Abstract:
A Handheld Motorized Facial Brush Having Three Floating Heads. The motorized device can generate rotational, oscillating or vibrating motion at a plurality of micro-treatment heads. The microheads are interchangeable and selectable from a group including bristle brushes, sponge applicator, silicone massage finger/element, among others. The device has a detachable three-headed treatment head assembly that interlocks to the main handle housing by twist-lock or other mechanism. The treatment head assembly may have the option of being pivotally attached to the handle housing in order to allow it to closely follow the contours of the user&#39;s face. Finally, the device has internal batteries that are rechargable.

Description:
[0001]    This application is filed within one year of, and claims priority to Provisional Application Ser. No. 62/072,904, filed Oct. 30, 2014. 
         [0002]    This application is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 13/603,081, filed Sep. 4, 2012; status: Now Pending—hereinafter referred to as the “parent” application. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0004]    This invention relates generally to skin care appliances and, more specifically, to a Handheld Motorized Facial Brush Having Three Floating Heads. 
         [0005]    2. Description of Related Art 
         [0006]    Facial massage, cleansing, treatment and exfoliation devices have become widely available for home use. Despite their wide variety, there remains to be a multi-headed brush/massage device for preparing a man&#39;s face for shaving. Some relevant examples of prior devices are described below. 
         [0007]    Glucksman, et al., U.S. Pat. No. 7,270,641 for “Apparatus for Abrading Hair and Exfoliating Skin” describes a handheld device having three rotating disks. Each disk is configured with a covering of hook-and-loop fastener material for engaging abrasive pads. The pads are designed for removing hair and abrading the skin. The Glucksman device has individually “floating” heads that are permanently attached to the drive housing. The disks are not removeable from the housing/drive mechanism, nor do they float as an assembly on a single drive shaft. Furthermore, Glucksman would not work with brush or sponge applicators, because neither is functional with the hook-and-loop fastener attachment system. 
         [0008]    Podolsky, U.S. Pat. No. 5,725,483 for “Massaging Device” is a motorized device having three rotating/translating balls for the application of shaving cream. The Podolsky device, however, does not suggest the use of brushes or sponges, nor does it include interchangeable and/or floating treatment heads. 
         [0009]    Tsang, U.S. Pat. No. 6,032,313 for “Household Applicance ./. .” describes a motorized brush having concentric rotating brush rings, or side-by-side translating brushes. While the heads are detachable, they do not float as a single assembly, nor are each heads rotating separate from one another. 
         [0010]    DeLuca et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,103,809 for “Massaging Device” that has a plurality of rotating massage fingers dispersed around a stationary massage head, or stationary fingers dispersed around a rotating massage head. While the head is interchangeable, it does not float as an assembly. Furthermore, the “massage fingers” are not detachable from the massage head. There is further no suggestion of using bristle brushes or sponges in place of the elongate massage fingers. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0011]    In light of the aforementioned problems associated with the prior devices, it is an object of the present invention to provide a Handheld Motorized Facial Brush Having Three Floating Heads. The motorized device should be able to generate rotational, oscillating or vibrating motion at a plurality of micro-treatment heads. The microheads should be interchangeable, and be selectable from a group including bristle brushes, sponge applicator, silicone massage finger/element, among others. The device should have a detachable three-headed treatment head assembly that interlocks to the main handle housing by twist-lock or other mechanism. The treatment head assembly should have an option of being pivotally attached to the handle housing in order to allow it to closely follow the contours of the user&#39;s face. Finally, the device should have internal batteries that are rechargable. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0012]    The objects and features of the present invention, which are believed to be novel, are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The present invention, both as to its organization and manner of operation, together with further objects and advantages, may best be understood by reference to the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, of which: 
           [0013]      FIG. 1  is a front perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the handheld motorized facial brush having floating heads of the present invention; 
           [0014]      FIG. 2  is a rear perspective view of the device of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0015]      FIG. 3A  is rear perspective view,  FIG. 3B  is a cutaway side view, and  FIG. 3C  is a front perspective view of the device of  FIGS. 1 and 2 ; 
           [0016]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the treatment head base of  FIG. 3 ; 
           [0017]      FIG. 5  is a cutaway side view of the motor and battery components of the device of  FIGS. 1 and 2 ; 
           [0018]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of a conventional rotary shaver head assembly; and 
           [0019]      FIGS. 7A-7B  are perspective views of preferred embodiments of the members of the group of microheads attachable to the device of  FIG. 1 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0020]    The following description is provided to enable any person skilled in the art to make and use the invention and sets forth the best modes contemplated by the inventor of carrying out his invention. Various modifications, however, will remain readily apparent to those skilled in the art, since the generic principles of the present invention have been defined herein specifically to provide a Handheld Motorized Facial Brush Having Three Floating Heads. 
         [0021]    The present invention can best be understood by initial consideration of  FIG. 1 . 1    FIG. 1  is a front perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the handheld motorized facial brush having floating heads  10  of the present invention. While it is entitled “brush,” it must be understood that the device  10  can comprise a plurality of brushes as shown, but also sponges, silicone massaging elements, and other treatment elements.  1  As used throughout this disclosure, element numbers enclosed in square brackets [ ] indicates that the referenced element is not shown in the instant drawing figure, but rather is displayed elsewhere in another drawing figure. 
         [0022]    The device  10  has two main parts or assemblies: the main housing  12 , within which the power supply and drive motor are housed (and the controllers/displays therefor), and the treatment head assembly  14 , which receives rotational input from the drive motor (not shown) through the motor drive interface  16  extending from the main housing  12 . 
         [0023]    The main housing  12  preferably has a charging socket at its tip  18  to charge the internal batteries. Control switch  20  allows the user to turn on and off the operating features of the device  10 . The device  10  may provide rotational output at the treatment head assembly  14 , as well as oscillating motion, and simple vibration of the assembly  14  (or some combination of these features, depending on user selection by the control switch  20 ). The indicator lights  22  provide the user with a display indicating the operating mode of the device, and perhaps the battery/charging status. 
         [0024]    The treatment head assembly  14  receives rotational or oscillating input from the motor drive interface  16 . Gearing within the treatment head base  22  transfers the mechanical input from the interface  16  and splits it into the three microheads  24  shown, so that the microheads  24  rotate in direction “M” (or oscillate, etc.). The treatment head base  22  remains stationary while the microheads  24  move, however, the interface  16  may allow for the treatment head assembly  14  to pivot or float relative to the main housing  12 , in order that the microheads  24  can more adequately follow the contours of the user&#39;s face. The structure facilitating the pivoting/floating will be selected from one of the designs disclosed in the Parent Application—the disclosures therein being incorporated herein by reference.  FIG. 2  provides additional detail regarding this novel device  10 . 
         [0025]      FIG. 2  is a rear perspective view of the device  10  of  FIG. 1 . Here, sponge microheads  24 A have been installed on the base  22 . Sponges  24 A may be preferred where a less aggressive massage/conditioning experience is desired. A pivot subassembly  26  (from the Parent Application) extends from the top of the housing through the shoulder face  28 . The pivot subassembly  26  will permit the base  22  to tilt/float in direction “P,” when the device  10  has the integrated pivot assembly  26  (an optional feature). The electrical socket  13  is preferably provided at the tip  18  of the main housing  12 .  FIG. 3  provides additional detail regarding the features of this invention. 
         [0026]      FIG. 3  are perspective and cutaway side views of the treatment head assembly  22  of the device [ 10 ] of  FIGS. 1 and 2 . In this depiction, brush microheads  24 B have been attached to the base  22  of the assembly  14 . The pivot assembly  26  extends from the rear housing  30 B and terminates in interlock sleeve  32 . The interlock sleeve  32  is cooperatively designed to be attachable to a corresponding structure extending from the shoulder face [ 28 ] of the main housing [ 12 ]. A twist-lock and twist-unlock design has been found to be suitable for this structure, however other designs that do not permit rotation between the housing [ 12 ] and the treatment head assembly  14  are also likely to be acceptable. 
         [0027]    The interlock sleeve  32  may have interlock slots  34  formed therein (to interact with structure on the housing [ 12 ]. Drive shaft  36  is centered within the interlock sleeve  32 . The drive shaft  36  engages the motor drive interface [ 16 ] such that motion of the motor drive (not shown) will also drive the shaft  36  to cause the microheads [ 24 ] to rotate/oscillate/vibrate. 
         [0028]    The microheads  24 B extend from the front housing  30 A, and are comprised of a plurality of bristle elements  40  extending from a microhead base  38 . Whether the microheads are sponge, silicone or other structure, they all have the same microhead base  38  (at least as it applies to their engagement with the drive mechanism described in  FIG. 4 . 
         [0029]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the treatment head base  22  of  FIG. 3 . The front housing  30 A has a plurality of microhead receptacles  42  formed in it. Each receptacle  42  has a recessed micro face  46 , which is sized to accept the microhead base [ 38 ] within it. Centered on each face  46  is a microdrive socket  44 . The microdrive sockets  44  all rotate/oscillate/vibrate “M” in response to the input from the drive system [ 49 ] of  FIG. 5 . 
         [0030]      FIG. 5  is a cutaway side view of the motor and battery components of the device of  FIGS. 1 and 2 . These components collectively make up the drive subsystem  49 . An electric drive motor  48  is mechanically connected to drive gear assembly  50  which translates the rotational output of the motor  48  shaft into rotation/oscillation/vibration in the appropriate magnitude and speed. The resultant mechanical motion is tranferred to the treatment head assembly through the motor drive interface [ 16 ] (within the interlock sleeve  32 ). 
         [0031]    Control switch  20  activates the different operational modes of the drive motor  48 . The internal batteries  52  power the motor  48 . The batteries  52  are recharged by charging probe  54 , which extends through the electrical socket [ 13 ] at the tip [ 18 ] of the main housing [ 12 ]. 
         [0032]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of a conventional rotary shaver head assembly  60 , that is provided in order to highlight an essential structural distinction between the prior art devices and the facial treatment device [ 10 ] of the present invention. For safety reasons, the rotating cutter blades  64  are each covered by a stationary face element  62 . The face elements  62  are formed with perforations (slots or holes) through them so that the cutter blades  64  do not actually come in contact with the user&#39;s skin as they rotate or oscillate (which would of course cut the user&#39;s skin). While the user&#39;s hair is intended to protrude through the perforations, the face elements  62  are not activated to move by the shaver motor.  FIGS. 7A-7C  illuminate the contrast between these stationary face elements  62  and the moving face elements of Applicant&#39;s claimed design. 
         [0033]      FIGS. 7A-7B  are perspective views of preferred embodiments of the members of the group of microheads attachable to the device [ 10 ] of  FIG. 1 . The bristle brush microheads  24  each define a face  25  composed of the ends of the brush bristles (for cleansing and massaging the skin). The sponge microheads  24 A each define a face  25 A composed of the sponge material (for applying lotions or creams to the skin). The silicone microheads  24 B each define a face  25 B that is coated with a silicone material (for smoothing and massaging the skin). Unlike the faces  62  of the shaver head assembly  60 , each of these faces  25 ,  25 A,  25 B are driven to move by the internal drive motor [ 48 ]. The motion of the microheads  24 ,  24 A,  24 B is synchronous rotation, oscillation or vibration (very small incremental movements) that allow the user to massage/cleanse/treat their skin. 
         [0034]    Those skilled in the art will appreciate that various adaptations and modifications of the just-described preferred embodiment can be configured without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. Therefore, it is to be understood that, within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced other than as specifically described herein.