Reclining therapeutic chair with multiple acoustic sources

Abstract

A therapeutic reclining chair includes a base unit and a reclining chair unit pivotally connected to the base unit, with a motor drive unit for smoothly moving the chair unit between an upright and a reclining position; and further includes three independent audio sources which provide signals to two sets of speakers or transducer units for generating acoustic and tactile output to a user's body through the structure of the chair unit, and one set of speakers, preferably but not necessarily limited to headphones, for providing sounds to a user's ears. A user of the therapeutic chair experiences a combination of partial sensory deprivation in a floating-like orientation, two distinct, but coordinated tactile / auditory sensations, and a third, also coordinated, auditory sensation through the headphones, all cooperating to induce a state of deep relaxation in which conscious mental activity is discouraged and subconscious mental activity and receptivity is enhanced.

Description

RELATED APPLICATION DATA [0001] This application claims the benefits of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60 / 714,170, filed Sep. 2, 2005.FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0002] The present invention generally relates to the field of therapeutic and relaxation chairs, and in its preferred embodiments more specifically relates to a motorized reclining chair with multiple acoustic sources for independently providing a combination of auditory and tactile stimulus to a subject for relaxation and therapy. BACKGROUND [0003] It is known that sensory stimuli can have a significant effect on a person's mental and emotional state. Isolating a person from certain stimuli, and / or providing controlled stimuli can induce a state of physical relaxation, and can also induce mental and emotional states that can be directly therapeutic as well as increasing receptivity to therapy and suggestion. [0004] Various approaches to inducing a desired mental and emotional state have been used, with differing ...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0008] The present invention provides a therapeutic chair apparatus that is highly effective in placing a person in a physically relaxed condition and in a mental and emotional state in which the normal waking constraints upon the person's subconscious mind are relaxed. The invention also provides a method for achieving this desirable state and the therapeutic benefits associated with it.

[0010] In the method of use of the chair apparatus of the invention a person is seated in the chair, his or her eyes are gently covered to exclude visual stimuli, and headphones are positioned over the user's ears. Three selected audio sources are activated and the chair is slowly tilted to the reclined position. The audio / acoustic sources provide a coordinated tactile and audible program to the user of the chair from the independent sources, through the independent output transducers and speakers to assist the user in achieving and maintaining the desired state through the duration of the program. As the program concludes the chair is gently and smoothly returned to a upright position in coordination with the audio / acoustic program to return the person to normal consciousness.

Problems solved by technology

This tactile approach can be effective in relaxation of skeletal muscles, but typically has a limited effect upon mental and emotional state and the interplay between the conscious mind and the unconscious mind.

Although all of these approaches known in the prior art have proven to be reasonably effective in assisting a person in achieving a state involving both physical and mental / emotional relaxation, they are less effective in altering the normal interplay between conscious mind and subconscious mind.

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