TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present invention relates to the bed industry and, more particularly to a vibrating bed for inducing states of relaxation.

BACKGROUND

[0002] Many people suffer from pain, stress, disease and injuries which can be treated using relaxation. Complementary therapies can be used with traditional medicines to facilitate the body to heal itself. A person with a positive emotional state does not have as much stress hormones in their body, which can otherwise strain their immune system.

[0003] One form of complementary therapy can be provided by vibrating beds. However, currently available vibrating beds are not tuneable to treat certain conditions. They have generic vibration settings that are not adapted to a particular person’s requirements. They provide generic vibration settings, rather than a customised setting producing a unique vibrational pattern for a particular person.

[0004] The object of the present invention is to provide a vibrating bed that allows a particular person to induce a unique vibrational pattern that they find particularly therapeutic.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0005] According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a bed for inducing a plurality of unique vibrational patterns, the bed comprising:

(a) a mattress;

(b) a carriage for the mattress;

(c) a frame to support the carriage;

(d) a transducer for producing different vibrational patterns in the mattress;

(e) an amplifier for controlling the transducer;

(f) a computer for controlling the amplifier; and

(g) software on the computer for producing sounds of particular frequencies; wherein the mattress is a water mattress.

[0006] Preferably, the frame is made of hard wood, but it may also be made of metal. The inventor has found that a hard wood called Tasmanian Oak is particularly effective at transmitting vibrations.

[0007] In preferred forms of the invention, the carriage comprises two connectable sections, which are interlocked when in use and separated when the bed is required to be transported.

[0008] Preferably, the amplifier is a vibrotactile amplifier.

[0009] The bed preferably includes a heater for the water mattress.

[0010] The frame preferably has an internal shelf to support the amplifier.

[0011] Preferably, the water mattress is filled to about 80% capacity in order to provide a comfortable level of support to the user and to permit the best propagation of vibrations to the body of the user.

[0012] Preferably, the feet of the frame should rest on carpet sections or on carpet flooring. This dampens the downward force of the vibrations to increase the vibrational resonance around the body of the user on the mattress.

[0013] According to another aspect of the invention there is provided a method of therapeutic treatment, the method comprising lying a person on a water mattress supported on a wooden carriage and frame with a transducer connected to, wherein the transducer is controlled by an amplifier through which sounds are produced to vibrate the water mattress in one or more specific harmonic modes most suited to induce relaxation in the person.

[0014] Any of the features described herein can be combined in any combination with any one or more of the other features described herein within the scope of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0015] Embodiments of the invention will be described with reference to the following drawings, in which:

[0016] Figure 1 is a perspective view of an assembled vibrating bed according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0017] Figure 2 is an exploded view of the vibrating bed of figure 1.

[0018] Figure 3 is a top view of a first vibrational pattern produced by the bed for a first individual. [0019] Figure 4 is a top view of a second vibrational pattern produced by the bed for a second individual.

[0020] Figure 5 is a top view of a third vibrational pattern produced by the bed for a third individual.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0021] Figure 1 shows a vibrating bed 10 according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. The bed comprises a water mattress 12, which is supported in a carriage 14 that rests on a frame 16. The frame 16 is preferably made of hard wood (such as Tasmanian Oak) which is particularly effective at transmitting vibrations. The carriage has sections 17 and 19 which can be separated to compact the bed 10 for transport or storage.

[0022] The frame 16 has a shelf 18 that supports an amplifier 20 which is connected to a computer 22 to control a transducer 24 (see figure 2) which is screwed into the external underside of the base of the carriage 14. The computer 22 runs a software program capable of playing a suite of sound files that cause the transducer 24 to vibrate at different frequencies. The strength of the vibrations produced by the transducer 24 can be modulated by adjusting the volume of the sound file on the computer 22.

[0023] The transducer 24 is preferably a vibro-tactile speaker that does not pressurize the air around it like a traditional subwoofer speaker. Instead, it transmits low frequency sound energy into objects. The energy is delivered so cleanly through vibrotactile transfer that the person 26 lying on the bed 10 interprets the stimulus as sound, not shaking. The amplifier 20 is capable of producing vibrations from below 5 Hz to over 1000 Hz. Any 4-ohm stable amplifier that provides a minimum of 100 Watts Root Mean Square (RMS) power handling will be sufficient to power the transducer 24. Amplifiers with 150 to 300 Watts of power at 4-ohms impedance provide the best experience. The transducer 24 is thereby able to produce a strong vibration through the water in the mattress 12 without the volume being excessively high. The vibrations in the mattress 12 feel like background music to the person 26 lying on the bed 10.

[0024] The bed 10 has a heater 28 for the water mattress 12 (see figure 2). Otherwise, the water mattress 12 can be too cold to be comfortable for a user to lie on it. The water mattress 12 should be filled to about 80% capacity in order to provide a comfortable level of support to the person 26 and to permit the best propagation of vibrations to the person 26.

[0025] The feet 30 of the frame 16 should rest on carpet sections attached thereto or on carpet flooring. This dampens the downward force of the vibrations and increase the vibrational resonance around the person 26 on the water mattress 12. The water in the mattress 12 is particularly effective at transmitting, amplifying and resonating the sound waves produced by the transducer 24. The water mattress 12 is also exceptionally comfortable to lie on as it moulds to the body of the person 26.

[0026] Figures 3, 4 and 5 show different vibrational patterns created by the transducer 24 operating at different frequencies on the carriage 14 of the bed 10. Different frequencies create different vibrational patterns. The vibrational patterns are created by regions of maximum and minimum displacement of the water in the mattress 12. The patterns change depending on the geometry of bed 10, different sound files on the computer 22 and the volume at which the sound files are played.

[0027] Different people have different bodies with different harmonic modes. Each individual will have a unique vibrational pattern which they find particularly therapeutic. That frequency may be their resonant frequency. If that particular frequency is applied, the body enters a deep state of relaxation which can activate the immune system. The activated immune system can deal with disease more effectively. It also encourages the person to excrete more toxins from their body. The present invention thereby facilitates the body to heal itself.

[0028] The body produces many sounds, such as the sound of our hearts beating, breath going in and out, joints clicking, stomach rumbling and throat vibratiions when we speak or sing.

However, the trillions of living cells that make up our bodies also vibrate at a minutely low frequency. In effect, cells constantly sing and their song changes in response to the environment, including pressure, temperature and their own inner processes. Their songs go out to their neighbouring cells, announcing either health and harmony, or discord and illness of the tissue and organ they are part of. The neighbouring cells ‘hear’ each other’s songs (that is, they transmit information) and are affected by and respond to each other. The word ‘organ’ means both ‘instrument’ or a body part. The singing of cells can be detected using atomic force microscopes. Overall, the singing of all the cells becomes an orchestra of your whole body. If an individual’s health is bad, then the orchestra of cells are a cacophony. If a person’s health is good, then the orchestra of their cells is in symphony. An object of the present invention is to make the cells harmonize.

[0029] The vibration-based relaxation induces a meditative state which bypasses the nerve tissue and aims solely at synaptic junctions in the nerves due to the piezoelectric effect created by the vibrations at the cellular level. This process allows the innate energetic communication network to access the information coming directly from the consciousness of the person.

[0030] In the present specification and claims (if any), the word ‘comprising’ and its derivatives including ‘comprises’ and ‘comprise’ include each of the stated integers but does not exclude the inclusion of one or more further integers.

[0031] Reference throughout this specification to ‘one embodiment’ or ‘an embodiment’ means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus, the appearance of the phrases ‘in one embodiment’ or ‘in an embodiment’ in various places throughout this specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment. Furthermore, the particular features, structures, or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more combinations.

[0032] In compliance with the statute, the invention has been described in language more or less specific to structural or methodical features. It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to specific features shown or described since the means herein described comprises preferred forms of putting the invention into effect. The invention is, therefore, claimed in any of its forms or modifications within the proper scope of the appended claims (if any) appropriately interpreted by those skilled in the art.