HEATED SPRAY SYSTEM FOR APPLYING TANNING SOLUTION
An improved method and apparatus for applying tanning solutions to a human body. Preferred embodiments of the present invention provide a spray gun that heats the air used to propel the tanning solution, rather than the tanning solution itself, in order to make the application of the tanning solution much more comfortable. Other preferred embodiments heat the tanning solution immediately before it is applied to minimize degradation of the active ingredient in the tanning solution that results from temperatures above 40° C.
The invention relates to a heated spray system, and more particularly to a heated spray system for applying tanning solution to a human body.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION“Tanned” skin is generally considered physically attractive. Tanning due to exposure to sunlight, however, causes undesirable skin damage, including sunburn, premature aging of the skin, and even increased risk of skin cancer. As a result, “sunless” tanning systems involving the application of a variety of topical skin tanning solutions have gained in popularity. These systems have the benefit of producing the appearance of tanned skin without exposure to potentially harmful ultraviolet light sources. Most systems involve the use of a compound containing the color additive dihydroxyacetone (DHA) to the skin, typically via a hand-applied lotion or cream or through spray nozzle systems.
Spray systems for dispensing tanning solution typically use air compressors and air-atomizing nozzles to form a fine mist of the tanning solution which can be sprayed onto the skin. Spray systems are faster and produce a more uniform coating that hand-applied lotions, however they do suffer from some disadvantages. Because the DHA-containing tanning solution is typically kept at room temperature, the spray application of a fine mist of the solution is often uncomfortably cold to the person being sprayed. Also, the solution takes several minutes to dry, and during the drying period tends to feel cold and sticky. The person being sprayed must essentially stand in place waiting for the solution to dry before getting dressed, which adds to the discomfort and also undesirably lengthens the total time required to receive a spray tan.
Accordingly, there is a need for an improved method and apparatus for applying tanning solutions to a human body that is both quicker and more comfortable.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONAn object of the invention is to provide an improved method and apparatus for applying tanning solutions to a human body. Preferred embodiments of the present invention provide a spray gun that heats the air used to propel the tanning solution, rather than the tanning solution itself, in order to make the application of the tanning solution much more comfortable. Other preferred embodiments heat the tanning solution immediately before it is applied to minimize degradation of the active ingredient in the tanning solution that results from temperatures above 40° C.
The foregoing has outlined rather broadly the features and technical advantages of the present invention in order that the detailed description of the invention that follows may be better understood. Additional features and advantages of the invention will be described hereinafter. It should be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the conception and specific embodiments disclosed may be readily utilized as a basis for modifying or designing other structures for carrying out the same purposes of the present invention. It should also be realized by those skilled in the art that such equivalent constructions do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.
For a more thorough understanding of the present invention, and advantages thereof, reference is made to the drawings in the accompanying appendix.
The drawings in the attached appendix are not drawn to scale unless otherwise indicated. In the drawings, reference numbers may be used with each identical or nearly identical component that is illustrated in various figures is represented by a like numeral. For purposes of clarity, not every component may be labeled in every drawing.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTSFor the purposes of the present invention, tanning solutions or sunless tanning solutions will be understood as meaning all substances or mixtures which are able to tan or darken the color of human skin. Most tanning solutions in use today contain 1,3-dihydroxyacetone (DHA) as an active ingredient. DHA, when applied topically to the skin, produces a skin browning effect that is similar in coloration to the tan produced by exposure to UV rays.
Typically, an airbrush-type spray gun is used for applying DHA-containing sunless tanning solutions. The most common type of spray gun used is known as a high volume low pressure (HVLP) spray gun, which uses a relatively high volume of air at a lower pressure than conventional high pressure air guns commonly used, for example, to apply paints or sealants. In a typical HVLP process, the air pressure at the nozzle is kept to less than 10 psi but the spray nozzle is designed to increase the volume of air directed at the fluid spray. HVLP systems usually make use of a turbine instead of an air compressor, but the present invention is not limited to turbine systems. Most spray guns used for tanning solution application are bleeder-type guns in which the compressed air is continually moving through the gun with only the DHA solution spray turned on and off with the trigger, although other types of suitable air gun systems could be used.
Because the DHA-containing tanning solution is typically kept at room temperature, the spray application of a fine mist of the solution is often uncomfortably cold to the person being sprayed. Also, the solution takes several minutes to dry, and during the drying period tends to feel cold and sticky. The person being sprayed must essentially stand in place waiting for the solution to dry before getting dressed, which adds to the discomfort and also undesirably lengthens the total time required to receive a spray tan.
Heating the solution itself would certainly improve the comfort level for anyone being sprayed with the tanning solution, but DHA is sensitive to high temperatures and begins to degrade at temperatures above 40° C. Applicant has determined that heating the solution itself to temperatures below 40° C. still results in a spray that it uncomfortably cold for most people. Applicant has also discovered, however, that it is not necessary to heat the solution itself above 40° C. as long as the air used to propel the atomized solution is heated to a comfortable level. For most users, the spray of atomized tanning solution will be comfortable if the blown air is heated to a temperature above 60° C. at the nozzle, more preferably above 80° C., and even more preferably above 95° C. (although temperatures may begin to be uncomfortably warm above 110° C.). Skilled persons will recognize that the air will be considerably cooler by the time it reaches the body of the person to whom the tanning solution is being applied.
Spray gun 100 makes use of a source of compressed or pressurized air such as turbine 103 and a reservoir of a tanning solution (in cup 104) to spray the solution through a spray tip 106. When trigger 108 is depressed the tanning solution mixes with the compressed air stream as described below and is released in a fine spray. Compressed air is forced through an air hose 110 connected to an air inlet 112 at the rear of the spray gun body 114. The gun body 114 also preferably includes a handle 116 for gripping and holding the gun during operation. The compressed air passes through an upper air channel 102 where it flows out spray tip 106, which includes an air cap 130 held in place by air cap ring 132.
The tanning solution is typically stored in a solution cup 104 as shown in
In some known systems, the tanning solution is drawn up to the needle valve by siphon-feed. As compressed air flows past the needle valve orifice at the top of the pick-up tube, it creates a partial vacuum in the pick-up tube. An air return in the top of the solution cup allows atmospheric pressure to push the tanning solution up through the pick-up tube. In other known systems, such as the spray gun of
Unlike prior art spray guns used for tanning solutions, the heated spray gun of
In this manner, the compressed air passing out through the air nozzle is warm enough to be comfortable, but the tanning solution is not heated to a level where the DHA will be significantly degraded. Although the air is heated above room temperature to some degree by the compressor, the air cools rapidly as it moves through the air hose. For this reason, dedicated heaters located at or near the compressor unit are not effective in raising the air temperature to a comfortable level. In order to maintain the air at a desired comfortable temperature, it is desirable to heat the air as close to the air cap (outlet) as possible.
Heating element 242 can comprise a typical coil resistance heater such as the one used in
In some embodiments, a line heater, immersive heating element, or other suitable heating element could be used to actually heat up the tanning solution, either alone or in conjunction with heating the air as described herein. Although the DHA solution will begin to degrade at temperatures above 40° C., in some circumstances it would be possible to heat the solution immediately before application so that an unacceptable degree of degradation is avoided. Preferably, any DHA solution that is heated directly will be applied within 1 minute of heating; more preferably within 30 seconds of heating; and even more preferably within 1 second of heating. In some preferred embodiments this can be accomplished using a flow line heater located close to the spray discharge or by using an immersion heater to heat a small reservoir, preferably a secondary reservoir in addition to the primary sample cup, so that the heated solution can be sprayed within a suitable time after heating. For example,
A preferred method or apparatus of the present invention has many novel aspects, and because the invention can be embodied in different methods or apparatuses for different purposes, not every aspect need be present in every embodiment. Moreover, many of the aspects of the described embodiments may be separately patentable. The invention has broad applicability and can provide many benefits as described and shown in the examples above. The embodiments will vary greatly depending upon the specific application, and not every embodiment will provide all of the benefits and meet all of the objectives that are achievable by the invention.
Although the present invention and its advantages have been described in detail, it should be understood that various changes, substitutions and alterations can be made to the embodiments described herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. Moreover, the scope of the present application is not intended to be limited to the particular embodiments of the process, machine, manufacture, composition of matter, means, methods and steps described in the specification. As one of ordinary skill in the art will readily appreciate from the disclosure of the present invention, processes, machines, manufacture, compositions of matter, means, methods, or steps, presently existing or later to be developed that perform substantially the same function or achieve substantially the same result as the corresponding embodiments described herein may be utilized according to the present invention. Accordingly, the appended claims are intended to include within their scope such processes, machines, manufacture, compositions of matter, means, methods, or steps.
Claims
1. A spraying apparatus for applying tanning solution to the human body comprising:
- a source of pressurized air;
- a reservoir of a tanning solution;
- a spray gun having a gun body and an air passage within the gun body to carry a flow of pressurized air for causing the tanning solution to flow from the reservoir through the nozzle for discharge in the form of a spray;
- a source of heat located within the gun body for heating the pressurized air flowing through the air passage without heating the tanning solution in the reservoir.
2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the source of heat is a resistive heating element.
3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the source of heat is a ceramic disc heater, a solid element heater, an infrared or ultrasound heater, or a thermal plasma heater.
4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the spraying apparatus comprises an HVLC spray gun.
5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the source of heat heats the pressurized air flowing through the air passage to a sufficient temperature that the air flowing out of the nozzle is from 60° C. to 110° C.
6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the source of heat heats the pressurized air flowing through the air passage to a sufficient temperature that the air flowing out of the nozzle is from 80° C. to 110° C.
7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the source of heat heats the pressurized air flowing through the air passage to a sufficient temperature that the air flowing out of the nozzle is from 95° C. to 110° C.
8. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a heat shield surrounding the heating element.
9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the source of heat is located within the air passage.
10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the source of heat is located within the air passage and adjacent to the nozzle.
11. A spraying apparatus for applying tanning solution to the human body comprising:
- a source of pressurized air;
- a reservoir of a tanning solution;
- a spray gun having a gun body and an air passage within the gun body to carry a flow of pressurized air for causing the tanning solution to flow from the reservoir through the nozzle for discharge in the form of a spray;
- a source of heat located heating a portion of the tanning solution to a temperature of greater than 40° C. so that the heated tanning solution can be discharged in the form of a spray within one minute of heating.
12. The apparatus of claim 11 in which the heated tanning solution can be discharged in the form of a spray within 30 seconds of heating.
13. The apparatus of claim 11 in which the heated tanning solution can be discharged in the form of a spray within 1 second of heating.
14. The apparatus of claim 11 further comprising a source of heat located within the gun body for heating the pressurized air flowing through the air passage.
15. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the source of heat located within the gun body for heating the pressurized air heats the air flowing through the air passage to a sufficient temperature that the air flowing out of the nozzle is from 60° C. to 110° C.
16. A method for applying tanning solution to the skin of a human body comprising:
- providing a reservoir of a tanning solution that, when applied topically to the skin, produces a skin browning effect;
- providing a spray gun for applying the tanning solution to the skin in the form of a spray by using a flow of pressurized air;
- heating the pressurized air so that the air flowing out of the spray gun is warmed to a temperature of 60° C. to 110° C.; and
- spraying the heated air and tanning solution onto a portion of the skin to produce a skin coloration similar to the tan produced by exposure to UV rays.
Type: Application
Filed: Feb 23, 2012
Publication Date: Dec 12, 2013
Inventor: Blakeley Smart (Cedar Park, TX)
Application Number: 14/001,261
International Classification: A45D 34/04 (20060101);