This invention relates to personal care devices.
More particularly, the present invention relates to saunas.
Sauna systems are usually rather large and require sufficient area/volume within a home, hotel, or other facility to incorporate the moisture, heat, and occasional use. Because of the heat/moisture involved, a special area is generally required that can handle the conditions without deteriorating too rapidly and without interfering with other services in the facility. As understood by those familiar with saunas, this requires a dedicated area/volume, that cannot be used for other purposes and that generally must be specially constructed to hold the heat and moisture while not deteriorating too rapidly. Further, because the area/volume must be dedicated only to the sauna, they are usually rare and inconvenient. That is, the average person cannot afford a sauna in the home or in any convenient location.
It would be highly advantageous, therefore, to remedy the foregoing and other deficiencies inherent in the prior art.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved portable sauna.
Another object of the invention is to provide a new and improved portable sauna that is relatively inexpensive to provide and operate.
Another object of the invention is to provide a new and improved portable sauna that can be operated virtually anywhere.
Another object of the invention is to provide a new and improved portable sauna that does not require any dedicated permanent area or volume in which to operate.
Briefly, to achieve the desired objects of the instant invention in accordance with a preferred embodiment thereof, provided is a portable sauna system including a portable sauna enclosure defining an enclosed body receiving interior volume, the enclosure defining a head opening, two hand openings, and two foot openings. A hot air inlet formed in the portable sauna enclosure is designed to receive a hot air outlet of a hot air supply for communicating hot air from the hot air supply to the body receiving interior volume.
The desired objects and purposes of the present invention are further realized in a preferred embodiment of a portable sauna system in accordance with the invention in which the system includes a portable sauna enclosure defining an enclosed body receiving interior volume. The enclosure is fabricated of a heat resistance and water resistant flexible material defining a head opening, two hand openings, and two foot openings. Elastic constricting elements are attached to the enclosure and encircle each of the head opening, two hand openings, and two foot openings. A divide is provided that extends from the head opening to a point spaced apart from a bottom end for entering a body into the enclosure, opposing sides of the divide include a closure device, such as a zipper or buttons, to close the enclosure about a body. A hot air inlet is formed in the portable sauna enclosure and includes a hot air inlet valve with a biasing element movable between an extended or closed position closing the inlet valve and a depressed or open position allowing warm air to enter the portable sauna enclosure. The hot air inlet valve further includes a diffuser for diverting incoming hot air substantially parallel to an inner surface of the portable sauna enclosure.
The foregoing and further and more specific objects and advantages of the instant invention will become readily apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment thereof, taken in conjunction with the drawings in which:
Turning now to the drawings is which like characters indicate corresponding elements throughout the several views, attention is directed to
Turning now to
Portable sauna enclosure 12 further includes elastic or constricting elements encircling each of the plurality of openings of body portion 22. In other words, a radially inwardly constricting collar 40 extends from body portion 22 encircling head opening 32. Collar 40 includes a divide 42 aligned with divide 35 and closed by closure device 37. A radially inwardly constricting foot band 43 extends from body portion 22 encircling each foot opening 32. A radially inwardly constricting arm band 45 extends from body portion 22 encircling each arm opening 33. The previously enumerated constricting elements act to substantially seal the interior volume of portable sauna enclosure 12 by gently constricting around a user's extremities. The constriction need not be of sufficient force to cause discomfort or loss of circulation to the user's extremities. It will also be understood, that while body portion 22 is sized to receive the majority of a user's body, including most of the arms and legs, sleeves or legs may be attached to body portion 22 to reduce the volume of body portion 22 while covering substantially the entire body. In this preferred embodiment, portable sauna enclosure 12 is fabricated of a heat resistance and water resistant, preferably flexible material. Portable sauna enclosure 12 can also be sized as a “one size fits all”, or of increased or decreased volume, as desired.
With additional reference to
In operation, an individual opens closure device 37 separating divide 35, enters the interior volume and extends a foot through each of foot openings 32, a hand through each arm opening 33, and a head through head opening 30. Closure device 37 is then closed moving divide 35 to the closed position. A nozzle of a hot air supply 14 is then coupled to inlet valve 20. Hot air supply 14 is activated, supplying hot air through inlet valve 20 into the interior volume to provide a sauna atmosphere.
Various changes and modifications to the embodiments herein chosen for purposes of illustration will readily occur to those skilled in the art. To the extent that such modifications and variations do not depart from the spirit of the invention, they are intended to be included within the scope thereof which is assessed only by a fair interpretation of the following claims.
Having fully described the invention in such clear and concise terms as to enable those skilled in the art to understand and practice the same, the invention claimed is:
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/649,315, filed 2 Feb. 2005.
Number | Date | Country | |
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60649315 | Feb 2005 | US |