Abstract:
A cap device for preventing an airflow streaming from an inlet bore of an abrasion contact tool to a plurality of outlet bores disposed thereabout. The cap device comprises a cap engageable to the abrasion contact tool having an inner surface. A bar formed or attached to the inner surface is provided that is positionable over the inlet bore to prevent the airflow streaming therefrom when the cap is engaged to the abrasion contact tool so as to allow the outlet bores to selectively exert a vacuum airflow exiting therethrough.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
         [0001]    (Not Applicable)  
         STATEMENTS RE: FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH/DEVELOPMENT  
         [0002]    (Not Applicable)  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0003]    The present invention generally relates to a cap device for an abrasion contact tool, and more particularly to an improved cap device that prevents an airflow streaming from an inlet bore of an abrasion contact tool and through one or more outlet bores disposed thereabout.  
           [0004]    Abrasion technology is well known and in wide use throughout numerous industries, and in particular the medical and the cosmetic industries. In general, such abrasion technology utilizes abrasive particles to target against a selected area in order to remove any unwanted materials therefrom. More specifically, a hand-held tool that is connected to an abrasion system may be used to direct the abrasive particles to the selected area.  
           [0005]    Moreover, a housing-like device, typically in the form of a cap, may be attached to a contacting end of the hand-held tool that may be used primarily to facilitate the flow path of the abrasive particles towards the area to be abraded. Additionally, such device may further facilitate in controlling the intensity of such flow path to mitigate or strengthen the impact upon the area. To achieve that end, the cap may have an opening that is directable towards the area to be abraded. The opening of the cap not only helps in controlling the flow path of the abrasive particles, but it also aids in strengthening or mitigating the intensity of such flow path. More specifically, depending on the size of the opening, the intensity of the flow path may be controlled. If the opening of the cap is enlarged, the intensity of flow path is mitigated, whereas the diminution of the opening tends to strengthen it.  
           [0006]    In medical and cosmetic procedures, referred to as microdermabrasion, the hand-held tool having the cap thereon applies abrasive material that selectively removes unwanted materials (e.g., dead skin cells, etc.) from a specified area of the skin. In this regard, the abrasive particles are operative to remove materials such as scars, blackheads and the like from the skin. To accomplish that end, the hand-held tool hooked onto the abrasion system is utilized to abrade the targeted area of the skin and thereafter collect and dispose of the abraded particles resulting therefrom. More specifically, such tool usually defines one inlet opening for introducing abrasive particles from the abrasion system and directing the same onto the targeted area and at least one, a preferably a plurality of outlet openings for subsequently collecting and disposing the spent abraded particles.  
           [0007]    The hand-held tool commonly uses airstreams to carry the particles, whether they are abrasive or abraded ones. More particularly, when the abrasive particles are introduced to the targeted area, the airflow streaming from the corresponding opening may carry such particles therein and when the same are to be disposed, the airflow exiting through the other openings may also carry such particles therein. Simply put, the airflow from both of the openings may be in fluid communication with each other for the intended purposes of mitigating the unwanted materials from the targeted area, such as the skin.  
           [0008]    However, the fluid communication between the openings may not always be desired. The conventional hand-held tools are believed to be configured in a way that such communication is constantly maintained between the above-mentioned inlet and outlet openings thereof when the cap is utilized therewith and compressed against a target area. In certain instances, however, the introduction and departure of airflow for the carrying of abrasive and abraded particles is not selective, and hence uncontrollable. For instance, in the case of microdermabrasion, the hand-held tool with the cap thereon may have heavy concentrations of abraded particles therein. In such occurrences, the abraded particles may be left behind the targeted area giving the appearance of untidiness and uncleanliness. Moreover, due to the heavy concentrations of abraded particles being recollected, the fluid communication between the openings may at times be reduced, and often compromised.  
           [0009]    Exemplary of the current design of microdermabrasion cap members for use in combination with the hand-held tools for performing microdermabrasion procedures are set forth in Applicant&#39;s co-pending patent application Ser. No. 09/136,862 entitled CONTAINED DIRECT PARTICLE BEAM FLOW ABRASION SYSTEM, filed on Aug. 19, 1998, the teachings of which are expressly incorporated here and by reference. In this regard, such cap member is operative, once contacted with a target area of skin, to direct a particulate beam against such area and after contain such abraded particles such that the same are directed into collection bores radially disposed about the inlet bore through which particle beam is introduced. Such design, however, does not enable flow of air, not to mention the abrasive particles carried thereby, to deviate from a pathway defined by the center bore formed within the hand piece from which the air and particles are pulled and ultimately through the series of peripheral bores formed upon the tool for collecting the same. More specifically, it is often desired to apply only a vacuum via the hand tool without introducing a stream of particles into the cap. Moreover, it is frequently advantageous to apply a vacuum to the target area of skin, which could be achieved should a vacuum be applied to the peripherally-disposed bores typically configured for the collection of microdermabrasion particles and abraded material.  
           [0010]    Thus, there is a need in the industry, and in the medical and cosmetic industries in particular, for an apparatus and a method for interrupting the fluid communication between bi-airflow openings of a hand-held tool for applying abrasive material in order to regulate the direction of airflow that corresponds to the user&#39;s desire. In particular, there is a need for a device that is operative to selectively inhibit such fluid communication without altering the hand-held tool or the abrasion system utilized therewith in order to accomplish such purpose in an efficient and cost-effective manner.  
           [0011]    The present invention addresses and overcomes the above-described deficiency of prior art hand-held tools for applying and collecting abrasive material and caps utilized therewith by providing a cap device designed to attach to such hand-held tools in order to regulate or impede the airflow therethrough. More specifically, the cap device is sized and configured to use an internally placed bar to selectively superimpose upon desired openings when engaged to the hand-held tools to control and, preferably selectively block airflow. In this respect, not only does the present invention accomplish the purpose of airflow selectivity, but it also serves such purpose without the need to alter the hand-held tools, or the abrasion system utilized therewith.  
         BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0012]    In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a cap device for preventing an airflow from an inlet bore of an abrasion contact tool but simultaneously allowing airflow exiting through a plurality of outlet bores disposed thereabout. The cap device comprises a cap engageable to the abrasion contact tool having a bar formed or attached to the cap&#39;s inner surface or cavity defined therein. The bar is positionable over the inlet bore to prevent the airflow (and, hence, particulate beam) streaming therefrom when the cap is engaged to the abrasion contact tool so as to allow the outlet bores to operate in a “vacuum only” mode. The cap may preferably be a plastic cap specifically configured to engage the front end of an abrasion contact tool, and especially those tools disclosed in pending patent application Ser. No. 09/136,862. The cap likewise has a front section with an opening that is directable towards a desired area to which such vacuum or redirected air flow may be applied.  
           [0013]    The bar formed therein may likewise be fabricated from a plastic material, and may preferably be molded to the inner surface thereof such that the same extends across the cap&#39;s inner surface between the top and the bottom sections thereof. The bar may be an elongate bar and specifically sized to correspond to the diameter of the inlet bore of the hand tool so as to allow the outlet bores to apply a vacuum force and extract the materials via the airflow exiting therethrough. More specifically, the elongate bar is selectively positioned to obstruct the inlet bore but not interrupt fluid communication with the outlet bores when the elongate bar is mounted upon the hand tool.  
           [0014]    In another embodiment, the elongate bar may be defined by two ends having a width and an intermediate area therebetween further having a second width. The width of the two ends may be generally lesser than the width of the intermediate area so as to provide greater access of the materials to the outlet bores when the intermediate area of the bar is superimposed upon the inlet bore.  
           [0015]    In accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the cap device further comprises a method for utilizing a cap having a bar to prevent an airflow from an inlet bore of an abrasion contact tool to the airflow exiting through a plurality of outlet bores disposed thereabout. The method comprises attaching the cap having the bar to the abrasion contact tool such that the bar superimposes upon the inlet bore in abutting contact thereto to prevent the airflow streaming therefrom. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0016]    These as well as other features of the present invention, will become more apparent upon reference to the drawings wherein:  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 1 is a side view of a cap device interconnected to the cap being constructed in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention and defining an internally placed bar utilized for selectively controlling an airflow thereof;  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional view of the cap device having the internally placed bar therein as shown in FIG. 1 and further including a cap opening at a front section thereof,  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 3 is a top view of the internally placed bar when superimposed upon an inlet bore of the abrasion contact tool as shown in FIG. 1; and  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 4 is a top view of a second embodiment of the internally placed bar when superimposed upon the inlet bore of the abrasion contact tool as shown in FIG. 1.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0021]    Referring now to the drawings wherein the showings are for purposes of illustrating preferred embodiments of the present invention only, and not for purposes of limiting the same, FIG. 1 is a side view illustration of a cap device constructed in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. The cap device comprises a cap  20  that may be adapted to engage an abrasion contact tool  30  for the intended purpose of regulating, or controlling, an airflow therethrough. At the outset, it will be recognized that the cap  20  may be formed to have a variety of shapes, configurations, geometries and textures in accordance with a shape to facilitate contact thereto. Such cap  20  may be fabricated from any material well-known in the art, including plastic, metal, glass and the like.  
         [0022]    Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2, the cap  20  as depicted may define a front section  22  and a rear section  24 . More specifically, the front section  22  of the cap  20  may be defined by a generally arcuate shape converged to form an opening  26 . Preferably, the front section  22  forms the arcuate shape defining by the opening  26  at the focal area thereof. As will be appreciated, the opening  26  may have a variety of sizes and shapes to produce different degrees of airflow intensity originating from the abrasion contact tool  30 . For instance, a smaller opening  26  may intensify the flow path extending therethrough to concentrate more upon a given part of a target area, whereas a bigger opening  26  may dissipate such flow path to affect a larger part of the area.  
         [0023]    Incorporating herein by reference the pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/136,862 filed on Aug. 19, 1998, entitled “CONTAINED DIRECT PARTICLE BEAM FLOW ABRASION SYSTEM,” the rear section  24  of the cap  20  may engage the front end  32  of the abrasion contact tool  30  described therein. As stated in the aforementioned patent application, the abrasion contact tool  30  may further have a plurality of hoses at its rear end  34  to connect to an abrasion system for the purposes of carrying out microdermabrasion functions. The abrasion contact tool  30 , when utilized with the abrasion system, may be operative to generate an airflow containing abrasive particles therein and to dispose of an airflow having abraded particles.  
         [0024]    To achieve that end, the rear section  24  of the cap  20  of the present invention may detachably engage the front end  32  of the abrasion contact tool  30 , preferably via any means, whether conventional or later developed. For instance, the cap  20  may be screwed onto the abrasion contact tool  30  via a conventional screw-on mechanism or, the cap  20  may be snapped onto the abrasion contact tool  30  via a conventional snap-on mechanism. Still further, the cap  20  may even be formed to slide onto the configuration of the abrasion contact tool  20 . Simply put, the cap  20  may engage the front end  32  of the abrasion contact tool  30  in any manner, and it is the relationship that the cap  20  forms to the abrasion contact tool  30  that is of importance, as will be described below.  
         [0025]    Referring now to FIG. 3, the front end  32  of the abrasion contact tool  30  may define a surface having an inlet bore  40  and a plurality of outlet bores  50 . The inlet bore  40  of the abrasion contact tool  30  may be configured to introduce and direct the abrasive particles via the airflow streaming therefrom to affect the area to be abraded, as disclosed in the above-incorporated patent application. Moreover, the plurality of outlet bores  50  may be designed and configured to receive the airflow containing the abraded particles after the area has been abraded by the abrasive particles, typically by vacuum motion. As will be recognized, the abrasion contact tool that simultaneously uses both the inlet bore  40  and the outlet bores  50  is generally known, and disclosed in the incorporated patent application.  
         [0026]    More specifically, the inlet bore  40  may be generally positioned proximate the central portion of the front end  32  of contact tool  30 . Such inlet bore  40  may be in general linear alignment with the opening  26  of the cap  20  in order to direct the airflow therethrough. Furthermore, the outlet bores  50  may be disposed about the inlet bore  40  to perform the function as described above. In one characterization, the outlet bores  50  may be spaced uniformly around a periphery of the inlet bore  40 . However, one of ordinary skill in the art will realize that the arrangement of the inlet bore  40  and the outlet bores  50  may be reorganized to better accommodate the user&#39;s particular needs.  
         [0027]    With regard to the present invention, the cap  20  may further define an inner surface  28  having a bar  60  formed upon or attached thereto. Such bar  60  may be fabricated from any material such as plastic, metal, glass or the like and may be attached to the inner surface  28  via any manner, whether conventional or creative. Preferably, the bar  60  is integrally formed to the inner surface  28  of the cap  20  via molding the bar  60  thereto.  
         [0028]    The bar  60  may preferably be elongated to diametrically extend across the inner surface  28  of the cap  20 . In addition, the bar  60  may be positioned anywhere between the front section  22  and the rear section  24  of the cap  20 . More specifically, the bar  60  may be placed anywhere between the front and the rear section  22 ,  24  such that when the cap  20  engages the front end  32  of the abrasion contact tool  30 , the bar  60  positions over the inlet bore  40  to prevent the airflow streaming therefrom. The bar  60  may be attached at some point between the front and the rear section  22 ,  24  of the cap  20  so as to position the bar  60  in abutting contact with a top end  42  of the inlet bore  40 . Simply put, it is the concept of having the bar  60  superimposing upon the top end  42  of the inlet bore  40  that should be appreciated in order to prevent the abrasive particles entering via the airflow therefrom.  
         [0029]    A diameter  44  may define the top end  42  of the inlet bore  40 . Like the opening  26  of the cap  20 , the diameter  44  of the inlet bore  40  may be adjusted to control the intensity of the airflow resulting therefrom. As mentioned above, it is the concept of preventing the incoming airflow of the inlet bore  40  and allowing access of the outlet bores  50  therearound to the exiting airflow carrying the abraded particles therein that should be appreciated. However, in order to increase the accessibility of the outlet bores  50  to the exiting airflow, it is recommended that the bar  60  correspond to the diameter  44  of the inlet bore  40 . More specifically, the bar  60  should superimpose upon the top end  42  of the inlet bore  40  in such a way that edges of the bar  60  does not extend beyond the diameter  44  of the inlet bore  40 . It will be recognized by those of ordinary skill in the art that the bar  60  may be constructed to meet the specifications of the inlet bore&#39;s diameter  44 .  
         [0030]    Referring now to FIG. 4, the bar  60  may be constructed to have a different embodiment to better serve the purpose as stated in the above paragraph. The bar  60  may further be characterized to have two ends  64  converging to form an intermediate area  66  therebetween. More particularly, the two ends  64  may be defined by a specified width  65 , whereas the intermediate area  66  is further defined by a specified width  67 . The width  65  of the two ends  64  may be generally lesser than the width  67  of the intermediate area  66 , wherein the intermediate area&#39;s width may conform to the diameter  44  of the inlet bore  40 , similar to the notion stated above. By doing so, the access of the exiting airflow to the peripheral outlet bores  50  may be improved.  
         [0031]    Additional modifications and improvements of the present invention may also be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art. Thus, the particular combination of parts described and illustrated herein is intended to represent only certain embodiments of the present invention, and is not intended to serve as limitations of alternative devices within the spirit and scope of the invention.