Patent Publication Number: US-11382829-B2

Title: Electronic steam seat

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. § 119 of U.S. Provisional Patent App. No. 62/959,643, filed Jan. 10, 2020, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     Vaginal steaming is a form of feminine self-care that has been practiced across cultures for many years. Traditionally, the practice involves a woman boiling a pot of water, adding herbs, and then positioning herself (e.g., by squatting or sitting) above the rising herb-infused steam. However, the temperature and the quantity of steam that is generated can be difficult to control with precision. Care must be taken to avoid burns, which may occur accidentally if the temperature of the steam is not known, or if a user stumbles or loses her balance close to the near-boiling water. Further, squatting for an extended period can be difficult or uncomfortable for some women. Therefore, any tool that can make the vaginal steaming process simpler, safer, and more comfortable is desired. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  depicts a front perspective view of an electronic steam seat according to an example implementation. 
         FIG. 2  depicts a rear perspective view of an electronic steam seat according to an example implementation. 
         FIG. 3  depicts a front view of an electronic steam seat according to an example implementation. 
         FIG. 4  depicts a rear view of an electronic steam seat according to an example implementation. 
         FIG. 5  depicts a cross-sectional view of an electronic steam seat according to an example implementation. 
         FIG. 6  depicts an exploded view of an electronic steam seat according to an example implementation. 
         FIG. 7  depicts a bottom, perspective view of a portion of a steam chamber according to an example implementation. 
         FIG. 8  depicts a top view of an electronic steam seat according to an example implementation. 
         FIG. 9  is a flowchart of an example method performed by an electronic steam seat. 
         FIG. 10  is a flowchart of an example method of operating an electronic steam seat. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The following disclosure makes reference to the accompanying figures and several example embodiments. One of ordinary skill in the art should understand that such references are for the purpose of explanation only and are therefore not meant to be limiting. Part or all of the disclosed systems, devices, and methods may be rearranged, combined, added to, and/or removed in a variety of manners, each of which is contemplated herein. 
     I. Example Electronic Steam Seat 
     The present disclosure is generally directed to an electronic steam seat that addresses many of the drawbacks of traditional vaginal steaming practices. In particular, the electronic steam seat described in the examples below provides a device that is comfortable to use and relatively easy to operate, with improved capabilities for controlling steam temperature and quantity. 
       FIGS. 1-5  show various views of an example electronic steam seat  100  according to some embodiments discussed herein. As shown, the electronic steam seat  100  may be formed from a multipart housing that includes a base section  102  at its bottom, a middle section or steam chamber  104  positioned atop the base section  102 , and a seat section  106  positioned atop the steam chamber  104 . 
     Each section of the housing may be removably coupled to the adjacent section(s) such that the electronic steam seat  100  is easy to assemble and disassemble. For instance, in some implementations, the steam chamber  104  may include a protruding edge that sits within a corresponding groove in the base section  102 , forming a tongue-in-groove type of engagement  124 , as depicted in  FIG. 5 . A similar connection may be made between the seat section  106  and the steam chamber  104 . In some embodiments, this interconnection may be the only means of coupling the sections of the electronic steam seat housing, which may facilitate easy disassembly of the electronic steam seat  100 . In some other implementations, the sections of the housing may be rotatable with respect to each other after the respective protruding edges and grooves are engaged. Such a rotation may engage one or more locking channels to lock the sections into engagement with one another, for instance. Numerous other possibilities for coupling the housing sections together exist. Further, although the examples discussed herein include an electronic steam seat  100  that includes three housing sections, other arrangements including more or fewer sections are also possible. 
     Turning now to  FIG. 6 , an exploded view of the electronic steam seat  100  shown in  FIGS. 1-5  is depicted. The individual housing sections and several additional components of the electronic steam seat  100  are shown. Each of these will be discussed in further detail below in conjunction with  FIG. 5 , which depicts an assembled, cross-sectional view of the electronic steam seat  100 . 
     A. Example Base Section of an Electronic Steam Seat 
     As shown in  FIGS. 5 and 6 , the base section  102  of the electronic steam seat  100  may include a receptacle  108  for holding water and herbs that are to be heated. In some implementations, such as the examples shown in  FIGS. 5 and 6 , the receptacle  108  may be formed from stainless steel for durability and ease of cleaning, although other appropriate materials are also possible. Further, the receptacle  108  is removable from the base section  102  to allow for easy filling, cleaning, and refilling of the water and herbs that are to be used for the steaming process. Accordingly, the receptacle  108  may include one or more handles or hooks  110 , as shown, to facilitate handling. 
     The receptacle  108  may be sized to nest within a central area of the base section  102  that includes one or more heating elements  112 . The heating elements  112  can include a heating element configured to contact the receptacle  108  and heat the receptacle  108  through conductive heating. For example, the base section  102  may include a cavity at its center that holds the receptacle  108  and heats the contents of the receptacle via an integrated heating plate or similar electric heat source. The heating element  112  may be controlled via a control interface  114  positioned on an outside surface of the base section  102 , as seen most clearly in  FIGS. 1 and 3 . The control interface  114  may include a plurality of buttons  116  for adjusting the settings of the electronic steam seat  100 , as well as a display  118  for providing visual feedback including, for example, the current temperature of the steam within the steam chamber  104 , as discussed further below. 
     The control interface  114  and the heating element  112  may be controlled via a control system  120  housed within the base section  102 . For example, a control system  120  may be provided on a printed circuit board, as shown in  FIG. 5 , that includes a processor and a non-transitory, computer readable medium housing program instructions that are executable by the processor to perform operations for controlling the electronic steam seat  100 . For example, the processor may receive input data from the control interface  114  corresponding to button presses by a user of the electronic steam seat  100 . The input data may indicate a command to increase or decrease the steam temperature, or the input data may indicate a desired steam temperature setting. In response, the processor may correspondingly increase or decrease the heat output of the heating element  112 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 6 , the base section  102  may also include one or more light sources  122 , such as infrared or near-infrared lights. In some implementations, these light sources  122  may provide a source of radiant heat that may be utilized in conjunction with the heated steam during vaginal steaming. Accordingly, the control interface  114  may include one or more buttons  116  for operating the one or more light sources  122  via the control system  120  discussed above. 
     B. Example Steam Chamber of an Electronic Steam Seat 
     Referring again to  FIGS. 5 and 6 , the middle section or steam chamber  104  of the electronic steam seat  100  is shown fitting atop the base section  102 . As discussed above, the bottom edge of the steam chamber  104  may be coupled with the base section  102  in a tongue-in-groove engagement  124 , as seen in the cross-section of  FIG. 5 . 
     In some embodiments, the bottom edge of the steam chamber  104  may include a conductive contact for electrically connecting further components in the steam chamber  104  to the control system  120 . For example,  FIG. 7  shows a bottom perspective view of a portion of the steam chamber  104 , disconnected from the base section  102 . A conductive contact  126 , shown in  FIG. 7  as a pair of conductive pins, is positioned along a perimeter of the bottom edge of the steam chamber  104 . The pins  126  are positioned to connect to a corresponding conductive contact  128  on the base section  102 , shown in  FIG. 6 . The conductive contact  128  is connected to the control system  120  and may be arranged in proximity to the control system  120 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 6 and 7 , a cable  130  extends from the pins  126  at the bottom edge of the steam chamber to a temperature sensor  132  at or near the top edge of the steam chamber  104 . Accordingly, once the steam chamber  104  is positioned such that the pins  126  are engaged with the conductive contact  128  on the base section  102 , the temperature sensor  132  may detect the temperature at or near the top of the steam chamber  104  and provide corresponding temperature data to the control system  120 . This temperature data may be provided to a user, for example, on the display  118  of the control interface  114 , giving a useful reference for a user to control the temperature setting of the electronic steam seat  100 . 
     Moreover, the arrangement discussed herein provides for temperature detection that is remote from the heating source  112  and positioned much closer to a user&#39;s skin. Thus, this arrangement may more accurately account for temperature changes that occur as the steam rises from the bottom of the steam chamber  104  to the top. Accordingly, the temperature sensor  132  according to the examples discussed herein may provide temperature data that is more accurate than data from a sensor that is, for example, integrated into or positioned adjacent to the heating element  112 . 
     Based on the arrangement shown, the temperature sensor  132  may provide feedback for the control system  120  that allows a user to accurately increase, decrease, or maintain a desired steam temperature for the electronic steam seat  100 . For example, when a user sets the initial temperature setting of the electronic steam seat  100  to a desired temperature, the control system  120  may activate the heating element  112 . As the water in the receptacle  108  heats and steam begins to form, the control system  120  may receive corresponding temperature data from the temperature sensor  132 . Once the desired temperature is reached, according to the temperature detected by the temperature sensor  132  at the top of the steam chamber  104 , the control system  120  may reduce the heat applied by the heating element  112  so that the temperature stops increasing. If the temperature sensor  132  detects that the temperature begins to drop below the desired temperature, the control system  120  may responsively increase the applied heat. In this way, a feedback loop is created that allows for improved temperature control and correspondingly improved user safety. 
     In  FIGS. 1-4 , the cable  130  can be seen extending from the bottom of the steam chamber  104  to the top. In some implementations, the cable  130  may be fixed to the interior wall of the steam chamber  104 , such as with a water and heat resistant adhesive. In some other examples, the cable  130  may be integrated into the wall of the steam chamber  104 . For example, the cable  130  may have a given cross-sectional shape that fits into a correspondingly shaped notch or groove in the steam chamber wall. As another example, the cable  130  may be placed into a mold prior to, or in the process of, forming the steam chamber  104 , such that the wall of the steam chamber  104  is molded around the cable  130 . Other examples are also possible. 
     In  FIGS. 1, 2, 5, 6, and 8 , a valve  134  is shown at the top of the steam chamber  104 . A slidable tab  136  for controlling the open or closed position of the valve  134  is located on the exterior sidewall of the steam chamber  104 . In some cases, the slidable tab  136  may be mechanically coupled to the valve  134  such that sliding the tab  136  engages the valve  134  to open and close it (e.g., by rotating). However, it is contemplated that in some embodiments, the valve  134  might also be electronically controlled via the control interface  114 . For example, a motor can be mechanically coupled to the valve  134  for operating the valve  134 . The motor can be included as part of the steam chamber  104  and/or part of the valve  134  itself, and the cable  130  connecting the temperature sensor  132  to the conductive contact  126  at the bottom edge of the steam chamber  104  may also be connected to the motor, such that the control system  120  can operate the motor by sending signals to the motor through the cable  130  based on user input received via the control interface  114 . 
     Further, the valve may be operable between a range of positions encompassing “fully open” and “fully closed.” For example, a user may manipulate the slidable tab  136  or an electronic control such that the valve  134  is positioned to be only half-way open. In this way, a user may be provided with increased control over the amount of steam that can escape the steam chamber  104 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 1-4 , the steam chamber  104  may further include an enclosure  140  positioned on the sidewall of the steam chamber  104  at or near the bottom edge of the steam chamber  104 . The enclosure  140  may entirely or partially isolate the conductive contact  126  from the central cavity of the steam chamber  104 . In operation, steam accumulates in the central cavity of the steam chamber  104 , and the enclosure  140  may reduce an extent to which the conductive contact  126  is exposed to the steam. This can be helpful for reducing or preventing water from reaching and interfering with the electronics of the control system  120 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 2, 4, and 7 , the steam chamber  104  may further include a vent  142  for venting the interior of the steam chamber  104  to the exterior of the steam chamber  104 . The vent  142  may help the steam chamber  104  dry out faster after use, which may help prevent mold growth inside the steam chamber. However, the vent  142  may also allow steam to escape the steam chamber  104  during operation. To address this, in some examples and as shown in FIGS.  2 ,  4 , and  7 , the vent  142  may be arranged near the bottom of the steam chamber  104 , below the top of the receptacle  108 . In such an arrangement, steam rising out of the receptacle  108  is less likely to escape the steam chamber  104  through the vent  142 . 
     C. Example Seat Section of an Electronic Steam Seat 
     As shown in  FIGS. 1-6 and 8 , the seat section  106  is positioned atop the steam chamber  104  and includes an ergonomically contoured seating surface  138 . In some implementations, the contoured seating surface  138  may be cushioned for increased comfort. Similar to the connection between the steam chamber  104  and the base section  102 , the seat section  106  may be connected to the steam chamber  104  using a tongue-in-groove style engagement, similar to the tongue-in-groove style engagement  124  depicted in  FIG. 5 . One advantage of the tongue-in-groove connection is that the seat section  106  may be rotatable with respect to the steam chamber  104 . This may allow a user to rotate the seat section  106  to a particular orientation that is more comfortable for operating one or both of the control interface  114  or the slidable tab  136 . 
     Although the seat section  106  does not include any electronic components in the examples discussed herein, such variations are fully contemplated by the present discussion. For instance, in some embodiments the seat section  106  and steam chamber  104  may include a set of conductive contacts similar to those shown and discussed above, providing an electrical connection to the control system  120  for communication with the control system  120 . This may allow for an implementation in which the temperature sensor  132  is located in the seat section  106 , for example. Other arrangements are also possible. 
     D. Additional Configurations of an Electronic Steam Seat 
     As shown in  FIG. 6 , the electronic steam seat  100  may, in some implementations, include a facial attachment  144 , which can be used to convert the electronic steam seat  100  from a vaginal steaming configuration into a facial steaming configuration. An upper edge of the facial attachment  144  can be a contoured edge  146  such that the edge  146  is contoured to fit a human face. The contoured edge  146  can be cushioned for improved comfort when placed against a user&#39;s face. 
     As depicted in the exploded view shown in  FIG. 6 , the facial attachment  144  may be positioned inside the steam chamber  104 , and a bottom edge of the facial attachment  144  may removably engage with the base section  102 . For instance, the bottom edge of the facial attachment  144  may engage the central area of the base section  102  and may surround the receptacle  108 , such that the receptacle  108  is nested inside the facial attachment  144 . In such a configuration, a user may remove the steam chamber  104  and the seat section  106  from the electronic steam seat  100  to access and use the facial attachment  144 . 
     In other examples, the facial attachment  144  may be arranged in other configurations. For instance, the bottom edge of the facial attachment  144  may be configured to removably engage with the upper edge of the steam chamber  104  in the same manner or in a similar manner as the seat section  106 . In this configuration, a user may replace the seat section  106  with the facial attachment  144  to use the electronic steam seat  100  in the facial steaming configuration. As another example, the bottom edge of the facial attachment  144  may be configured to removably engage with an upper edge of the seat section  106 . In this implementation, the facial attachment  144  may be stored inside the steam chamber  104  in the arrangement depicted in  FIG. 6  while in the vaginal steaming configuration and installed on top of the seat section  106  to convert the electronic steam seat  100  into the facial steaming configuration. Other examples are possible as well. 
     E. Example Methods in Connection with an Electronic Steam Seat 
       FIG. 9  depicts an example method  200 . The method  200  may be performed by an electronic steam seat, such as the examples of the electronic steam seat  100  described herein. As such, the electronic steam seat may include a base section, a steam chamber, and a seat section. The base section may include a central cavity, an exterior surface, an upper edge, a receptacle containing water and removably positioned in the central cavity, a heating element arranged to heat the receptacle in the central cavity, a control system configured to operate the heating element, and a control interface positioned on the exterior surface. The steam chamber may include an upper edge, a bottom edge removably engaged with the upper edge of the base section, a sidewall, a temperature sensor positioned at a top portion of the steam chamber, a conductive contact positioned along the bottom edge of the steam chamber and removably coupled to the control system, and a cable fixed to the sidewall of the steam chamber and connecting the temperature sensor to the conductive contact. The seat section may include a contoured seating surface and a bottom edge removably engaged with the upper edge of the steam chamber. 
     At block  202 , the method  200  involves the control system of the electronic steam seat receiving temperature data from the temperature sensor. As described above, the temperature sensor is arranged at the top portion of the steam chamber near the seat section, such that the temperature sensor obtains temperature data that more accurately reflects the temperature of steam that is exposed to the user&#39;s skin. 
     At block  204 , the method  200  involves the control system of the electronic steam seat operating the heating element based on the temperature data to heat the receptacle, thereby producing steam in the steam chamber from the water in the receptacle. 
     In some examples, the method  200  further involves the control system of the electronic steam seat receiving, via the control interface, an input temperature setting. The control system may determine a steam temperature based on the temperature data received from the temperature sensor. In these examples, the control system operating the heating element based on the temperature data may involve (i) increasing a temperature of the heating element when the steam temperature is below the input temperature setting and (ii) decreasing the temperature of the heating element when the steam temperature is above the input temperature setting. The heating element may include a conductive heating element and/or a radiative heating element, such that operating the heating element may involve operating the conductive heating element to heat the receptacle through conductive heating and/or operating the radiative heating element to heat the receptacle through radiative heating. 
     In line with the discussion above, the steam chamber may further include a valve positioned near the top of the steam chamber for controlling a flow of steam from the steam chamber to the seat section. In such examples, the method  200  may further involve the control system operating the valve to control the flow of the steam from the steam chamber to the seat section. For instance, the electronic steam seat may include a motor mechanically coupled to the valve and electrically coupled to the control system such that the control system may control the motor to operate the valve. 
       FIG. 10  depicts another example method  300 . The method  300  may be performed in connection with an electronic steam seat, such as the examples of the electronic steam seat  100  described herein. As such, the electronic steam seat may include a base section, a steam chamber, and a seat section. 
     At block  302 , the method  300  involves adding water to a receptacle. The receptacle may be the receptacle  108  shown in  FIGS. 5 and 6 . In line with the discussion above, herbs may be added to the receptacle as well. 
     At block  304 , the method  300  involves removably positioning the receptacle in a central cavity of the base section. The base section includes a heating element arranged to heat the receptacle in the central cavity, a control system configured to operate the heating element based on temperature data, and a control interface positioned on an exterior surface of the base section. 
     At block  306 , the method  300  involves removably engaging an upper edge of the base section with a bottom edge of the steam chamber. The steam chamber includes a temperature sensor positioned at a top portion of the steam chamber, a conductive contact positioned along the bottom edge of the steam chamber, and a cable fixed to a sidewall of the steam chamber. The cable connects the temperature sensor to the conductive contact, and removably engaging the upper edge of the base section with the bottom edge of the steam chamber removably couples the conductive contact to the control system such that the temperature sensor provides the temperature data to the control system via the conductive contact. 
     At block  308 , the method  300  involves removably engaging an upper edge of the steam chamber with a bottom edge of the seat section. The seat section includes a contoured seating surface, and removably engaging the upper edge of the steam chamber with the bottom edge of the seat section causes the contoured seating surface to be positioned above the steam chamber. 
     At block  310 , the method  300  involves providing, via the control interface, an instruction that causes the control system to operate the heating element to heat the receptacle, thereby producing steam in the steam chamber from the water in the receptacle. In line with the discussion above, providing the instruction via the control interface may involve inputting a desired steam temperature setting. In such examples, the control system may be configured to determine a steam temperature based on the temperature data provided by the temperature sensor and adjust a temperature of the heating element by (i) increasing a temperature of the heating element when the steam temperature is below the input temperature setting or (ii) decreasing the temperature of the heating element when the steam temperature is above the input temperature setting. 
     In some examples, the steam chamber further includes a valve configured to control a flow of steam from the steam chamber to the seat section, and the method  300  further involves setting the valve to a position within a range of positions encompassing a fully open position and a fully closed position. For instance, the steam chamber may further include a slidable tab mechanically coupled to the valve, and setting the valve to the position may involve sliding the tab to engage the valve until the valve is set to the position. 
     II. Conclusion 
     Example embodiments of the disclosed innovations have been described above. Those skilled in the art will understand, however, that changes and modifications may be made to the embodiments described without departing from the true scope and sprit of the present invention, which will be defined by claims. 
     To the extent that examples described herein involve operations performed or initiated by actors, such as “operators,” “users” or other entities, this is for purposes of example and explanation only. Claims should not be construed as requiring action by such actors unless explicitly recited in claim language.