Patent Publication Number: US-7717925-B2

Title: Epilating apparatus

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims benefit of priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119 to Japanese Patent Application No. 2004-372336, filed on Dec. 22, 2004, the entire contents of which are incorporated by reference herein. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to an epilating apparatus, and in particular, it relates to an epilating apparatus used to extract body hair for beautification and like. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Heretofore, an epilating apparatus has been known, which has a plurality of claws for epilation that is open-close driven on a cylindrical rotating cylinder that is rotationally driven. This epilating apparatus nips hair by the claw portions provided on the rotating cylinder, and pulls out the nipped hair by the rotation of the rotating cylinder to perform an epilating process. 
     In the epilating apparatus, there has been a problem that the rotating cylinder and the claw portion are directly brought into contact with the skin, thereby harming the skin. To solve this problem, as shown in  FIG. 1  or  FIG. 2 , an epilating apparatus is proposed which has a structure where a the skin protection plate  94  is provided so as to cover the outside exposed surface of a rotating cylinder  8 , and a claw portion  5  comprising a movable claw  86  and a fixed claw  88  is exposed from a plurality of opening portions  94   a  formed in this plate  94  (for example, see Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Laid-open No. 2003-47521). 
     However, the epilating apparatus is devised such that the removable claw  86  nips the hair in a state inclined to the fixed claw  88 , and hence, any of claw tip portions of the movable claw  86  and the fixed claw  88  which are portions to nip the hair is linearly formed. In contrast, since the skin protection plate  94  has a shape bent in a reverse U letter, as shown in  FIG. 2 , there develops a gap d between the claw tip portions of the movable claw  86  and the fixed claw  88  and the top portion of the plate  94 . That is, while the epilating apparatus comprises the plate  94  so as to be able to protect the skin, since there exists the gap d between the plate  94  and the claw portion  5 , it is difficult to nip a particularly short hair and perform epilating process, and further, even if it is a long hair, it is difficult to nip the hair from the root. Therefore, there is a problem that irritation during the epilating process becomes strong. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention has been made in view of the above described problems, and an object of the invention is to provide an epilating apparatus, which has a skin protection plate so as to prevent a rotating cylinder and a claw portion from directly contacting the skin, and at the same time, a gap generated between the plate and the claw portion is eliminated so that an epilating process can be performed with high efficiency regardless of the length of the hair with little irritation and without harming the skin. 
     To achieve the object described above, there is provided an epilating apparatus comprising: a cylindrical rotating cylinder having a plurality of claw portions for epilation; a plate having a plurality of opening portions in which the plurality of claw portions are exposed, and covering an outside exposed surface of the rotating cylinder; and driving portions open-close driving the plurality of claw portions while rotationally driving the rotating cylinder so that hairs grasped by the plurality of claw portions are pulled out, wherein the claw tip shape of each claw portion is formed in the shape of a circular arc having a center at the vicinity of the rotational center of the rotating cylinder. 
     In such epilating apparatus, while preventing the rotating cylinder and the claw portion from directly contacting and harming the skin with the plate, the hair is guided from the opening portion provided in the plate, and at the claw portion, the epilating process can be performed. Further, since the opening portion peripheral edge of the plate operates so as to press the peripheral portion of the hair in the skin, thereby squeezing out the hair, it is possible to perform the epilating process with high efficiency. In addition, with the claw tip shape of the claw portion formed in the shape of an circular arc, a generation of gap is prevented between the claw portion and the plate, and therefore, an epilating process can be performed with high efficiency by nipping the hair from the root regardless of the length of the hair with few irritation and without harming the skin. 
     In the preferred embodiment according to the invention, the epilating apparatus is configured such that each claw portion provided in the rotating cylinder is formed by a pair of a fixed claw and a movable claw opposed in the direction of the rotating shaft of the rotating cylinder, and the rotating cylinder comprises a support point portion having a support point part of the open-close operation for the fixed claw of the movable claw and an open-close operating portion connected to the end portion of the movable claw and reciprocally driven in the direction to allow the movable claw to perform the open-close operation. 
     By configuring as described above, since a pitch of nipping the hair can be set small, even if it is a short hair, the hair can be reliably nipped at the hair root, and the epilating process can be performed with high efficiency and with little pain. Moreover, since the configuration capable of assuring such process is simple, it is easy to assemble and can be provided at low cost. 
     In the preferred embodiment according to the invention, the epilating apparatus is configured such that the support point part of the support point portion is provided at a position so that the movable claw when nipping the hair takes a posture in parallel with the fixed claw. 
     According to this configuration, even if both tip end shapes of the movable claw and the fixed claw are not made in the shape of a straight line, but in the shape of a circle arc, it is possible to nip the hair between both claws and perform the epilating process without any problem. 
     In the preferred embodiment according to the invention, the plate is curved along the outer peripheral surface in the rotational direction of the rotating cylinder. 
     By bending the plate in this manner, it is possible to pull out the hair introduced from the opening portion of the plate by rotational driving of the rotating cylinder and efficiently perform the epilating process, and at the same time, it is possible to conveniently perform the epilating process not only for a relatively flat and large region such as legs and arms, but also for a sunken region such as underarm. 
     In the preferred embodiment according to the invention, the plate is curved by a curvature radius of larger than the radius of the rotating cylinder. 
     In this manner, it is possible to perform an epilating process of a short hair with high efficiency by bringing the rotating cylinder and the claw portion internally touching with each other. 
     In the preferred embodiment according to the invention, the plate is elastically brought into contact with the rotating cylinder. 
     In this manner, it is further possible to perform an epilating process of a short hair with high efficiency. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       In the accompanying drawings: 
         FIG. 1  is a front sectional view of a rotating cylinder of a conventional epilating apparatus; 
         FIG. 2  is a main part side sectional view of the conventional epilating apparatus; 
         FIGS. 3A and 3B  are side sectional views of the epilating apparatus of an example of the present invention, in which  FIG. 3A  shows a whole epilating apparatus, and  FIG. 3B  shows an enlarged view of P portion of  FIG. 3A ; 
         FIG. 4  is an exploded perspective view of a head frame of the epilating apparatus; 
         FIGS. 5A and 5B  are assembly side sectional view of the head frame; 
         FIG. 6  is a front view of the epilating apparatus; 
         FIG. 7  is a front sectional view of the epilating apparatus; 
         FIG. 8  is a front sectional view showing a state that an epilating head is taken out from a main body block; 
         FIG. 9  is an exploded perspective view of the main body block; 
         FIG. 10  is an exploded perspective view of the epilating head; 
         FIG. 11  is a front sectional view of the rotating cylinder; 
         FIG. 12  is an exploded perspective view of the epilating main body unit; and 
         FIG. 13  is an exploded perspective view of the rotating cylinder. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     An embodiment of an epilating apparatus according to the present invention will be described below in detail based on the accompanying drawings. 
     The epilating apparatus of the present invention comprises a main body block A which is formed in a size graspable by a hand, having a built-in motor  15  which is a driving source, and an epilating head B comprising a rotating cylinder  8  provided detachably attachable to the main body block A. The rotating cylinder  8  is provided with epilating means configured by a plurality of claw portions  5  (that is, a pair of movable claw  86  and fixed claw  88  shown in  FIG. 11 ) that is close-open driven and nips the hair, and the epilating means nips and pulls out the hair accompanied with the rotational driving around the shaft of the rotating cylinder  8 . 
     The main body block A provided with a switch  22  in front, as shown in  FIG. 9 , has an outer shell configured by joining two half-casings  10  and  10  divided into back and forth with screws (not shown), and covering the half-casings  10  and  10  with a cover  12  to secure. The upper opening end thereof is closed by the upper surface portion of a motor case  13  to be described later, which is stored into the main body block A while holding a motor  15  and the like. The bottom of the main body block A is provided with a power supply jack  21 . The main body block A may have a built-in battery which is a power supply. The front side half-casing  10  has the switch  22  exposable by popping up, and a switching equipment stored inside the main body block A is operated to turn ON and OFF the motor  15  through the switch  22 . In  FIG. 9 , reference numeral  23  denotes a diode plate, reference numeral  24  a switch plate, reference numeral  25  a temperature fuse, reference numeral  26  a switch base, reference numeral  27  a switch clamp, and reference numeral  28  a click spring. 
     The motor case  13  comprising a hook connecting portion  14  on the upper surface portion, as shown in  FIG. 9 , is shaped approximately like a horseshoe opening downward, and in a motor inner packaging portion  13   a  in its interior, the motor  15  is inserted from underneath. At the left and right sides of this motor case  13 , there are provided rib portions  13   b , which are fitted between protruding plates  10   a  protruding above and below the inner surfaces of both side end portions of the half casing  10 , to be stored into the main body block A. The hook connecting portion  14  of the upper surface of the motor case  13 , as shown in  FIG. 8 , is comprised of tunnel protruding portions  14   a  provided in the upper surface center portion of the motor case  13  and a pair of operating button frames  17  and  17  disposed at both the left and right sides of the tunnel protruding portions  14   a . The upper surface portion of the tunnel protruding portions  14   a  having a tunnel passage is provided with holes  14   b  which are inserted up and down. 
     Each operating button frame  17  in the shape of an approximately oblong in plane view, as shown in  FIGS. 9 ,  8  and the like, has a pushing operating portion  17   a  protruded outward in the lateral direction from its external side piece portion, a support hook  17   b  protruded in the internal surface of the internal side piece portion, and a stopper protruding portion  17   c  protruded upward above the internal side piece portion, and is slidably fitted into the tunnel passage of the tunnel protruding portion  14   a , and at the same time, allows the stopper protruding portion  17   c  to slidably engage with the hole  14   b  so as to be mounted on the tunnel protruding portion  14   a.    
     Between a pair of operating button frames  17  and  17  prevented from coming off by hitting upon the edge of the hole  14   b  through the stopper protruding portion  17   c , holding springs  18  are provided in the tunnel passage, and by the holding springs  18 , both of the operating button frames  17  and  17  are elastically biased to the outside. The pushing operating portions  17   a  of both of the operating button frames  17  and  17  are protruded to the outside of the main body block A through the holes  19  provided at the lateral sides (left and right directions) of the main body block A. 
     The epilating head B is comprised of an epilating block C comprising a rotating cylinder  8  serving as epilating means and a driving block D which transmits the output of the motor  15  of the main body block A to the rotating cylinder  8  of the epilating block C, as described below. 
     The driving block D, as shown in  FIGS. 10 and 8 , has its main body configured by a driving case  31  and a connecting case  36 , a pinion coupling  41 , a driving gear  46 , and a eccentric cam  76 . The driving case  31  and the connecting case  36  are stored into a storing concave portion  20  (see  FIGS. 9 and 8 ) which opens at the upper end portion of the main body block A when the epilating head B is mounted on the main body block A, and its outer hull shape in plane view is slightly smaller than the outer hull shape of the main body block A. These driving case  31  and connecting case  36  are shaped so as to have plate portions  33  and  38  to partition an internal space in cylindrical side face portions  32  and  37 , and the connection case  36  is provided in the lower side, while the driving case  31  is provided in the upper side. The driving case  31  and the connecting case  36  are fixed by inserting fixing screws  38   b  into screw inserting holes  38   a  of the connecting case  36  from beneath so as to be screwed to screw fixing holes  32   a  of the driving case  31 . A pinion coupling  41  and a driving gear  46  are stored in the space inside the fixed driving case  31  and connecting case  36 . 
     The pinion coupling  41 , as shown in  FIGS. 10 and 8 , has a flange portion  42 , above and below which a coupling connecting portion  43  and a gear portion  44  are formed respectively. The coupling connecting portion  43  is approximately shaped like a cylinder which protrudes downward from the flange portion  42 , and has a concave portion  43   a  in its interior to be fitted with a pinion  16  that is fixed to the output shaft of the motor  15 . When the epilating head B is amounted on the main body block A, the pinion  16  is fitted and connected to the concave portion  43   a . Further, the gear portion  44  is shaped like a column or a cylinder protruding to upward from the flange portion  42 , and its outer peripheral surface is formed to be a gear  44   a  to engage with the driving gear  46  to be described later. The driving gear  46  is composed of a gear portion  47  forming a gear  47   a  engaging with a gear  44   a  of the pinion coupling  41  on its outer peripheral surface and a face gear portion  48  provided with a face gear  48   a  on its upper end portion. 
     The storing of the pinion coupling  41  into the driving case  31  and the connecting case  36  will be described. The plate portion  38  of the connecting case  36  is formed with an inserting hole  38   c  (see  FIG. 10 ) having approximately the same diameter as or slightly larger than the outer diameter of the gear portion  44  of the pinion coupling  41  and smaller than the flange portion  42 . Further, the plate portion  33  of the driving case  31  is formed with a inserting hole  33   a  (see  FIG. 10 ) which opens downward at a portion corresponding to the center of the inserting hole  38   c  in plan view. Further, the gear portion  44  of the upper side of the pinion coupling  41  is formed with a shaft inserting hole (not shown) which opens upward at its center, and the lower end portion of the pinion coupling support shaft  40  shown in  FIGS. 10 ,  7  and the like is inserted into the shaft inserting hole of the pinion coupling  41 , and at the same time, the upper end portion of the pinion coupling support shaft  40  is inserted into the shaft inserting hole  33   a  of the driving case  31 , and the flange portion  42  of the pinion coupling  41  is mounted on the peripheral upper surface of the inserting hole  38   c  of the plate portion  38  of the connecting case  36  so as to allow the coupling connecting portion  43  of the pinion coupling  41  to protrude downward from the plate portion  38 . 
     Next, the storing of the driving gear  46  into the driving case  31  and the connecting case  36  will be described. The plate portion  33  of the driving case  31  is formed with an inserting hole  33   b  having a diameter larger than that of the face gear portion  48  of the driving gear  46 , and the plate portion  38  of the connecting case  36  is formed with a shaft inserting hole (not shown) which opens upward at a portion corresponding to the center of the inserting hole  38   c . Further, the driving gear  46  is formed with a shaft inserting hole (not shown) in the center in plane view, and a driving gear support shaft  49  is inserted into the shaft inserting hole of the driving gear  46 , and at the same time, the lower end portion of the driving gear support shaft  49  is inserted into the shaft inserting hole of the connecting case  36 , and the upper end portion of the driving gear support shaft  49  is inserted into a base  61  to be described later. The face gear portion  48  of the driving gear  46  is put above the plate portion  33  of the driving case  31 . At this time, the gear portion  47  of the driving gear  46  and the gear portion  44  of the pinion coupling  41  are put into an engaged state, and when the pinion  16  fixed to the output shaft of the motor  15  is rotated, the pinion coupling  41  connected to this pinion  16  and the driving gear  46  engaged with the pinion coupling  41  are rotated. 
     The epilating block C, as shown in  FIGS. 10 ,  8 ,  7 ,  3 A and the like, has its main body configured by a rotating cylinder  8 , cylinder attachment bases  51  and  56  holding the rotating cylinder  8 , and a base  61  to fix these cylinder bases  51  and  56 . The base  61  is shaped approximately the same as the outer hull of the main body block A in its outer hull in plan view, and is shaped to have a plate portion  63  to partition an internal space in a cylindrical side face portion  62  having this outer hull shape, and is provided with a storing portion  63   a  of the eccentric cam  76  in the underside, which is stored between a driving block connecting portion  64  to be connected with the driving block D and the driving block D, and cylinder attachment bases  51  and  56  are fixed on the upper side. The driving block connecting portion  64  has protruding portions  64   a  directed downward respectively from both side portions of the base  61  so as to be placed in the inner wall of the cylindrical side face portion  32  of the driving case  31  of the driving block D with a gap. Both of these protruding portions  64   a  have inserting holes  64   b  to insert and erect two pieces of guide bars  60  at two places each, and guide bar inserting holes  34  to inserted the guide bars  60  are formed respectively at portions corresponding to the inserting holes  64   b  of the cylindrical side surface portion  32  of the driving case  31 . The driving case  31  and the base  61  are connected by inserting two pieces of the guide bars  60  through the inserting holes  64   b  and the guide bar inserting holes  34 . In this manner, since both protruding portions  64   a  of the base  61  are placed in the cylindrical side surface portion  32  of the driving case  31  with the gap, the base  61  can make a reciprocating motion with respect to the driving case  31  within the range of the gap. Further, between the base  61  and the driving case  31  connected in this manner, an eccentric cam  76  is stored, which allows the base  61  to make a reciprocating motion with respect to the driving case  31  as described above. This will be further described later. 
     The cylinder attachment bases  51  and  56  mounted on the upper side of the base  61 , as shown in  FIG. 10  and the like, have support side plates  52  and  57 , respectively, which support a rotating shaft  80  of the rotating cylinder  8  at the left and right sides. Both of the cylinder attachment bases  51  and  56  are fixed to the base  61  respectively by fixing means (not shown) comprising screws. The center portions of the upper half portions of the support side plates  52  and  57  of both of the cylinder attachment bases  51  and  56  are provided with concave portions  57   a  to be engaged with the end portions of the rotating shaft  80  of the rotating cylinder  8 , thereby supporting the rotating shaft  80  inserting through the center portion of the rotating cylinder  8  with both of the concave portions  57   a  so as to allow the rotating cylinder  8  to be rotatably driven. Further, the lower half portions of both cylinder attachment bases  51  and  56  are provided with concave portions  58 , respectively, to be engaged with the end portions of a rotating shaft  69  of a connecting gear  66  to be described later, thereby supporting the rotating shaft  69  inserting through the center portion of the connecting gear  66  with both of concave portion  53  so as to allow the connecting gear  66  to be rotatably driven. 
     The connecting gear  66 , as shown in  FIG. 10  and the like, is formed with a large gear  67  having a large diameter and a small gear  68  having a small diameter. When the connecting gear  66  is rotatably provided on the cylinder attachment bases  51  and  56  and the base  61 , a gear surface of the lower end portion of the large gear  67  of the connecting gear  66  is exposed downward through an inserting opening  65  formed in the plate portion  63  of the base  61 , thereby engaging with the face gear portion  48  of the driving gear  46 , which approaches above the driving block D. Further, the upper end portion of this large gear  67  is engaged with a gear portion  8   a  formed in the side end portion in the direction of the rotating shaft of the rotating cylinder  8 , and the torque is transmitted to the pinion  16 , the pinion coupling  41 , the driving gear  46 , the connecting gear  66 , and the rotating cylinder  8  in that order by the rotation of the motor  15 . Further, the torque is transmitted to the eccentric cam  76  as well from this connecting gear  66 . 
     The eccentric cam  76 , as shown in  FIGS. 10 ,  8 ,  7 ,  3 A and the like, is stored between the base  61  and the driving case  31 , and is approximately shaped like a disc having a face gear  77  on its upper surface, and has a cam convex portion  78  protruded downward at a position decentered from the center of the outer hull circle of the disc main body. This eccentric cam  76  is fitted into the storing portion  63   a  (see  FIG. 8 ) provided in the lower surface of the base  61 , and allows a face gear  77  to approach upward through the inserting opening  65  formed in the plate portion  63  of the base  61 , and is rotatably mounted with the rotating shaft  79  having its upper end portion fitted to the cylinder attachment base  51  through the inserting opening  65 . This face gear  77  of the eccentric cam  76  engages with the small gear  68  of the connecting gear  66 , and further, the cam convex portion  78  protruding downward is inserted into a long hole (not shown) provided on the upper surface of the plate portion  33  of the driving case  31 . The long hole has a width (that is, the length in the left and right direction) approximately the same as the diameter of the cam convex portion  78 , and its longitudinal side is formed longer than the diameter of the cam convex portion  78  in the direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction (that is, the direction of the reciprocating motion of the base  61  and the driving case  31 ) of the guide bar  60 . In this manner, when the connecting gear  66  rotates, the eccentric cam  76  is rotated, and the eccentric cam  76  rotates without changing the relative position to the base  61 , and on the other hand, the cam convex portion  78  provided in the underside of the eccentric cam  76  makes an eccentric rotation relative to the base  61 . The driving case  31 , having the cam convex portion  78  inserted into its long hole, makes a reciprocating motion with the base  61  in the direction of the guide bar  60 . Here, since the driving case  31  (that is, the driving block D) is fixed relative to the main body block A, the base  61  and the rotating cylinder  8  (that is, the epilating block C) make a relative reciprocating motion with the main body block A. 
     The springs  30  and  30  (see  FIGS. 7 ,  8 ,  10 , and the like) at both sides energizing the epilating block C, which periodically makes a reciprocating motion by the rotation of the eccentric cam  76 , absorb an inertial force at the end point of the reciprocating motion, and prevent a collision so as to reduce the noises of collision sounds and the like. 
     Further, a head frame  71 , which covers the cylinder attachment bases  51  and  56  and the rotating cylinder  8  is mounted at the upper side from the base  61  in the epilating block C. This will be described later. 
     In this manner, the epilating head B mounted with the epilating block C capable of flexibly making the reciprocating motion in the direction of the rotating shaft of the rotating cylinder  8  for the driving block D connects hooks  39  and  39  provided in the underside of the connecting case  36  to the hook connecting portion  14  of the main body block A, thereby being mounted on the main body block A (see  FIGS. 8 to 10 ). When the epilating head B is mounted on the main body block A in this manner, the pinion  16  is engaged with the pinion coupling  41 . In order to detach the epilating head B, one may press the pushing operating portions  17   a  so that the support hooks  17   b  can be removed from the hooks  39 , and in this state, the epilating head B may be separated. 
     Next, the rotating cylinder  8  will be described. The rotating cylinder  8 , as shown in  FIGS. 11 and 12 , is formed by connecting a pair of approximately cylindrical members  81  and  82  in the shaft direction, and its outer peripheral surface is provided with concave portions  83  at a plurality of places spaced at equal intervals in the peripheral direction (eight places at intervals of 45° in the illustrated example), and an epilating main body unit  84  is fitted into each concave portion  83 . 
     The epilating main body unit  84 , as shown in  FIGS. 11 and 13 , is composed of a support point portion  85  comprising a plate member; a plurality (four pieces in the illustrated example) of movable claws  86 ; support point stop members  87 ; and fixed claws  88 , while two pieces of the fixed claw  88 , as shown in  FIG. 13 , are integrally formed as a pair. 
     The support point portion  85  comprises square holes  85   a  to fit the support point stop member  87  and square holes  85   b  to fit the movable claw  86 , and by press-fixing a protrusion  87   a  provided in the underside of the support point stop member  87  to the square hole  85   a  of the support point portion  85  through a hole  88   a  provided in the fixed claw  88 , the fixing of the fixed claw  88  is also simultaneously performed. By making two pieces of the fixed claw  88  into a pair as described above, the assembly is simplified, and particularly in case plurality of the epilating main body unit  84  is disposed in the peripheral direction of the rotating cylinder  8 , the length orthogonal to the rotating shaft  80  can be made small, and therefore, the outer diameter of the rotating cylinder  8  can be also made small. 
     Further, the upper surface portion  87   b  of the support point stop member  87  is shaped like a semi-circle in front section and side section, and plays a role of protecting the skin, thereby preventing the scraping of the skin and the like caused by direct contact with the skin of the movable claw  86  and the fixed claw  88 . 
     The movable claw  86  allows the protruding portions  86   c  of both ends to engage with ribs  87   c  provided at both ends of the support stop member  87  so as to be built into the flank of the fixed claw  88  so as to oppose to the fixed claw  88  in the direction of the rotating shaft of the rotating cylinder  8 . At this time, with respect to the fixed claw  88  integrally formed with two pieces as a pair, each one piece of the movable claw  86  is used independently, and for two pieces of the fixed claws  88  integrally formed, two pieces of the movable claws  86  are positioned in the hole  88   a  of the fixed claw  88  so as to be positioned at the same side for the corresponding fixed claw  88 . 
     As described above, the epilating main body unit  84  assembled as one set of unit is mounted by inserting a shaft  8   d  (see  FIG. 11 ), which is inserted into each concave portion  83  of one approximately cylindrical member  81 , into a hole  87   d  of the support stop member  87  and a hole  86   a  of each movable claw  86  shown in  FIG. 13 , and fitting the top end portion of the shaft  8   d  into the concave portion  83  of the other approximately cylindrical member  81 . 
     The fixed claws  88  of the epilating main body unit  84  are disposed at equal intervals in the shaft direction, and the gripping position when nipping the hair is well balanced, and therefore, the epilation efficiency is enhanced. Further, since the gripping position of each claw row provided in the peripheral direction is spaced at equal intervals, it is easy to pull out the targeted hair. 
     Further, an open-close operating portion  89  which is a lever member is inserted into each concave portion  83  formed in plurality in the peripheral direction of the rotating cylinder  8 . Each open-close operating portion  89 , when the epilating main body unit  84  is mounted on the rotating cylinder  8 , is formed with a groove  89   b  which is to be engaged with a protruding piece  86   b  of the movable claw  86 , and the open-close operating portion  89  inserted into the concave portion  83  is provided so as to be connected with the protruding piece  86   b  of the movable claw  86 . In this manner, by the reciprocating motion in the shaft direction of the open-close operating portion  89 , two pairs of movable claws  86  for epilation can be allowed to simultaneously approach to and isolate from the fixed claw  88  (that is, to perform open and close operation), and therefore, the assembly can be easily performed by simple part configuration. Further, since a pitch of nipping the hair becomes small, even if it is a short hair, the hair root can be reliably nipped, and the epilating process can be performed with high efficiency and with little pain. 
     Between both end portions in the direction of the rotating shaft of the rotating cylinder  8  and pressing portions  89   a  formed in the outside end portions of the open-close operating portions  89 , there are provided restoring springs  90  (see  FIGS. 11 and 12 ) formed by the leaf springs. The restoring spring  90  biases the open-close operating portion  89  toward the outside in the direction of the rotating shaft of the rotating cylinder  8 . 
     If a force to press the open-close operating portion  89  from outside is not operated from the outside, the movable claw  86  has its protruding piece  86   b  pulled out to the outside by the open-close operating portion  89 , thereby swinging with a hole edge of a square hole  85   b  of the support point portion  85  as a support point part and separating from the fixed claw  88 , which is positioned by the support point stop member  87 . Further, if an external force is applied to the pressing portion  89   a  of the open-close operating portion  89  from the outside, the movable claw  86  has its protruding piece  86   b  pressed to the inner side by the open-close operating portion  89 , thereby swinging with a hole edge of a square hole  85   b  of the support point portion  85  as a support point part so as to be pressed at the fixed claw  88 . In this manner, the restoring spring  90  comprising a leaf spring is disposed in the end surface in the direction of the rotating shaft of the rotating cylinder  8 , and all the open-close operating portions  89  are biased to the outside by the restoring spring  90 , and therefore, a rotating cylinder  8  can be obtained at low cost which is easy to assemble. 
     While the claw tip shapes (that is, both of the claw tip shape of the movable claw  86  and the claw tip shape of the fixed claw  88 ) of the claw portion  5  are formed in the shape of a circular arc with a center at the vicinity of the rotational center of the rotating cylinder  8  so as to become a shape in imitation of the bent shape of the plate  94  to be described later, in the present embodiment, the posture of the movable claw  86  when nipping the hair becomes parallel with the fixed claw  88  so as to make a surface contact, thereby forming a hole edge of the square hole  85   b  of the support point portion  85 . Therefore, it is possible to reliably nip the hair between the movable claw  86  and the fixed claw  88 . 
     The rotating cylinder  8  thus formed is supported by the concave portions provided in the cylinder attachment bases  51  and  56  by both ends of the rotating shaft  80  inserted through the rotating cylinder  8 , so that the rotation around the rotating cylinder shaft  80  is held in a flexible state. 
     In the epilating apparatus thus configured, when the motor  15  is driven in a state that the epilating head B is mounted on the main body block A, the rotating cylinder  8  is rotated as described above. When the rotating cylinder  8  is rotated, since the cams  8   b  are rotatably mounted on the cylinder attachment bases  51  and  56  with the cam shafts  8   c  (see  FIG. 10 ), the open-close operating portions  89 , which rotates to the position to contact the cams  8   b , are pressed by the cams  8   b  so as to be pressed inward opposing to the restoring springs  90 , thereby pressing the protruding piece  86   b  of the lower end portion of the movable claw  86  inward. The movable claw  86  having the lower end portion pressed inward and rotating with the support contact portion as a center is pushed against the corresponding fixed claw  88 , respectively, and here, the hair introduced between the movable claw  86  and the fixed claw  88  is nipped in which state the rotating cylinder  8  is further rotated, so that the hair is pulled out. By the rotation of the rotating cylinder  8 , the next open-close operating portions  89  reach the cams  8   b  and are pressed by the cams  8   b , and the hair is similarly nipped and pulled out. 
     In addition, while the rotating cylinder  8  rotates and performs the epilation, the rotation is also transmitted to the gear wheel from the gear so as to rotate the eccentric cam  76 , and due to this rotation, as described above, the epilating block C periodically makes a reciprocating motion with respect to the driving block D in the direction of the rotating shaft of the rotating cylinder  8 . Due to this reciprocating motion, the hair nipping position by the fixed claw  88  and the movable claw  86  provided in the rotating cylinder  8  of the epilating block C changes, and therefore, the hair of the whole skin can be pulled out. 
     Next, a head frame  71  provided in the epilating head B will be described. The head frame  71 , as shown in  FIGS. 4 to 6 , has an approximately box-like outer shape which opens downward, and has an upper opening  71   a  in the upper end portion to expose the upper side of the rotating cylinder  8 , and is detachably mounted on the base  61  of the epilating block C. With respect to the detachment and attachment of this head frame  71 , as shown in  FIGS. 10 and 8 , the button portions  72  having engaging portions  72   a  are provided in the base  61  in a state that the dislocation is stopped so that the button portions  72  are poppably protruded to the outside from the inserting holes  61   a  (see  FIG. 10 ) formed at the side portions of the base  61 , and the engaging portions  72   a  of the button portions  72  are fitted to the lower end portion of the head frame  71 , so that the head frame  71  can be detachably mounted. In  FIGS. 7 ,  8 , and  10 , reference numeral  73  denotes a spring to restore the button portion  72 . 
     The head frame  71  is provided with the plate  94  so as to cover the outer exposed surface of the rotating cylinder  8 , which is exposed from the upper opening  71   a . The plate  94  is curvedly shaped in an inverted U character so as to open downward in a side plane view (view in the direction of the rotating shaft of the rotating cylinder  8 ), and is curvedly shaped along the outer peripheral surface in the rotational direction of the rotating cylinder  8 . A curvature radius of the plate  94  is set equal to or larger than that of the rotating cylinder  8  in order to allow the rotating cylinder  8  and the claw portion  5  to touch internally by elastic contact. The curved upper back portion of the plate  94  has a plurality of openings  94   a , and the claw portions  5  (that is, the movable claw  86  and the fixed claw  88 ) of the rotating cylinder  8  exposed through the openings  94   a  nip the hair of the skin and pull out the hair. This plate  94  comprises a thin and high strength metal thin plate, and is mounted on the head frame  71  by a plate mounting base  95 . 
     The plate mounting base  95 , as shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5 , has the shape of a plate to be mounted on the underside interior of the upper opening  71   a  of the head frame  71 , and is formed with openings  95   a  at the left and right sides, and at the same time, has elastic support pieces  95   b  protruded directing to both of the openings  95   a  from the center between the upper and lower portions of an approximately central vertical piece, and forms bosses  95   c  on the top end of the elastic support pieces  95   b . This plate mounting base  95  has a mounting hook  95   d  formed respectively at both sides of the opening  95   a , and ribs  70   a  in the shape of an approximately L character are provided at the portions corresponding to the mounting hooks  95   d  of the plate mounting base  95 . Therefore, the plate mounting base  95  is fixed to the head frame  71  by mounting the mounting hooks  95   d  of the head frame  71  on the ribs  70   a.    
     By fixing this plate mounting base  95  to the head frame  71  in a state that the plate  94  is mounted, one end portion of the plate  94  is fixed to the head frame  71 . On the end portion of the side where the plate mounting base  95  of the plate  94  is mounted, there are formed boss fixing holes  94   c  at the positions corresponding to the bosses  95   c  of the plate mounting base  95 , and the bosses  95   c  of the plate mounting base  95  are inserted into these boss fixing holes  94   c , thereby being caulked and mounted there. 
     At the end portion in opposition to the side where the plate mounting base  95  of the plate  94  is mounted, there are formed fixing bent portions  94   b , and at the same time, at the portions which correspond to the fixing bent portions  94   b  of the head frame  71 , there are formed mounting square holes  70   b , and the mounting square holes  70   b  are engaged and fixed with the fixing bent portions  94   b  of the plate  94 , and the plate mounting base  95  mounted on the other end side of the plate  94  is mounted on the ribs  70   a  of the head frame  71 , so that the mounting of the plate  94  to the head frame  71  is performed. 
     In this manner, by mounting the plate  94  having the opening portions  94   a  to expose the claw portion  5  on the head frame  71 , it is possible to pull out the hair while protecting the skin. A plurality of claw portions  5  provided in the rotating cylinder  8  are disposed in the rotational direction of the rotating cylinder  8  spaced at equal intervals, and the open-close operation of the claw portion  5  is set to be performed one or plural times in the opening portions  94   a  of the plate  94  during one rotation of the rotating cylinder  8 , and therefore, the epilating process can be efficiently performed due to the open-close operation of the claw portions  5  exposed from the opening portion  94   a.    
     Further, since the plate  94  is mounted on the elastic support pieces  95   b  of the plate mounting base  95 , the plate  94  is flexibly floated for the head frame  71  and the rotating cylinder  8 , and consequently, when the plate  94  is mounted so as to perform the epilation, a skin contact is good even at an uneven region of the skin, and usability is good. 
     Any of the plurality of opening portions  94   a  provided in the plate  94  is formed in a long hole which becomes broader in width in the rotational direction of the rotating cylinder  8  than the width thereof in the direction of the rotating shaft. Further, since each opening portion  94   a  being the long hole is formed in parallel with the rotational direction of the rotating cylinder  8 , the long hair can be efficiently introduced into the opening portions  94   a . Moreover, the opening edges of the opening portions  94   a  are operated so as to press the skin and squeeze out the hair, and consequently, the short hair can be also efficiently processed for extraction. 
     In addition, since the widths of the crosspieces formed between the opening portions  94   a  of the plate  94  are formed smaller than the widths of the opening portions  94   a  in the direction of the rotating shaft of the rotating cylinder  8 , it is prevented that the long hairs are laid down on the crosspieces of the plate  94  and are hindered from being introduced, and consequently, regardless of the length of the hair, the extraction of the hair can be efficiently performed.