Chair executing oscillatory motion
AssigneeMotion Technology, LLC
InventorThomas A. Garland
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An apparatus for imparting substantially oscillatory motion to a subject. The apparatus has a support assembly for supporting the subject and an oscillatory mechanism for defining a path of motion of the support assembly, the path having a region of bilateral symmetry with respect to a reference point. An actuator assembly which may be coupled to the oscillatory mechanism enables the subject to control the oscillatory mechanism, as well as to brake and lock the motion of the mechanism. The apparatus may allow for the subject to recline on an articulated support assembly, in which case the equilibrium center of gravity of the support assembly is maintained substantially at the centerpoint of the path of motion regardless of the relative orientation of the articulated segments of the support assembly.
Claims38
An apparatus for use on a surface for imparting substantially oscillatory motion to a subject, the apparatus comprising:
- a. a support assembly for supporting the subject;
- b. an oscillatory mechanism that defines a path of motion of the support assembly, the path having a region bilaterally symmetrical with respect to a reference point and including a horizontal component and a vertical component of travel relative to the reference point, the oscillatory mechanism being substantially supported by a surface-contacting region that is stationary with respect to the surface when the apparatus is in ordinary use;
- and
- c. an actuator having a member movable by the subject for permitting the subject while supported by the support assembly to cause a non-gravitational acceleration to be applied to the support assembly.
An apparatus for use on a surface for imparting substantially oscillatory motion to a subject having a center of gravity, the apparatus comprising:
- a. a support assembly for supporting the subject;
- b. an oscillatory mechanism that defines a path of motion of the support assembly, the path having a region bilaterally symmetrical with respect to a reference point and including a horizontal component and a vertical component of travel relative to the reference point, the oscillatory mechanism being substantially supported by a surface-contacting region that is stationary with respect to the surface when the apparatus is in ordinary use;
- and
- c. an actuator having a member movable by the subject for permitting the subject while supported by the support assembly to control motion in such a manner that the center of gravity of the subject may remain fixed relative to the support assembly.
An apparatus for use on a surface for imparting substantially oscillatory motion to a subject, the apparatus comprising:
- a. a support assembly for supporting the subject;
- b. an oscillatory mechanism that defines a path of motion of the support assembly, the path of motion having a midpoint, a horizontal component of the path of motion, and a vertical component of the path of motion, the vertical component being substantially symmetric about the midpoint, the oscillatory mechanism being substantially supported by a surface contacting region that is stationary with respect to the surface when the apparatus is in ordinary use and being devoid of a pivot above the subject;
- and
- c. an actuator having a member movable by the subject for permitting the subject to control the oscillatory mechanism.
An apparatus for use on a surface for imparting substantially oscillatory motion to a subject, the apparatus comprising:
- a. a support assembly for supporting the subject;
- b. an oscillatory mechanism that defines a path of motion of the support assembly, the path of motion having a pair of endpoints and a position set in from the endpoints where the support assembly comes to rest in the absence of non-gravitational external forces, the oscillatory mechanism being substantially supported by a surface contacting region that is stationary with respect to the surface when the apparatus is in ordinary use and being devoid of a pivot above the subject;
- and
- c. an actuator having a member movable by the subject for permitting the subject to control the oscillatory mechanism.
An apparatus for use on a surface for imparting substantially oscillatory motion to a subject having an upward reach in normal repose on the apparatus, the apparatus comprising:
- a. a support assembly for supporting the subject;
- b. an oscillatory mechanism that defines a path of motion of the support assembly, the path including a horizontal component and a vertical component of travel, the oscillatory mechanism being substantially supported by a surface contacting region that is stationary with respect to the surface when the apparatus is in ordinary use and being devoid of a pivot above the reach of the subject in normal repose on the support assembly;
- and
- c. an actuator having a member movable by the subject for permitting the subject to control the oscillatory mechanism.
An apparatus for use on a surface for imparting substantially oscillatory motion to a subject, the apparatus comprising:
- a. a support assembly having an armrest for supporting the subject;
- b. an oscillatory mechanism, devoid of an overhead pivot, that defines a path of motion of the support assembly, the oscillatory mechanism being coupled to a surface contacting region that is stationary with respect to the surface when the apparatus is in ordinary use;
- and
- c. an actuator having a member movable by the subject for permitting the subject to control the oscillatory mechanism.
An apparatus for use on a surface for imparting substantially oscillatory motion to a subject having weight, the apparatus comprising:
- a. a support assembly for supporting the subject, the body support assembly comprising:
- i. a support surface for bearing the weight of the subject;
- and
- ii. an armrest having an uppermost surface;
- b. an oscillatory mechanism that defines oscillatory motion of the body support assembly with respect to a member of the apparatus that is fixed with respect to the surface, the oscillatory mechanism having at least one pivot, any said pivot being disposed substantially below the uppermost surface of the armrest;
- and
- c. an actuator having a member movable by the subject for permitting the subject to control the oscillatory mechanism.
An apparatus comprising:
- a. a support;
- b. a linkage assembly including:
- i. a first link connected at a first point to a translation mechanism attached to the support structure, the translation mechanism arranged to allow the first point of the first link to translate along a substantially straight axis;
- and
- ii. a second link pivotally connected at a first point to the support structure and pivotally connected at a second point to the first link;
- wherein a second point of the first link travels on an arc of substantially constant finite radius wherein the first link pivots with respect to the second link;
- and
- c. an actuator assembly for enabling a subject disposed upon the support to control an oscillating motion of the support.
An apparatus for use on a surface for imparting substantially oscillatory motion to a subject, the apparatus comprising:
- a. a support assembly for supporting the subject;
- b. an oscillatory mechanism that defines an arcuate path of motion of the support assembly, the path of motion having a midpoint, the oscillatory mechanism being substantially supported by a surface contacting region that is stationary with respect to the surface when the apparatus is in ordinary use and being devoid of a pivot above the subject;
- and
- c. a member movable by the subject in such a manner as to permit the subject to control the oscillatory mechanism.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.