Abstract:
A portable and collapsible sauna is provided, including an enclosure adaptable between a collapsed position and an upstanding position and a steam generator. The portable and collapsible sauna is configurable between these two positions by a latch mechanism. In order to achieve the sauna experience, the steam is trapped by the enclosure and the enclosure is adapted to facilitate ingress and egress of a user, while maintaining a seal for the steam. The fully assembled sauna is preferably dimensioned to fit in a standard bathtub.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to portable and collapsible saunas, in particular to a collapsible sauna with easy assembly and disassembly. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Portable and collapsible saunas are known. The main advantage of these types of saunas over permanent saunas is portability enabling them to be used in any location. However, some prior art saunas require tools and a considerable amount of time to assemble. 
     Several solutions have been proposed, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,511,254 teaches a structure including a plurality of detachable frame members covered by an enclosure material. However, assembly of such a structure is complicated and the structure requires a space to be dedicated for erection. Also, U.S. Pat. No. 3,945,058 teaches a sauna apparatus including a tent overlying and enclosing a cot. Located at one end of the tent is a hole for enabling a patron to recline on the cot with his head extending through the hole. Two drawbacks of this invention are that the user&#39;s head must be placed outside the tent, and since the patron has to lie down on the cot, only a certain percentage of the user&#39;s body is subject to the sauna experience. Yet another drawback of this invention is a tendency of condensation to drip onto their body in the tent during use. 
     Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide a collapsible and portable sauna that can be easily assembled and dissembled. 
     It is a further object of this invention to provide a portable sauna which doesn&#39;t drip onto an occupant and which will fit into a bathtub thereby avoiding potential damage to a floor. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     A portable sauna is provided which has a collapsible frame dimensioned to fit within a bathtub and configurable between an erected and collapsed configuration by resilient bending. A collapsible cladding is mounted over the frame and defines an enclosure when the frame is in the erected configuration. A doorway is provided through the cladding for permitting ingress and egress and a door is mounted to the cladding for closing the doorway. A steam generator is mounted within the enclosure. 
     The enclosure is may have a downwardly facing generally concave shaped top to direct any moisture condensing thereon along the collapsible cladding. 
     The sauna may further include a base substantially of cedar within the enclosure. 
     The collapsible frame may be securable to the base. 
     The cladding may have an opening therethrough for admitting a hand-held shower. 
     The portable sauna may further include at least one seat erectable within the enclosure and the seat may be of knockdown configuration. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     Further objects and advantages will become apparent upon reading the following detailed description in conjunction with the drawings in which: 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a portable sauna according to the present invention in use in an erected configuration; 
     FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a frame assembly of the portable sauna of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a portion of a base and a frame member according to the present invention; 
     FIG. 3A is an enlarged perspective view of the encircled are in FIG. 3; 
     FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the components of a kit according to the present invention; 
     FIG. 5 is a perspective view illustrating a frame and a base in a collapsed configuration; 
     FIG. 6 is a perspective view corresponding to FIG. 5 but also showing a sauna box and a chair in a knockdown configuration secured on the base; 
     FIG. 7 is a perspective view corresponding to FIGS. 5 and 6 but additionally showing a folded up cladding secured over the base and remaining components; and, 
     FIG. 8 is a perspective view illustrating a carrying case for a portable sauna according to the present invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     A portable sauna according to the present invention is generally illustrated by reference  20  in FIGS. 1,  4  and  7 . FIG. 1 illustrates the portable sauna  20  according to the present invention in an erected configuration mounted within a bathtub. Preferably the portable sauna  20  is dimensioned to fit within a bathtub  21  as a bathtub  21  provides a structure having a drain for draining any moisture associated with sauna use. 
     In a preferred embodiment, the sauna has a base  22  made up of spaced apart cedar slats  34 . It will be appreciated by those skilled in such structures that other materials and base arrangements are possible however cedar slats are desirable for a few reasons. Cedar is relatively durable in a moist environment and not easily subject to warpage or rot. Furthermore cedar has a pleasing aroma generally associated with saunas which will give the portable sauna a more authentic ambiance. Finally, the slat-like configuration allows moisture draining and drying out of the sauna after use and prevents puddling during use. 
     The sauna  20  is collapsible so as to be portable and accordingly includes a collapsible frame assembly  24  having frame members  38  and  40  extending substantially from one end of the base  22  to its opposite end adjacent respective sides of the base. The frame members  38  and  40  are of a material conducive to resilient bending such as, for example glass reinforced plastics or polymer materials. As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the frame members  38  and  40  may be twisted into hoops. Respective assist straps  101  and  99  may be provided to assist in the collapsing of the frame members  38  and  40 . A strap  106  may be provided to hold the frame members  38  and  40  in their collapsed configuration to the base  22 . 
     FIG. 2 illustrates the frame members  38  and  40  of the frame in an erected configuration. Crossmembers  50  and  52  may be provided to maintain the frame members  38  and  40  in a spaced apart relationship to improve the overall structural rigidity of the frame. 
     The frame assembly  24  supports a collapsible cladding  30 . Preferably the collapsible cladding  30  will be of a translucent sheet material to at least admit light thereby obviating the need for providing lighting within a closure. It may also be desirable to have the collapsible cladding material transparent to render the portable sauna  20  less claustrophobic. Polymer sheeting material might be selected for the collapsible cladding. Possibly woven fabric such as canvas or nylon may be used if transparency is not required. 
     As moisture from within the enclosure will typically condense on the cladding  30 , preferably the enclosure will be shaped so as to direct any such condensed moisture along the cladding  30  rather than have it drip on any occupants. This may be accomplished by providing a top  31  with a downwardly facing generally concave shape such as the arched shape illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 4. 
     In order to permit ingress and egress a doorway  90  maybe provided through the cladding  30  along with a door  88  for closing the doorway  90 . A zipper such as illustrated by reference  91  or other interactive fastener means may be provided to hold the door  88  closed. 
     A heat source  28  is provided for supplying heat to the enclosure. A preferred heat source is a sauna box such as illustrated by reference  102  in FIG. 4 having a heating element therein (not illustrated) covered by sauna rocks  103  and provided with a mesh guard  105  to prevent any inadvertent contact between the occupants of the sauna and the heating element. More preferably, the sauna box  102  will also be also properly sealed to allow water to be poured on the rocks to generate steam. Assuming an electrically powered heat source  28  is used, the cladding  30  may be provided with a grommet or suitable opening  107  to admit passage of an electrical cord  109  associated with the heat source  28 . 
     Although a base  22  is not entirely necessary, as the enclosure may be open at its bottom or the cladding may extend across the bottom, for the reasons set out above it is believed that a moisture permeable base  22  would be preferable. Assuming that a base  22  is used, the frame members  38  and  40  may be affixed to the base using a hinged joint such as illustrated by reference  62  and FIG.  3 A. The joint has a base  74  securable to a slat  34  by screws  75 . The joint furthermore has a pair of upstanding members  79  with a pin  80  extending there between and through an end  39  of the frame member  38 . 
     As some sauna users like to douse themselves with cold water as part of the sauna experience, provision is made in the cladding  30  of the enclosure to admit water. In this regard, flaps  33  are provided in the top  31  which may be opened and through which water from a shower head  89  may be directed (or through which a user may stand). Alternatively, or in addition, further flaps  35  may be provide toward opposite ends of the enclosure for admitting a handheld shower (not shown) or a faucet  37 . It may also be desirable to provide the sauna box with a cover (not shown) to shield it from excess water (or any water if not a steam generating unit). 
     Seats  100  may be provided to give the occupants of the sauna a place to sit. The seats  100  may be of a knockdown configuration as illustrated in FIG. 6 to provide for more easy storage, however, this is not entirely necessary. 
     FIGS. 5 through 7 illustrate the storage of the sauna. As illustrated in FIG. 5, the frame members  38  and  40  are initially collapsed and secured to the base  22  with a strap  106 . As shown in FIG. 6, cross members  50  and  52  may be placed on the base  22  and as well the seats  100  and sauna rock box  102 . 
     As further shown in FIG. 7, the cladding material  30  may be folded and placed on top of the items illustrated in FIG.  6  and secured in place with additional straps  110 . 
     Finally, as illustrated in FIG. 8, a cover  108  having a handle  112  may be provided to assist in orderly storage and portability. 
     The above description is intended in an illustrative rather than a restrictive sense. Variations to the specific structure described may be apparent to persons skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention which is defined by the claims set out below.