WO2008140315A1

WO2008140315A1 - Solarium and method for the use of a solarium in a bath and/or shower room

Info

Publication number: WO2008140315A1
Application number: PCT/NL2008/050292
Authority: WO
Inventors: Pieter Merijn Wegdam; Oscar Jesse Meijer; Martijn Kuitert
Original assignee: SENTAVI
Current assignee: SENTAVI
Priority date: 2007-05-16
Filing date: 2008-05-16
Publication date: 2008-11-20
Anticipated expiration: 2009-11-16
Also published as: NL1033861C2

Abstract

A solarium for a bath or shower room, provided with lighting, a housing with a light radiation transmitting screen, and an air cooling for the lighting, wherein the air cooling has an air channel which is designed for guiding air from the bath or shower room along the lighting, wherein a condenser is provided near the air channel for withdrawing moisture from the air.

Description

P78664PC00

Title: Solarium and method for the use of a solarium in a bath and/or shower room

The invention relates to a solarium for a bath or shower room, provided with lighting, a housing with a light transmitting screen, and an air cooling for the lamp.

The invention also relates to a method for the use of a solarium in a bath and/or shower room wherein, during the spread of moisture and/or water in the bath and/or the shower, bight, preferably UV light, is radiated by electrically operated lighting.

A known solarium for use in a shower, described in WO2004/004830, requires, for the installation thereof, much time and/or construction activities. An object of the present invention is, inter alia, a solarium which is installable in a simple manner.

This object and/or other objects can be achieved with a solarium for a bath or shower room, provided with lighting, a housing with a light transmitting screen, and an air cooling for the lamp, wherein the air cooling has an air channel that is designed for guiding air from the bath or shower room along the lighting, wherein the air channel is provided with a condenser for withdrawing moisture from the air.

The air cooling according to the invention can advantageously run within the housing so that no large openings and/or channels need to be created in the wall. The solarium, the cooling thereof included, can be attached against the wall without extensive build-in activities.

The object mentioned and/or other objects can also be achieved with a method for the use of a solarium in a bath and/or shower room, wherein during spread of moisture and/or water in the bath and/or the shower, light, preferably UV light, is radiated through electrically operated lighting, wherein during and after radiation, the lighting is actively cooled with the aid of an air cooling system by supplied air coming directly from the moist bath and/or shower room.

Further advantages and features of the present invention follow from the following description, wherein the invention is described in further detail in several exemplary embodiments on the basis of the accompanying drawing. In the drawing:

Fig. 1 schematically shows a cross section in side view of a solarium;

Fig. 2 schematically shows a cross section in side view of an underside of a solarium; Fig. 3 schematically shows a cross section in top plan view of a solarium;

Fig. 4A schematically shows a solarium in perspective view;

Fig. 4B schematically shows a solarium in perspective view;

Fig. 4C schematically shows a solarium in top plan view; Fig. 4D schematically shows a solarium above a bath in perspective view.

In this description, identical or corresponding parts have identical or corresponding reference numerals. In the drawing, embodiments are shown merely by way of example. The elements used therein are mentioned only by way of example and should not be construed to be limitative in any manner. Also other parts can be used within the framework of the present invention. The proportions of the embodiments shown in the Figures are often represented in a schematic and/or exaggerated manner and should not be construed to be limitative in any manner. Fig. 1 schematically shows a cross section of a solarium 1 in a shower room 2, suspended from a wall 4. The shower room 2 forms part of, for instance, a bathroom. The solarium 1 is provided with lighting in the form of, for instance, four UV lamps 3, which radiate UV (ultraviolet) radiation 5 through a UV radiation transmissive screen, in this embodiment in the form of a UV radiation filtering panel 6, manufactured from, for instance, filtering glass known per se. The use of UV lamps with a UV filtering panel 6, to be used in a shower room 2, is described in, for instance, WO2004/004830, the contents of which is understood to be incorporated herein by reference. In one embodiment, the solarium 1 according to the present invention, like the solarium described in WO2004/004830, is particularly suitable for use with a shower, i.e. the solarium 1 can be used by a user as tanning device during showering.

The panel 6 according to the invention, visible to the user, forms part of a housing 7 which surrounds inter alia the lamps 3, and with which the solarium 1 can be suspended from the wall 4.

As known, in a shower room 2 or bathroom, also when it is not used, relatively much moisture is present. For instance through the use of a tap, a shower head, bath, washing machine and/or dryer present in this room 2, with which water is used and/or steam is produced. The solarium 1 for, for instance, a shower room 2 therefore has an air cooling for the lamps 3, which comprises air channels 8, 9, while the cooling utilizes moist air. During use of the lamps 3 it will be warmer within the housing 7 than in the moist surroundings, so that hardly any moisture, if at all, will condensate in the housing 7.

When the lamps 3 are switched off for some time, they will cool down. In order to prevent moisture from condensing or entering in the housing 7 after the lamps 3 have cooled down, the air cooling is advantageously provided with a condenser 11, at an air cooling opening 30 in the housing 7. Here, the air cooling opening 30 is provided at the beginning and/or the end of the air channels 8, 9, while the channels 8, 9 extend through the housing 7 along the lamps 3. Here, the condenser 11 withdraws at least a large part of the moisture from the air so that little or no moisture will have the opportunity of condensing on, for instance, the lamps 3 and/or other electrotechnical means in the housing 7. Preferably, to that end, after the lamps 3 are switched off, a forced air flow is maintained within the housing 7. As moist air can be used for cooling, it is not necessary to supply dry cooling air from, for instance, an adjoining room, as is done with the known solarium of WO2004/004830. With this known solarium, the air channels and the electrotechnical means are installed in the walls of the shower room and ventilation holes are to be drilled in the wall. Nor is it required to utilize other, perhaps more complex cooling means for the lamps 3.

In one embodiment according to the invention, the air channel 8, 9 is integrated into the housing 7. During use of the lamps 3, or at least when the lamps 3 have a high temperature relative to the surroundings, the moisture in the air will hardly, if at all, condense within the housing 7. When the temperature in the housing 7 is approximately equal to the ambient temperature, for instance when the lamps 3 have cooled down after use, the moisture will hardly, if at all, condense within the housing 7 but will precipitate on the condenser 11. This may be so because a condenser 11 is arranged at the end of an air outlet channel 9, as shown in Fig. 1 and 2.

Moisture can also, upon entering, precipitate on the walls 4, 21 of an air inlet channel 8.

The air channel 8, 9 is favourably integrated with the housing 7. The lamps 3 can be cooled with air from the room 2 in which the solarium 1 is to be installed. Accordingly, one embodiment of the solarium 1 can be attached to the walls 4 of the shower room 2 and be installed relatively simply in the shower room 2 or any other room. No separate cooling means are to be built-in or air channels be constructed. It is therefore in principle not necessary to build the solarium 1 into a wall. As can be seen in Fig. 1, in installed condition, an air inlet 8 is provided between the housing 7 and the wall 4, through which, in use, cooling air is drawn in from the shower room 2, for instance by a fan 13, in an upward direction 14. Here, the solarium 1 according to the embodiment shown is designed such that, prior to installation, at least a part of the channel wall is missing which, upon installation, is filled in by the shower wall 4. After installation, the inlet 8 is therefore circumferentially enclosed by channel walls, wherein the shower wall 4 forms at least a part of at least one channel wall. In still another embodiment, the housing 7 itself will already be provided with channel walls completely enclosing the inlet 8. Also with the solarium 1 in switched off condition, when the inside of the housing 7 has already cooled down, moist air will flow for instance in a substantially upward direction 14 along the air inlet 8 and air outlet 9. In order to then prevent air from still condensing in the housing, condenser parts 12 are provided along the air outlet 9 and the air inlet 8 is designed such that the moisture in the moist air that flows upward in a natural manner precipitates by itself or descends. The wall 4 comprises, for instance, tiles, for instance enamelled tiles, which tiles appear to give a favourable condensing effect. The channel walls 4, 21 of the air inlet 8 therefore withdraw moisture from the air flowing by through condensation, while most of the condensate will precipitate at the underside of the inlet 8 and ends up in the screen 31 and, at the top 15 the first air channel 8, hardly any or no moisture at all will be present in the air, at least moisture of which an undesired amount of condensate could precipitate on the lamps 3.

The air channel 8, 9 also comprises an air outlet 9. The air outlet 9 runs along the lamps 3 and the panel 6 so that the air flow cools the lamps 3 and/or the panel 6, while the air flow blows from, for instance, the fan 13. When, with the lamps 3 in switched-off condition, the temperature in the housing 7 is approximately equal to the surroundings, moist air 17 could, for instance, enter via the outlet 9 and condense within the housing 7, for instance on the lamps 3 and/or electrotechnical means present. This is prevented through the provision of a condenser 11 at the opening 30, adjacent the underside 16 of the air channel 8, see for instance Fig. 2. Moisture entering will condense on the, preferably, metal plates 12 of the condenser 11, so that moisture is prevented from condensing in the housing 7. As already described hereinabove, the condensed moisture eventually flows into a screen 31 and/or after that, in a drain 18. The screen 31 is provided with openings, so that it needs not be emptied separately. Also, a guide 33 can be provided for guiding exiting air and/or moisture. In another embodiment (not shown), the air channel 8, 9 and/or the fan 13 are arranged such that an air inlet 9 runs along the lamps 3 while for instance an outlet 8 runs along the shower wall 4 or is for instance guided along the top.

In one embodiment, all parts 6, 7, 16 and 19, that can be touched by the user are made of electrically insulating material, so that het risk of the user sustaining a power shock is eliminated. As all parts that can be touched by the user are made of electrically insulating material, it is for instance not necessary to install a potential equalizing wire. In one embodiment, to this end, a watertight and electrically insulating sealing strip 19 is provided for sealing a seam 20 between the housing 7 and the wall 4, as shown in cross section and in top plan view in Fig. 3. A channel wall 21 or any other conductive part that may be present that is located in or behind the housing 7 can then hardly, if at all, be touched. Preferably, the sealing strip 19 is manufactured from an elastomer, for instance rubber. Such a sealing strip 19 also prevents moisture from entering the housing 7 in an undesirable manner via the seams 20. Such a strip 19 can be installed relatively easily.

Further, in one embodiment, an electrically insulating and watertight cable trough 23 is provided, as shown in Fig. 4A and 4B. Through this cable trough 23 for instance feeder cables 25 may run, and/or operating cables for the solarium 1. In an advantageous manner, the cable trough 23 is designed to be arranged within the room 2 so that the cables 25 extend at a distance of at least approximately 50 mm from the outer wall 24 of the cable trough 23. The cable trough 23 can also be advantageously continued above approximately 2250 mm, preferably above 2600 mm. In such manners, relevant safety standards are met, for instance IEC 60364-7-701 or an equivalent thereof. It is in particular advantageous if the cables are guided through the cable trough 23 to at least a legal minimum ceiling height In one embodiment, the solarium 1 is attached in a corner 27 between two walls 4, while it is noted here that shower rooms 2 are often located in a corner 27 as can be seen in, for instance, Fig. 4A. To that end, the solarium 1 may have a rear side that is angular in top plan view (Fig. 4C). Through installation in a corner 27, efficient use of space is made, which space, also without solarium 1, would hardly, if at all, be utilized by a person, because of the narrow space at the corner 27. The solarium 1, fixed to the wall, is considered as a partition wall behind which the electrotechnical means, lamps 3 and the like are located, while floor surface 28 below the solarium 1 would not be used anyway. The electrotechnical means and/or lamps 3 are hidden behind a fixed, for instance screwed tight partition wall so that a prohibition on electric means, for instance according to certain standards, needs not prevail any more. Such a prohibition is for instance lifted if the solarium 1 cannot be detached with bear hands. A standard that can then be met is for instance the above-mentioned IEC 60364-7-701 and/or an equivalent thereof.

The corner model meets the relevant safety standards and can be relatively easily fitted to the walls 4, for instance without having to provide large openings in the wall 4. These and/or other advantages of a solarium 1 for use in a corner 27 of, for instance, a shower room 2 contribute to the fact that such a corner model can also be considered to be a separate invention.

The principle of forming a partition wall can, for that matter, also be achieved with, for instance, a model of the solarium 1 for a shower room 2, see for instance Fig. 4B, or above a bath in the corner, see Fig. 4D, that is rectangular in top plan view. Here, also, a floor space 28 is used that is not or hardly treadable and a sort of partition wall and/or niche is formed, with which according to relevant standards a solarium 1 to be used in the shower room 2 can be allowed. In one embodiment, the panel 6 comprises a control panel 29 with which, inter alia, the settings of the lamps 3 can be altered. Here, the control panel comprises, for instance, capacitive sensors that can be manually controlled. Thus, a substantially smooth surface is obtained which is advantageous for cleaning the panel 6. Here, the entire panel 6, control panel included, is watertight. In other embodiments, for instance light sensitive sensors are utilized in the control panel 29. The control panel 29 may be provided at the bottom and/or at the top of the continuous panel 6, below and/or above the part of the panel 6 screening the lamps 3, respectively. In one embodiment, the control panel 29 is sensitive to a change in the capacitance. As, with conventional control panels 29, the capacitance can be influenced manually as well as through water, one embodiment of the solarium 1 is provided with an electronic drive, which electronic drive is provided with an algorithm designed for filtering out the capacitive changes resulting from water on the control panel 29. It is thus prevented that water would undesirably influence the control of the control panel 29. Here, the algorithm advantageously filters out the capacitive changes resulting from water, either in combination with manual control, or water precipitating on the control panel 29 without there being, in addition, any operation involved. This algorithm and/or the panel 6 with control panel 29 can also be considered to be a separate invention, for instance in combination with other or equivalent features mentioned in this description. The algorithm is also suitable to be programmed into a separate computer program, with which an embodiment of a solarium can or cannot be equipped. In one embodiment, the panel 6 is also designed with a print which indicates, for instance, the lamps and/or elements of the control panel 29. Preferably, this print is a screen silk print. With it, the user is informed about the positioning of the lamps 3 so that the user can extend effectively along the lamps 3, for instance in a standing position. The print can also indicate, for instance, the position and/or function of the operating elements. The panel 6 still remains flat and/or it can be advantageously cleaned in a simple manner. In yet another embodiment, the solarium 1 is of modular design, in particular the height and/or the number of lamps 3 of the solarium 1 can then be advantageously determined according to the wishes of the user.

For the installation of the solarium 1, use is for instance made of at least one bracket, which is attached to the wall 4 by means of attachment means. Then, from this bracket, the housing 7 is suspended. The bracket is for instance angular so that it is attached to two walls and the housing 7 is suspended therefrom in the corner 27. The housing 7 can, for that matter, be designed such that different orientations of the solarium 1 are possible, adapted to, for instance, the orientation and/or body sizes of the user.

The invention is preferably suitable for use in a shower room 2, and/or above a bath, wherein the solarium 1 is attached to a wall, preferably approximately above a standing, sitting or lying surface of a bath or shower. In addition to bath or shower rooms, a solarium according to any one of the embodiments mentioned and/or parts thereof are also suitable for use in other rooms, for instance possible moist areas where UV radiation is desired. Here, for instance any type of bathroom, saunas, swimming pools, outside areas, recreational areas, greenhouses etc. can be considered.

Although in the above-described embodiments only UV lamps 3 are described, in principle, several types of lighting can be suitable to the invention. Another possible form of lighting may be infrared lighting, which can have a healing effect on the body. Also other, special forms of lighting can be used, for instance lighting for phototherapy, lighting for people suffering from winter depressions, lighting for chromotherapy, lighting for warmth, blue light for jaundice and/or forms of therapeutic lighting, i.e. lighting for influencing the physical and/or mental condition etc. or other types of UV lighting such as LEDs or OLEDs. The described variations and many comparable variations, and combinations thereof are understood to fall within the framework of the invention as outlined by the claims. Naturally, different aspects of different embodiments and/or combinations thereof can be combined with each other and be exchanged within the framework of the invention. Therefore, delimitation should not be restricted to the embodiments mentioned.

Claims

1. A solarium for a bath or shower room, provided with lighting, a housing with a light transmitting screen, and an air cooling for the lighting, wherein the air cooling has an air channel that is designed for guiding air from the bath or shower room along the lighting, wherein the air channel is provided with a condenser for withdrawing moisture from the air.

2. A solarium according to claim 1, wherein the housing surrounds at least the lighting, electrotechnical means, and at least a part of the air channel.

3. A solarium according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the housing is designed to be attached to a wall.

4. A solarium according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the air channel comprises an air inlet and an air outlet.

5. A solarium according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the air channel guides air along the lighting, with the solarium in upright condition, in a vertical direction.

6. A solarium according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, at least with the solarium in upright condition, the condenser is arranged at the underside of the solarium.

7. A solarium according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the condenser comprises condenser plates.

8. A solarium according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the housing is provided with a sealing strip for watertight sealing of a seam between the housing and a wall, at least after placement against a wall.

9. A solarium according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein all parts at the outside of the housing that can be touched by a user are non- conductive.

10. A solarium according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the screen comprises a substantially watertight control panel for changing the settings of the solarium.

11. A solarium according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the control panel comprises capacitive sensors.

12. A solarium according to claim 11, wherein the solarium is provided with an electronic drive, which electronic drive is provided with an algorithm that is designed for filtering out the capacitive changes resulting from water on the control panel.

13. A solarium according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the screen is provided with a print which indicates the lighting, for instance lamps, and/or elements of the control panel.

14. A solarium according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the solarium, or at least the panel, forms in situ the partition wall between two walls.

15. A solarium according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the solarium is designed to be placed in a corner.

16. A solarium according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein substantially electrically insulating and watertight cable troughs are provided, at least for guiding electric feeder cables to the parts within the housing, preferably with a depth of at least 50 mm.

17. A solarium according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the height and/or the lighting of the solarium, in particular the number of lamps, are/is of modular design.

18. A solarium according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the lighting comprises UV lighting and wherein the solarium has a UV radiation transmissive screen.

19. A bath and/or shower room, wherein a solarium according to any one of the preceding claims is attached to a wall, preferably approximately above a standing, sitting and/or lying surface of a bath or shower.

20. A method for the use of a solarium in a bath and/or shower room wherein during spread of moisture and/or water in the bath and/or the shower light, preferably UV light, is radiated by electrically operated lighting, wherein during and after radiation the lighting is actively cooled with the aid of an air cooling system by supplied air coming directly from the moist bath and/or shower room.