Body massage apparatus

Abstract

A vibrator motor is coupled to the frame of a body support structure to vibrate the latter. The motor is energized by a train of triangular pulses modulated by a triangular pulse signal having a lower frequency than that of the triangular pulse train.

I claim: 
     
       1. Apparatus for administering massage actions to a person in intimate contact with a structure comprising: at least one vibrator motor adapted to be operatively connected to said structure to vibrate said structure in accordance with the waveform of a signal energizing said motor;   a pulse train generator controllable to generate a train of pulses of continually varying amplitude versus time relationship;   a function generator controllable to generate a modulating signal of varying amplitude versus time relationship different than that of said train of pulses and selected relative to said train of pulses to simulate therewith a traveling wave pattern, the frequency of said modulating signal being significantly lower than the frequency of said train of pulses;   a first coupling means for combining the modulating signal with the train of pulses to effect modulation of the amplitude versus time relationship of said pulses and thereby produce a modulated output signal simulative of a traveling wave pattern; and   a second coupling means for operatively connecting said first coupling means directly to the vibrator motor to energize said vibrator motor with a signal having substantially the same shape as said modulated output signal.   
     
     
       2. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein: the pulse train generator includes a first control means for controlling the frequency of the pulses of the generated train of pulses; and   the function generator includes a second control means for controlling the frequency of the modulating signal.   
     
     
       3. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the function generator includes: a triangular pulse generator for generating a train of triangular pulses at an output for forming the modulating signal;   control means in circuit with the triangular pulse generator for controlling the amplitude, width and frequency of the triangular pulses of the generated train of triangular pulses coupled to the pulse train generator.   
     
     
       4. Apparatus according to claim 3 wherein the control means includes: a frequency determining circuit coupled in circuit with the triangular pulse generator and adjustable to cause said triangular pulse generator to generate triangular pulses at the selected frequency.   
     
     
       5. Apparatus according to claim 4 wherein: the triangular pulses have rising and falling edges; and   the control means includes a timing circuit coupled in circuit with the triangular pulse generator and controllable to adjust differentially the rising and falling edges of the triangular pulses.   
     
     
       6. Apparatus according to claim 5 wherein the control means includes: an adjustable second timing circuit coupled in circuit with the triangular pulse generator and responsive to each triangular pulse reaching a predetermined amplitude to cause said triangular pulse generator to provide a selected signal interval of constant amplitude at its output.   
     
     
       7. Apparatus according to claim 3 wherein the control means includes: a signal amplitude control circuit coupled in circuit with the triangular pulse generator and controllable to adjust the amplitude of the modulating signal coupled to the pulse train generator.   
     
     
       8. Apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising: timing control means coupled in circuit with the pulse train generator and the function generator and controllable to cause said pulse train generator and said function generator to energize the vibrator motor with a modulated train of pulses whose amplitude versus time relationship gradually changes for a selected interval determined by the timing control means.   
     
     
       9. Apparatus for administering massage actions to a person in intimate contact with a structure comprising: at least one vibrator motor adapted to be operatively connected to said structure to vibrate said structure in accordance with the waveform of a signal energizing said motor;   a pulse train generator controllable to generate a train of pulses of selected amplitude versus time relationship;   a function generator controllable to generate a modulating signal of selected amplitude versus time relationship different than that of said train of pulses and selected relative to said train of pulses to simulate therewith a traveling wave pattern, said function generator including: a second pulse train generator for generating a train of pulses having gradually rising and falling edges for forming the modulating signal; and     a timing circuit in circuit with the second pulse generator and controllable to adjust differentially the durations of the rising and falling edges of the modulating signal pulses;   a first coupling means for combining the modulating signal with the train of pulses to effect modulation of the amplitude versus time relationship of said pulses and thereby produce a signal simulative of a traveling wave pattern; and   a second coupling means for operatively connecting said first coupling means to the vibrator motor to energize said vibrator motor with a signal corresponding to said modulated train of pulses.   
     
     
       10. In apparatus for administering massage actions to a person; the combination comprising: at least one vibrator motor coupled to vibrate in accordance with the waveform of a signal energizing said motor;   a trigger pulse generator controllable to generate a train of trigger pulses of a selected frequency;   a first pulse train generator controllable to generate a first train of pulses of selected first amplitude versus time relationship;   control circuit means coupled in circuit with the first pulse train generator for enabling the generation of the first train of pulses, said control circuit means including control input means having first and second terminals, said first terminal being coupled to the trigger pulse generator to receive the trigger pulses, said second terminal coupled to said first pulse trains generator to receive a signal indicative of the amplitude of the pulses generated by said first pulse train generator, said control circuit means responsive to trigger pulses to enable the generation of a pulse by said first pulse train generator when the signal level at said second terminal exceeds a reference signal level, and said control circuit means further responsive to said signal indicative of the amplitude of the pulse generated by said first pulse train generator exceeding a selected level to disable the generation of the pulse by said first pulse train generator;   a second pulse train generator controllable to generate a second train of pulses of selected second amplitude versus time relationship;   first coupling means for coupling the second train of pulses to said second terminal of said control input means to effect modulation of the reference signal level in accordance with the second amplitude versus time relationship of said second train of pulses; and   second coupling means for furnishing a signal corresponding to the resulting train of pulses to the vibrator motor to energize the same.   
     
     
       11. Apparatus according to claim 10 wherein the trigger pulse generator includes a first control means for controlling the frequency of trigger pulses of the generated train of trigger pulses, and further comprising a reference signal level source coupled to said second terminal and adjustable to provide a selected reference signal at said second terminal. 
     
     
       12. Apparatus according to claim 11 wherein the second pulse train generator includes a second control means for controlling the frequency of pulses of the generated second train of pulses, and further comprising a signal amplitude control circuit coupled in circuit with said second pulse train generator and controllable to adjust the amplitude of pulses of the generated second train of pulses coupled to said second terminal. 
     
     
       13. Apparatus according to claim 12 wherein the second pulse train generator is controllable to generate a train of pulses having gradually rising and falling edges, and further comprising a timing circuit in circuit with said second pulse train generator and controllable to adjust differentially the durations of the rising and falling edges of the pulses generated by said second pulse train generator. 
     
     
       14. Apparatus according to claim 13 further comprising an adjustable timing circuit coupled in circuit with the second pulse train generator and responsive to each pulse of the generated second train of pulses reaching a predetermined amplitude to cause said second pulse train generator to provide a selected signal interval of constant amplitude. 
     
     
       15. Apparatus according to claim 14 further comprising: timing control means coupled in circuit with said second terminal and second pulse train generator and controllable to cause the first and second pulse train generators to energize the vibrator motor with a train of pulses whose amplitude versus time relationship gradually changes for a selected interval.   
     
     
       16. Apparatus according to claim 10 wherein: the control circuit means includes a flip-flop having first and second control inputs, said first input coupled to the trigger pulse generator and responsive to each trigger pulse to set the flip-flop in a first of its stable states, and second input coupled to said second terminal and responsive to the signal indicative of the amplitude of the pulse generated by the first pulse train generator to set the flip-flop in a second of its stable states when said amplitude of said pulse exceeds the selected level;   the first pulse train generator is a first bi-directional ramp generating circuit having an output and a ramp direction control input, the ramp direction control input coupled to the flip-flop and responsive to said flip-flop being in the first stable state to cause the signal at the output to change in a first direction, the output of the first bidirectional ramp generating circuit coupled to said second terminal, the first bi-directional ramp generating circuit responsive to the flip-flop being in the second stable state to cause the signal at the output to change in a second direction opposite to the first direction; and   the second pulse train generator provides a train of pulses having gradually rising and falling edges.   
     
     
       17. Apparatus according to claim 14 wherein the second pulse train generator includes: a second bi-directional ramp generating circuit having an output, a first control input and a second control input; and   a comparator coupled in circuit with said output and having a first output coupled to the first control input of the second bi-directional ramp generating circuit and a second output coupled to the second control input of the second bi-directional ramp generating circuit, said comparator responsive to the signal at said output of the second bi-directional ramp generating circuit reaching a first level to cause the signal at said output of the second bi-directional ramp generating circuit to change in a first direction;   said comparator further responsive to the signal at said output of the second bi-directional ramp generating circuit reaching a second level to cause the signal at said output of the second bi-directional ramp generating circuit to change in a second direction opposite to the first direction.   
     
     
       18. Apparatus for administering massage actions to a person in intimate contact with a structure comprising: a structure adapted to be in intimate contact with the body of a person;   at least one vibrator motor operatively connected to said structure to vibrate said structure in accordance with the waveform of a signal energizing said motor;   a pulse train generator controllable to generate a train of pulses of continually varying amplitude versus time relationship;   a function generator controllable to generate a modulating signal of varying amplitude versus time relationship different than that of said train of pulses and selected relative to said train of pulses to simulate therewith a traveling wave pattern, the frequency of said modulating signal being significantly lower than the frequency of said train of pulses;   a first coupling means for combining the modulating signal with the train of pulses to effect modulation of the amplitude versus time relationship of said pulses and thereby produce a modulated output signal simulative of a traveling wave pattern; and   a second coupling means for coupling said first coupling means directly to the vibrator motor to energize said vibrator motor with a signal having substantially the same shape as said modulated output signal. .Iadd. 19. Apparatus for administering massage actions to a person in intimate contact with a structure comprising:   at least first and second vibrator motors adapted to be operatively connected to said structure to vibrate said structure in accordance with the waveforms of signals energizing said motors;   at least first and second controllable motor drive systems connected respectively to said at least first and second vibrator motors for producing waveforms to energize said motors, each of said at least first and second controllable motor drive systems comprising a pulse train generator controllable to generate a train of pulses of continually varying amplitude versus time relationship   a function generator controllable to generate a modulating signal of varying amplitude versus time relationship different than that of said train of pulses and selected relative to said train of pulses to simulate therewith a traveling wave pattern, the frequency of said modulating signal being significantly lower than the frequency of said train of pulses   a first coupling means for combining the modulating signal with the train of pulses to effect modulation of the amplitude versus time relationship of said pulses and thereby produce a modulated output signal simulative of a traveling wave pattern, and   a second coupling means for operatively connecting said first coupling means directly to a vibrator motor to energize said vibrator motor with a signal having substantially the same shape as said modulated output     
     
     
        signal. .Iaddend..Iadd. 20.  Apparatus in accordance with claim 19 wherein said at least first and second controllable motor drive systems are configured to respectively produce different waveforms for energizing their associated motors, by controlling one of the pulse train generator and the function generator of one of said first and second controllable motor drive systems to be different in waveform with respect to the other. .Iaddend..Iadd. 21. Apparatus in accordance with claim 19 wherein said at least first and second controllable motor drive systems are configured to respectively produce different waveforms for energizing their associated motors, by controlling one of the pulse train generator and the function generator of one of said first and second controllable motor drive systems to be different in phase with respect to the other. .Iaddend..Iadd. 22. Apparatus in accordance with claim 19 including a structure adapted to be in intimate contact with the body of a person, and wherein said at least first and second vibrator motors are operatively connected to said structure. .Iaddend.