Abstract:
The present invention provides an electrical depilator comprising substantially of a main body, a motor, a reduction gear set, an arcuate shaft and a set of single-pieces. The arcuate shaft is supported on a shaft seat of the main body. A first stage gear of the reduction gear set meshes with the driving wheel of the motor, and a last stage gear is fixed on the single-piece which is located at the endmost portion. Each single-piece has a clipping surface and a supporting portion. The whole set of single-pieces are arranged in a manner that the clipping surfaces are opposite to each other. A clipping gap is formed between opposite surfaces of two single-pieces. The whole set of single-pieces are coupled together by fixing members so as to rotate synchronously. The whole set of single-pieces are fitted over the arcuate shaft all together. The electrical depilator is easy in die sinking, convenient in assembling, and of low cost.

Description:
[0001]    This is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 09/669,378, filed Sep. 26, 2000, which is itself a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 09/246,454, filed Feb. 9, 1999 and issued on Sep. 26, 2000 as U.S. Pat. No. 6,123,713, which is itself a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 09/112,971, filed Jul. 9, 1998 and issued Nov. 2, 1999 as U.S. Pat. No. 5,976,157. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates generally to a depilatory device for removal of unwanted hair, and more specifically, to a device for removing unwanted hair by trapping and uprooting the hair while at the same time massaging the hair-removal area to reduce discomfort associated with hair removal. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    There exists a need for removal of unwanted hair in order to maintain a desirable physical appearance. There are many devices known in the art that are useful for removing unwanted hair such as razors, tweezers and other depilatory devices. Although razors provide quick and easy hair removal, hair remains visible at the surface of the skin and quickly regrows. Therefore one must shave frequently in order to maintain smooth skin and a desired appearance. 
         [0004]    On the other hand, tweezers provide longer-lasting hair removal than razors since, instead of merely cutting hair, tweezers remove the hair at its root. However, removing hair with tweezers is a tedious process since traditional tweezers can only remove one hair at a time and precise handling of the tweezers is required in order to position and grasp the hair between the two, usually small, opposing surfaces. Furthermore, care must be taken so that the hair is not inadvertently broken above the root leaving stubbles. 
         [0005]    Other depilatory devices are known in the art such as one described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,281,233 to Dolev (“Dolev patent”). The Dolev hair removal device generally comprises a housing and a hair-plucking assembly rotatably mounted to the housing. The hair plucking assembly includes at least one disc assembly comprising (i) a pair of complementary discs, each of the discs having at least three radially extending arms terminating in flattened peripheral portions, which, when pressed against corresponding flattened peripheral portion of the arms of the other disc, form a trap for the hair; and (ii) a hub for accommodating and rotating the pair of discs so that the flattened peripheral portions of the discs are alternately brought together to form a trap to grasp the hair to be removed, and forced apart to eject the removed hair. The Dolev hair device, however, merely includes one row of disc assemblies, which limits the number of hairs it can remove at one time. Moreover, it lacks any mechanism for making the hair-removal process more comfortable for the user. 
         [0006]    There is a need, therefore, for a depilatory device that is as easy and inexpensive to assemble and maintain as prior art devices but, at the same time, can easily uproot a greater number of hairs over a larger hair-removal area than is currently possible. In addition, there is also an ongoing need for depilatory devices that reduce discomfort associated with hair removal. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    According to the present invention, the foregoing and other objects and advantages are attained by a hair removal device comprising a housing and a hair-plucking assembly. In preferred embodiments, the hair-removal assembly includes at least two groups of disc assemblies mounted within the housing. The disc assemblies may be arranged in at least two rows, which may be adjacent and/or parallel to one another. Disc assemblies arranged in a row may be rotationally fixed with respect to one another and may rotate together at a constant speed. In addition, disc assemblies arranged in one row may rotate in an opposite direction with respect to disc assemblies arranged in another row. 
         [0008]    The disc assemblies may also be identical to one another. Each disc assembly may include an internal disc assembly and a pair of outer discs. Each internal disc may, in turn, comprise an insert disc having at least one arm and may be mounted on a disc carrier. Each outer disc may also have at least one arm and may be mounted on the internal disc assembly. The arm(s) of each outer disc may be pressed against the arm(s) of the internal disc to form traps for hair. 
         [0009]    The disc carrier may further comprise at least one U-shaped member for engaging at least one arm of each of the pair of outer discs so as to impart rotational motion to the pair of outer discs upon rotation of the internal structure about an axis of the internal structure. The disc carrier may further comprise at least a pair of pinchers that extends axially from the U-shaped member(s) beyond the plane of the arm of each of the pair of outer discs for imparting a clamping force on at least one adjacent disc carrier. The disc carrier may further comprise engagement means for engaging at least one adjacent disc carrier so that rotational movement of one disc carrier imparts rotational motion to at least one adjacent disc carrier. The engagement means may comprise engagement protrusions and engagement recessions for engaging corresponding protrusions and recessions of at least one adjacent disc carrier. Finally, disc assemblies may be rotatably mounted on two shafts. The shafts may further be curved so that the disc assemblies are mounted in an inclined angle. 
         [0010]    The hair removal device may further comprise an illumination mechanism that comprises a light source. Preferably, the light source may be an incandescent light bulb or an light-emitting diode located near the hair removal area for better lighting. In addition, the light source may be oriented at an angle to better illuminate the hair removal area. The illumination mechanism may further comprise a battery housing that houses a battery for supplying power to the light source. In the alternative, the illumination mechanism may draw power from the hair removal device for powering the light source. The illumination mechanism may be detachable from the hair removal device. 
         [0011]    In accordance with another preferred embodiment of the invention, the hair removal device may comprise a housing, a hair-plucking assembly, and a vibration assembly mounted within the housing. The vibration assembly may comprise a vibration element to massage the hair removal area. This vibration element may be rotatably mounted on eccentric cylinders and may vibrate at a constant speed. 
         [0012]    The housing may comprise brackets for mounting the hair-plucking assembly and vibration assembly to the housing. The vibration element may be located adjacent to the hair-plucking assembly and may act to move towards and away from the hair-plucking assembly. The vibration element may span at least the width of the hair-plucking assembly. 
         [0013]    As discussed above, the hair-plucking assembly may comprise disc assemblies which are arranged in two rows, wherein the vibration element may be located between the rows of disc assemblies. The hair-plucking assembly and the vibration assembly may be powered by a driving assembly. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0014]    For a more complete understanding of the present invention, reference is made to the following Detailed Description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which: 
           [0015]      FIG. 1  is a front elevational view of a hair remover according to the invention; 
           [0016]      FIG. 2  is a top plan view of the hair remover of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0017]      FIG. 3  is a side elevational view of the hair remover of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0018]      FIG. 4  is a front partial section view of the hair remover of  FIG. 1  taken along line A-A of  FIG. 3 , featuring a number of disc assemblies; 
           [0019]      FIG. 5  is a side partial section view taken along line  2 - 2  of the hair remover of  FIG. 4 ; 
           [0020]      FIG. 6  is a front partial section view of the hair remover of  FIG. 1  taken along line B-B of  FIG. 5 , featuring a number of disc assemblies; 
           [0021]      FIG. 7  is an exploded view of the outer discs and the internal disc assembly of the invention; 
           [0022]      FIG. 8  is a plan view of the disc assembly of  FIG. 6 , such as might be used in the device of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0023]      FIG. 9  is a perspective view of the disc assembly of  FIG. 7 ; 
           [0024]      FIG. 10  is a perspective view of a vibration system in the hair remover of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0025]      FIG. 11  is a side cross-sectional view taken along line  1 - 1  of  FIG. 4  illustrating the vibration assembly with vibration element in a low position; 
           [0026]      FIG. 12  is a side cross-sectional view similar to  FIG. 10  of the vibration assembly with the vibration element in a high position; 
           [0027]      FIG. 13  is the same view as  FIG. 11 , but of an alternative embodiment with oppositely rotating disc assemblies; 
           [0028]      FIG. 14  is the same view as  FIG. 12  of the alternative embodiment; 
           [0029]      FIG. 15  is a front view of an illumination mechanism attached to a hair removal device; 
           [0030]      FIG. 16  is a side view of the illumination mechanism attached to a hair removal device; 
           [0031]      FIG. 17  is a perspective view of the illumination mechanism attached to a hair removal device; and 
           [0032]      FIG. 18  is a top view of the illumination mechanism attached to a hair removal device. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0033]      FIGS. 1-12  illustrate a preferred embodiment of the hair removal device  10  according to the present invention. As shown in  FIGS. 1-12 , hair removal device  10  preferably includes a hair-plucking assembly  14  ( FIG. 1 ,  2 ), a vibration assembly  603  ( FIG. 9 ), a driving assembly  216 ,  202 - 207  ( FIG. 4 ,  6 ), and a housing  17  ( FIG. 3 ). 
         [0034]    As shown in  FIGS. 1-2 , hair-plucking assembly  14  preferably includes, among other components described further below, a plurality of disc assemblies  500 . A preferred embodiment of disc assembly  500  is illustrated in further detail in  FIGS. 7-9 . As shown in  FIG. 7 , each disc assembly  500  preferably includes three main elements: an internal disc assembly  301  and two outer discs  212 . Each internal disc assembly  301  includes a disc carrier  302  and an insert disc  501 . Each disc carrier  302 , in turn, includes U-shaped members  305 , opposing pinchers  306 , engagement protrusions  303 , and engagement recessions  304 . Each insert disc  501  and outer disc  212  includes three radially extending arms oriented approximately 120° apart with each arm terminating in flattened peripheral portions  502  and  402  respectively. 
         [0035]    U-shaped members  305  of disc carrier  302  imparts rotational motion to outer discs  212 . In addition, U-shaped members  305  serve as platforms for opposing pinchers  306 , elevating opposing pinchers  306  out of the plane of radially extending arms  401  of outer disc  212  when outer disc  212  is mounted on internal disc assembly  301 , as may be appreciated in  FIG. 9 . Opposing pinchers  306  exert pressure on flattened peripheral portions  402  of adjacent disc assemblies  500  in order to form traps for hair, as described in further detail below. Engagement protrusions  303  and engagement recessions  304  connect adjacent disc assemblies  500  together, as described in further detail below. 
         [0036]    As illustrated in  FIG. 7 , the central portion of each outer disc  212  preferably includes a generally circular opening, which is sized and shaped so that each outer disc  212  may be mounted on internal disc assembly  301 , as illustrated in  FIG. 9 . The configuration, i.e., dimensions and tolerances, of components  212 ,  303  of each disc assembly  500  is designed such that these components fit snugly together and remain engaged during operation of the device  10  ( FIG. 1 ). 
         [0037]    When outer discs  212  are mounted on internal disc assembly  301 , flattened peripheral portions  402  of outer discs  212  are aligned with flattened peripheral portion  502  of internal disc assembly  301 , so that when flattened peripheral portions  402  are pressed against the corresponding flattened peripheral portion  502 , as illustrated in  FIG. 9 , traps that can grasp and hold hair are formed between flattened peripheral portion  502  and adjacent flattened peripheral portions  402 . 
         [0038]    It should be noted that, in alternative embodiments, disc assembly  500  may include one or two integral pieces having between them all the elements of the three components  212 ,  301 ,  212  discussed above. In addition, it should be noted that any hair-plucking disc assembly may be used, including the disc assembly described in Dolev&#39;s U.S. Pat. No. 5,281,233. We, therefore, incorporate by reference the disc assembly described in Dolev. 
         [0039]    As shown in  FIGS. 4-6 , in addition to a plurality of disc assemblies  500 , hair-plucking assembly  14  also preferably includes shafts  219 , bearings  210 , bearing supports  209 , and disc drive gears  220 . 
         [0040]    Shafts  219  are preferably curved for mounting disc assemblies  500 . Mounting disc assemblies  500  on curved shafts  219  allows disc assemblies  500  to form traps for hair, as described in further detail below. Shafts  219  may be made of any appropriate material, including various rigid or flexible materials; however, appropriate support must be provided for curved shafts made of flexible material. Bearings  210  and bearing supports  209  transfer rotational force from disc drive gears  220  to disc assemblies  500  as well as ensure smooth rotation of disc assemblies  500 . Disc drive gears  220  impart rotational motion to disc assemblies  500  through bearings  210  and bearing supports  209 . 
         [0041]    In the preferred embodiment illustrated in  FIGS. 4-6 , each disc assembly  500  is rotatably mounted on shafts  219 , wherein each disc assembly  500  is engaged to adjacent disc assembly or assemblies  500  via engagement protrusions  303  and recessions  304 . Specifically, each engagement protrusion  303  of one disc assembly  500  is inserted into an engagement recession  304  of an adjacent disc assembly  500  in a gear-like fashion. As a consequence of engaging disc assemblies  500 , each disc assemblies  500  is angularly offset from adjacent disc assemblies  500  by 60° so that flattened peripheral portions  402  of a disc assembly  500  are aligned with opposing pinchers  306  of adjacent disc assemblies  500 . Moreover, disc assemblies  500  engaged to one another are rotationally fixed with respect to one another so that they rotate in sync. 
         [0042]    Bearings  210  and bearing supports  209  are placed between each end of each row of disc assemblies  500  and disc driving gears  220 , respectively, to transfer rotation speed from disc driving gears  220  to hair-plucking assembly  14  as well as to facilitate smooth and steady rotation of disc assemblies  500 . Disc driving gears  220  provide rotational motion to hair-plucking assembly  14 . 
         [0043]    Preferably, the portions of disc assembly  500  intended for contact with the hair are made of a metal material such as stainless steel, which is particularly effective for plucking hair, and the portions of disc assembly  500  which contact curved shafts  219  are made of plastic such as Acetal plastic to facilitate smooth rotation of the disc assembly  500 . Alternatively, these components may be made up of other appropriate materials known in the art. 
         [0044]    It should be noted that, although  FIGS. 2 and 4  show that the preferred embodiment includes six disc assemblies  500  in each row of disc assemblies, in alternative embodiments, any number of disc assemblies  500  may be included in each row. In addition, it should be noted that shafts  219  need not be curved if the particular disc assemblies used do not require mounting in an inclined angle to best trap hair. 
         [0045]    Turning now to a preferred embodiment of vibration assembly  603  depicted in  FIGS. 10-12 , vibration assembly  603  includes a vibration element  217 , vibration assembly gear  208 , and eccentric cylinder  601 . Vibration element  217  is rotatably mounted on eccentric cylinder  601 , which are, in turn, fixed to vibration assembly gear  208 . Vibration element  217  may be made of any hard and rigid material capable of withstanding all kinds of forces and scratches by vibration gear  208 . Moreover, the surface of vibration element  217 , which makes contact with the skin of the user, may be smooth or textured to provide various desired massage sensations. Mounting vibration element  217  on eccentric cylinder  601  allows vibration assembly gear  208  to impart motion to vibration element  217  as vibration assembly gears  208  rotate. This creates vibrations resulting in the massaging function of the present invention, as described in further detail below. 
         [0046]    Turning now to a preferred embodiment of a driving assembly depicted in  FIGS. 4 and 6 , the driving assembly includes a motor  216 , a motor shaft  202 , a motor shaft gear  203 , a reduction gear  204 , a reduction gear shaft  205 , a transmission gear  206 , and a transmission gear shaft  207 . Motor  216  drives both hair-plucking assembly  14  ( FIG. 1 ) as well as vibration assembly  603  ( FIG. 9 ) via reduction gear system  202 - 207 , and can be any type of motor capable of imparting rotational motion to the reduction gear system  202 - 207 . Motor  216  may be operated by any convenient and available power source such as a battery or house current via a DC adaptor. Motor shaft gear  203 , reduction gear  204 , and transmission gear  206  are mounted on motor shaft  202 , reduction gear shaft  205 , and transmission gear shaft  207  respectively. Motor shaft gear  203  is engaged with reduction gear  204 , which is, in turn, engaged with transmission gear  206  to form a reduction gear system that converts the rotational speed imparted by motor  216  to a proper rotational speed to drive hair-plucking assembly  14  and vibration assembly  603 . 
         [0047]    Turning now to a preferred embodiment of housing  17  depicted in  FIGS. 1-6 , housing  17  preferably includes two cooperating housing halves  11 ,  13  ( FIG. 3 ), brackets  201 ,  213  ( FIGS. 2 ,  4 ,  6 ), motor housing  218  ( FIG. 4 ,  6 ), and power switch  15  ( FIGS. 1 ,  3 ). Housing halves  11 ,  13  are ergonomically shaped to facilitate easy and comfortable gripping by one hand and is preferably constructed of plastic, although alternative materials may also be used. Brackets  201 ,  213  hold hair-plucking assembly  14  ( FIG. 1 ) and vibration assembly  603  ( FIG. 10 ) in place within housing  17 . Similarly, motor housing  218  holds motor  216  and reduction gear system  202 - 207  in place within housing  17  for proper operation. 
         [0048]    In operation, when a preferred embodiment of hair-removal device  10  as illustrated in  FIG. 4  is turned on via on/off switch  15  ( FIGS. 1 ,  3 ), motor  216  is activated and imparts rotational force to motor shaft  202 , which, in turn, imparts rotational force to motor shaft gear  203 . Motor shaft gear  203 , in turn, drives reduction gear  204  which drives transmission gear  206 . Transmission gear  206  then imparts rotational force to vibration gear  208 . Vibration gear  208 , in turn, drives disc drive gears  220 . 
         [0049]    As disc drive gears  220  rotate, they drive bearings  210  and bearing supports  209 . Bearings  210  and bearing supports  209 , in turn, drive disc assemblies  500  ( FIGS. 7-9 ). As was described above, the two rows of disc assemblies  500  are mounted on curved shafts  219  ( FIGS. 3 ,  5 ,  6 ). This curvature results in disc assemblies  500  having little room between one another near the top of the hair removal device  10  so that disc assemblies  500  are actually compressed together at the top of the hair removal device  10 . This compression of disc assemblies at the top of the hair removal device  10  creates traps for hair. Specifically, when disc assemblies  500  rotate, they are compressed, or push against one another, at the top of the hair removal device  10 . As a result, opposing pinchers  306  mounted on U-shaped members  305  presses flattened peripheral portions  402  of adjacent disc assemblies  500  against their corresponding flattened peripheral portions  502 , as illustrated in  FIG. 7-9  Pressing flattened peripheral portions  402  against corresponding peripheral portions  502  forms traps for hair, as was described above and illustrated in  FIG. 9 . 
         [0050]    While hair-plucking assembly  14  is driven by disc drive gears  220 , vibration gear  208  drives vibration assembly  603 , wherein eccentric cylinder  601  lifts and lowers the vibration element  217  rapidly, as vibration gear  208  rotates, in order to generate the massage function of the present invention. Specifically, when vibration gear  208  rotates to the position shown in  FIG. 11 , vibration beam  217  moves to a low position close to disc assemblies  500 . When vibration gear  208  rotates to the position shown in  FIG. 12 , vibration beam  217  moves to a high position away from disc assemblies  500 . Therefore, as vibration gear  208  rotates continuously, vibration beam  217  moves towards and away from disc assemblies  500  rapidly, creating vibrations that massage the hair removal area. 
         [0051]    Disc assemblies  500  in hair removal device  10  as described above rotate in the same direction (either all clockwise or all counterclockwise). In an alternative embodiment, the device may be modified so that disc assemblies  500  can rotate in opposite directions. Such an alternative embodiment uses a modified gear system illustrated in  FIGS. 13 and 14 . As shown in  FIGS. 13 and 14 , the modified gear system of hair removal device  20  includes an extra gear  221  and a smaller vibration gear  308  and eccentric cylinder  701  to accommodate the additional gear  221 . 
         [0052]    In operation, transmission gear  206  drives gear  221 , which, in turn, drives one of the disc drive gears  220  as well as vibration gear  308 . Vibration gear  308  then drives the other disc drive gear  220  and vibration beam  217 . By using separate gears (gear  221  and vibration gear  308 ) to drive each disc drive gears  220  separately, disc drive gears  220  are able to rotate in opposite directions, resulting in disc assemblies  500  mounted in one row rotating in an opposite direction to disc assemblies  500  mounted in another row. Preferably, each row of disc assemblies  500  rotates away from each other so that the removed hairs are directed away from hair removal device  20  and skin in the area of hair removal is stretched to reduce discomfort associated with hair removal. 
         [0053]    For both hair remover embodiments  10  and  20  described above as well as the hair remover device described in related patent U.S. Pat. No. 5,976,157, an illumination mechanism for illuminating the area of hair removal may be added, making it easier for a user to see the progress of hair removal. A preferred embodiment of illumination mechanism  800  is depicted in  FIGS. 15-18 . 
         [0054]    Illumination mechanism  800  is preferably located near disc assemblies  500 , (see, e.g.  FIGS. 1 and 2 ), so that it is close to the hair removal area. Preferably, light source  802  for illumination mechanism  800  is an incandescent light bulb or a light-emitting diode and is preferably oriented at an angle so as to maximize light directed to the hair removal area. In addition, illumination mechanism  800  may include a battery for powering light source  802 . The battery may be contained in battery housing  804  built into illumination mechanism  800 . In an alternative embodiment, illumination mechanism  800  may draw power from the hair remover itself so that a separate battery solely for powering illumination mechanism  800  is not required. Illumination mechanism  800  may also be a self-contained unit that can be attached or detached from the hair remover. 
         [0055]    It should be noted that the disclosed embodiments can be modified by a person skilled in the art without deviating from the scope of the present invention. For example, the orientation of hair-plucking assembly  14  in relation to housing  17  may be varied in any number of alternative configurations to optimize efficiency and convenience of use. Examples of suitable alternative configurations are described in the above-mentioned Dolev patent, incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. In addition, there can be any number of rows of disc assemblies  500  in hair remover  10  or hair remover  20 . 
         [0056]    While the invention has been described in conjunction with specific embodiments, it is evident that numerous alternatives, modifications, and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art in light of the forgoing descriptions. The scope of this invention is defined only by the following claims.