Abstract: Tanning bed apparatus is provided for providing a person with an artificial sun tan. The apparatus includes a lower tanning unit and an upper tanning unit that is moveable between an open and a closed position where the units together form a tanning chamber. A first longitudinally extending edge of the lower tanning unit is positioned lower than the vertical center of the tanning chamber to ease the task of entering and exiting the chamber. A second longitudinally extending edge of the lower tanning unit includes at least one tanning bulb that is positioned at or above the vertical center of the chamber to eliminate uneven tanning along one longitudinally extending edge of the user. At least one tanning bulb in the first longitudinally extending edge of the upper tanning unit is positioned at or below the vertical center of the chamber to eliminate uneven tanning along the opposite longitudinally extending edges of the user.

Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus for counter-balancing a tanning unit pivotally mounted to a base and having a radiation energy source for artificially tanning a person. The apparatus comprises a base, a tanning unit pivotally mounted to said base, and a device for variably applying torque to said tanning unit so that, throughout the range of rotational motion of said tanning unit, the instantaneous applied torque produced by said device for applying torque to said tanning unit approximately counter-balances the instantaneous torque produced by gravitational forces acting on said tanning unit. Therefore, said tanning unit may be retained in any instantaneous position between a raised position and a lowered position. Said device for variably applying torque to said tanning unit comprises an urging device connected between said tanning unit and said base which provides a variable force vector having a force magnitude, proportional to the deformation of said urging device.