GB2234677A - Facial sauna apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

A facial sauna apparatus is controlled by an electronic controller to drive a hot water heater to boil water so as to provide a hot water vapor steaming effect, and to drive an ultrasonic vibrator to vibrate the water to produce cool water vapor so as to let the cool water vapor mix with the hot water vapor to provide a warm water vapor moistening effect, wherein the ultrasonic vibrator may be arranged to operate independently to produce cool water vapor so as to provide cool water vapor spraying effect. By means of the said arrangement, the present facial sauna apparatus can provide hot water vapor steaming, warm water vapor moistening and cool water vapor spraying effect to thoroughly massage and clean the skin of the user's face. <IMAGE>

Description

FACIAL SAUNA APPARATUS This invention relates to a facial sauna apparatus.

In the modern society, people are living in a busy way. Therefore, everybody is trying to find a good way to get relaxed at leisure.

To take a sauna bath is one of the good ways to relax one S muscles. Because sauna bath heips one's blood circulation and metabolism, after having taken a sauna bath, one may feel vigorous and energetic.

However, regular sauna bath can only help to relax body muscles but gives little help to the skin of human face. Because one's face is constantly exposed outside to suffer from the beating of weather, the skin of one's face tends to get wrinkled.

Although every woman is very concern about the care of one's facial skin, wrong method of treatment applied may result contrary to what was expected.

It is indeed an effective way to have one facial skin receive sauna bath daily. However, it is not practical to go to beauty saloon everyday because it is time-consuming and very expensive.

The present invention is to provide a household facial sauna apparatus to provide hot water vapor steaming, warm water vapor moistening and cool water vapor spraying effect to thoroughly massage and clean the skin of the user's face, wherein the initial hot water vapor steaming effect is to stimulate blood circulation, accelerate the metabolism of skin cells, and help discharging of dirts through capillaries; the next warm water vapor moistening effect is to help relaxing of facial muscles and moderate the contracting of facial capillaries so as to prevent the facial muscles from getting hurt due to sudden contact with cold air or water; the last cool water vapor spraying effect is to help the capillaries be fully contracted so as to let facial skin become smooth and fine.After the sequential hot water vapor steaming, warm water vapor moistening and cool water vapor spraying effect, the present facial sauna apparatus can also be set to provide continuous hot water vapor steaming and warm water vapor moistening effect so as to let the facial skin of the user be ready to receive the application of facial cream or skin-care oil. After receiving the cleaning and massaging treatment operated through the present facial sauna apparatus, the facial muscles become clean and more elastic. At this moment, the facial skins provide maximum power of absorbing effect.

Therefore, it is very practical and helpful to apply facial cream or skin-care oil after the facial skin is treated through the present facial sauna apparatus.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the present invention; Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the present invention; Fig. 3 is a perspective exploded view of the cool water system of the present invention; Fig. 4 is a perspective exploded view of the hot water system of the present invention; Fig. 5 is a schematic drawing illustrating the arrangement of the bottom block of the present invention; Fig. 6 is a sectional vi taken on line 6-6 of Fig.5; Fig. 7 is a section: view taken cn line 7-7 of Fig.5; Fig. 8 is a sectional view taken on line 8-8 of Fig. 5; Fig. 9 is a schematic sectional view of the water drain hole structure in a closed position.

Fig. 10 is a schematic sectional view of the water drain hole structure in a draining position.

Referring to the various drawings attached herewith, a detailed description of the structural features of a facial sauna apparatus of the present invention is as follows: Referring to Figures 1 and 2, a sauna apparatus is including a housing 1, a bottom block 2, a control panel 3, and a front cover 52. There is a hot steam pipe 416 and a cool steam pipe 510 respectively set inside the housing 1. Four stands 20 are respectively set at the four corners beneath the bottom block 2. An air vent 21 and an air vent hood 22 are respectively set at the middle part at the bottom of the bottom block 2 (as shown in Figure 6) for circulation of air through the operation of an air fan 23 to cool down an ultrasonic vibrator 24 and a circuit board 25 which are respectively set on the bottom block 2. A power switch 11 is mounted on the front panel 3 to control the operation of the circuit board 25.There is also mounted on the front panel 3 a hot water vapor steaming time recorder 110 to control the setting of the operating time of hot water vapor steaming effect, a warm water vapor moistening time recorder 111 to control the setting of the operating time of warm water vapor moistening effect, a cocl water vapor spraying time recorder 112 to control the setting of the operating time of cool water vapor spraying effect, and an automatic shifting control switch 113 to control the sequence of the cperation of hot water vapor steaming, warm water vapor moistening, and cool water vapor spraying process.As soon as the hot water vapor steaming time recorder 110, warm water vapor moistening time recorder 111, and cool water vapor spraying time recorder 112 are properly set, the automatic shifting control switch 113 will automatically drive to operate the sauna bath procedure. A non-conducting plate 42, which is set between the housing 1 and the bottom block 2, is having a central 421 for setting therein of a hot water heater 422 to heat the water in a water container 43. The water container 43 is comprising an upper cover 44 having a hot steam pipe 411 mounted thereon to connect to a spray nozzle 53 via hot steam pipe 416 and hot steam pipe 412. The spray nozzle 53 is comprising two stubs 531 bilaterally arranged to respectively insert through the holes 521 of the front cover 52.Therefore, the spray nozzle 53 is adjustably set in the front cover 52 to provide a best spraying angle to fit for personal requirement. When in application, one may lay one's head on the upper block 522 of the front cover 52 to receive steaming of hot water vapor. There is a cool steam pipe 510 set above the hot steam pipe 412 and integrally made to communicate with a cool water tank 51, which is covered with an upper cover 5a. A vent pipe 56 is connected with the vent hole 510 of the cool water tank 51 to communicate with an adjacent vent hoie 511 so as to allow the cool air generated from the air fan 23 come to blow through the vent pipe 56 and the vent hole 511 toward the water in the cool water tank 51 so as to adjust the temperature of the water. The ultrasonic vibrator 24 is mounted on a division plate 28 beneath the cool water tank 51 to vibrate the water coming from the cool water tank 51 through the bottom opening 512, so as to produce cool water vapor. The cool water vapor will run tnrough the spray nozzle 53 via the cool steam pipe 510. At this moment, one may lay one's face on the upper block 522 of the front cover 52 to receive steaming of cool water vapor.

Because the hot steam pipe 411 and the cool steam pipe 510 are respectively connected with the spray nozzle 52, the hot water vapor from the hot steam pipe 411 and the cool water vapor from the cool steam pipe 510 may be mixed to form into a warm moisture to spray through the spray nozzle 52.

There is also a buzzer 114 mounted on the control panel 3 to provide an audio signal so as to advise the user to add water, and a cool water tank indicating lamp 13 to give a signal when the water in the cool water tank 51 is below a fixed level. When the indicating lamp 13 is turned on, the buzzer 114 will buzz before adding of water. The housing 1 is comprising a hot water inlet 14 and a cool water inlet 15 to communicate with the hot water container 43 and the cool water tank 51 respectively.

The upper cover 44 of the hot water container 43 is having a threaded neck 440 screwed up with a socket a41 to retain a cock funnel 442, which cock funnel 442 is covered with a cap 443 set in the hot water inlet 14. The cool water tank 51 is comprising an upper cover plate 516 having a threaded neck 513 screwed up with a socket 514 to retain a cock funnel 515, which cock funnel 514 is covered with a cap 516 set in the cool water inlet 15.

Therefore, upon removal of the cap 516 or 443, hot or cool water can be added into the hot water container 43 or cool water tank 51 respectively.

Referring to Figures 2 through 4, the threaded neck 440 or 513 is comprising an interrupted inner flange 4400 or 5130, and an outer thread 4401 or 5131, such that when the outer thread 4401 or 5131 of the threaded neck 440 or 513 is screwed up with the inner thread 4410 or 5140 of the socket 441 or 514, the one pair of retainer blocks 4420 or 5150 of the cock funnel 442 or 515 are set through the gaps of the interrupted inner flange 4400 or 5140 and turned aside to retain with the interrupted inner flange 4400 or 5140, and the middle flange 4421 or 5151 of the cock funnel 442 or 515 is retained between the top surface 4411 or 5141 of thesocket 441 or 514 and the interrupted flange 4400 or 5130 of the threaded neck 440 or 513. Through the said double locking mechanism, the cock funnel 442 or 515 is revolvably retained from breaking away.

The cock funnel 442 or 515 also comprises an upper flange 4423 or 5153 to facilitate the setting therein or removal therefrom of the associated cap 443 or 516.

Referring to Figure 4, 9 and 10, the hot water container 43, same as the cool water tank 51, is including a drain pipe 430 communicated with a water manifold 431, which water manifold 431 is connected with the drain pipe 430 by means of the bolt screws 435 to screw up the bolt holes 4313 with the bolt holes 4300. A plunger 433 which is set in the water manifold 431 is comprising a circular front head 4330 with a silicon rubber water seal 432 mounted thereon, an inner thread 4331 screwed up with the outer thread of the middle post 4341 of a control knob 434. The control knob 434 is comprising one pair of extended retainer means 4342.When the control knob 434 is screwed up with the plunger 433 the retainer means 4342 are set through the gaps of the interrupted outer flange 4312 of the manifold 431 and properly turned aside to retain with the outer flange 4312 of the manifold 431 to further let the plunger 433 drive the silicon rubber water seal 432 to tightly seal the water manifold 431 and to stop the water from draining out of the hot water container 43. When to drain off the water, the control knob 434 is properly turned to let the two extended retainer means 4342 be released from the constraint of the interrupted outer flange 4312 through the gaps of the flange 4312 to further let the plunger 433 be screwed backward so as to let the water drain out of the apparatus from the water container 43 through the bottom manifold 4311 via the drain pipe 430.

In conclusion, the present apparatus is controlled by means of the setting of time recorders to provide hot water vapor steaming, warm water vapor moistening, and cool water vapor spraying effect respectively, to clean and treat the facial skin. When to provide hot water vapor steaming effect, the hot water heater 422 is turned on to boil the water in the hot water container 43 to let the water be evaporated. According to the present invention, a probe block 445 which is screwed up with the bolt hole 444 of the upper cover 44 of the hot water container 43 is comprising probes 4450 to detect the temperature of the water in the hot water container 43. After the water in the hot water container 43 is boiled, the water is evaporated to produce hot water vapor which will be blown through the hot steam pipes 411 and 412 toward to the spray nozzle 53. When one is putting one's face on the spray nozzle 53, the spray nozzle 53 can be adjusted to the best suit angle to let the hot water vapor steam one's facial skin. After hot water vapor steaming process, the ultrasonic vibrator 24 will start to vibrate and to produce cool water vapor, which cool water vapor will be sent through the cool steam pipe 52 to the spray nozzle 53 to mix with the hot water vapor to produce a warm water vapor to moisten the skin of the user's face. As soon as the warm vapor moistening effect is terminated, the hot water heater 422 will be turned off, however, the ultrasonic vibrator 24 will keep operating to continuously provide cool water vapor to let cool water vapor be blown to apply on the facial skin of the user.

Claims (7)

CLA1i:

1. A portable sauna apparatus comprising a hot water vapor steaming time recorder, a warm water vapor moistening time recorder, a cool water vapor spraying time recorder, and an automatic shifting control switch each located within a housing having a front cover which includes means for controlling the said recorders and automatic shift control switch; a hot water container and cool water tank having hot steam and cool steam outlets respectively; a common spray nozzle adjustably mounted in the front cover and being connected with the hot and cool steam outlets to selectively provide hot water vapor steaming effect, a common warm water vapor for producing a warm water moistening effect, or a cool water vapor spraying effect; and alarm means on the said housing to provide a warning signal for providing a warning when the water in either the hot or cold water containers reaches a predetermined lower limit.

2. A facial sauna apparatus comprised of a housing, a bottom block, and a front cover7 wherein said housing is including thereinside a circuit board to control the operation of a hot water vapor steaming time recorder7 a warm water vapor moistening time recorder, a cool water vapor spraying time recorder, and an automatic shifting control switch; a hot steam pipe and a cool steam pipe to connect a hot water container and a cool water tank to a common spray nozzle respectively to let hot water vapor and cool water vapor be mixed to form into a warm water vapor to provide warm water moistening effect, said common spray nozzle comprising two stubs bilaterally arranged to respectively insert through two connecting holes of a front cover so as to become adjustably set in said front cover to provide best suitable hot water vapor steaming7 warm water vapor moistening and cool water vapor spraying effect upon lying thereon of user's face, and wherein a buzzer is mounted on the top of said housing to match with an indicating lamp for hot water container and an indicating lamp for cool water tank and to provide a warning signal upon reaching of water level to a fixed lower limit so as to advise the user to add water into a hot water container and a cool water tank through a hot water inlet hole assembly and a cool water inlet hole assembly respectively.

3. A facial sauna apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein a non-conducting plate is set between said housing and said bottom block, said non-conducting plate comprising a central hole for setting therein of a hot water heater, said hot water heater being to heat the water in said hot water container, said hot water container comprising an upper cover having a hot steam pipe mounted thereon to connect to said spray nozzle via another hot steam pipe, so as to let evaporated hot steam be sprayed through said spray nozzle.

4. A facial sauna apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein a cool steam pipe is integrally made to communicate with said cool water tank, said cool water tank being covered with an upper cover, a vent pipe being connected with a vent hole of said cool water tank to communicate with another adJacent vent hole so as to allow cool air generated from an air fan come to blow through said vent pipe toward the water in said cool water tank to adjust the water temperature; an ultrasonic vibrator being mounted on a divison plate beneath said cool water tank to vibrate the water coming from said cool water tank through a bottom opening set at the bottom of said cool water tank, so as to produce cool water vapor and to let said cool water vapor run out of said spray nozzle via said cool steam pipe.

5. A facial sauna apparatus as claimed in claim 2, whrerin said housing is comprising a hot water inlet and a cool water inlet to communicate with said hot water container and said cool water tank respectively, and wherein the upper cover of said hot water container and said cool water tank each is having a threaded neck screwed up with a socket to retain a cock funnel, which cock funnel is covered with a cap set in the associated water inlet; said threaded neck comprising an interrupted inner flange and an outer thread such that when said outer thread of said threaded neck is screwed up with said inner thread of said socket the one pair of retainer blocks, which are set in said cock funnel are set through the gaps of said interrupted inner flange and turned aside to retain with said interrupted inner flange, and the middle flange which is integrally made on said cock funnel is retained between the top surface of said socket and said interrupted flange of said threaded neck; by means .of said retaining mechanism, said cock funnel being revolvably retained from breaking away, said cock funnel also comprising an upper flange to facilitate the setting therein or removal therefrom of an associated cap.

6. A facial sauna apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein said hot water container said cool water tank are including respectively a drain pipe connected with a water manifold into which a plunger is set, and wherein said plunger is comprising a circular front head with a silicon rubber water seal mounted thereon, an inner thread screwed up with the outer thread of a middle post set in control knob, said control knob comprising one pair of extended retainer means, and wherein when said control knob is screwed up with said plunger said retainer means become. set through the gaps of an interrupted outer flange made on said manifold and properly turned aside to retain with said interrupted outer flange of said manifold to further let said plunger drive said silicon rubber water seal to tightly seal said water manifold to stop the water from draining out of the associated hot water container or cool water tank; or said control knob is properly turned round to let said two extended retainer means be released from the constraint of said interrupted outer flange of said manifold through said gaps of said interrupted outer flange of said manifold to further let said plunger be moved backward so as to let the water drain out of the apparatus from said water container or said hot water tank through said bottom manifold via said drain pipe.

7. A facial sauna apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as illustrated in, the accompanying drawings.