Background of the Invention Parents are familiar with situations in which they have difficulty putting a child to sleep.

Rocking and vibrating chairs designed to provide soothing motion for the child are described, for example, in U. S. Patent Numbers 3,948; 5,280,996; 5,887,944; and 6,024,409. However, very often, parents succeed in putting the child to sleep only driving around in a car. Somehow, the motion of a car is able to soothe such children and help them sleep.

Further, there is a growing aging population. Many older people find it difficult to go to sleep. Some sleep only a few hours and wake up, unable to sleep further. Yet, these same people are often able to fall asleep when they ride in a car, such as on a long distance trip.

Motion simulators are known for training purposes, such as U. S. Patent No. 5,453,011 issued on September 26,1995 to Feuer et al., entitled"Flight Simulator,"and U. S. Patent No.

4,019,261 to Pancoe, entitled"Motion System for aFlight Simulator."Motion simulators are also known to be used in amusement rides, such as in U. S. Patent No. 5,403,238 issued on April 4, 1995 to Baxter et al., entitled"Amusement Park Attraction,"and U. S. Patent No. 5,473,990 issued on December 12,1995 to Anderson et al., entitled"Ride Vehicle Control System." Control systems for motion simulators are also known, such as in U. S. Patent No.

5,827,065 issued October 27,1998 to McClintic, entitled"Motion Simulator Operating System andMethod,"andU. S. Patent. 6,050,823 issued April 18,2000 to McClintic, entitledMotion Simulator Operating System and Method." It will be desirable if there is created a chair or reclining system in which a person can sit or recline and that generates a motion that will help that person to fall asleep.

Summary of the Invention It is, therefore, an object of the present invention, to provide a chair or a reclining system (hereafter"a sleeping chair") that is connected to a motion simulator that can generate a motion

that helps a person to fall asleep. It is also an object of the present invention to provide a method of facilitating a person to fall asleep.

In accordance to one object of the present invention, there is provided a sleeping chair that has a chair portion, an articulating means and a control means, where the chair portion contains a base, a seat support for supporting the load of a user, where the seat support is mounted on the base, and a back support for supporting the back of a user and where the back is connected to the seat support, where the articulating means is connected to the chair portion and to the control means, and the articulating means is capable of conferring an upward, downward, forward and braking motion on the chair portion while the sleeping chair remains substantially in place, and where the control means is capable of controlling the movement of the articulating means.

In accordance to another obj ect of the present invention, there is provided a sleeping chair as above, where the articulating means is capable of generating a motion that simulates the motion of a moving vehicle. The moving vehicle can be a car, a truck, a train, a boat, an ocean- liner, and an airplane. Further, the speed of the moving vehicle can be anywhere from 10 to over 500 miles per hour, including any integer in between these values.

In accordance to as yet another object of the present invention, there is provided the sleeping chair as above, where the chair portion further contains a pair of armrests.

In accordance to a further object of the present invention, there is provided a sleeping chair as above, where the chair portion further contains a headrest.

In a further aspect, the present invention includes a reclining system, such as one resembling a recliner in which the back support can vary between 90 degrees and 180 degrees, that is capable of generating a motion that facilitates a person to fall asleep.

In yet a further aspect, the chair portion may be covered with cushions and/or one or more fabrics such as leather, synthetic materials, cotton fabrics, woolen materials and combinations thereof.

In accordance to another object of the present invention, there is provided methods of inducing sleep in a subject by placing the subject in the chair described herein and actuating the articulator. The controller can be used to automatically determine the type, speed and duration of the motion. In certain embodiments, the chair is reclined, the foot rest extended and/or a safety strap fastened around the subject.

Brief Description of the Figures Figure 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the present invention showing various elements of the chair, articulator and controller.

Detailed Description It must be noted that, as used in this specification and the appended claims, the singular forms"a","an", and"the"include plural referents unless the content clearly dictates otherwise.

Thus, for example, reference to"an articulating device"includes a mixture of two or more such devices and the like.

An exemplary chair (10) of the present invention is shown in Figure 1. The chair includes a base (11); a seat support (12); a back support (13); an articulator (e. g., motion simulator) (14); and a controller (15). The chair may optionally include arm rests (16); head or neck rest (20) and/or cushions. Preferably, the back support (13) reclines at an angle of between about 90° and 180° relative to the seat support (12). The chair may also include a foot rest (21) that can be built into the base and be extended as desired by the user. The precise positioning of the back support relative to the seat (12) can be determined by the individual user and may be manually or otherwise adjustable. Reclining mechanisms for chairs are known and can be readily constructed. The back support may fully recline and there may be a restraining device to keep the user safely within the confines of the chair. Similarly, the back and/or seat portion may be curved upwards at the edges to provide a physical barrier for the user, for example an infant. Moreover, the chair may be constructed in a variety of sizes to fit adults, young children or infants. The chair portion can be covered with any number of fabrics and/or cushions, for instance a naturally occurring material (e. g., leather, cotton, wool, etc.); a synthetic material (e. g., polyester, etc.); or combinations thereof.

The present invention also includes an articulator which is any means capable of moving the chair within a fixed space. The articulator may be built into the chair, for instance as shown in Figure 1 the articulator (14) is built into the base (11) of the chair. Alternatively, the articulator may be separate from, but connected to, the chair portion. Motion simulators that provide such movement functions are known and can be used to allow for rotational, forward, backward, upward, downward and/or braking motion of the chair. Any known motion simulator can be readily adapted for use in the chairs described herein. Typically, the articulator is capable of conferring the motion on the chair portion while the chair remains substantially in place.

Preferably, during operation of the actuator, the base of the chair will not move more than 1 foot in any direction, more preferably no more than about 6 inches and even more preferably no more than about 3 inches in any direction. The articulator can simulate the movement of any moving vehicle, including but not limited to, a car, a truck, an airplane, a boat and the like. The articulator can simulate a wide range of speeds, anywhere from 5 mph to over 500 mph (e. g., airplane), and any integer values therebetween.

A controller is used to control and power the articulator, for example, to determine type of motion (e. g., forward, backward, upward, etc.) and to determine speed. The controller typically includes a power source and a user interface, for example knobs, switches, buttons and the like. Any suitable source of power can be used to power the articulator and other functions (e. g., timer, alarm, etc) of the chair. In one embodiment, conventional household power is provided by a suitable electrical cord to terminals of the chair. Other sources of power, for example batteries, can also be used in the present invention. The power source may be built into the chair or may be external. Further, there may be one or more motors or sources of power for the chair, for example an additional motor could be used in conjunction with a hydraulic base for the chair whereby the elevation of the seat (12) of the chair above the floor could be variety at the option the operator, all of which is conventional.

In certain embodiments, the controller comprises a computer and suitable computer programs designed to generate a motion on the seat support that simulates the motion of a moving vehicle. The programs may be pre-determined such that the user need only select one of them to provide motion of a specified type (e. g., forward, backward, etc.), speed and duration.

Alternatively, the user may choose to set their own parameters to control the articulator.

The chair may also comprise a timer which, when actuated, controls a switch so as to cut off power to the articulator after the desired length of time. The timer may be located within the controller and may also control other functions, for example the timer may be linked to an alarm device, for example an audio alarm, to wake the individual seated in the chair.

The chair described herein allows for methods of inducing sleep in a subj ect. The subj ect is placed into the chair and the controller is turned on to the desired type, speed and duration of motion, for example by setting pre-determined program. In certain embodiments, the chair is reclined; the foot rest extended and/or a safety strap secured around the subject prior to the turning on the controller and articulator.

Example 1

In one embodiment of the present invention, the articulator providing six degrees of freedom is a motion device known in the art, such as one described in US Patent No. 5,263,382 ("the'382 patent"), is used. The'382 patent was issued November 23,1993 to assignee, Hughes Aircraft Company and is entitled"Six Degree ofFreedomMotionDevice."The'382 invention describes, for example,"an apparatus for transmitting movements in six degrees of freedom between a base plate and a top plate with a plurality of legs. Each leg has a lower link coupled to the bottom plate and an upper link coupled to the top plate. The lower and upper links are connected together by an elbow with one degree of freedom. A differential drive for each leg couples each leg's lower link to the bottom plate and a universal joint couples each leg's upper link to the top plate. The upper link also has a second roll joint for rotating about its axis of elongation. The differential drive preferably has a link gear at the end of the lower link of each leg for rotating the lower link about its axis of elongation and a pair of drive gears on opposite sides of the link for rotating the gear" (col. 1, lines 31-45 and the Figures of this patent). The motion device described in the'382 patent ("the Hughes motion device") is sized to fit within the space of a chair bounded by the surface serving as the seat of the chair and a base resting on a floor and front and side supports between the seat of the chair and the base. In this example, the top plate 10 and the base plate 20 of the Hughes motion device, as shown in FIG. 1 of the'382 patent, are the seat of the chair and the base of the chair, respectively of the present invention.

Example 2 In another embodiment of the present invention, the articulator providing six degrees of freedom is that shown in US Patent No. 5,835,198 ("the'198 patent"). The'198 patent was issued on November 10,1998 to assignee Etech Systems, Inc. and is entitled"Articulated Platform Mechanism for Laser Pattern Generation on a Workpiece."The'198 patent describes, for example,"an articulated platform mechanism which includes a movable (tilting) platform, three shaft-mounted double-bevelled cams and six crowned cam followers. The cam followers are mounted in pairs on the triframe and seat on a respective ones of the double-bevelled cam and a pair of followers is mounted 120 degrees apart from the other two sets. Taken together the three sets comprise a kinematic (statistically determinate) mount in which the platform seats.

... In a preferred embodiment, a central aperture in the triangular triframe accommodates a bearing which is the primary component of a theta (rotation about the Z-axis) stage which is mounted to the triframe" (the'198 patent at col. 1, line 65 to col. 2, line 15). In one embodiment, the seat of the chair of the current invention is made to sit on the theta stage, with or without the

aperture and the components are sized and selected to bear the weight of a person but fit within the space circumscribed by the seat of the chair, the base of the chair and the sides supporting the seat of the chair of the present invention.

In other embodiments, one or more cams (e. g., each with 2 degrees of freedom) driven by an electrical motor can be used. For instance, three independently electrically-driven cams, each having 2 degrees of freedom can be readily adapted for use in the chairs described herein.

Example 3 In another embodiment of the present invention, the actuator is a system such as one described in U. S. Patent No. 5,829,982 ("the'982 patent"), issued November 3,1998 to assignee Technische Universiteit Delft and is entitled,"Method of Manufacturing aMotion Simulator, and a Motion Simulator."Here, the motion is supported by a number of"declc-supporting legs pivotally connected with the deck in first pivot points, the legs being actively and continuously length-adjustable, such that the deck is capable of describing a motion envelope comprising all desired deck positions" (col. 1, lines 5-10).

Example 4 In this example, the motion simulator and operating system of the present invention is made such as described in U. S. Patent No. 6,050,823 ("the'823 patent"), issued on April 18,2000 and is entitled,"Motion Simulator Operating System and Method". Here, for example,"the control system contains a memory. Within the memory is a plurality of pre-programmed maneuvers that are capable of being simulated by the motion simulator. An interface is provided that enables a person to select some of the pre-programmed maneuvers from the memory in a desired sequence, prior to that person entering the motion simulator. Once a certain sequence of maneuvers is selected, the motion simulator simulates those maneuvers in the chosen sequence.

This enables each rider of the motion simulator to design his/her own simulation each time that person uses the motion simulator. The control system also enables a rider to program the motion simulator at the sight of the motion simulator or at home, via a personal computer" (Abstract).

Example 5 The present invention may be incorporated into a massaging chair such as one described in U. S.

Patent No. 5,813,727 issued September 29,1998 to assignee, Matsushita Electric Works, Ltd.

and is entitled"Massaging Chair" ("the'727 patent). In this example, the sleeping chair of the present invention, for example, comprises"a seat, a reclining backrest pivotally connected about a pivot axis to the seat so as to be movable between an upright position and a horizontal position with respect to the seat, and a massager is disposed on the side of the reclining backrest to give a massage to a back of a user resting on said seat. A pair of armrests is disposed on the opposite sides of said seat. The armrests are designed to extend arcuately substantially about the pivot axis of the backrest" (Abstract).

Example 6 In this example, another articulator system having six degrees of freedom is patterned after U. S.

Patent No. 6,047,610 ("the'610 patent"), issued April 11,2000 and is entitled (Hybrid Serial/Parallel Manipulator."It is recognized that the components of the system of the'610 patent may have to be modified to support the weight of a person and to fit in the space intended between the seat of the chair of the present invention and the base of the chair next to the floor.

Example 7 Another system providing six degrees of freedom that can be used herein is described in U. S.

Patent No. 5,850,759 ("the'759 patent"), issued on December 22,1998 to assignee Daewoo Electronics Co., Ltd., and is entitled"Force Feed Back Manipulator with Six Degrees of Freedom."It is recognized that the components of the system of the'759 patent may have to be modified to support the weight of a person and to fit in the space intended between the seat of the chair of the present invention and the base of the chair next to the floor.

Example 8 In this example, the present invention further includes shock absorbers to provide users of the sleeping chair with a smooth motion, such as ones described in U. S. Patent No. 6,247,685 ("the '685 patent"), issued on June 19,2001 to assignee Unisia Jecs Corporation, and is entitled, "Suspension System for Motor Vehicles."Depending on the configuration of the motion simulator used, the placement of the shock absorber varies in a manner known to a person skilled in the art.

Example 9 In this example, the sleeping chair of the present invention is equipped with music.

Example 10 In this example, the sleeping chair of the present invention is equipped with a heating element to heat the seat and/or the back of the chair.

The above detailed embodiments are given by way of example to facilitate a better understanding of the invention and are not intended to be limiting.