GB2219203A - Apparatus for treating a person's body - Google Patents

Abstract

Apparatus for treating the body of a person comprises a bed 7, 8 on which the person lies and on which he or she may exercise and a rigid, transparent dome 3 which covers the body. The dome may be hinged doors 4, or a panel which may be raised. Warm air may be introduced into the space beneath the dome via openings 13 and air withdrawn via openings 12. The air within the dome may be humidified or sprayed with scent or steam may be supplied into the space below the dome. A digital indicator 21 and push-button operated controller 14 may be located within the dome. <IMAGE>

Description

IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR THERMOPHYSICAL BODY EXERCISE The present invention relates to improvements in apparatus for thermophysical body exercise and more particularly some thechnical solutions adapted to improve access to the domeshaped chamber of the apparatus for introducing the body up to the neck, the thermal heating unit and the saturated steam generatort if any, optimising the energy saving with possibility of recycling internal airt recovering its heat or alternatively picking up air from outside in order to obtain a slow cooling curve, physiologically acceptable by the user.

It is know that the dome-shaped apparatus for thermophysical body exercise now largely employed in the gymnasia, comprise an envelope generally made of a transparent materialt almost entirely open at the front part in order to give free access to the user's body, leaving outside only the head.

Such a large access opening clearly causes a great escape of the internal environment air and therefore there is a big energy waste in order to keep constant the environmental condition desired inside the dome-shaped envelope.

Furthermore an air stream troublesome for the user is created, while there is no possibility to recycle the internal environment air.

Also ventilation and possible introduction of saturated steam in the dome-shaped envelope are obtained with conventional heating and humidifying units, with continuous generation of steam and great energy consumption. An example of apparatus of this kind is disclosed in the Swiss patent specification CH-A562 038.

The improvements of the present invention are in practice the logical solution of the above mentioned drawbacks and more particularly introduction of the body in the envelope is effected through a front double door, provided with a suitable opening through which it is easy to keep the head outside the envelope.

Ventilationt heating and possible supply of saturated steam are obtained with a unit arranged at the foot of the envelope, provided with an air supply box having two alternative positions so as to either recycle the envelope inner air with corresponding heat recovery or suck air from outside, for a gradual change and heating or cooling of the inner chamber during the exercising cycle.

Inside the dome-shaped envelope there is also a digital thermometer and a thermal regulation unit which can be controlled directly by the user in order to make easier adaptation to his best physical condition and to give the highest control autonomy of said dome-shaped apparatus that are generally arranged in a row in big rooms for this kind of exercises.

These and other features of said improvements will be still better explained in the following detailed description of gmRdign riven as merely illustrative examples not limiting the scope of the invention, to be examined with the aid of the various figures of the accompanying sheets of exemplifying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an apparatus provided with said improvements, showing the front double doort the thermal ventilation unit arranged at the foot of the internal bed, and various other devices to be described hereinafter; Fig. 2 is a perspective partial view of the apparatus headt provided with a top hinged door, according to one of said improvements;; Fig. 3 is a perspective detailed view of the thermal ventilation unitt showing use with outside air supply; Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the same detail of Fig. 3, with the air supply box moved back in order to recycle inner environment air; Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic cross-sectional view of the operative condition of Fig. 3 showing the internal air circulation with anti-turbulence delivery.

Fig. 6 is a diagrammatic operative view of the condition shown in Fig. 4 with air circulation and anti-turbulence delivery; and Fig. 7 is a diagrammatic top view of the thermal ventilation unitt showing air withdrawal and delivery through suitable inner anti-turbulence baffles.

With reference now to Fig. 1 of the drawings, the first cited improvement relates to the front opening 1 arranged on the head 2 of a dome-shaped envelope 3 with trapezoid form and made of transparent and rigid material.

In practicet there are two doors 4t each door being hinged to a side upright 5 and having a shaped cutout 6 allowing the user's head to protrude outside and at the same time giving the best warrant to keep the internal environment. Such a double door allows also to take out very easily the mat 7 preferably of a removable type, arranged inside the envelope 3 on the base support 8. Said base 8 is provided with inner side handles 9t through which the user may make easier the body motion inside the envelope, and lateral outlets 10 for a uniform inner air distribution. Inside the envelope several gymmnastic apparatus (not shown) may be provided, so that the user can carry out the desired physical exercises.

At the foot of the base support 8 there is the thermal ventilation unit 11 provided with an air inlet 12 and two outlets 13 feeding indirectly air into the dome-shaped envelope so as not to touch directly the user's body.

According to a further improvement of the invention, inside the envelope 3 there is a digital indicator instrument 21 displaying the thermal hygrometric parameters of the apparatus and a push botton set 14 for an autonomous control of said parameters.

With reference now to Fig. 2t as a variant of the previously described front opening 1t there is an upturning door 15 giving access to the envelope 3 at the head side part. This solution gives a better access to the envelope for the user's body and for arranging the gymmnastic apparatus generally employed by the user and replace dor added according to each personal requirement.

This type of opening practically allows to upturn half of the envelope head also for an easy removal of the inner mat 7 and for cleaning and maintenance purposes of the inner chamber of the dome-shaped envelope. In this case the digital indicator 21 and the push-botton control set 22 may be arranged within reach on the fixed portion of the envelope front wall.

With the reference now to Figures 3 to 7t the air circulation system combined with the thermal ventilation unit 11 is now illustrated and described in greater detail. This is practically carried out by a manifold 16 which can either recycle the envelope inner air or pick up and introduce external air according to the needs.

In the former case the internal temperature is kept constant with heat recoveryt so as to considerably reduce the energy consumption, while in the latter case a gradual return to normal temperature and the required air exchange is obtained.

This prevents excessive sudden changes from warm to cold temperature and viceversa, so as to avoid physical troubles.

Said manifold 16 comprises a housing 17 arranged at the foot of the base support, in which there are three openings, namely a suction inlet 12 and two side outlets 13 for introducing warm air. Behind the housing there is a sliding box 18 with its inlet 19 adapted to pick up air either from outside or inside the envelope, or to mix both flows in order to obtain a good air change inside the envelope.

Ventilation is not direct but is deviated through an inner baffle 20 having a suitable shape and conveying air to the bottom part of two lateral spaces 23 then coming out from the two upper outlets 13 and in the base support there are also the ducts sucking air inside the dome-shaped envelope.

The access door for the envelope might also be provided at boths ends of the apparatus.

Although in the foregoing description a thermal air ventilation system was only mentioned, it is clear that the system could be integrated with an air humidification system, a device spraying curative balmy and/or scented substancest or even a system for producing and supplying steam to perform a true sauna treatmentt and in this case the opening for the user's head might be suitably shaped and narrowed to make a seal around the user's neck.

From the foregoing description it is clear that these improvements in the apparatus for physical exercise of this kindt are the best possible solution both from the technical and functional standpointt to make an optimal use of the apparatus directly controlled by the user. It is finally to be pointed out that the above embodiments do not limit the invention, but on the contrary it is to be understood that many modificationst additions, variations and/or substitutions may be resorted to the elements, without altering however its spirit and objectt nor falling outside its scope of protection, as it is also better defined in the appended claims.

Claims (9)

1. Apparatus for thermophisical body exercise having a bed and a transparent and rigid dome-shaped envelope, characterized in that it comprises devices and technical and functional means adapted to make easier the user's access inside the apparatus keeping the head outside the envelope, to keep constant the inner environment conditionst optimize the inner heating yet recovering heatt and functionally improving air change and recycle and the heating - cooling curve to avoid physical troubles for the user.

2. Apparatus cording to Claim 1, characterized in that the front access opening consists of a double door arranged at the envelope head and shaped so as to allow a small passage for the user's head and to prevent heat escape for a lower energy consumption.

3. Apparatus according to Claim 1, characterized in that the heating and delivery of warm air is obtained by a thermal ventilation unit arranged at the foot of the base support, provided with a pick up inlet and two outlets supplying air inside the envelope, together with outlets arranged along the sides of the base on which a mat is laid down.

4. Apparatus according to Claim 3t characterized in that said thermal ventilation unit comprises a sliding box provided with a suitable inlet, allowing either to pick up fresh air change from outside or to recycle the inner air by recovering the residual heat and optimizing the thermic and energetic consumption.

5. Apparatus according to Claim 3, characterized in that inside the thermal ventilation unit there is a suitably shaped bafflet through which the air picked up by the central inlet is conveyed downwards reducing turbulencet then being directed to the lateral outlets introducing said air inside the envelope.

6. Apparatus according to Claim 1, characterized in that it comprises a digital indicator instrument with relevant push button set within the user's reach, allowing to handle and control the thermal hygrometric parameters of the apparatus.

7. Apparatus according to Claim 1, characterized in that the front opening may be obtained also through an upturning hinged part of the envelope head wallt so as to allow a greater access for the user as well as for arranging inside the envelope gymnastic apparatus to be used for th physical exercises.

8. Apparatus according to one or more of the preceding Claims characterized in that the mat is removably applied on the base support.

9. Apparatus for thermophysical body exercised as hereinbefore described and as shown in the various figures of the accompanying sheets of illustrative drawings, for the above mentioned objects.