Patent Document

FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The instant invention relates generally to tanning beds and more particularly to tanning beds which can be assembled from modular components without the need for special tools. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Commercial tanning beds are presently somewhat cumbersome structures both because of their bulk and weight and because of the traditional manufacturing techniques utilized in fabrication. Most structures are “clam shell” in configuration having a substantial base upon which a person seeking a tan is to lie and a counter-balanced cover moves from an open to a closed position directly overlying the person on the bed so that both sides of a person can be tanned simultaneously. 
     When conventional prior art beds have to be installed in a new location, they usually require special handling by trained personnel due to their cumbersome and bulky nature and because any on-site installation usually entails manipulative techniques outside the skill level of a typical prospective tanning bed owner or the owner&#39;s employees. 
     For example, the ballast which provides resistance that stabilizes the current in the circuit for the tanning ultraviolet lamps have been hard wired. Therefore wiring is a time consuming, tedious project requiring factory installation because it is outside the purview of all people except an experienced installer. 
     In addition, the structure of the tanning bed itself has historically been shipped as a monolith because the counter-balancing of the overlying tanning cover requires winches or springs which are not easy to set up outside of the manufacturing environment. Thus, the base portion and the cover itself normally travels as an integrated unit which makes shipping and deployment at the ultimate site difficult. 
     The prior art listed on Form PTO 1449 appended hereto reflects the state of the art of which applicant is aware and is included herewith to discharge applicant&#39;s acknowledge duty to disclose relevant prior art. It is stipulated, however, that none of these references teach singly nor render obvious when considered in any conceivable combination the nexus of the instant invention as disclosed in greater detail hereinafter and particularly claimed. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The instant invention addresses the foregoing problems by the provision of a tanning bed structure formed from a plurality of modules which collectively define discrete components of the tanning bed. These modules are readily interconnected without the need for specialized tools. Because they have been partitioned into easy to handle sizes, they can be more readily shipped to remote sites and then assembled for utilization. 
     The instant invention also provides these modules with a variety of knock-down coupling instrumentalities for assembling the components into an operational tanning bed. By making the interconnectablity of the relatively small number of components easy to perform, a tanning bed can be assembled or repaired in a short amount of time. Similarly, should the tanning bed need to be moved to another site, this too can be performed with a minimal skill level and relatively quickly. 
     The structure according to the instant invention also lends itself to rapid and facile maintenance. Because the ultraviolet tubes which provide the tanning require periodic replacement, it is desirable that access to the tubes can be afforded with minimal down time and simplicity so that relatively unskilled people can provide the maintenance to keep the beds operational. Access to the bulbs and their associated ballast is readily provided to achieve these aims. As a consequence of all these features, the instant invention addresses a long felt yet heretofore unsatisfied need in the industry. 
     OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION 
     Accordingly, it is a primary object of the instant invention to provide a new and novel tanning bed. 
     A further object of the present invention is to provide a device as characterized above which is modular in nature, formed from a plurality of components which lend themselves to ready assembly by means of a knock-down coupling regime. 
     A further object of the present invention is to provide a device as characterized above which is extremely easy to install, lends itself to ready shipment and can be maintained by relatively unskilled personnel. 
     A further object of the present invention is to provide a device as characterized above lends itself to the economies of scale of mass production and is extremely safe to use. 
     Viewed from a first vantage point, it is an object of the present invention to provide a tanning bed wherein a plurality of modules collectively define components of said tanning bed and includes a knock-down coupling means for assembling said components into an operational tanning bed. 
     These and other objects will be made manifest when considering the following detailed specification when taken in conjunction with the appended drawing figures. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is an exploded parts perspective view of the apparatus according to the present invention. 
     FIG. 2 details the modular components for the ballast assembly according to the present invention. 
     FIGS. 3,  3 A,  3 B and  3 C detail the mounting protocol for installing the canopy to an underlying bench. 
     FIG. 4 is a front view of the FIGS. 3 link; and FIG. 4A shows the shocks attached thereto. 
     FIGS. 5 and 5A are perspective views detailing: the installation of the bench and canopy onto the tanning bed supports and access to the ballast housing, respectively. 
     FIG. 6 is a sectional view of the bench, the canopy being similar. 
     FIG. 7 is a sectional view of one bench restraint. 
     FIG. 8 is a sectional view of another bench restraint. 
     FIG. 9 is a view of a face tanner. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals denote like parts, reference numeral  10  is directed to the tanning bed according to the present invention. 
     Referring first to FIG. 5, the tanning bed  10  generally includes a pair of spaced bench supports  20  having a ballast housing  30  interposed therebetween and fixed thereto. The bench supports  20  cradle a bench  40  in removable, overlying relationship thereto. A canopy  60  is hinged to the bench  40  by removable attachments means to be described. 
     Each bench support  20  includes a lower horizontal member  2  and a longer upper horizontal member  4  which are interconnected by means of upwardly and outwardly diverging legs  6 . The pair of bench supports  20  collectively define cradles upon which the bench  40  is to reside. The two bench supports  20  are secured in spaced parallel relationship by means of the ballast tray assembly  30 . The ballast tray assembly  30  includes a lower tray  8  and an upper covering  12  within which the ballast modules are housed. Each opposite end of the ballast tray assembly includes an outwardly and downwardly projecting L shaped leg  14  on the lower tray  8  which overlies and grasps the horizontal legs  2  to fix the spaced relationship of the bench supports  20 . 
     FIG. 2 shows ballast tray  8  in greater detail. An interior is provided in the open topped tray that includes first and second ballast units  16  at opposed extremities along the length of the tray  8 . The ballast units are modular in construction and includes a plurality of wires terminating in plugs  18  each of which are received within appropriate sockets  22  and then through appropriate circuitry to outlets  24  which respectively power the bench illumination and canopy illumination  90 . A timer outlet  26  leads to a timer T (FIG. 1) to control the amount of time that the tanning bed  10  is to remain on. The whole device  10  includes an AC outlet  28  for electrical communication in a building. The cover  12  overlies the ballast units  16 , circuitry and plug inputs  22  protected by the exterior of the ballast housing  30 . 
     The ballast is formed from a plurality of ballast modules  25  commercially available from Cosmedico Licht GmBH, Germany. They are choke ballasts, part number 74135. The ballasts  25  are each wired in series with a plurality of series wired ultraviolet lights  90 . By wiring both the ballast in series as well as the lights in series, all ballast modules contribute to control circuit parameters, especially current and hold it substantially constant. Three banks B 1 , B 2 , and B 3 , of ballast are shown respectively connected to: face light arrays, bench light arrays and canopy light arrays to be described. 
     The bench  40  shown in FIGS. 1 and 5 is a substantially hollow construct having an arcuate contour with the concave portion facing upwardly to address the prospective tanner. The bench  40  includes an arcuate bottom wall  32  and a pair of long peripheral side walls  34  which terminate at arcuate end walls  36 . The end walls  36  have an inwardly directed flange  38  to slip over the side walls  34  and the bottom wall  32 . The end walls  36  also abut against an edge of the clear bed cover  42  to hold it in position. The end walls  36  support foraminous, removeable end caps  39  attached by fasteners  41 . 
     Ultraviolet bulbs  90  are located within the bench  40 , below the clear cover  42 , and clusters of bulbs  90  are spaced from other clusters by fins  46  so that channel ways are provided between adjacent fins  46  and the long walls  34 . Each end of the bench is provided with a plurality of holes  48  to allow air to pass therethrough. Filter elements  52  are located between end wall  36  and end cap  39  to reduce contamination within the hollow interior of the bench  40 . Air is drawn into the interior of the bench  40  under urging of a fan  54  that draws air from the ambient conditions into holes  48  and exhausts air through slots  56  passing through the bottom wall  32  of the bench and into an exhaust cowling  58  (please see FIG.  6 ). 
     Similarly, the canopy  60  has an arcuate top cover  62  (concave towards the bench) and elongate side walls  64  terminated by end walls  66  which have the same removable attachment features that the bench has. In addition, the canopy  60  includes similar filters  72  which allow air to pass within the interior  74  of the canopy and be exhausted via slits  76  provided in the canopy cover  62  after having passed through the end wall  66  via holes  78 . Specifically, filters  72  are replaceable by removing the end cap  89  (having foramen  49 ) from the end walls  66 . The canopy is provided with fans  84  that lead from a cowling  82  in a manner similar to the bench. A clear cover  86  having air channeling fins  88  integrated therewith provide the channel ways for proper air flow so that the UV tubes  90  are maintained in a temperature controlled environment. The air flow is intended to assure that the UV tubes are provided with adequate ventilation so that they operate at their optimal temperature. A thermistor  81  is included in the exhaust cowling of both the bench and the canopy to regulate the air flow rate through the fans  84  to provide optimum temperature control, particularly after use of the device  10  to assure proper cool down. 
     FIG. 1 reflects further details on the manner in which the canopy  60  is attached to the other structure to form the tanning bed  10 . As mentioned, the bench supports  20  include first and second upwardly and outwardly splayed legs  6 . As shown in FIG. 1, each rearward leg  6  includes a hollow interior, square in section. The interior hollow receives a post  92  frictionally within the hollow of the legs  6  in the direction of the arrow A in FIG.  1 . Two posts  92  are provided interconnected by a transverse member  94 , shaped as an angle iron. 
     The upper ends of the posts  92  are detailed in FIGS. 3,  3 A,  3 B and  3 C. Each post  92  supports a pair of gusset-like plates  96  that has a pivot  98  that supports a link  102 , shown in FIG.  4 . The link  102  is formed as two spaced parallel plates  102   a ,  102   b  united by a backwall  102   c  and moves along the direction of the arrow B shown in FIG.  3 . The link  102  also includes one end  104  of a gas shock  106 . Preferably, two gas shocks are on each link  102  on outside faces of plates  102   a  and  102   b . Each gas shock  106  has a remote end attached on the post  92  adjacent the transverse member  94 . The attachment is shown as a pivot  108 . A telescoping rod portion  112  of the gas shock extends from the shock  106  as shown in FIG.  3 . The link  102  also includes a catch member  114  on an end of the link  102  opposite from the pivot  98 . The link  102  includes an inverted V-shaped upper end having a first surface  116  and a second surface  118 . The first surface  116  is nearer the catch  114 . 
     FIG. 3A shows the link  102  being received in a hollow  128  on the canopy  60 . The hollow is defined by an aluminum molding of generally arcuate configuration having an abutment  120  that is to capture the latch  114  by having the latch rest on top of the abutment  120  as shown in the various FIG. 3 positions. In addition, the aluminum channel includes a bead  122  which frictionally resides against a terminus of the second surface  118  adjacent a front face  102   d  of the link plates  102   a ,  102   b , just at one end of the V-shaped upper end. The structure allows for ready affixion and removal of the canopy  60  from the link  102 . Each gas shock is placed within the path of heat flow emanating from the lamps  90 . The hollow  128  helps to provide a heat trap near the gas shocks. The outside surface of the gas shocks conduct heat to its interior. As the gas shocks heat up, the temperature of the internal gas increases, resulting in greater internal pressure. This gives the gas shock a performance boost during use and makes the canopy actually easier to move between the first and second extreme positions by a tanner than when the shocks are cold. 
     Referring to FIG. 1, FIG. 5, FIG. 5A, FIG.  7  and FIG. 8, the mechanism by which the bench  40  attaches to the supports  20  can be explored. The rear leg  6  of the support  20  includes an L-shaped projection  132  having a tapered leading edge disposed in a horizontal plane, the taper  134  coming to a point to allow locating and inserting the projection  132  into a complementally formed slit  138  on the backside rail  34  of the bench. Please see FIG.  8 . 
     In addition, the front rail  34  of the bench  40  is secured by another slit  148  which receives a hook  142  located on a cradle strap  144  that extends between the forward leg  6  and the upper horizontal leg  4 . A similar strap  128  is located between the rear leg  6  and the horizontal leg  4 . These straps  128 ,  144  cradle and support the bench in its down position, and the latch mechanism  142  secures the bed in that at rest state. A tang  146  (FIG. 7) depends from the strap  144  and supports a pivot lever  148  coupled to the hook  142  and pinned via pivot  152  to the tang  146 . The pivot  152  is offset to provide a cam-like locking action, and the hook  142  is pivoted to the pivot lever  148  via a pivot  154 . 
     FIGS. 7 and 8 are also instructive in noticing how the cover  42  sets into the side rails  34  so that a smooth transition exists at the juncture. As shown in each of these drawings, gasket material  156  resides within a channel  158  formed in the side rails  34  on inner facing edges thereof so that the gasket  158  seats therewithin. The cover  42  is frictionally held between the two gaskets and is then urged to stay in this position to be tailored to accommodate the complemental curvature of the bench  40  as it extends along the top edges of the fins  46  and the ledge  162  formed adjacent the cover  42  on the interior portion of the side walls  34 . This feature allows the cover  42  to be frictionally held with a close tolerance at the juncture where the side walls  34  come into contact with the cover  42  and is frictionally held there yet easy to replace or remove for access to the ultraviolet lights  90 . Cover  42  is formed from acrylic and is of a thickness that allows it to be bent to form the arcuate shape supported on the elements recited above. The top cover  86  can be similarly retained. 
     FIGS. 5 and 5A shows the platform  40  being held in an elevated position off of the straps  128  and  144  yet still adapted to pivot about the projection  134 . A stand member  162  is interposed between the bottom surface  32  of the bench  40  and the forward leg  6  to prop the platform  40  in an elevated position. This allows access to the ballast assembly  30  which in FIG. 5A is shown open should it be necessary to remove any of the modules which are depicted in FIG.  2 . 
     FIG. 9 shows a variation in a tanning canopy  60 ′ and only the nonduplicative elements are illustrated. In this variation, a zone of increased ultraviolet radiation is provided oriented adjacent a face area of the user. Typically, one&#39;s face has a greater degree of resistance to tanning since it is exposed at all times, unlike other parts of the body. Thus, the face can withstand a greater degree of ultraviolet radiation. As shown in FIG. 9, the end wall  66 ′, filter  72 ′ and end cap  89 ′ have been included with a raised boss  165  including a radiused transition area  163  to accommodate the modules  172  that house the higher intensity UV bulbs  90 ′. Clusters of as many as four of the high output UV bulbs  90 ′ are located in each cluster  172 , and each of which is constrained to operate within a box-shaped well  174  which secures to the inverted support tray  171  of module  172 . A window  176  separates the user from the bulbs  90 ′. In addition, because of the additional heat generation, a plurality of fans  178  augment the air flow through this area. These fans  178  are preferably of the “cross blow” type with cages  182  driven by motors  184  to provide additional air flow. The air ventilation holes  78 ′ have been shown along with the ultraviolet lights  90 . 
     Moreover, having thus described the invention, it should be apparent that numerous structural modifications and adaptations may be resorted to without departing from the scope and fair meaning of the instant invention as set forth hereinabove and as described hereinbelow by the claims.

Technology Category: 1