Abstract:
A shower stall with integral tanning lights is provided. The shower stall has two tanning light units mounted on two adjacent walls of the shower, each containing tanning bulbs behind tempered glass panels. The panels are securely fastened with waterproof gasketing, and are flush mounted into the bath or shower unit stall wall. A waterproof control panel provides for control of the tanning lights and utilizes a timer to prevent over exposure. Other components necessary for proper operation, such as ballasts, reflectors, wiring and the like are mounted behind the shower or bath stall wall, in the wall stud cavity.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The present invention was first described in Disclosure Document Registration 498,436 filed on Aug. 16, 2001 under 35 U.S.C. §122 and 37 C.F.R. §1.14. There are no previously filed, nor currently any co-pending applications, anywhere in the world. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates generally to shower stalls and, more particularly, to a shower stall with integral tanning lights on the interior thereof. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     The perfect, golden tan is a pursuit of many. Much time, effort and money are spent outdoors, in tanning booths, and on special lotions and oils to generate and maintain the ideal tan. However, many people simply do not have the time to spend in such pursuits, but desire a great tan nonetheless. Such time is necessary whether lying outdoors, driving to a tanning salon, or rubbing in lotions. Even the lucky user who has their own personal tanning bed or booth in their own home, must spend time in such;devices while doing nothing else. 
     A search of the prior art did not disclose any patents that read directly on the claims of the instant invention; however, the following references were considered related. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,095,113, issued in the name of Friedrich Wolff, describes an apparatus for treatment of humans with ultraviolet rays 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,287,554, issued in the name of Friedrich Wolff, describes an apparatus for producing ultraviolet radiation for tanning or therapeutic reasons 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,623,796, issued in the name of Walter Kratz, describes a tanning apparatus. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,703,184, issued in the name of Friedrich Wolff, describes a full-sized skin tanning apparatus. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 6,139,568, issued in the name of John S. Doty, describes a tanning bed apparatus. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 6,208,069, issued in the name of Thomas Justel, et al, describes a low pressure mercury discharge lamp for tanning. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 6,226,454, issued in the name of Pierre Couture, describes an apparatus and method for heating at a distance by light radiance. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 6,265,835, issued in the name of Jorge M. Parra, describes ultraviolet treatment and purification system. 
     Consequently, a there exists a need for a means by which a golden tan may be obtained in a concurrent manner with other everyday activities in a manner which is quick, easy and effective. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an improved means of obtaining a tan. 
     It is a feature of the present invention to allow a means of obtaining a tan while taking a shower. 
     It is a feature of the present invention to include the features of a tanning booth and a shower in one integral unit. 
     Briefly described according to one embodiment of the present invention, a shower stall with integral tanning lights is provided. The shower stall has two tanning light units mounted on two adjacent walls of the shower, each containing tanning bulbs behind tempered glass panels. The panels are securely fastened with waterproof gasketing, and are flush mounted into the bath or shower unit stall wall. A waterproof control panel provides for control of the tanning lights and utilizes a timer to prevent over exposure. Other components necessary for proper operation, such as ballasts, reflectors, wiring and the like are mounted behind the shower or bath stall wall, in the wall stud cavity. The invention is intended for use in new construction or during major bathroom remodeling. 
     The use of the present invention allows a user to acquire a deep, golden tan while taking a shower in a manner which is quick, easy and effective. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The advantages and features of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following more detailed description and claims taken in conjunction with,the accompanying drawings, in which like elements are identified with like symbols, and in which: 
     FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a shower stall with integral tanning lights  10  according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the shower stall with integral tanning lights  10  taken along a line I—I as seen in FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along a line II—II as seen in FIG. 1; and 
     FIG. 4 is an electrical schematic of the shower stall with integral tanning lights  10 . 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     The best mode for carrying out the invention is presented in terms of its preferred embodiment, herein depicted within the Figures. 
     1. Detailed Description of the Figures 
     Referring now to FIG. 1, a shower stall with integral tanning lights  10  is shown, according to the preferred present invention. The shower stall with integral tanning lights  10  is of a standard size and configuration as a conventional shower stall and is envisioned to have dimensions of three feet deep, three feet wide and six to seven feet tall. A standard door section is also provided but is omitted from this FIG. for purposes of clarity. A shower head  15  is visible on the right hand side of the shower stall with integral tanning lights  10 . The shower head  15  could also be provided on the left hand side of the shower stall with integral tanning. lights  10  depending on installation requirements, and for further discussion purposes it shall be assumed that the shower stall with integral tanning lights  10  is capable of being provided in both right and left hand versions. A side mounted tanning light  20  is provided on a shower side wall  25  and a rear mounted tanning light  30  is provided on a shower rear wall  35 . The side mounted tanning light  20  and the rear mounted tanning light  30  will be described in greater detail herein below. A drain  40  is provided on the floor  45  of the shower stall with integral tanning lights  10  to allow it to function as a conventional shower, for those times that the functionality of the side mounted tanning light  20  and side mounted tanning light  20  is not desired or necessary. It is also envisioned that for those shower stalls that utilize a top or roof, an additional tanning light would be provided in the roof, thus allowing tanning of the user from the top thereof. The top mounted light would be installed and function in a manner identical to that of the side mounted tanning light  20  and rear mounted tanning light  30  and are omitted for purposes of clarity in this FIG. as well as following discussions, but should not be interpreted as a limiting factor of the invention. The shower side wall  25 , the shower rear wall  35 , the floor  45  as well as all components of the shower would be made of fiberglass, heavy plastic, or of other components commonly used in the construction of conventional shower stalls. 
     Referring next to FIG. 2, a sectional view of the shower stall with integral tanning lights  10  as seen along a line I—I in FIG. 1, is depicted. The shower head  15 , along with a set of shower controls  50  are visible along the right side of the shower stall with integral tanning lights  10 , and function in a conventional manner. The shower stall with integral tanning lights  10  is located within a series of wall studs  55  as would be found in common residential and commercial construction techniques. The spacing of the wall studs  55  is such that the side mounted tanning light  20  and rear mounted tanning light  30  would fit within the cavity formed by the wall studs  55  thereof. It is envisioned that the cavity formed could be also be made by conventional framing techniques used in the framing of windows with the use of header and sill plates. A pair of fluorescent tanning tubes  60  are located on the interior of each side mounted tanning light  20  and rear mounted tanning light  30  thereof. A parabolic reflector  65  surrounds each fluorescent tanning tubes  60  and refocuses rearward light rays from the fluorescent tanning tubes  60  to a shower stall interior  70 . A ballast  75  is mounted to the rear surface of the parabolic reflector  65  along with internal wiring and any other necessary electrical components commonly found in a fluorescent light. Finally, a rear housing  80  forms a complete electrical enclosure about the side mounted tanning light  20  and the rear mounted tanning light  30 . A timer and control mechanism  85  is located on a shower front wall  90  for ease of user operation. The timer and control mechanism  85  is of conventional and waterproof design that allows for variable operating times envisioned to be a maximum of fifteen minutes at one time. In this manner, dangerous user overexposure is avoided. Internal wiring from the power source to the timer and control mechanism  85  and interconnecting the timer and control mechanism  85  to the side mounted tanning light  20  and the rear mounted tanning light  30  would be routed through the wall studs  55  in a conventional manner. The 90° relationship of the side mounted tanning light  20  and the rear mounted tanning light  30  ensure complete coverage of the user located in the shower stall interior  70  with minimal user rotation. 
     Referring next to FIG. 3, a sectional view, as seen along a line II—II as seen in FIG. 1, is depicted. A shower wall section  100  is depicted as shown. The shower wall section  100  is typical for the shower side wall  25  or the shower rear wall  35  (as shown in FIG.  1 ). The shower wall section  100  is in direct physical contact with a waterproof gasket  105  which is in direct contact with a frame assembly  110 . The waterproof gasket  105  is held in compression by a fastening means  115  such as a screw. The frame assembly  110  holds a piece of tempered glass  120  with the frame assembly  110  surrounding the entire perimeter of the tempered glass  120  thereof. In such a manner, a waterproof barrier is formed between the shower stall interior  70  (as shown in FIG.  2 ), and the interior formed by the combination of the rear housing  80  and the tempered glass  120 . This allows the fluorescent tanning tubes  60 , the parabolic reflector  65  and other components not shown in this view to remain dry and safely operational. 
     Referring finally to FIG. 4, an electrical schematic of the shower stall with integral tanning lights  10  is shown. Electrical power for the shower stall with integral tanning lights  10  would be derived from a conventional 120 volt alternating current source, commonly found in residential and commercial power systems. For enhanced safety, the power source would be protected by a Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter which would disconnect electrical power in those instances where a current imbalance exists before possible user electrocution can occur. Power from the source is routed through the timer and control mechanism  85  which allows control of the shower stall with integral tanning lights  10 . Switched power from the timer and control mechanism  85  is routed to both ballast  75  in a parallel circuit arrangement as shown. Each individual ballast  75  then routes power of the correct current and voltage to each fluorescent tanning tubes  60  as shown. While the arrangement shown indicates two fluorescent tanning tubes  60  per each ballast  75 , other combinations such as three or four fluorescent tanning tubes  60  per each ballast  75 , which are well known in the art, could also be utilized, and as such should not be a limiting factor of the present invention. A return power path from the opposite side of each ballast  75  is provided to the neutral connection of the 120 volt alternating current power source. 
     2. Operation of the Preferred Embodiment 
     The present invention is designed with ease of operation features in mind that allow it to be installed and utilized by a common individual with little or no training. To install the present invention, the user would follow common construction methods used in the installation of conventional shower stalls. Before installation, it must be ensured that adequate wall studs  55  are in place to suit the spacing of the side mounted tanning light  20  and rear mounted tanning light  30 . Such construction methods primarily dictate use of the shower stall with integral tanning lights  10  to new construction projects or major bathroom remodeling projects. An adequate source of electrical power must also be provided. After the shower stall itself is installed and connected to suitable water supply and drain connections using conventional plumbing techniques, the user is ready to begin installation of the side mounted tanning light  20 , the rear mounted tanning light  30  and the timer and control mechanism  85  into the correct cavities. Internal wiring must first be connected as shown in FIG. 4 using standard wiring techniques, with careful consideration paid to correct grounding methods. Finally the waterproof covers consisting of the tempered glass  120 , the frame assembly  110 , and the waterproof gasket  105 , is put into place and secured using a series of fastening means  115  around the perimeter of the frame assembly  110 . At this point the shower stall with integral tanning lights  10  is ready for use. 
     To use the shower stall with integral tanning lights  10 , the user would disrobe and enter the shower stall with integral tanning lights  10  in a manner typical to that of a conventional shower. Next, a suitable operating time is selected on the timer and control mechanism  85 , up to a maximum of fifteen minutes. With the fluorescent tanning tubes  60  illuminated, the user simply rotates themselves periodically to obtain an even tan. After the tanning session is complete, the user may take a shower without leaving the shower stall with integral tanning lights  10 . It is also envisioned that the user may use the side mounted tanning light  20  and the rear mounted tanning light  30  while concurrently taking a shower as well. Periodic use of the shower stall with integral tanning lights  10  ensures a deep, golden tan year round. If maintenance or replacement of the fluorescent tanning tubes  60  is required, the user can access the interior of the side mounted tanning light  20  and the rear mounted tanning light  30  by removing the fastening means  115  and associated waterproof gasket  105 , frame assembly  110  and tempered glass  120 . 
     The foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments of the present invention have been presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed, and obviously many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical application, to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the invention and various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is intended that the scope of the invention be defined by the Claims appended hereto and their equivalents. Therefore, the scope of the invention is to be limited only by the following claims.