Light therapy equipment

Abstract

Apparatuses adopted to provide light therapy to regions of the body that cannot be conveniently exposed to the sun or conventional tanning equipment. Four embodiments of the invention include a tanning bed 10 with an adjustable leg support 12 that allows tanning of the buttocks and rectal and genital areas of a person lying on the bed 10 , a toilet (water closet) 20 equipped with one or more tanning lamps 26 for tanning the rectal and genital areas of a person sitting on the toilet 20 , a foot and hand tanning apparatus 40 comprising a flexible block 42 with slots 44 for receiving the toes or fingers 48 of a person, and a tanning recliner 50 with tanning lamps 56 located within for tanning the skin of the user reclining on the recliner 50.

1 . A tanning apparatus having a tanning bed  10  comprising: 
 at least one ultraviolet ray-generating means  16 ; and  
 a vertically-adjustable leg support  12  adapted to raise the legs  14  of a user lying on the tanning bed  10  so as to expose the buttocks of the user to ultraviolet rays generated by the ultraviolet ray-generating means  16 , the ultraviolet ray-generating means  16  being located beneath the leg support  12  when in a raised position.  
 
     
     
         2 . A tanning apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the ultraviolet ray-generating means  16  and the leg support  12  further provide for tanning of the rectal and genital areas of the user lying on the tanning bed  10 .  
     
     
         3 . A tanning apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the leg support  12  orients the thighs of the user to be substantially vertical, and orients the lower legs of the user to be substantially horizontal.  
     
     
         4 . A tanning apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the tanning bed  10  further comprises means  18  for supporting and raising the upper torso and head of the user.  
     
     
         5 . A tanning apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the tanning bed  10  has a surface  19  on which the user lies, the surface  19  being defined by an air mattress.  
     
     
         6 . A tanning apparatus comprising a toilet  20  having a bowl  28  defining a rim  36  and a seat  22  above the rim  36 , the toilet  20  comprising ultraviolet ray-generating means  26  located so as to expose the buttocks of a user supported by the seat  22  to ultraviolet rays generated by the ultraviolet ray-generating means  26 .  
     
     
         7 . A tanning apparatus according to  claim 6 , wherein the ultraviolet ray-generating means  26  further provides for tanning of the rectal and genital areas of the user supported by the seat  22 .  
     
     
         8 . A tanning apparatus according to  claim 6 , wherein the ultraviolet ray-generating means  26  comprises first and second lamps  26  positioned at opposite sides of the seat  22 .  
     
     
         9 . A tanning apparatus according to  claim 6 , wherein the ultraviolet ray-generating means  26  comprises a lamp  26  located at a rear portion of the seat  22 .  
     
     
         10 . A tanning apparatus according to  claim 6 , wherein the ultraviolet ray-generating means  26  is encased in a waterproof UV-transparent cover  30 .  
     
     
         11 . A tanning apparatus according to  claim 6 , wherein the seat  22  is a first seat  22  pivotally mounted to the toilet  20 , the toilet  20  further comprising a second seat  32  and a seat cover  34  between which the first seat  22  is pivotally mounted.  
     
     
         12 . A tanning apparatus according to  claim 6 , wherein the ultraviolet ray-generating means  26  is mounted directly to a lower surface of the seat  22 .  
     
     
         13 . A tanning apparatus according to  claim 6 , wherein the ultraviolet ray-generating means  26  is mounted from the rim  36  of the bowl  28 .  
     
     
         14 . A tanning apparatus according to  claim 6 , wherein the seat  22  is a removable seat  22  that is not secured to the toilet  20 , the apparatus further comprising a second seat  32  on which the removable seat  22  rests, the ultraviolet ray-generating means  26  being mounted to the removable seat  22 .  
     
     
         15 . A tanning apparatus according to  claim 14 , wherein the removable seat  22  has a two-piece construction held together with hinges  38  that enable the removable seat  22  to be folded.  
     
     
         16 . A tanning apparatus comprising a flexible block  42  with slots  44  sized for receiving digits  48  of a user, and ultraviolet ray-generating means  46  located in portions  49  of the block  42  between the slots  44  for tanning skin of the user between the digits  48  of the user when the digits  48  are received in the slots  44 .  
     
     
         17 . A tanning apparatus according to  claim 16 , wherein at least surfaces of the slots  44  are transparent to ultraviolet rays.  
     
     
         18 . A tanning apparatus comprising a recliner  50  having a surface  52  for supporting a user reclining on the recliner  50  and ultraviolet ray-generating means  56  located within the recliner  50  for tanning skin of the user facing and contacting the surface  52  of the recliner  50 , the surface  52  of the recliner  50  being transparent to ultraviolet rays.  
     
     
         19 . A tanning apparatus according to  claim 18 , wherein the recliner  50  accommodates more than one user.  
     
     
         20 . A tanning apparatus according to  claim 18 , wherein the surface  52  of the recliner  50  is defined by an air mattress.