
configuration. Each free end of the resilient supports
34, 35 and 37 are mounted to the frame 18 with a channel
bracket 36.
A vibration platform 38 rests on top of the
resilient supports 34 as shown in Fig. 4. The vibration
platform is secured to the base frame 18 with bolts 40
which extend through the vibration platform 38 and then
through a respective resilient support 34 located at each
corner of the base frame 18 as shown in Fig. 3. A
rectangular washer 42 is provided on the underside of the
resilient support 34 to prevent slippage of the bolt 40
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through the resilient support.
In a preferred embodiment, the resilient supports 34
have a height greater than resilient supports 35 and 37.
The resilient supports 37 have the least height and the
intermediate resilient supports 35 have a height between
the height of resilient supports 34 and resilient
supports 37. The reason for the varying heights is that
corner supports will support a person or a person lifting
weights up to about 450 pounds. When the weight is
greater than this, the vibration platform will be pushed
downwardly against the resilient supports 34 to rest on
top of resilient supports 35. The resilient supports 34
and 35 will support weight up to about 850 pounds. With
a greater weight the vibration platform 38 will be pushed
further downwardly until it rests on resilient supports
37. With this arrangement, the vibration platform 38
will accommodate different weights without the necessity
of providing a single resilient support to accommodate
the maximum weights. Thus, vibration platform 38 has
less stiffness with lower weights than with heavier
weights positioned on the vibration platform 38.
In a preferred embodiment, a set offour angle iron
members 44, 46, 48 and 50 are mounted to the underside of
platform 38 as by welding to provide rigidity to the
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vibration platform 38. Amounting plate 52 is also
welded to the underside of the vibration platform 38.
As shown in Fig. 3, a motor driven vibrator is used
for vibrating the vibration platform 38. This vibrator
includes a conventional, three phase, reversible dual-
shaft motor 54. The motor 54 is provided with a pair of
drive shafts 56 extending out either side of motor 50 as
shown in Fig. 3. The distal ends of the drive shafts 56
are mounted in spaced apart pillow block bearings 58 and
60 which are mounted to the mounting plate 52 with bolts.
An eccentrically-mounted fixed weight 62 and an
eccentrically-mounted rotatable weight 64 are mounted to
each shaft 56 between the two pillow block bearings 58
and 60.
The fixed weight 62 is shown in Fig. 5. This weight
62 includes an off-center bore 66 for receiving the shaft
56. A pair of threaded bores 68 are provided in adjacent
edges of the first weight 62 as shown in Figs. 5 and 6.
The bores 68 extend through the fixed weight 62 and into
the bore 66. The threaded bores 68 receive set screws
(not shown) for securing the fixed weight 62 to the drive
shaft 56.
A stop 70 is secured to one face of the first weight
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62 adjacent the bore 66 as shown in Figs. 5 and 6 and
extends outwardly in a perpendicular relation to a face
of the fixed weight 62 and in parallel relation with a
longitudinal axis of bore 66. In a preferred embodiment,
a polyethylene sleeve 72 is mounted on the stop 70.
The rotatable weight 64 is shown in Figs. 7 and 8.
This rotatable weight is provided with an off-center bore
74 for receiving the shaft 56. A spacer 76 is mounted to
one side of the rotatable weight 74 and has a bore 78
axially aligned with the bore 74 as shown in Fig. 7. The
bore 74 and 78 are sized to rotatably receive the shaft
56.
The fixed weights 62 and the rotatable weights 64
are sized so that when these weights revolve with the
drive shafts 56, they.do not strike the mounting plate
52.
With this construction, the vibration platform
vibrates with each revolution of the drive shaft 56
because of the unbalanced weight provided by the fixed
weights 62 and the rotatable weights 64 mounted on the
drive shafts 56. When the motor 54 is energized, the
fixed weight 62 will rotate with the shaft 56 and the
stop 72 will catch the rotatable weight 62. Depending on
the direction of rotation of the motor 54, the rotatable
weight 62 will be caught by stop 72 either on the side of
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shaft 56 in alignment with the eccentric portion of the
fixed weight 62 or on the side of shaft 56 opposite the
eccentric portion of the fixed weight 62. When the fixed
weight 62 and rotatable weight are aligned, the amplitude
of vibration increases because of the increased weight on
one side of the shaft 56. When the direction of the
motor 54 is reversed and the rotatable weight 62 is on
the opposite side of shaft 56, the amplitude of vibration
is reduced, because the weight of the eccentric portion
of fixed weight 62 is off set by the weight of the
eccentric portion of the rotatable weight 64.
As will be noted, simply by reversing the direction
of the motor 50, the amplitude of the vibration is either
increased or decreased depending on the direction of
rotation of the motor.
It is to be also noted that by increasing the mass
of the fixed weight 62, the amplitude of vibration can
also be varied. By increasing the mass, the amplitude of
vibration is increased and by decreasing the mass, the
amplitude of vibration is lessened.
In order to increase the mass of the fixed weight
62, the fixed weight 62 is provided with a series of
threaded holes 80 and 82 as shown in Figs. 5 and 6. To
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increase the mass of the fixed weight 62, a bolt (not
shown).is threaded into one or both of the threaded holes
78 or 80. The weight of the bolts inserted increase the
mass of the fixed weight 62.
A conventional controller 84 is used for controlling
the speed and direction of rotation of the motor 54. In
a preferred embodiment, the controller 84 is a three-
phase AC adjustable speed drive, micro series inverter
manufactured by Leeson. The controller 84 is
electrically connected in a conventional manner to an
invertor 86 and the motor 54 with conductor cable 88.
The controller 84 includes an internal micro processor
which allows a user to control the speed of the motor 54
as well as the direction of rotation of the motor 54.
Further, the controller 84 includes a timer for setting
the time during which the motor is energized. A power
cord 90 connects the invertor 86 to a conventional power
source.
While the fundamental novel features of the
invention have been shown and described, it should be
understood that various substitutions, modifications and
variations may be made by those of ordinary skill in the
art without departing from the spirit or scope of the
invention. Accordingly, all such modifications or

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variations are included in the scope of the invention as
defined by the following claims.
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Representative Drawing