GB2063665A

GB2063665A - Steam/sauna cabinet

Info

Publication number: GB2063665A
Application number: GB7932855A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Nordic Saunas Ltd
Current assignee: Nordic Saunas Ltd
Priority date: 1979-09-21
Filing date: 1979-09-21
Publication date: 1981-06-10

Abstract

A steam/sauna cabinet, including a steam generator 18, 19 and air heaters 28, is provided with a fan 25. Air is drawn from above the steam generator through ducts 27 past the heaters by the fan. The air is expelled from the ducts at foot level whereby the atmosphere in the cabinet is circulated and kept even. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Steam/sauna cabinet The invention relates to an individual steam or sauna cabinet. In such a cabinet one individual bather can take a steam or a sauna bath.

The cabinet is an openable enclosure for containing steam or hot air and having an aperture at its top, through which aperture the bather's neck extends whilst he is bathing in the cabinet. This type of cabinet will subsequently be referred to herein as "a cabinet of the type referred to".

A cabinet of the type referred to can suffer from the disadvantage that after a while the bather's upper body becomes considerably hotter than his feet which feel cold.

The object of this invention is to provide an improved cabinet.

In accordance with the invention, the improved cabinet of the type referred to includes means for circulating the atmosphere in the cabinet to maintain the atmospheric conditions even throughout the cabinet.

In the preferred embodiment the circulating means is a fan associated with ducts formed in the cabinet. Although it is envisaged that the ducts may be dispensed with, they are preferably arranged to direct the atmosphere from the fan towards the bottom of the cabinet.

Conveniently the cabinet contains a steam generator for producing a high humidity (steam) atmosphere in the cabinet. The generator may be provided in the ducts, but is preferably positioned such that the fan draws air and steam directly from the generator. With such positioning of the steam generator, a safety cover is preferably provided.

Alternatively to or in addition to the steam generator, air heaters may be provided for producing a higher temperature drier (sauna) atmosphere.

Preferably these are positioned in the ducts where the bather is protected from accidental contact with them.

The preferred construction of cabinet is of double skin glass reinforced plastics with polyurethane foam infili. This provides a convenient structure for forming the ducts from two overlapping inner skins, the two skins being shaped to define the ducts therebetween. Advantageously the two inner skins are spaced an appreciable distance from the outer skin in the vicinity of the ducts to provide a "dry space" wherein electrical connections may be made.

To help understanding of the invention, a specific embodiment thereof will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure lisa perspective view of the front of a cabinet of the type referred to and in accordance with the invention, Figure 2 is a perspective view on a larger scale and from the front, but opposite side to Figure 1, of a steam generator in the cabinet, with its cover omitted, Figure 3 is a side elevational central cross-section of the cabinet taken on the line Ill-Ill in Figure 5, Figure 4 is a front elevational cross-section of the cabinet on the line IV-IV in Figure 3, and Figure 5 is a horizontal cross-section of the cabinet on the line V-V in Figure 4.

The cabinet in the drawings has a carcass 1 and a door 2 hinged to the carcass at hinges 3. An outer glass reinforced plastics (grp) skin 4 and an inner grp skin 5 form the door 2, with the skins being joined at the edges of the door. Space between the skins is filled with polyurethane foam 6.

The carcass 1 is of similar construction, though two inner skins 7, 8 are used with one outer skin 9.

One inner skin 7 covers the bottom 10 of the carcass and the other inner skin 8 covers the back 11 of the carcass. Ledges 12 moulded into the back skin 8 support a seat 13 at a height which is adjustable such that the bather's neck extends through an aperture 14 provided in the door and the carcass at the top of the cabinet. A semi-rigid polyurethane foam collar 15 lines that part of the aperture which is bounded by the carcass.

Below the seat the two inner skins are superimposed at a plafform 16 by which is supported a steam generator 17 having a water container 18 and a pair of electrically-heated boiling elements 19. The back skin 8 forms the front 20 and top 21 of a laterally extending duct 22 which extends across the cabinet above and behind the steam generator. At its bottom 23 the duct is bounded by the bottom skin 7 and at its rear the duct is bounded by a separating partition 24.

Afan 25 is mounted centrally in the duct 22 to suck the air and steam (when generated) from above the steam generator 17 and blow the air and steam along the duct to either lateral end. An electric motor for driving the fan is mounted on the far side of the partition 24 from the duct. To prevent accidental contact by the bather with steam direct from the steam generator, a perspex cover 25 covers the steam generator but allows air in at its sides. The cover is hinged at 26 to the back skin 8 and thus cannot be lifted fully with the seat in position and the cabinet in use.

On either side of the platform 16 the bottom skin 7 is formed into U-shaped side ducts 27 leading down and forwards from the lateral ends of the duct 22. At the junctions between the duct 22 and the side ducts, air heating elements 28 are mounted from the partition 24. The side ducts open into bottom portion of the cabinet at openings 29 which are restricted in height by depending lips of the back skin 8.

On the left hand side (as shown in the drawings) of the cabinet there is a control panel 30 set in the outer skin 9 at a height to at least partially back onto a dry space 31 wherein electrical contacts are made from the control panel to the heaters and fan. The control panel includes a thermostat having a bulb 32 for control of the temperature of the atmosphere in the cabinet. The thermostat can be used to control the cabinet for use either in the steam mode or in the sauna mode. According to the mode either the boil ing elements 19 or the air heating elements 28 are used. In the steam mode, a typical temperature and humidity for the atmosphere in the cabinet is 120"F and 95% humidity. Typical figures forthe sauna mode are 200"F and 10% humidity. Since both the boiling and air heating elements should not be switched on together an inter-lock is provided to prevent this.

The invention is not intended to be restricted to the details of the above described embodiment. For instance the embodiment is portable having castors 33 and a front skid 34. The cabinet could be fixed with a drain plumbed into the sump 35 and a water supply plumbed into the water container 18. Further the sauna mode of operation facilitated by the air heating elements 28 may not be provided.

Claims

1. A cabinet of the type referred to including means for circulating the atmosphere in the cabinet to maintain the atmospheric conditions even throughout the cabinet.

2. A cabinet as claimed in claim 1 wherein the said circulating means is a fan.

3. A cabinet as claimed in claim 2 wherein the fan is associated with ducts provided in the cabinet for ducting the circulated atmosphere.

4. A cabinet as claimed in claim 3 wherein the ducts are arranged to direct the atmosphere towards the bottom of the cabinet.

5. A cabinet as claimed in any preceding claim including a steam generator for producing a high humidity atmosphere in the cabinet

6. A cabinet as claimed in claim 5 as appendent to claim 2, claim 3 or claim 4 wherein the steam generator and the fan is so positioned that the fan draws air and steam directly from the generator.

7. A cabinet as claimed in claim 5 or claim 6 including a safety cover removably covering the steam generator.

8. A cabinet as claimed in any one of claims 5,6 and 7 wherein the steam generator is positioned under a seat in the cabinet.

9. A cabinet as claimed in claim 8 as appendant to claim 7 wherein the seat is removable and so positioned that the cover cannot be removed from the steam generator without the seat being first removed.

10. A cabinet as claimed in any preceding claim including air heaters for producing a hot dry atmosphere.

11. A cabinet as claimed in claim 10 as appendant to claim 3 or claim 4 wherein the air heaters are positioned in the ducts.

12. A cabinet as claimed in claim 3 or claim 4 or any one of claims 5 to 11 when appendant-to claim 3 or claim 4 wherein the cabinet is constructed of double skin glass reinforced plastics material and the ducts are formed from two overlapping inner skins.

13. A cabinet as claimed in claim 12 wherein the outer skin is spaced an appreciable distance from the inner skins in the vicinity of the ducts to provide a space for electrical connections.

14. A cabinet of the type referred to substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.