US20070245638A1

US20070245638A1 - On a sauna structure

Info

Publication number: US20070245638A1
Application number: US11/391,430
Authority: US
Inventors: Chang-Cheng Lai
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2006-03-29
Filing date: 2006-03-29
Publication date: 2007-10-25

Abstract

A sauna includes an upright wall, a base, and a top; the upright wall includes posts each having two lengthways extending grooves, and cavities; the wall has transverse rods, which have tenons fitted into the cavities of the posts, and which have grooves; the wall has panels, which are fitted in the grooves of the posts and the transverse rods at edges; the base and the top are joined to lower and upper ends of the wall, and each include a frame having one inward circumferential groove, and cavities; panels are fitted in the grooves of the frames at edges, and supported with longitudinal and transverse rods, which have tenons fitted in the cavities of the frames; the longitudinal and the transverse rods have spaced gaps; the longitudinal rods are fitted in the gaps of the transverse rods; the transverse rods are fitted in the gaps of the longitudinal rods.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a sauna, more particularly one, which are assembled by means of fitting tenons in cavities of its various parts as well as fitting edges of its panels in grooves of corresponding parts instead of using screws such that there won't be any problem at a very low temperature, and at a very high temperature, which will cause contraction, and expansion of the various parts of the sauna.
2. Brief Description of the Prior Art
People pay more attention to their health, and participate in various kinds of sports and recreational activities to keep healthy and release pressure. SPA is among the various kinds of popular places where sports and recreational activities are available. There are usually springs, saunas, and steam bathrooms in a SPA. When staying in a sauna or steam bathrooms, people will perspire a lot such that toxic substance gets out of their bodies with the perspiration, and blood circulation and metabolism improved and enhanced.
In use, saunas are heated to a very high temperature by hot air. Therefore, it is important to use proper materials to build a sauna. If a sauna is made of screws, nails, and wood planks, which have much difference between them in coefficient of expansion, the whole sauna will change shape, the wood planks crack, and the metallic parts become loose. Therefore, in order for a sauna to have a long service life, there have to be proper materials and structure. Some manufacturers use thick solid wood planks as materials of saunas for increasing the strength of saunas, and preventing the saunas from changing shape in use. However, such a sauna will be relatively heavy in weight, and difficult to move and transport.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is a main object of the invention to provide an improvement on a sauna to overcome the above-mentioned problems. The sauna of the present invention includes an upright wall, a base, and a top. The upright wall includes posts each having two lengthways extending grooves, and fitting cavities. The upright wall has transverse rods, which have tenons fitted into the fitting cavities of the posts, and which have grooves. The wall has panels, which are fitted in the grooves of the posts and the transverse rods at their edges such that the upright wall is hollow. The base and the top are joined to lower and upper ends of the upright wall, and each include a frame having one inward circumferential groove, and fitting cavities; panels are fitted in the grooves of the frames at edges, and supported with longitudinal and transverse rods, which have tenons fitted in the fitting cavities of the frames. The longitudinal and the transverse rods have spaced gaps; the longitudinal rods are fitted in the gaps of the transverse rods; the transverse rods are fitted in the gaps of the longitudinal rods. Therefore, therefore there won't be any problem at a very low temperature, and at a very high temperature, which cause contraction, and expansion of the various parts of the sauna. And, the sauna is relatively light in weight, and pleasant-looking.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will be better understood by referring to the accompanying drawings, wherein:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the present invention,
FIG. 2 is a view of the upright wall under assembly,
FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of a wall with lampshades,
FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the wall with a door,
FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the base of the invention, and
FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the top of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to FIGS. 1 to 6, a preferred embodiment of a sauna of the present invention includes an upright wall 1, a base 2, and a top 3. The upright wall 1 is joined to the base 2 at a lower end, and joined to the top 3 at an upper end thereof.
The upright wall 1 includes several upright posts 11, transverse rods 12, and panels 13. Each of the upright posts 11 has two lengthways extending grooves 111 on a lateral side, into which edges of the panels 13 are fitted. Each of the upright posts 11 has several fitting cavities 112, and each of the transverse rods 12 has tenons 121 on two ends, which are fitted in the fitting cavities 112 of the upright posts 11. Each of the transverse rods 12 has two grooves 122 on a lateral side, into which edges of the panels 13 are fitted. Each of the upright posts 11 of the upright wall 1 has tenons 113 on upper and lower ends thereof, which are fitted into the top 3, and the base 2 respectively to securely join the upright post 11 to the top 3 and the base 2. The upright wall 1 further has strengthening rods 14 between the transverse rods 12, and sandwiched between the panels 13; each of the transverse rods 12 has fitting cavities 123 on longitudinal sides thereof, and the strengthening rods 14 have tenons 141 on two ends thereof, which are fitted into the fitting cavities 123 of the transverse rods 12. The upright wall 1 has a pair of upright posts 11 on each corner thereof; a first one of the upright posts 11 has a groove 114, and the other one of the upright posts 11 has a strip-shaped fitting protrusion 115, which is fitted in the groove 114 of the first upright post 11.
The base 2 and the top 3 have the same structure therefore it is easier to manage the materials. The base 2 includes a frame 21, several panels 22, longitudinal rods 23, and transverse rods 24. The frame 21 has at least one groove 211, and several fitting cavities 212 on an inner side, and fitting cavities 213 on an upper side thereof. The panels 22 are fitted in the grooves 211 of the frame 21, and supported on the longitudinal rods 23, and the transverse rods 24. Each of the longitudinal rods 23 has tenons 231 on first and second ends, and each of the transverse rods 24 has tenons 241 on first and second ends thereof. The longitudinal rods 23 are each fitted in one of the fitting cavities 212 of the frame 21 at the tenon 231 of the first end thereof. The longitudinal rods 23 and the transverse rods 24 have spaced apart fitting gaps 232, 242, and the longitudinal rods 23 are fitted in the fitting gaps 242 of the transverse rods 24, and the transverse rods 24 fitted in the fitting gaps 232 of the longitudinal rods 23. The frame 21 has fitting cavities 213 on an upper side thereof, and the transverse rods 12 of the upright wall 1 are fitted in the fitting cavities 213 at bottoms thereof. The base 2 further has a beam 25 joined to the frame 21, and the longitudinal rods 23 or the transverse rods 24 for strengthening the base 2. The beam 25 has tenons 251 on two ends, which are fitted in the fitting cavities 214 of the frame 21. The beam 25 has fitting cavities 252 on lateral sides thereof, the tenons 231 of the second ends of the longitudinal rods 23 (or the tenons 241 of the transverse rods 24) are fitted in the fitting cavities 252 of the beam 25.
The top 3 has the same structure and shape as the base 2, including a frame 31, panels 32, longitudinal rods 33, transverse rods 34, and a beam 35. Therefore, it is easier to manage the materials, and takes less time and space to assemble the sauna of the present invention.
The top 3 has a head plank 41 secured thereto while the base 2 has a threshold plank 42 secured thereto. The head plank 41 and the threshold plank 42 have pivotal holes 411, 421 respectively. A door plank 5 is pivoted on the pivotal holes 411, 421 with pivotal post-shaped parts 51 thereof being inserted in the pivotal holes 411, 421. Infrared tubes (not shown) are positioned on an inner side of the upright wall 1, and covered with lampshades 15. One of the panels 13 of the upright wall 1 has a hole 6, on which a control panel (not shown) is fitted; the control panel of the present preferred embodiment is positioned next to the door plank 5. The control panel is connected to the infrared tubes in the sauna for controlling temperature and turning on and turning off the infrared tubes.
The circuits and wires are hidden between the panels 13 of the upright wall 1 therefore the circuits and wires are protected from moisture, short circuit prevented, and the appearance of the sauna can't be spoiled by them. Furthermore, the frame 31 has through holes 311, and guide grooves 312 communicating with the through holes 311 while the frame 32 of the base 2 has through holes 214 and guide grooves (not shown). The upright posts 11 each have a trench 116 extending from an upper end to a lower end thereof, which communicates with the through holes 214 and 311 of the base 2 and the top 3 for receiving wires passed through the through holes 214 and 311. The base 2 and the top 3 have decorative plates 26, 36 respectively to look more pleasant, which decorative plates 26 and 36 cover at least some portions of the transverse rods 12 of the upright wall 1, and in turn the connection of the upright wall 1 with both the base 2 and the top 3 is enhanced, and the structure more stable.
From the above description, it can be seen that the present invention has the following advantages:
1. The various parts of the sauna are joined together by means of tenons and fitting cavities (mortises) thereof therefore there won't be any problem at a very low temperature, which causes contraction, and at a very high temperature, which causes expansion of the parts of the sauna.
2. The upright wall of the sauna consists of opposed and spaced panels so as to be hollow, which panels are coupled to the upright posts and the transverse rods, and strengthening rods are sandwiched between the panels therefore the sauna is relatively light in weight and easy to move, transport, and store. Furthermore, the control panel and the wires and switches connected to the infrared tubes can be hidden between two opposed panels such that they are protected from moisture, and the pleasant look of the sauna isn't spoiled, and short circuit is prevented.

Claims

1. An improvement on a sauna structure, comprising

(a) an upright wall, said upright wall including:

a plurality of upright posts, each of said upright posts having two grooves on a lateral side; each of said upright posts having a plurality of fitting cavities on lateral sides thereof;

a plurality of transverse rods, each of said transverse rods having a plurality of tenons on two ends, which are fitted into said fitting cavities of said upright posts; each of said transverse rods having grooves thereon; and

a plurality of panels, said panels being fitted in said grooves of said upright posts and said grooves of said transverse rods at edges;

(b) a base joined to a lower end of said upright wall; and

(c) a top joined to an upper end of said upright wall;

each of said base and said top including:

a frame, said frame having at least one groove on an inner side thereof, and a plurality of fitting cavities thereon;

a plurality of panels, said panels being fitted in said groove of said frame at edges thereof;

a plurality of longitudinal rods supporting said panels, said longitudinal rods having tenons on first and second ends thereof; said tenons of said first ends of said longitudinal rods being fitted in said fitting cavities of said frame; said longitudinal rods having a plurality of fitting gaps; and

a plurality of transverse rods supporting said panels, said transverse rods having tenons on first and second ends thereof; said tenons of said first ends of said transverse rods being fitted in said fitting cavities of said frame; said transverse rods having a plurality of fitting gaps, in which said longitudinal rods are fitted; said transverse rods being fitted in said fitting gaps of said longitudinal rods.

2. The improvement on a sauna structure as recited in claim 1, wherein each of said upright posts has tenons on two ends thereof, which are fitted in said fitting cavities of said base and said top.

3. The improvement on a sauna structure as recited in claim 1, wherein said upright wall has a pair of upright posts on each corner thereof; a first one of said upright posts has a groove, and a second one of said upright posts has a strip-shaped fitting protrusion, which is fitted in said groove of said first upright post.

4. The improvement on a sauna structure as recited in claim 1, wherein each of said base and said top has a beam, which has tenons on two ends thereof, and has a plurality of fitting cavities, and is fitted in said fitting cavities of said frame; corresponding ones of said tenons on said second ends of said longitudinal rods and said transverse rods being fitted in said fitting cavities of said beams.

5. The improvement on a sauna structure as recited in claim 1, wherein said top has a head plank secured thereto, and the base has a threshold plank secured thereto; said head plank and said threshold plank having pivotal holes; a door plank being pivoted on said pivotal holes with pivotal post-shaped parts thereof being inserted in said pivotal holes of said head plank and said threshold plank.

6. The improvement on a sauna structure as recited in claim 1, wherein said panels of said upright wall has a hole, and a control panel is fitted on said hole, and connected to infrared tubes.

7. The improvement on a sauna structure as recited in claim 1, wherein said base and said top have decorative plates, which extend over said transverse rods of said upright wall so as to enhance connection of said upright wall with both said base and said top.

8. The improvement on a sauna structure as recited in claim 1, wherein said upright wall has a plurality of strengthening rods between said transverse rods, and sandwiched between said panels; each of said transverse rods having fitting cavities thereon; said strengthening rods having tenons on two ends thereof, which are fitted into said fitting cavities of said transverse rods.

9. The improvement on a sauna structure as recited in claim 1, wherein said frame of said base has a plurality of fitting cavities on an upper side thereof, and said transverse rods of said upright wall have fitting cavities on bottoms thereof, and tenons are fitted in said fitting cavities of said transverse rods of said upright wall and said frame of said base to join said transverse rods and said base together.

10. The improvement on a sauna structure as recited in claim 1, wherein said frame of said top has a plurality of fitting cavities on a lower side thereof, and said transverse rods of said upright wall have fitting cavities on upper sides thereof, and tenons are fitted in said fitting cavities of said transverse rods of said upright wall and said frame of said top to join said transverse rods and said top together.

11. The improvement on a sauna structure as recited in claim 1, wherein each of said top and said base has through holes, and guide grooves communicating with said through holes, and said upright posts of said upright wall have trenches extending from upper ends to lower ends thereof and communicating with said through holes of said base and said top for receiving wires therein.