GB2136286A

GB2136286A - Apparatus in the form of a steam, vapour or hot-air individual hip bath

Info

Publication number: GB2136286A
Application number: GB08306635A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Franz Berger
Original assignee: MATTHEWS PENELOPE JANA
Current assignee: MATTHEWS PENELOPE JANA
Priority date: 1983-03-10
Filing date: 1983-03-10
Publication date: 1984-09-19
Also published as: FR2542996A1; DE3139930A1; DE3139930C2; NL8300978A; GB8306635D0

Abstract

Apparatus in the form of a steam, vapour or hot-air individual hip bath comprises a plastics material, preferably glass-fibre reinforced, housing 1 enclosing a vertically adjustable seat 2, said housing having a door actuable from within or outside the housing to seal a door opening 5. The housing has a recess 6, preferably padded, to receive a user's neck, the recess being formed in a top wall 4 of the housing and extending back from the edge of the door opening 5. Steam, vapour or hot-air generating means and/or a closable aperture for the supply of externally generated hot-air are provided in the housing, disposed beneath the seat. The steam or vapour generating means 8 may be a water tank having an electrical heater 9, the tank having adjustable apertures enabling the escape of steam or vapour therefrom. A nozzle system may be disposed within the housing and be connected to a water supply via hoses enabling a user to be cooled by a cold water spray. The apparatus may be mobile and/or tiltable. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Apparatus in the form of a steam, vapour or hot-air individual hip bath This invention relates to apparatus in the form of a steam vapour or hot-air individual hip bath.

The simplest known apparatus for producing a steam or vapour bath comprises a plastics curtain which a user wraps around him- or her-self, and a chair with a steam vapour generator beneath it, e.g. a tank containing an immersion heater. A system of this kind however, may normally be used only in a bathroom or like environment as considerable quantities of steam escape to atmosphere. Again, such apparatus does not comply with modern safety requirements, and is not suitable for a hot-air bath.

Fixed sauna baths are known, being made in a variety of sizes and consisting mainly of wood.

Baths of this kind may be used simultaneously by a number of users. Disadvantages of this type of bath is however, that there must be adequate space available for the bath and it requires a fixed installation. Sauna baths of this kind are therefore relatively expensive.

There is today no doubt that the use of steam or hot-air baths is particularly important for national health and for this reason communal sauna installations have been provided.

There is a great demand for small and compact apparatus for generating a steam, vapour or hotair bath requiring no appreciable installation and no fixed space for its use.

An aim of the invention is to meet this demand by providing apparatus forming a steam, vapour or hot-air hip bath, the use of which does not need special installation or location.

According to the invention there is provided apparatus in the form of a steam vapour or hot-air individual hip bath, comprising a plastics material housing enclosing a vertically adjustable seat and having a sealable door actuable from both within and outside the housing, the housing being provided with a recess for receiving a user's neck, which recess is formed in a top wall of the housing and extends rearwardly from the door opening steam, vapour or hot-air generating means and/or a closable aperture for the supply of externally generated hot-air, being disposed beneath the seat.

The housing advantageously is of glass fibre reinforced plastics material, as such material is temperature-resistant, and is readily shaped and coloured.

The steam or vapour generating means may comprise a water tank including an electrical heater, which tank is formed with apertures enabling the escape of generated steam or vapour therefrom, the apertures are, advantageously, adjustable so that the rate of steam or vapour output is adjustable independently of control of the electrical heater.

A water collecting tray covered by a duckboard maybe provided in the bottom of the housing so that any steam or vapour condensing on the inner wall of the housing may be collected and discharged.

The recess receiving a user's neck is preferably padded, the padding possibly being in the form of a collar. The aperture is, however, of a size such as to be suitable for any user, any remaining space, in use, preferably being filled with a towel.

The steam or hot-air generating means advantageously includes a temperature sensor operable to switch off means causing water evporation at a steam or vapour temperature of approximately 1 200C, thus giving adequate safety in the event of all the water in the tank evaporating.

Apparatus embodying the invention may also be used as a hot-air bath, with a hot-air generator disposed outside the housing delivering hot-air to the interior of the housing via the closable aperture by a fan. The hot-air generator may be controlled by a clock to switch off automaticaliy after a pre-set time.

A nozzle system may be disposed within the housing and be adapted for connection to a water supply via a hose or hoses. After the apparatus has been used as a steam or hot-air bath it may therefore provide for cooling a user by a cold water spray, this having a particularly favourable effect on the circulation.

Apparatus embodying the invention may be both mobile and tiltable enabling it to be readily transported and used by one person, for example by moving it to a suitable place for use. A tilting device enables the apparatus to be tilted into a position such as to give a comfortable seating position, e.g. at an angle of 30 to 450 to the horizontal.

An embodiment of the invention is described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a front elevation of apparatus embodying the invention shown open, Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the apparatus of Fig.

1.

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the apparatus of Fig. 1 and, Fig. 4 is a view of a door of the apparatus viewed from in front of it.

Fig. 1 shows a housing 1 (on a scale of 1:5) to consist of a glass fibre reinforced plastics material in an open state. Within the housing at approximately the bottom third, one third the way up a shaped-contour seat 2 is provided. Seat 2 is vertically adjustable, retaining means 13 and 14 secured to the inner wall of housing 1 on both sides thereof having grooves into which the ends of seat linkage 1 5 may pass and engage. Different seat heights may be- obtained by the provision of an appropriate number of grooves.

The top wall 4 of housing 1 is formed with a recess 6 starting from the edge of the door opening 5, and is intended to receive a user's neck so that when the apparatus is in use the door may be closed and the user's head remain outside the apparatus. Any space between recess 6 and a user's neck is advantageously filled by a towel in use to prevent escape of steam.

There are numerous people who cannot tolerate a steam or hot-air room as they feel oppressed. With the arrangement now proposed the user's head is outside the steamy or hot environment and such people do not experience such sensations, meaning that the apparatus is also suitable for such people.

Arm rests 16 and 17 are provided within the housing 1 to support a user's arms and these may also be adjustable (although this is not shown in detail in the drawings).

The steam or vapour generator 8, which has an electrical heater 9, is provided within the housing on its floor. Heater 9 may, for example, comprise a coil of the kind conventionally used in immersion heaters. A plug socket 18 shown diagrammatically in Fig. 1 is provided on the outer wall of the housing 1 enabling electrical connection to be made to heater 9. The water tank 8 for steam or vapour generation preferably has a capacity of 3 to 4 litres, and the heater coil preferably has a power of 1 to 1.2 Kw to wall 3. The coil 9 penetrating into the water tank 8 is arranged so that at most only two thirds of the water in the tank will evaporate, thus providing adequate safety, preventing overheating of the coil.

Fig. 2 shows the apparatus with its door closed.

Door 3 is adapted to be opened from both within and outside the apparatus. To this end, the linkage 19 of the door handle extends through the door housing. To provide leg room, the door 3 is outwardly curved as shown at 20 which also gives the door an attractive shape. Door 3 includes a rubber gasket 21 so that the steam or vapour generated within the housing cannot escape. A clock 22 and a temperature indicator 23 with an adjustment device for a thermostat is provided in the top part of the door. The bottom part of the housing 1 also has a closable aperture 1 2 enabling a supply of externally generated hot-air to be fed thereto.

Fig. 3 shows the water tank 8 to have a lid formed with apertures 10, which are adjustable, for the steam or vapour escape. The areas of the apertures may be varied by means of a damper (not shown). A water collecting tray 11 is provided beneath tank 8 and is constructed so that the steam or vapour condensing on the inner walls of the housing 1 will flow down and into the tray.

The tray may be an element detachable from or formed integrally with the housing. This enables condensation water to be easily extracted.

The total weight of an apparatus embodying the invention is about 25 kg and it may therefore be readily transported, without difficulty, by a user.

Transport of the apparatus is facilitated by providing two wheels at the front bottom edge of housing 1 although this is not shown in the drawing. Similarly, a tilting device may be provided enabling a user to find a comfortable position, the device giving a tilting angle of 300 to 450. Nozzles or sprays may be secured both in the upper part of the housing and at its sides, which nozzles may be connected to water supply via a hose or pipe (not shown).

Since the apparatus is in use completely closed - (apart from the relatively small opening edge of the recess 6 and a user's neck - and even this may be closed by a towel) the apparatus may be used in any room.

Claims

1. Apparatus in the form of a steam, vapour or hot-air individual hip bath, comprising a plastics material housing enclosing a vertically adjustable seat and having a sealable door actuable from both within and out-side the housing, the housing being provided with a recess for receiving a user's neck, which recess is formed in a top wall of the housing and extends rear-wardly from the door opening steam, vapour or hot-air generating means and/or a closable aperture for the supply of externally generated hot air, being disposed beneath the seat.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the housing is of glass fibre reinforced plastics material.

3. Apparatus according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the steam or vapour generating means comprises a water tank including an electrical heater which tank is provided with apertures enabling the escape of steam or vapour therefrom.

4. Apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said steam or vapour outlet apertures are adjustable in size.

5. Apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein a water collecting tray is provided within the bottom part of the housing and is covered by a duckboard.

6. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said recess is padded.

7. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the steam or hot-air generating means includes a temperature sensor operable to switch off means causing water evaporation at a steam or vapour temperature of approximately 1 200C.

8. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein a hot-air generator is provided outside the housing to deliver hot-air to the interior of the housing via the closable aperture by a fan.

9. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein a nozzle system is provided within the housing which system is adapted to be connected to a water supply by hoses.

10. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, which is mobile and tiltable.

1 Apparatus in the form of a steam, vapour or hot-air individual hip bath substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.