Abstract:
A Personal Care Vaporizer Device for the Eye Area of the Face. A treatment chamber formed within the device will encircle the user&#39;s eyes and surrounding facial area when the device is positioned over the eye area of the face. A soft gel eyemask element provides maximum comfort for the wearer during treatment. The device introduces therapeutic mist or vapor into the treatment chamber. The mist/vapor is generated from an internal reservoir containing plain water or water mixed with other therapeutic additives. An onboard blower can control the flow rate of the mist/vapor into the treatment chamber. One or more onboard heating elements within the device provide direct heat to the treatment chamber wall(s), and/or to heat the mist/vapor prior to its being introduced into the treatment chamber. Onboard vibration generators apply soothing massaging motion to the user&#39;s face when activated.

Description:
[0001]    This application is filed within one year of, and claims priority to Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/821,089, filed May 8, 2013. 
         [0002]    This application is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 29/457,560, filed Jun. 11, 2013, now pending. This application is further a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 13/413,491 filed Mar. 6, 2012, now pending, and application Ser. No. 12/079,747, filed Mar. 27, 2008, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,157,753 (“the parent applications”). 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0004]    This invention relates generally to personal skin care devices and methods and, more specifically, to a Personal Care Vaporizer Device for the Eye Area of the Face. 
         [0005]    2. Description of Related Art 
         [0006]    Skin treatment devices are plentiful. Some pertinent examples of conventional devices and systems in this field are: Mehl, Sr., et al., U.S. Pat. No. 6,090,085, Walker, U.S. Pat. No. 5,098,414, and Burian, U.S. Pat. No. 4,616,122. 
         [0007]    Mehl is a “Skin Moisturizing and Buffing Device.” The Mehl system combines a handheld facial buffer that has an internal steam generator for creating a stream of steam for emission through the “movable skin contacting assembly” (i.e. the facial buffer head). While the Mehl device does provide a handheld steam buffer, it fails to allow the user the option of either cool vapor or heated steam emitted through the buffer head. Furthermore, the amount of vapor available for use is severely limited due to the entire package being of handheld size. A device providing a large volume liquid reservoir that can emit either heated steam or cool vapor would provide a wider set of benefits to the user. 
         [0008]    Walker is a “Steam Device for Cosmetic Skin Treatment.” The Walker device does provide a large water reservoir for use in steam emission, but it fails to provide the option of cool vapor. 
         [0009]    The Burian “Electrically Heated Facial Sauna Vapor Generating Apparatus,” like Walker discloses a large-reservoir, steam-generating facial massage device. Just as with Walker, Burian fails to suggest the generation of cool vapor (in addition to hot steam) for facial application through the massage head. The ability to deliver hot or cool vapor through the massage head allows the user to continue the facial massage while heating and cooling the massage head and skin. If the only option is to deliver steam, then the user must either stop the massage or stop the vapor delivery in the event that the face becomes uncomfortably hot. 
         [0010]    In the field of massage or treatment of the face, the following references have been uncovered and are deemed relevant: Lin (I), U.S. Pat. No. 6,155,995, Lin (II), U.S. Pat. No. 7,637,878, Lin (III), U.S. Patent Application Publication No. US2005/0256433, Felton, U.S. Pat. No. 3,602,217, and Chen, U.S. Patent Application Publication No. US2005/0240162 all relate to mask-like apparatus for treating the user&#39;s upper face and eye region. 
         [0011]    Lin (I) discloses a “Structure of a Multifunctional Eye Mask.” The Lin (I) device has an inflatable facemask that provides contact heat and vibrations to the user&#39;s face. There is no provision for the generation and application of cool or heated vapor to the user&#39;s face. 
         [0012]    Lin (II) discloses a “Multi-Functional Eye Massaging Device Having Expandable Body,” which like Lin (II) includes an inflatable eyemask with direct heat application and vibration, but does not suggest the introduction of mist or vapor. 
         [0013]    Lin (III) introduces a “Centrifugal, Rotating Power Element and A Massaging Device Using the Same,” that, like its parents, fails to disclose or hint at the introduction of mist or vapor to the eye area. 
         [0014]    Felton discloses an “Eye Treatment Device” for washing a single eye of a user with liquid. The Felton device does not suggest the use of vapor or mist, nor does introduce heat or vibrating massage. 
         [0015]    Finally, Chen does disclose a device intended to introduce liquid vapor to the eye area. The Chen “Eye Treatment Device” is actually intended to clean the users eyes and sterilize the users contact lenses (which in the eyes) by application of sterilized, atomized liquid to the eyes. In that the Chen device is focused on eye cleansing, there is no suggestion of the use of vibratory massage, heated mist/vapor, or direct heat to the user&#39;s facial area. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0016]    In light of the aforementioned problems associated with the prior devices and methods, it is an object of the present invention to provide a Personal Care Vaporizer Device for the Eye Area of the Face. The device should provide a treatment chamber formed within it that will encircle the user&#39;s eyes and surrounding facial area when the device is positioned over the eye area of the face. The device should introduce therapeutic mist or vapor into the treatment chamber. A soft gel (or other soft seal) eyemask element should engage the users face to provide maximum comfort for the wearer during treatment, while also containing the condensed vapor/mist. The mist/vapor is preferably generated from an internal reservoir containing plain water or water mixed with other therapeutic additives. An onboard blower may be provided in order to control the flow rate of the mist/vapor into the treatment chamber. One or more onboard heating elements may also be dispersed within the device to provide direct heat to the treatment chamber wall(s), and/or to heat the mist/vapor prior to its being introduced into the treatment chamber. The device may further be equipped with onboard vibration generators designed to apply soothing massaging motion to the user&#39;s face when activated. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0017]    The objects and features of the present invention, which are believed to be novel, are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The present invention, both as to its organization and manner of operation, together with further objects and advantages, may best be understood by reference to the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, of which: 
           [0018]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the personal care vaporizer device for the eye area of the face of the present invention; 
           [0019]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the mask assembly of the device of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0020]      FIG. 3  is a top view of the handheld control assembly of the device of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0021]      FIG. 4  is a partially exploded perspective view of the mask assembly of  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0022]      FIG. 5  is a top perspective view of the gasket and rear housing members of the device of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0023]      FIG. 6  is a top view of the rear housing member of the device of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0024]      FIG. 7  is a partial right perspective view of the rear housing member of the device of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0025]      FIG. 8  is a partial left perspective view of the rear housing member of the device of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0026]      FIG. 9  is partial perspective view of the fluid storage components dispersed on the rear housing member of the device of  FIG. 1 ; and 
           [0027]      FIG. 10  is a bottom view of the rear housing member of the device of  FIG. 1 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0028]    The following description is provided to enable any person skilled in the art to make and use the invention and sets forth the best modes contemplated by the inventor of carrying out his invention. Various modifications, however, will remain readily apparent to those skilled in the art, since the generic principles of the present invention have been defined herein specifically to provide a Personal Care Vaporizer Device for the Eye Area of the Face. 
         [0029]    The present invention can best be understood by initial consideration of FIG.  1 . 1    FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the personal care vaporizer device for the eye area of the face  10  of the present invention. There are two major components to the device  10 —the mask assembly  17  and the handheld control assembly  15 . These two assemblies  17 ,  15  are interconnected by control cable  19  in this version, but in other versions, it is anticipated that a wireless interconnection could be easily implemented. Furthermore, in yet another alternative version, the user control features provided on the control assembly  15  could be integrated into the mask assembly  17  in order to eliminate the separate component and cable.  1  As used throughout this disclosure, element numbers enclosed in square brackets [ ] indicates that the referenced element is not shown in the instant drawing figure, but rather is displayed elsewhere in another drawing figure. 
         [0030]    A strap or other flexible element  21  extends from the mask assembly  17  for the purpose of securing the mask assembly  17  to the users face, just as one might wear a decorative or protective mask. The functional components of the mask assembly  17  are contained within the main housing  12 . As will be discussed in more detail below, the user replenishes the fluid within the mask assembly  17  by lifting up the fill port lid  16 , which is preferably formed from flexible, pliable material. Now turning to  FIG. 2 , we can examine the device in more detail. 
         [0031]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the mask assembly  17  of the device [ 10 ] of  FIG. 1 . A pliable (neoprene or other material) gasket member  22  is attached to the back-side of the housing  12  (i.e. it will be against the user&#39;s face when the mask assembly  17  is attached thereto. The internal components of the main housing  12  are found beneath the front cover  20 . The front cover  20  has a fill port  33  formed in it. As discussed above, the user pours or injects fluid into the main housing  12  via the fill port  33 . A generally clear liquid level window  26  is formed in the front cover  20  in order to view how much fluid is in the reservoir contained within the main housing  12 , as is discussed in more detail below. 
         [0032]    The fill port  33  is sealed when not being filled by the fill plug  35  extending from the fill port lid  16 . In this version, the fill plug  35  is an integrated feature of the fill port lid  16 , and is therefore formed from the same piece of pliable material.  FIG. 3  illuminates the features of the other main component of the device [ 10 ]. 
         [0033]      FIG. 3  is a top view of the handheld control assembly  15  of the device [ 10 ] of  FIG. 1 . The assembly  15  is contained within housing  24 , and has a plurality of switch buttons  66  dispersed in its outer surface. These switch buttons  66  could be conventional buttons or touch-sensitive pads. In either case, it is expected that they would be liquid-tight to prevent contaminating materials from seeping into the housing  24 . 
         [0034]    A power switch  66 A is used to activate or deactivate the device [ 10 ]. Massage control switch button  66 B is used to turn the internal massaging vibration feature on and off, as well as selecting the intensity of the vibration (here it is low or high). Heat control switch button  66 C is used to turn the internal heater on and off, and to select the intensity. The device may be configured to heat the mist/vapor or the wall(s) of the treatment chamber, or both. The mist control switch button  66 D is used to activate the ultrasonic vaporizer (or other method for vaporizing water, such as an ionic element) within the mask assembly [ 17 ] so that cool (or warm) vaporized liquid is introduced to the treatment chamber within the mask [ 17 ]. 
         [0035]    Other control buttons may be provided for the following features (in alternative embodiments): airflow control, separate mist heat and treatment area heat controls, mood lighting control, sound/music control, among others. 
         [0036]    This version [ 10 ] is provided with rechargeable batteries within the handheld control assembly  15 . These batteries could be replaced as necessary. In an alternate form, the device [ 10 ] may receive its power from a power cord.  FIG. 4  introduces the internal components of the mask assembly [ 17 ]. 
         [0037]      FIG. 4  is a partially exploded perspective view of the mask assembly  17  of  FIG. 2 . The main housing  12  is comprised of the rear housing  28  and its components, and the front cover  20 . The gasket member  22  is attached to the back-side of the rear housing member  28 . In this version, the fill port lid  16  (and fill port plug [ 33 ]) are integral parts of the gasket member  22 . The front cover  20  is generally opaque, but is formed with a liquid level window  26  of transparent or translucent material incorporated therein (or just and opening). The fill access aperture  30  is provided so that the fill port [ 33 ] can be accessed therethrough. Typically, the control electronics for the device [ 10 ] will be contained on a single printed circuit board, as shown here, but other conventional approaches could also be used. As shown by the arrows, the front cover  20  attaches over the top of the functional components attached to the rear housing member  28 . These components will be discussed in more detail below in connection with  FIGS. 5-9 . 
         [0038]      FIG. 5  is a top perspective view of the gasket and rear housing members  22 ,  28  of the device [ 10 ] of  FIG. 1 . The rear housing member  28  defines a treatment chamber  14  within it. The therapeutic mist/vapor is injected into this region when the mask assembly [ 17 ] is attached to the user&#39;s head. As discussed previously, the gasket member  22  and fill port lid  16  are molded from a single piece of pliable material that attaches to the inside/back-side of the rear housing member  28 . From the top, as depicted in  FIG. 6 , the treatment chamber  14  can be seen to be elongate side-to-side, and to have a notch  36  formed in its bottom wall to accommodate the users&#39; nose (actually the bridge area of the nose) therein, so that the back face of the treatment chamber will closely form (via the gasket member [ 22 ]) to virtually all potential users&#39; faces. Also shown here is the heating element  42 , which extends across the front wall  38  of the treatment chamber  14 . Activating this element will warm the interior of the treatment chamber  14 . The mist conduit (not shown) may also pass through this or another heating element so that the incoming mist could also be heated (by this element  42 , or via a separate element dedicated to the mist conduit (not shown)).  FIGS. 7 ,  8  and  9  provide additional detail about the internal components of the mask assembly [ 17 ]. 
         [0039]      FIG. 7  is a partial right perspective view of the rear housing member  28  and  FIG. 8  is a partial left perspective view of the rear housing member  28 . First and second massage assemblies  44 A,  44 B are attached to the rear housing member  28  at the left and right corners thereof (additional assemblies of similar configuration could be located elsewhere within the mask assembly [ 17 ]). These assemblies  44 A,  44 B generate vibrations when in operation. These vibrations are transmitted through the rear housing member  28  to the gasket member [ 22 ], such that the user feels a soothing massaging sensation in their upper facial area. 
         [0040]    Each massage assembly  44 A,  44 B comprises an electric massage motor  45 A,  45 B that has a rotating shaft, to which an offset weight element  48 A,  48 B is attached. The offset weight element  48 A,  48 B is, as its name conveys, a weight that is not distributed symmetrically around the axis of rotation of the motor  45 A,  45 B shaft. When the motor  45 A,  45 B drives the shaft to rotate (i.e. in direction “R”), the rotation of the weight elements  48 A,  48 B will generate vibrations. As discussed above, these vibrations will transmit through the rear housing member  28  and gasket member [ 22 ], and to the user&#39;s skin. 
         [0041]    Turning to  FIGS. 9 and 10 , we can examine the way in which this device generates its mist and introduces it into the treatment chamber  14 .  FIG. 9  is partial perspective view of the fluid storage components dispersed on the rear housing member  28  of the device [ 10 ] of  FIG. 1 . A fluid chamber  32  is attached to the central top area of the rear housing member  28 . The fill port  33  (aperture) is formed in the top of the chamber  32 , and is sealable by the fill plug  35  and fill port lid  16 , as discussed previously. 
         [0042]    When the front cover [ 20 ] is attached to the rear housing member  28 , the fill port  33  is lined up with the fill access aperture [ 30 ]. In this version, an ultrasonic transducer  34  (or other fluid vaporizing device) is located at the bottom of the fluid chamber  32 . The transducer  34 , when activated, agitates the fluid in the chamber  32  at a very high frequency until the fluid vaporizes. The fluid could be plain water, or water with essential oils, chemicals or other supplements blended in. In other versions (not depicted), other methods for liquid vaporization could be employed, such as ionic vibration and/or nanotechnology. 
         [0043]    A liquid level chamber  50  extends from the main area of the fluid chamber  32 . This chamber  50  has an arcuate shape on its front side that cooperates with the inner shape of the front cover [ 20 ]. When the front cover [ 20 ] is attached to the rear housing member  28 , the liquid level chamber  50  will be viewable through the liquid level window [ 26 ] formed in the front cover [ 20 ]. 
         [0044]    One or more mist orifices  46  are formed through the roof  18  of the treatment chamber  14 . The cool or hot vapor/mist is introduced into the treatment chamber  14  through the orifice(s)  46 . In this version, the transducer  34  (and fluid chamber [ 32 ]) is positioned directly above the mist orifice  46 , so that it generates mist directly into the chamber  14 . In other versions, a mist conduit such as disclosed in the parent applications could be used. 
         [0045]    Those skilled in the art will appreciate that various adaptations and modifications of the just-described preferred embodiment can be configured without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. Therefore, it is to be understood that, within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced other than as specifically described herein.