US2980108A - Pulsating mattress - Google Patents

Description

April 18, 1961 D. J. scoTT 2,980,108

PULSATING MATTRESS Filed Dec. 23, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR BY 7%? www@ ATTORNEYS April 18, 1961 Filed Dec. 23, 1957 D. J. SCOTT PULSATING MATTRESS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR wdflfca BY 27% M m ATTORNEYS PULSATING y David J. Scott, St.` Petersburg, Fla., assignor to rPulsnation Enterprises, Inc., St. Petersburg, Fla. Filed Dec. 23, 1957, Ser. No. 704,502

4 claims. (c1. 12s- 33) `enough to enable aperson to relax while restingonthe mattress.

An object of this invention is to provide aA comfortable mattressupon which a'person may recline, incombination with amtor-actuatcd, pulsatinproducing unit and novel'rconnecting means for transmitting gentle andegual lstrength pulsations to'all parts of the mattress. p In addition to the relaxing effects the mattress produces, it is also beneficial in treating patients suffering from arthritis, bursitis, hangover, rheumatism, and many other disorders of muscular and circulatory nature which respond to gentle massage therapy.

Another object of the present invention resides in the provision of a pulsating mattress which will impart relaxing pulsations throughout substantially its entire surface by utilizing a novel arrangement for connecting coil springs by means of helical springs to each other and to a vibration-producing member.

Still further objects and features of this invention reside in the provision of a pulsating mattress that is simple in construction, easy to manufacture, and which is rela` tively inexpensive, thereby permitting wide use and dis tribution.

These, together with the various ancillary objects and features of the invention which will become apparent as the following description proceeds, are attained by this pulsating mattress, a preferred embodiment of which is disclosed in the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a plan View of the pulsating mattress of the present invention with parts thereof being broken away, and other parts shown in section for greater detail and clarity;

Figure 2 is an enlarged sectional detail View as taken along the plane of line 2 2 in Figure l;

Figure 3 is a partial perspective View showing the means for transmitting the pulsations to all the coil springs throughout the mattress.

With continuing reference to th'e accompanying drawings wherein like reference numerals designate similar parts throughout the various views, reference numeral designates the pulsating mattress of the presentinvention.

The pulsating mattress 10 may be made of any suitable size and shape desired and is especially adapted for use as a substitute for conventional mattresses, which -4the Asprings together. "continuusto the extent that they extend transversely acro'ssthewidth of the mattress land are substantially `parallel to each other.

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purpose itlserves as when'the pulsating means is not activated.

vfl`he-p'ulsatng mattress 10 includes upper landlower border wires 14 and 16l formed to a generally rectngular configuration and preferably having rounded corners as are indicated-fat 18 and'20. These border wiresbor- `der theI upper and lower edges of the coil spring' assemfbly 12. Af plurality of spring coils as indicated at 22 Vcomprise thesupporting portion of the mattress. The -endsfof the coils of the springs 22 have straight portions, vas i'a'rej indicated at 24, 267 and 28, 30. A'plurality of lrelatively'sinall vhelical spring connections 64 and'66 are engaged about the straight portions 24, 26,and 28, "30, respectively, ofrthe springs'22 so as to hold the The helical spring connections are Thus, the only means tying the coil 'springs to each other are these cross helicals, thereby providing a resilient connection between all of the Acoil springs. The coil springs adjacent the border'wire i may be connected to the border wire by wire connections 7such`-as`60 and 62.

The vibration-producing means comprises a motor 32 'driving a Vshaft 34 rhaving a Weight eccentrically mounted thereon as at 36, and this unit is supported within the Jspring assemblyv by a` suitable mounting bracket 38. The

bracket may be attachedto the first cross helicals, as

"shown in'Figure 3, or to the border wires; in any event,

the 'entirefs'upporting assembly is free to vibrate with -its exible'supports',and is not attached to any rigid supports. This 'vibration-producing unit is completely surrounded by coil springs 22 in the coil spring assembly 12 and is inserted in the place of two coil springs in the second row as shown in Figure l. Transfer rods 44 and 46 having eyes 40 and 42 secured to projections or pins 48 and 50 on the motor mounting brackets 38 are secured to each of the cross helicals 62 and 64 by suitable means, such as hog'nose ties 65.

Electric conductors are provided to connect the motor 32 to a suitable sourceof electrical power utilizing a conductor cord 55. A timer 56 may be provided as desired for controlling the length of time of operation of the device. The timer 56 may serve as an off-on switch in addition. lf desired, the timer may be coin controlled,

and a variable resistance placed in the power supply to` vary the speed of the motor and the amplitude and frequency of the vibrations. A

Positioned over the spring assembly 12 is any suitable insulation as is indicated at and 72 arranged in layers, it being noted that sisal is satisfactory for this purpose. Foam rubber layers 74 and 76 are positioned over the insulation and ticking 78 encases the entire mattress. A slide fastener 80 may be provided to close an access opening 82 adjacent the motor 32 so as to permit access thereto.

In operation, the motor 32 is rotated to drive the eccentric weight 36, thereby transmitting gyratory motion to the transfer rods 44 and 46 which in turn are connected to each of the cross helicals 64 and 66. Since the cross helicals 64 and 66 are also secured to each of the Coil springs 22, motion will also be produced in each of these springs and will be thus transferred throughout the entire mattress in the form of gentle pulsations.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention Vto the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be utilized within the scope and spirit of the invention as defined by the appended claims wherein applicant is entitled to a reasonable range of equivalents.

I claim: A 1. A mattress for producing therapeutic pulsations comprising; a plurality of coil springs for supporting a weight on the mattress, Ysaid coil springs positioned with their opposite end faces deiining substantially parallel planes and in spaced, aligned rows; a plurality of cross helical coils extending across said mattress along said planes, said cross helical coils lying between said spaced rows of coil springs and attached thereto, vibration producing means supported within said mattress; and means connecting the vibration producing means only with the cross helical coils whereby pulsations are transmitted from said vibration producing means rst to said cross helical coils and then to said coil springs.

2. Apparatus as claimed in claim l wherein said means for connecting the vibration producing means with said cross helical coils comprises a pair of longitudinally eX- tending, relatively rigid, wire, rod members which also lie in said planes and extend longitudinally of said mattress at right angles to said cross helical coils, said rod members being of alength less than the full length of said mattress, one end of said rod members being connected to said vibration producing means, said rod members being positioned intermediate of said coil springs and spaced therefrom, and means connecting said longitudinally extending rod members to said cross helical coils at the intersection thereof.

3. A pulsating mattress comprising; a plurality of supporting coil springs, said coil springs being positioned in spaced, parallel, transverse rows; cross helical coils extending across the mattress along planes defined by the ends of said coil springs between said spaced rows, means connecting saidcross helical coils to said coil springs at the intersection thereof, vibration producing means supported within said mattress, and a transfer rod mounted longitudinally of said mattress along one of said planes, means connecting said transfer rod to said vibration producing means, said transfer rod being positioned at right angles to said cross helical coils and between adjacent coil springs and spaced therefrom, said transfer rod being of a length less than the full length of said mattress, and means connecting said transfer rod to said cross helical coils remote from said coil springs whereby pulsations are transmitted from said vibration producing means first to said cross helical coils and then to said coil springs.

4. A pulsating mattress comprising a plurality of supporting coil springs, said coil springs being positioned in spaced, parallel transverse rows, cross helical springs extending across said mattress between said spaced rows of coil springs along planes defined by the ends of said coil springs, means connecting said cross helicalcoils and said coil springs at the intersection thereof,'vibrati0n producing means supported within said mattress,and a transfer rod positioned along each of said planes and connected to said vibration producing means, said transfer rods being at right angles to said cross helical coils and said transverse rows of coil springs and lying between adjacent coil springs and spaced therefrom, said transfer rod being of a length less than the full length of said mattress, means connecting said transfer rod only to said cross helical coils whereby pulsations are transmitted from said vibration producing means first to said cross helical coils and then to said coil springs.

Tompkins Aug. 12, 1947 Jessup Sept. 16, 1958

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