Abstract:
A facial treatment apparatus includes a housing, a facial treatment member mounted to the housing, and dimensioned for application to facial skin of a subject and being actuable to treat the facial skin, a visual display including a facial icon having a plurality of regions corresponding to different areas of the facial skin to be treated by the facial treatment member, an electronic timer adapted to count time associated with a treatment protocol and responsive to actuation of the facial treatment member and a controller associated with the timer and the facial icon and cooperating to visually identify a different region of the facial icon at successive predetermined time intervals of the treatment protocol.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     Technical Field 
     The present disclosure relates to a skin treatment apparatus, and, in particular, relates to a facial brush or cleanser apparatus having cyclic treatment capabilities with visual icons or indicia to assist the user in operation and use of the apparatus. 
     Facial brush devices for cleaning and/or facial massage are known in the art. These devices typically incorporate a head having bristles, which vibrate or oscillate during activation to engage the skin and apply a cleanser, to exfoliate, to massage etc. An example of a facial brush is the commercially available Power Facial Cleanser, Model 3710, manufactured by CONAIR of Stamford, Conn., which is a battery-operated, two speed cleaning system. 
     SUMMARY 
     Accordingly, the present disclosure is directed to further improvements in facial brush apparatuses, particularly, handheld facial brushes, massagers or cleaners. In accordance with one embodiment, a facial treatment apparatus includes a housing, a facial treatment member mounted to the housing, and dimensioned for application to facial skin of a subject and being actuable to treat the facial skin, a visual display including a facial icon having a plurality of regions corresponding to different areas of the facial skin to be treated by the facial treatment member, a timer adapted to count time associated with a treatment protocol and responsive to actuation of the facial treatment member and a controller associated with the timer and the facial icon and cooperating to visually identify a different region of the facial icon at successive predetermined time intervals of the treatment protocol. 
     The visual display may include a time indicator associated with the timer and adapted to identify time associated with the treatment protocol. In one embodiment, the time indicator is adapted to display time remaining in the treatment protocol. 
     The visual display may include a mode indicator for indicating a mode of the treatment protocol corresponding to a select predetermined time interval of the treatment protocol. The treatment protocol may include at least three different predetermined time intervals corresponding to at least three modes of the treatment protocol. In embodiments, the treatment protocol may include six different predetermined time intervals corresponding to six modes of the treatment protocol. Each of the predetermined time intervals of the modes may be substantially equal. 
     A manual actuator is mounted to the housing and in electrical communication with a motor for actuating the facial treatment member. The manual actuator is activated to selectively control operation of the motor between two different speeds. 
     In another embodiment, a facial treatment apparatus includes a housing, a facial treatment member mounted to the housing, and dimensioned for application to facial skin of a subject, and being actuable to treat the facial skin, a visual display including a facial icon mounted to the housing and having first and second regions corresponding to respective first and second areas of the facial skin to be treated by the facial treatment member, a timer adapted to count time associated with a treatment protocol and responsive to actuation of the facial treatment member, and a controller associated with the timer and the facial icon and cooperating to visually identify the first and second regions of the facial icon during respective first and second modes of the treatment protocol. The visual display further may include a mode indicator adapted to respectively display the first and second modes of the treatment protocol. The visual display further may include a time indicator adapted to display time associated with the treatment protocol. 
     The facial treatment apparatus of the present disclosure includes a visual display, which enhances functionality of the apparatus by guiding the user in treating select regions of the face for predetermined time intervals. Moreover, the treatment apparatus automatically changes between modes of a treatment protocol to ensure the user treats the entire facial area. Time associated with the treatment protocol and the operational status of the treatment element is displayed by the visual display. 
     Other advantages of the present invention are detailed hereinbelow. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Embodiment(s) of the present disclosure will be more readily appreciated by reference to the drawings wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the facial treatment apparatus in accordance with the principles of the present disclosure illustrating the base and the handheld member mounted to the base; 
         FIG. 2  is a rear elevation view of the facial treatment apparatus; 
         FIG. 3  is a side elevation view of the handheld member of the facial treatment apparatus; 
         FIG. 4  is an enlarged view of the visual display of the facial treatment apparatus; 
         FIG. 5  is a flow diagram illustrating functioning components of the facial treatment apparatus; and 
         FIGS. 6A-6F  are views of the visual display during a treatment protocol of the facial treatment apparatus. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 1-4 , the facial treatment apparatus  10  in accordance with the principles of the present disclosure is illustrated. The facial treatment apparatus  10  includes a base  12  and a handheld member  14  which is mountable to the base  12 . The base  12  may reside on a support surface and defines a receptacle  16  for reception of the end of the handheld member  14 . The base  12  may include a charging unit with electrical contacts for charging the handheld member, and may be connected to a standard A/C outlet through an electric cord  18 . 
     The handheld member  14  includes an outer housing or frame  20  and a facial treatment element  22  mounted to one end of the frame  20 . The other end of the frame  20  opposing the facial treatment element  22  is dimensioned for reception within the receptacle  16  of the base  14 , and may include electrical contacts for coupling with the electrical contacts of the base  12 . The handheld member  14  may include a manual actuator  24  in the form of a button or switch for activating the facial treatment element  22 . 
     The facial treatment element  22  may include a plurality of bristles  26  which may move relative to the frame  20 . In one embodiment, the bristles  26  are adapted to oscillate, e.g., concurrently, and may be mounted to a single plate or disc within the frame  20 . The single plate or disc may be translated or reciprocated by an internal motor. In other embodiments, the bristles  26  may be adapted to rotate. Alternatively, the facial treatment element  22  may be a foam or cloth pad, which may oscillate, rotate or vibrate. The facial treatment element  22  may be releasably couplable to the frame  20  to permit interchanging of other facial treatment elements  22 . 
     As best depicted in  FIGS. 2 and 4 , the frame  20  further includes a visual display  28  disposed on the rear of the frame  20 , e.g. on the opposed side of the facial treatment element  22 . The visual display  28  may include an LCD or other suitable illumination means. The visual display  28  may include three primary components, namely a facial icon  30 , a time indicator  32  and a mode indicator  34 . The facial icon  30  is representative of the face of a user, and may be in the form of e.g., a head or face of a woman. The facial icon  30  may include at least two regions, which correspond to areas of the face to be treated in accordance with a treatment protocol of the facial treatment apparatus  10 —as will be discussed in greater detail hereinbelow. In one embodiment, the facial icon  30  includes six (6) regions. The timer indicator  32  and the mode indicator  34  include numeric characters and represent time remaining in the treatment protocol and the particular mode of treatment, respectively. The visual display  28  also may include a motor status indicator  36  which identifies operating speed (e.g., hi vs. low) and pause indicator  38  of the facial treatment element  22 . 
     The facial icon  30 , timer indicator  32  and the mode indicator  34  of the visual display  28  may be illuminated, highlighted and/or darkened via the LCD to identify to the user the respective operational states of these components. Although the visual display  28  is described as being incorporated within the frame  20  of the handheld member  14 , in the alternative, the visual display  28  may be incorporated within the base  12  of the facial treatment apparatus  10 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 5 , further details of the operating components of the facial treatment apparatus  10  will be discussed. The facial treatment apparatus  10  utilizes one or more controllers  40  to receive various information and transform the received information to generate an output. The controller  40  may include any type of computing device, computational circuit, software, logic or any type of processor or processing circuit  42  capable of executing a series of instructions that are stored in a memory. The controller  40  may include multiple processors  42  and/or multicore central processing units (CPUs) and may include any type of processor, such as a microprocessor, digital signal processor, microcontroller, or the like. The controller  40  may also include a memory  44  to store data and/or algorithms to perform a series of instructions. The memory  44  may include a mechanism that provides (e.g., stores and/or transmits) information in a form readable by a machine such as a processor, computer, or a digital processing device. The controller  40  further includes a timer  46 , e.g., an electronic timer, which times a sequence of a treatment protocol. 
     The controller  40  controls operation of the motor or drive  48  of the handheld member  14  to activate/deactivate the facial treatment element  22  and to control functioning of the visual display  28  in accordance with a predefined treatment protocol. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 4, 5 and 6A-6F , the treatment protocol  100  of the facial treatment apparatus  10  will be described.  FIG. 4  illustrates the visual display  28  in an inactive or charging mode, e.g., when the handheld member  14  is positioned properly within the base  12 . To initiate the treatment protocol  100 , the handheld member  14  is removed from the base  12 , and the manual actuator  24  is activated via manual manipulation, e.g., through depression or sliding of the actuator  24 . A signal is sent to the controller  40 , which, in turn activates the LCD of the visual display  28 .  FIG. 6A  depicts the first mode of operation in accordance with the treatment protocol. In the first mode, the first section or region  102  of the facial icon  30  is activated or illuminated thereby instructing the user to apply the facial treatment element  22  to the corresponding region of the user&#39;s face. In the first mode, the mode indicator  34  displays the number  1  and the total treatment time is depicted in the timer indicator  32 . In one embodiment, the total treatment time is ninety (90) seconds, and the number “90” appears in the timer indicator  32 . The facial treatment apparatus  10  runs in the first mode for a predetermined time interval, which, in one embodiment is fifteen (15) seconds. Thus, the timer  46  of the controller  40  will count down from ninety (90) seconds to seventy-five (76) seconds and display the corresponding time remaining in the treatment protocol on the timer indicator  32 . 
       FIG. 6B  illustrates the second mode of operation. The second mode of operation is automatically activated upon finishing the first mode, e.g., upon elapsing of fifteen (15) seconds of the predetermined time interval. In the second mode, the second section or region  104  of the facial icon  30  is illuminated, darkened or highlighted thereby instructing the user to apply the facial treatment element  22  to the corresponding region of the user&#39;s face. Upon initiating the second mode, the number  2  is displayed by the mode indicator  34  and the time remaining of the total treatment time is displayed, e.g., seventy-five (75) seconds, in the timer indicator  32 . The timer indicator  32  incrementally displays the numbers “75” to “61” representative of the time remaining in the treatment protocol. 
       FIG. 6C  depicts the third mode of operation, which is automatically activated upon elapsing of the predetermined time interval of the second mode, e.g., fifteen (15) seconds. In the third mode, the third region  106  of the facial icon  30  is highlighted thereby instructing the user to apply the facial treatment element  22  to the corresponding region of the user&#39;s face, and the mode indicator  34  displays the number  3 . The time remaining of the total treatment time is displayed, e.g., sixty (60) seconds, in the timer indicator  32 . The timer indicator  32  incrementally displays the numbers “60” to “46” representative of the time remaining in the treatment protocol. 
       FIG. 6D  illustrates the fourth mode of operation where the fourth region  108  of the facial icon  30  is darkened, the number  4  displayed in the mode indicator  34  and the time remaining in the treatment protocol is displayed in the timer indicator  32 , e.g., forty-five (45) seconds. Upon elapsing of the predetermined time interval, e.g., fifteen (15) seconds, the fifth mode of the treatment protocol is activated ( FIG. 6E ) where the fifth region  110  of the facial icon  30  is highlighted or darkened, the number  5  displayed in the mode indicator  34  and the time remaining in the treatment protocol is displayed in the timer indicator  32 , e.g., thirty (30) seconds.  FIG. 6F  depicts the sixth mode of operation, which is activated upon completion of the fifth mode. In the sixth mode, the sixth region  112  of the facial icon  30  is darkened, the number  6  displayed in the mode indicator  34  and the time remaining in the treatment protocol is displayed in the timer indicator  32 , e.g., forty-five (15) seconds. The timer indicator  32  incrementally displays the numbers “15” to “1” representative of the time remaining in the treatment protocol in the sixth mode. At the end of the sixth mode, the visual display  28  and the motor  48  are deactivated. 
     During operation of the apparatus  10 , the motor  48  may be switched between two different speeds by pressing or actuating the manual actuator  24 . For example, upon initial actuation, depression of the manual actuator  24  will initiate the motor  48  and the facial treatment element  22  at a high speed, which will cause the “HI” indicia ( FIG. 4 ) of the motor status  36  to be darkened or highlighted. If the manual actuator  24  is depressed again, the motor  24  and the facial treatment element  22  will operate at a lower speed as controlled via the controller  40  and the “LOW” indicia will be highlighted or darkened within the motor status indicator  36  of the visual display  28 . In certain embodiments, if the manual actuator  24  is depressed again when in the “LOW” mode, the motor  48  and the timer  32  will pause, and the pause indicator “PAUSE” or icon  38  will be highlighted. In the “PAUSE” mode, the visual display  28  may remain activated displaying the mode, the facial region associated with the mode and the time remaining in the treatment protocol. Depressing or actuating the manual actuator  24  again may continue the treatment, when in the “PAUSE” mode, which will initiate the motor  48  and the facial treatment at “HI” speed. In embodiments, if the treatment apparatus  10  is left in the “PAUSE” mode for a predetermined time period, e.g., two (2) minutes, the apparatus  10  will be deactivated and the treatment protocol will be reset. In some embodiments, if the manual actuator  24  is depressed for a period, e.g., one (1) second, the apparatus  10  will be deactivated and the treatment protocol reset. 
     It is also envisioned that upon completion of each mode, the motor  48  and the timer  32  may pause for a predefined period of time, e.g., about 0.5 seconds, before initiating the next successive mode. Other alternatives are also envisioned. For example, the time interval for each mode may be the same or different, and may be for periods longer or shorter than described hereinabove. The time indicator  32  may display time remaining in each mode as opposed to time remaining in the treatment protocol. The regions of the face displayed by the facial icon may be more or less than six regions. 
     The treatment apparatus  10  may be used in conjunction with a cleaner, skin conditioner or ointment, as a massager, as an exfoliating device and/or include any treatment of the face. The treatment apparatus  10  may be adapted for use with other body regions whereby the visual display may incorporate an icon representative of any other body region. 
     The above description and the drawings are provided for the purpose of describing embodiments of the present disclosure and are not intended to limit the scope of the disclosure in any way. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the disclosure. Thus, it is intended that the present disclosure cover the modifications and variations of this disclosure provided they come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.