Articulating body brush

A rotatable body brush, preferably driven by an electric motor, has pivoted segments in the brush or working element. The segments swing outwardly when the user desires a larger-diameter brush, and can be retained inwardly when a smaller brush, such as a face brush, is desired.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This invention breaks up the traditional single working element field into several different fields. At least one, and preferably at least two, of these fields articulate from a closed to an open position whereby in the open position the largest distance between the central longitudinal rotation axis and the working element is greater than in the closed position, that is, the diameter of the rotatable head is increased. And, as mentioned, a larger working element is able to clean large expanses of skin faster. Because this head is configurable, it can transform from one that is used on intricate body parts (e.g. the face) to one that is used on larger, less intricate body parts (e.g. legs).

In a preferred embodiment at least two symmetrically-arranged working element sections are swingable outwardly from closed to open position when a larger brush head is desired. When closed they tuck together and form an essentially circular perimeter.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

A brush head according to the invention is illustrated inFIGS.3through13B.

When viewed from the proximal side (FIG.8), the brush head of the invention has a handle interface (item34,FIG.8). This handle interface is the manner in which the brush head is connected, preferably removably, to the handle. It is also often the manner in which power and motion is transmitted from the handle to the brush head. The handle35, indicated only in dashed lines, preferably includes the electric motor that drives the rotatable brush head.

When viewed from above (FIG.9) the brush head is comprised of several working element segments for contacting the skin (items50,52,56and58,FIG.9) attached to several working element holders (items42,44,46and48respectively,FIG.9). The holders42,44and46articulate relative to the main body30, as opposed to the center holder48, which does not. The articulating working element holders allow for articulation of the working elements (50,52,56) that was not possible previously when the working element was affixed directly to the main body essentially as a single body. InFIGS.9and10the working element segments are shown as uniform material as opposed to tufts of bristles as mentioned above. “Segments” herein refers to holders and/or working elements.

In this design the sectors42,44and46articulate outwardly and inwardly while the center sector48remains fixed to the main body30. This articulation is accomplished by means of rotation of the working element holders about a shaft from the main body (one such pivot shaft is shown in crossection as item32,FIG.10). The sectors pivotally attach to these shafts and allow pivoting from the closed position ofFIGS.9and10to an open, outwardly swung position as indicated inFIGS.3-6. Alternative designs that accomplish the same motion would have positive shaft features emerging from the working element holders and a pivoting hole in the body30. As another alternative a positive shaft feature could emerge from the center sector48and extend all the way to30allowing 42, 44 and 46 to pivot about it.

FIGS.3to6show the open and closed positions for this embodiment, showing the sectors without working elements. It is obvious from these views that the effective diameter of the brush is larger in the open position. This can be seen further in the distal end views ofFIG.4AandFIG.4Bwhere a radius between the center of rotation and the most radially distant tuft hole (radii designated as R and R′) is considerably greater in the open condition than in the closed position. As this brush head (FIG.4A) rotates in the counterclockwise direction (as seen from the distal end), R′ sweeps out a larger circumference than R in the closed position (FIG.4B). Therefore, the field of working elements sweep out a larger diameter and area inFIG.4Athan inFIG.4B. Thus, the brush head can be kept in the closed position for small intricate areas and be opened for larger, less intricate areas. As designed in this embodiment, the amount of rotational articulation of42,44and46to achieve maximum R′ is approximately 150° about each of the respective pivots (32inFIG.10). As an example, R′ can be maximized when the most distant tuft73(FIG.7B) is in line with the center of the rotation of working element holder42and the center of the facial brush rotation.

When viewed from the side and in the closed position, the articulating support members42,44and46sit below the non-articulating member48. SeeFIGS.5A,5B and6. When viewed from the side and in cross section (FIGS.7A and7B), it is apparent than the lengths of the tufts need to be different in the center48because of the elevation protrusion of the bristle tuft holes70compared to the bristle tuft holes in42,44and46(also shown as items70inFIG.7B). The center protrudes distally. This tuft length difference is easily accomplished as can be seen inFIG.7B. Here, bristle tufts73in the center sector48can be much shorter than bristle tufts73in one of the articulating working element holders (item44,FIG.7B). This can result in the top surface of the working elements (item74,FIG.7B) being cohesive as essentially one surface, including as a simple cohesive shape such as a dome,FIG.7B. Another view of the same facet of the invention can be seen inFIG.7C, which is a view from the same direction asFIG.7B. However,FIG.7Cis not in cross section and elements42and52(one sector) are removed for clarity. Here it can be seen that the bristle tufts73in item48are shorter than the bristle tufts73in Item44.

The center working element segment48does not offer much in the way of cleaning power. It is small, close to and surrounding the center of rotation and there would be very few locations on the body where the center working element58could be used as the primary working element. While the sector48and58can be minimized or even eliminated, it does offer some advantages. First, with its presence, it does show the user essentially a continuous field of working element. This can be perceived as more cleaning power and is more similar to the existing state of the art of brush heads than if there were a void of working element in the center of the brush head. Most importantly, it can be used to stabilize and strengthen the articulating working element segments (42,44and46) by receiving the ends of the pivot posts32, and is preferred. It can also cover and enclose some additional mechanism. One such mechanism would be a detent spring (item10in exploded viewFIG.6where48is exploded upward off of posts32in order to expose item10—see description ofFIGS.11and12, below).

A detent spring in this embodiment is used to hold sectors42,44and46in the closed and/or open position. This will aid the user in keeping the device in one position or the other and prevent drifting from one to the other. Or, if the user prefers one use mode over the other for all uses, this detent operates as a set-it-and-forget-it element.FIG.11shows the sectors/working element holders (42,44and46) in the open position. Items48,5052,56,58,30,70and72are not shown in this fragmented detail view for clarity. As mentioned previously, each of the working element holders pivot about an axis or pivot post32. This rotation occurs about holes2,4and6. The center portion of the spring10is fixed so that part is unable to rotate or translate in the plane shown. When a portion of working element holder42(item8,FIG.11), moving clockwise inFIG.11, contacts the neighboring working element holder46, that stops42in the fully open position and prevents42from rotating further clockwise. At this point, the end12of one of the arms13of the detent spring10resides in a recess20of item42. When the sector42pivots about the axis hole2in a counterclockwise direction, the spring top12eventually resides in a recess18(seeFIG.12). The sector42is now contacting item44which prevents sector42from rotating further in a counterclockwise direction and the sector42is in a fully closed position (FIG.12). When the spring tip12is in the position20or18, the spring arm13is in a less strained state than when the spring tip12is between 20 and 18. This creates the detent feature as the spring tip12preferentially wants to reside in position18or20. A similar result happens with sectors44and46and their corresponding detent spring arms15and17.

An alternative mechanism to keep the working element segments or sectors42,44and46stable in a fully open or fully closed position is the use of a pinion gear as shown inFIGS.13A and13B. A pinion sector is used in place of or in combination with the detent spring10. While the detent spring10was prevented from rotating, the pinion gear82is allowed to rotate about the center of the device. The gear engages a gear tooth segment81on each of the working element holders. So, when one of the segments/working element holders is rotated, that drives the pinion gear82which in turn drives the other working element holders in the same rotational direction and the device can be transformed from closed position (FIG.13A) to open position (FIG.13B). In bothFIGS.13A and13B, items48,52,54,56,58,70and72are not shown for clarity. As in the previous embodiment, the rotation of the segments to open position preferably is opposite the direction of rotation of the motorized brush's body30. This will tend to open the segments when the device is pressed against a surface (e.g. skin). This may not be desired, particularly if the device is to be used in the closed, compact configuration, and a latch can be provided to retain the closed configuration, any suitable form of mechanical latch.

One form of latch that can be used is indicated schematically inFIGS.14to16.FIG.14is similar toFIG.11, showing inner portions of the three segments. The detent spring10has been eliminated, and the shape of the inner ends of the segments is somewhat different without the spring. Each segment is pivotal at pivot holes2,4and6, which receive the pivot posts32(FIG.10) extending up from the body30. In the open position as shown inFIG.14, it can be seen that further holes102,104and106are added to the three segments,42,44and46, respectively. These are for the locking function, and coordinate with the center segment48for this function, which is not shown inFIG.14but its position indicated.106aand106brefer to protrusions on the center segment48for holding positions of the segment46.

InFIG.15the center segment or section48is seen in perspective (as well as its position being indicated in plan), and its cooperation with the three pivotal segments is indicated. When the center section48is put into position, it has protrusions or pegs, e.g.106aand106b, two adjacent to each of the pivot points. In this embodiment the segment pivot points as located on the center section can be holes2a,4aand6a, whereas the segments have holes2,4and6through which the protrusions (seeFIG.10)32pass to engage in the holes2a,4aand6a, connecting with the center section. Taking, for example, the segment46at left inFIG.15, with the pivot point6, the protrusions106aand106bare provided on the bottom of the center section48on either side of the pivot6,6a. The same occurs at each of the other pivot points2and4of the segments42and44. The center segment48in this case can travel somewhat along its axis, not in rotation but in/out movement, so that the locking pegs (but not the pivot points2,4and6) can be engaged or disengaged. When the center segment is moved inwardly (downwardly), pushed toward the segments42,44and46, the protrusion or peg106agoes into the hole106and locks the segment in the open position. The same occurs on the other two segments, thus locking all three segments in the open position. InFIG.15the peg106ais indicated to be engaged with the hole106. Meanwhile the peg106bresides between segments42and46as shown inFIG.15.

When the center segment is pulled outwardly, this disengages the protrusions. The segments42,44and46can then be swung to the closed position shown inFIG.16. Once the segments have been swung to closed, the center segment48can be pushed inwardly, downwardly toward the segments42,44and46, and this will engage the protrusion or peg106binto the hole106, locking the segment in the closed position as inFIGS.16(106and106bare coincident). This occurs at all three segments, to lock them all in closed position. Note that the arrangement of the pegs106aand106b(as well as those on the other segments) are such that the non-used protrusion106aor106bwill not be blocked by any structure from moving down into the locking position. InFIG.16the one peg106ais between segments, thus residing in a clearance there, while peg106bis in the hole106.

Conversely, inFIG.15the peg106bresides in that clearance (as noted above), while the peg106ais locked in the hole106of the segment.

Other mechanical latch designs are possible and can easily be made by a person of skill in the art.

The above described preferred embodiments are intended to illustrate the principles of the invention, but not to limit its scope. Other embodiments and variations to these preferred embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art and may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the following claims.