Misting apparatus for electrostatic application of coating materials to body surfaces

• US 20050281957A1
• Filed: 06/21/2004
• Published: 12/22/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/21/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SUNLESS Incorporated (Sunless Holding Co.)
• Original Assignee: Mystic Tan Incorporated (Sunless Holding Co.)
• Inventors: Cooper, Steven C., Cooper, Troy H.
• Granted Patent: US 7,462,242 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 427/458
• CPC Class Codes: A45D 2200/057 Spray nozzles; Generating atomised liquid
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/10 with further special therapeutic means, e.g. electrotherapy, magneto therapy or radiation therapy, chromo therapy, infrared or ultraviolet therapy
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/105 with means for delivering media, e.g. drugs or cosmetics
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 35/00 Baths for specific parts of the body electric circuits therefor A61H33/005; specific components therefor A61H33/60
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 35/25 specially adapted for the application of sunscreen, tanning or self-tanning lotions
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/00 Electrotherapy; Circuits therefor A61N2/00 takes precedence; irradiation apparatus A61N5/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 118/07 Hoods

Abstract

An apparatus and method for electrostatically coating a body surface with a coating composition. An apparatus of the present invention includes an enclosure, a mount positioned on the enclosure, and an electrostatic nozzle connected to the mount, the electrostatic nozzle adapted for passing the coating composition for deposition on the body surface. The apparatus further includes a floor surface within the enclosure, the floor surface having a resistive electrical connection.

Claims

1. An apparatus for electrostatically coating a body surface with a coating composition, the apparatus comprising:

an enclosure;

a mount positioned on the enclosure;

an electrostatic nozzle connected to the mount, the electrostatic nozzle adapted for passing the coating composition for depositing upon the body; and

a floor surface within the enclosure, the floor surface having no direct connection to ground.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the floor surface is adapted to provide adequate charge leakage paths from the body surface to a ground such that accumulated charge is transferred from the body surface to the ground.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the floor surface is elevated to an electrical potential.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the floor surface is connected to ground through a resistive connection.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the charge leakage paths are formed by the depositing of the coating composition.

6. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein a resistance of the charge leakage paths from the body surface to ground is less than 5000 Megaohms.

7. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein a resistance of the charge leakage paths from the body surface to ground is less than 80×

10⁹ ohms.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the floor surface is comprised of a dielectric material.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the floor surface comprises a plastic encapsulated steel mesh floor.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the floor surface comprises a plate with no direct connection to ground.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the plate is elevated to an electrical potential.

12. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the plate is connected to a voltage source.

13. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the plate is connected through a resistive connection.

14. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the plate comprises a semi-conductive material.

15. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the plate is comprised of dielectric material.

16. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the enclosure comprises:

a first wall wherein the mount is positioned on the first wall; and

a second wall positioned substantially opposite the first wall, the second wall including a portion curved about an axis.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the portion of the second wall curved about an axis forms a parabolic curve.

18. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the portion of the second wall curved about an axis forms an elliptical curve.

19. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the portion of the second wall curved about an axis forms a circular curve.

20. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the enclosure has a circular cross section corresponding to a vertical plane intersecting the enclosure.

21. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the enclosure comprises:

a door for permitting the human to enter the enclosure.

22. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a fluid path connected to the electrostatic nozzle, the fluid path for carrying the coating composition to the electrostatic nozzle.

23. The apparatus of claim 22, further comprising:

a reservoir connected to the fluid path, the reservoir for storing the coating composition.

24. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the enclosure comprises a dielectric material.

25. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

means to electrically charge the enclosure.

26. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the electrostatic nozzle is configurable to pass an atomized and electrically charged coating composition.

27. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an exhaust means placed proximate to the enclosure, the exhaust means for at least removing a portion of the coating composition passed by the electrostatic nozzle.

28. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein the exhaust means comprises an exhaust fan.

29. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein the exhaust means is substantially formed of a dielectric material.

30. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the mount comprises a mount moving means secured to the mount, wherein the mount is movable by the mount moving means such that the mount and the electrostatic nozzle are movable.

31. The apparatus of claim 30, wherein the mount moving means comprises a worm drive.

32. The apparatus of claim 30, wherein the mount moving means is configured to move the mount in a vertical direction.

33. The apparatus of claim 30, wherein the mount moving means is configured to pivot the mount in a vertical plane.

34. The apparatus of claim 30, wherein the mount moving means is configured to pivot the mount in a horizontal plane.

35. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the electrostatic nozzle is a first electrostatic nozzle and the mount is a first mount, the apparatus further comprising:

a second mount positioned on the enclosure; and

a second electrostatic nozzle connected to the second mount, the second electrostatic nozzle for passing the coating composition.

36. The apparatus of claim 35, wherein the second mount is located separate from the first mount.

37. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a misting chamber positioned adjacent to the enclosure, the misting chamber for substantially directing the coating composition into the enclosure.

38. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a compressed air supply connected to the electrostatic nozzle, the compressed air supply for providing compressed air to the electrostatic nozzle.

39. The apparatus of claim 38, wherein the compressed air supply comprises an air compressor.

40. The apparatus of claim 38, wherein the compressed air supply comprises an air tank.

41. The apparatus of claim 38, further comprising:

an air flow regulator for regulating the pressure of the compressed air provided to the electrostatic nozzle.

42. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a conduit connected to the electrostatic nozzle, the conduit for receiving compressed air for use by the electrostatic nozzle.

43. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a reservoir for storing the coating composition;

a coating composition line connected to the reservoir and the electrostatic nozzle, the coating composition line for carrying the coating composition from the reservoir to the electrostatic nozzle.

44. A method for applying a coating composition to a body surface, the method comprising the steps of:

misting at least a portion of an electrostatically charged coating solution on a body surface; and

resistively dissipating accumulated charge from the body surface to a ground through an indirect ground path.

45. The method of claim 44, wherein the indirect ground path is comprised of charge leakage paths, formed by the coating solution on the body surface, such that the charge leakage paths transfer accumulated charge from the body to a ground.

46. The method of claim 45, wherein a resistance from the body surface to the ground of the charge leakage paths is less than 5000 Megaohms.

47. The method of claim 45, wherein a resistance from the body surface to the ground of the charge leakage paths is less than 80×

10⁹ ohms.

48. The method of claim 44, further comprising the steps of:

providing a coating solution; and

providing an electrostatic nozzle for spraying the coating solution to produce the electrostatically charged coating solution.

49. The method of claim 48, further comprising the step of:

atomizing the coating solution.

50. The method of claim 48, further comprising the step of:

electrically charging the coating solution.

51. The method of claim 44, wherein the step of misting at least a portion of the electrostatically charged coating solution on the body surface further comprises the step of directing the electrostatically charged coating solution towards the body surface.

52. The method of claim 44, wherein the step of misting at least a portion of the electrostatically charged coating solution on the body surface further comprises spraying the coating solution towards the body surface.

53. The method of claim 44, further comprising the step of:

electrically attracting the electrostatically charged coating solution towards the body surface.

54. The method of claim 44, further comprising the steps of:

providing an enclosure for enclosing the subject to be sprayed; and

electrically repelling the electrostatically charged coating solution from at least a portion of the enclosure.

55. The method of claim 44, further comprising the steps of:

extracting at least a portion of the electrostatically charged coating solution from the enclosure, the extracted at least a portion of the electrostatically charged coating solution not being deposited on the body surface.

56. The method of claim 48, further comprising the step of:

moving the electrostatic nozzle.

57. The method of claim 56, wherein the step of moving the electrostatic nozzle includes the step of moving the electrostatic nozzle in a vertical direction.

58. The method of claim 56, wherein the step of moving the electrostatic nozzle includes the step of oscillating the electrostatic nozzle.

59. The method of claim 56, wherein the step of moving the electrostatic nozzle includes the step of oscillating the electrostatic nozzle in a vertical plane.

60. An apparatus for electrostatically coating a body surface with a coating composition, the apparatus comprising:

an enclosure;

a mount positioned on the enclosure;

an electrostatic nozzle connected to the mount, the electrostatic nozzle adapted for passing the coating composition for depositing upon a body surface; and

a floor surface within the enclosure, the floor surface having a resistive path to ground.

61. The apparatus of claim 60, wherein the floor surface is adapted to provide adequate charge leakage paths from the body surface to ground such that accumulated charge is transferred from the body surface to ground.

62. The apparatus of claim 60, wherein the floor surface is elevated to an electrical potential.

63. The apparatus of claim 61, wherein the charge leakage paths are formed by the depositing of the coating composition on the body surface and the floor surface.

64. The apparatus of claim 61, wherein a resistance of the charge leakage paths from the body surface to the ground is less than 5000 Megaohms.

65. The apparatus of claim 61, wherein a resistance of the charge leakage paths from the body surface to ground is less than 80×

10⁹ ohms.

66. The apparatus of claim 60, wherein the floor surface is comprised of a dielectric material.

67. The apparatus of claim 60, wherein the floor surface comprises a plastic encapsulated steel mesh floor.

68. The apparatus of claim 60, wherein the floor surface comprises a plate with no direct connection to ground.

69. The apparatus of claim 68, wherein the plate is comprised of dielectric material.

70. An apparatus for electrostatically coating a body surface with a coating composition, the apparatus comprising:

an enclosure;

a mount positioned on the enclosure;

an electrostatic nozzle connected to the mount, the electrostatic nozzle adapted for passing the coating composition for depositing upon a body surface; and

a floor surface within the enclosure, the floor surface adapted to provide an indirect connection to a ground.

71. The apparatus of claim 70, wherein the floor surface is adapted to provide charge leakage paths from the body surface to ground such that accumulated charge is transferred from the body surface to the ground.

72. The apparatus of claim 70, wherein the floor surface is elevated to an electrical potential.

73. The apparatus of claim 70, wherein the floor surface is connected to ground through a resistive connection.

74. The apparatus of claim 71, wherein the charge leakage paths are formed by the depositing of the coating composition.

75. The apparatus of claim 71, wherein a resistance from the body surface to the ground of the charge leakage paths is less than 5000 Megaohms.

76. The apparatus of claim 71, wherein a resistance from the body surface to the ground of the charge leakage paths is less than 80×

10⁹ ohms.

77. The apparatus of claim 70, wherein the floor surface is comprised of a dielectric material.

78. The apparatus of claim 70 wherein the floor surface comprises a plastic encapsulated steel mesh floor.

79. The apparatus of claim 70, wherein the floor surface comprises a plate with no direct connection to ground.

80. The apparatus of claim 79, wherein the plate is comprised of dielectric material.