EP0525648A2

EP0525648A2 - Vibrator for producing a body-felt vibration

Info

Publication number: EP0525648A2
Application number: EP92112610A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Tsutomu Totani
Original assignee: Nippon Memorial KK
Current assignee: Nippon Memorial KK
Priority date: 1991-07-25
Filing date: 1992-07-23
Publication date: 1993-02-03
Also published as: EP0525648A3; JPH0588083U

Abstract

A vibrator for producing a sensible vibration synchronized with an electric signal which drives a speaker includes a casing having plural concavities provided in an inner wall thereof, a cylinder, a coil wound around the cylinder, a magnetic pole having an annular gap of such a required breadth as to have the coil inserted thereinto without contacting with the magnetic pole, and rubber elastic bodies. The rubber elastic bodies are securely provided among the concavities and a periphery of the magnetic pole.

The cylinder is fixed in the casing so that the coil can be inserted into the annular breadth without contacting with the magnetic pole. The concavities can be selected, the concavities in which the rubber elastic bodies are to be disposed, according to positions of attachment of the vibrator to a seat and the like to cause an effective vibration.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a vibrator which may be attached to a seat, a bed, and the like and produces a sensible vibration synchronized with an electric signal which drives a speaker.
U.S.P.N0.4,495,638discloses a vibrator of the type described in the present application. The conventional vibrator includes a casing, a cylinder, a coil wound around the cylinder, a magnetic pole having an annular gap of such a required breadth as to have the coil inserted thereinto so that the coil is out of contact with the magnetic pole, and an annular leaf spring. An outer-peripheral end of the annular leaf spring is fixed to an inner wall of the casing, while an inner-peripheral end of the annular leaf spring is fixed to an outer periphery of the magnetic pole. Thus, the magnetic pole is hung on the casing and the cylinder is fixed to the casing so that the coil is inserted into the annular gap without contacting with the magnetic pole.
With such a structure, when an electric signal flows to the coil,a magnetic interference generates between the magnetic pole and the coil to vibrate the casing, thereby giving a sensible vibration to a person sitting on a seat or a bed to which the case is attached.
In the conventional vibrator, the annular leaf spring is used to hang the magnetic pole on the casing. According to this structure, if the casing is attached horizontally to a seat and the like so that a casing axis is vertical,the magnetic-pole weight acts uniformly over the entire length of the leaf spring. However, if the casing is attached obliquely to the seat and the like, the magnetic-pole weight acts partially on the leaf spring.
Accordingly, the magnetic pole cannot be supported in a balanced condition,resulting in a failure to cause an effective vibration. Further, since the metal fatigue of the leaf spring progresses partially,the life of the leaf spring as elastic body will shorten.
Meanwhile, the cylinder having the coil wound therearound and the magnetic pole are required to be correctly positioned in the casing so that the coil can be inserted Into the annular gap without contacting with the magnetic pole. To position the cylinder and the magnetic pole correctly in the casing, the leaf spring is needed to be secured correctly in the casing. Accordingly, The assembly of the leaf spring in the casing becomes complicated, which results in a low productivity.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is,accordingly, a primary object of the present invention to provide a vibrator which can ensure an effective vibration and a high durability for any position of attachment of the vibrator to a seat and the like.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a vibrator which can ensure high productivity.
To attain the above objects, there is provided in the invention the vibrator for producing a sensible vibration comprising:

a casing having plural concavities provided in an inner wall thereof, a cylinder, a coil wound around the cylinder, a magnetic pole having an annular gap of such a required breadth as to have the coil inserted thereinto without contacting with the magnetic pole, rubber elastic bodies, the cylinder being fixed to the casing so that the coil is inserted into the gap without contacting with the magnetic pole, the rubber elastic bodies securely provided between the concavities and a periphery of the magnetic pole, whereby the magnetic pole is attached to the casing in such a manner to be displaceable in the casing.

The vibrator is characterized in that the concavities are provided at equally angular intervals in an inner wall of the casing.
Also the vibrator is characterized in that annular steps are provided on the periphery of the magnetic pole and the annular steps and concavities hold the rubber elastic bodies so that the rubber elastic bodies are exactly positioned and fixed to the casing.
Further the vibrator is characterized in that the concavities are formed into groove shapes extending from an upper open end of the casing toward a bottom thereof along an axis of the casing.
According to the vibrator the concavities can be selected, the concavities in which the rubber elastic bodies are to be disposed, or the hardness of the rubber elastic bodies can be changed according to sections of the casing inner wall to adjust bearing powers of the rubber elastic bodies.
Accordingly, if the casing is attached obliquely to the seat and the like, the more rubber elastic bodies or the harder rubber elastic bodies are provided in sections to be intensively influenced by the magnetic pole weight than in the other sections. With such a structure, the magnetic pole can be supported in a balanced condition in the casing, so that vibrator can ensure an effective vibration and a high durability.
Further, the rubber elastic bodies are held between the concavities and outer periphery of the magnetic pole, so that the assembly of the rubber elastic bodies becomes easy, which results in a high productivity. With this structure, the rubber elastic bodies are used to support the magnetic pole such that the magnetic pole can be displaced in the casing. However,if the magnetic interference is generated by the electric signal flowing to the coil, a magnetic reaction acts between the coil and the magnetic pole, so that the coil never contacts with the magnetic pole.
According to the vibrator, of the plural concavities formed at equal intervals, the appropriate concavities can be selected, the concavities in which the rubber elastic bodies are to be disposed.
Accordingly, it is easy to adjust bearing powers of the rubber elastic bodies for the magnetic pole, based on the casing attachment positions.
According to the vibrator, the annular steps provided in the magnetic pole and the concavities are used to hold the rubber elastic bodies.
Accordingly, the rubber elastic bodies can be exactly positioned and fixed in the case.
According to the vibrator, the concavities extend from the upper open end of the casing toward the bottom thereof Accordingly, it is easy to attach the rubber elastic bodies to the casing, thus resulting in an easy assembly.
Further features and advantages of the invention will be hereinafter referred to and will be apparent to those skilled in the art to which the invention belongs from the following description of the preferred embodiment of the invention and references to alternative construction.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

With reference to the accompanying drawings,

Fig.1 is a sectional view illustrating a vibrator of the embodiment according to the invention.
Fig.2 is a plan view along line 2-2 of Fig.1.
Fig.3 is a side elevation view illustrating a seat to which the vibrator is attached.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring now to Fig.1 and Fig.2, there are shown therein a vibrator 10 according to an embodiment of the invention.
The vibrator 10 comprises a bottomed casing 11 having an upper open end, a cover 12, a magnetic pole 13, rubber tubes 19 provided between an inner wall of the casing 11 and a periphery of the magnetic pole 13, a cylinder 15, a coil 14 wound around the cylinder 15, and an inner plate 20 formed with a hole 20a into which the cylinder 15 is to be inserted.
The magnetic pole 13 includes a column yoke 16 having a flange 16a formed in a lower end thereof, an annular magnet 17 mounted and bonded on the flange 16a to enclose the yoke 16, and an annular upper plate 18 bonded and fixed on an upper surface of the magnet 17, the yoke 16, the magnet 17, and the upper plate 18 assembled concentrically.
An outer diameter of the flange 16a and that of the upper plate 18 are designed to be slightly narrower than that of the magnet 17.
An outer periphery of the flange 16a, that of the upper plate 18, and an upper and a lower- surface of the magnet 17, in combination, form annular steps 17a and 17b. An outer diameter of the yoke 16 is designed to be slightly narrower than an inner diameter of the magnet 17, so that an annular gap 13a is formed between the yoke 16 and the magnet 17, the gap 13 into which the coil 14 is to be inserted without contacting with the yoke 16 and the magnet17.
Twelve convex stripes 11 a, which have hemisphere cross section, are provided parallel to an axis of the casing 11 at equally angular intervals in an inner wall of the casing 11.
The adjacent convex stripes 11 a form twelve groove concavities 11 b therebetween. The groove concavities 11 b extend from the upper open end of the casing 11 toward the bottom thereof.
Rubber tubes 19 are provided among the groove concavities 11 and the annular steps 17a and 17b.
The rubber tubes 19 are used to support the magnetic pole 13 in the casing 11 so that a space is formed between the flange 16a and the bottom of the casing 11.
The rubber tubes 19 positioned at the open end of the casing 11 are held among the groove concavities 11 b, the annular steps 17a, and the inner plate 20, while the inner plate 20 and the cover 12 are fixed to the open end of the casing 11 with a screw 21. Thus, the rubber tubes 19 at the open end are positioned and fixed to the casing 11.
Meanwhile, the rubber tubes 19 positioned at the bottom of the casing 11 are held among the groove concavities 11 b, the annular steps 17b, and the bottom of the casing 11. Thus, the rubber tubes 19 at the bottom end are positioned and fixed to the casing 11.
The rubber tubes 19 are disposed densely or sparcely according to inner-wall sections of the casing 11, as illustrated in Fig.2. In the present embodiment, The two rubber tubes 19 are inserted into the leftmost groove concavity 11 b in Fig.2 and the two adjacent upper and lower groove concavities, respectively.
Meanwhile, The two rubber tubes 19 are inserted into the rightmost groove concavity 11 b, the uppermost groove concavity 11 b, the lowermost groove concavity 11 b, respectively. No rubber tubes are inserted into the other groove concavities.
The cylinder 15 is telescoped on the yoke 16 via the hole 20a while the coil 14 is inserted into the annular gap 13a of the magnetic pole 13 without contacting with the yoke 16 and the magnet 17. A ring plate 22, which is formed of insulation materials, is bonded and fixed on an upper periphery of the cylinder 15.
The ring plate 22 is also fixed to the inner plate 20 with a screw 23 to attach the cylinder 15 to the casing 11.
The vibrator 10 of the present embodiment is constructed as described above. When an electric signal flows to the coil 14 ,a magnetic interference generates between the magnetic pole 13 and the coil 14, so that the magnetic pole 13 displaces relative to the casing 11, while the rubber tubes 19 deforms elasticaly, thereby causing a sensible vibration.
The vibrator 10 of the present embodiment, the plural groove concavities 11 are provided in the inner wall of the casing 11 and the rubber tubes 19 removably inserted into the groove concavities 11 b are used to support the magnetic pole 13 in-the casing 11. According to this structure, the number or the hardness of the rubber tubes 19 can be changed according to the inner-wall sections of the casing 11 to adjust bearing powers of the rubber tubes 19. As illustrated in Fig.3, for example, if the vibrator 10 is attached horizontaly to a cushion 31 of a seat 30, the rubber tubes 19 are disposed uniformly in the inner wall of the casing 11. Meanwhile, if the vibrator 10 is attached to a back 32 of the seat 30, the more rubber tubes 19 are disposed on sections to be intensively influenced by the weight of the magnetic pole 13 than on the other sections in the inner wall of the casing 11.
As a result thereof, the magnetic pole 13 can be borne in a balanced condition relative to the casing 11 even if the casing 11 is attached obliquely to the seat 30 and the like. Thus, when the electric signal flows to the coil 14, an effective vibration generates. Further, equal forces acts at the each rubber tube 19, which ensures high-durability rubber tubes 19.
Also, in the present embodiment, the rubber tubes 19 are held between the groove concavities 11 and the periphery of the magnetic pole 13, thereby being fixed to the casing 11. As a result thereof, the assembly of the rubber tubes 19 becomes easy, which leads to a high productivity.
Further, of the plural groove concavities 11 b formed at equally angular intervals, the appropriate groove concavities 11 b can be selected easily, the concavities 11 b into which the rubber tubes 19 are to be inserted, according to positions of attachment of the casing 11 to the seat and the like to adjust the bearing powers of the rubber tubes 19 for the magnetic poles 13.
Further, the annular step 17a and 17b are provided in the magnetic pole 13. The annular steps 17a, 17b, and the groove concavities 11 b hold the rubber tubes 19 so that the rubber tubes 19 can be exactly positioned and fixed in the casing 11.
Also, the groove concavities 11 are formed into shapes which extend from the upper open end of the casing 11 toward the bottom thereof. Thus, it becomes easy to dispose the rubber tubes 19 in the open end and the bottom of the casing 11. This can facilitate the assembly and ensures a high productivity.
In the present embodiment, the rubber tubes 19 are used to bear the magnetic pole 13 in the casing 11. However, rubber balls and rubber blocks may be also employed for the rubber elastic bodies 19.
Further, in the present embodiment, the groove concavities 11 are provided on the inner wall of the casing 11 as concavities into which the rubber tubes 19 are to be inserted. However, the sizes and the shapes of the concavities 11 b may be changed according to those of the rubber balls and the rubber blocks.
Additionally, the combined use of the rubber elastic body and the annular leaf spring is more effective to ensure a high-durability vibrator and an effective vibration.
While the invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to preferred embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled the art that the foregoing and other changes in from and details can be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.
The features disclosed in the foregoing description, in the claims and/or in the accompanying drawings may, both, separately and in any combination thereof, be material for realising the invention in diverse forms thereof.

Claims

1. An vibrator for producing a sensible vibration, the vibrator comprising:

a casing having plural concavities provided in an inner wall thereof,

a cylinder,

a coil wound around the cylinder,

a magnetic pole having an annular gap of such a required breadth as to have the coil inserted thereinto without contacting with the magnetic pole,

rubber elastic bodies,

the cylinder being fixed to the casing so that the coil is inserted into the gap without contacting with the magnetic pole,

the rubber elastic bodies securely provided between the concavities and a periphery of the magnetic pole,

whereby the magnetic pole is attached to the casing in such a manner to be displaceable in the casing.

2. The vibrator as claimed in claim 1, wherein the concavities are provided at equally angular intervals in an inner wall of the casing.

3. The vibrator as claimed in claim 2, wherein annular steps are provided on the periphery of the magnetic pole and the annular steps and concavities hold the rubber elastic bodies so that the rubber elastic bodies are exactly positioned and fixed to the casing.

4. The vibrator as claimed in claim 3, wherein the concavities are formed into groove shapes extending from an upper open end of the casing toward a bottom thereof along an axis of the casing.