CA1165402A - Irradiation device and removable timer useful therewith - Google Patents

Irradiation device and removable timer useful therewith

Info

Publication number
CA1165402A
CA1165402A CA000362338A CA362338A CA1165402A CA 1165402 A CA1165402 A CA 1165402A CA 000362338 A CA000362338 A CA 000362338A CA 362338 A CA362338 A CA 362338A CA 1165402 A CA1165402 A CA 1165402A
Authority
CA
Canada
Prior art keywords
housing
timer
source
receptacle
circuit
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired
Application number
CA000362338A
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Wendell E. Doty
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Battle Creek Equipment Co
Original Assignee
Battle Creek Equipment Co
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Battle Creek Equipment Co filed Critical Battle Creek Equipment Co
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of CA1165402A publication Critical patent/CA1165402A/en
Expired legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • HELECTRICITY
    • H05ELECTRIC TECHNIQUES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • H05BELECTRIC HEATING; ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS FOR ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES, IN GENERAL
    • H05B41/00Circuit arrangements or apparatus for igniting or operating discharge lamps

Abstract

A-371 BATTLE CREEK EQUIPMENT CO.

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
An irradiation apparatus having a housing, a reflector and a source of ultraviolet radiation. The irradiation apparatus has a timing mechanism detachably located within the housing, the timing mechanism being an integral portion of the circuit which supplies power from a power source to the ultraviolet radiation source. The timer is adapted to be removed from the housing and attached to the housing by means of a cord having a non-standard plug to allow the lamp to be operated by means of the timer from a remote position.

Description

i 165A~

A--371 BATTLE CREEK EQUIP~IENT CO.
The use of ultraviolet radiation alone or in com-bination with infrared radiation is well known for treating humans. In using such devices, it is the usual course of treat-ment to gradually increase the dose of ultraviolet radiation applied to the person being treated over a number of days. This is generally accomplished by exposing the person to the radia-tion of the ultraviolet source for increasingly longer periods of time. Initially, for example, the radiation may only be applied to the area to be treated for a matter of a minute or two. While amounts of radiation up to on the order of ten min-utes is suitable for people who are using the radiation simply to gain a minor amount of skin coloration, those people who are using ultraviolet radiation for the treatment of skin problems or to gain a deep tan frequently require increasingly longer periods of exposure in excess of ten minutes.
People using the longer periods of exposure have occasionally encountered problems. The warm soothing effect of such lamps is such that certain people have fallen asleep under the lamps resulting in an artificial sunburn and other similar problems. Therefore, it is desirable to limit the amount of time that the lamp can remain on without some form of interven-tion on the part of the person being exposed. To solve this problem it has been proposed to place a timing mechanism within the sunlamp so that the timer turns the lamp off after a pre-determined, relatively short, period of time. For example,having the timer limit the exposure to ten minutes has proved a viable way to prevent overexposur~.
While the installation of a timing mechanism prevents a sunlamp from being operated for extended periods of time, it 3~ presents a new problem for those people who require a longer exposure time than that allowed by the timer. Once ultraviolet ~ t ~ f~ 2 A--371 BATTLE CREEK EQUIPMENT CO.
lamps have been turned off, they require a considerable period of time to cool to room temperature before they can again be reactivated for additional exposure. Thus a timing mechanism which turns the lamp off before the exposure is finished neces-sitates a subsequent reexposure at a later time. Reexposureresults in lost time and is discouraging to the person being treated.
It is an object of this invention to provide an ultra-violet radiation device which allows a substantial exposure if desired but simultaneously limits the time of exposure without an active intervention.
Briefly, the objects are achieved by the irradiation apparatus of the present invention which comprises a housing with an open portion and a reflector carried within said housing positioned to reflect radiation generated within the housing through the opening. A source of ultraviolet radiation is lo-cated within the housing. A timing mechanism is detachably located within the housing,the timing mechanism being an integral portion of the circuit which supplies power from a normal house-hold power source to the ultraviolet source. An attachmentmeans has a first end adapted to engage a complementary recep-tacle located witnin the nousing and a second end adapted to engage a second complementary receptacle on said timer, said attachment means allowing said timer to be operatively connected to the circuit for providing power to the ultraviolet source at a location remote from the housing, to complete the circuit and allow operation of the lamp.
In the accompanying drawing, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a lamp according to this invention;

~ 1~5`~

A--371 BATTLE CR33EX EQUIPMENT CO.
Figure 2 is an exploded view of a timing mechanism useful in the practice of tnis invention;
Figure 3 is a front view in partial cutaway of a timer motor and contacts of Figure 2;
Figure 4 is a time line operating diagram of the timer of Figure 3;
Figure 5 is a perspective of a cord useful in the practice of tnis invention; and Figure 6 is a block diagram of an electrical circuit useful in the practice of this invention.
Referring to the accompanying drawing and initially to Figure 1l a sunlamp 10 has a housing 12 supported on a pole 14 and resting on a base 16, such a structure being well known in the art. The housing has receptacles (not shown) suitable for supporting one or more infrared bulbs 19 and ultraviolet bulbs 1~ within the housing. The interior 20 of the housing can be made of reflectorized material to form a reflector which reflects the radiation from the interior of the housing out through an opening 22 in the housing. The housing 12 also has a timer mechanism 24 mounted within the housing and detachably connected thereto. As shown in phantom, the timer 24 can be removed from the housing 12 to a remote location and attached to the housing by means of an attachment cord 26.
The attachment cord 26 is shown in greater detail in Figure 5. The attachment cord has a first male plug 28 having three protuberances 29 and a female end 30 having three recesses 31. The female end is adapted to engage a corresponding male plug 32 on the timer mechanism 24, and the male end engages a corresponding female receptacle (not shown) in the housing. The attachment cord 26 provides a means for attaching the timer 24 to the housing while allowing the timer to operate in the normal A~371 BATTLE CREEK EQUIPMENT C0.

manner. The plug 28 is shown with the three prongs or pro-tuberances 29 in an off center arrangement making defeat of the lamp's timing circuit by means of a standard plug impossible.
The off center, unsymmetrical arrangement also makes certain the plugs are properly arranged thereby ensuring that the timer is properly connected to the housing circuit.
Referring to Figure 2, the timer 24 has a front hous-ing member 34 which engages a rear housing member 36 to form a complete encasement for the timing components. The front of the housing has a dial 38 which engages a stem 40 extending ortho-ganally from a timer motor 42 through the housing member 34 and engages the dial in a manner well known in the art. The timer motor 42 has three attachment contacts A, B, C which are attach-ed to corresponding electrical leads 44, 46 and 48. Contact A
is connected by lead 44 to a tap connector 50 which provides a source of power both to the contact A and to the timer motor 42 by means of a line 52. Contact C connects the buzzer 54 to the timer motor; the buzzer 54, the timer motor 42 and the remainder of the system having the ground or white leads 56 joined to-gether by a crimp cap 62.
The timer motor 42 can be a standard type well knownin the art. For the purposes of description, it will be assumed that the motor is one which can be rotated almost one full turn to start and which would then rotate to the off position in about ten minutes. Longer or shorter periods could be chosen or a smaller angular travel could be chosen for the same time period, sucn choices being within the skill of the art. Also to be considered is the torque necessary to turn the dial in set-ting the motor since the dial will normally be manipulated by a person wearing protective lenses used to shield the eyes fxom the ultraviolet rays produced by the lamp.

~ 1~5~

A-37:L BATTLE CREEK EQUIP~NT CO.
Figures 3, 4 and 6 together show the contacts, the timer's operation and the circuit diagram used with the timer in greater detail. A source of power, such as an ordinary house-hold outlet, is shown at 64 in Figure 6 with a normal connection to ground at 66, grounding the lamp and circuit of this invention.
The hot lead or black wire 68 is connected by means of one of the prongs of the male connector 32 to line 46 from the contact mechanism 47 which in turn causes the contact lever B (shown best in Figure 3) to be energized with household current. When the timer 42 is activated, contacts B and A are closed forming a connection between lines 46 and 44, thus completing the circuit at the contact designated as A in Figure 6. Closing the A-B
contact allows current flow to the infrared bulb, shown as 19, and the ultraviolet bulbs, shown as 18. Simultaneously, current is applied to the timer motor 42 via the line 52 causing tne timer motor to begin its timing sequence.
As shown in the diagram of Figure 4, the timer motor, when set by turning it approximately 1 turn of the dial 38, begins to operate the circuit by closing the contact A and B
thus lighting the lamps and running the timer motor simultaneous-ly. The timer motor will continue to run continuously for a time of approximately 9 to 9-1/2 minutes at which time the timer mechanism will activate contact C as well as A and B resulting in the buzzer 54 being connected to the circuit via line 48, sounding the buzzer. At this point, the person using the lamp will have a predetermined time in which to reset the timer motor for a longer exposure if desired. The length of time the buzzer is activated can be adjusted, times on the order of 10 to 30 seconds being sufficient for most purposes.
It is apparent from the foregoing description that a new and useful sunlamp and timing mechanism combination has 4 ~) ~

A-371 BATTLE CREEK EQUIPMENT CO.
been disclosed wherein the timing mechanism can be removed to a point remote from the lamp and attached to the lamp by means of a cord attach~ent.
In summary, the lamp can be used in the conventional fashion when the timing mechanism is inserted into the housing and can be operated by a person while in a prone or reclining position when the timing mechanism is attached to the lamp by the cord.
Various modifications and alterations of this invent-ion will become apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of this invention; and it is to be understood that this invention is not limited to the illustrative embodiments set forth hereinbefore.

Claims (6)

THE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION IN WHICH AN EXCLUSIVE
PROPERTY OR PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMS ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS:
1. An irradiation apparatus including: a housing having an opening; a reflector carried within said housing and positioned to reflect radiation within said housing through said opening; means for attaching said apparatus to a source of electrical current; an electrically powered source of ultra-violet radiation located within said housing; and a timing mechanism detachably located within said housing allowing removal of said timing mechanism from said housing, said timing mechanism being a removable and indispensable portion of the circuit between said attachment means and said source of ultra-violet radiation which supplies power to said ultraviolet source so that removal of said timer from said circuit renders said lamp inoperative even when said attachment means is connected to said source of electrical current.
2. That apparatus of claim 1 further comprising an electrical cord having a first end adapted to engage a first complementary receptacle located within said housing and a second end adapted to engage a second complementary receptacle in said timer, said cord allowing said timer to be operated at a location remote from said housing to complete the circuit for said lamp.
3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said timer has a warning means associated therewith which will alert a user that the power circuit is about to be broken.
4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said timer can be reset to provide additional power to said lamp for an extended period after said warning signal and before said timer breaks said power circuit.
5. An irradiation apparatus comprising: a housing having an opening on one side thereof; an electrically powered source of ultraviolet radiation located within said housing and adapted to project radiation through said opening; means for attaching said apparatus to a source of electrical current; a first receptacle located within said housing, said receptacle having three contact points; a timer mechanism having an enclosure, complementary attachment means mounted on said enclosure, said attachment means adapted to engage the first receptacle of said timer and including a first prong which detachably engages a first aperture in said receptacle, the first prong providing a source of electrical current into said timer mechanism, a second prong which detachably engages a second aperture in said receptacle, said second prong providing a path for current from said timer mechanism to the source of ultraviolet radiation, a third prong which detachably engages a third aperture in said receptacle, said third prong providing a connection to the ground portion of the circuit which provides power to the ultraviolet source, a warning signal located within said enclosure, a timing motor located within said enclosure, a first electrical contact connected to said first prong, a second electrical contact connected to said second prong and also electrically connected to said timer motor, a third electrical contact electrically connected to said warning signal, said timing motor being adapted to engage said first and second electrical contacts when activated thereby completing the circuit to energize the ultraviolet source, and further being adapted to engage all three contacts a predetermined length of time prior to the point at which the power circuit through the first and second contacts is to be broken thereby sounding the warning signal to allow resetting the timer motor to prevent the power circuit being broken and allow additional exposure, said timing mechanism being removable from said housing and also being an indispensible portion of the circuit which carries current from its source of electrical current to said ultraviolet source.
6. The irradiation apparatus of claim 5 further comprising an electrical cord having a first attachment means adapted to engage the prongs of said timer mechanism and a second attachment means adapted to engage the receptacle within said housing, said cord providing a means for said apparatus to be operated from a location removed from said lamp.
CA000362338A 1980-02-25 1980-10-14 Irradiation device and removable timer useful therewith Expired CA1165402A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US124,259 1980-02-25
US06/124,259 US4283661A (en) 1980-02-25 1980-02-25 Irradiation device and removable timer useful therewith

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
CA1165402A true CA1165402A (en) 1984-04-10

Family

ID=22413784

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
CA000362338A Expired CA1165402A (en) 1980-02-25 1980-10-14 Irradiation device and removable timer useful therewith

Country Status (2)

Country Link
US (1) US4283661A (en)
CA (1) CA1165402A (en)

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* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4851738A (en) * 1982-08-11 1989-07-25 Yang Tai Her Lighting system having photosensing timing switch circuit
US4645980A (en) * 1982-08-11 1987-02-24 Yang Tai Her Lighting system having photosensing timing switch circuit
US4729375A (en) * 1985-05-02 1988-03-08 Sun Time, Inc. Modular control for tanning beds
US4835749A (en) * 1985-09-11 1989-05-30 Welton Truett T Safe tanning lamp control system
US4839562A (en) * 1986-04-22 1989-06-13 Francis Colin R Electrical devices
US6280438B1 (en) * 1992-10-20 2001-08-28 Esc Medical Systems Ltd. Method and apparatus for electromagnetic treatment of the skin, including hair depilation
US5725565A (en) * 1995-12-04 1998-03-10 Smith; Daniel E. Tanning bed safety device
US7229436B2 (en) 1996-01-05 2007-06-12 Thermage, Inc. Method and kit for treatment of tissue
US7473251B2 (en) 1996-01-05 2009-01-06 Thermage, Inc. Methods for creating tissue effect utilizing electromagnetic energy and a reverse thermal gradient
US7452358B2 (en) 1996-01-05 2008-11-18 Thermage, Inc. RF electrode assembly for handpiece
US20030212393A1 (en) 1996-01-05 2003-11-13 Knowlton Edward W. Handpiece with RF electrode and non-volatile memory
US6736531B2 (en) 2002-01-16 2004-05-18 Stewart Wallach Reading light with shutoff timer
WO2005034165A1 (en) * 2003-10-02 2005-04-14 Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. Tanning apparatus
US7350720B2 (en) 2004-02-03 2008-04-01 S.C. Johnson & Son, Inc. Active material emitting device
US7824627B2 (en) 2004-02-03 2010-11-02 S.C. Johnson & Son, Inc. Active material and light emitting device
US20060217789A1 (en) * 2005-03-23 2006-09-28 Thomas Perez UV irradiation chamber and method for UV light to a body
US7726860B2 (en) 2005-10-03 2010-06-01 S.C. Johnson & Son, Inc. Light apparatus
US8961579B2 (en) * 2007-02-02 2015-02-24 Medtek Lighting Corporation Portable phototherapy device

Family Cites Families (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2716698A (en) * 1949-01-03 1955-08-30 Clayton J Brukner Reciprocating support mechanism for therapeutic lamp or the like
US2954771A (en) * 1956-11-20 1960-10-04 Edwin A Boyan Sun lamp oscillating apparatus

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
US4283661A (en) 1981-08-11

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