Beauty salon ventilator

Abstract

A ventilator is provided for removing contaminants from the air around a client in a beauty salon. An overhead canopy pushes fresh air downwardly towards the client, while suction means is provided for drawing away the downward flow of air and entrained contaminants so as to minimize exposure of the client to the contaminants. In a preferred embodiment, the ventilator is designed for use in a hair salon and the client wears an exhaust collar that is provided with air inlets positioned so that the flow of air is drawn away from the client's face, minimizing exposure of the client to the contaminants.

1 . A ventilator for a beauty salon, comprising:
 an overhead canopy assembly for location above a chair for accommodating a client receiving beauty treatment, the canopy assembly including fan means for directing air in a downward flow towards a client in the chair, so as to entrain contaminants emanating from materials used in the beauty treatment; and,   suction means for drawing away the downward flow of air from the canopy and entrained contaminants, the suction means having at least one inlet positioned to draw the flow of air and contaminants away from the client's face so as to minimize exposure of the client to the contaminants;   whereby, in use, contaminated air is directed down to the suction means which pulls the contaminated air away from the client.   
     
     
         2 . A ventilator as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the suction means includes a filter for removing the contaminants from the flow of air. 
     
     
         3 . A ventilator as claimed in  claim 1 , for use in a hair salon, wherein the suction means includes a duct attachable to a back of said chair, and an exhaust collar for providing an inlet to said duct, the collar being configured to extend over the shoulders of a client seated in said chair and including said at least one inlet, the collar being removably engagable with an inlet end of said duct, and wherein the suction means further comprises a discharge duct extending below a seat of the chair for discharging air forwardly of the chair. 
     
     
         4 . A ventilator as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein said at least one inlet comprises openings in said exhaust collar disposed so as to be located on opposite sides and rearwardly of the head of a client seated in the chair in use, whereby the air flow is drawn away from the face of the client. 
     
     
         5 . A ventilator as claimed in  claim 1 , for use in providing manicure or pedicure services, wherein the suction means comprises a support for the hands or feet of a client, the support being provided with said at least one air inlet at a location convenient for the hands or feet of the client to be positioned over the inlet, the suction means comprising a duct downstream of said at least one air inlet, for conveying contaminated air away from the client. 
     
     
         6 . A ventilator as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the filter comprises, in a series in the direction of air flow through the filter, an inner particle filter, an intermediate media filter and an outer particle filter.