Appliance for plucking hairs out of human skin

The invention is directed to an appliance for the epilation of the human skin, having a housing to accommodate a motor and a drive mechanism for driving at least one clamping device (43) by which the user's hairs can be extracted. Moreover, a stimulation mechanism is provided to reduce the sense of pain during epilation. This mechanism includes at least one element (55) that is movable toward and away from the skin when the appliance is placed in epilating position on the user's skin. According to certain embodiments of the present invention, the at least one element (55) has a free end (56) and is arranged adjacent to the side of the rotary clamping device (43). In consequence, the user perceives at least subjectively a reduced sense of pain during epilation. Still further, a method for epilation and a method for the use of the appliance of the present invention are described.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to an appliance for the epilation of the human skin, having a housing to accommodate a motor for driving at least one clamping device rotary about an axis for epilation, and having a means to reduce the sense of pain during epilation, said means including at least one element that is movable toward and away from the skin when the appliance is placed in epilating position on the user's skin. The invention relates in addition to a method for the epilation of the human skin.

An epilating appliance of this type and a related method of epilation are known from European patent application No. EP 493 849 A1. According to this patent application, the hairs are continuously entrapped and extracted by counter-rotating rollers. In front of the rollers are webs which lie flat on the skin during use and jointly perform a vibrating reciprocating movement. The frequency of this vibration can lie between 5 hertz and 1000 hertz. During use of the epilating appliance the vibrations of the webs engaging the user's skin are intended to produce a pain that overshadows the pain caused by the epilation. This should result at least subjectively in a reduction of the user's sense of pain caused by the actual epilation. In practice, however, it has shown that the actual stinging pain caused by the epilation is still perceived and felt as unpleasant by the user in spite of the use of these vibrating webs engaging the skin.

An epilating appliance according to the non prior published German patent application No. P 44 08 809 has a rotary cylinder with clamping devices that enable the cyclic entrapment and extraction of hairs. Provision is made furthermore for two electrodes enabling a stimulating current to be emitted to the skin. This enables stimulation of the underlying nerve structures, resulting in the at least subjective impression of a reduction of pain for the user.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide an appliance and a method for the epilation of human skin as well as a method for using the appliance, whereby the epilation is performed more effectively and with the greatest possible reduction of the user's sense of pain.

According to the present invention, this object is achieved in an epilation appliance and in a method wherein by reason of the fact that at least one element that is movable toward and away from the skin has one free end, a mechanical pulse can be generated to advantage, producing a stimulation on the skin which overshadows the actual pain during epilation. Furthermore, by arranging the at least one element, but in particular several elements, adjacent to the side of the rotary clamping device, the stimulation on the skin occurs advantageously before or during the epilating operation.

The pulse emitted before or during the actual epilating operation simulates artificially the pain otherwise caused by the epilation, being preferably of less intensity but having essentially the same pain characteristic, so that it overshadows or anticipates the actual pain. Because of the reduced intensity the additional pain is not felt by the user to be as disagreeable as the actual stinging pain caused by the actual epilation. On the contrary, practical tests have revealed that users of the epilating appliance hardly feel the actual stinging pain any longer as the result of the preceding pulse, but that instead they notice essentially only the far more agreeable stimulation caused by the respective pulse. This is probably owed to the fact that the nerve cells are practically paralyzed temporarily by the stimulation caused by the pulse and hence are insensitive to pain so that the actual stinging pain caused by the epilation is largely subdued, meaning that the user does not notice it at all or only to a weakened degree. On the whole, therefore, the pulse results in the user either not feeling or hardly feeling the actual stinging pain during epilation so that the sense of pain is substantially reduced.

The appliance and the method are optimized by delivering the pulse against or onto the skin directly before either the time or place or the time and place of the particular individual epilating operation because in this way the nerve cells that are about to be activated by the directly imminent epilating operation will be temporarily deadened or deactivated, so to speak, by the pulse performed ahead of the epilation in time and/or place.

In an advantageous embodiment of the present invention, the element is associated with the clamping device so as to be rotary about the axis thereof. Hence the element is set in rotation directly with the clamping device. There is no need, therefore, for any special components to drive the element.

In an advantageous further feature of the present invention, the element is movable toward and away from the skin. The pulse is thereby obtained mechanically in simple manner by the reciprocating movement of the element. This requires few additional components and therefore little extra manufacturing effort.

In an advantageous further feature of the present invention, the element is movable from a retracted position into an advanced position and hence into contact with the skin directly before epilation. This movement produces the desired pulse and hence the artificial pain in the skin. It is an advantage for this movement to be performed as close as possible to the epilation, and for the type and manner of the movement, particularly its acceleration and speed, to occur in the manner of a pulse. The pulse serves to create an artificial, weak pain that overshadows the actual stinging pain caused directly afterwards by the epilation and reduces the user's perception of this pain at least subjectively.

In an advantageous further feature of the present invention, the element is movable into the advanced position directly after the pulse is delivered to the skin. This ensures that the element is back in its starting position for the next epilating operation and able to trigger a new pulse onto the skin. The desired artificial pain is thus created by the pulse without this having any other adverse effects on the user.

According to the present invention it is particularly suitable for the element to be able to be urged back into the retracted position by the skin itself. This arrangement does not require any special components or the like. Instead, the element recedes automatically while delivering a pulse against or onto the skin as soon as it reaches the skin. It is an advantage for each individual clamping device of the appliance to be assigned one element for delivering a pulse. This approach represents an independent feature of the present invention.

In an advantageous aspect of the present invention in which the clamping device is able to perform a rotary movement with cyclic epilation, the element is coupled with the rotary movement of the clamping device and is arranged directly ahead of the clamping device viewed in the direction of rotation. In this simple way the element always delivers a pulse directly ahead of the time and position of each cyclic epilation by the clamping device. This is thus accomplished without any special additional components simply by the advantageous arrangement of the element in front of the clamping device viewed in the direction of rotation.

In an advantageous further feature of the present invention, the element is capable of adopting a retracted position which during a rotary movement has a diameter smaller than the maximum diameter of the clamping device, and an advanced position which during a rotary movement has a diameter greater than the maximum diameter of the clamping device. Hence during a rotary movement the element protrudes beyond the clamping device in its advanced position but not in its retracted position.

Particularly suitably, these two positions of the element are utilized for the following possible ways of generating pulses. A first possibility entails using the advanced position as a starting position and moving the element into its retracted position on striking the skin. The striking of the skin by the element represents the delivery of the pulse. Subsequently, the element is returned to its advanced position. A second possibility entails using the retracted position as a starting position and moving the element in the manner of a pulse into its advanced position directly before epilation. The desired pulse is thus produced and delivered to the skin by simple means. Subsequently, the element is returned to its retracted position. However, it will be appreciated that further possibilities of using the two positions of the element for the generation of pulses may be contemplated in the art.

In practice it has proven to be particularly suitable for the advanced position during a rotary movement to have a diameter which exceeds the maximum diameter of the clamping device by a value of between about 0.1 mm and about 6 mm.

In an advantageous aspect of the present invention, the element is movable by means of centrifugal force and/or spring force and/or cam tracks or the like. The reciprocating movement of the element between its retracted position and its advanced position is thus accomplished by simple means. A very precise control of the reciprocating movement of the element is accomplished in particular by the use of cam tracks.

In a further advantageous aspect of the present invention, the element has a pointed and/or a toothed and/or a bristled wheel and/or an accordingly formed roller or the like. This configuration has proven to be particularly advantageous in practice in particular for the above-described first possibility of producing pulses. In this case a toothed wheel, for example, is moved in the manner of a pulse from its retracted position to its advanced position with the aid of a cam track directly before epilation.

In another advantageous aspect of the present invention, the element has a protuberance and/or a point or the like and is resiliently coupled with the rotary cylinder. This configuration has proven to be particularly advantageous in practice in particular for the above-described second possibility of producing pulses. In this case the protuberance, for example, strikes the skin and creates the desired pulse following which it is urged back again by the skin from its advanced position into its retracted position.

In this connection it is particularly suitable in accordance with the present invention for the protuberance or the point or the like to be mounted on a threading device for the hairs awaiting extraction.

In another advantageous embodiment of the present invention, the element performs an essentially rectilinear movement. Consequently, when the element strikes the skin it causes particularly good stimulation of the nerves. The essentially rectilinear movement of the element produces a pulse that is particularly well suited to create an artificial pain and hence overshadow the subsequent pain caused by epilation. A further advantage of the element's rectilinear movement is that such a movement can be produced and controlled easily but nevertheless exactly.

In an advantageous further aspect of the present invention, the element is lowered onto the skin in particular directly before or else during epilation and is lifted from the skin in particular directly upon striking the skin. This sequence of movements for the element has proven to be particularly suitable in practice. It ensures in particular that the pulse triggered by the element is very short and occurs invariably before or during epilation.

In an advantageous further feature of the present invention, the processes of lowering the element onto the skin and lifting the element from the skin are controlled by mechanical means. In this manner it is possible, therefore, to control the movement of the element exactly but nevertheless simply and economically.

In an advantageous further feature of the present invention, the element is coupled with the clamping device for control purposes. This also facilitates the control of the element. Furthermore, this coupling is a simple and economical way to drive the element.

In an advantageous further feature of the present invention, the element is of a ram-type configuration and has a point which strikes the skin. In this feature the element is therefore a simple, elongate component which in particular on account of its point is particularly well suited to produce the desired pulse and hence pain upon striking the skin.

In an advantageous further feature of the present invention, the element is associated with a drive shaft that operates to lower the element into contact with the skin and lift it off again. The movement of the element is generated and controlled simultaneously by means of the drive shaft. Conveniently, the drive shaft is thus assigned a dual function. This simplifies the entire construction of the element's drive and control mechanism and has a positive impact on manufacture and related costs.

In an advantageous further feature of the present invention, the drive shaft is configured in the manner of a crank and is coupled with the element. The element's drive and control mechanism is materially simplified in particular by construction of the drive shaft in the form of a crankshaft. Particularly suitably, the element includes a guide in which the drive shaft engages. Simple yet effective coupling of the element with the drive shaft is thus achieved.

In an advantageous further feature of the present invention, provision is made for gears, bevel gears or the like to establish connection between the drive shaft and the clamping device. These types of connection represent simple yet effective possibilities of coupling the drive shaft with the clamping device. Hence the element as a whole is coupled with the clamping device on the one hand via the gears or bevel gears or the like and, on the other hand, via the element's guide, which engages in the crank-type drive shaft. By this means the element is driven and controlled by the clamping device via the drive shaft.

In an advantageous further feature of the present invention, a plurality of elements are in juxtaposed arrangement approximately parallel to each other. Suitable elements can thus be provided across the full width of the clamping device, enabling corresponding pulses for reducing the pain to be produced wherever epilation takes place.

In this connection it is particularly suitable for the drive shaft to be arranged approximately parallel to the axis of the clamping device. This arrangement facilitates the coupling of the drive shaft with the clamping device, in addition to being advantageous with a view to the arrangement of the element or elements driven and controlled by the drive shaft.

In further advantageous features of the present invention, the element or elements are mounted for displacement in the longitudinal direction, and/or the drive shaft is rotatably mounted on the housing.

In an advantageous further feature of the present invention, the element delivers a mechanical pulse and/or an electrical pulse. The particular advantage of the mechanical pulse is that the element can be manufactured in a simple and economical way. Furthermore, this type of pulse generation is easy to understand by the user, which is an advantage for the user's acceptance of innovations. The advantage of the electrical pulse is that there is customarily no need for any moving components and that the pulse can be controlled easily by conventional electronic means.

Particularly suitably, the electrical pulse is generated on the epilating appliance of German patent application No. P 44 08 809 initially referred to by controlling the stimulating current in dependence upon the cyclic epilation, particularly by emitting a stimulating current in the manner of a pulse, in particular ahead of the place and/or time of each cyclic epilating operation.

In a particular further feature of the present invention, which can represent an independent solution to the object of the present invention, a method for the epilation of the human skin is proposed, in which a mechanical pulse is delivered to the user's skin by means of at least one element coupled with the drive mechanism of a clamping device for epilation, which pulse causes the user either not to feel the actual pain of the epilation or to feel it only as a pain of lower amplitude. Advantageously, the skin is struck with a free end of the at least one element which is arranged adjacent to the side of the rotary clamping device. On the one hand this results in the free end producing a stimulation on the skin that overshadows or at least reduces the pain of epilation. On the other hand the arrangement of the at least one element adjacent to the side of the rotary cylinder has the effect of enabling the stimulation to be generated on the skin ahead of the time and/or place of the epilating operation or during it. It is thus possible advantageously to effectively reduce the pain of epilation.

A method for the use of an appliance in accordance with the present invention is also proposed. This method entails placing the appliance on the user's skin to be treated and moving it over the skin in such a way that the means for reducing the sense of pain, in particular the free end of the at least one element, precedes the rotary clamping device for epilation viewed in the direction of movement. An advantageous application of the appliance enabling an effective reduction of the actual pain of epilation is thus provided.

Further features, advantages and application possibilities of the present invention will become apparent from the subsequent description of embodiments illustrated in more detail in the accompanying drawings. It will be understood that any single feature and any meaningful combination of single features described and/or represented by illustration form the subject-matter of the present invention, irrespective of their summary in the claims or their back-reference.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The features described in the following with reference toFIGS. 1 to 14are suitable for use with an epilating appliance as disclosed in European Offenlegungsschrift (Published Application) No. 596 283 A1 and as it is herewith incorporated in the disclosure content of the present patent application by express reference.

This Offenlegungsschrift describes an epilating appliance for the epilation of the human skin, having a rotary cylinder which is rotatably mounted in a housing and can be driven by an in particular electric motor. The rotary cylinder has a plurality of clamping devices which in the activated operating condition perform a rotary movement together with the rotary cylinder, cyclically entrapping and extracting those hairs of the user's skin that are turned toward them.

FIG. 1shows an epilation head1of an epilating appliance of the present invention. This head has a housing2in which there is an opening3that can be turned to face the user's skin. Inside the opening3are a plurality of clamping devices4which project out through the housing2. The clamping devices4are arranged side by side in a row5. On either side of this row5are a plurality of threading devices6which are arranged likewise in a row7,8and project out through the opening3. Each threading device6has an opening9through which an element for generating a pulse to be described in the following can protrude.

As becomes apparent from European Offenlegungsschrift No. 596 283 A1 and as will be described below at least in part, the epilation head1shown inFIG. 1can have not just a single row5of clamping devices4but several such rows. The same applies for the rows7,8of threading devices6, the number of rows of clamping devices4normally corresponding to the number of rows of threading devices6.

FIG. 2shows a rotary cylinder10which is mounted in the housing2of the epilation head1for rotation about an axis11. The rotary cylinder10has three rows5,12,13of clamping devices4, which are arranged symmetrically in the direction of rotation14and project from the axis11in radial direction. Three rows7,8,15of threading devices6, which looking from above are arranged between the rows5,12,13of clamping devices4, are also provided.

Approximately between each of the three rows5,12,13of clamping devices4there is a single element16for generating pulses or a row17,18,19of elements16for generating pulses.

The elements16are coupled with the rotary cylinder10, performing the rotary movement of the rotary cylinder about the axis11in the direction of rotation14. The elements16are arranged on the inside of the threading devices6and are able to project out through the openings9of the threading devices6. Each element16is arranged directly in front of the next succeeding clamping device4viewed in the direction of rotation14. Each element16is coupled with the rotary cylinder10in such a way as to be movable in a reciprocating motion in a straight line or curve in a direction20arranged essentially radial to the axis11. Hence each element16is movable approximately in the direction20toward and away from the skin21as soon as it is turned roughly toward the skin21.

This reciprocating movement of the element16includes a retracted position22and an advanced position23, with the direction of movement being reversed each time a limit point is reached. In a rotary movement of the rotary cylinder10and hence of the elements16, the outermost diameter24traversed by the elements16in their retracted position22is smaller than or equal to the maximum diameter25of the clamping devices4. Similarly the diameter26traversed by the elements16in their advanced position23is greater than the maximum diameter25of the clamping devices4. The diameter26traversed in the advanced position23exceeds the maximum diameter25of the clamping devices4by a value27of about 0.1 mm to about 6 mm.

With the epilating appliance switched on, the element16produces a mechanical pulse on the skin21in the form of a jolt or prick. Due to the arrangement of the element16directly in front of its related clamping device4viewed in the direction of rotation14, the pulse is delivered to the skin21directly ahead of the time and place of the epilation by the clamping device4. With the assignment of exactly one element16to one clamping device4, a pulse is delivered before each individual epilating operation. The generation of a pulse by the respective element16takes place once only for each individual clamping device4and each clamping operation.

To generate the pulse the element16in its advanced position23strikes the skin21, delivering as this occurs the pulse to the skin21. Directly upon striking the skin21the element16is returned to its retracted position22at least as long as the element16is no longer opposite or in engagement with the skin21. This is shown inFIG. 2.

Where applicable, the element16can be made to recede to its retracted position22in that the element16is urged back by the skin21itself, for example, against the force of a spring or against the centrifugal force or the like. This is explained in the following in greater detail with reference toFIGS. 5 and 6.

Provided the element16protrudes in its advanced position23by only a small degree or marginally beyond the maximum diameter25of the clamping device4, it may be possible in certain cases to dispense completely with moving the element16to its retracted position22.

Alternatively it is possible for the element16to be moved from its retracted position22into its advanced position23directly before epilation. This represents a movement of the element16in the direction20toward the skin21, whereby a pulse is delivered by the element16to the skin21. Directly after the pulse is delivered the element16is moved back into its retracted position23and hence away from the skin21. This reciprocating movement of the element16can be generated by suitable cam tracks, for example, which act on the element16. This is explained below in closer detail with reference toFIG. 7.

Various embodiments of the element16are shown in theFIGS. 3a, band4a, b. It is possible, for example, for the element16to be constructed as a wheel28that has a point29on its circumference, so having a conical shape. In addition and/or alternatively, the wheel28can be constructed to include a plurality of teeth30whose free ends may be equipped with the points29. Further embodiments include correspondingly constructed rollers or the like. The diameter of the wheel28or the roller is conventionally significantly smaller than the maximum diameter25of the clamping device4.

Various embodiments for generating the reciprocating movements of the element16are shown inFIGS. 5 to 7.

According toFIGS. 5or6, it is thus possible for a single element16or a plurality of elements arranged, for example, in row form on a shaft31to be connected to the rotary cylinder10via springs32,33. Consequently, the elements16are urged into their advanced position23by spring force during a rotary movement of the rotary cylinder10about the axis11. As a result of the elements16striking the skin21, the elements16are urged back against the force of the springs32,33approximately parallel to the direction20into their retracted position22until the elements16are no longer opposite the skin21on account of the rotary movement.

In this arrangement, the spiral springs32in the embodiment ofFIG. 5are arranged approximately parallel to the direction20while the leaf springs33in the embodiment ofFIG. 6are ranged approximately transverse to the direction20. In both embodiments the spring force of the springs32,33connected to shaft or carrier31acts radially outward approximately parallel to the direction20so that the elements16(or “flexible protrusions”) are always urged outward by the springs32,33approximately parallel to the direction20into the advanced position23.

In addition and/or alternatively, it is possible in accordance withFIG. 7to provide a cam track34with which the element16is coupled and by means of which the reciprocating movement of the element16is controlled. The cam track34results in the element16being moved approximately parallel to20the direction20into the advanced position23directly before epilation. This occurs approximately when the element16is roughly opposite the skin21. Preferably the element16is moved into the advanced position23as quickly or suddenly as possible by a suitable construction of the cam track34. After the pulse is delivered the element16is moved back into its retracted position22by a suitable construction of the cam track34.

Other embodiments of the element16become apparent fromFIGS. 8 and 9.

According toFIGS. 8a, b, cit is thus possible for the element16to be configured as a protuberance35(tapered conical shape) tat is positioned on the free end36of a threading device6(or “carrier”) and hence connected to the rotary cylinder10. In this embodiment at least the free end36of the threading device6is of a resilient configuration, for example by being made of a plastic material, forming a flexible protrusion, in the normal state the protuberance35adopts the advanced position23. Upon contact with the skin21the protuberance35is urged back by the skin21itself against the resilient force into the retracted position22. Once the protuberance35is no longer opposite the skin21it is urged forward again by the resilient force into the advanced position23.

Alternatively it is possible in accordance withFIGS. 9a, b, cfor the element16to be constructed not as a protuberance35but as a point37, with bars39interconnecting the various points, and each point extends in radial direction through the opening9of the threading device6and is connected to the threading device6or other components of the rotary cylinder10via a resilient arm38. The arm38can be made of spring steel or a plastic material.

FIGS. 10 to 14show an epilation head40for an epilating appliance as described initially with reference to European Offenlegungsschrift No. 596 283 A1. The epilation head40has a housing41with an opening42that can be turned to face the user's skin. A plurality of clamping devices43are inside the opening42and project out through the housing41. The clamping devices43are arranged side by side in a row. As described in European Offenlegungsschrift No. 596 283 A1, it is possible for the epilation head40shown inFIGS. 10 to 14to have not only a single row of clamping devices43but several such rows. For this case, as becomes apparent in particular fromFIG. 14, the clamping devices43form a rotary cylinder44which is mounted in the housing41of the epilation head40for rotation about an axis45.

Two bearing blocks46,47in which the ends of a drive shaft48are rotatably mounted are secured to the housing41of the epilation head40. The drive shaft48is arranged approximately parallel to the clamping devices43and hence approximately parallel to the axis45of the rotary cylinder44.

The drive shaft48carries one gear wheel49,50directly next to each of the two bearing blocks46,47. The gear wheels49,50are non-rotatably fixed to the drive shaft48, projecting through openings51,52in the housing41into the interior of the epilation head40. Here the gear wheels49,50are each in meshing engagement with a cooperating toothed flange53,54non-rotatably connected to the rotary cylinder44and hence to the clamping devices43. This becomes apparent in particular fromFIG. 13.

The drive shaft48is configured in the manner of a crank and hence has non-axial components. In particular the drive shaft is formed by a crankshaft on the ends of which the gear wheels49,50are positioned as already described.

At least one element55is associated with the drive shaft48. In the present embodiment ofFIGS. 10 to 14a total of eight elements55are associated with the drive shaft48. Each of the elements55has a ram-type, longitudinal appearance with a point56on a free end. In approximately middle position each of the elements55has a guide57of a U-shaped configuration. The non-axial components of the drive shaft48engage in these guides57.

The individual elements55are arranged approximately parallel to each other. In relation to the housing41the elements55are also approximately parallel to the housing's outer side. The points56of the elements55are arranged on the same side as the opening42in the housing41. The points56thus face the user's skin when the epilating appliance is in use. The arrangement and the length of the elements55are selected so that the points56of the elements55form approximately just about one plane with the clamping devices43of the epilation head40during use, thus enabling the points56to just about touch the user's skin. This becomes apparent in particular fromFIGS. 13 and 14.

The drive shaft48, the gear wheels49,50and the areas of the guides57of the elements55are accommodated under a cover58secured to the housing41. In the cover58are bores59,60in which the elements55are slidably guided on either side of the guides57.

With the epilating appliance switched on, the rotary cylinder44performs a rotary movement about the axis45. The rotary movement is transmitted to the drive shaft48via the toothed flange53,54and the mating gear wheel49,50. The elements55are made to move up and down by the non-axial components of the drive shaft48and the guides57.

This movement occurs essentially in a straight line, proceeding approximately in the longitudinal direction of the elements55. The movement is oriented approximately transverse to the user's skin61. This becomes apparent in particular fromFIGS. 13 and 14.

Due to an offset arrangement of the non-axial components of the drive shaft48it is possible to make the elements55perform mutually opposing up and down movements. This becomes apparent in particular fromFIG. 10.

The speed of the up and down movement of the elements55can be set by the numbers of teeth of the toothed flange53,54and the gear wheel49,50. The frequency of the up and down movement of the elements55preferably equals 30 hertz, approximately. It is also possible, however, for the frequency to be higher or lower.

Due to the arrangement of the elements55on the housing41, the up and down movement causes the points56of the elements55to land straight on the skin61when the epilation head40is placed on the skin61. This becomes apparent in particular fromFIGS. 13 and 14.

The mechanical control of the elements55by means of the drive shaft48is configured in such a way that the points56of the elements55are lowered onto the skin61and hence strike the skin61directly before or during epilation by the clamping device43. A mechanical pulse thus acts on the skin61, producing an artificial pain that overshadows and consequently reduces the actual pain caused by the epilation. Further the control is configured in such a way that the points56of the elements55are lifted off the skin61again directly after striking it.