US 12,357,532 B2
Soothing vibrotactile cuddle device
Gregory Scott Bishop, Irvine, CA (US)
Filed by Gregory Scott Bishop, Irvine, CA (US)
Filed on Sep. 27, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/475,524.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/499,694, filed on May 2, 2023.
Prior Publication US 2024/0367196 A1, Nov. 7, 2024
Int. Cl. B06B 1/02 (2006.01); A61H 23/02 (2006.01); A63H 3/36 (2006.01)
CPC A61H 23/02 (2013.01) [A61H 23/0236 (2013.01); A63H 3/36 (2013.01); B06B 1/0207 (2013.01); A63H 2200/00 (2013.01); B06B 2201/70 (2013.01)] 27 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A soothing device comprising:
a padding cover;
a padding material defining a padding recess in a planar bottom surface of the padding material, the bottom surface of the padding material sized and configured for being placed in contact with an interior surface of the padding cover;
a sound barrier material positioned within the padding recess;
a planar, non-padded vibrotactile material spanning an opening of the padding recess such that an exterior surface of the planar, non-padded vibrotactile material lies in the same plane as the bottom surface of the padding material and a bottom edge of the sound barrier material, the planar, non-padded vibrotactile material cooperating with the bottom surface of the padding material and the bottom edge of the sound barrier material to form a continuous planar surface for being placed in direct contact with the interior surface of the padding cover such that the padding cover is configured to encapsulate the padding material and the planar, non-padded vibrotactile material;
a rigid plastic housing positioned within the padding recess, a side wall of the housing in abutting contact with an opposing interior surface of the planar, non-padded vibrotactile material;
and
at least one electroacoustic transducer positioned within the housing and coupled to an interior surface of the side wall of the housing, such that the side wall of the housing is sandwiched between the at least one electroacoustic transducer and the planar, non-padded vibrotactile material, the at least one electroacoustic transducer configured for selectively emitting sound vibrations through each of the side wall of the housing and the planar, non-padded vibrotactile material;
wherein the sound barrier material is sandwiched between the padding material and the rigid plastic housing;
whereby, during use of the device, with the bottom surface of the padding material positioned so that the exterior surface of the planar, non-padded vibrotactile material is in direct contact with the interior surface of the padding cover, an exterior surface of the padding cover configured to be placed in direct contact with a body of a user, the planar, non-padded vibrotactile material and rigid plastic housing cooperate to maximize sound vibrations produced by the electroacoustic transducer, thereby soothing the user.