CA1204360A - Facial sauna - Google Patents

Abstract

ABSTRACT:

An apparatus for generating steam from water in a tank. A heater is located within a member having labyrinthine baffles thereon. The member is located within a bore formed within a housing and is supplied with water from the tank by an electromagnetic pump.
The pump may be comprised of an electromagnetic coil in contact with a pivoting armature. The armature is connected to a diaphragm in communication with an inlet valve and an outlet valve. A control means may be provided to limit movement of the armature and thus to control the amount of vapor pumped and steam produced.
Water contacting the heated section is vaporized and passes through an outlet in the housing. Preferably, the baffles are comprised of a series of anti-sputter baffles at the top of the heater for preventing condensed water from exiting through the outlet. A condensate trap may be connected to the outlet from preventing condensed water from exiting and for directing condensed water back into contact with the baffles. In such an embodiment, an outlet with a drain valve is provided for redirecting, condensed water into the tank. It is contemplated that baffles may be arcuate with alternating apertures therein.

Description

12043~;~

FACIAL S~UNA

I. DESCRIPT~ON:

1. Field~ of the In~ention The invention generally relates to an apparatus for generating steam rom wate~ in a tank and particularly relates to a portable hand-held unit for generating steam for application to the face and body.

2. Description of the Prior- Art The prior art discloses various hand-held steam generating devices. U.S. Patent No. 3,620,055 to Blachly, et al. describes a hand-held portable steamer for removing wrinkles from clothes. The steamer includes a reservior connected to a finger-powered pump operated by a push-button which directs the pumped water through a tube to a steam generating means.

U.S. Patent No. 3,733,723 to Takakuwa, et al.
describes a hand-held portable steamer for finishing fabrics with steam. Water is pumped into the steam generator by a compressible water reservoir with spring-loaded action. The ejection of the steam which is created is controlled by a button-actuated valve.

Spoida, et al. in U.S. Patent No. 3,805,425 describes a hand-held portable steamer having a brush attached circumferentially around the exit outlet for ~2043b60 the steam discharge. Water is moved from the water tank b~ way of an intake ~hrough a flnger operated pump de~ice to a steam generator and through a plurality of outlets.

In U.S. Patent No. 3,258,578, Ferris teaches a port~ble steaming device in which a fan is used to keep the casing cool, and ~he flow of water to the spray head is controlled by a plunger-type valve. Carlos, et al.
in U.S. Patent No. 3,272,964, describe a hand-held fabric steamer in whiah water enters the vaporized chamber due to gravity ~low.

Frank in U.S. Patent No. 3,485,065, discusses a portable clothes steamer with baffles interposed - between the head and water cham~er to prevent water from spilling and to prevent sputtering of the steam flow when the device is tilted.

The device of Omohundro, described in U.S.
P~tent No. 3,546,428, includes a self-contained steam generator for treating hair with a spout which has a dual function of receiving water into the water reservoir and expelling water from the water tank.

U.S. Patent No. 3,675,449 to Bluestein, discloses a steaming apparatus with removable brush in which the housing contains a two-section water storage tank and a steam head.

The above-cited references generally fail to provide sputter-free steam and fail to teach a structure ~0~
~-3-which can be employed as a porta~le ~and-held unit for applying steam to the ~ace and body.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTlON

It is an object of this invention to describe a facial sauna employing a labyrinthine baffle including antisputter baffles to provide a sputter-free source of steam.

It is another ob~ect of this invention to des-cribe a facial sauna ha~ing a condensate trap preventing condensed water from passing through the outlet.

It is another object of this invention to describe a facial sauna employing an electromagnetic pump.

It is another ob~ect of this invention to describe a facial sauna including a baffle structure for vaporizing water and a means for directing co~den~ed water from the baffle 3tructure back to the tank.
Accordingly, the invention provides in one aspect an apparatus for generating vapor from a liquid comprising: a housing having an inlet for receiving the liquid therethrough and an outlet for discharging vapor therefrom; a tank portion within said housing interconnected with said inlet for holding the liquid received through said inlet; an air vent tube in said housing interconnecting said tank portion with an external air supply; vapor generating means in said housing including heating means for heating a vaporization surface above the vaporization temperature of the liquid so as to generate at least some vapor from the liquid B

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upon contact of the liquid with said vaporization surface, said vapor generating means communica~ing with said housing outlet for dischar~e of said vapor from said outlet; a conduit interconnecting said tank portion with said vapor generating means for delivery of the liquid thereto from said tank portion;
an electric diaphragm pump for pumping the liquid from said tank portion through said conduit to said vaporization surface of said generating means, said pump including adjusting means for adjusting the pumping rate, an elastic diaphragm portion exposed for manual manipulation for external priming of said pump, said pump including an armature which operates said pump diaphragm, said pump being enclosed in said housing, said housing having an elastic wall portion immediately adjacent and confronting said pump such that said armature can be displaced by manually inwardly deforming to a sufficient extent said elastic portion of said housing, to enable priming of said pump; and baffle means associated with said vapor generating means for preventing liquid from discharging with said generated vapor through said outlet.
BRIEF DES~RIPTION OF T$~ DR~WINGS

These features and objects of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art ~y referring to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a bottom plan view of the invention;

Figure 2 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of Figure l;

Figure 2a i~ a view of the head of the invention taken on line 2a-2~ of Figure 2;

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~20436~
- 4a -Figure 3 is a bottom view along line 3-3 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is an enlargement view of the pump shown in Figure 3;

~igure 5 is a cross sectional view taken along line 5-5 of Fi~ure 4;

Figure 6 is a p~rspective view showing a modified form of an adjustable armature to activate the diaphragm according to the invention;

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43~;0 .

F~ure 7 is a si~e view o~ a he~tex cartridge according to the invention;

Figure 8 i5 a cross-sectional Yiew taken along line 8-8 o~ Figure 7 showing the baffle arrangements;

Fi~ure ~ is a cross-sectional view taken along line 9-9 of Fi~ure 7;

Figure 10 is a top plan view of another embodiment of the invention;

Figure 11 is a cross-sectional view taken aiong line 11-11 of Figure 10;

Figuxe 12 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 12-12 of Figure 11 showing the baffle structure according to the invention;

Figure 13 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 13-13 of Figure 11 showing the pumping means accord-ing to the invention;

Figure 14 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 14-14 of Figure 11;

Figure 15 and 15a show a fixed embodiment of a control means for the coil moving the diaphragm according to the invention;

~i~ure 16 and 16a s~ow a movable embodiment of a control means for the coil for moving the diaphragm according to the invention;

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Figure 17 is a view o~ a mask attachment for the inventi~e devica;

Figure 18 is a view of a brush attachment for the inventive device; and Figure 19 i8 a view of ~ ~oncentrator or spot treatment attachment ~or the inventive device~
In the above drawings, Figs. 1 and 3 are in sheet one;
Figs~ 2,2a and 6 are in sheet two; Figs. 4 and 5 are in sheet 3;
Figs. 7, 8, 9, 15, 15a, 16 and 16a are in sheet 4; Figs. 10,12, and 13 are in sheet 5; Fig. 11 is in sheet 6 and Figs. 14, 17, 18 and 19 are in sheet 7.
As ~hown in Figures 1, 2 and 3, the ~acial sauna, according to the invention, i8 enclosed in a housing having an upper tubular portion 1, enclosed within an outer shell la, and a lower conical portion formed by parts 2a and 2b. ~he axis 3 of the tubular portion 1 forms an acute anyle with the axis 4 of the lower conical portion. The acute angle facilitates the placement of the facial sauna on a table so that steam is directed toward the face or other part of the body.

The upper part of the tubular portion 1 in-cludes outlets S and is engageably coupled to an attachment 6, o~ which only a connecting part is shown.
The attachment may be a face mask 7 having a substan-tially cylindrical lower portion 8a for mounting onthe tubular portion 1 of the facial sauna, as shown in Figure 17. The mask include~ an upper portion 8b having an exp nded opening at its top for dixecting steam to a wider area tha~ provided by outlet 5, and ~ part~cularly to an area in which a user's face is located. In addition, a facial brush attachment, shown in ~i~ure 18, may be attached at its lower portion 9 to the tubular portion 1. The brush includes bristles 10 at its steam outlet side, and connec~ing r~
V' ~204360 channels 11, shown symbolically in the Figure, for passing steam from lower portion ~ through the bristled portion and to the user's face. Also, a concentrator or spot treatment attachment, shown in Fi~ure 19, having a diagonally truncated cylindrical shape may be attached at its lower portion 9a. The attachment confines the exiting steam to the diameter of the attachment for local topical use. The diameter o~ the steam exit 9b does not exceed the diamet~r of the bottom attaching portion.

A heater 15 is employed within the facial sauna and is generally a cylindrical resistance-type heater axially arranged within the housing. The heater is located within a heater cartridge, or boiler, generally referred to b~ reference character 16 and illustrated in Figures 7-9.

As further seen in Figures 2 and 7-9, heater cartridge 16 is provided with a cover 16a. The space between cartridge cover 16a and outer shell la, or upper housing 1, may be filled with thermal insulation 14, 2~ which may be made of bonded thin aluminum foil and in-sulation. The foil may be interrupted to avoid heat loss through a continual spiral surface of aluminum.

Cartridge 16 is a cylindrical member having a boiler cavity 17 and a plurality of anti-sputter baffles 18. The boiler cavity 17 is located centrally within the mass of the heater cartridge 16 and is the first hot mass with which the water comes in contact in the boiler. Accordingly, the cavity is formed in a metallic casting, preferrably having a large surrounding 3a mass to enable enhanced heat storage ability. The anti-sputter baffles 18 which are a pair of non-contacting two-stage labyrinths, are located on opposite sides of 1~04360 the cartrid~e, as shown in ~igure 8. The bafles 1~
permit steam, but not non-~aporized ~luid, ~o exit the device. Such sQlectivity is achieved by causing the fluid passing along the outer part of the cartridge 16 to travel in a more or less z~g-zag pattern.

An air vent tube 1~ extends through ~ottom portion 2b of the device, and into a water tank 22 acting as a fluid reservoir. A rubber grommet 20 provides a watertight seal between the air vent tube 19 and the bottom wall of tank 22. This air vent tube 19 allows atmospheric air to replace water withdrawn from the water tank 22.

The heater cartridge 16 is located within a bore 21 which is concentric with the tubular portion 1.
Water tank 22 is located below the cartridge 16 for holding the water which is to be vaporized into steam.
The tank 22 has a convenient fill opening 22a, sealed by a plastic plug 22b, so that it may be filled by the user when the unit is inverted. The heater cartridge 16 provides sufficient heat to evaporate water pumped at the rate of about 2 to 5.5 cc/min into it. This eliminates the need for a water return line as described in the alternate embodiment shown in Figure 11.

The base of the tank 22 and bottom cover 2b are rigidly attached by means of post spacers 22c which are conveniently attached with screws. The number, location and configuration of the spacers 22c can ~e of any convenient design. A preferred arrangement would be spacing at 120 intervals near the outside edge of the base of tank 22. The spacers may be cylindrical or any other convenient outside shape. The height of the spacers dep~nds on the size of the unit. A preferred ~A36~

embodiment has spacers o~ approximately 3/4 to one inch long. The spacers may be separate units, but it is pxe-ferred that they be molded as integral parts of the base of the tank 22, which avoids le~kage problems caused b~
screws. Also bases 22d, at least three, molded as a par~ of lower housing 2a, are provided for attaching bottom cover 2b to lower housing 2a.

~s shown in Figures 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5, a pump means 23 is located immediately below the tank 22. Pump 23 comprises an electromagnetic coil 24, an armature 25 with one end connected to an armature pivot 26 and the other end supporting a magnet 27. The armature 25 may comprise a single piece extending from pivot 26 to the end supporting magnet 27. Alternatively, armature 25 may be comprised of two overlapping pieces 25a and 25b which are in sliding relationship as shown in Figure 6.
A clamping screw 25c holds the pieces together through an elongated hole in one of the pieces, enabling adjustment at assembly to maintain a prescribed gap between magnet 27 and coil 24. A diaphrasm 28 is connected to the armature 25, and an intake valve 29 and an output valve 30 are in communication with the diaphragm 28. When an alternating current is applied to the electromagnet coil 24, the magnet 27 is caused to vibrate about the armature pivot 26 thereby moving the diaphragm 28 toward and away ~rom the intake valve 29 and output valve 30. A tank outlet 31 is connected to the intake valve 29 and the outlet valve 30 is connected to the water inlet nozzle 32 by a tube 39.

The pump 23 is advantageously disposed in an orientation wherein the diaphragm 28 vibrates vertically.
It is appreciated, however, that the pump may be dif-ferently oriented. For example, a horizontally vibrating 120~360 i magnet is possible, ~ut the ~ertical ori~ntatio~ is preferred.

Immediately a~ove the heater cartridge 16 located within bore ~1, t~e bore taperq into a throug~-neck portion 33 ~or directing the vaporized steam from the heater cartridge 16 therethrough, to and through outlets 5 as shown in Figure 2. The neck 33 is con-nected to an outle~ funnel 34 disposPd below outlets 5.

It is contemplated that the pump means 23 may be pr.oYided with a steam rate control knob 36 shown in Figures 1 and 2, which can selectively limit the movement of the armature 25 by pivoting the coil 24 so as to cause the coil's electromagnetic field to rotate out of alignment with the plane of the magnet 27, thus restricting vî~ratory travel of the armature and thereby controlling the amount of water which is pumped by the diaphragm 28 in combination with the intake valve 29 and output valve 30. A linkage arm (not shown) is pivoted bY the control knob 36 to limit the action of armature 25 with wedge 51. As shown in Figure 15a, the electrical circuitry of the control shown in Figure 16 includes a switch 37a, a dropping resistor 37~, and coil 24, in a series connection, rece.iving current from the power supply such as 120 V, 60 Hz a-c current. Alternatively, an electrical control means may be used. Referring to Figures 3, 16 and 16a, control knob 36 is attached to a variable resistor 36a to regulate the current through coil 24 which, in this embodiment, does not pivot, as shown in Figure 16. To change from one setting to another, a user turns knob 36, thus ~arying the resistance of resistor 36a, changing the current in coil 24, thus causing the vibratory travel of the magnet 27 to vary, and thereby changing , ~

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the amount of water pumped by the diaphragm 28. Each setting of resistor 36a provides a particular current setting, and thus, a particular travel limit of magnet 27 and a corresponding water pumping rate. In a preferred embodiment, approximately 2 to 5.5 cc/min. of water is pumped. In order to accomplish this, the ~ixed and variable resistor in the circuit, 37b and 36a, respectively, should be selected so that a usable range of the ~ariable resistor is available between about 2500 and 7500 ohms.
The variable resistor 36a may thus be a 10,000 ohm potentiometer, so that adjustments can be made to offset manufacturing variations and the control knob 36 is marked and attached accordingly. It is appreciated that the value of the potentiometer resistance would vary as the fixed resistance changes.

Variations in the above ranges can be made depending on the strength of the magnet, the gap between the magnet and the coil, and other structural variations.
A simple on-line measurement of the water pump rate can be made to determine the final adjustments.

Furthermore, the facial sauna, according to the invention, is conveniently provided with an ON/OFF switch 37a which can be used as a momentary switch or locked in either position at the user's discretion. A pilot light 35 may be provided to indicate to the user whether the switch 37a is in its ON or OFF position.

In order to prime pump 23 while the appliance is in the upright position after filling, elastomatic diaphragm 50 is displaced upward, with a finger, for example, causing the armature 25 and the pump diaphragm 28 to move more than when the armature 25 is magnetically driven, thus increasing the effective displacement of the pump 23 cleaning it of air bubbles. The facial sauna operates as $Qllows: Alternatlng current applied to the electromagnetic coil 24 forces the magnet 27 to oscillate vertically. As the armature 25 and diaphragm 28 axe moved away from the intake valve 29, water is drawn from the tank 22 into a pumping chamber 38. As the armature 25 and diaphragm 28 pivot toward the output valYe 30, the intake valve 29 seals and the water is forced through the output valve 30 vla a tube 39 to the water inlet nozzle 32. Water then imptnges upon boiler cavity 17 and is immediately Yaporized, passing out cavity 17 and rising through bore 21 in zig-zag passes through anti-sputter baffles 18, through the neck 33, and finally through outlets 5 to the engaged attachment 6.

The continuous water supply from the pumping means further enhances the movement of the vaporized water through the heater cartridge 16.

Vapor, which condenses into water, is directed ~ack through neck 33 along the surface of funnel 34, and drips back into contact with the heater cartridge 16 for vaporization. Water cannot condense within the heater cartridge 16 because all surfaces thereof are too hot, having temperatures exceeding 220F, for example.

It is appreciated, however, that less powerful heaters ma~ be used, necessitating the use of a drain and drain valve in a condensate line to the water tank.

Figures 10-14 illustrate an alternative embodiment of the invention wherein like reference characters refer to the same structure. As illustrated ~20436~ ) in Figure 11, the heatex cartridge 16, enclosing heater 15, is horizontally moun~ed within the hou~ing of the alternative embodiment. Therefore, the water inlet nozzle 32 is mounted at an end 41 of the cartridqe 16.

As particularly illustrated in Figure 12, it is contemplated that a flash-off baf~le 43a, which is the first baffle with which the water come in contact, and the anti-sputter baffles 43b have an arc~tate shape with alternating apertures 44 ~or guiding the vaporized water in a zi~-zag pattern through the cartridge 16.
Because a flash-off ba$fle is used in heating the water, the mass surrounding the cavity, and hence, the heat st~ring ability thereof, i~ reduced. A drain 40, havi~g a one-way drain valve there~n (not ~hown) i~
accordingly provided to facilitate the return of water to the tank. The drain 40 is also vertically mounted below cartridge 16. The drain 40 and the outlet no2zle 132 are mounted at opposing ends of the cartrid~e, as seen in the Figure 12.
As shown in Figures 11, 13 and 14 a pump means 123 is located immediately below a water tank 122. Pump 123 includes an electromagnetic coil 124, an armature 125 with one end connected to an armature pivot 126 and the other end supporting a magnet 127, a pumping chamber 138 and an output valve 130. As in the previous embodiment of the invention, this embodiment may also be provided with a steam rate control knob 136.

~l ~Z04~;0 - 13a -In operation, water in tank 122 flows through the tank outlet 131 into a pumping chamber 138. It is then forced through the output valve 130 into the water inlet nozzle 132 via a tube 139. The water then travels in a similar manner past the baffles and out the neck portion 33. A condensate trap 42, shown in the embodiment illustrated in Figure 11, i8 comprised of a cylindrical chamber. One critical feature of the illustrated embodiment of Figure 11 is the axial alignment between 10 the neck 33 and the drain 40. In 120~36~

this embodiment, wat~r condensing within the condensate trap 42, or within the ~af~le cartridge 16, immediately passes back th_ough the drain 40 and is returned to the tank for pumping once again by the pump means 23.

As shown in Figure 11, the illustrated embodiment allows a location of a filler neck plug 22b at the ~op of the ~acial sauna apparatus for convenient filling of the tank 22.

In Figure 13 and 14, the pumping means 23 parts are numbered as the same functional parts shown in Figure 2 - 6.

While the foregoing description is in terms of water and steam, it is understood that other liquids may be used, and that the resulting vapor may include components other than steam~

Various changes can ~e made in the details of the inYentio~, as illustrated, without departing from the scope of the description of the accompanying claims.
Furthermore, although the invention has been particularly described with regard to its exceptional featuxes in relation to a facial sauna, it would be readily apparent to one skilled in the art that the features of the invention may ~e used in any industrial application wherein the vaporiZation of a liquid is required.
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Claims (14)

CLAIMS:

1. An apparatus for generating vapor from a liquid comprising:
a housing having an inlet for receiving the liquid therethrough and an outlet for discharging vapor therefrom;
a tank portion within said housing interconnected with said inlet for holding the liquid received through said inlet;
an air vent tube in said housing interconnecting said tank portion with an external air supply;
vapor generating means in said housing including heating means for heating a vaporization surface above the vaporization temperature of the liquid so as to generate at least some vapor from the liquid upon contact of the liquid with said vaporization surface, said vapor generating means communicating with said housing outlet for discharge of said vapor from said outlet;
a conduit interconnecting said tank portion with said vapor generating means for delivery of the liquid thereto from said tank portion;
an electric diaphragm pump for pumping the liquid from said tank portion through said conduit to said vaporization surface of said generating means, said pump including adjusting means for adjusting the pumping rate, an elastic diaphragm portion exposed for manual manipulation for external priming of said pump, said pump including an armature which operates said pump diaphragm, said pump being enclosed in said housing, said housing having an elastic wall portion immediately adjacent and confronting said pump such that said armature can be displaced by manually inwardly deforming to a sufficient extent said elastic portion of said housing, to enable priming of said pump; and baffle means associated with said vapor generating means for preventing liquid from discharging with said generated vapor through said outlet.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said housing has a base portion which includes said inlet for filling said tank portion when said housing is in an inverted position.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said outlet is adapted for coupling to an attachment for dispersing the generated vapor.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said heating means includes an electric heater which heats said vaporization surface onto which said liquid is pumped.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said electric heater and vaporization surface are within a cartridge, said cartridge further including said baffle means.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 further comprising insulating means disposed between said housing and said cartridge.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said conduit includes a nozzle for spraying the liquid onto said heated vaporization surface.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said armature is connected to said pump diaphragm and said pump includes electro-magnetic means for creating an alternating magnetic field, said armature being oscillated by said alternating magnetic field for producing pumping action with said pump diaphragm, an intake valve associated with said tank portion for receiving the liquid therefrom and an output valve operable by said diaphragm for transmitting the liquid therethrough to said vapor generating means, wherein both said input and output valves are one-way check valves.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said armature includes a magnet and said electromagnetic means includes a coil, and said adjusting means includes means for selectively pivoting said coil relative to said magnet for adjusting the pumping rate.

10. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said intake valve is interconnected with said tank portion and said output valve is interconnected with said conduit.

11. The apparatus of claim 8 further comprising adjusting means for adjusting the pumping rate, said adjusting means including a control knob for regulating resistance in a variable resistor connected to said coil for varying the current in said coil.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said pumping rate is adjustable between about 2 to 5.5cc/min.

13. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said vapor generating means includes a cartridge having a cylindrical member with a boiler cavity therein defining said vaporization surface and an electric heater for heating said surface, said baffle means including a pair of non-contacting 2-stage baffles located on opposite sides of said cartridge.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein said air vent tube communicates with said external air supply through said base portion.