Abstract:
Portable, electrically driven, handheld sonic personal skin/hair care device includes a housing and a drive assembly to which is coupled a treatment member. The treatment member may include active ingredients incorporated during manufacturing, that safely resist and inhibit the growth of mold, mildew and bacteria. The drive assembly includes a stator assembly, armature assembly, mounting member attached to the housing, elongated pivot arm having a first end directly coupled to the armature assembly and a second end directly coupled to the mounting member, and mounting arm having first and second ends, the first end being directly coupled to the armature assembly and the second end being directly coupled to the treatment member such that the stator, when energized, causes oscillation of the armature in an arcuate manner about a pivot point located at the mounting member in turn causing the treatment member to oscillate relative to the housing.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims priority under  35  U.S.C. § 1 . 19 (e) from U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/951,070 entitled “Personal Care Appliance” and filed on Mar. 11, 2014, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention pertains to personal care appliances, such as a power skin care brush, that are used to care for, clean and otherwise treat skin and hair, and, in particular, to a portable, electrically driven, handheld device that may he used to care for, clean and otherwise treat skin and hair. 
       DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART 
       [0003]    Handheld personal care appliances used to care for, clean or otherwise treat the skin or hair (e.g., to clean, massage and/or apply creams, cleansing solutions or other substances to the skin or hair) are known and have gained increasing popularity. Such devices are most often used to provide daily hygienic skin care, in particular care for the facial skin. These devices usually include a small handheld casing having an internal motor and a self-contained power source (such as a battery) for producing a particular movement/action of a workpiece (e.g., a brush or pad), which in turn produces desired functional results. Examples of such appliances include power skin brushes and power toothbrushes, among others. Such personal care appliances have motor arrangements which produce either rotational movement or oscillating (hack and forth) movement. 
         [0004]    While many such devices are known, there is room for improvement in the field of personal care appliances such as handheld skin and hair treatment devices. Hence, it is desirable to have a personal care appliance having a drive assembly which is powerful (stronger and faster), energy efficient, quiet and durable. It would also be further desirable to according to an aspect of the present invention described herein, incorporate into the workpiece during the manufacturing stage active ingredients that are safe for use on the skin and resist and inhibit the growth of mold, mildew, fungus and/or bacteria on the workpiece keeping the workpiece cleaner and healthier for a longer period of time. By helping prevent the growth of microorganisms, stain and odor control is also achieved. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a personal care appliance that (i) employs a new and improved mechanism for producing oscillating action of a workpiece, such as a brush or pad, which is powerful (stronger and faster), energy efficient, quiet and durable, and (ii) utilizes a workpiece incorporating active ingredients in the manufacturing stage that are safe for use on the skin and resist and inhibit the growth of mold, mildew, fungus and/or bacteria on the workpiece to maintain the workpiece cleaner and healthier for a longer period of time. By helping prevent the growth of microorganisms, stain and odor control is also achieved. 
         [0006]    In one embodiment, a personal care appliance is provided that includes a housing, a drive assembly provided in the housing, and a workpiece member coupled to and driven by the drive assembly. On one specific exemplary implementation, the workpiece member includes active ingredients incorporated during the manufacturing stage that safely resist and inhibit the growth of mold, mildew, fungus and/or bacteria. The drive assembly includes a stator assembly, an armature assembly adjacent the stator assembly and responsive to the stator action to move through a path, a mounting member attached to the housing of the personal care appliance, an elongated pivot arm having a first end directly coupled to the armature assembly and a second end directly coupled to the mounting member such that the armature in operation oscillates in an arcuate manner about a pivot point located at the mounting member, and a mounting arm having a first end and a second end, the first end being directly coupled to the armature assembly. The stator, when energized, is structured to cause the armature to oscillate (which oscillation, as described above, is in an arcuate manner about a pivot point located at the mounting member). The workpiece member is coupled to the second end of the mounting arm such that oscillation of the armature assembly causes the workpiece member to oscillate relative to the housing. 
         [0007]    In another embodiment, a personal care appliance is provided that includes a housing, a drive assembly provided in the housing, the drive assembly including a stator assembly and an armature assembly adjacent the stator assembly, wherein the stator, when energized, is structured to cause the armature to oscillate, and a workpiece member coupled to the armature assembly such that oscillation of the armature assembly causes the workpiece member to oscillate relative to the housing, wherein the workpiece member incldues one or more components made with an antimicrobial material that is both (i) safe for use on the skin, and (ii) resists and/or inhibits the growth of mold, mildew, fungus and/or bacteria. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0008]      FIG. 1A  is a front elevational view,  FIG. 1B  is a side elevational view, and  FIG. 1C  is a rear elevational view of a handheld skin care and treatment device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0009]      FIG. 2  is a rear elevational view of the device of  FIGS. 1A-1C  in a condition wherein the second portion of the main housing has been removed; 
           [0010]      FIG. 3  is a side elevational view of device of  FIGS. 1A-1C  in a condition wherein a front part of the first portion of the main housing has been removed; 
           [0011]      FIG. 4  is an exploded side elevational view of the drive assembly and brush head assembly of the device of  FIGS. 1A-1C ; and 
           [0012]      FIG. 5  is an exploded side elevational view of an alternative drive assembly and brush head assembly that may be used with the device of  FIGS. 1A-1C . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS 
       [0013]    As used herein, the singular form of “a”, “an”, and “the” include plural references unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. 
         [0014]    As used herein, the statement that two or more parts or elements are “coupled” shall mean that the parts are joined or operate together either directly or indirectly, i.e., through one or more intermediate parts or elements, so long as a link occurs. 
         [0015]    As used herein, “directly coupled” means that two elements are directly in contact with each other. 
         [0016]    As used herein, “fixedly coupled” or “fixed” means that two elements are coupled so as to move as one while maintaining a constant orientation relative to each other. 
         [0017]    As used herein, the word “unitary” means a part is created as a single piece or unit. That is, a part that includes pieces that are created separately and then coupled together as a unit is not a “unitary” part or body. 
         [0018]    As employed herein, the statement that two or more parts or elements “engage” one another shall mean that the parts exert a force against one another either directly or through one or more intermediate parts or elements. 
         [0019]    As employed herein, the term “number” shall mean one or an integer greater than one (i.e., a plurality). 
         [0020]    Directional phrases used herein, such as, for example and without limitation, top, bottom, left, right, upper, lower, front, back, and derivatives thereof, relate to the orientation of the elements shown in the drawings and are not limiting upon the claims unless expressly recited therein. 
         [0021]      FIG. 1A  is a front elevational view,  FIG. 1B  is a side elevational view, and  FIG. 1C  is a rear elevational view of a handheld personal care appliance  2  according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. In the illustrated embodiment, personal care appliance  2  includes a two-pan main housing  4  having a first (front) portion  6  and a second (rear) portion  8  coupled to the first portion  6 . Also, main housing  4  includes a handle portion  10  provided at a first end thereof and structured to enable the user to grip and hold personal care appliance  2 , and an attachment portion  12  provided at a second end thereof and structured to mount and hold a workpiece member in a manner that permits the workpiece member to he oscillated for use in skin and/or hair care, cleaning and treatment as described in detail herein. In addition, in the exemplary embodiment, handle portion  10  is provided with non-slip overlay portions  11 A and  11 B that are coupled to the surface of handle portion  10 . Non-slip overlay portions  11 A and  11 B are made of a material, such as rubber, and include a plurality of protruding members (e.g., bumps)  13  to aid in securely gripping and holding personal care appliance  2 . 
         [0022]    In the illustrated, non-limiting embodiment, workpiece member is a circular brush head assembly  14  having a base member  15 , a plurality of bristles  16  arranged on and extending from base member  15  in a circular pattern, and a locking ring  17  structured to secure brush head assembly  14  in place. It will be appreciated, however, that other types of workpiece members may be used in place of bush head assembly  14 , such as, without limitation, a pad member assembly or massage head assembly. 
         [0023]    Because of the presence of microbes such as bacteria and fungi in all walks of human life, there is a constant interaction between microbes and humans. This is especially so in the workpiece member, where skin cells left on the bristles  16  from the exfoliating effects of the brush head or other workpiece member provide a food source for microorganisms, which when combined with moisture and light, provide a breeding ground for the growth of mold, mildew and fungus, as well as, microbes, pathogens and bacteria, such as  E. coli  and  Staph , and other microorganisms. Tests have shown that on unprotected surfaces, bacteria can double in number every 20 minutes. 
         [0024]    Thus, in one non-limiting exemplary embodiment, the components of the workpiece member including, without limitation, the bristles  16  are made with active ingredients during the manufacturing stage that are both (i) safe for use on the skin, and (ii) resist and inhibit the growth of mold, mildew, fungus and/or bacteria on the workpiece member, keeping the workpiece member cleaner and healthier for a longer period of time. By helping prevent the growth of microorganisms, stain and odor control is also achieved. 
         [0025]    Such active ingredients may include, for example and without limitation, silver ion technology (wherein silver ions are incorporated as an additive at the time of manufacture, or applied as a coating after manufacture), which forms a safe protective antimicrobial surface to resist and inhibit bacterial growth by up to 99.94%. Such active ingredients may further include, without limitation, essential plant oils (e.g., cinnamon oil, clove oil, eucalyptus oil, oregano oil, lavender oil, leleshwa oil, lemon oil, lemon myrtle oil, mint oil, neem oil, nigella sativa (black cumin) oil, peppermint oil, sandalwood oil, ironwort oil, tea tree oil, and thyme oil), and essential minerals, or bacteria resistant polymers (e.g., a polymer that reduces the ability of pathogenic bacteria to attach to the polymer). 
         [0026]    An actuator mechanism  18  including a number of buttons is provided on handle portion  10  for controlling the operation of personal care appliance  2  (i.e., controlling the starting, stopping and/or speed of the movement of brush head assembly  14 ). In addition, handle portion  10  also includes a number of indicator lights  19  for indicating various modes of operation of personal care appliance  2 . 
         [0027]      FIG. 2  is a rear elevational view of personal care appliance  2  in a condition wherein the second portion  8  of main housing  4  has been removed.  FIG. 3  is a side elevational view of personal care appliance  2  in a condition wherein a front part of the first portion  6  of main housing  4  (i.e., the part located at attachment portion  12 ) has been removed.  FIGS. 2 and 3  allow the internal components of personal care appliance  2  to be readily viewed. As seen in  FIG. 2 , a main circuit board  20  is mounted and held within handle portion  10  of main housing  4 . Main circuit board  20  includes the control electronics which control the operation of personal care appliance  2 . A rechargeable battery  22  is coupled to main circuit board  20  and is adapted to provide power for personal care appliance  2 . 
         [0028]    In addition, as seen in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , a drive assembly  24  is mounted and held within attachment portion  12  of main housing  4 . Brush head assembly  14  is structured to be selectively attached to drive assembly  24  so that, as described in more detail below, drive assembly  24  is able to move brush head assembly  14  in an oscillating manner with respect to main housing  4 .  FIG. 4  is an exploded side elevational view of drive assembly  24  and brush head assembly  14  (without the associated portions of main housing  4 ). 
         [0029]    As seen in  FIGS. 2-4 , drive assembly  24  includes an electric motor  26  that is coupled to main circuit board  20  and rechargeable battery  22  by wires  28 . Motor  26  includes a stator assembly  30  and an armature assembly  32 . Stator assembly  30  includes an E-core member  34  having first and second outer legs and a center leg in between the outer legs, and a stator coil  36  wrapped around the center leg of E-core member  34 . Armature assembly  32  includes a main body portion  38  and first and second magnets  40 A,  40 B spaced apart from one another and coupled to a first side of main body portion  38 . First and second magnets  40 A,  40 B are oriented such that the poles of first and second magnets  40 A,  40 B face in opposite directions (e.g., the N pole of magnet  40 A faces stator assembly  30  and the S pole of magnet  40  B faces stator assembly  30 ). 
         [0030]    Drive assembly  24  further includes a pivot arm  42  having a first end  44  directly coupled to a second side of main body portion  38  (opposite the first side thereof). In the exemplary embodiment, pivot arm  42  is a thin, elongated piece of metal such as, without limitation steel. Drive assembly  24  also includes a mounting member  46  which is coupled to first portion  6  of main housing  4 . In the exemplary embodiment, mounting member  46  is made of a plastic material, such as, without limitation, a thermoplastic, by a molding process. As seen in  FIG. 2 , mounting member includes a base portion  48  and first and second arms  50 A and  50 B extending outwardly and downwardly from base member  48  such that the end of arms  50 A and SOB are perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of base member  48 . A second end  52  of pivot arm  42  is directly coupled to base member  48 . Thus, as seen in  FIG. 2 , the longitudinal axis of pivot arm  42  is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of base member  48 . In the exemplary embodiment, an end portion of second end  52  of pivot arm  42  is molded inside base portion  48  such that end portion of second end  52  of pivot arm  42  is fixed inside and not moveable relative to base portion  48 . As described herein, only the portion of pivot arm  42  that is located outside of base portion  48  is moveable relative to base portion  48 . 
         [0031]    First and second constraining members  54 A and  54 B are attached to respective ones of the arms  50 A and  50 B and extend in a direction that is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of pivot arm  42 . In the exemplary embodiment, constraining members  54 A and  54 B comprise springs to constrain and assist (i.e., drive) the movement of pivot arm  42  when necessary, which is believed to assist with the generation of speed and/or power of the oscillations. 
         [0032]    Drive assembly  24  further includes a mounting arm assembly  56  for coupling brush head assembly  14  to drive assembly  24 . In particular, mounting arm assembly  56  includes a first end  58  that is directly coupled to main body portion  38  of armature assembly  32 , and a peg member  60  that is structured to be selectively coupled to brush head assembly  14  through a central aperture provided in attachment portion  12  (peg member  60  is structured to extend through that central aperture to facilitate selective connection of brush head assembly  14 , or a different skin treatment attachment device, thereto). Thus, as shown in  FIG. 4 , when assembled, the center of base member  15  of brush head assembly  14  will be positioned directly over armature assembly  32 . 
         [0033]    In operation, when power is provided to motor  26  by rechargeable battery  22 , armature assembly  32  will be caused to oscillate back and forth in an arcuate path about a pivot point located at mounting member  48  as a result of the changing magnetic field produced in stator assembly  30  and the interaction of magnets  40 A,  40 B therewith. As a result, brush head assembly  14  will be caused to oscillate with respect to main housing  4 . A user may then apply the oscillating bush head assembly  14  to different areas of skin and/or hair (e.g., the lace, feet, etc.) to provide care and treatment for the skin and/or hair, for example by using, the oscillating brush head assembly to apply a cleansing solution of another substance to the user&#39;s skin and/or hair. 
         [0034]    In one particular exemplary embodiment, personal care appliance  2  is structured and configured such that brush head assembly  14  will be caused to oscillate with respect to main housing  4  at a rate up to 330 times/second. In addition, in this particular embodiment, rechargeable battery  22  is structured and configured such that personal care appliance  2  will operate for about 30-40 minutes on a single charge and such that only about 2 milliamperes is consumed when personal care appliance  2  is not in use (which prolongs the battery life). 
         [0035]      FIG. 5  is an exploded side elevational view of a drive assembly  62  according to an alternative exemplary embodiment of the present invention. Drive assembly  62  may be used in place of drive assembly  24  to drive brush head assembly  14 . As seen in  FIG. 5 , drive assembly  62  includes an electric motor  64  that may be coupled to main circuit board  20  described herein by wires  28 . Motor  64  is similar to motor  26  and includes a stator assembly  66  and an armature assembly  68 . Stator assembly  66  includes an E-core member  70  having first and second outer legs and a center leg in between the outer legs, and a stator coil  72  wrapped around the center leg of E-core member  70 . Armature assembly  68  includes a main body portion  74  and first and second magnets  76  spaced apart from one another and coupled to a first side of main body portion  74 . First and second magnets  76  are oriented such that the poles thereof face in opposite directions. 
         [0036]    Drive assembly  62  further includes a pivot arm  78  having a first end  80  directly coupled to a second side of main body portion  74  (opposite the first side thereof). In the exemplary embodiment, pivot aim  78  is a thin, elongated piece of metal such as, without limitation steel. Drive assembly  62  also includes a mounting member  82  which may be coupled to first portion  6  of main housing  4 . Mounting member  82  includes a base portion  84  and first and second arms  86  extending outwardly and downwardly from base member  84  such that the end alarms  86  are perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of base member  84 . A second end  88  of pivot arm  78  is directly coupled to base member  82 . Thus, the longitudinal axis of pivot arm  78  is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of base member  84 . Also, first and second constraining members (like constraining members  54 A and  54 B) are attached to respective ones of the arms  86  and extend in a direction that is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of pivot arm  78 . In the exemplary embodiment, an end portion of second end  88  of pivot arm  78  is molded inside base portion  84  such that end portion of second end  88  of pivot arm  78  is fixed inside and not moveable relative to base portion  84 . As described herein, only the portion of pivot arm  78  that is located outside of base portion  84  is moveable relative to base portion  84 . 
         [0037]    Drive assembly  62  also further includes an S-shaped mounting arm  90  for coupling brush head assembly  14  to drive assembly  62 . In particular, S-shaped mounting arm  90  includes a first portion  92 , an elongated second portion  94  coupled to first portion  92 , and a third portion  96  coupled to second portion  94 . As seen in  FIG. 5 , in the exemplary embodiment, first portion  92  and third portion  96  extend in directions that are parallel to one another, and second portion  94  extends in a direction that is perpendicular to first and third portions  92 ,  96 . Also in the exemplary embodiment, mounting arm  90  is a thin, elongated piece of metal such as, without intimation steel. First end  92  of mounting area  90  is directly coupled to main body portion  74  of armature assembly  68 , and third portion  96  is structured to be selectively coupled to brush head assembly  14  through a central aperture provided in attachment portion  12  (third portion  96  is structured to extend through that central aperture to facilitate selective connection of brush head assembly  14 , or a different skin treatment attachment device, thereto). Thus, as shown in  FIG. 5 , when assembled, the center of base member  15  of brush head assembly  14  will be positioned over a midpoint  98  of pivot arm  78 . 
         [0038]    In operation, when power is provided to motor  64 , armature assembly  68  will be caused to oscillate back and forth in an arcuate path about a pivot point provided at mounting member  82  as a result of the changing magnetic field produced in stator assembly  66  and the interaction of magnets  70  therewith. As a result, brush head assembly  14  will be caused to oscillate with respect to main housing  4 . A user may then apply the oscillating bush head assembly  14  to different areas of skin (e.g., the face, feet, etc.) to provide care and treatment for the skin, for example by using the oscillating brush head assembly to apply a cleansing solution to the user&#39;s skin. 
         [0039]    In the claims, any reference signs placed between parentheses shall not he construed as limiting the claim. The word “comprising” or “including” does not exclude the presence of elements or steps other than those listed in a claim. In a device claim enumerating several means, several of these means may be embodied by one and the same item of hardware. The word “a” or “an” preceding an element does not exclude the presence of a plurality of such elements. In any device claim enumerating several means, several of these means may be embodied by one and the same item of hardware. The mere fact that certain elements are recited in mutually different dependent claims does not indicate that these elements cannot be used in combination. 
         [0040]    Although the invention has been described in detail for the purpose of illustration based on what is currently considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that such detail is solely for that purpose and that the invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments, but, on the contrary, is intended to cover modifications and equivalent arrangements that are within the spirit and scope of the appended claims. For example, it is to be understood that the present invention contemplates that, to the extent possible, one or more features of any embodiment can be combined with one or more features of any other embodiment.