Patent Publication Number: US-11382466-B1

Title: Active flow facial cleanser

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention pertains generally to facial cleansing machines. More specifically, the present invention pertains to at-home, facial hydrating and cleansing machines. The invention is particularly, but not exclusively, useful as an at-home, facial hydrating and cleansing machine with active flow and flow control. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     In the past, facial cleansing and microdermabrasion was only available to consumers at spas at an expensive price. A few at-home machines have been designed and sold on the market, but the machines are too abrasive for everyday use and did not use active flow, which allows for the amount of serum flowing through and out of the system to be changed according to preference. 
     The machines previously sold had one pump that would run the entire system and resulted in no flow control—if serum was used, the amount could not vary based on the user&#39;s preference and it was often too much serum or not enough. This has cost consumers a good deal of money to get the proper facial treatment by either being treated at a professional spa, buying different machines with different rates of flow, or causing damage or discomfort to their face in an attempt to hydrate and cleanse. With this consistent and higher frequency use, the tubing and other parts of the system could become dirty and clogged. 
     The present invention is an at-home, facial hydrating and cleansing machine that has active flow-control of serum separate from control of the suction employed by the system. Because the device is configured to be gentle, it is able to be used by the customer far more often than other facial machines. With the increased use, flow-control tips can increase the output of serum or decrease to the point of complete turnover of the serum through the tubing to the waste container such as a cleaning tip or configuration on the base to allow for an efficient cleaning process. 
     In view of the above, it can be an object of the present invention to provide independent flow of the serum to prevent the facial hydration and cleansing treatment from being dry, painful, or too abrasive. Yet another object of the present invention can be to provide a non-suction tip to prevent the system from allowing inadequate serum-face contact time for hydration and cleansing. Still another object of the present invention can be to provide flow-control directly to the consumer through a button-controlled valve to prevent the facial hydration and cleansing treatment from being dry, painful, or too abrasive. Another object of the present invention can be to provide a tip or configuration that controls the flow of serum or liquid and redirects it directly to the waste container for use in a cleaning mode. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     A device for at-home, facial hydrating and cleansing with flow-control. In some embodiments, the device is created with a liquid pump in addition to the traditional air pump in order to force liquid through the system independent of the vacuum rate of the waste. 
     In other embodiments, there is a valve within the system that can be button-activated by the consumer to allow more liquid to flow through the system. In further embodiments, a non-suction tip can be used to prevent the system from sucking the liquid into the waste container without adequate serum-face contact time. In still other embodiments, a full-suction tip can be provided to prevent the discharge of any liquid other than into the waste container for maximum liquid-system contact and to allow localized suction therapy. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The novel features of the present invention will be best understood from the accompanying drawings, taken in conjunction with the accompanying description, in which similarly-referenced characters refer to similarly-referenced parts, and in which: 
         FIG. 1  can be a frontal elevational view of the system with the cover removed according to several embodiments of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  can be a side elevational view of the device of  FIG. 1  with the serum jar removed from the base; 
         FIG. 3A  can be an exploded side view of the serum jar from  FIG. 2 , which shows the manner in which one embodiment of the serum jar is sealed; 
         FIG. 3B  can be an exploded side view of the serum jar from  FIG. 2 , which shows the manner in which a second embodiment of the serum jar is sealed; 
         FIG. 4A  can be a cross-sectional view of the device of  FIG. 1  taken along line  4 - 4  in  FIG. 1 , which shows the manner in which one embodiment of the device is assembled; 
         FIG. 4B  can be a magnified view of the  4 B area of  FIG. 4A ; 
         FIG. 5  can be a block diagram of the device showing the components and wiring according to several embodiments of the present invention; 
         FIG. 6  can be a side elevational view of the liquid side of the device of  FIG. 1  according to several embodiments of the present invention; 
         FIG. 7A  can be a cross-sectional view of the wand of  FIG. 6  taken along line  7 - 7  in  FIG. 6 , which shows the manner in which the wand can be connected to the tubing of the device according to several embodiments of the present invention; 
         FIG. 7B  can be a magnified view of the  7 B area of  FIG. 7A ; 
         FIG. 8  can be a side elevational view of the of the junk side of the device of  FIG. 1  according to several embodiments of the present invention; 
         FIG. 9  can be a cross-sectional view of the device of  FIG. 1  taken along line  9 - 9  in  FIG. 1 , which shows the manner in which one embodiment of the device is assembled; 
         FIG. 10  can be a block diagram that can be illustrative of steps that can be taken to practice the methods according to several embodiments of the present invention; 
         FIG. 11A  can be a block diagram that can be illustrative of steps that can be taken to practice the methods according to an alternative embodiment of the present invention; and 
         FIG. 11B  can be a block diagram that can be illustrative of steps that can be taken to practice the methods according to yet another alternative embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring now to the Figures, a device for mounting an object to be protected on a surface according to several embodiments of the present invention can be shown and generally designated by reference character  1000 , as shown in  FIG. 1 . The base  000  houses the internal components of the system  1000 . The base  000  can be a plastic housing with a cover  001  for aesthetics. The base  000  can be of a cylindrical shape about eight (8) inches tall with a diameter of four (4) inches, or of similar shape, size, or volume. The base  000  houses all components of the system  1000 . The base  000  can have a quick release button  020 , which can release a serum jar  100  from the base  000  and holds serum  104 . The base  000  can have a power button  005 , an increase flow button  031 , a decrease flow button  032 , an increase suction button  531 , and a decrease suction button  532 . The power button  005 , the increase flow button  031 , the decrease flow button  032 , the increase suction button  531 , and the decrease suction button  532  can be connected to a motherboard  600  by a bundle of wires  003  at a pin  603  (see  FIG. 5 ). The base  000  can also house a junk jar  400 , a wand  300 , which has a tip  310 , a liquid pump tubing  250 , and an air pump tubing  350 . The base  000  can be configured to hold the wand  300  in a wand slot  012 . The wand slot  012  can retain the wand  300  due to gravity or by using a press fit or mechanical restraint. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 2 , the serum jar  100  can be inserted into the base  000  at a connection point  010  with a two-port connector  110 . The serum jar  100  can be of a size to hold approximately two (2) ounces of serum  104 . The serum jar  100  can be made of various materials such as plastic or glass and can be transparent, translucent, or opaque depending on the serum&#39;s  104  properties regarding light, UV, and others or based on cost efficiency. 
     The Serum jar  100  can be sealed with a cap  102 , as shown in  FIG. 3A , or a foil seal  101  and the cap  102 , as shown in  FIG. 3B  for transportation and storage. Referring again to  FIG. 2 , to prevent leakage or spillage of the serum during installation, connection point  010  can be configured to pierce the foil seal  101  of the serum jar  100  (shown in  FIGS. 3A and 3B ), or the two-port connector  110  can be configured with a mechanical valve  103  that opens after installation of the serum jar  100  to the base  000 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 4B , to connect the serum jar  100  to the base  000  at the connection point  010 , the two-port connector  110  can be used. The two-port connector  110  can attach to the serum jar  100  via an airtight interface  112 , which can be a threaded, bonded, or quick connect interface. The connector  110  can be cleaned or sterilized and reused with multiple serum jars  100 , which can be cleaned and reused as well. Also shown in  FIG. 4B , connector  110  can have a port  116  which will allow the serum  104  to flow in the system  1000  in direction  25 , while a port  118  of connector  110  will allow air  106  to flow in direction  75  into the serum jar  100  to balance the pressure within the serum jar  100 . This can eliminate the opportunity of a vacuum and an unnecessary load being created and placed on the system  1000 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 5 , connection point  010  from  FIG. 4B  can be manufactured with a serum jar sensor  030 . The serum jar sensor  030  can be connected to the motherboard  600  by a wire  638  at pin  639  to prevent using the system  1000  unless a serum jar  100  is fully and properly inserted into the base  000  at connection point  010 . 
     Referring still to  FIG. 5 , the base  000  can also be configured with a serum level sensor  040  that can send a signal to the motherboard  600  through a wire  636  to pin  637  if the serum  104  drops below a certain level  045  (depicted in  FIG. 4B ) to prevent use of the system  1000  without an adequate amount of serum  104 . Alternatively, a serum pump voltage sensor  041  can be installed which is on the motherboard  600 , and if the voltage pulled by the liquid pump  200  increases to a level that indicates that there is no liquid being pumped by the liquid pump  200 , the motherboard  600  can prevent current from being sent to the liquid pump  200  so as to protect the liquid pump 
     The serum jar  100  can be connected to the liquid pump  200  by means of a serum tube  150 . The liquid pump  200  can connect to a wand  300  by the liquid pump tubing  250  which can transport serum  104  to the wand  300 . The liquid pump tubing  250  can have a valve  275  for flow control in line between the liquid pump  200  and the wand  300 . The liquid pump  200  can operate at low voltage such as 12 VDC or less. The liquid pump  200  will receive power from the motherboard  600  through a wire  644  which connects to pin  645 . The motherboard  600  can send different levels of voltage to the liquid pump  200  to change the amount of serum  104  that is pumped by the liquid pump  200 . The level of voltage sent to the liquid pump  200  by the motherboard  600  can be increased with the increase flow button  031  or decreased with the decrease flow button  032  which are connected to the motherboard by the wire bundle  003  at the pin  603 . 
     Still referring to  FIG. 5 , the wand  300  can be configured with a proximity sensor  330  to send a signal to the motherboard  600  through a wire  618  connected to the motherboard  600  at pin  619  when a desired surface is within range which allows the motherboard  600  to send voltage to the system  1000  or control how much voltage is sent. The wand  300  can also be configured to house controls for operation  342 , lighting for treatment  343 , indicator lighting  344 , massage vibrators  345 , and indicator vibrators  346 . 
     The lighting for treatment  343  can be an LED, or light emitting diode, therapy, which is a skincare treatment that uses varying wavelengths of light, such as red and blue light. Red light can target oil glands to reduce cytokines, which cause inflammation and play a role in chronic acne. It can also boost blood flow while spurring the production of collagen and adenosine triphosphate (ATP), improving skin tone and texture. It can also give off infrared light, with a wavelength of 880 nm which can work in combination with red light, with a wavelength of 660 nm, to create a regenerating effect in aging skin. This light has a longer wavelength, enabling it to penetrate deeper into the skin than blue light. 
     Blue light therapy can penetrate the pores and eliminate bacteria by stimulating the production of oxygen radicals. While some bacteria are helpful, others promote oil production and other blemish-causing conditions. Blue light can activate chemicals inside these bacteria, which ruptures their outer walls, destroying the cell and their ability to form acne and other imperfections. Both wavelengths do so without damaging the skin. 
     The wand  300  is connected to a junk jar  400  by the air pump tubing  350  which transports serum  104  and debris  395  (shown in  FIG. 8 ), which have combined to become a junk  404 , removed from the desired surface to the junk jar  400 . 
     In reference to  FIG. 5  still, the base  000  can be configured with a junk jar sensor  430 . The junk jar sensor  430  can be connected to the motherboard  600  by a wire  626  at a pin  627  to prevent using the system  1000  unless a junk jar  400  is fully and properly inserted into the base  000 . The base  000  can also be configured with a junk level sensor  440  connected to the motherboard  600  by a wire  628  at a pin  629  that can send a signal to the motherboard  600  if the junk  404  reaches or exceeds a certain level  445  to prevent use of the system  1000  with too high of an amount of junk  404  (see  FIG. 9 ), which could cause damage to the system  1000  by pulling liquid into an air pump  500 . 
     Junk jar sensor  430  and junk level sensor  440  can, in another embodiment, be accomplished using a float and magnet system and a hall effect sensor. This can be done by placing a float on the lower end of a v-shaped element and a magnet at the upper end of the v-shaped element. At the point of the v-shaped element, the v-shaped element can be pivotably attached within the junk jar  400 . In order for the motherboard  600  to send voltage to the air pump  500  which removes the junk  404 , the magnet will need to be in readable range of a hall sensor placed within the base  000 , which will occur when the junk jar  400  is connected to the base  000 . 
     As the level of junk  404  within the junk jar  400  rises, the float with rise causing the magnet to lower. As the magnet lowers it will become closer to a hall effect sensor placed within the base  000  which will sense its proximity. Once the level of junk  404  reaches full inside the junk jar  400 , the magnet will reach a certain proximity to the hall effect sensor which will send a signal to the motherboard  600  and cease voltage from being sent to the air pump  500 . 
     The junk jar  400  is connected to the air pump  500  by an air tubing  450 . The air pump  500  applies suction to the system  1000  through the air tubing  450 . The air pump  500  can operate at low voltage such as 12 VDC or less. The air pump  500  will receive power from the motherboard  600  through a wire  646  connected at a pin  647 . The motherboard  600  can send different levels of voltage to the air pump  500  to change the amount of suction that is applied to the desired surface. The level of voltage sent to the air pump  500  by the motherboard  600  can be increased with the increase suction button  531  or decreased with the decrease suction button  532  which are connected to the motherboard by the wire bundle  003  at the pin  603 . 
     The air pump  500  can connect to a muffler  550  by means of tubing  525 . The muffler  550  can decrease the sound of the exhaust of the air pump  500  and the system  1000  in general. The muffler  550  exhausts to ambient air  1200  within the base  000 . 
     Referring still to  FIG. 5 , the motherboard  600  can receive direct current power from a power adapter  650  through a wire  648  connected to the motherboard  600  at pin  649 . The power adapter  650  can connect to 120V alternating current found in a residential electrical system by the power adapter  650 . The motherboard  600  can send power to the wand  300  by a wire  642  connected to the motherboard  600  at pin  643 . 
     Lastly, the motherboard  600  can be manufactured with a Wi-Fi/Bluetooth module  660  that can connect to a Wi-Fi signal or Bluetooth device. 
     As shown in  FIG. 6 , a coupling  210  will secure the liquid pump  200  using a fastener screw  211 , which will attach the liquid pump  200  to the base  000 .  FIG. 6  shows the liquid or serum delivery part of the system  1000 , meaning all of the components that contribute to delivery of the serum  104  or cleansing liquid to the wand  300  and eventually to the desired skin surface to be cleansed in some embodiments. 
     As shown in  FIG. 7A , the liquid pump tubing  250  extends to a distal end  305  of the wand  300 . The tip  310  can be connected to the distal end  305  of the wand  300  to better apply the suction of the system  1000  to the desired surface. The liquid pump tubing  250  can deliver the serum  104  through a hole  312  in the tip  310  onto the desired surface, as shown in  FIG. 7B . Tip  310  can also have a second hole  314  that leads to the air pump tubing  350  which has a suction applied by the system  1000 . Serum  104  and debris  395 , such as dirt, can combine to become the junk  404 . The junk  404  is removed from the desired surface through the hole  314  and into the air pump tubing  350  and eventually to the junk jar  400 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 8 , a bracket  510  and a second fastener screw  212  will secure the air pump  500  to base  000 .  FIG. 8  shows the disposal or junk part of the system  1000 , meaning all of the components that contribute to removal of debris  395  and used serum  104  or cleansing liquid or delivery of the junk  404  from the wand  300  to the junk jar  400  according to several embodiments of the present invention. 
     Referring to  FIG. 9  now, the base  000  can have a connection point  011  where the junk jar  400  can connect to the base  000  via an airtight interface  412 , which can be a threaded, bonded, or quick connect interface. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 10 , a block diagram  900  is shown that can be illustrative of steps that can be taken to practice the methods of the invention according to several embodiments. The methods can be accomplished using the structure and cooperation of structure cited above. As shown in  FIG. 7 , the steps taken can include the step of filling a first jar with a cleansing liquid, as illustrated by step  902 . The methods can further include the step of installing the first jar into a device, as shown by step  904 . Another step can be installing a second jar into the device, as shown in step  906  in  FIG. 7 . Additionally, the methods can include the step of turning the device on, as illustrated by step  908 . The methods can further include the step of placing a wand  300  on the desired skin surface, as shown by step  910 . Step  912  can be moving the wand  300  around the desired skin surface. Another step can be adjusting the flow of cleansing liquid dispensed from the wand  300  onto the desired skin surface, as shown by step  914 . Step  916  can be adjusting the amount of suction force applied to the desired skin surface. 
     Another embodiment can include the step of turning on an infusion enhancer, as shown in step  932  of block diagram  930  in  FIG. 11A , that increases the efficiency with which the serum infuses into the desired surface. Alternatively, as shown in block diagram  940  of  FIG. 11B , another embodiment can include the step of turning off the device, as shown in step  942 . The method can further include the step of placing a cleaner tip on the wand  300 , as shown in step  944 . Lastly, the method can include the step of turning on the device, as shown in step  946  of  FIG. 11B . 
     During the self-cleaning cycle of step  946 , the tip can be a sealed tip placed on the wand  300  during step  944  which send cleansing liquid directly from the first hole  312  back into the second hole  314  and through the rest of the system  1000 . Both the liquid pump  200  and the air pump  500  can be in operation to ensure the best cleansing of the system  1000 . In an alternative embodiment, the base  000  can be configured to hold the wand  300  and directly connect the first hold  312  to the second hold  314  causing the cleansing liquid to run directly through the system  1000  while cleaning it without expulsion out of the wand  300 . 
     The use of the terms “a” and “an” and “the” and similar references in the context of describing the invention (especially in the context of the following claims) is to be construed to cover both the singular and the plural, unless otherwise indicated herein or clearly contradicted by context. The terms “comprising,” “having,” “including,” and “containing” are to be construed as open-ended terms (i.e., meaning “including, but not limited to,”) unless otherwise noted. Recitation of any ranges of values herein are merely intended to serve as a shorthand method of referring individually to each separate value falling within the range, unless otherwise indicated herein, and each separate value is incorporated into the specification as if it were individually recited herein. All methods described herein can be performed in any suitable order unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context. The use of any and all examples, or exemplary language (e.g., “such as”) provided herein, is intended merely to better illuminate the invention and does not pose a limitation on the scope of the invention unless otherwise claimed. No language in the specification should be construed as indicating any non-claimed element as essential to the practice of the invention. 
     Several embodiments of this invention are described herein, including the best mode known to the inventors for carrying out the invention. Variation of those several embodiments may become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon reading the foregoing description. The inventors expect skilled artisans to employ such variations as appropriate, and the inventors intend for the invention to be practiced otherwise than as specifically described herein. Accordingly, this invention includes all modifications and equivalents of the subject matter recited in the claims appended hereto as permitted by applicable law. Moreover, any combination of the above-described elements in all possible variation thereof is encompassed by the invention unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context.