Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
. .
. .
COMPACT CABIN
TECHNICAL FIELD
There is provided a compact cabin for using before and after activities, such
as swimming
or sports. In particular, the cabin provides safe and hygienic shower and
change spaces,
while saving time.
BACKGROUND
Currently, there are products used for only a shower or only as a disinfected
cabin or only a
dressing room. There is no known product for including hygiene principles and
actions in
one system before preparation and afterwards in a compact space.
Existing systems are used separately and take up a large space. When a user
passes from
one section to another section, hygiene conditions fall into decay. Users lose
time while
using sections separately, also they sometimes must join queues in different
spots.
Figures 1A to 1E set forth various prior art cabins. In Figure 1A there is
shown a typical
swimsuit dryer, provided to users within a common change area at a swimming
pool. Figure
1B shows typical disinfection cabins that are available to the public in
public spaces. Figure
1C shows a mobile shower cabin and toiletry, provided in separate rooms that
must be
accessed through external doors. Such cabins could be provided at a beach, for
example.
Figure 1D shows typical shower stalls that are provided in swimming pool
areas. These
areas must be entered through individual doors and are typically separate from
the change
rooms. Figure 1 E shows example changerooms of the type provided at public
swimming
pools or beaches.
SUMMARY
In one aspect, there is provided a compact cabin which combines multiple
functions, for
example (a) sterilization, such as with a pulverized spraying apparatus, (b)
hair and body
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. .
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drying, such as with a mechanical ventilation system that gives pressurized
hot air to the hair
and body, (c) shower and massage, such as with a pressurized water mechanism,
(d)
swimsuit drying, such as with a mini swimsuit dryer, and (e) skincare, such as
with
ultraviolet light. The system combines all the activities between changing
clothes and
showering in an efficient, fast and healthy way.
In one aspect there is provided a cabin, comprising: a first enclosed area
containing a dry
space; a second enclosed area connected to the first area through a door and
providing a
shower area; and a control system for controlling settings of the cabin. The
control system
may control one or more of shower settings, disinfection use, UV settings, air
dryer settings,
swimsuit dryer, shampoo quantity limits, conditioner quantity limits, body
wash quantity
limits, massage settings and ventilation. The first enclosed area may comprise
one or more
of a swimsuit dryer, hairdryer, clothes hanger, mirror and hinged wooden seat.
The second
enclosed area may comprise one or more of a shampoo dispenser, conditioner
dispenser and
bodywash dispenser.
The second enclosed area may also comprise other features, such as one or more
air nozzles,
wherein the control system controls the settings of the air nozzles. The
second enclosed area
may comprise one or more disinfection spray nozzles, wherein the control
system controls
the settings of the disinfection spray nozzles.
The first enclosed area and/or second enclosed area may comprise a perforated
floor, which
may be made of metal or some other suitable material.
In one aspect, there is provided a door separating the first enclosed area
from the second
enclosed area.
In a further aspect, there is provided a disinfection system comprising
disinfection tubes, a
disinfection unit containing disinfectant and disinfectant nozzles.
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In yet a further aspect, there is provided one or more evacuation tubes. There
may also be
provided a ceiling fan.
In yet a further aspect, there is provided a water dispensing system
comprising water tubes,
ceiling shower nozzles, and wall shower nozzles.
In yet a further aspect, the cabin may have a hollow perimeter wall
encompassing a portion
of the perimeter of the cabin, the wall comprising studs, an interior wall, an
exterior wall and
tubes for transporting water, air and/or disinfectant through to the nozzles
in the interior
wall. The interior wall and/or exterior wall may be made of metal or some
other suitable
material.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The invention will be further understood from the following description with
reference to
the attached drawings.
Figures 1A to lE show prior art cabin system;
Figure 2 illustrates a top plan view of one aspect of the cabin;
Figure 3 illustrates a cross-sectional view of one aspect of the cabin;
Figure 4 illustrates two perspective cross-sectional views of one aspect of
the cabin; and
Figure 5 illustrates stages of a user entering and using the cabin.
.. DETAILED DESCRIPTION
A preferred embodiment of the present invention will be set forth in detail
with reference
to the drawings, in which like reference numerals refer to like elements or
method steps
throughout.
In one aspect, there is provided a cabin that combines functions such as a
changing room,
disinfection area, and swimsuit dryer in one space while remaining healthy and
time saving
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for people in activities such as sports, beauty salons, massage services and
swimming
activities.
In a further aspect, the cabin has two types, one for mobile people and a
second that is
accessible for disabled people.
In one example use, a user desiring to change clothes opens a first door of
the pre-changing
area and enters the first area or compartment. Clothes may be hung on hangers
that may be
specially designed. The user then enters the shower area or compartment by
opening a
second door. In this area, the person may shower with water emerging from the
walls and
ceiling. After showering, disinfectant may be pulverized from the floor, walls
and ceiling.
The person re-enters the first area to change into a swimsuit and gather
clothes and is then
shown to an assigned locker. After sports, swimming, Hamam, sauna and other
activities
the user again gathers clothes from the lockers and re-enters the cabin from
the first door. A
user may place the wet swimming suit in the dryer, place their clothes on the
hanger and
pass to the shower area using the second door and closing the door. In this
manner, the
clothes do not get wet. The user showers with pressurized water coming from
the walls and
ceiling that can be heat adjusted. Afterwards, pressurized hot air comes from
the ceiling,
floor and walls so the user may dry from head to toe. When all the showering
and drying is
finished, the user re-enters the first area to don their clothes and obtain
their already-dry
swimming suit. During the time a user is in the cabin, an ultraviolet light
may also be used
in the first area and/or the shower area.
In a variation of the present invention, the cabin may be provided in a
different version that
is accessible for disabled or handicap people, such as in a wider size with
grab bars at
appropriate locations and accessible seats in one or both compartments. A ramp
may be
provided for a user to enter the first compartment.
In prior solutions, users would carry their swimsuit after changing into their
regular clothing.
One aspect of the present invention sets forth a swimsuit dryer which is a way
to sterilize
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'
. .
the swimsuit while the user is showering and changing. The swimsuit is thus
ready for
carrying while a user is having a shower and drying.
The present invention has many different uses. For example, the cabin can be
used in all
types of sports, swimming, spa and hammam centers, or other types of public
areas. The
cabin could also be used during the construction of buildings for use by the
construction
workers or those on site.
Many variations exist in this design. For example, the combination and
location of features
and spaces can be varied. As an example, multiple areas, spaces or rooms could
be provided
connected together with doors within the cabin to provide access to separate
features, such
as a separate drying space. Similarly, the swimsuit dryer feature could be
located externally
to the cabin or connected in some other way. Furthermore, different variations
can be
provided containing one or more combinations of a changing space,
sterilization/disinfection, shower, swimsuit dryer, clothes hanging, locker,
UV light, and hot
air dryer. One skilled in the art will appreciate that cabins can be
constructed containing
some of the foregoing features without requiring all of the foregoing
features. Furthermore,
various features can be provided in compact size together in a single room or
two rooms, or
if space permits, the features could be provided and separated in multiple
rooms. In another
variation, the cabin can be portable and constructed of light material, such
as plastic or resin.
Figures 2 to 4 illustrate one example of a two-room or two-area cabin. In this
example
embodiment there can be seen example locations of a hairdryer 10, hanger 12,
mirror 14,
swimsuit dryer 16, hinged wooden seat 18, a UV light 20 and a perforated metal
floor 22 in
the first room. The second room shows a linear air nozzle 24, disinfection
spraying 26, water
shower nozzles 28, body shampoo dispenser 30, stainless steel sheeting or
Glass Fiber
Reinforced Polymer (GFRP) facing on the inside 32, aluminum or GFRP facing on
the
outside 34, a control command panel 36, disinfection tube 38, hair shampoo
dispenser 40,
aluminum structure studs 42, a perforated floor made of stainless steel 44 and
a sliding glass
door 46. Also shown is an evacuation tube 48 under or beside the cabin and a
disinfection
unit 50 for holding disinfectant and a fan 52 in the ceiling or the cabin. Not
shown is an
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optional conditioner dispenser. A rain shower 54 or similar water dispenser
may be provided
in the ceiling of the shower compartment. The front door 56 may be painted
glass or any
other type of door enclosure.
As shown in Figure 4, a sliding glass door 46 or similar door can be provided
around the
shower compartment. In addition, linear air nozzles 60 may be provided for a
mechanical
ventilation system that provides pressurized hot air to the hair and body.
Disinfection
nozzles 62 may be arranged to disinfect the shower compartment once the user
is finished.
A hanger 12 mechanism may be provided in the entry compartment for hanging
clothing,
along with a hairdryer 10 and mirror 14. Joists 64 may be provided under the
cabin for
support.
The cabin should be tall enough for a person to comfortably enter and shower.
Example
heights could range between 2.7 to 3.0 meters high. The internal width should
be
comfortable for use. Example internal widths could range from 0.8 meters to
1.5 meters
wide.
The control command panel can be programmed to control various aspects of the
cabin. For
example, the control command panel may control one or more of the shower
settings,
disinfection use, UV settings, air dryer settings, the swimsuit dryer, shampoo
quantity limits,
conditioner quantity limits, body wash quantity limits, massage settings and
ventilation.
Figure 5 illustrates stages of a user entering and using the cabin. In the
first stage 66, a user
is standing outside the front door 58. In the second stage 68, a user enters
the first
compartment 74 and changes from dry clothing into a swimsuit. After swimming,
the user
enters the first compartment 74, removes his or her wet bathing suit and
places the wet
bathing suit in the swimsuit dryer. In the third stage 70, the user enters the
shower
compartment 76 and uses the control panel to enable the waterflow. The user
has various
washing tools available, such as shampoo, conditioner and body wash. After the
user is
finished with the water, the user may use the control panel to enable a drying
mode in the
shower compartment 76 by running the air nozzles. Temperatures of water and
air may be
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controlled by the user on the control panel. In the fourth stage 72, once the
user exits the
shower compartment 76 and returns to the first compartment 74, the control
panel either
automatically or manually by the user enables disinfection spray through the
disinfection
nozzles. The user may retrieve his or her swimsuit from the swimsuit dryer and
don his or
her clothing from the hanger in the first compartment. A disinfection spray or
may also be
provided in the first compartment for use after each user is finished with the
cabin.
It will be appreciated that while these components are shown within only two
rooms, spaces
or areas, multiple rooms, spaces or areas can be joined together if space
permits. Similarly,
while these example illustrations show all of the features, a cabin can be
provided with only
some of the features, such as providing only disinfection, shower space and
changing space
without the additional features. While the air nozzles, disinfection spray
nozzles, water
nozzles and ceiling shower nozzles have been illustrated with a specific
configuration, it will
be appreciated that variations within the arrangement, layout and style of
these elements
could exist without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.
Similarly, while
the control panel has been illustrated as existing within the shower
compartment, it will be
appreciated that the control panel could alternatively be found within the
first compartment,
or multiple control panels could be provided. While a sliding door has been
illustrated
between the first compartment and the shower compartment, any suitable door or
separation
could be provided, such as a shower curtain, or no door at all, if desired.
The scope of the claims should not be limited by the preferred embodiments set
forth in the
examples but should be given the broadest interpretation consistent with the
description as
a whole. The amounts, sizes and examples discussed herein are for example
purposes only
and should not limit the scope of the claims or variants thereof which would
be understood
by a person of skill in the art.
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