The present invention relates generally to personal pleasure devices and, more particularly, relates to a personal vibratory device equipped with a timer that can be used to wake a user with a selected vibrational waveform.
Personal vibrators, which are commonly used for sexually stimulating a user, are well known in the art. All known vibrators operate from a battery power source or from a standard plug-in wall power source. The user uses an off/on switch provided on the exterior of the vibrational device to apply power to and engage an electric motor within the vibrator device. Although other types can be used, generally, the electric motor is an offset rotating device with a weight on one side of its rotating driveshaft. During rotation, the offset weight causes the motor to shake, thereby sending a vibration throughout the device, which can be felt outside of the device.
Personal vibrators are utilized for a variety of reasons, for example, to relax muscles or for sexual stimulation. Vibrators are commonly used when a sexual partner is not available or employed as a sexual aid between couples. Vibrators have been deemed by virtually all medical professionals as a safe device that provides a beneficial therapeutic effect for the user.
Currently, the only way to activate a vibrational device is to manually manipulate a switch provided on the exterior of the device. This can be a sliding switch, a rotational switch, a push button, or any other mechanism for coupling a power source to the motor. Therefore, for the vibrational device to become active, the user must actively cause it to become energized.
One vibrational device that has received a bit of notoriety involves an undergarment, e.g., panties, with a vibrational device attached thereto. The vibrational device is activated via remote control, which the wearer of the undergarment can utilize or provide to their partner as part of a sexual game. However, as with all other prior-art vibrational devices, for the vibrational device to become active, the user or a second party must actively cause it to become energized.
Therefore, a need exists to overcome the problems with the prior art as discussed above.
The invention provides a vibrating alarm that overcomes the hereinafore-mentioned disadvantages of the heretofore-known devices and methods of this general type and that automatically engages its power supply with a vibrational-generating motor at a determined time so that a user is automatically provided with enjoyable vibrations.
With the foregoing and other objects in view, there is provided, in accordance with the invention, a vibrating alarm assembly that includes a water-tight shell, a tether physically coupled to the water-tight shell and partially disposed at an exterior of the water-light shell, a power source disposed within the water-tight shell, a vibration-producing element disposed within the water-tight shell and coupled to the power source, and a timer disposed within the water-tight shell, communicatively coupled to the vibration-producing element and the power source, and operable to activate the vibration-producing element at a preselected time of day.
In accordance with another feature, the water-tight shell includes a distal end, a proximal end opposite the distal end and coupled to the tether, at least one sidewall between the distal end and a proximal end, and a smooth transition between the distal end and the at least one sidewall.
In accordance with yet one more feature, an embodiment of the present invention also includes an input and a processor, where the processor is communicatively coupled to the input, communicatively coupled to the vibration-producing element, operable to receive from the input a selection from a user of at least one vibrational waveform profile from at least two vibrational waveform profile choices, and operable to cause the vibration-producing element to produce the at least one selection of a vibrational waveform profile choice.
In accordance with a further feature of the present invention, each vibrational waveform profile includes specification of at least one of a vibrational frequency and a vibrational amplitude.
In accordance with another feature, an embodiment of the present invention also includes a memory communicatively coupled to the processor, the memory storing at least two predefined vibrational waveform profiles selectable by the processor for delivery to the vibration-producing element.
In accordance with the present invention, a method for waking a user includes the steps of providing a vibrating alarm assembly that includes a water-tight shell, a tether physically coupled to the water-tight shell, a vibration-producing element disposed within the water-tight shell, and a timer disposed within the water-tight shell, communicatively coupled to the vibration-producing element, and operable to activate the vibration-producing element at a preselected time of day. The method further includes inserting the vibrating alarm assembly within a body cavity of the user.
In accordance with a further feature of the present invention, the method includes removing the vibrating alarm assembly from the body cavity of the user by pulling the tether.
In accordance with another feature, an embodiment of the present invention also includes delivering to the timer at least one vibrational waveform profile selected by the user from at least two vibrational waveform profile choices provided to the user.
In accordance with yet another feature, an embodiment of the present invention includes.
In accordance with a further feature of the present invention, a vibrating alarm assembly includes a water-tight shell defining a distal nose portion, a proximal end portion, a tubular elongated body portion disposed between the distal nose portion and the proximal portion, and a smooth transition region between the distal nose portion and the elongated body portion. A tether is physically coupled to the water-tight shell, a vibration-producing element is disposed within the water-tight shell, a power source is disposed within the water-tight shell, and a timer is disposed within the water-tight shell and is operable to electrically couple the power source to the vibration-producing element at a preselected time of day.
Although the invention is illustrated and described herein as embodied in a vibrating alarm, it is, nevertheless, not intended to be limited to the details shown because various modifications and structural changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention and within the scope and range of equivalents of the claims. Additionally, well-known elements of exemplary embodiments of the invention will not be described in detail or will be omitted so as not to obscure the relevant details of the invention.
Other features that are considered as characteristic for the invention are set forth in the appended claims. As required, detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosed herein; however, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention, which can be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one of ordinary skill in the art to variously employ the present invention in virtually any appropriately detailed structure. Further, the terms and phrases used herein are not intended to be limiting; but rather, to provide an understandable description of the invention. While the specification concludes with claims defining the features of the invention that are regarded as novel, it is believed that the invention will be better understood from a consideration of the following description in conjunction with the drawing figures, in which like reference numerals are carried forward. The figures of the drawings are not drawn to scale.
Before the present invention is disclosed and described, it is to be understood that the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting. The terms “a” or “an,” as used herein, are defined as one or more than one. The term “plurality,” as used herein, is defined as two or more than two. The term “another,” as used herein, is defined as at least a second or more. The terms “including” and/or “having,” as used herein, are defined as comprising (i.e., open language). The term “coupled,” as used herein, is defined as connected, although not necessarily directly, and not necessarily mechanically.
As used herein, the terms “about” or “approximately” apply to all numeric values, whether or not explicitly indicated. These terms generally refer to a range of numbers that one of skill in the art would consider equivalent to the recited values (i.e., having the same function or result). In many instances these terms may include numbers that are rounded to the nearest significant figure. In this document, the term “longitudinal” should be understood to mean in a direction corresponding to an elongated direction of the water-tight shell. The terms “program,” “software application,” and the like as used herein, are defined as a sequence of instructions designed for execution on a computer system. A “program,” “computer program,” or “software application” may include a subroutine, a function, a procedure, an object method, an object implementation, an executable application, an applet, a servlet, a source code, an object code, a shared library/dynamic load library and/or other sequence of instructions designed for execution on a computer system.
The accompanying figures, where like reference numerals refer to identical or functionally similar elements throughout the separate views and which together with the detailed description below are incorporated in and form part of the specification, serve to further illustrate various embodiments and explain various principles and advantages all in accordance with the present invention.
While the specification concludes with claims defining the features of the invention that are regarded as novel, it is believed that the invention will be better understood from a consideration of the following description in conjunction with the drawing figures, in which like reference numerals are carried forward. It is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention, which can be embodied in various forms.
The present invention provides a novel vibrational device that automatically energizes at a preselected time of day. Embodiments of the invention provide an overall size that comfortably fits within the female's vagina or other body cavity and can comfortably reside there for extended periods of time. In addition, embodiments of the invention provide a programmable vibrational waveform generator that can produce custom designed/selected waveforms, providing amplitudes, frequencies, and lengths of vibration operating times to suit the users preferences.
Referring now to
With regard to shape, the outer shell 102 can be described as having a proximal end 132, a distal end 134, and a sidewall 136 connecting the proximal end 132 to the distal end 134. As can be seen in
The presently-inventive vibrational device 100 further includes a tether 130 physically coupled to the outer shell 102 at its proximal and 132. In
In one embodiment of the present invention, the outer shell 102 is formed from or is provided with a conformal coating that provides improved waterproofing properties and/or improved frictional properties. The conformal coating can be, for instance, silicone, plastic, or other materials.
Housed within the outer shell 102 is a printed circuit board 106. The printed circuit board 106 provides physical support and electronic communicative coupling between components supported thereon. It should be noted however, that the present invention is not limited to component coupling by a printed circuit board. Other electronic connections, e.g., wires, between components can be substituted without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.
On a first side of the printed circuit board 106 is a controller 120. The controller 120 can be any processing device that is capable of receiving inputs and providing an output as a response to the received inputs. In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, the controller 120 is an ATMEGA processor manufactured by ATMEL Corp. of San Jose, Calif.
Coupled to the controller 120 is a memory 116. As will be explained below, the memory 116 is able to store information that defines operational modes of the inventive vibrational device 100. For example, the memory can store at least two predefined vibrational waveform profiles that, when utilized, defines the vibrational performance of the device 100. In addition, the memory can store preselected times of the day that the vibrational device 100 will operate.
Also communicatively coupled to the controller 120 is a timer 112. In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, the timer 112 is a digital counter that either increments or decrements at a fixed frequency, which can be configurable, and that interrupts the controller 120 when reaching the preselected value. Alternatively, the timer 112 can include comparison logic that compares the timer value against a specific value, set by software, that triggers the controller 120 when the timer value matches the preset value. This might be used, for example, to measure events or generate pulse width modulated waveforms to control the speed of motors (using, for example, a class D digital electronic amplifier). The timer 112 can also be a programmable interval timer, which is known in the art and commonly referred to as a “PIT.”
Also coupled to the printed circuit board 106 is a vibration-producing element 108. The vibration-producing element 108 can be any component that, when activated, produces a physical vibration. For example, the vibration-producing element 108 can be an electric motor with an unbalanced mass on its driveshaft. One specific type of vibration-producing element 108 that can be used with the present invention is part number 4HK08C1 from ZHEJIANG YUESUI ELECTRON STOCK CO., LTD of China. Many other vibration-producing devices are known in the art and can be utilized with the present invention as well.
Also present within the water-tight shell 102 is a power source 104, which is illustrated in
In operation, the controller 120, upon detection of a timing event communicated by the timer 112, couples the power source 104 to the vibration-producing element 108. Upon receiving power, the vibration-producing element 108 causes the entire device 100 to produce a physical vibration that can be felt from the exterior of the water-tight shell 102.
In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, the vibrational device 100 is further provided with an input 122, which can include a universal serial bus (USB) connector with an input port 128. The input 122 can also be a wireless receiver, such as a radio frequency (RF) receiver, and can utilize any standard for exchanging data, such as, for example BLUETOOTH. The input 122 is not limited to any physical aspects or data exchanging protocols and can simply be any component that allows signals to be received by the vibrational device 100.
Advantageously, the input 122 can be used to provide the vibrational device 100 with a user's choice of a vibrational waveform profile selected from two or more choices of available vibrational waveform profiles. This selection of profile from the user can be stored in the memory 116 and can be recalled by the controller 124 operating the vibration-producing element 108 in a manner dictated by the vibrational waveform profile. Selectable aspects of the vibrational waveform profiles can be the waveform shape, e.g., sinusoidal, square, saw tooth, and others, the waveform amplitude, e.g., 1 V peaks, 2 V peaks, 3 V peaks, or variations thereof, waveform frequencies, and lengths of time. The waveform profiles can also be variations of waveform shape, waveform amplitude, and waveform frequency, depending on the user's preferences.
In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, the vibrational device 100 can be coupled to a computing device through the input 122. If the input 122 is a physical connector, such as a USB port, the input will be physically coupled to the computer via, cable. If the input 122 is a wireless receiver, the input will be wirelessly coupled to the computer via wireless signals. Once coupled to the computing device, the input 122 can receive a selection from a user of at least one vibrational waveform profile from at least two vibrational waveform profile choices. In other embodiments, a plurality of vibrational waveform profiles can be preloaded into the memory 116 and the user can select through, for example, a user interface button provided on the device, which of the plurality of vibrational waveform profiles they prefer. Alternatively, the controller 120 can randomly select one of the plurality of available with vibrational waveform profiles stored in the memory 116 and drive the vibration-producing element 108 with that profile once it is selected. The random selection can be each time the tinier 116 causes the controller 120 to engage the vibration-producing element 108 or less frequently.
Referring now to
When the tether 130 is attached to the cap 124, the base 110 of the tether 130 fills a portion of the void formed within the interior of the cap 124. As
In particular,
In step 506, the user communicates to the vibrating alarm assembly 100, a time of day for the device to activate. This can include specifying a single time of day, or multiple times throughout the day. It can also include specifying specific days of the week and excluding other days of the week. This communication step can also include specifying specific vibrational profiles that will occur on certain days of the week and not on other days. It can also include specifying certain times during the day and not at other times during the day. Furthermore, the vibrational waveform profile, can specify the amount of time that each vibration will persist.
In step 508, the user couples the cap 124 to the water-tight shell 102. In step 510, the user inserts the vibrating alarm assembly 100 into a body cavity. For example, a female user will insert the vibrating alarm assembly 100 into her vagina a short distance, leaving the tether 130 extending outside the vagina and easily graspable by the user.
In step 512, the user waits for the vibrating alarm assembly 100 to activate, i.e., begin vibrating. This step can include, for example, the user going to sleep. In step 514, the vibrating alarm assembly 100 activates by carrying out the user's selected vibrational waveform profile. In step 516, after an amount of time that suits the user's needs, the user will pull on the tether 130 to remove the vibrating alarm assembly 100 from the body cavity. The process then moves back to step 502 and repeats.
A novel vibrational device 100, 200 has been disclosed that it can be inserted into a body cavity, e.g., a vagina, and will remain dormant until the timer 112 indicates to the controller 120 that it is time for the device to operate. For example, a user can insert, the device 100, 200 prior to going to sleep and, at the preselected time, e.g., morning time, the vibrational device 100, 200 will begin operating. In this usage, the present invention operates as a novel alarm clock. In one embodiment, the vibrational waveform profile causes the device to begin with a low-amplitude vibrating signal and steadily increased to a higher amplitude vibration. The device will operate for a preselected amount of time, for example, approximately 3 min. When the user has finished enjoying the device 100, 200, they can simply pull on the tether 130, which is securely mechanically coupled to the device 100, 200, and remove the device from within the body cavity.
In addition, it has been found that the present invention has novel features that lend themselves to uses other than as a personal pleasure device. As just one example, it is known in the art of fishing that fish are attracted to bait that has some type of movement associated with it. For this reason, many commercially-available fishing lures are provided with features that cause it to move when pulled through the water at some speed. These features include spoon shaped devices at the leading edge of the lure, which cause it to dip and dive. Other lures have propeller-type objects the drag behind them, aerodynamics that cause them to wiggle from side to side, and many more. It has also been found that fish are attracted to other fish that are in distress. Distressed fish emit sounds that other fish are able to interpret as indicating that the distressed fish will make for an easy meal.
The presently-inventive device 100, 200 described above and shown in the accompanying drawings, in accordance with one embodiment, can be converted to a fishing device 600, shown in