Patent Publication Number: US-9409004-B2

Title: Chemically tanning human skin

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/386,800 filed on 23 Apr. 2009 now U.S. Pat. No. 8,137,328 entitle Chemically Tanning Human Skin to Waters, et al., which is a Continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.10/932,438 entitled Chemically Tanning Human Skin, filed on 2 Sep. 2004 now U.S. Pat. No. 7,537,584 to Waters, et al., which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/595,787, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,802,830, entitled Device and Method that Generates a Fog Capable of Altering the Color of Human Skin, also by Waters, et al. filed on Jun. 16, 2000. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to devices and methods for generating a fog in a closed chamber, and more particularly to devices and methods for generating a fog that is capable of altering the color of human skin. 
     STATEMENT OF A PROBLEM ADDRESSED BY THIS INVENTION 
     Interpretation Considerations 
     This section describes the technical field in more detail, and discusses problems encountered in the technical field. This section does not describe prior art as defined for purposes of anticipation or obviousness under 35 U.S.C. section 102 or 35 U.S.C. section 103. Thus, nothing stated in the Problem Statement is to be construed as prior art. 
     Discussion 
     For decades, a tan has been associated with good health, a nice appearance, and general well being. Health can be enhanced by tanning. For example, vitamins D and, C, and E are all generated by a person&#39;s body when that person is exposed to the sun. In fact, phrases such as “healthy glow” have entered the modern lexicon. Furthermore, many people who tan regularly report that it makes them feel rejuvenated, relaxed, and calm. Unfortunately, tanning with ultraviolet rays has drawbacks. 
     For example, most people associate skin cancer with ultraviolet ray exposure. Furthermore, exposure to ultraviolet rays has been associated with premature skin wrinkling, as well as cell damage which can result in dry skin and the loss of melanin. Of course, anyone who has spent a day at the beach or a lake is familiar with the fact that ultraviolet radiation exposure causes sunburns. Fortunately, devices exist that minimize exposure to ultraviolet radiation while providing a tan. 
     For example, since not all ultraviolet radiation is created equal, some modern tanning units use cobalt lamps to reduce a person&#39;s exposure to harmful ultraviolet (UV) radiation (beta rays), while allowing that person to be exposed to the proper UV rays to generate a tan (alpha rays). This allows a person to become darker while reducing their exposure to harmful ultraviolet radiation significantly. However, manufacturing and using these devices is prohibitively expensive. 
     In addition, many people use suntan lotions which have SPF ratings that indicate that the lotions block ultraviolet radiation, and thus prevent damage by ultraviolet light. Furthermore, recover products exist that provide vitamins, minerals and moisturizers to skin which has been exposed to ultraviolet radiation. Unfortunately, these products are often expensive, difficult to apply and are easily ignored or forgotten just after exposure to UV light, which is just when they are most needed. Furthermore, none of these products provide 100 percent protection from ultraviolet radiation. 
     Recently, to provide a darker and more healthy looking skin complexion, it has become popular to use tanning lotions and sprays that darken skin (self-bronzing applications). For example, one device uses a carwash-like spraying apparatus to coat one side of a person at a time by either moving a spray up and down or side to side across the person. These applications have the benefit of giving a person a healthy looking tan while not requiring that person to be exposed to ultraviolet radiation. Unfortunately, these spray applicators have several disadvantages. 
     For example, by spraying a person one side at a time, that side that is sprayed first will have a longer exposure to the tanning spray that the side of the person which is last exposed. In addition, there is an overlap as the person turns and the sprayers hit an area more than once, resulting in a buildup of excess tanning spray at different locations on a person. 
     Furthermore, the use of a sprayer that sprays a person one side at a time results in a long and tedious process—a process in which the person being sprayed typically must close their eyes and hold their breather until the process is complete (which may take as long as half a minute or more). The result is that these devices are uncomfortable for a person to use, and can create uneven tanning with noticeable dark areas that can look quite strange. 
     However, it is desirable to provide a device which can apply a tanning solution to a person without these disadvantages. This would be particularly advantageous to persons who have been diagnosed with skin cancer and allow them to obtain a healthy looking tan without UV exposure. Therefore, there exist the need for a device and method for applying a tanning solution quickly and evenly. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Various aspects of the invention, as well as an embodiment, are better understood by reference to the following detailed description. To better understand the invention, the detailed description should be read in conjunction with the drawings in which: 
         FIG. 1  illustrates some component that may be provided in one embodiment of a tanning system; 
         FIG. 2  illustrates one embodiment of a fog chamber; 
         FIG. 3  illustrates a fluid frame system for use within a generally cylindrical outer shell, such as the outer shell; 
         FIG. 4 a    illustrates a nozzle designed to produce a fog; 
         FIG. 4 b    illustrates one embodiment of the disk fan; and 
         FIG. 5  is a flow chart of a tanning algorithm. 
     
    
    
     EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENT OF A BEST MODE 
     Interpretation Considerations 
     When reading this section (An Exemplary Embodiment of a Best Mode, which describes an exemplary embodiment of the best mode of the invention, hereinafter “exemplary embodiment”), one should keep in mind several points. First, the following exemplary embodiment is what the inventor believes to be the best mode for practicing the invention at the time this patent was filed. Thus, since one of ordinary skill in the art may recognize from the following exemplary embodiment that substantially equivalent structures or substantially equivalent acts may be used to achieve the same results in exactly the same way, or to achieve the same results in a not dissimilar way, the following exemplary embodiment should not be interpreted as limiting the invention to one embodiment. 
     Likewise, individual aspects (sometimes called species) of the invention are provided as examples, and, accordingly, one of ordinary skill in the art may recognize from a following exemplary structure (or a following exemplary act) that a substantially equivalent structure or substantially equivalent act may be used to either achieve the same results in substantially the same way, or to achieve the same results in a not dissimilar way. 
     Accordingly, the discussion of a species (or a specific item) invokes the genus (the class of items) to which that species belongs as well as related species in that genus. Likewise, the recitation of a genus invokes the species known in the art. Furthermore, it is recognized that as technology develops, a number of additional alternatives to achieve an aspect of the invention may arise. Such advances are hereby incorporated within their respective genus, and should be recognized as being functionally equivalent or structurally equivalent to the aspect shown or described. 
     Second, the only essential aspects of the invention are identified by the claims. Thus, aspects of the invention, including elements, acts, functions, and relationships (shown or described) should not be interpreted as being essential unless they are explicitly described and identified as being essential. Third, a function or an act should be interpreted as incorporating all modes of doing that function or act, unless otherwise explicitly stated (for example, one recognizes that “tacking” may be done by nailing, stapling, gluing, hot gunning, riveting, etc., and so a use of the word tacking invokes stapling, gluing, etc., and all other modes of that word and similar words, such as “attaching”). 
     Fourth, unless explicitly stated otherwise, conjunctive words (such as “or”, “and”, “including”, or “comprising” for example) should be interpreted in the inclusive, not the exclusive, sense. Fifth, the words “means” and “step” are provided to facilitate the reader&#39;s understanding of the invention and do not mean “means” or “step” as defined in §112, paragraph 6 of 35 U.S.C., unless used as “means for—functioning—” or “step for—functioning—” in the Claims section. Sixth, the invention is also described in view of the Festo decisions, and, in that regard, the claims and the invention incorporate equivalents known, unknown, foreseeable, and unforeseeable. Seventh, of course, the discussions and definitions are provided for clarification purposes and are not limiting, and the language and each word used in the invention should be given the ordinary interpretation of the language and the word, unless indicated otherwise. It should be noted in the following discussion that acts with like names are performed in like manners, unless otherwise stated. 
     Description Of The Drawings 
     In one embodiment, the invention provides a tanning system.  FIG. 1  illustrates components that may be provided in one embodiment of a tanning system  100 . In the tanning system  100  a graphical user interface (GUI)  142  is provided so that an operator of tanning system  100  may select and adjust various settings of the tanning system. For example, by using the graphical user interface  142 , one may select a predetermined pressure, a predetermined program which varies pressures, a tanning solution, a combination of tanning solutions, a combination of a tanning solution and a moisturizer, or a temperature at which any of these is delivered into a fog chamber  110 . Accordingly, settings selected at the graphical user interface are supplied to a computer  140 . Alternatively, any of the settings described as being selected at the graphical user interface  142  may be selected by a user within the fog chamber  110  via a control pane (not shown). 
     The computer  140  may be any computing platform capable of executing a computer code, which enables the tanning system  100 . For example, the computer  140  could be a personal computer (PC), a laptop, or a specific use-computing device. Preferably, the computer  140  stores and executes a tanning system algorithm (discussed later). 
     The computer  140  is coupled to a control system  150 . The control system  150  typically houses an electrical control subsystem  152 , and a mechanical control subsystem  154 . The control system  150  opens and closes valves within a pump system  130  so as to implement the settings directed at the graphical user interface  142 , or by a user at the control panel. Accordingly, the electrical control subsystem  152  is generally controlled by the computer  140  so as to actuate the mechanical control subsystem  154 . 
     The mechanical subsystem  154  implements the opening and closing of valves within the pump system  130 , such as the flow valve  134 , and the valve(s) in the pump  132  which controls the flow of solutions into the pump system  130 . It should be noted that although the control system  150  appears in  FIG. 1  to be rather larger, the control system  150  is typically a quite small device. 
     The control system  150  is thus coupled to the pump system  130  so as to control the valves therein. Furthermore, the pump system  130  accepts solution from a first solution container  120 , containing a Solution a, and a second solution  122  containing a Solution B. The Solution A and the Solution B may be tanning solutions or moisturizers or other solutions or liquids to be delivered to the fog chamber  110 . The pump  132  places the incoming solutions under pressure, and preferably places the solutions at predetermined pressure. 
     For example, if a liquid with water-like consistency is pumped, then the predetermined pressure may be between 450 and 550 psi, and is preferably 500 psi. Similarly, if a lotion is pumped, the predetermined pressure may be between 550 and 650 psi, with a preferred predetermined pressure of 600 psi. Likewise, the flow valve  134  is opened and closed by the control system  150  so as to allow the tanning solution which exits the pump  132  at the predetermined pressure to pass into the fog chamber  110 . 
     A fog chamber  110  is a generally enclosed housing used to encapsulate a fog about a person being tanned, and to maintain the fog at a predetermined density.  FIG. 2  illustrates one embodiment of a fog chamber  110 . The fog chamber  110  is generally comprised of an outer shell  200 , a hood  210  and a floor  220 . The hood  210  is preferably a plastic of fiberglass form capable of supporting a lighting system  212  as well as a fan motor  214 . The fan motor  214  drives fan blades  216  to vent and evacuate the chamber. 
     Accordingly, during operation, the lighting system  212  provides lighting within the fog chamber  110 . In addition, the fan motor  214  operates at a low speed during the fogging process to provide ventilation within the fog chamber  110 , and at high speed to quickly evacuate the fog chamber  200  when the person being tanned has been exposed to the fog for a sufficient time. 
     The floor  220  includes a plurality of legs  226 , which support a generally mesh-like floor piece  222  thereon. The floor piece  222  is elevated above the floor  220  in order to provide ventilation about the feet of the person being tanned. Furthermore, the floor piece  222  includes a standing platform  224  on which a person may stand without their feet being irritated by the floor piece  222 . In addition, the generally mesh nature of the floor piece  222  allows condensation and excess fog to fall to the floor  220 . 
     The outer shell  200  provides a door  230 , which opens and shuts about a doorway  232  for providing access into the tanning chamber  110 . The outer shell  200  like the hood  210  is preferably made of a fiberglass or a moldable plastic. Also provided within the outer shell  200  are a plurality of vents  240  for providing fresh air access into the fog chamber  110 . Disposed within the outer shell  200  is a fluid frame  250 , which provides tanning solution (or other liquid or lotion) to the fog chamber  110 . The fluid frame is preferably constructed of ⅜″ copper pipe and contains a plurality of nozzles  260  thereon. 
     Each fluid frame is customized to provide a generally uniform fog to a user within the fog chamber  110 . Accordingly, the fluid frame, in operation, is generally disposed about the person being tanned.  FIG. 3  illustrates a fluid frame  300  for use within a generally circular top frame piece  320 , a generally circular bottom frame  330 , and a plurality of vertical frame pieces  310 . Each of the frame pieces  310 ,  320 ,  330 , may be fluidly connected to a plurality of nozzles  340 . 
     The number and location of the nozzles  340  are chosen based on the desire to produce a generally uniform fog within the area generally enclosed by the fluid frame  250 . Furthermore, each nozzle  340  is pointed in a direction that supports the creation of a uniform fog within the fog chamber  110 . Also coupled to the fluid frame  250  is an empty pipe  350 , which brings the tanning solution (or tanning solution mixture) into the fluid frame  250 . Controlling access of a fluid to the fluid frame  250  via the entry pipe  350  is an entry valve  360 . 
     The entry valve  360  provides a user of the tanning system the ability to quickly turn the tanning system off should that user desire to do so. Accordingly, the entry valve  360  is typically coupled to the computer  140 , or the control system  150 . Alternatively, the entry valve  360  maybe directly mechanically turned on and off by an off switch (not shown) within the fog chamber. 
     A nozzle capable of producing a fog is utilized by the invention. Accordingly,  FIG. 4 a    illustrates a nozzle  340  designed to produce a fog. The nozzle  340  includes a generally cylindrical shell  410  having an orifice  420  at one end (the end the fog exits, the other end being attachable to the fluid frame) and maintaining a cylinder  440  therein. The orifice  420  is of a size, which enables the nozzle  340  to produce a fog, and is preferably between 0.005 and 0.0200 inches in diameter, and is preferably 0.012 inches in diameter. Furthermore, the nozzle  340  provides an annular indentation  430  capable of supporting a disk fan  450  therein. 
       FIG. 4 b    illustrates one embodiment of the disk fan  450 . The disk fan  450  provides a generally circular outer ring  455 , which supports a plurality of fan blades  460  within its inner radius  457 . Referring to  FIGS. 4 a  and 4 b   , when a fluid is passed in the chamber  440 , and through the orifice  420 , the flow of the fluid causes the fan blades  460  to turn the disk fan  450  so that the disk fan  450  rotates rapidly. The rapid spinning of the disk fan  450  causes a more even and uniform dispersion of a fog within the fog chamber  110 . This provides the additional advantage of preventing a user of the tanning system from being irritated by a direct spray. 
     Exemplary Method 
     One embodiment of a method according to the invention may be understood as a tanning algorithm  500 .  FIG. 5  is a flow chart of a tanning algorithm  500 . First, in a start act  510 , the tanning system algorithm  500  is loaded into a computer memory and performs all of the procedures needed to initialize a control system or a pump system and may heat any fluids to a predetermined temperature. Then, in a receive settings act  520 , the settings selected at either the graphical user interface or a user control panel within the fog chamber are received by the tanning system algorithm  500 . 
     The settings may include a selection of a temperature for a tanning solution, a predetermined fogging program which implements variable fog densities for predetermined times, a selected time period for exposure to a fog, a selected fog density, or settings. Next, in a receive start act  530 , the tanning system algorithm  500  receives an indication that the fogging process is to begin. The receive start act  530  may be initiated by a user within the fog chamber, by a person at a graphical user interface, or automatically via computer program. 
     The tanning system algorithm  500  next proceeds to a mix act  540  in which any tanning solution mixtures selected are either mixed prior to being placed in a pump, or either set so that they may be mixed by a pump. Then, in a set pressure act  550 , the tanning solution (or tanning solution mixture, but collectively “tanning solution”) is pumped to a user-selected pressure. Next, the fog act  560  is implemented by the opening of valves, which allow the tanning solution to flow into a fog chamber. Also within the fog act  560  a fog is produced within the fog chamber  110 . In a hold act  570  the fog density is controlled and held at a predetermined density, which is either user selected or selected by a program, which was selected by the user or the person operating a graphical user interface. Preferably, during the hold act  570 , a fan is operating at a low speed in order to vent air into the chamber at a predetermined rate. 
     The fog evacuated from the fog chamber  110  in an evacuation act  580 . Preferably, the evacuation act  580  is very fast, and preferably almost instantaneous. Then, the tanning system algorithm  500  continues to end and reset act  590 . The end and reset act  590  terminates the execution of the tanning system algorithm  500  and resets the pre-pump system and the control system so that another user may enter and use the fog chamber  110 . 
     Sometimes methods of the invention may be practiced by placing the invention on a computer-readable medium. Computer-readable mediums include passive data storage, such as a random access memory (RAM) as well as semi-permanent data storage such as a compact disk read only memory (CD-ROM). In addition, the invention may be embodied in the RAM of a computer and effectively transform a standard computer into a new specific computing machine, such as a tanning system. 
     Of course, it should be understood that the order of the acts of the algorithms discussed herein may be accomplished in different order depending on the preferences of those skilled in the art, and such acts may be accomplished as software. Furthermore, though the invention has been described with respect to a specific preferred embodiment, many variations and modifications will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon reading the present application. It is therefore the intention that the appended claims and their equivalents be interpreted as broadly as possible in view of the prior art to include all such variations and modifications.