Patent ID: 8852562

Claim:
An apparatus for applying an artificial tanning solution to a person's skin comprising: a. a framework at or near a substantially non-enclosed application space above a bed surface having a length and width and which can support a prone human body; b. a plurality of misting heads mounted on a support member of the framework in a row at spaced apart positions above and along the length of the bed surface, the misting heads each having a top and a bottom and comprising a spray pump assembly comprising an inlet, an outlet orifice, and a piston valve moveable over a range of travel in a compression chamber between first and second positions to pump fluid between the inlet and outlet orifice, the outlet orifice having a dispensing direction generally normal to the plane along the framework; c. a conduit in fluid communication between the misting heads and a reservoir; d. an actuator having a controllable input and output, the output operatively connected to the plurality of misting heads via a linkage interfaced with each misting head, the linkage comprising one or more elongated press bars spanning the tops of the misting heads and one or more arms extending to the actuator and moveable by the output of the actuator over the range of travel to move the piston valve of the misting heads between first and second positions; and e. a control component operatively connected to and actuating the actuator, the control component controlling stroke, force, and speed of movement of the piston valves of the misting heads to cause coordinated, controlled in time and quantity gentle bursts of said fluid in misted form to move out from the outlet orifices of the plurality of misting heads above the bed surface into the application space, expand, and then fall by gravity by coordination of each of the plurality of misting heads in force and amount of movement down to and along the bed surface.