A sauna unit with exercising feature BACKGROUND

The present invention relates generally to a sauna unit, and more particularly to a portable sauna unit with a flexible base to allow a user to exercise while using the sauna.

A sauna unit can be typically divided into two basic styles: conventional saunas that warm the air or infrared saunas that warm objects. In both types of sauna units, the sweating in human body is achieved using the heat at a range of temperatures. The person entering the sauna units experience relaxation and sweating. There have been efforts to make sauna units which promote exercise also. A U.S. Patent No. 4,884,574 by Hardie and Colman describes vibratory sauna unit for providing motion to a person using the sauna, which aids in relaxation and enjoyment of the sauna. The motion is produced using an adjustable vibrator which is powered by electricity. The sauna unit is not portable and cannot be used anywhere. A Korean patent no. KR20050050176 by Kyo describes a booth for increasing the exercising effect while utilising the sauna. The solution provides a separate exercising space to the user while providing sauna experience.

The above prior art disclose the sauna unit with exercising abilities, but fail to accommodate the portability and convenience factor. Therefore it is desirable to provide a system for a sauna unit along with exercising ability. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to the invention there is provided a sauna unit comprising a housing having a floor, an upstanding wall extending around the floor and upwardly therefrom to a top wall, the floor, upstanding wall and top wall defining a primary hollow interior region, a heating means located in the primary hollow interior region to produce a sauna environment, the floor defining an opening to provide access to a trampoline, ,so that a person in the primary hollow interior region can exercise on the trampoline.

In another embodiment of the invention a primary access opening is provided in the upstanding wall to the primary hollow interior region, and advantageously, the access opening is closed by a primary door.

In one embodiment of the invention the trampoline is accommodated in the opening in the floor, and in a further embodiment of the invention the trampoline is secured to the floor. In another embodiment the floor containing the trampoline is affixed with springs on each of its corners on the top and bottom. This give further flexibility to the floor containing, the trampoline.

In one embodiment of the invention a support structure is provided beneath the floor for supporting the floor thereon, the support structure with the floor defining a secondary hollow interior region for accommodating the trampoline therein. Preferably, a secondary access opening is provided to the secondary hollow interior region, and advantageously, the secondary access opening is located in the support structure, and ideally the secondary access opening is closed by a secondary door. Preferably, the secondary access opening is adapted to accommodate a trampoline therethrough.

In another embodiment of the invention the housing comprises a pair of spaced apart opposite side walls extending upwardly from the floor, the side walls being joined by spaced apart front and rear end walls extending upwardly from the floor, and preferably, the access opening is located in the front end wall.

In another embodiment of the invention the heating means is provided on the side walls, and advantageously, at least one heating element is located on each side wall. Preferably, a plurality of heating elements is located on each side wall. Advantageously, the heating elements are electrically powered. In one embodiment of the invention each heating element comprises an infrared heating element wherein the heating element comprises a quartz or ceramic heating element. In another embodiment, the heating element is a heating lamp which conventionally warms the air. The heating element could be powered by electricity or using conventional materials such as charcoal.

In another embodiment of the invention a rail is provided extending transversely between the side walls adjacent the top wall for gripping thereof by a person exercising on the trampoline. The rail can have sensors to monitor a person's heart rate, body temperature, body movement and calories lost. Preferably, an air vent is provided to the primary hollow interior region, and advantageously, a fan is provided for directing ambient air external of the sauna element into the primary hollow interior region through the vent.

In one embodiment of the invention a dished element is located beneath the opening in the floor for collecting moisture, and advantageously, an outlet port extends from the dished element for accommodating collected moisture from the dished element. Advantageously, the outlet port is adapted for connecting to a drain for draining the collected moisture from the dished element.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention wHI be more clearly understood from the following description of some embodiments thereof, which are given by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a sauna unit according to the invention.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the sauna unit of Fig. 1 with a portion thereof removed.

Fig. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the sauna unit of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is an exploded front elevational view of the sauna unit of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is an exploded side elevational view of the sauna unit of Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is an exploded side elevational view of a sauna unit according to another embodiment of the invention, and Fig. 7 is an exploded perspective view of the sauna unit of Fig. 6.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present invention provides an apparatus comprising a sauna unit which allows its users to exercise while using the sauna. FIG. 1 illustrates an embodiment of the sauna unit as described below. The sauna unit 1 comprises a housing 2 which is supported on a support structure 4, made of timber. The sauna unit comprises a primary hollow interior region 15 and a support structure 4, comprising a circular opening 27 accommodating a trampoline 28 for a user to exercise. A heating element 26 is also fitted in the primary hollow interior region 15. A primary access opening 16 comprises a primary door 17 for the user to enter. On completion of the sauna and/or exercising within the sauna, the user exits the primary hollow interior region 15 through the access opening 16.

FIG. 2 illustrates the sauna unit 1 from the top plan view and in further detail. The housing 2 comprises a floor 5, Top side walls 10 and top front and rear end walls 11 and 12 extend upwardly from side walls 6 and front and rear end walls 7 and 8, respectively, to a top wall 14. On the floor 5, a pair of spaced apart side walls 6 extends upwardly from the floor 5 which are joined by front and rear end walls 7 and 8. Top side walls 10 and top front and rear end walls 11 and 12 extend upwardly from side walls 6 and front and rear end walls 7 and 8, respectively, to a top wall 14. The floor 5, side walls 6, front and rear end walls 7 and 8, top side walls 10 and top front and rear end walls 11 and 12, along with the top wall 14 together define a primary hollow interior region 15 for, accommodating a person therein. A primary access opening 16 in the front end wall 7 provides access to the primary hollow interior region 15, and a primary door 17 hingedly connected to the front end wall 7 closes the primary access opening 16. A circular opening 27 in the floor 5 accommodates a trampoline 28, so that a person in the sauna unit 1 can exercise simultaneously on the trampoline 28.

In one embodiment of the invention the trampoline 28 is accommodated in the opening in the floor 27, and in another embodiment of the invention the trampoline 28 is secured to the floor 5. In yet another embodiment, there are springs attached to the floor to support the trampoline 28.

Heating means comprising a plurality of electrically powered heating elements 25 or other form of heating elements (such as charcoal, active carbon fiber etc.), are secured to the side walls 6 for producing heat and a sauna environment within the primary hollow interior region 15. A heating element 26 is mounted on brackets 29 extending from the rear wall 12, and is spaced apart from the rear wall 12 in order to be closer to a person exercising on the trampoline. The heating elements 25 on the side walls 6 and the heating element 26 on the rear wall 12 are electrically powered infrared heaters, which emit infrared radiant heat to absorbed directly by the human body. The heating element can also be a heating lamp which warms the air inside the interior of the sauna unit. In use, with the heating elements 25 and 26 powered up, the sauna unit 1 is operational. A person wishing to take a sauna enters the primary hollow interior region 15 through the primary access opening 16 and closes the primary door 17. A person wishing to exercise within the primary hollow interior region 5 can exercise on the trampoline 28, and if desired during exercising on the trampoline, can hold onto the rail 30. The rail 30 is also has sensors that are used as a meter which measures the heart rate, calories lost, body movement and pulse measurement of the user. The sensor can also be used to measure the body temperature of the user.

FIG. 3 illustrates the support structure 4 houses the trampoline 28 and comprises a base 18, a pair of opposite spaced apart bottom side walls 19 extending upwardly from the base 18 joined by a rear bottom end wall 21 which together with the floor 5 define a secondary hollow interior region 23 for the trampoline 28. The bottom side walls 19 and the bottom rear end wall 21 support the floor 5. A secondary access opening 20 in the front of the support structure 4 accommodates the trampoline 28 into and out of the secondary hollow interior region 23. A secondary door 24 pivotally connected to the bottom side wall 19 closes the secondary access opening 20. A rail 30 extending transversely between the side walls 6 in the primary hollow interior region 15 at a level adjacent the top side walls 10 provides grip for a person exercising on the trampoline within the primary hollow interior region 15. A person wishing to take a sauna enters the primary hollow interior region 15 through the primary access opening 16 and closes the primary door 17. A person wishing to exercise within the primary hollow interior region 15 can exercise on the trampoline 28, and if desired during exercising on the trampoline, can hold onto the rail 30.

FIG. 4 shows a vent 32 formed in the top wall 14 accommodates ambient air external of the sauna unit 1 into the primary hollow interior region 15. A fan 33 coupled to the vent 32 through a duct 34 delivers external ambient air into the primary hollow interior region 15 for cooling a person exercising on the trampoline 28 within the primary hollow interior region 15.

FIG. 5 depicts the sauna unit in exploded side elevantional view. The sauna unit 1 is substantially similar to the sauna units described in previous embodiments. The top wall 14 of contains a vent 32 for providing ambient air external of the sauna unit into the primary hollow interior region 15. The heating elements 25 are affixed to the rear wall. In one embodiment of the invention each heating element comprises an infrared heating element. In another embodiment, the heating element is a heating lamp. The height of each of the heating elements is substantially similar to the height of the corresponding side walls; however they are not required to be equal to the height of the walls. In use, with the heating elements 25 and 26 powered up, the sauna unit 1 is operational. FIG. 6 shows the sauna unit in its exploded side elevational view of another embodiment of the sauna unit with the trampoline 28 clearly visible. The trampoline 28 may either be secured to the floor 5 around the periphery of the circular opening 27, or may be a standalone trampoline 28 mounted in the secondary hollow interior region 23, in which case, the trampoline 28 would be supported on downwardly extending legs engageable with the base 18.

Fig. 8 illustrates an exploded perspective view of the sauna unit 1 , with the floor 5 comprising the defining a secondary hollow interior region 23 for the trampoline. In another embodiment, the springs 35 are attached to the corners of the top and bottom of the floor 5 onto which the trampoline is attached. The springs are attached to the top and bottom of four corners of the floor 5.

Fig. 9 shows the front elevational view of the sauna unit with the floor 5 of the sauna unit comprising the springs attached the four corners of the floor. The springs allow the floor of the sauna unit to flexibly move up and down with the movement of the user.

Fig. 10 illustrates the secondary hollow interior region 23 is made of the floor 5, base 9 and walls 4, 21 , 19 and door 24. The corners of the floor 5 of the secondary hollow interior region 23 can have hollow spaces as shown in the figure. The hollow space at four corners will leave a circular hole region in the center which contains the trampoline.

While the sauna units have been described as comprising a housing of timber, the housing of the saunas may be of any other suitable material. It will also be appreciated that while the housing has been described as comprising side, front and rear end walls 6, 7 and 8 as well as top side walls and top front and rear end walls 11 and 12, the top side walls 10 and the top front and rear end walls 1 1 and 12 may be integrally formed with the side walls 6 and the front and rear end walls 7 and 8, respectively.

Additionally, while the sauna units have been described as being portable units, they may be produced in a form where they would be installed as a permanent fixture. Additionally, in general, the sauna units 1 and 40 are suitable for accommodating one person only at a time. However, it is envisaged that the sauna units may be sized to accommodate more than one person at a time, for example, two, three, four or more. In which case, it is envisaged that a separate trampoline would be provided for each person for which the sauna unit is adapted to accommodate. The respective sauna units may be located in corresponding openings formed in the floor, or may be accessible through corresponding openings in the floor but located in the secondary hollow interior region. It is also envisaged that a single trampoline may be provided which could be used by any number of people within the primary hollow interior region.

Needless to say, while the trampolines have been described as being circular, and the opening in the floor has been described as being circular, the trampolines may be of any suitable or desired shape, and the opening in the floor may likewise be of any suitable or desired shape, and the shape of the opening in the floor need not necessarily correspond with the shape or area of the trampoline, particularly where the trampoline is provided as a separate unit but located in the secondary hollow interior region. Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described above, it should be understood that the present invention is not limited thereto, and that other modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention.

The scope of the present invention, therefore, is to be determined solely by the appended claims.