WO2004098708A1

WO2004098708A1 - Sun tanning procedure

Info

Publication number: WO2004098708A1
Application number: PCT/EP2004/004588
Authority: WO
Inventors: Gian Mario Ferruccio Bonavia
Original assignee: Sportarredo S.P.A.
Priority date: 2003-05-09
Filing date: 2004-04-30
Publication date: 2004-11-18
Also published as: ITVE20030017A1

Abstract

A sun tanning procedure, characterised by administering, within a single apparatus, firstly mainly UVB radiation and then mainly UVA radiation.

Description

SUN TANNING PROCEDURE

The present invention relates to a sun tanning procedure and a method for implementing the procedure.

Sun tanning apparatus are known consisting of a horizontal bed on which the user lies, and a vertically movable overhead structure provided with high and/or low pressure horizontal lamps.

Vertical tanning booths are also known provided with low and/or high pressure lamps disposed vertically along the entire perimeter.

Generally the lamps are suitably rated to generate UVB and UVA radiation, noting that the main function of UVB radiation is to stimulate melanin formation while the function of UVA radiation is to mature the existing melanin to ensure satisfactory tanning.

In this context the term "UVB" means ultraviolet radiation with a wavelength between 250 and 315 nm, while "UVA" means ultraviolet radiation with a wavelength between 315 and 400 nm, this subdivision being that commonly adopted internationally by operators in the sun tanning sector.

It should also be noted that low pressure lamps of high UVB level are , lamps with an emission spectrum such that the integral UVB value is higher than 2-3% of the integral UVA value, whereas high pressure lamps of high UVA level are tanning modules composed of high pressure lamps, reflectors and filters with a resultant emission spectrum such that the integral UVB value is lower than 1 % of the integral UVA value.

The object of the invention is to provide a procedure enabling effective sun tanning to be obtained in a simple and comfortable manner. This and further objects which will be apparent from the ensuing description are attained according to the invention by a tanning procedure as described in claim 1.

A preferred embodiment of the present invention is described in detail hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figures 1 ,2 and 3 show three stages of the procedure according to the invention using an apparatus commonly known as a vertical solarium,

Figures 4,5 and 6 show three stages of the procedure using a tanning bed apparatus, Figure 7 shows a tanning module.

As can be seen from the figures, the apparatus for implementing the procedure of the invention consists of a vertical solarium S comprising a plurality of columns 2 rotatable axially by electromechanical systems (in the illustrated embodiment), disposed equidistant apart along a circumference.

Each column presents a substantially rectangular cross-section and is subdivided vertically by a baffle 4 presenting a region in which a plurality of vertical low pressure lamps 6 are housed, and a second region in which a high pressure lamp 8 is housed, interposed between a reflecting screen 10 and a filter 12: t In operating the device of the invention, at the commencement of the tanning session the columns are disposed such that the low pressure lamps

6 face the user 14, who is hence irradiated mainly with UVB for a period of about 3-5 minutes. The columns are then rotated axially through 180° so that the user is subjected to mainly UVA irradiation by the high pressure lamps.

To obtain an energy saving, those lamps which are not used remain switched off, a suitable programmed timer controlling the switching on and off of the lamps and their rotation during the course of the session.

In a variant not shown in the drawings, fixed columns housing low pressure lamps are interposed between the rotatable columns. This embodiment enables the tanning power of the apparatus to be intensified to a maximum extent by maximum utilization of the available space.

In the embodiment shown in Figures 4, 5 and 6, the apparatus for implementing the procedure of the invention consists of a bed L on which the user 14 remains lying during the session, the resting surface of which consists of a mattress or a PMMA surface transparent to UV rays, and a plurality of columns disposed horizontal along a circumferential arc or along the entire circumference.

Again in this embodiment, fixed columns 16 with low pressure lamps can be provided. Likewise other low pressure lamps 18 can be provided below the resting surface 20 if this is made of PMMA transparent to UV rays.

The tanning procedure of the invention for this different embodiment, in the case of a bed with a mattress, consists of a double session during which the user lays face upwards, then face downwards on the bed, with rotation of the columns to aim firstly the low pressure lamps 6 and then the high pressure lamps 8 towards the user. If the resting surface is made of PMMA and the elements are disposed equidistant around it, a single session is sufficient in which the user always remains in the same position.

From the aforegoing it is apparent the sun tanning procedure according to the invention enables effective tanning to be achieved by virtue of the two consecutive steps of stimulating melanin formation and maturing the melanin in a single apparatus.

In a variant not shown in the drawings, an apparatus is also foreseeable in which columns with low pressure lamps of high UVB on one side and low pressure lamps of low UVA on the other are provided.

Claims

C L A I M S

1. A sun tanning procedure, characterised by administering, within a single apparatus, firstly mainly UVB radiation and then mainly UVA radiation.

2. A procedure as claimed in claim 1 , characterised by using a plurality of identical modules (7).

3. A procedure as claimed in claim 2, characterised by using modules which irradiate both UVB radiation and UVA radiation at successive times.

4. A procedure as claimed in claims from 1 to 3, characterised by using tanning modules (7) having lamps (6) which irradiate mainly UVB radiation and lamps (8) which irradiate mainly UVA radiation.

5. A procedure as claimed in claim 4, characterised in that each module comprises a region of lamps irradiating UVB radiation and a region of lamps irradiating UVA radiation.

6. A procedure as claimed in claim 5, characterised in that the modules are rotatable axially, the UVB lamps being at 180° to the UVA lamps.

7. A procedure as claimed in claim 1 , characterised in that the modules are disposed vertically within a tanning booth.

8. A procedure as claimed in claim 6, characterised in that the modules are disposed horizontal about a tanning bed.

9. A procedure as claimed in claim 6, characterised in that the modules are rotated by electromechanical systems.

10. A procedure as claimed in claim 4, characterised by comprising a timer which simultaneously switches on one type of lamp and switches off the other type.