Abstract:
A sauna for vaporizing a liquid has a body with an exhaust area, and a handle. The handle is connected to the exhaust area and the handle is for grasping the sauna. The sauna has a heater in the body for changing a state of the liquid to a vapor with the vapor having a number of droplets. Each of the droplets has an initial droplet size. The sauna also has a device. The device is in the body. The device changes the initial droplet size of the droplets in the vapor exiting the exhaust area.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]    This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Serial No. 60/440,060 filed on Jan. 16, 2003. 
     
    
     
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    1. Field of the Invention  
           [0003]    The present invention relates to an apparatus for providing a facial sauna. More particularly, the present invention relates to a hand held facial sauna that has an ionic generator that can apply a vapor to a user&#39;s face.  
           [0004]    2. Description of the Related Art  
           [0005]    A sauna is known in the art. The sauna is a personal care product that allows a user to apply a heated water vapor to a part of a body or to the entire body for relaxation. However, prior art saunas have a number of drawbacks. One such drawback is that prior art saunas require an extended period of time for which to heat an amount of liquid to create steam or water vapor that is later applied to the body part. Another such drawback is a size of droplets that are emitted or otherwise released from the prior art saunas. The size of the droplets is deficient in the prior art saunas. The size of the droplets results from heating the water in the sauna and then merely releasing the droplets from the sauna to the user without any treatment of the droplets. An improper droplet size is not conducive to saunas, especially facial saunas. If the size of the water droplets in the water vapor is relatively larger than that desired by the user for inhalation purposes and for personal massage therapy, it has been observed that the user will not enjoy the facial sauna. If the size of the water droplets in the water vapor is relatively larger than desired by the user, the water droplets will aggregate on the face. This aggregation is not conducive for inhalation purposes, let alone to penetrate the user&#39;s lungs.  
           [0006]    Accordingly, there is a need for a facial sauna that eliminates one or more of the aforementioned drawbacks and deficiencies of the prior art.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0007]    It is an object of the present invention to provide a sauna.  
           [0008]    It is another object of the present invention to provide a facial sauna.  
           [0009]    It is still another object of the present invention to facial sauna that provides a water vapor having an optimal water droplet size for improved therapy.  
           [0010]    It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a facial sauna that can rapidly generate water vapor of an optimal water droplet size in a reduced amount of time.  
           [0011]    It is still yet another object of the present invention to provide a facial sauna that has an ionic generator.  
           [0012]    It is a further object of the present invention to provide a facial sauna that has an ionic generator with a first electrode and a second electrode.  
           [0013]    It is still a further object of the present invention to provide facial sauna that can treat the water vapor with a voltage and release the treated water vapor having an optimal water droplet size.  
           [0014]    These and other objects and advantages of the present invention are achieved by a facial sauna of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0015]    [0015]FIG. 1 is a side view of a preferred embodiment of a facial sauna of the present invention;  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 2 is cross-sectional view of the facial sauna of FIG. 1 being unplugged;  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional of a bottom most portion of the facial sauna of FIG. 2 showing a heater, a reservoir and a boiler assembly; and  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of a top most portion of the facial sauna of FIG. 2, rotated about ninety degrees, showing a number of water droplets being sprayed into a mask. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0019]    Referring to FIG. 1, there is provided a sauna, most preferably a facial sauna of the present invention generally represented by reference numeral  10 . The facial sauna  10  preferably imparts heated and fine liquid droplets in a liquid vapor to the user&#39;s face for inhalation, relaxing massage and for therapeutic purposes. The facial sauna  10  preferably has a body  12  with a substantially cylindrical shape. The body  12  has a sufficiently sized diameter to be grasped by the hand. The body  12  also has a suitable compact height and an outer surface  14 . Preferably, the body  12  is made from a resilient material such as a thermoplastic, a metal, or a polymer. However, one skilled in the art should appreciate that the body  12  may be made from any suitable resilient material known in the art.  
         [0020]    The outer surface  14  of the body  12  preferably defines a path for which to hold and manipulate the facial sauna  10  during use and in a comfortable manner. The facial sauna  10  has a control panel  16 . The control panel  16  is preferably on a recessed portion of the outer surface  14  of the facial sauna  10 . The control panel  16  preferably has an arrangement of analog buttons, analog switches, digital switches, actuators, or any combination thereof, to manually control one or more functions of the facial sauna  10 . In this non-limiting embodiment of the facial sauna  10 , the control panel  16  of the facial sauna has a first button  18 , a second button  20 , and an inlet port  22 . The first button  18  preferably controls whether heated liquid vapor is emitted from the facial sauna  10 . The second button  20  preferably controls whether the facial sauna  10  is on or off and whether liquid is heated in the facial sauna to create the heated liquid vapor.  
         [0021]    Preferably, the inlet port  22  acts as an opening in the outer surface  14  of the facial sauna  10 . The inlet port  22  allows access to an interior space of the facial sauna  10  as shown in FIGS. 2 through 4. Preferably, the inlet port  22  can be selectively closed or opened. Preferably, the inlet port  22  is selectively opened to fill the facial sauna  10  with the liquid. The facial sauna  10  has a suitably sized rubber cap  24 . The cap  24  is selectively disposed over the inlet port  22 . In this manner, the user may selectively introduce the fresh liquid, preferably water, from a conventional faucet or a hose, into the facial sauna  10 . This liquid will be heated in the facial sauna  10  and then subsequently emitted as a vapor from the facial sauna through a mask  26 .  
         [0022]    The facial sauna  10  has the mask  26  located on a top side of the facial sauna  10 . The mask  26  is connected to the body  12 . The mask  26  is preferably connected by an adhesive or by one or more mechanical fasteners. Alternatively, the mask  26  may be molded as an integral member with the body  12 . Preferably, the mask  26  has a conical shape. The mask  26  has an opening  28 . The opening  28  is substantially circular in shape and is opposite the body  12 . The opening  28  is suitably large in order to be placed over a user&#39;s face, preferably over the user&#39;s nose, the user&#39;s mouth, or both the user&#39;s nose and the user&#39;s mouth.  
         [0023]    In use, the mask  26  is preferably placed over the user&#39;s mouth and/or nose or both in a comfortable manner so the user&#39;s face and surrounding tissues can be massaged by the vapor and heated by the vapor. Further, the user is able to inhale the vapor for increased therapy. The mask  26  is preferably made from a resilient thermoplastic member. Preferably, the mask  26  is non-porous so that no vapor will escape through any lateral walls of the mask except through the opening  28 . However, one skilled in the art should appreciate that the mask  26  may be alternatively made from any suitable metal, polymer, wood or any other resilient and solid material known in the art. One skilled in the art should appreciate that the opening  28  of the mask  26  has edges that are soft and comfortable when applied to the user&#39;s face.  
         [0024]    As is shown in FIG. 1, the user will preferably grasp the body  12  and actuate the first and the second buttons  18 ,  20  on the control panel  16  by depressing the first and the second buttons  18 ,  20 . The user will then hold the mask  26  of the facial sauna  10  over the user&#39;s face and inhale the vapor escaping from the mask. Also, the vapor will be heated to allow the vapor to massage the face at a temperature of about eight (8) to ninety (90) degrees Celsius.  
         [0025]    At the conclusion of the therapy, the user will rest the facial sauna  10  on a floor or a counter top. Preferably, an end of the facial sauna  10  opposite the mask  26  has a flanged end  30 . Preferably, the flanged end  30  has a diameter that is greater than the diameter of the body  12 . In this manner, the flanged end  30  permits the facial sauna  10  to stand upright when not in use.  
         [0026]    Referring to FIG. 2, there is shown a cross sectional side view of the facial sauna  10  of FIG. 1. Preferably, the body  12  has an exhaust manifold  32 . The exhaust manifold  32  preferably is a tubular shaped conduit that is located in the body  12 . The exhaust manifold  32  has a first end  34  and a second end  36  that is opposite the first end. Preferably, the first end  32  is connected to an outlet  38  of the facial sauna  10 . The outlet  38  is the location where the vapor is released and/or sprayed into the mask  26 . Preferably, the outlet  38  rests on a concave surface of the outer surface  14  of the body  12  as shown. A nozzle  40  is preferably disposed on the outlet  38  of the facial sauna  10 . The nozzle  40  is preferably a projecting part of the facial sauna  10  with an opening at the end thereof. The nozzle  40  regulates and directs a flow of the vapor escaping from the exhaust manifold  30  and entering into the mask  26 . A resulting column of vapor will fill the mask  26  for therapeutic purposes.  
         [0027]    Referring now to the opposite end of the exhaust manifold  32 , the second end  36  is preferably connected opposite the nozzle  40  to a boiler assembly  42 . The boiler assembly  42  preferably converts a state of the liquid that is selectively deposited in the inlet port  22 . Preferably, the boiler assembly  42  changes the liquid from a liquid state to a gaseous state or vapor by heating the liquid in excess of a boiling temperature of the liquid. The vapor then traverses upwardly opposite the boiler assembly  42 . The vapor then traverses through the exhaust manifold  32  to escape into and fill the mask  26  for relaxing therapy and for inhalation purposes.  
         [0028]    Referring to FIG. 3, there is shown a close up cross-sectional view of a bottom most portion of the facial sauna  10  of FIG. 2. As shown in more detail, the facial sauna  10  has the inlet port  22  with the removable cap  24  removably closing the inlet port. One skilled in the art will appreciate that although the facial sauna  10  is moved or shaken the liquid will not leak out of the inlet port  22 .  
         [0029]    The inlet port  22  is connected to a reservoir  44 . The reservoir  44  is preferably a receptacle or chamber for storing an amount of liquid in the facial sauna  10 . Most preferably, the reservoir  44  is cylindrical shaped and surrounds the boiler assembly  42 . Thus, upon the boiler assembly  42  becoming heated, the liquid in the reservoir  44  will act as a barrier and absorb the heat escaping the boiler assembly  42  and prevent this heat from heating the outer surface  14  of the body  12 . Thus, although the boiler assembly  42  is hot simultaneously, the outer surface  14  of the body  12  remains relativity cool and the user can hold the body in a comfortable manner. Although shown as generally cylindrical in shape, the reservoir  44  may have any shape known in the art including rectangular, spherical or irregularly shaped, and still act as the barrier to absorb the heat generated in the boiler assembly  42 .  
         [0030]    The reservoir  44  is connected to the boiler assembly  42 . The boiler assembly  42  is preferably a vessel in which liquid is heated and circulated for generating vapor that enters the exhaust manifold  32 . Although the boiler assembly  42  is shown as boiling water into steam, one skilled in the art should appreciate that any suitable liquid may be used and is within the scope of the present invention. The boiler assembly  42  has an inner boiler tube  46  and an outer boiler tube  48 . Preferably, the inner boiler tube  46  is located in the outer boiler tube  48 . A space  50  is located between the inner boiler tube  46  and the outer boiler tube  48 .  
         [0031]    The space  50  is connected to the reservoir  44  by a suitable valve  52 . The valve  52  preferably is any device that regulates the flow of liquid into the boiler assembly  42  from the reservoir  44  through piping or apertures by opening, closing, or obstructing ports or passageways of the valve. The valve  52  may be selectively manually actuated by the control panel  16  or automatically by the boiler assembly  42 . Upon actuating of the valve  52 , liquid traverses from the reservoir  44  into the space  50 . The liquid in the space  50  is then heated an amount until a boiling point temperature of the liquid is reached and the liquid is then changed from the liquid state to the gaseous state or vapor. The vapor then traverses from the space  50  through outer boiler tube  48  to the exhaust manifold  32  as illustrated by reference arrows  54 .  
         [0032]    The boiler assembly  42  of the facial sauna  10  has a thermostat  56  and a heater  58 . The thermostat  56  preferably is any device known in the art that automatically responds to temperature changes and activates one or more components of the boiler assembly  42 . The thermostat  54  is preferably located in the inner boiler tube  46  and is electrically connected to the heater  58  in a sealed manner. Upon reaching the desired boiling temperature, the thermostat  56  can terminate operation of the heater  58 . Preferably, the thermostat  56  can terminate operation of the heater  58  at a temperature that is a predetermined amount above a temperature that the liquid reaches the boiling point temperature. Alternatively and less preferably, the facial sauna  10  may optionally have an electronic temperature control with a sensor to terminate operation of the heater  58  at the desired temperature.  
         [0033]    The heater  58  is preferably located to substantially surround the outer boiler tube  48  of the boiler assembly  42 . Simultaneously, the heater  58  is sealed from any contact with the liquid in the reservoir  44 . The heater  58  preferably imparts thermal energy to the liquid located in the space  50  by conduction through the outer boiler tube  48 . The heater  56  preferably heats the liquid from an ambient temperature to the boiling point temperature. Upon being heated a sufficient amount, the vapor traverses from the boiler assembly  42  to the second end  36  of the exhaust manifold  32  and into the mask  26 . The heater  58  may be a resistive foil heater, an applied conductive slurry, a conductive ink heater, a heater wire, a positive temperature coefficient ceramic heater, any combinations thereof or any device to impart heat to the liquid in the space  50 . The outer boiler tube  48  is preferably made from a thermally conductive material to complement the heater  58  and may optionally have one or more heat sinks (not shown) for absorbing and dissipating the heat generated by the heater.  
         [0034]    Preferably, the heater  56  is connected to a conventional household power supply (not shown) by a power input  60 . Alternatively, a battery, a number of batteries, a rechargeable battery, or any combinations thereof, may power the facial sauna  10 . However, one skilled in the art should appreciate that any means or way of delivering power to the facial sauna  10  is in the scope of the present invention.  
         [0035]    One longstanding problem in the art is a size of the droplets in the vapor that are sprayed or otherwise released from the prior art saunas. The size of the droplets in the vapor results from heating the liquid in the sauna and then merely releasing the vapor from the sauna to the user without any treatment of the vapor. A relatively large size of the droplets in the vapor is not conducive to saunas, especially facial saunas, and is especially not conducive for inhalation purposes. In fact, it has been observed that this relatively larger size of the droplets in the vapor may cause discomfort. It has been observed that the user prefers a relatively finer mist in the vapor for facial massage therapy and for inhalation purposes.  
         [0036]    Referring to FIG. 4, the facial sauna  10  imparts a treatment to the vapor prior to spraying the vapor in the mask  26 . The facial sauna  10  has an ionic generator  62 . The ionic generator  62  is electrically connected to the power supply and is preferably located adjacent to the exhaust manifold  32  in the body  12 . The ionic generator  62  preferably generates ions by acquiring a net electric charge by gaining or losing one or more electrons. The ionic generator  62  has a first electrode  64  and a second electrode  66 . The first electrode  64  is at a first location and the second electrode  66  is at a second location in an interior side of the exhaust manifold  32 , preferably close to the first end  34  and adjacent to the nozzle  40 . Preferably, the first electrode  64  is directly opposite, across and facing the second electrode  66 . Preferably, a distance is provided between the first electrode  64  and the second electrode  66  in order for the vapor to traverse therebetween for treatment.  
         [0037]    Upon being actuated, the ionic generator  62  will provide an amount of voltage across the distance between the first electrode  64  and the second electrode  66 . Preferably, this amount of voltage is provided in a corona discharge arc. Preferably, the amount of voltage is about 1.5 kilovolts and is provided across the distance in the arc. Most preferably, the first electrode  64  and the second electrode  66  have a different polarity than the other. The voltage preferably ionizes the vapor. This ionized vapor causes a disruption in the size of the droplets in the vapor. In this manner, the voltage changes a droplet size in the vapor exiting the nozzle  40  as shown by reference arrow  68  for illustration purposes.  
         [0038]    Preferably, the vapor at the second end  36  of the exhaust manifold has an initial size of the droplets in the vapor. The ionic generator  62  reduces the initial size of the droplets in the vapor from the initial size of the droplets in the vapor to an optimal size. Preferably, the optimal size of the droplets in the vapor are charged and have a diameter that is relatively less than a diameter of the initial size of the droplets in the vapor released from the boiler assembly  42  shown in FIG. 3. Preferably, the optimal size results in a finer vapor as a whole relative to an instance where the initial size of the droplets in the vapor is not charged. The optimal size is relatively smaller that the prior art for improved massage, inhalation and therapy.  
         [0039]    In one aspect, the optimal sized droplets in the vapor results in the vapor is more visible when escaping from the nozzle  40  into the mask  26  relatively to the prior art saunas. The facial sauna  10  may have a fan (not shown) in the exhaust manifold  32  for drawing the vapor to the nozzle  40 . The ionic generating device  62  may be actuated by manipulation of the first button  18 , the second button  20 , or automatically when the thermostat  56  shown in FIG. 3 reaches a predetermined temperature or a temperature range.  
         [0040]    It should be understood that the foregoing description is only illustrative of the present invention. Various alternatives and modifications can be devised by those skilled in the art without departing from the invention. Accordingly, the present invention is intended to embrace all such alternatives, modifications and variances.