U.S. patent number 3,643,941 [Application Number 04/808,218] was granted by the patent office on 1972-02-22 for relaxation chamber.
Invention is credited to Gail Carleton Kashar.
United States Patent |
3,643,941 |
Kashar |
February 22, 1972 |
RELAXATION CHAMBER
Abstract
There is disclosed a relaxation chamber including a room in
which there is a mass of very light, very white, small spheroidal
particles, typically composed of expanded polystyrene such as is
used in making Styrofoam. The occupants of the room can lie down,
sit or move in the mass. The movement gives a sensation similar to
that of moving in a swimming pool. The room typically has
translucent walls and/or ceiling and colored lights, whose colors
may change, are projected on the particles producing a pleasing
color effect. The mass may be fluidized by blowing air through it
from the base of the room.
Inventors: |
Kashar; Gail Carleton
(Pittsburgh, PA) |
Family
ID: |
25198209 |
Appl.
No.: |
04/808,218 |
Filed: |
March 18, 1969 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
472/136;
273/DIG.2; 600/28; 601/158 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A61M
21/0094 (20130101); Y10S 273/02 (20130101); A61M
2021/0027 (20130101); A61N 2005/0663 (20130101); A61M
2021/0044 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A61M
21/00 (20060101); A61N 5/06 (20060101); A63g
031/00 () |
Field of
Search: |
;272/2,8,3,15,26,56.5,59,60,1 ;128/57,60 ;52/192,743 ;119/15,19,1
;160/DIG.8,18 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
17,534 |
|
1887 |
|
GB |
|
1,036,186 |
|
Jul 1966 |
|
GB |
|
Other References
Popular Mechanics, June, 1939. Page 901. "Gate" .
Universal Zonolite Insulation Co., Chicago, Ill. July 25, 1944
"Sani-Flor" .
Popular Science, Nov., 1957. Page 153. "Porthole for
Pets.".
|
Primary Examiner: Oechsle; Anton O.
Assistant Examiner: Kramer; Arnold W.
Claims
I claim as my invention:
1. A relaxation chamber having walls and a base and having
deposited on said base a mass of pellets of density substantially
lower than that of water, permitting substantially free movement of
a person within said chamber through said pellets, said chamber
having a translucent top and including means for projecting light
on said pellets through said top.
2. A relaxation chamber having translucent walls and a base and
having deposited on said base a mass of pellets of density
substantially lower than that of water, permitting substantially
free movement of a person within said chamber through said pellets,
said chamber including means for projecting light on said pellets
through said walls.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to the art of entertaining or inducing a
state of well-being or relaxation in people and has particular
relationship to the achievement of such well-being or relaxation by
providing for the people a relaxing environment and atmosphere.
It is an object of this invention to provide such apparatus, and
specifically to provide a relaxation chamber.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with this invention a relaxation chamber is provided
in which the subject is relaxed by lying, sitting or moving in a
mass of very light particles. Typical of such particles are the
expanded polystyrene spheroidal particles used in making styrofoam.
These particles are very light having a density of about 1 pound
per cubic foot, that is, about one sixty-second the density of
water. The particles also have a low coefficient of friction, so
that movement in the particles is as easy or easier than movement
in water, and are white (but may be colored) and highly light
reflecting. The relaxation effect is increased by reflecting white
or colored light, whose colors may change, from the particles.
Music may be added and the particles may be fluidized.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
For a better understanding of this invention, both as to its
organization and as to its method of operation, together with
additional objects and advantages thereof, reference is made to the
following description, taken in connection with the accompanying
drawings, in which:
FIG. 1 is a view in isometric of a chamber in accordance with this
invention;
FIG. 2 is a section taken along line II--II of FIG. 3;
FIG. 3 is an elevational view partially in section of the chamber
shown in FIGS. 1 and 2;
FIG. 4 is a view in elevation of another embodiment of this
invention;
FIG. 5 is a plan view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 4;
FIG. 6 is a view in elevation of an entrance for the chamber other
than that included in the embodiments of FIGS. 1 through 5, showing
the entrance closed;
FIG. 7 is a view in elevation showing the entrance open to admit a
subject;
FIG. 8 is a view in isometric of a further embodiment of this
invention; and
FIG. 9 is a plan view of the chamber shown in FIG. 8.
DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS
The apparatus shown in FIGS. 1 through 3 is a relaxation chamber 11
of generally rectangular or square form. The chamber 11 has a base
12 from which double walls 13 and 15 extend. The outer wall 15 is
closed by a top 17 on which there is sound or music-producing
equipment 18. The inner wall 13 smoothly merges into a top 20.
The outer wall 15 is opaque and the inner wall 13 is translucent.
Typically the inner wall 13 may be composed of a white translucent
plastic. Loudspeakers 22 connected to the outlet of equipment 18
may be mounted on the top 20 so as to project the sound into the
chamber 11.
Within the inner enclosure 14 formed by wall 13 there is a mass 24
of small, very white, very light, spheroidal pellets or particles
extending to a convenient height above the base 12. Typically the
pellets should be between about one-eighth inch and one-half inch
in diameter. Between the inner walls 13 and outer walls 15,
typically, colored lighting units 26, whose colors may change
periodically, are mounted. The light emitted by the units 26
impinges on the particles 24 and produce a pleasing and relaxing
effect.
The wall 13 has openings 19 of generally ellipsoidal or circular
form. Each opening 19 is closed by an iris of leaves or strips 31
of a flexible material such as rubber. The openings 19 terminate
above or near the top of the mass 24. The walls 15 have openings 30
displaced horizontally from the openings 19. A person desiring to
use the apparatus enters the chamber 11 through openings 30, then
presses back the strips 31 and enters enclosure 14 through the
opening 19. The strips 31 spring back into place after the
entrance. On entrance of the person substantially no particles are
ejected from the chamber. Subjects in the enclosure 14 relax in the
particles lying, kneeling, sitting or moving. The chamber 11 may be
a theater or a night club or the like. A platform above the level
of the bottom of the openings may be associated with the enclosure
14. The enclosure may, in this case, be entered from a ramp or
steps from the platform connected to the opening 19.
A typical chamber 11 may be square and may have an outer side of
about 10 to 12 feet in length and an inner side of 6 to 8 feet, and
a height of about 12 feet. The particle mass 24 may have a height
of 2 feet to 28 inches above the base 12.
The apparatus shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 is a generally semispheroidal
housing or chamber 41 having a cylindrical base 42. The chamber 41
may be composed of a translucent plastic material or may be of a
specularly reflecting material. For the latter purpose the inside
of chamber 41 may be lined with mirrors. The chamber contains a
mass of pellets similar to the chamber of FIGS. 1 through 3. A
lighting unit 43 is suspended from the top of the chamber
projecting light which may be colored on the pellets. The chamber
41 is provided with openings 45 similar to those of the embodiment
shown in FIGS. 1 through 3.
In FIG. 6 another closure 51 for the openings 52 in the chamber 54
is shown. This closure 51 includes a plurality of flexible rods 53
which extend from the base 55 of the chamber 54 and are threaded
through a supporting bar 57 and extend above the bar 57 across the
opening 52 in the chamber 54. Expanded polystyrene spheroids or
beads 59 are stacked on the rods 53. To enter the chamber 54 the
rods above the bar 57 are separated as shown in FIG. 7 permitting
access to the opening 52.
In FIGS. 8 and 9 a generally rectangular chamber 61 is shown. The
chamber has a bay front 63 with openings 65 and planar side and
backwalls 67 and 69. The top 71 of the chamber 61 is translucent so
that it admits daylight. The walls 67 and 69 are of a white opaque
material.
While preferred embodiments of this invention have been disclosed
herein, many modifications thereof are feasible. This invention is
not to be restricted except insofar as is necessitated by the
spirit of the prior art.
* * * * *