United States Patent (19) 11 Patent Number: 4,967,090 Schlitt V 45 Date of Patent: Oct. 30, 1990 (54 COSMETCTANNING LAMP AND SYSTEM Primary Examiner-Jack I. Berman HAVING ADJUSTABLE UVB PROPORTON Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Carlo S. Bessone (75) Inventor: Steven C. Schlitt, Merrimac, Mass. (57) ABSTRACT (73) Assignee: GTE Products Corporation, Danvers, A fluorescent lamp and system for providing cosmetic Mass. tanning. The lamp includes a first ultraviolet-emitting phosphor disposed on a portion of the circumference of (21) Appl. No.: 520,320 the interior of an ultraviolet-transmitting glass enve 22 Filed: May 7, 1990 lope. A second ultraviolet-emitting phosphor is dis posed on the remaining portion the lamp envelope. The Related U.S. Application Data lamp further includes bases having electrical contacts (63. Continuation of Ser. No. 35,647, Feb. 27, 1989. extending therefrom and lying in a plane which passes through the demarcation lines formed between the first (51) Int. Cli.............................................. H01J 61/48 and second ultraviolet-emitting phosphors. In one em (52) U.S. C. ................................ 250/504 R; 313/487; bodiment, the proportions of UVB to UVA from the 128/396 same light source are about 1.6 percent and 4.2 percent. (58) Field of Search ........................ 250/504 R, 493.1; In another aspect of the invention, a suntanning system 313/487; 128/396 includes an external reflector positioned adjacent the 56 References Cited fluorescent lamp. The external reflector is effective in U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS maintaining approximately the same irradiance level in the UVA region independent of the rotational align 3,466,443 9/1969 Roesler ........................... 250/504 R 3,676,728 7/1972 Schreurs ............................. 313/487 ment of the lamp. 4,645,969 2/1987 Hoffman ............................. 313/487 4,703,224 10/1987 Rattray et al. ...................... 313/487 5 Claims, 3 Drawing Sheets U.S. Patent Oct. 30, 1990 Sheet 1 of 3 4,967,090 6 8 22 24 FG.2 U.S. Patent Oct. 30, 1990 Sheet 2 of 3 4,967,090 O O N O s 39to M) > O 9C. toL. 2 O O Vr O O M O O CO O V CN CN N U.S. Patent Oct. 30, 1990 Sheet 3 of 3 4,967,090 3 8 N 4,967,090 1. 2 Most tanning lamps produce a spectrum of ultraviolet COSMETCTANNING LAMP AND SYSTEM light which is similar to that of the sun. Most lamps HAVING ADJUSTABLE UVB PROPORTION provide the small amount of UVB necessary to initiate the tanning process while at the same time, providing FIELD OF THE INVENTION 5 the UVA needed to darken the pigment (melanin). This is a continuation of co-pending application Ser. Ultraviolet tanning lamps and tanning equipment No. 315,647, filed on Feb. 27, 1989. used in the United States must comply with very spe This invention relates in general to low pressure mer cific regulations which are enforced by an agency of the cury vapor discharge lamps of the fluorescent type Food and Drug Administration. These regulations re having a phosphor coating to emit skin tanning radia 10 strict certain ultraviolet lamp characteristics and re tion when excited by the ultraviolet radiation generated quire extensive labeling of lamps and suntan equipment. from the mercury discharge. The U.S. FDA defines UVA as the region of 320 nanometers (nm)-400 nm and UVB as the region of 260 BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION nm -320 nm. Skin pigmentation and thickening of the upper layer 15 In the design of suntanning equipment and UV of the skin called the corneum are the body's natural sources it is necessary to consider that tanning ability protective reactions to exposure to shortwave ultravio and tanning characteristics vary from one individual to let energy produced by the sun; these reactions are the another. In this regard there are two main factors which skin's defense against further assault. should be considered: Skin pigmentation, or tanning, is the result of a com 1. Skin Type this refers to the (genetic) capability of plex biological process, and to understand it, one most an individual to produce and maintain a pigmentation in understand the skin's response to different wavelengths the skin. It is determined by the histologic response of of ultraviolet radiation. the skin to ultraviolet radiation and classified by the observable effects. Deep down in the skin are special cells called melano 25 2. Present Skin Pigmentation - this refers to the rela cytes. Once these are stimulated with ultraviolet light, tive pigmentation level of the skin at the time just prior they will utilize substances which they have stored up to UV exposure. Previously well-tanned skin, exhibiting to produce the pigment melanin Because these sub a high level of pigmentation is generally more resistant stances only absorb shortwave (UVB) ultraviolet light, to erythema (sunburn) and hence may tolerate higher these UVB rays must be present in order to achieve 0 levels of UVB before the onset of Minimum Perceptible melanin production. Longer wavelength ultraviolet Erythema (MPE). Increased UVB will elicit, however, (UVA) can also formulate melanin but only when there an increased melonogenic effect ultimately leading to a exists enough sensitizing material in the skin to bring darker appearing skin. Previously, untanned skin will be about a UVB-type reaction. However, this requires a more susceptible to UVB induced erythema and there very high radiation UVA intensity for a long period of 35 fore UVB levels should be minimized in the early por time. On the other hand, UVB can induce the same tion of an indoor tanning program. desired melanin production utilizing very low levels of Because of the factors mentioned above it is neces radiation with more frequent exposures. sary in a commercial indoor tanning application or in The pale pink colored melanin granules formed in the the consumer tanning products marketplace to offer melanocytes will travel upward toward the horny layer sunlamp products which are appropriate to the range of or corneum. They are stored around the nuclei of the "tannable' skin types and skin conditions. This means keratin cells there. In this manner, the pigment protects that sunlamp product manufacturers, to be fully com the UVB sensitive DNA located inside the nuclei with petitive, must offer products which produce the radia out impeding the other positive effects of ultraviolet tive characteristics necessary for safe and effective tan light. 45 ning of a range of skin types and conditions. To this end In the preliminary stages of melanin production, very many manufacturers offer a variety of ultraViolet little protection is offered to the skin. In order to render sources which when used in conjunction with their the pigmentation process effective, the melanin granules tanning equipment give the desired ranges of UVA and must darken (oxidize). This requires a higher dosage of UVB appropriate for the person(s) undergoing the tan longer wave UVA. 50 ning process. The dosage of UVA must be sufficiently high in To cover the range of ultraviolet lamps to meet the order to provide enough energy to initiate the oxidation needs of the market, equipment manufacturers and dis process. It must be remembered that UVA rays are not tributors generally make available three separate groups as energetic as UVB rays. Longwave radiation is essen of lamps having the following characteristics: tial because high doses of shortware rays will activate 55 1. Lamps with a relatively low proportion of UVB substances in the body such as absorbic acid and cyste radiation approximately 1% UVB/UVA and lower, ine which hinder the tanning process. These antioxi 2. Lamps with an intermediate proportion of UVB; dants not only inhibit oxidation of pigment but can even approximately 1.0-3.0% UVB/UVA, and reverse the process. 3. Lamps with a relatively high proportion of UVB; Thus, UVB serves to synthesize the pigment granules 3% and above, usually to 5% maximum. In all cases, while UVA ensure their oxidation. Together they form UVA is defined as the region of 320 nm - 400 nm, UVB a light protection mechanism. is defined as the region of 260 nm-320 nm. UVB is also essential in developing the skin callosity In order to alter the UVB proportion of present tan in the horny layer or corneum. This light-induced thick ning equipment one must actually replace lamps with ening stabilizes the skin to guarantee protection from 65 others which have a different spectral characteristic. excessive radiation. After the skin has been exposed This necessitates the purchase and storage of an addi several times, this callosity will develop within one to tional set of lamps. Another possibility is to alter the three weeks and can remain for several months. design of the tanning unit by installation or alteration of 4,967,090 3 4. separate filters or reflectors. This latter option is even In accordance with still further teachings of the pres less desirable than the former in that the total output of ent invention, the first ultraviolet-emitting phosphor is the tanning unit will likely be reduced by such modifica disposed on 180' of the circumference of the interior tions. It is also inconvenient to maintain these materials surface of the envelope. The second ultraviolet-emitting and make the necessary installation. phosphor means is disposed on the remaining 180 por SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION tion of the circumference of the interior surface of the envelope. In a preferred embodiment, the lamp further It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to obviate the disadvantages of the prior art. includes a base associated with each of the end portions It is still another object of the invention to provide an O of the envelope and each base has pin means lies in a improved suntanning fluorescent lamp to obviate the plane which passes through the demarcation lines need for some of the separate classes of tanning lamp.