Field of the Invention

[1] This invention relates generally to bedside sleep therapy apparatus for bedside humidification and red light melatonin inducing sleep therapy.

Background

[2] Melatonin is produced by the pineal gland, located near the surface of the brain and is a highly light-sensitive hormone which can readily be triggered by the presence or absence of light. Red light is the frequency of light most readily transmitted via the retina to the suprachiasmatic nucleus in the hypothalamus area of the brain that is responsible for regulating circadian rhythm.

[3] It would be desirous for bedside sleep therapy apparatus capable of both bedside humidification and melatonin inducing red light sleep therapy which is configured for easy use and refill and which maximises the illuminated visual surface thereof for enhancing melatonin inducing effects and which allows for use of visual customisation thereof which will overcome or substantially ameliorate at least some of the deficiencies of the prior art, or to at least provide an alternative.

Summary of the Disclosure

[4] There is provided herein bedside sleep therapy apparatus for placement atop a bedside surface in use. The apparatus is configured for providing bedside humidification and red light melatonin inducing bedside sleep therapy. The apparatus comprises translucent material and a particular configuration allowing for convenient humidification functionality (including convenient refill thereof) whilst yet illuminating substantially the entire visual surface of the apparatus (including user configurable customisation thereof) thereby maximising melatonin inducing red light bedside sleep therapy effect.

[5] Specifically, the apparatus has a base entirely or at least partially made of translucent plastic. The base forms a base enclosure having a light, a piezoelectric vaporiser, fan and control circuitry therein. The base further has an enclosure portion extending up from an upper surface of the base enclosure, thereby defining an open liquid reservoir for pouring liquid for vaporisation therefrom in use. The piezoelectric vaporiser operably interfaces the liquid reservoir to vaporise the liquid therein in use which escapes from the upper opening of the enclosure portion.

[6] The apparatus further comprises an enclosure lid having a peripheral portion and a top portion. The peripheral portion is configured for location around the peripheral portion of the base, thereby enclosing the reservoir. The lid is further entirely or at least partially made of translucent plastic. [7] The lid has a vent aperture, such as at the transition between the peripheral portion and the top portion such that, when place atop the reservoir, defines an air circuit driven by the fan.

[8] The base may stand atop feet away from the bedside surface and the base enclosure may comprise an air inlet thereunderneath. As such, the circuit may draw in exterior air in and under the base enclosure which enters the base enclosure air inlet and which is driven by the fan towards a base enclosure air outlet between the enclosure portion of the reservoir and the peripheral portion of the lid. The air may enter the reservoir over the rim of the enclosure portion or via an air inlet beneath the rim so as to travel across the surface of the liquid held within the reservoir and collect vapour droplets emanating therefrom under the interaction of the piezoelectric vaporiser. Vapour droplet laden air may then escape via the vent aperture of the lid for bedside humidification.

[9] The configuration of the base and the lid allows for the easy use and refill of the reservoir.

[10] The apparatus further comprises a translucent sleeve sized and shaped so as to frictionally engage around the peripheral portion of the lid. Various translucent sleeves may be used for configuring the visual aspect of the apparatus (patterning or colour) without hindering the illumination or humidification functionality of the apparatus.

[11] The sleeve may be sized so as to locate beneath the vent aperture of the lid, thereby not hindering the escape of vapour droplet laden air therefrom.

[12] The configuration of the translucent base, lid and sleeve allows for the illumination of substantially the entire visual surface of the apparatus. Specifically, the at least one light enclosed within the base enclosure may diffuse through the exterior of the base enclosure. Furthermore, light may emanate upwardly and diffuse through the upper surface of the base enclosure, through the liquid held within the reservoir, through the enclosure portion of the reservoir, through the peripheral portion and top portions of the lid and through the translucent sleeve. As such, substantially the entire visible surface area of the apparatus may be illuminated, including substantially uniformly, which maximises melatonin inducing bedside sleep therapy effect yet while yet being configurable for humidification.

[13] The apparatus may comprise a controller and user interface for controlling aspects of power, lighting, volume and operational timing.

[14] Furthermore, the apparatus may comprise a sound emitter to play out audio from a sound file held within memory of the memory device. In embodiments, the sound emitter may emit audio via a sound grille on and undersurface of the base portion which reflects off the bedside surface in use. Furthermore, in embodiments, the sound file may be particularly configured as a substantially illustrated in Figure 6 so as to maximise the perceived audio quality emanating from the audio emitter above the bedside surface as was derived from experimental derivation. [15] The spacing away of the under surface of the base enclosure, allows for the air circuit to draw in air from underneath the undersurface and emanate audio therefrom in embodiments without obscuring the illumination of the exterior visual service periphery of the apparatus.

[16] According to one aspect, there is provided bedside sleep therapy apparatus having a base for resting atop a bedside surface, the base at least one of entirely and partially made of translucent plastic, the base forming a base enclosure having a light, piezoelectic vaporiser, fan and control circuitry therefore therein and an enclosure portion extending up from an upper surface of the base thereby defining an open liquid reservoir for pouring liquid for vaporising therein in use, the peizoelectroc vaporiser operably interfacing the liquid reservoir to vaporise the liquid therein in use; a lid having a peripheral portion and a top portion, the peripheral portion configured for locating around the enclosure portion to enclose the reservoir, the lid comprising translucent plastic, the lid having a vent aperture, the lid completing an air circuit driven by the fan when located around the enclosure portion which draws air in from an base enclosure inlet into the base enclosure, through a base enclosure outlet from the base enclosure, across the reservoir to entrain droplets vapourised from the liquid and out from the vent; and a translucent sleeve for location around the peripheral portion of the lid, the vent located and the sleeve sized such that the vent locates above the sleeve when the sleeve is engaged to the peripheral portion such that the air circuit provides humidified air via the vent aperture and light from the light within the base enclosure emanates via the base enclosure, the enclosure portion, the peripheral portion and the translucent sleeve to illuminate substantially the entire exterior surface of the apparatus.

[17] The base may have feet such that an underside of the base enclosure locates away from the bedside surface in use and wherein the enclosure inlet may be located through the underside surface such that air may be drawn in from underneath the apparatus into the enclosure inlet.

[18] The peripheral portion and the enclosure portion may be sized to define an airgap therebetween and wherein the base enclosure outlet provides air into the airgap.

[19] The enclosure portion may define an enclosure inlet beneath an upper rim thereof interfacing the airgap and an interior of the reservoir.

[20] The enclosure portion and the peripheral portion may be both substantially cylindrical such that the lid can engage the base at various rotational offsets to control the respective rotational offset of the vent aperture.

[21] The vent aperture may be located substantially across the reservoir with respect to the base enclosure outlet thereby completing the air circuit across the reservoir.

[22] The apparatus may further comprise keying between the lid and the base to restrict the orientation of the lid with respect to the base. [23] The light mayt emit red light.

[24] The light may comprise a red LED.

[25] The apparatus may further comprise having a further light wherein the light may be orientated upwardly towards an upper portion of the base enclosure and the further light may be orientated outwardly towards a periphery of the base enclosure.

[26] The apparatus may further comprise a user interface operably coupled to a controller for controlling the operation of at least one of the light, fan and piezoelectric vaporiser.

[27] The user interface may comprise user interface buttons comprising at least one of power, light control, volume control and operational timing control buttons.

[28] The apparatus may further comprise an audio emitter configured for emitting audio.

[29] The base may have feet such that an undersurface of the base enclosure locates away from the bedside surface in use and wherein the audio emitter emits audio via an audio outlet through the undersurface to reflect from the bedside surface in use.

[30] The audio emitter may be configured for playing out audio generated from a sound file defining a noise frequency spectrum profile having a peak at between approximately 100 and 300 Hz.

[31] The peak may peak at approximately -10 dB.

[32] The profile may plateau at less than approximately 80 Hz.

[33] The profile may plateau at approximately -60 dB at less than approximately 80 Hz.

[34] The profile attenuates from approximately -50 dB at approximately 300 Hz to approximately

-70 dB at approximately 20 kHz.

[35] Other aspects of the invention are also disclosed. Brief Description of the Drawings

[36] Notwithstanding any other forms which may fall within the scope of the present invention, preferred embodiments of the disclosure will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

[37] Figure 1 shows a top perspective exploded representation of bedside sleep therapy apparatus in accordance with an embodiment;

[38] Figure 2 shows a side elevation cross-sectional view of the apparatus;

[39] Figure 3 shows a top perspective assembled view of the apparatus;

[40] Figure 4 shows an underside view of the apparatus;

[41] Figure 5 shows a control circuitry schematic of the apparatus in accordance with an embodiment; and [42] Figure 6 shows an exemplary frequency distribution of a modified pink noise sound file in accordance an embodiment.

Description of Embodiments

[43] Figure 1 shows bedside sleep therapy apparatus 100. The apparatus 100 comprises a base 101 for resting atop a bedside surface 102.

[44] The base forms an enclosure 103 having at least one light 104, piezoelectric vaporiser 105 and a fan 106 and control circuitry 107 therefor. In embodiments, the apparatus 100 comprises a sound emitter 108.

[45] The base 101 comprises an enclosure portion 109 extending up from an upper surface 110 of the base enclosure 103, thereby defining an open liquid reservoir 111 for pouring liquid 112 for vaporising therefrom in use. The piezoelectric vaporiser 105 operably interfaces through the upper surface 110 of the base enclosure 103 so as to contact or affect the liquid held within the reservoir 110 in use.

[46] The entirety of the base 101, or at least a portion thereof (such as the enclosure portion 109 and corresponding adjacent upper surface 110 of the enclosure 103) is translucent (such as made of translucent plastic) so as to allow light from the light 104 pass therethrough in use. The term "translucent" herein should be construed broadly as allowing at least some light to pass through and may comprise various degrees of translucency from entirely transparent to quite opaque. In a preferred embodiment, the apparatus 100 comprises white translucent plastic allowing light to diffuse therethrough. White plastic allows for the control of illumination by the type of the light 104. For example, the light 104 may comprise a red LED 104 such that the apparatus 100 appears substantially red when the red light from the red light LED 104 diffuses therethrough.

[47] The base 110 may comprise feet 135 so as to hold an undersurface of the enclosure 103 away from the bedside surface 102. As will be described in further detail below, the location of the underside surface of the enclosure 103 away from the bedside surface 102 allows for the drawing in of air from thereunderneath and the emanation of audio therefrom in the manner described in further detail below without obscuring light emanating from the visible surface periphery and top of the apparatus 100.

[48] In the preferred embodiment shown, the base 110 has a circular cross-section such that the enclosure portion 109 is substantially cylindrical.

[49] The apparatus 100 further comprises a lid 113. In the embodiment shown, the lid 113 comprises a peripheral portion 114 and a top portion 115. [50] The peripheral portion 114 is configured to locate around the enclosure portion 109 in the manner illustrated in Figure 2. In the embodiment shown in Figure 2, the upper surface 110 of the enclosure 103 defines a rim 116 around which a corresponding inner portion of the peripheral portion 114 frictionally engages. In the embodiment where the enclosure portion 109 is cylindrical, so too may the peripheral portion 114 be cylindrical. In embodiments, the diameter of the peripheral portion 114 may be greater than that of the enclosure portion 119 so as to leave and airflow gap therebetween. In embodiments, the peripheral portion 114 may be slightly frustoconical.

[51] With reference to Figure 1, the lid 113 may define a vent aperture 117 therethrough.

[52] When the lid 113 closes around the enclosure portion 109 an air circuit driven by the fan 106 is created as is illustrated in Figure 2 wherein external air 118 is drawn via air inlet 119 of the enclosure 103 and is driven by the fan 106 towards and enclosure outlet 120. The air travels through a reservoir inlet 121 or across the rim of the enclosure portion 109 and across the reservoir 111.

[53] As is illustrated, the piezoelectric vaporiser 105 interacts with the liquid 112 therein to create liquid vapour 122 which is collected by the air current across the surface of the liquid 112 which then escapes from the opening of the enclosure portion 109 via the vent aperture 117 as humidified air 123.

[54] As is shown in Figure 2, the vent aperture 117 may be located diametrically across from the reservoir inlet 121 such that airflow flows across the surface of the liquid 112 therein, thereby maximising the collection of liquid vapour emanating from the interaction of the piezoelectric vaporiser 105. In this regard, the lid 113 and the rim 160 may comprise keying (not shown) so as to control the correct rotational orientation of the lid 103 with respect to the base 101. However, in embodiments, the lid 113 may allow free rotation of the lid 113 with respect to the base 110 so as to control the direction of humidified air 123 escaping from the vent aperture 117.

[55] The apparatus 100 may further comprise a translucent flexible sleeve 124. The sleeve 124 may stretch slightly and be sized so as to frictionally engage and surround the peripheral portion 114 of the lid in the manner shown in Figure 3. The sleeve 124 may be made from a flexible translucent material such as silicon. Differing types of material or printing thereon of the sleeve 124 may allow for the user configuration of the patterning or colouring of the apparatus 100.

[56] With reference to Figure 3, the sleeve 124 may comprise a width approximately equal or less than the width of the peripheral portion 114 of the lid 113 and the vent aperture 117 may be located such that the vent 117 locates above the sleeve 124 when the sleeve 124 is engaged round the lid 113, thereby not interfering with the escape of humidified air 123 from the vent aperture 117 in use. In this regard, the lid 130 may comprise a rounded transition between the frustoconical peripheral portion 114 and the planar top portion 115 and the vent aperture 117 may be located through the rounded transition.

[57] With reference to Figure 2, the configuration and materials of the base 101, lid 113 and sleeve 124 allow for the illumination of substantially the entire exterior surface of the apparatus 100 thereby maximising red light melatonin stimulation light sleep therapy effect.

[58] As can be seen, the one or more lights 104 (such as red LED lights) generate a light which defuses through the enclosure portion 113 and through the upper surface 110 thereof into the reservoir 111 so as to diffuse through the liquid 112, the enclosure portion 109, the peripheral portion 114 and top portion 115 of the lid 113 and the sleeve 124. As such, as is illustrated, substantially the entire external surface of the apparatus 100 may be illuminated and, in embodiments, substantially uniformly illuminated. As alluded to above, in embodiments, the sleeve 124 may control the colouring thereof wherein, for example, the light 104, base 101 and lid 113 may provide white light wherein a red tinted sleeve 124 may be provided to control the emanation of red light therefrom for melatonin inducing effect.

[59] Given the translucent nature of the plastic used for the base 101, lid 113 and sleeve 124, light emanating from the at least one light 104 reflects within the apparatus 100 and diffuses from the apparatus 100 so as to diffuse visible light of substantially the entire exterior surface of the apparatus 100. The location of the lights 104 may be chosen so as to maximise the diffusion and uniformity of the illumination of the visible surface of the apparatus 100. With reference to Figure 2, lights 104 may comprise lights atop a PCB and orientated upwardly which predominantly directs light through the upper surface 110 thereof into the reservoir. Peripheral light 104 may be orientated outwardly so as predominantly direct light from the lateral surfaces of the enclosure 103.

[60] In embodiments, the apparatus 100 may comprise a sound emitter 108 configured for emitting sound 126 via audio grille 127. In embodiments, the sound emitter 108 may be controlled by the controller 107 so as to playout pink noise in the manner described below.

[61] With reference to Figure 5, there is shown an exemplary schematic 130 of the control circuitry componentry of the apparatus 100. There is shown the controller 107 which may comprise a processor for processing digital data. In operable communication with the controller 107 may be a memory device 127. The memory device 127 is configured for storing digital data including computer program code instructions and associated data. In use, the processor may fetch these computer program code instructions from memory for interpretation and execution. In embodiments, the controller 107 may take the form of a low power processor, such as a firmware controlled microcontroller.

[62] A user interface 129 may interface with the controller 107 which, with reference to Figure 1 may take the form of a plurality of user interface buttons 130. With reference to Figure 5, the buttons 130 may comprise a power button 131 for powering the apparatus 100 on and off. Furthermore, the buttons 130 may comprise a light button 132 to control the illumination of the apparatus 100. In embodiments, the light button 132 may turn the at least one light 104 off and on. In embodiments, the light button 132 may be configured for controlling the colour or brightness of the light emanating from the light(s) 104. In embodiments, a first depress of the light button 123 may cause the lights 104 to operate whereafter successive presses within a predetermined period thereafter may cause the lights 104 to illuminate at differing intensities in series. A further press of the light button 132 after the predetermined period may extinguish the lights 104.

[63] The buttons 130 may further comprise a volume button 133 which may control the volume of audio 126 emitted by the audio emitter 108. In embodiments, a pair of volume buttons may be employed to control volume up and volume down functionality. However, in embodiments, a single volume button 133 may be employed wherein iterative depresses thereof may control various volume levels in series.

[64] In embodiments, the buttons 130 may comprise a timer button 134 for controlling the operation of the apparatus 100 for a user configurable time period. For example, the timer button 134 may be depressed to operate a timer function and the timer function ceases operation of the apparatus 100 after one hour.

[65] In embodiments, the memory device 127 may comprise a digital sound file 128 which is played out by the audio output device 108.

[66] Furthermore, the sound file 128 may be modified as is substantially shown in figure 6. Specifically figure 6 shows a frequency spectrum of reference pink noise 136 and natural "waterfall" noise 137. As can be seen, the natural waterfall noise 137 substantially emulates the reference pink noise at frequencies above about 300 Hz.

[67] For application for the present apparatus 100 wherein the the audio emitter 108 is located above and orientated down towards the bedside surface 102, the reference pink noise and the natural waterfall noise 137 were experimentally modified to generate the modified pink noise spectrum 138 which has an enhanced sound when played out using this particular configuration. Specifically, as can be seen, the modified pink noise spectrum 138 has a noticeable peak to approximately -10 dB between approximately 100 and 300 Hz.

[68] Furthermore, the modified pink noise spectrum 138 may plateau to approximately 160 dB at less than approximately 80 Hz. Furthermore, the frequency spectrum 138 may gradually attenuate from approximately 150 dB at approximately 300 Hz to approximately -70 dB at approximately 20 kHz.

[69] The foregoing description, for purposes of explanation, used specific nomenclature to provide a thorough understanding of the invention. However, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art that specific details are not required in order to practice the invention. Thus, the foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments of the invention are presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed; obviously, many modifications and variations are possible in view of the above teachings. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical applications, they thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the invention and various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is intended that the following claims and their equivalents define the scope of the invention.