CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] The present application claims priority under 35 U S C. § 1 19 to App. No. 15/226,756, filed August 2, 2016 which is a Continuation in Part of 13/427,899, filed March 23, 2012, which also claims the benefit of Provisional App. No. 62/200,077, filed August 2, 2015, all of which are herein incorporated by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The present invention relates generally to heaters, and more particularly to halogen-tube heaters for saunas that emit no or minimal EMF. BACKGROUND

[0003] Halogen tube heaters are widely used in saunas, as they provide a good amount of therapeutic heat while being inexpensive, compact, and having low power consumption. However, one drawback of such heaters is that they emit a high electromagnetic field (EMF). [0004] Electromagnetic waves are generated wherever electricity flows. There has been a suggestion that electromagnetic waves induce anxiety in humans and are harmful to general health. Since sauna heating elements are typically used at close range, electromagnetic emissions are a serious concern. While a metal enclosure (or an enclosure made of another conductive material) can shield the user from

electromagnetic waves, such an enclosure would severely lower the heat-generating efficiency of a heating element, which renders it impractical.

[0005] A need therefore exists for a halogen tube heater that does not emit a high amount of EMF. LIST OF FIGURES

[0006] Fig. 1 shows an embodiment of the present invention.

[0007] Fig. 2 shows an alternate embodiment of the present invention.

[0008] Fig. 3 shows an alternate embodiment of the present invention.

[0009] Fig. 4 shows an alternate embodiment of the present invention.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0010] An object of the present invention is to provide a cheap and simple halogen heater for a sauna that emits low or minimal EMF.

[0011] The present invention comprises a heater for a sauna, wherein the heater comprises a first halogen tube and a second halogen tube, both powered by alternating current, where the current powering the first halogen tube is opposite in phase from the current powering the second halogen tube. The distance between the halogen tubes is less than 4 inches, and they are parallel to each other. The tubes are identical in size and power output. [0012] In an embodiment, the tubes are wired together as follows. Each tube comprises a first end and a second end. The first end of the first tube is wired up to a source of alternating current. The second end of the first tube is connected to the second end of the second tube. The first end of the second tube is wired up to the source of alternating current. This way, the current going through the second tube is opposite in phase from the current going through the first tube.

[0013] In an embodiment, the tubes are wired as follows. The first end of the first tube and the second end of the second tube are wired up to one pole of the source of alternating current, and the second end of the first tube and the first end of the second tube are wired up to the other pole. This way, the current going through the second tube is opposite in phase from the current going through the first tube.

[0014] The halogen tubes are preferably touching each other for maximum cancellation of EMF.

[0015] In the preferred embodiment, the heater assembly comprises a reflector for reflecting the heat in a desired direction. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0017] Fig. 1 shows an embodiment of the present invention. Halogen tubes 100 and 110 are wired up to current source 120 as shown in the Figure, connected in series. The ends of the halogen tubes are wired together as shown in the Figure; in the embodiment shown in the Figure, the two wires are twisted together 130 and a wire cap 140 is placed on the twisted ends to insulate the connection. Thus, the current going through the first halogen tube 100 is opposite in phase from the current going through the second halogen tube 110, and the EMF emitted by the first halogen tube 100 is also opposite in phase from the EMF emitted by the second halogen tube 110. If the halogen tubes are identical and placed ver close together, that means that the EMF emitted by the two tubes will be cancelled out, resulting in minimal EMF emissions for the whole assembly.

[0018] Fig. 2 shows an alternate embodiment of the connection between the two halogen tubes. Rather than a twist connection like the one shown in Fig. 1, a single wire 200 could be used to wire the two ends together.

[0019] Fig. 3 shows an alternate embodiment of the present invention. In that embodiment, both halogen tubes are connected in parallel to the source of alternating current 120. However, tube 100 is connected to the source of alternating current in one direction and tube 110 is connected in the other direction. This way, the current is still in opposite phases in the two tubes.

[0020] The distance between the tubes in this embodiment, as shown in the figure, is 2"-4". At that distance, the total EMF emitted by the assembly is 20-30 mG. In the preferred embodiment, however, the tubes are touching or nearly touching. When the tubes are touching, the total EMF emitted by the assembly is around 1-5 mG, as shown in Fig. 4.

[0021] The tubes are preferably attached to a mounting fixture in such a way as to keep them at the proper distance and the proper relative position to each other. The attachment may be permanent or temporary. In an embodiment, the distance between the halogen tubes may be adjustable to "tune" the amount of EMF emitted by the tubes. [0022] The heater assembly preferably also comprises a reflector to reflect all the heat in the desired direction. The reflector may be a parabolic reflector or any other shape of reflector typically used in a sauna for halogen heaters

[0023] The heater assembly may also comprise electrical shielding to block any remaining EMF from reaching the user. The shielding is preferably metal mesh that does not unduly block heat.

[0024] Exemplary embodiments are described above. It will be understood that the present invention comprises other embodiments, and that the invention is only limited by the appended claims.