BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
In the drawings:
FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration of a recreational vehicle, partially cut away to illustrate a sauna according to one embodiment of the invention.
FIG. 2 is a left perspective view of the sauna from FIG. 1.
FIG. 3 is a right perspective view of the sauna from FIG. 2, with the doors open to illustrate the interior of the sauna.
FIG. 4 is a partial left perspective view of the sauna from FIG. 2, illustrating a bench in the interior of the sauna.
FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 4, illustrating the bench in a stowed configuration.
FIG. 6 is a sectional view of the sauna, taken along line 6-6 of FIG. 4.
FIG. 7 is a front view of the sauna from FIG. 2.
FIG. 8 is a close-up view of area VIII of FIG. 7.
FIG. 9 is a sectional view of a hanging rod of the sauna.
FIG. 10 is a right side perspective view of the sauna from FIG. 2, with a right side panel removed to illustrate the electrical connections of the sauna.
FIG. 11 is a left side view of the sauna from FIG. 2, with a left side panel removed to illustrate the electrical connections of the sauna.
FIG. 12 is a close-up view of a user interface for the sauna.
FIG. 13 is a flow chart illustrating a method for programming a sauna cycle.
FIG. 14 is a front view of a sauna according to a second embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 15 is a left perspective view of the sauna from FIG. 13, with the doors open to illustrate the interior of the sauna.
FIG. 16 is a partial right perspective view of the sauna from FIG. 13, with the doors open to illustrate the interior of the sauna.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
A sauna according to the present invention can be converted to a storage space when not in use as a sauna. The sauna is particularly suited from incorporation into a recreational vehicle (RV), trailer, mobile home, or houseboats where space is limited; however, the sauna can also be used in static structures such as houses, apartments, condominiums, hotels and other buildings. Therefore, while the anticipated environment for the sauna is the RV market, the invention is not so limited.
Referring now to the drawings, and in particular to FIG. 1, a first embodiment of a sauna 10 is shown installed within an RV 300. Referring to FIG. 2, the sauna 10 comprises a substantially box-like structure with spaced left and right side walls 12, 14 joined by spaced front and rear walls 16, 18, and enclosed by spaced top and bottom walls 20, 22 to define an interior space 24 (FIG. 3).
In FIG. 2, the sauna is illustrated with a trim kit, which provides a finished surface on the left and right side walls 12, 14. However, the can be an unfinished structure, as shown in FIGS. 9-10, where the left and right side walls do not include finished panels. The trim kit is used when the sauna 10 is to be free standing (i.e. not abutted by other structures on any side). However, if the sauna 10 is incorporated into an RV, one or more sides of the sauna will be abutted by other interior structure of the RV, and thus a finished appearance is unnecessary and the exterior of the sauna can be unfinished.
The front wall 16 of the sauna 10 is provided with at least one door 26 that is openable to permit entrance into the interior space 24 of the sauna 10. In the illustrated embodiment, the sauna 10 is provided with a pair of doors 26 that have handles 28 for a user to grasp to open and close the doors 26. The handles 28 can be provided on the exterior and/or interior of the doors 26. The walls 12-22 of the sauna 10 are preferably made of wood. The doors 26 preferably comprise a wooden frame 30 supporting a tempered glass panel 32. The glass panel 32 can optionally be frosted and/or etched with a pattern or design. The doors 26 are attached to the front wall 16 by hinges 34 and open outwardly to permit the user to enter or access the interior space 24. When not in operation as a sauna, the interior space 24 can be used as a storage space similar to a closet.
Referring to FIGS. 3-4, the interior space 24 comprises left, right, and rear interior sides 36, 38, 40, respectively, a floor panel 42 and a ceiling panel (not shown) that are preferably covered with or constructed of multiple slats of unfinished wood, such as birch cedar, redwood, hemlock, aspen and white spruce. The interior space further comprises one or more heating elements 46A-C, a hanging rod 48, a user interface 50, a lamp 52, and a removable bench 54.
The lamp 52 can be adjustable to direct light to a desired location. The lamp 52 can also be provided with a dimming function so that the magnitude of illumination can be set at a desired level. The lamp can be located on the same interior side as the bench 54 so that most of the light is directed near the user.
The bench 54 comprises a bench seat 56 and one or more legs 58. The bench seat 56 has an upper surface comprised of slats 60 of unfinished soft wood attached to a frame 62 that is substantially rectangular in shape. The leg 58 is U-shaped, and comprises a pair of vertical portions 64 (only one vertical portion is visible in FIG. 4) that are attached at one end to the bench seat 56 and at the other end are joined by a horizontal portion 66 that rests on the floor panel 42. The bench seat 56 and the leg 58 together form a generally L-shaped profile for the bench 54. The bench 54 is removable from a use configuration illustrated in FIG. 4, and can be stowed as illustrated in FIG. 5 when the sauna 10 is used as a storage space.
Referring to FIG. 6 in the use configuration, the bench 54 rests on a bench support 68 attached to one the right interior side 38. The bench support 68 comprises a substantially horizontal brace 70 and at least one catch 72 extending vertically and upwardly from the front of the brace 70. The rear side of the bench frame 62 fits over the catches 72 so that the frame 62 rests on the brace 70, between the catches 72 and the right interior side 38. To move the bench 54 from the use configuration to the stowed configuration, the bench 54 is lifted upwardly until the frame 62 clears the catch 72. The bench 54 is then flipped over and stowed in the sauna 10 with the bench seat 56 against the right interior side 38 and leg 58 against the floor panel 42 as illustrated in FIG. 5, or vice versa. The bench 54 can also be stowed outside the sauna 10. The sauna 10 can further be used as a storage space without moving the bench 54 to the stowed configuration.
While the bench 54 is illustrated as being completely detachable from the sauna for stowing purposes, it is within the scope of the invention for the bench 54 to remain attached to the interior side 38 while in the stowed configuration. For example, the bench seat 54 can be pivotally attached to an interior side and the leg 58 pivotally to the seat 54 such that the bench is collapsed against an interior side in the stowed configuration.
Referring again to FIGS. 3-4, the heating elements 46A-C are provided to heat the interior space 24 and/or the sauna user can be an infrared heater unit, as is known in the dry sauna art, that emit far infrared ray radiation. In the illustrated embodiment, two heating elements 46A, 46B are provided in the right interior side 38 behind the bench 54 and a third heating element 46C is provided on the left interior side 36 opposite the bench 54. The heating elements 46A-C may alternately be placed in other locations within the interior space 24. The heating elements 46A-C are recessed in the interior sides 36, 38 and emit radiation inwardly toward the interior space 24.
The heating elements 46 are covered by mesh screens 74, which prevent direct contact with the infrared unit. The mesh of the screen 74 is sized to prevent even small children from inserting their fingers through the screen 74 and directly contacting the infrared heating elements. The screens 74 can be partially covered by a wooden frame 76 crossed by generally horizontal slats 78 attached to the frame 76 to reduce or minimize direct contact between the user and the screen 74 that might otherwise deform or deflect the screen 74. The slats 78 on the screens 74 behind the bench 54 further functions as a backrest for the user when seated on the bench 54.
The sauna 10 is provided with means to automatically vent the interior space 24. Referring to FIGS. 7-8, an air gap 80 is provided between the front wall 16 and the door 26 that allows air to circulate between the interior space 24 and the exterior of the sauna 10 by drawing cooler air from the exterior of the sauna into the interior space 24 and exhausting hotter air from the interior space 24 to the exterior of the sauna. Preferably, the gap 80 is constructed so that at least a portion of the gap 80 is directly open to the interior space 24 and to the exterior of the sauna. The gap 80 preferably extends at least partially along the length of the hinged edge of the door frame 30, but may also extend at least partially along the top and bottom edges of the door frame 30 or substantially around the entire edge of the door 26. The gap 80 can have any width WG that effects the automatic venting of the interior space 24. A non-limiting example of a suitable gap width WG is ⅛″.
Referring to FIG. 9, the hanging rod 48 is attached within the interior space 24 and extends between left and right interior sides 36, 38, and has an internal raceway 100 with a first open end 102 and a second open end 104. The hanging rod 48 serves as a support for hanging items when the sauna 10 is used as a storage space or closet. The internal raceway 100 functions as a wiring conduit to permit the necessary wiring of the electronics for the sauna by receiving electrical conductors coupled to at least one electrical component associated with the sauna 10. For example, a wiring bundle 92 comprising electrical conductors such as the electrical wiring components and/or data communication components of the sauna 10 can be passed from one interior side of the sauna to the other through the internal raceway 100 of hanging rod 48.
Referring to FIG. 10, the sauna 10 comprises a controller 82 that is operably connected to the heating elements 46A-C, the user interface 50 and at least one temperature sensor 84. The controller 82 can be located in or behind the right interior side 38. A first cable 88 is coupled between the controller 82 and temperature sensor 84. The temperature sensor 84 is in communication with the interior space 24 and detect the temperature of the interior space 24. The temperature sensor 84 generate a signal indicative of the detected temperature of the interior space 24 which is received by the controller 82. A power cord 91 is coupled between the controller 82 and a power source (not shown) to supply power to the sauna. If the sauna 10 is incorporated into an RV, the power source can be the vehicle batteries or a generator. A second cable 90 is coupled between the controller 82 and the user interface 50. A wiring bundle 92 is coupled between the controller 82 and the heating elements 46A-C. The bundle of cables 92 includes branches for each heating element 46A-C and for the user interface 50. In this embodiment, there are three cable branches 94, 96, 98 for the three heating elements 46A-C and one branch 90 for the user interface 50. The first and second cable branches 94, 96 are coupled to heating elements 46A, 46B, which are located on same side of the sauna 10 as the controller 82, and thus are easily connected.
Referring to FIG. 11, the user interface 50 and heating element 46C are located on the opposite side of the sauna 10 from the controller 82. Accordingly, the wiring bundle 92 can be threaded through the hanging rod 48 to run the wiring bundle 92 from the controller 82 to the heating element 46C and user interface 50. The wiring bundle 92 is inserted into the first open end 102 from the right interior side 38, through the internal raceway 100 and out of the second open end 104 to the left interior side 36 for connection of the cable branch 98 to the heating element 46C. The internal raceway 100 of the hanging rod 48 can be used to electrically couple components of the sauna 10 that are located on different walls 12, 14, 16, 18 of the sauna 10. Most conveniently, when electrical components of the sauna 10, such as the heating elements 46A, 46B, 46C, user interface 50, lamp 52, and controller 82, are located on opposite side walls, such as on the side walls 12, 14, any necessary electrical wiring for the components can be passed through the internal raceway 100.
A suitable user interface 50 is illustrated in FIG. 12, where the user interface 50 is provided with a START button 106 that initiates a sauna cycle, an OFF button 108 that turns off the sauna 10 (i.e. the heating elements 46A-C), a LIGHT button 110 that turns the lamp 52 on and off, a TIME INCREASE button 112 that increases the length of the sauna cycle, a TIME DECREASE button 114 that decreases the length of the sauna cycle, a TEMPERATURE INCREASE button 116 that increase the temperature of the sauna, and a TEMPERATURE DECREASE button 118 that decreases the temperature of the sauna. The TIME INCREASE button 112 and TIME DECREASE button 114 can respectively increase and decrease the sauna cycle time in predetermined increments, for example, in one minute increments. Likewise, the TEMPERATURE INCREASE button 116 and TEMPERATURE DECREASE button 118 can respectively increase and decrease the temperature of the sauna in predetermined increments, for example, in 1° F. or 5° F. increments. The user interface 50 is operably coupled with the controller 82 which receives signals from the user interface 50 and operates the heating elements 46A-C and lamp 52 in response to the signals. The user interface 50 is preferably located on an interior side of the sauna 10, for example the left interior side 36, but can also be located on the exterior of the sauna 10.
The user interface 50 can further be used to input a sauna cycle program for a specific user. The user interface 50 can be provided with a “one-touch” button that would automatically initiate a preprogrammed sauna cycle. For the case where a group users have access to the sauna, where a group consists of at least two users, multiple one-touch buttons can be provided and each can be associated with an specific user and can additionally be used to identify a user, and consequently a preprogrammed sauna cycle for that user, to the sauna controller. For example, for a group of two users, the user interface 50 can be provided with a USER 1 button 120 that initiates a first programmed sauna cycle and a USER 2 button 122 that initiates a second programmed sauna cycle. The user interface 50 is further provided with a display 124 that optionally shows information such as user information, sauna temperature, time remaining in the sauna cycle, etc.
Referring to FIG. 13, a method for operating a sauna cycle for a specific user is illustrated. Initially in step 200, the user selects the USER 1 button 120 or the USER 2 button 122 to input a respective first or second user program for a sauna cycle. For example, the user presses the USER 1 button 120 to input a first user program for a sauna cycle. The initial default value for the cycle time is zero minutes and the default value for the sauna temperature is 100 OF. Other default values can be used and are not limiting on the invention. After the selection of USER 1, in step 202 the sauna cycle time is adjusted relative to the initial default valve by using the TIME INCREASE button 112 and/or TIME DECREASE button 114 to increase or decrease the time in the pre-determined increment. In step 204, the sauna temperature is adjusted relative to the initial default valve by using the TEMPERATURE INCREASE button 116 and/or TEMPERATURE DECREASE button 118 to increase or decrease the temperature in the pre-determined increment. Once the user has adjusted the cycle time and sauna temperature as desired, the START button is pressed in step 206 to initiate the cycle. If the adjusted values for the cycle time and sauna temperature are different from the previous default values, the adjusted values become the new default values. In this way the controller “remembers” the preference for a specific user. During subsequent use of the sauna, the user can simply press the USER 1 button 120 to identify himself or herself from a group of users and the START button 106 to run the programmed sauna cycle at the new default values. Additionally, a new sauna cycle can be programmed for the USER 1 button by pressing and holding the USER 1 button for the predetermined length of time, such as 5 seconds. The display 124 can show prompts and/or commands to the user in accordance with the steps of the programming method.
The sauna 10 can be occupied comfortably by one user at a time. A second embodiment of a sauna 10′ according to the present invention is illustrated in FIGS. 14-16, where like elements are identified by the same reference numeral bearing a prime (′) symbol. Referring to FIG. 14, the sauna 10′ can be occupied comfortably by two users at a time and comprises wider front and rear walls 16′, 18′ than sauna 10 to accommodate an additional user. The sauna 10′ can have doors 26′ that have the same dimensions as the doors 26 used for sauna 10 and is accordingly provided with an immobile frame 126 supporting a tempered glass panel 128 to cover the wider front wall 16′. The sauna 10′ can be provided with an air gap 130 between the frame 126 and front wall 16′ in addition to the air gap 80′ provided between door 26′ and the front wall 16′. The air gap 130 is generally similar to the air gap 80′.
Referring to FIGS. 15-16, the sauna 10′ is provided with two benches 54A′, 54B′ to accommodate two users. A first pair of heating elements 46A′, 46B′ are provided in the right interior side 38′ behind bench 54A′ and a second pair of heating elements 46C′ (only one is visible in FIG. 16) are provided in the left interior side 36′ behind bench 54B′. A fifth heating element 46e′ is provided in the rear interior side 40′. The benches 54A′, 54B′ can be independently stowed, as described above for bench 54. Two lamps 52A, 52B are provided above each bench 54A′, 54B′, respectively, that can be operated through the user interface 50′.
The sauna 10, 10′ can be installed into any building or structure, but has particular application to the RV/mobile home market. The dual function of the sauna 10, 10′ as either a conventional sauna or a storage space make the inventive sauna particularly suited to environments where space is limited, such as an RV, but is also well-suited for installation in trailers, mobile homes, houseboats, houses, apartments, condominiums, and hotels. The stowable bench allows more of the interior space to be available for storage purposes. The hanging rod functions to hang items for storage and also to easily and efficiently run electrical wiring and cables from one side of the sauna to the other. The user interface allows for a sauna cycle to be programmed and stored for multiple users.
While the invention has been specifically described in connection with certain specific embodiments thereof, it is to be understood that this is by way of illustration and not of limitation, and the scope of the appended claims should be construed as broadly as the prior art will permit.
Patent Application
20070257500
