Patent US3145554A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
Patent US4595023A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4595023A
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Apparatus and method for detecting body vibrations
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1984-09-27
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Granted: 1986-06-17
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Expires: 2004-09-27
Abstract
Abstract An apparatus and method are provided for detecting body vibrations of a living animal or human being, such as those generated by heart function and respiration. The system employs a rigid spring-like structure formed of one or more deflectable elements such as metal or plastic strips or a strip-like formation, preferably configured in a sinuous or irregular path and supported at one or more locations along its length by a support, such as a frame forming the wall of a container such as the bottom of a bassinet or other container. In one form, the irregularly shaped deflectable member or members are disposed to be directly engaged by an animal lying thereon, for testing purposes. In another form, a sheet of plastic is disposed across the deflectable member or members on the upper surface of which a portion of the body of an animal or human being may lie or sit to permit body vibrations to be transmitted through the sheet to the deflectable member and to be detected when such member deflects. The vibrational energy transmitted to the deflectable member is conducted therefrom through a centrally disposed rod or pin to a transducer, such as an audio speaker, which transduces the vibrational energy to electrical signals which may be amplified and detected by a recording or indicating instrument.
Inventors
- 👤 Kenneth Bonnet
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 15:38
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B5/00; A61B5/103; A61B5/11; A61B5/1104; A61B5/1105; A61B5/1102; G; G01; G01P; G01P13/00; A61B2503/00; A61B2503/04; A61B2562/00; A61B2562/02; A61B2562/0204; A61B5/68; A61B5/6887; A61B5/6892; A61B5/70
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
222 words
Body vibration sensing means comprising in combination: a first support defining a body supporting portion adapted to be disposed beneath a living being to receive and support at least a portion of the weight of such living being, said body supporting portion having an opening adapted to be disposed beneath the portion of the weight of such living being not supported by said body supporting portion, spring means including at least one deflectable element which is cantileverily supported by said first support and extends into said opening in said body supporting portion of said first support in a manner to permit vibrational deflection of said deflectable element within said opening when body vibrations are imparted thereto from a living being supported above said body supporting portion, transducing means for sensing variations in force applied thereto and operable to indicate such force variations by means of a variable output signal, means for operatively coupling said deflectable element to said transducing means in a manner to permit the deflections of said deflectable element caused by variations in forces imparted thereto by a living being whose body is operatively coupled to said deflectable element to be sensed by said transducing means, and indicating means controlled by the signal output by said transducing means for indicating deflections of said deflectable element caused by vibrations imparted thereto.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
222 words
Body vibration sensing means comprising in combination: a first support defining a body supporting portion adapted to be disposed beneath a living being to receive and support at least a portion of the weight of such living being, said body supporting portion having an opening adapted to be disposed beneath the portion of the weight of such living being not supported by said body supporting portion, spring means including at least one deflectable element which is cantileverily supported by said first support and extends into said opening in said body supporting portion of said first support in a manner to permit vibrational deflection of said deflectable element within said opening when body vibrations are imparted thereto from a living being supported above said body supporting portion, transducing means for sensing variations in force applied thereto and operable to indicate such force variations by means of a variable output signal, means for operatively coupling said deflectable element to said transducing means in a manner to permit the deflections of said deflectable element caused by variations in forces imparted thereto by a living being whose body is operatively coupled to said deflectable element to be sensed by said transducing means, and indicating means controlled by the signal output by said transducing means for indicating deflections of said deflectable element caused by vibrations imparted thereto.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
23 words
An apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said deflectable element has a narrow, strip-like configuration and is formed with an irregular shape.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
53 words
An apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said spring means comprises a strip-like deflectable element in the configuration of a flat spiral having outer and inner ends which deflectable element is supported at its outer end by said first support and is operatively coupled to said transducing means near its inner end.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
24 words
An apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said spring means comprises a strip-like deflectable element in the configuration of a substantially rectangular spiral.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
33 words
An apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said spring means has a narrow strip-like configuration and is formed with an irregular shape which is supported at two locations by said first support.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
65 words
An apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said transducing means includes a loud speaker and said means for operatively coupling said deflectable element to said transducing means comprises a rigid member secured to said deflectable element and engaging a portion of said speaker in a manner to impart vibration to said speaker when vibrations are imparted to said deflectable element by a living being.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
28 words
An apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said deflectable element and said means for operatively coupling said deflectable element to said transducing means define a unitary structure.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
16 words
An apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said deflectable element is formed of molded material.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
30 words
An apparatus in accordance with claim 8 wherein said deflectable element and said means for coupling said deflectable element to said transducing means are integrally formed of a unitary molding.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
53 words
An apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said first support is in the configuration of at least a portion of a bed and a flexible sheet material is disposed across and engaging said deflectable element for receiving at least a portion of the weight of a living being reclining on said bed.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
32 words
An apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said first support forms part of a pad adapted to be disposed beneath a living being whose body vibrations are to be monitored thereby.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
72 words
An apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said support comprises a bassinet having a bottom wall containing said opening therein, said deflectable element being supported within said opening in said bottom wall at substantially the level of the bottom wall and a flexible sheet material extending across said opening and against said deflectable element to permit the weight of a baby disposed in said bassinet to bear against said deflectable element.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
29 words
An apparatus in accordance with claim 1 in which said deflectable element is defined by two strip-like formations extending parallel to each other in a substantially flat spiral configuration.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
51 words
An apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said transducing means is a pressure transducer with a sensing element in sensing engagement with said spring means and operable to receive body vibrations transmitted to said spring means to generate variable electrical signals in accordance with variations in the vibrations received thereby.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
19 words
An apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said first support is in the configuration of a rigid frame.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
25 words
An apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said first support is in the configuration of a bed for supporting a living being reclining thereon.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
18 words
An apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said deflectable element is formed of stainless steel strip material.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
17 words
An apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said deflectable element is formed of stainless steel tubing.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
27 words
An apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said deflectable element is formed of stainless steel tubing having a diameter in the range of 1/4" to 1/2".
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
22 words
An apparatus in accordance with claim 1 including a plurality of deflectable elements secured together and operatively coupled to said transducing means.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1989-06-16 | 1989-12-16 | 1990-06-17 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1993-06-16 | 1993-12-16 | 1994-06-17 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1997-06-16 | 1997-12-16 | 1998-06-17 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |