Abstract:
An apparatus for applying a sunless tanning composition to a human user including a booth with a sunless tanning composition spraying apparatus and suitable for containing a user, with a dressing room attached to the booth and having an ingress to the booth and an egress. The dressing room may include features such as a heater; a blower that circulates air through the dressing room; an integrally formed seat; and at least one of the set consisting of a towel rack and a clothing hook.

Description:
CLAIM OF PRIORITY  
       [0001]    This application claims priority from Provisional Patent Application Serial No. 60/310,910, the entire specification of which is hereby incorporated by reference. 
     
    
     
       FIELD OF INVENTION  
         [0002]    This invention relates to an apparatus for the application of tanning compositions to a person, and more particularly, to an apparatus adapted for use in a home or salon for the spray application of sunless tanning compositions to the human body and having an attached dressing room.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0003]    The cosmetic effect of tanned skin has long been a desired goal for many people. This desire has led to the development of a large and varied industry supplying compositions and devices to facilitate natural or UV radiation induced tanning of the skin. More recently, concern for the risks of skin cancer and other damaging effects of sun (UV) exposure has led to the development of another market for compositions and devices to protect the skin from sun exposure. Combining these two competing desires, as well as the desire for providing a short-cut to obtaining a tanned appearance compared to the time-consuming traditional tanning methods, has led to the development of compositions for staining the skin to give the visual effect of tanned skin. In addition to the development of the multitude of sun tanning, sun screening and artificial tanning and bronzing lotions, cremes and oils now available, various applicator devices for the different compositions have also been devised, ranging from simple squeeze bottles and pump sprays, to hand-held spray canisters similar to pump-style pesticide spray canisters, to spray rooms or booths that spray suntan lotions or artificial tanning compositions for application to a user standing in the room.  
           [0004]    With respect to sunless tanning booths, they apply a tanning fluid to the user, which may take as long as two to four minutes to dry. In such situations, it is desirable for the tanning fluid to dry completely before the user dresses, in order to keep the application even. However, ideally, the customer shouldn&#39;t have to remain in the sunless tanning booth while the tanning fluid dries, both because it is inconvenient for them, and because it increases the time a single customer needs a single sunless tanning booth, thereby reducing the number of sessions that can be sold per day per booth.  
           [0005]    Further, in spray booths, as with conventional tanning beds or booths, users often desire to avoid the white marks or tan lines produced by clothing. To solve this, many users desire to tan without clothing and thus desire privacy. Many tanning booths, however, are used by salons or other commercial settings which sell “sessions” to consumers. If such salons wish to permit their customers to undress before using a tanning booth, they typically provide private facilities. One way such facilities are provided is by placing the tanning booth within a larger enclosed area allowing room for the customer to undress and dress. However, this arrangement limits access to the booth since typically only one customer at a time is permitted. Moreover, because of the size of many such tanning booths, this arrangement may require substantially more space than is actually required for the customer to comfortably undress and store their things while using the tanning booth. The additional space required for such facilities may substantially increase overhead costs.  
           [0006]    An alternate arrangement is to provide multiple changing rooms for undressing and dressing at a distance separate from the booth. The tanning booth is provided in a separate private area. In such an arrangement, the user must travel from a dressing room to the location of the booth. To maintain the user&#39;s privacy while travelling, the user typically wears a robe, towel, sandals or similar temporary body and/or foot covering. Before using the booth, the user must then still enter the private booth area and disrobe. After use, the user must then re-robe and travel back to the changing room before dressing. This arrangement reduces the time each user spends alone in the booth area, but requires additional changing areas and the user&#39;s discomfort of traveling in potentially public areas while only partially clad. Moreover, wearing the temporary covering and travel time can interfere with the application of barrier creams or the even drying of the tanning lotion.  
           [0007]    Furthermore, some sunless tanning booths advantageously employ water foot rinses in order to assure even application of the tanning solution or booth water washdown cycles to rinse the booth walls between users. (See, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 6,302,122 to Parker, and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/802,078, which are hereby incorporated in their entireties.) Thus, water may potentially be tracked out of the sunless tanning booth as the customer exits.  
           [0008]    The present invention addresses these and other problems associated with providing private facilities for customers of sunless tanning booths.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0009]    A first embodiment apparatus for applying a sunless tanning composition to a human comprises a booth, a coating sprayer, and a dressing room. The booth is suitable for containing a user, and the coating sprayer is mounted within the booth and contains a sunless tanning composition including a sunless tanning agent for spraying at least portions of the user. The dressing room is attached to the booth and has an ingress to the booth.  
           [0010]    A second embodiment comprises a dressing room attachable to a booth for spray applying a sunless tanning composition to a human user. The dressing room comprises a privacy enclosure; a means for allowing a user to transfer from the privacy enclosure to a booth in privacy; and, a means for allowing a user to exit from the privacy enclosure into the surrounding environment.  
           [0011]    Certain other embodiments include a heater and a blower for providing more rapid and even drying of tanning solution. Certain embodiments include a seat, a towel rack, a shelf, a clothing hook, a shoe rack, or some combination of these, in order to provide for convenient dressing and undressing.  
           [0012]    In certain embodiments the booth features three or more active spray nozzles on an arm with none of the active spray nozzles oriented to spray in a direction substantially toward any other active spray nozzle, or a foot rinser mounted near the bottom of the booth, or both.  
           [0013]    Further objects, features and advantages of the present invention shall become apparent from the detailed drawings and descriptions provided herein.  
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0014]    [0014]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention with a combined sunless tanning booth and dressing booth.  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 2 is a right side elevation of a preferred embodiment combined sunless tanning booth and dressing booth according to the present invention.  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 3 is a left side elevation of a preferred embodiment combined sunless tanning booth and dressing booth according to the present invention.  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 4 is a front elevation of a preferred embodiment combined sunless tanning booth and dressing booth according to the present invention.  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 5 is a rear elevation of a preferred embodiment combined sunless tanning booth and dressing booth according to the present invention.  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 6 is a top view of a preferred embodiment combined sunless tanning booth and dressing booth according to the present invention.  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 7 is a plan view of a preferred embodiment combined sunless tanning booth and dressing booth according to the present invention.  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 8 is a perspective view of an interior corner of a preferred embodiment dressing booth suitable for use in a combined sunless tanning booth and dressing booth according to the present invention.  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 9 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment combined sunless tanning booth and dressing booth according to the present invention.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0023]    For the purposes of promoting an understanding of the principles of the invention, reference will now be made to the embodiments illustrated in the drawings and specific language will be used to describe the same. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of the invention is thereby intended, and alterations and modifications in the illustrated device, and further applications of the principles of the invention as illustrated therein, are herein contemplated as would normally occur to one skilled in the art to which the invention relates.  
         [0024]    A combined sunless tanning booth and attached dressing room according to the present invention provides convenient, space efficient privacy for users to dress and undress, and assists in faster drying of the tanning solution on the user, making the tanning process more convenient and efficient. A combined sunless tanning booth and attached dressing room according to the present invention is convenient for use in tanning salons, health clubs, gyms, homes, etc., because it eliminates the need for dedicated rooms for each user, or for the user to travel between the tanning booth and a dressing area, wearing towels, robes, or other temporary coverings. Furthermore, the present invention allows a free standing and self contained apparatus, making it suitable for use outdoors, for example on a beach.  
         [0025]    The present invention includes a changing room attached directly to a sunless tanning booth. In its most basic form, the changing room includes a privacy enclosure and two exits. One exit allows entry or exit directly to or from the tanning booth, while the second exit allows entry to or from the outside area. Movement from the changing room to the booth is allowed while maintaining the user&#39;s privacy, and the tanning booth also preferably does not provide outside visibility, in order to continue to maintain the user&#39;s privacy.  
         [0026]    In a preferred embodiment, the changing room connects to the door of the sunless tanning booth, and encloses sufficient space for the user to step into and out of the sunless tanning booth, to close the door between the sunless tanning booth and the changing room, and to comfortably dress and undress. In one embodiment, such a changing room includes four substantially opaque walls. In an alternative embodiment, the changing room includes three walls plus a common wall shared with the tanning booth. In this embodiment, the tanning booth wall with an entry/exit to the tanning booth serves as the forth wall and one of the entries/exits from the changing room. Preferably, the changing room further includes its own ceiling and/or floor separate from a surrounding ceiling or an underlying support or floor.  
         [0027]    As one preferred feature, the changing room may include a non-slip treatment such as a textured floor or a non-slip carpet or tape. Another preferred feature is a seat, such as an integrally-molded chair or bench, to facilitate the user&#39;s comfort and safety while drying feet and changing clothes, for example, while putting on or removing shoes and/or socks. The changing room may also preferably include appropriate storage space and devices, including, for example, shelves, hooks for hanging clothes, shoe racks, and towel racks.  
         [0028]    In further preferred features, the changing room may include heating and/or blowing units. These may assist any sunless tanning fluid to dry on the user&#39;s body more rapidly before the user dresses. Preferably this can reduce the time needed to permit the user to complete their tanning session by as much as two to four minutes. The heating and blowing units can also be used to help keep the changing room at a comfortable temperature, since the comfort range is likely to be somewhat higher for users who have undressed.  
         [0029]    [0029]FIGS. 1 through 7 illustrate a first embodiment of the present invention with a combination sunless tanning booth and changing room, shown generally at  100 . The combination sunless tanning booth and changing room  100  includes a dressing booth  110  attached to a sunless tanning booth  120 . The changing room  100  and tanning booth  120  may be integrally formed, but are preferably attachable and detachable to facilitate assembly and transportation.  
         [0030]    The walls, floor and ceiling of apparatus  100  may be constructed of any convenient material to provide privacy as well as structural stability and resistance to water or staining by the tanning composition. Example of suitable materials include, without limitation, Plexiglas®, fiberglass, shatter resistant non-transparent glass with metal framing, stainless steel, aluminum, plastic, plasticized or sheathed particle board and the like.  
         [0031]    The tanning booth  120  includes a spray apparatus adapted to operate within the booth  120 . The spray apparatus is connected to a suitable supply to provide a sunless tanning agent to be sprayed on a user. The tanning booth  120  may be of any convenient form, provided the spray apparatus is supported, and preferably such that the booth protects the surrounding area from over-spray. For illustration, the accompanying figures show booths with square cross-sections, although it is understood that rectangular, cylindrical, oval, or irregularly shaped booths, may also be suitable. In a preferred embodiment, tanning booth  120  includes a foot rinse aimed at foot target areas for preventing excess spray from settling on the user&#39;s feet.  
         [0032]    Preferably the floor of the booth  120  is provided with at least one drain. The floor preferably includes a suitable form to provide a support surface for a user standing in the booth, while excess fluid may freely drain away from the feet of the user. One example of a suitable floor is a molded floor with recessed channels leading from all regions of the floor to at least one drain, with the channels being narrow enough and deep enough for a user to comfortably stand on the floor without waste fluid in the channels contacting the user&#39;s feet. Another example of a suitable floor is a floor having a mat to support a user, with a fluid collection reservoir under the mat with at least one drain therein. Other suitable floors will be apparent to one skilled in the art, which provide adequate support for a user to stand thereon, while providing sufficient drainage to minimize contact of excess fluid with the user&#39;s feet.  
         [0033]    It will be appreciated that a tanning booth  120  in a combination sunless tanning booth and changing room  100  according to the present invention can include any appropriate features of a sunless tanning booth. For example, in certain embodiments the tanning booth  120  comprises a first arm moveably mounted within the booth, with three or more active spray nozzles on the arm with none of the active spray nozzles oriented to spray in a direction substantially toward any other active spray nozzle.  
         [0034]    For another example, in certain embodiments the tanning booth  120  may comprise a foot rinser, as described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,302,122 to Parker. Such a foot rinser includes a solution in the form of a foot spray, filler nozzles, and at least one drain. In these embodiments, a user stands in the foot target area, preferably for at least the period during which the user is being sprayed with tanning composition. Likewise, the tanning booth  120  can include lights, speakers, audio, signage, instructions or the like for the comfort, entertainment and/or convenience of a user.  
         [0035]    As shown in FIG. 7, the changing room  110  has sufficient room to permit a user to access the entrance, i.e. the ingress  725 , to the sunless tanning booth  120  while standing inside the changing room  110 . Preferably the ingress includes a divider between the changing room  110  and booth  120 . The ingress  725  can advantageously be a hinged door, but may also be a sliding door, curtain, or other suitable divider. If a door is used, the hinges may be separately mounted or a piano hinge may be used. Alternately, but less preferred, the ingress may be an opening without a divider. In one preferred embodiment, the entrance/exit between the outside and the changing room  110 , i.e., egress  715 , is advantageously positioned in the opposite side of the changing room  110  from the door to the sunless tanning booth. The egress  715  can advantageously be a standard hinged door, in order to most efficiently use interior space, but may also be a sliding door, curtain, or other suitable divider. It will be appreciated that any suitable size and arrangement of the ingress  725  and egress  715  may be used.  
         [0036]    The ingress  725  is preferably a physical divider, in order to act as a barrier to sunless tanning fluid on the walls or entrained in the air that might otherwise pass into the dressing room, where it might stain clothing or other articles that the user prefers not be contacted by the fluid. Moreover, the changing room limits fluid transferred from the walls or floor of the booth, or entrained in the air, from travelling beyond the changing room.  
         [0037]    The changing room may be of various sizes as desired, but preferably it provides sufficient room for a user to undress and dress in comfort while also allowing ease of access to booth  120 . In a hinged door embodiment, changing room  110  further preferably includes sufficient interior space for a hinged door  725  to be opened. In one preferred embodiment, the sizes of the changing room  110  and tanning booth  120  are reduced to a minimum comfortable size in order to minimize the footprint of the entire system. In such embodiments, the changing room  110  will typically be larger than the tanning booth  120 , since comfortably changing cloths requires somewhat more space than a space-efficient tanning booth. However, it will be appreciated that in various alternative embodiments tanning booth  120  may be larger that the dressing booth  110 .  
         [0038]    [0038]FIG. 8 illustrates optional advantageous features such as an integrally formed chair  800 , shelves  810 , and clothes and towel hooks  820 , that are preferably positioned within the changing room  110  to facilitate changing, especially into or out of shoes and socks. In addition, the changing booth  110  can advantageously include a shoe rack or other suitable shoe storage device. Although an integrally formed chair is preferred, an integral or portable chair, stool, bench, or other such item can advantageously be included.  
         [0039]    [0039]FIGS. 1 through 7 illustrate the exterior of a preferred embodiment combination sunless tanning booth and changing room  100 , which includes a decorative pattern claimed in U.S. Design Pat. No. D459,001. FIG. 9 illustrates the exterior of an alternative embodiment combination sunless tanning booth and changing room  100 . In this alternative embodiment, the ingress  725  and egress  715  are advantageously positioned as in the first embodiment. Likewise, this alternative embodiment preferably has an interior chair  800 , shelves  810 , hooks  820 , etc.  
         [0040]    While the invention has been illustrated and described in detail in the drawings and foregoing description, the same is to be considered as illustrative and not restrictive in character, it being understood that only the preferred embodiment, and certain other embodiments deemed helpful in further explaining how to make or use the preferred embodiment, have been shown. All changes and modifications that come within the spirit of the invention are desired to be protected.