Misting apparatus for electrostatic application of coating materials to body surfaces

• US 7,462,242 B2
• Filed: 06/21/2004
• Issued: 12/09/2008
• 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.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tadesse; Yewebdar T.
• Application Number:
  US10/873,838
• Publication Number:
  US 20050281957A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,632 Days
• Field of Search: 118/620, 118/629, 118/326, 118/DIG.7, 118/321, 118/31.5, 118/634, 427/458, 604/289, 604/290, 132/333, 452/5, 435/285.2, 435/285.3, 239/690, 239704-708
• US Class Current: 118/629
• 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 of a human target with a water-based coating composition, the apparatus comprising:

an enclosure within which the human target is received, the enclosure including an electrically isolated floor system that is insulated from an electrical connection to either a voltage source or a ground reference, the electrically isolated floor system comprising an insulating base structure and a dielectric floor surface over the insulating base structure upon which the received human target stands and is electrically isolated from the ground reference;

a mount positioned on the enclosure;

an electrostatic nozzle connected to the mount for electrostatically spraying the water-based coating composition upon the body surface of the human target and dielectric floor surface of the enclosure;

wherein the composition sprayed on the dielectric floor surface forms charge leakage paths from the body surface of the human target towards the ground reference.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein a resistance of the charge leakage paths from the body surface to ground is less than 5000 Megaohms.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein a resistance of the charge leakage paths from the body surface to ground is less than 80×

10⁹ ohms.

4. 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.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the portion of the second wall curved about an axis forms a parabolic curve.

6. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the portion of the second wall curved about an axis forms an elliptical curve.

7. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the portion of the second wall curved about an axis forms a circular curve.

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

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

a door for permitting the human to enter the enclosure.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

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

11. The apparatus of claim 10, further comprising:

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

12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein a vertical wall of the enclosure comprises a dielectric material.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

means to electrically charge walls of the enclosure.

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

15. 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 water-based coating composition passed by the electrostatic nozzle.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the exhaust means comprises an exhaust fan.

17. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the exhaust means is substantially formed of a dielectric material.

18. 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.

19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the mount moving means comprises a worm drive.

20. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the mount moving means is configured to move the mount in a vertical direction.

21. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the mount moving means is configured to pivot the mount in a vertical plane.

22. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the mount moving means is configured to pivot the mount in a horizontal plane.

23. 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 water-based coating composition.

24. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the second mount is located separate from the first mount.

25. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

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

26. 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.

27. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein the compressed air supply comprises an air compressor.

28. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein the compressed air supply comprises an air tank.

29. The apparatus of claim 26, further comprising:

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

30. 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.

31. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a reservoir for storing the water-based coating composition;

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

32. An apparatus for electrostatically coating a body surface of a human target with a water-based coating composition, the apparatus comprising:

an enclosure within which the human target is received, the enclosure including an electrically isolating floor upon which the received human target stands and is electrically isolated from a ground reference, the electrically isolating floor being insulated from an electrical connection to either the ground reference or a voltage source;

a mount positioned on the enclosure;

an electrostatic nozzle connected to the mount for electrostatically spraying the water-based coating composition upon a body surface of the human target and floor of the enclosure;

wherein the composition sprayed on the floor surface forms charge leakage paths from the body surface of the human target such that accumulated charge on the body surface from electrostatic spraying is transferred from the body surface towards the ground reference.

33. The apparatus of claim 32, wherein the composition sprayed deposits charge onto the human target producing an elevated electrical potential on the human target which is insulated from the around reference by the electrically isolating floor.

34. The apparatus of claim 32, wherein a resistance of the charge leakage paths from the body surface to the ground is less than 5000 Megaohms.

35. The apparatus of claim 32, wherein a resistance of the charge leakage paths from the body surface to ground is less than 80×

10⁹ ohms.

36. The apparatus of claim 32, wherein the floor comprises a dielectric material surface over an insulated sump base for collecting sprayed coating composition.

37. The apparatus of claim 32, wherein the floor comprises a plastic encapsulated steel mesh floor over an insulated sump base for collecting sprayed coating composition.

38. The apparatus of claim 32, wherein the floor comprises a plate with no direct connection to ground over an insulated sump base for collecting sprayed coating composition.

39. The apparatus of claim 38, wherein the plate is comprised of dielectric material.

40. An apparatus for electrostatically coating a body surface of a human target with a water-based coating composition, the apparatus comprising:

an enclosure within which the human target is received;

a mount positioned on the enclosure;

an electrostatic nozzle connected to the mount, the electrostatic nozzle spraying the water-based coating composition for depositing upon the body surface of the human target; and

an electrically insulating floor within the enclosure upon which the human target stands and is electrically isolated from a ground reference, the floor being insulated from an electrical connection to either the ground reference or a voltage source, and wherein the composition sprayed by the electrostatic nozzle deposits charge on the human target producing a transient elevated voltage on the human target that is isolated from ground by the electrically insulating floor.

41. The apparatus of claim 40, wherein the composition sprayed on the floor forms charge leakage paths from the body surface toward the ground reference.

42. The apparatus of claim 41, wherein a resistance from the body surface to the ground of the charge leakage paths is less than 5000 Megaohms.

43. The apparatus of claim 41, wherein a resistance from the body surface to the ground of the charge leakage paths is less than 80×

10⁹ ohms.

44. The apparatus of claim 40, wherein the floor comprises a dielectric material surface over an insulated sump base for collecting sprayed coating composition.

45. The apparatus of claim 40 wherein the floor comprises a plastic encapsulated steel mesh floor over an insulated sump base for collecting sprayed coating composition.

46. The apparatus of claim 40, wherein the floor comprises a plate which is electrically isolated from ground over an insulated sump base for collecting sprayed coating composition.

47. The apparatus of claim 46, wherein the plate is comprised of dielectric material.