Patents by Inventor Byron C. Eakin

Byron C. Eakin has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 6024407
    Abstract: Vibrating particle material filled furniture to allow for vibration of the furniture for the benefit and enjoyment of a user is disclosed. Various types of furniture may be utilized under the present invention. These include chairs, loungers, mattresses and pillows. Various types of materials, both natural and manufactured, may be used as the particle material. Various methods of producing the desired vibration are disclosed with examples given. These include those which rely upon manipulation of a magnetic field as well as mechanical devices. The resultant vibration may have a constant cycle rate or, more preferred, may be variable. A particularly desirable vibration method is disclosed which provides for the vibration to be synchronized with a musical composition. Such vibration in synch to the musical composition may be generated with or without audio production of the musical composition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2000
    Assignee: Somatron Corporation
    Inventor: Byron C. Eakin
  • Patent number: 5984409
    Abstract: A brake assembly to selectively allow or restrict a pivotal movement of a seat frame relative to a base frame in a reclining chair assembly is disclosed. Reclining chair assemblies applicable to the present invention have a back support member and a seat support member of the seat frame which are positionally fixed during usage of the reclining chair assembly. The seat frame moves relative to the base frame at a pivotal axis common to the base frame and the seat frame. The brake assembly attaches to the seat frame and the base frame to provide for control over the pivotal movement therebetween. In a preferred embodiment opposing arm rests of the reclining chair assembly are positionally fixed relative to the base frame. A first embodiment of the brake assembly relies upon an anchoring of positional orientations of an anchor point relative to a pivotal point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 16, 1999
    Assignee: Somatron Corporation
    Inventors: Byron C. Eakin, Kenneth Schuck
  • Patent number: 5368359
    Abstract: A chair comprising fixed arm portions laterally spaced from each other and a pivotable central portion therebetween. The central portion including a head end and a foot end. A hinge couples the arm portions and the central portion. Additionally, a drive members under the control of the operator effect pivoting of the central portion with respect to the side portions. The chair further includes a foot rest. The foot rest comprises an adjustment rachet for coupling the foot rest to the foot end of the central portion. The adjustment rachet has horizontal rods reciprocable into and out of cylinders within the central portion. Additionally, depending rods fixedly secured within the foot rest are pivotally coupled to the horizontal rods and cylinders. Furthermore, the chair includes speakers within the central portion. The speakers are controlled by the operator. When the operator is seated in the chair, the operator may audially and tactically enjoy the created sound.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 1992
    Date of Patent: November 29, 1994
    Inventor: Byron C. Eakin
  • Patent number: 5216769
    Abstract: A foldable bed with sound generating capabilities comprising: a lower assembly formed of a leg section and a body section, a linear hinge coupling the sections for movement between an open orientation and a closed orientation, the lower assembly also including foldable legs; an upper assembly formed of a leg component and a body component, the upper assembly having a fixed central extent with a separation line overhanging the hinge, the upper assembly also having a torso extent, a thigh extent, a calf extent; a first adjuster coupling the torso extent and the body section, a second adjuster coupling the thigh extent and the leg section, a third adjuster coupling the calf extent and the leg section; covering associated with the upper assembly including a cushioning pad overlying the upper surfaces of the upper assembly; and a sound generating device in both the torso extent and the calf extent with the central extent and thigh extent forming an acoustical barrier therebetween, each sound generating device incl
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 1992
    Date of Patent: June 8, 1993
    Inventor: Byron C. Eakin
  • Patent number: 5143055
    Abstract: Somatic acoustic chair provided with sound housings and having person-supporting means carried resiliently by framework supported on a relatively fixed base. The person-supporting means includes a back rest, a seat, and a foot rest so carried individually and apart from one another. The framework is mounted pivotally on the base to enable a person so supported to tilt the chair backward to at least a semi-reclining position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 1991
    Date of Patent: September 1, 1992
    Inventor: Byron C. Eakin
  • Patent number: 5097821
    Abstract: Somatic musical exposure system for a person, preferably in recumbent position on substantially rigid supporting means. Music emanates from an air chamber in a sound housing spaced apart from the person-supporting means. A relatively fixed frame carries the person-supporting means and also the sound housing, at least the former and optionally the latter being resiliently mounted relative to the frame and thereby partly decoupled therefrom. Such resilient mounting is preferably provided by elastomeric means intervening between the frame and the means resiliently supported thereby and extending both lengthwise and widthwise. Striplike resilient mounting means preferably extends both along peripheral edges of the person-supporting means and transversely thereof between its ends.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 1988
    Date of Patent: March 24, 1992
    Inventor: Byron C. Eakin