Patent Publication Number: US-11375794-B1

Title: Device for pulling nose and ear hair

Description:
FIELD 
     The present disclosure relates to personal hair removal devices, systems, and methods, and relates particularly to hair removal from the ears and nose with improved manufacturability, quality, and user interaction. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Management of nose and ear hair is a difficult part of western grooming practices. Limited access, coupled with the inability to see into one&#39;s own nose or ear, makes the process cumbersome at best. The two most culturally accepted methods of hair removal today are cutting the hair close to the skin, or plucking the complete hair from the follicle. The trimming method typically involves expensive motorized shavers. While they effectively remove the bulk of the hair, they leave irritating stubble that requires weekly repeat trimming. Alternatively, pulling the hair solves the problem of irritating stubble and frequency of treatment, but has its own drawbacks. Tweezing is irritating, painful, and often misses hair; while waxing suffers from the expense and inconvenience of going to a salon and paying a technician. 
     Probably the most widely used technique for the removal of ear and nose hair is simply using the forefinger and thumb to pinch the hair and pull it out. This technique is ubiquitous and feels natural. However, limited access to the relatively small cavities of the nose and ears makes it impractical. 
     Therefore, there is a need for the ability to pull the complete hair from its follicle at home without the expense or inconvenience of the salon. 
     One general method for indiscriminately gripping and plucking hair is by the means of a tightly coiled spring. This method has been employed for more than a hundred years and is still in use today. In operation, the spring is rolled on the skin where the hair gets trapped between the coils. The rolling action draws the hair up away from the skin pulling the hair from its root. A very simple yet effective design. Unfortunately, such a device does not lend itself to use in the limited recesses of the ears and nose. 
     A few adaptations of this simple spring device have been contrived to address nose hair. However, none of them have proven sufficiently useful to hold a place in today&#39;s market. U.S. Published Patent Application No. U.S. Pat. No. 2,458,911A (1944) to Kerr discloses such a device. Made to be used either two handed or gripped between the first two fingers and the palm of the hand, the design is complex to manufacture, and method of use unnatural. The action used to put the device into its active (hair gripping) state is parallel to the axis of the spring. This is contrary to the pinching action one would use to pull a hair manually. 
     More recently, U.S. Published Patent Application No. US20140222027A1 to Lucido, and Japanese Patent Publication JP2010259686A (2010) to Yamamura filed for similar inventions. Both of these devices disclose a spring with close windings activated by the act of squeezing like a syringe. This squeezing action opens the coils of the spring allowing the hair to fall between them. The grip is then relaxed to let the coils contract and trap the hair. Both inventors failed to realize that their method of actuation is counter intuitive, squeezing to release the hair, and relaxing the grip to hold the hair for pulling. Also, the method of gripping the device like a syringe is not consistent with the typical process of plucking hairs manually. 
     All the above devices rely on an action parallel to the axis of the cavity of the nose or ear for actuation. This action is not consistent with the manual pulling of hair where the gripping action is exclusively perpendicular to the axis of the cavity. Accordingly, there is a need for a nose hair pulling device which utilizes a natural pinching action to grasp the nose hairs for removal. 
     SUMMARY 
     In general, the present invention provides a device that can be inserted into the nose or ear and remotely actuated to grip and remove hair. 
     One aspect of the disclosure relates to a nose hair puller device that uses a sliding motion to compress a spring. Wherein, a substantially cylindrical actuator shaft of a diameter is surrounded by a helically wound spring. The shaft being composed of a first end with a first end portion and a second end, the first end having a first end portion with a first end diameter that is larger than the shaft diameter. Along a mid-section of the actuator shaft is provided a first grip portion. The helical spring having a first end and a second end is composed to surround the actuator shaft and engage the first end portion of the shaft. A partially cylindrical body is provided with a first end and a second end, with an axial aperture formed therethrough. The actuator shaft is configured to be partially mounted in the axial aperture with the second end of the spring engaging the first end of the body, and configured to slide between an open position and a closed position relative to the body. The partially cylindrical body also includes a cut-out portion exposing the first grip portion of the actuator shaft and forming a second grip portion on the body. The closed position may be achieved by grasping the first grip portion and the second grip portion between a thumb and a finger and sliding the partially cylindrical body towards the first end of the actuator shaft. The shaft and the body may be returned to the open position when the opposing forces of the thumb and the finger are substantially released and the force of the spring moves the body away from the first end of the actuator shaft. 
     Another aspect of the disclosure is a nose hair puller device comprising, a spring actuator having a shaft with a first grip, a spring, and a body with a second grip through which the shaft is constrained to slide from a first position to a second position. In operation the first grip and second grip are grasped between a finger and a thumb. The spring is compressed by relative movement between the first grip and the second grip along the longitudinal direction of the shaft. 
     Another aspect of the disclosure relates to a nose hair puller device using a bendably resilient element for actuation. A helical spring having a first end and a second end is configured to surround a substantially cylindrical actuator shaft. The actuator shaft is provided with a first end, having an end portion that is larger in diameter than the shaft, and a second end slidingly coupled with a body. The body is composed of a first end, and middle portion, and a second end. In assembly, the second end of the shaft and the second end of the body are fixedly coupled, and the first body end is configured to surround the shaft. The middle body portion may be composed of at least one bendably resilient element configured to arc away from the actuator shaft when in an open position. To move the actuator shaft into a closed position the bendably resilient element is configured to be pushed into the actuator shaft, the closed position causing the helical spring to be substantially fully compressed. 
     Yet another aspect of the disclosure relates to a nose hair pulling device configured to be actuated by a pinching force relatively perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the device. Wherein, a spring actuator having a shaft and a spring is axially constrained by a body. The body is composed of a first grip and a second grip. The spring is compressed by relative movement along the longitudinal direction of the shaft caused by relative movement of the spring actuator and the body. This relative movement is caused by forces on the first grip and the second grip, the forces being directed relatively perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the shaft. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       A more complete understanding of the present invention may be derived by referring to the detailed description and claims when considered in connection with the figures. 
         FIGS. 1 a  and 1 b    depict one embodiment of a tweezing device and how it is operated. 
         FIGS. 2 a , 2 b , 2 c , and 2 d    illustrate one method for removing unwanted nose hair. 
         FIGS. 3 a  and 3 b    depict another embodiment of the invention in both its passive and active state. 
         FIGS. 4 a  and 4 b    illustrates another embodiment where the device is actuated by a screwing action. 
         FIGS. 5 a  and 5 b    depicts an embodiment where the device is actuated by an inclining ramp. 
         FIGS. 6 a  and 6 b    depict a direct acting mechanism for actuation of the device. 
         FIGS. 7 a  and 7 b    illustrate a ramping mechanism employed to actuate the device. 
         FIGS. 8 a  and 8 b    depict actuation by means of a toggle action. 
         FIGS. 9 a  and 9 b    depict another embodiment of the device in the passive and active state. 
         FIG. 9 c    illustrates the device of  9   a  and  9   b  in an exploded view showing each component and how they are assembled. 
         FIG. 10  illustrates a spring designed specifically for hair plucking. 
         FIG. 11 a    depicts a magnified cross sectional view of the spring detailing the round profile of the spring wire. 
         FIG. 11 b    depicts a magnified cross sectional view of the spring detailing an ovoid profile of the spring wire. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Reference to the illustrated drawings, and specific language used to describe the same, should not be understood to limit the scope of the invention. Alterations and further modifications of the inventive features illustrated herein, and additional applications of the principles of the inventions as illustrated herein, which would occur to one skilled in the relevant art and having possession of this disclosure, are to be considered within the scope of the invention. 
     The following embodiments of the present invention described herein provide generally for a manually operated device with the purpose of gripping and pulling hairs from the cavities of the nose and ears. The device can be further simplified by describing it as a mechanism for the purpose of remotely compressing a spring. Each of these devices share three primary components: an actuator shaft, a handle, and a tweezing spring. In contrast to all other devices, each of these example embodiments is actuated by either a pinching or combination pinching and sliding force between the forefinger and the thumb. This pinching and sliding action mimics the most natural form of plucking hair and thus makes the device a natural extension to the hand. 
       FIG. 1 a    discloses a hair plucking device  100  in its most basic form. Three parts comprise the assembly with the ultimate purpose of remotely compressing a tweezing spring  102  while it is otherwise inaccessible in the limited space of the nostril or ear canal.  FIG. 1 a    Illustrates an embodiment for this device in a position with the tweezing spring  102  relaxed and the coils open. This position will be hereafter referred to as the “ready position”. In  FIG. 1 b    we see the actuator shaft  101  drawn into the handle body  104  compressing the spring  102 . This position hereafter will be referred to as the “gripping position”. 
     In  FIG. 1 b    the device is brought into the gripping position by pinching and sliding the device between the thumb  182  on a handle body grip  103  ( FIG. 1 a   ), and the forefinger  183  positioned on an actuator shaft grip  107  ( FIG. 1 a   ). This action drives the actuator shaft  101  telescopically into the handle  104  and substantially compresses the spring  102 . 
     In use, operation is rather straight forward. The operator starts ( FIG. 2 a   ) by holding the device  100  lightly between the thumb  182  and the forefinger  183 . The spring end is inserted into the cavity of the nose  181 .  FIG. 2 b    shows the device  100  being activated by applying a pinching/sliding force between the thumb  182  and the finger  183  bringing the spring into its gripping position. While holding the gripping position ( FIG. 2 c   ) the device is rapidly withdrawn from the nose  181  bringing with it all the trapped hair  149 . In the final step ( FIG. 2 d   ), the pinching force is released, the spring  102  is allowed to relax moving the assembly back to its ready position, and the hair  149  is released from the spring  102 . 
       FIG. 3 a    and  FIG. 3 b    show another simple three part embodiment where a handle body  304  is composed of a compliant material, such as plastic, so as to change axial length when pinched on its middle. The device  300  is constructed by threading the spring  102  and the handle  304  onto a shaft  301 . The stationary end of the handle  313  is joined to the stationary end of the shaft  314 . In use, the handle  304  is pinched between the first grip  311  and the second grip  312  forcing the handle  304  to elongate ( FIG. 3 b   ). The free end  315  of the handle  304  travels along the shaft  301  away from the fixed end  313  compressing the spring  102  bringing the device  300  into the gripping position. 
     Another embodiment of the invention is illustrated in  FIG. 4 a    and  FIG. 4 b   . Here a device  400  comprises five unique parts: an actuator shaft  401 , a tweezing spring  102 , a handle body  404 , two actuating levers  405  and  407 , and a follower pin  408 . The handle is equipped with a pivot  409  and a ramping slot  406 . In assembly, the spring  102  is arranged between the shaft  401  and the handle  404  in coaxial engagement. This base assembly is held together by means of the pin  408  passing through the slot  406  and affixed in a hole in the end of the shaft  401 . The two levers  405  and  407  are affixed to either side of the handle  404  by means of the pivot  409 . To operate the device  400  ( FIG. 4 b   ) the levers  405  and  407  are pinched perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the device  400 . As the levers  405  and  407  rotate about the handle pivot  409  they impinge on the pin  408  and drive it through the slot  406 . The ramping nature of the slot  406  guides the pin  408  downward drawing the shaft  401  telescopically into the handle  404  compressing the spring  102  and bringing the device  400  into the gripping position. 
     Another embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in  FIG. 5 a    and  FIG. 5 b   . Here the device  500  includes five unique parts: an actuator shaft  501 , a tweezing spring  102 , a handle body  504 , two ramped actuating levers  505  and  507 , and a follower pin  508 . The handle is equipped with a pivot  509  and a guide slot  506 . In assembly, the spring  102  is arranged between the shaft  501  and the handle  504  in coaxial engagement. This base assembly is held together by means of the pin  508  passing through the slot  506  and affixed in a hole in the end of the shaft  501 . The two levers  505  and  507  are affixed to either side of the handle  504  by means of the pivot  509 . To operate the device  500  the levers  505  and  507  are pinched ( FIG. 5 b   ) perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the device  500 . As the levers  505  and  507  rotate about the handle pivot  509  they impinge on the pin  508 . The ramping profile of the levers  505  and  507  push the pin  508  away from the pivot  509 . Guided by the slot  506  the pin  508  and connected shaft  501  are drawn into the handle  504  compressing the spring  102  and bringing the whole assembly  500  into the gripping position. 
     In previous embodiments the pinching force has been applied to a device substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of action. It may be advantageous to provide a device where the pinching force can be applied at a predetermined angle relative to the action. In  FIG. 6 a    and  FIG. 6 b    a device  600  with an angled grip is shown. This device  600  includes four primary parts: an actuator shaft  601 , a tweezing spring  102 , a handle body  604 , and a trigger  605 . The handle body is composed of a tubular structure with a slot  606  and a butt grip  607 . In assembly the spring  102  is arranged between the shaft  601  and the handle  604  in axial engagement. The trigger  605  is then affixed to the shaft  601  through the slot  606 . To operate ( FIG. 6 b   ), the device  600  is pinched together by the trigger  605  and the butt grip  607 . The trigger  605 , being affixed to the shaft  601 , draws the handle  604  and the shaft  601  together compressing the spring  102  and bringing the device  600  into the gripping position. 
       FIG. 7 a    and  FIG. 7 b    illustrate an embodiment where a screwing action is used to translate a pinching motion to compress a tweezing spring  102 . The device  700  includes four primary parts: an actuating shaft  701 , a tweezing spring  102 , an actuating handle  704 , and a butt handle  708 . In  FIG. 7 b    the actuating handle  704  and the butt handle  708  are provided with a helical ramp  709  and  710  designed to mate with each other, and grip wings  705  and  707  for actuation. The shaft  701  is affixed to the butt handle  708  such that they move together axially. The device  700  is operated by pinching the grip wing  705  of the actuating handle  704  together with the grip wing  707  of the butt handle  708  such that the two drive against each other by means of the helical ramps  709  and  710 . In this manner the shaft  701  is driven down in relation to the actuating handle  704  bringing the spring  102  into a substantially compressed state with the device  700  in the gripping position. 
     Yet another embodiment is exemplified in  FIG. 8 a    and  FIG. 8 b   . In these figures a device  800  is equipped with a toggle mechanism  810 . The device  800  includes an actuator shaft  801 , a tweezing spring  102 , a handle body  804 , and the toggle mechanism  810 . The toggle  810  includes two arms, a primary arm  805  and a secondary arm  807  which are connected to each other by means of a central pivot  803 . The completed assembly  800  is constructed by threading the spring  102  and the handle  408  axially onto the shaft  801 , and connecting the primary  805  and the secondary  807  arms of the toggle  810  to their respective pivots on the handle  809  and the shaft  808 . With the assembly complete the device  800  is gripped by the primary arm  805  and the handle body  804 . When force is applied ( FIG. 8 b   ), the toggle  810  collapses about the central pivot  803 . This action drives the axle pivot  808  and the handle pivot  809  away from each other. As a result, the handle body  804  travels along the shaft  801  and compresses the spring  102  bringing the device  800  into the gripping position. 
     Another embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 9 a   ,  FIG. 9 b   , and  FIG. 9 c    shows how one might add an extra gripping surface to increase stability in operation. As can be seen in  FIG. 9 c   , a device  900  includes five primary components: an actuator shaft  901 , a handle body  904 , a spring  102 , a dowel pin  916  and a trigger  903 . The shaft  901  is equipped with a hole  911 , and the handle  904  provided with a slot  914 . In assembly the spring  102  and handle  904  are brought into axial engagement with the shaft. To secure the assembly  900  together, and provide a means to act upon the shaft  901 , a pin  916  is placed through the slot  914  and the hole  911 . To fix the pin  916  and give the operator a larger gripping area a trigger  903  is provided. The trigger  903  slips onto the handle  904  and traps the pin  916 . 
     To operate the device  900  in  FIG. 9 a    the user grips the device between the thumb on a butt grip  907 , the first finger on a first trigger grip  905 , and the second stabilizing finger on a second trigger grip  906 . In  FIG. 9 b    force is applied to the trigger  903  opposite the butt grip  907  the adjoining trigger  903 , pin  916  and shaft  901  all move relative to the handle  904  compressing the spring  102  and bringing the device  900  into the gripping position. 
     For a device of the present invention to function properly, a purpose built spring  102  must be constructed.  FIG. 10  illustrates a spring where the spring  102  coils, in their ready position exhibit a wire diameter  205  to air gap  201  ratio within the limits of 0.8:1 to 1:1.2. This ratio ensures that the spring deforms as little as necessary when forced into its gripping position. Also outlined in  FIG. 10 , the spring  102  is composed of a start  203  and an end  204 . To minimize gaps between coils when compressed the cross sectional volume of the spring  102  must be substantially balanced. To best balance coil volume in the spring  102  the start  203  and the end  204  should be no less than 330 radial degrees and no more than 360 degrees out of phase in respect to the other. 
     To enhance gripping action and reduce the instance of hair breakage.  FIG. 11 a    and  FIG. 11 b    show the cross section of a spring  102  wound having a round profile  224 , and an alternate design with an ovoid profile  225 . In  FIG. 11 a    the relatively small radius  251  of the round wire profile  224  focuses the plucking stress on a relatively short linear area  254  of the hair  149 . Alternately, the tweezing spring  102  in  FIG. 11 b   , having an ovoid cross section  225 , puts less stress on the hair  149  by spreading the pulling force over a greater linear area  252 . As a result, the pulling force on the hair  149  is not as localized resulting in fewer broken hairs  149 . Furthermore, the relatively small gripping area  254  of the round profile  224  is not as effective as the larger gripping area  255  of the ovoid wire  225 . 
     Finally, the present invention has been described above with reference to various exemplary embodiments. However, many changes, combinations and modifications may be made to the exemplary embodiments without departing from the scope of the present invention. For example, the various components may be implemented in alternate ways. These alternatives can be suitably selected depending upon the particular application or in consideration of any number of factors associated with the operation of the system. In addition, the techniques described herein may be extended or modified for use with other types of devices. These and other changes or modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the present invention.