Abstract:
A portable vacuum cleansing system and method having a variable suction control, multiple cleaning head attachments, and an oscillating mechanism for exfoliating and deep cleaning various body parts. The system also preferably includes a UV LED light source for illumination and antimicrobial treatment. The system may be used for gentle and stimulating removal of dander, dirt, and foreign particles from the body and scalp, without irritation. Interchangeable brush and comb attachments are available for personal use and are distinguishable by color for use between family members. The system may also be used for removal of dander, dirt, and foreign particles from pets.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to a system for cleansing the hair and skin and other body parts of individuals or animals. More particularly, the present invention hereof relates to the removal of dirt, debris, dandruff, lice, including eggs and nits, fleas, vermin, and other unwanted matter from the hair and skin and other body parts of individuals or animals. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates to a body vacuum device to be used with a vacuum source to exfoliate skin and cleansing of dirt, dander and foreign objects from body parts of individuals and animals. More particularly, the present invention relates to the total body cleansing without use of water, harsh soaps and lotions, by means of controlled velocity vacuum suction, and interchangeable attachments which oscillate to aid in the removal of unwanted matter and to stimulate the user&#39;s skin. Variable speed velocity of suction from vacuum devices enables the user to experience a fresh stimulating airflow and massaging action via a diverse selection of cleansing and grooming attachments. In an effort to contribute to environmental friendly activity, the present invention prides itself as a pioneer concept of total body cleansing in an era of going green by eliminating the necessity for soap and water. Thus, the present invention may be used in remote areas or under austere conditions, such as on military operations or in less-developed countries, where water is scarce and can be most effectively used for human consumption. 
         [0003]    The system of the present invention may be used for gentle and stimulating removal of dander, dirt, and foreign particles from the body and scalp, without irritation. Interchangeable brush and comb attachments are available for personal use and are distinguishable by color for use between family members. The system may also be used for removal of dander, dirt, and foreign particles from pets. 
         [0004]    In one embodiment, the present invention comprises a portable body vacuum cleansing system and method having a variable suction control, multiple cleaning head attachments and an oscillating mechanism for exfoliating and deep cleaning various body parts. The system also preferably includes a UV LED light source for illumination and antimicrobial treatment of the user&#39;s skin. The system also preferably includes an articulating connection between the handle and the head portions to allow rotational angular adjustment of the orientation between the handle and the head portion of the body vacuum, thus facilitating access of the head portion and cleaning head attachments to less accessible areas of the user&#39;s or animal&#39;s body. 
         [0005]    In one embodiment, the present invention comprises a portable cleansing device is a unit that may be used with a portable vacuum system, and provides variable suction velocity and interchangeable attachments for specific body parts, so that the entire body may be cleansed with the necessity for soap and water. The present invention also provides a more efficient approach for treatment of individuals or animals infested with lice, including nits. More particularly, the present invention provides an assembly for dislodging, gathering, and suctioning lice and nits from individuals and animals. 
         [0006]    In one embodiment, the present invention comprises a portable body vacuum cleansing system with a hollow handle portion having a first end adapted to be connected to a vacuum source and a second end adapted for making an articulating connection to a head portion, a hollow head portion having a first end in an articulating connection and fluid communication with the handle portion, and a second end adapted to slidably receive a flange member, a flange member slidably mounted in the head portion, the head portion adapted to removably receive a plurality of grooming attachments; an oscillation mechanism configured to provide relative oscillation motion between the flange member and the head portion; and a plurality of grooming attachments adapted to be removably received by the flange member. 
         [0007]    For a more close understanding of the present invention, reference is made to the following detailed description and accompanying drawing. In the drawings, like reference characters refer to like parts throughout the several views in which: 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0008]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0009]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the components of a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0010]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the head portion of a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0011]      FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view of the oscillation mechanism of a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0012]      FIG. 5  is a plan view of the head portion of a preferred embodiment of the present invention showing the oscillation mechanism producing a translation motion of the head attachment base to the leftmost position in the head portion. 
           [0013]      FIG. 6  is a plan view of the head portion of a preferred embodiment of the present invention showing the oscillation mechanism producing a translation motion of the head attachment base to the center position in the head portion. 
           [0014]      FIG. 7  is a plan view of the head portion of a preferred embodiment of the present invention showing the oscillation mechanism producing a translation motion of the head attachment base to the rightmost position in the head portion. 
           [0015]      FIG. 8  is a perspective view of the head portion of a preferred embodiment of the present invention with a brush attachment installed. 
           [0016]      FIG. 9  is a perspective view of the head portion of a preferred embodiment of the present invention with a nit comb attachment installed. 
           [0017]      FIG. 10  is a perspective view of the head portion of a preferred embodiment of the present invention with a hair comb attachment installed. 
           [0018]      FIG. 11  is a schematic circuit diagram of the electrical system of a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0019]    As shown in  FIG. 1 , in one embodiment, the body vacuum  20  of the present invention comprises a handle portion  22  and a head portion  24 . The handle portion  22  is configured with a vacuum source adapter  26  which is designed to accommodate the installation of a hose or other device providing a vacuum source for the operation of the body vacuum. The vacuum source may be any of a number of mechanisms, including portable vacuum sources powered by electrical, jet or internal combustion engines. The body vacuum device  20  may be formed from any suitable material such as high density plastic, metal, or the like. In use, the body vacuum device attaches, as noted above, to a standard vacuum hose of any suitable vacuum cleaner or other vacuum source. 
         [0020]    As shown in  FIG. 2 , the handle portion  22  is attached to the head portion  24  using an articulating connection consisting of a raised ring  38  on the handle portion which is received in a recessed circular channel  40  on the head portion  24 , preferably by mating through an interference fit. This articulating connection allows for fluid communication between the handle and head portions to facilitate the flow of vacuum through an opening  78  in the center of the raised ring  38  on the handle portion  32 , which mates to a similar opening  80  in the center of the recessed circular channel  40  on the head portion  24 . Alternatively, fluid communication between the handle and head portions can be provided through an opening  32  in the distal end of the handle portion  22  which allows flow into the hollow inside of the head portion  24 . This articulating connection also allows rotational adjustment between the handle and the head portion of the body vacuum  20 , thus facilitating access of the head portion to less accessible areas of a user&#39;s or an animal&#39;s body. Optionally, the raised ring  38  may be configured with one or more detents comprising raised ridges or dimples  42  or inverted dimples which may be configured to mate with similar configurations on the recessed circular channel  40  on the head portion  24  to facilitate in maintaining a selected angular orientation between the handle portion  22  and the head portion  24 . 
         [0021]    As shown in  FIG. 2 , a rotatable suction metering collar  28  is configured with an opening  30  to selectively covers all or portions of an opening in the handle portion  22  that is in fluid communication with the vacuum source. When the suction metering collar  28  is rotated so that the opening  30  of the suction metering collar  28  is aligned with the opening in the handle portion  22 , vacuum suction is diverted through the openings, thus reducing the level of vacuum at the head portion  24  of the device. Alternatively, when the suction metering collar  28  is rotated so the solid section of the collar  28  completely covers the opening  30  in the handle portion  22 , all of the vacuum suction from the vacuum source is available to the attachments on the head portion  24  of the device. By metering the size of the opening created by the opening  30  of the suction metering collar  28  in relation to the opening in the handle portion  22 , any level of suction between low (fully open) and high (fully closed) can be achieved. 
         [0022]    As shown in  FIG. 2 , a charging cord may be attached to the power adapter jack  44  to convert available alternating supply current to direct current for charging the battery bank  70 . Independent power switches  34  and  36  control the power from the power adapter jack  44  and/or the battery bank  70  to the oscillation motor  58  and the ultraviolet lights  50 , respectively. 
         [0023]    As shown in  FIG. 3 , the head portion  24  is configured with an opening from which vacuum may be applied to various attachments which are removably attachable to the head portion  24  by the head attachment flange  48  of the head attachment base  46  which is slidably mounted on the head  24 . As illustrated in  FIG. 3 , the head attachment flange  48  on the head portion  24  is surrounded on the outside of its perimeter by a plurality of light sources  50 , preferably ultraviolet LED light sources in a recessed configuration on the head  24 . As is known by those of ordinary skill in the art, these light sources may be selected from a plurality of available illumination devices, including LED&#39;s, incandescent bulbs, LCD&#39;s, lasers, laser LED&#39;s, infrared LED&#39;s, fluorescent lamps, etc. These light sources may aid in illuminating the area to be cleansed by the body vacuum  20 , and may additionally provide a sterilizing, disinfecting, antimicrobial and/or insecticide effect upon the treated areas. 
         [0024]    As shown in  FIG. 4 , the head attachment base  46  is slidably mounted on the head  24  and configured to oscillate in motion relative to the body vacuum head portion  24 . This oscillation motion is transferred to the head attachment attached to the head attachment base  46  by the head attachment flange  48 . As indicated in  FIG. 4 , a pair of detent openings  68  facilitates the attachment of the head attachments to the head attachment flange  48 . 
         [0025]    As shown in  FIG. 4 , a scotch yoke mechanism provides the oscillation drive for the head attachments from an electric motor  58 . Electric motor  58  is mounted to the motor mount plate  60  portion of the head portion  24  of the body vacuum device. The motor  58  rotates a motor disc  62  with an offset pin  64  attached. The offset pin  64  is received in a slot  66  in the head attachment base  46 . The head portion  24  is configured to constrain the head attachment base  46  to only allow lateral movement. When the motor  58  is activated, the offset pin  64  drives the head attachment base  46  laterally. 
         [0026]    As shown in  FIGS. 5 through 7 , the rotational movement of the motor disk  62  causes the offset pin  64  to produce a translation oscillation motion in the head attachment base  46  due to the movement of the offset pin  64  in the head attachment base slot  66 . 
         [0027]      FIG. 5  is a plan view of the head portion showing the oscillation mechanism producing a translation motion of the head attachment base  46  to the leftmost position in the head portion  24 . 
         [0028]      FIG. 6  is a plan view of the head portion showing the oscillation mechanism producing a translation motion of the head attachment base  46  to the center position in the head portion  24 . 
         [0029]      FIG. 7  is a plan view of the head portion showing the oscillation mechanism producing a translation motion of the head attachment base  46  to the rightmost position in the head portion  24 . 
         [0030]    As is known by those of ordinary skill in the art, there are a number of alternate oscillation mechanisms which could also be used. These mechanisms include: a shaker, comprising an offset mass, as used for cell phone vibration; a motor which turns an unbalanced weight; a rotary mechanism for rotating or spinning an attachment; random orbital drives, as used in handheld sanders to provide a random pattern of movement; planetary gear mechanisms, similar to commercial stand mixers, employing rotation and circular movement; electromagnetic mechanisms, similar to a hair clipper or electric toothbrush, having generally higher frequency (speed) oscillations; and mechanical movement driven by air flow, which would oscillate (flap) back and forth due to vacuum flow, as just a few examples. 
         [0031]    As shown in  FIGS. 8 through 10 , a plurality of attachments may be used with the body vacuum  20 . 
         [0032]    As illustrated in  FIG. 8 , a brush attachment  52  incorporates a plurality of bristles  72  for removal of debris from the user&#39;s hair or skin. 
         [0033]    As shown in  FIG. 9 , the nit comb attachment  54  incorporates a plurality of nit comb teeth  74  for removal of eggs and other unwanted items such as lice, debris, or dander. 
         [0034]    As shown in  FIG. 10 , the hair comb attachment  56  incorporates a plurality of hair combed teeth  76  having a spherical or other rounded configuration at the ends to minimize irritation of scalp or other skin surfaces. 
         [0035]    As shown in  FIG. 11 , the primary power source for the oscillation motor  58  is a rechargeable battery bank  70 . A charging cord attached to the power adapter jack  44  converts available alternating supply current to direct current for charging the battery bank  70 . The device  20  can be operated from the charging cord if the battery  70  is discharged. Independent switches  34  and  36  control the power to the oscillation motor  58  and the ultraviolet LED lights  50 , respectively. 
         [0036]    As is known by those of ordinary skill in the art, additional components may include circuitry for the light array  50 , potentiometer for ultraviolet LED light brightness, potentiometer for the oscillation motor  58  speed control, circuitry to control battery charging, additional status lights, an additional master power switch, and timers. 
         [0037]    The present invention has been described in accordance with the relevant legal standards, thus the foregoing description is exemplary rather than limiting in nature. Variations and modifications to the disclosed embodiment may become apparent to those skilled in the art and do come within the scope of this invention. Accordingly, the scope of legal protection afforded this invention can only be determined by studying the following claims.