Abstract:
A Handheld Motorized Facial Brush Having Specialized Torque Transfer Clip. The heads interface with a conventional handpiece so that the facial brush or other facial treatment head can be removed and replaced with a head chosen from a group of treatment heads. The handpiece has a sealed, washable head portion that can be activated to rotate. Each treatment head or treatment assembly includes a torque transfer clip that provides biasing force between the handpiece and the head, but at the same time results in additional vibration being transferred from the vibration generator in the handpiece to the treatment head. The torque transfer clip also allows for some flex between the treatment head and the handpiece.

Description:
[0001]    This application is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 13/603,081, filed Sep. 4. 2012, and Ser. No. 29/544,443, filed Nov. 3, 2015, both now pending. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    This invention relates generally to facial skin care appliances and, more specifically, to a Handheld Motorized Facial Brush Having Specialized Torque Transfer Clip. 
         [0004]    2. Description of Related Art 
         [0005]    Facial massage and skin treatment devices are widely known in the art. One particular functional feature that has not been widely implemented is the device having a face-hugging or “floating” treatment head. The advantage of a floating head is that the face of the treatment head will tend to remain in contact with the user&#39;s skin while traversing the irregular topography that tends to define a person&#39;s face in particular. 
         [0006]    Vigil, U.S. Pat. No. 5,891,063 is a “Skin Rejuvinating System” that includes a rotating bi-level brush. No floating capability. Harris, U.S. Pat. No. D612,612 discloses a design that appears to be a rotating and somewhat pivoting treatment brush. Roth, U.S. Pat. No. D549,964 shows the shape of a motorized facial brush without suggesting any pivoting motion. Akridge, U.S. Pat. No. 7,789,092 and Roth, U.S. Pat. No. 7,386,906 are related to the Roth design patent reference, but fail to suggest any pivoting motion or the light/vibration/microcurrent emissions. Pitcher, U.S. Pat. No.  7 , 320 , 691  discloses an “Apparatus and Method for Acoustic/Mechanical Treatment of Early Stage Acne”—while this reference does relate to the field of the instant invention, but it does not disclose any pivoting or floating head design. 
         [0007]    Careful review of these prior devices reveals that the following references fails to suggest a device with detachable and interchangeable treatment heads, wherein the attachment mechanism provides a positive connection between the handpiece and the treatment head, while also allowing some axial flexing between the treatment head and the handpiece. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0008]    In light of the aforementioned problems associated with the prior devices and assemblies, it is an object of the present invention to provide a Handheld Motorized Facial Brush Having Specialized Torque Transfer Clip. The heads should interface with a conventional handpiece so that the facial brush or other facial treatment head can be removed and replaced with a head chosen from a group of treatment heads. The handpiece should have a sealed, washable head portion. Each treatment head or treatment assembly should include a torque transfer clip that provides biasing force between the handpiece and the head, but at the same time result in additional vibration being transferred from the vibration generator in the handpiece to the treatment head. The torque transfer clip should also allow for some flex between the treatment head and the handpiece. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0009]    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: 
           [0010]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the skin treatment device having the torque transfer subassembly of the present invention in a re-charging stand; 
           [0011]      FIG. 2  is a rear perspective view of the device of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0012]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the device of  FIGS. 1 and 2  without the stand; 
           [0013]      FIG. 4  is a side view of the device of  FIG. 3 ; 
           [0014]      FIG. 5  is a back view of a the treatment assembly of the device of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0015]      FIG. 6  is a rear perspective view of the assembly of  FIG. 5 ; 
           [0016]      FIG. 7  is a second rear perspective view of the assembly of  FIG. 5 ; 
           [0017]      FIG. 8  is a partial front view of the handpiece of the device of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0018]      FIG. 9  is a partial right perspective view of the device of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0019]      FIG. 10  is a partial left perspective view of the device of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0020]      FIG. 11  is a partial side view of the device of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0021]      FIG. 12  is a side view of a preferred embodiment of the torque transfer clip of the device of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0022]      FIG. 13  is a rear perspective view of the clip of  FIG. 12 ; and 
           [0023]      FIG. 14  is a rear perspective view of the head portion of the device of  FIG. 1 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0024]    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 Handheld Motorized Facial Brush Having Specialized Torque Transfer Clip. 
         [0025]    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 skin treatment device having the torque transfer subassembly  10  of the present invention in a re-charging stand  14 . The device  10  has a detachable treatment assembly  16 , such as the bristle brush assembly shown here. Other assemblies  16  may have a sponge surface, a smooth silicone face, and/or other materials for treating the user&#39;s skin.  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. 
         [0026]    The device  10  preferably has an internal vibration generator  17 , such as a motor with offset weight or other conventional system such as an electromagnetic coil and magnet. The treatment assembly  16 , in addition to transmitting vibration, may rotate in direction R 1  or direction R 2  via internal and internal motor drive system that is activated when the user depresses power/mode button  12 . Indicator light  20  will illuminate and change color depending upon the mode (vibration and/or rotation). 
         [0027]      FIG. 2  is a rear perspective view of the device  10  of  FIG. 1 , and  FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the device  10  of  FIGS. 1 and 2  without the stand [ 14 ]. Here, the distal end portion  24  of the handpiece  12  can be seen as it has been removed from the stand [ 14 ]. An electrical connection between the two allows the internal battery pack to be charged when the handpiece  12  is inserted into the stand [ 14 ]. 
         [0028]      FIG. 4  is a side view of the device  10  of  FIG. 3 . The treatment assembly  16  shown here has a bristle brush treatment element  26  extending from its outward face. The truly unique aspects of the device  10  are first introduced in  FIGS. 5 and 6 . 
         [0029]      FIG. 5  is a back view of a the treatment assembly  16  of the device [ 10 ] of  FIG. 1 , and  FIG. 6  is a rear perspective view of the assembly  16  of  FIG. 5 . There is an attachment subassembly  32  extending backward from the base  30 . A torque transfer clip  34  is attached to the base  30 . The clip  34  is formed from flat material such as spring steel or the like, and is expected to act to create a biasing force against the handpiece [ 12 ] when the subassembly  32  of the assembly  16  is attached thereto. 
         [0030]    The back surface  38  is preferably flat so as to not interfere with the head portion [ 22 ] of the handpiece [ 12 ]. A generally circular peripheral wall  36  extends upwardly from the back surface  38  of the base  30  until it terminates in an upper edge  35 . The base  30  and peripheral wall  36  are preferably formed from the same hypoallergenic material as a unitary piece. The treatment element  26  may be either bonded to the base  30  after its formation, or the treatment element  26  may be incorporated into the base  30  when the base  30  is formed. In contrast, the torque transfer clip  34  is typically formed from metal (e.g. spring steel), and is attached to the base  30  after its formation. 
         [0031]      FIG. 7  is a second rear perspective view of the assembly  16  of  FIG. 5 . In this view, a plurality of locking pegs  40  can be seen to be extending inwardly from the inner surface of the peripheral wall  36  adjacent to its upper edge. As will become clear below, these pegs  40  are configured to interlock with features on the head portion [ 22 ] of the device [ 10 ] so as to lock the treatment assembly  16  to the head portion [ 22 ]. 
         [0032]    A bonding stem  44  can be seen to be protruding through an aperture [ 70 ] formed in the torque transfer clip  34 . This bonding stem  44  preferably has two or more “fins” extending from its center. These fins serve to align and center the torque transfer clip  34  within the peripheral wall  36 , while also preventing any relative rotation between the clip  34  and the base  30 . During assembly, the clip  34  is placed over the stem  44 , after which the stem  44  can be slightly melted in order to permanently attach the clip  34  to the base  30 . It is further noted that a sponge treatment element  26  is attached to the opposing side of the base  30 . 
         [0033]      FIG. 8  is a partial front view of the handpiece [ 12 ] of the device [ 10 ] of  FIG. 1 , depicting only the head portion  22  area. The face of the head portion  22  is defined by a central hub  48  extending out and terminating in a face  52 . A central protrusion  54  may or may not further extend from the face  52 . The hub  48  has a plurality of “L”-shaped locking channels  56  formed around its periphery at locations to cooperate with the locking pegs [ 40 ] depicted in  FIG. 7 . 
         [0034]    A peripheral channel  50  surrounds the central hub  48  and terminates in rim  46  at its outer limits. The channel  50  that is configured to accept the peripheral wall [ 36 ] therein when the treatment assembly [ 16 ] is attached to the head portion  22 . This arrangement of the wall [ 36 ] surrounding the hub  48  is provided in order to prevent lotions or other liquids from entering the interior of the head portion  22  from the treatment element [ 26 ]—to add in the water resistance of the device by adding a second layer of protection to the internal shaft seals provided inside of the hub  48 . Further detail is depicted in  FIG. 9 . 
         [0035]      FIG. 9  is a partial right perspective view of the device [ 10 ] of  FIG. 1 . Here, all three of the locking channels  56  formed into the side face  58  can be seen. Furthermore, each channel  56  could have a transversely-aligned ridge  60  is formed in the channel  56 . This ridge  60  towards the end of each channel  56  is provided to interact with the tip of each of the locking pegs  40 , so as to resist the pegs  40  being able to pass back over the ridges  56  when the treatment assembly [ 16 ] is twisted relative to the hub  48 . 
         [0036]    In some versions, the hub  48  will have an internal motor that can drive it to rotate in direction R 1  or R 2 . In other versions, the hub  48  will be fixed, and only vibration will be transmitted from the handpiece [ 12 ] to the hub  48 . As discussed previously, the channel bottom surface  62  is recessed sufficiently below the level of the rim  46  so that the entire peripheral wall [ 36 ] can be accepted within it.  FIG. 10  is a partial left perspective view of the device of  FIG. 1 . 
         [0037]    The interaction between the hub  48  and the clip [ 34 ] is depicted in  FIG. 11 .  FIG. 11  is a partial side view of the device [ 10 ] of  FIG. 1 . This partial view excludes the outer wall of the head portion [ 22 ] as well as the peripheral wall [ 36 ] so that the the hub  48  and torque transfer clip  34  can be seen as they would be positioned relative to one another when a treatment assembly [ 16 ] is locked onto head portion [ 22 ]. 
         [0038]    The torque transfer clip  34  creates a standoff distance Ds between the base of the treatment assembly [ 16 ] and the face  52  of the hub  48 . Due to its design, the torque transfer clip  34  creates a biasing force B pushing the two elements apart from one another. The importance of the biasing force is that it results in the amplification of the vibrations being transferred from the handpiece [ 12 ] and the treatment assembly [ 16 ] because it forces the pegs [ 40 ] to constantly be pressed with force against the edges of the channels at contact points  49 . Furthermore, the “springiness” of the clip  34 , combined with the standoff distance Ds, will allow for some flexing between the treatment assembly [ 16 ] and the face  52 , as is depicted by arrow F. More specifics regarding the torque transfer clip  36  are provided below in  FIGS. 12 and 13 . 
         [0039]      FIG. 12  is a side view of a preferred embodiment of the torque transfer clip  36  of the device [ 10 ] of  FIG. 1 .  FIG. 13  is a bottom perspective view of the clip  36 . As discussed above, the clip is preferably formed from flat spring steel or the like. The central base  68  has a 3-finned central aperture  70  at its center. Two, three, or more arms  62  extend outwardly and are deflected upwardly from the central base  68 . The arms  62  each terminate in a tip portion  64 , with each tip portion having a ridge  66  bent into it. The ridge  66  provides a smooth surface with which the torque transfer clip  34  presses against the face [ 52 ] of the central hub [ 48 ]. A two-armed clip  34  and a four-armed clip  34  have also been tested and performed acceptably. 
         [0040]    Finally turning to  FIG. 14 , which is a rear perspective view of the head portion [ 22 ] of the device [ 10 ] of  FIG. 1 , we can see how the clip  34  is oriented against the face  52  of the hub  48 , so that the three ridges  66  are in contact with the face  52 . The user must press the treatment assembly [ 16 ] against the hub  48  to compress the arms  62  of the clip  34  until the pegs [ 40 ] reside in the locking channels  56 . The treatment assembly [ 16 ] is then twisted relative to the hub  48  until each peg [ 40 ] passes over the ridge  60  until it resides under the contact wall  49 . The user can then release the pressure on the treatment assembly [ 16 ], after which the slight compression of the arms  62  will result in a biasing force [B] whereby the ridges  66  will push against the face  52  of the hub  48 . 
         [0041]    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.