Abstract:
An electrical device removes body and facial hair and dead skin cells by buffing and abrading by rotating motion. The electrical hair removing device has one, two or three abrasive surfaces for pressing against hairy skin to exfoliate the skin and abrade the hair by automatic and continual electronically controlled rotational movement in the same direction. Hooks and loops removably attach each abrasive surface to a circular base driven in rotation. The two or three abrasive surfaces can be controlled to rotate at different speeds. The two or three abrasive surfaces can also be controlled to rotate in alternating directions and at different speeds.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0002]     This invention relates to a device for removing body and facial hair. More particularly, it relates to a hair remover for removing hair by buffing and abrasion, while simultaneously proving beneficial effects to the skin.  
         [0003]     2. Background Information  
         [0004]     The common solution to remove unwanted hair is by using a shaving or cutting device, which can cause irritability and dryness to the skin. The growth rate of the cut hairs can be erratic and the skin can become more sensitive due to cuts and scrapes. In addition, shaving can leave rough stubble.  
         [0005]     Epilation devices remove hair by pulling it out. One technique is to apply mastic to the skin and then to allow the mastic to dry. When the mastic is removed the hairs attached to the mastic are pulled out, which is a painful process. Another technique is to merely pull out the hair. In either case the hair must be long enough in length before it can be grasped for removal by mastic or pulling. Therefore, one must wait for the hair to grow.  
         [0006]     Electrolysis has been used for removing hair by applying an electric current to the hair follicles to kill the hair itself. This method requires professional assistance. Since each hair must be removed individually, this approach becomes tedious and time consuming.  
         [0007]     U.S. Pat. No. 2,714,788 to Giovanna discloses an electrical apparatus for removing hair by electrically rotating one abrasive disk against the skin. Giovanna discloses the rotation of the disk to be alternating clockwise and then counterclockwise and describes the advantage of alternating rotation. In Giovanna the one large disk is difficult to control and the alternating clockwise and counterclockwise movements are accomplished solely by gear mechanisms, which are prone to wear out quickly, and are expensive to manufacture.  
         [0008]     U.S. Pat. No. 5,084,046 to Isack discloses another abrasive device that has a ring head with an abrasive surface that rotates eccentrically around a nonabrasive ring.  
         [0009]     U.S. Pat. No. 5,377,699 to Varnum discloses a driveable member having a rotating column covered with an abrasive surface for removal of hair. A protective screen to protect the skin covers the abrasive surface.  
         [0010]     The above devices have limited effectiveness and are difficult to control in addition to being expensive to manufacture.  
         [0011]     Accordingly, there is a need in the art for a hair remover that is less painful, can be used when hair growth is short, can be used without professional assistance, and is more cost effective and easier to control.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0012]     An electrical device removes body and facial hair and dead skin cells by buffing and abrading by rotating motion. In one embodiment an electrical hair removing device has an abrasive surface for pressing against hairy skin to exfoliate the skin and abrade the hair by automatic and continual electronically controlled rotational movement in the same direction. The abrasive surface is removably attached by hooks and loops to a circular base driven in rotation. The rotational movement can also be controlled to be in alternating directions.  
         [0013]     In another embodiment an electrical hair removing device has two coplanar and concentrically disposed abrasive surfaces rotating about a single rotational axis for pressing against hairy skin to exfoliate the skin and abrade the hair by automatic and continual electronically controlled rotational movement in the same direction. The two abrasive surfaces can be controlled to rotate at different speeds. The two abrasive surfaces can also be controlled to rotate in alternating directions and at different speeds. The two abrasive surfaces are removably attached by hooks and loops to bases that are concentric to one another.  
         [0014]     In yet another embodiment the electrical hair removing device has three coplanar abrasive surfaces rotating on three different axes located at the vertices of a virtual triangle for pressing against hairy skin to exfoliate the skin and abrade the hair by automatic and continual electronically controlled rotational movement in the same direction. The three abrasive surfaces can be controlled to rotate at different speeds. Each of the three abrasive surfaces can also be rotated in alternating directions and at different speeds.  
         [0015]     The repeated rotation of the buffing and abrasive surfaces causes flexure of the hair strands near to their roots and below the surface of the skin, while simultaneously reducing the thickness of the hair shaft. The hair shafts become weakened and break off. Visibility is reduced, and the hair root is left intact with this repeated process. The removal of the hair shaft to below the skin surface, by exfoliating the skin, additionally results in a smoother skin surface.  
         [0016]     The buffing has a beneficial effect on the skin itself, removing dead skin cells, smoothing roughness of the skin and reducing cosmetic flaws, such as rosatia and cellulite, by continuous stimulation. After continuous buffing and exfoliating, hair growth becomes less vigorous. Buffing actually removes tiny hair shafts at the root level, consequently causing no future growth of the hair follicle. By comparison, traditional blade shaving provides little or no stimulation and actually damages the skin.  
         [0017]     Other attendant features of this invention will be more readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed descriptions and considered in connection with the accompanying drawings in which like reference symbols designate like parts throughout the figures.  
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0018]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an electric hair remover showing a power cord pluggable into the electric hair remover in accordance with the present invention.  
         [0019]      FIG. 2  is a side view of the electric hair remover showing an abrasive pad removably attached by hooks and loops to a circular base in accordance with the present invention.  
         [0020]      FIG. 3  is an enlargement of the circled area of  FIG. 2  showing the abrasive pad removably attached by hooks and loops to a circular base in accordance with the present invention.  
         [0021]      FIG. 4A  is a bottom perspective view of the electric hair remover showing the abrasive pad attached to the circular base of  FIG. 3  in accordance with the present invention.  
         [0022]      FIG. 4B  is a diagram showing the direction of rotation of the abrasive pad of  FIG. 4A  when the electric hair remover power is turned on in accordance with the present invention.  
         [0023]      FIG. 4C  is a diagram showing alternating directions of rotation of the abrasive pad of  FIG. 4A  when the electric hair remover power is turned on in accordance with the present invention.  
         [0024]      FIG. 5  is a diagram showing the abrasive pad of  FIG. 4A  partially removed from the circular base in accordance with the present invention.  
         [0025]      FIG. 6A  is a bottom perspective view of a hair remover having an inner circular abrasive pad removably attached to an inner circular base and another outer ring abrasive pad, the outer ring abrasive pad surrounding and concentric with the inner circular abrasive pad and removably attached to an outer ring base surrounding and concentric to the inner circular base in accordance with the present invention.  
         [0026]      FIG. 6B  is a diagram showing the direction of rotation of the inner circular abrasive pad and the outer ring abrasive pad of  FIG. 6A  when the electric hair remover power is turned on in accordance with the present invention.  
         [0027]      FIG. 6C  is a diagram showing altering directions of rotation of the inner circular abrasive pad and the outer ring abrasive pad of  FIG. 6A  when the electric hair remover power is turned on in accordance with the present invention.  
         [0028]      FIG. 7  is a diagram showing the inner circular abrasive pad partially removed from the inner circular base in accordance with the present invention.  
         [0029]      FIG. 8  is a diagram showing the outer ring abrasive pad partially removed from the outer ring base in accordance with the present invention.  
         [0030]      FIG. 9A  is a bottom perspective view of a hair remover having three circular abrasive pads removably attached to three circular bases in accordance with the present invention.  
         [0031]      FIG. 9B  is a diagram showing the direction of rotation of the circular abrasive pads of  FIG. 9A  when the electric hair remover power is turned on in accordance with the present invention.  
         [0032]      FIG. 9C  is a diagram showing alternating directions of rotation of the circular abrasive pads of  FIG. 9A  when the electric hair remover power is turned on in accordance with the present invention.  
         [0033]      FIG. 10  is a diagram showing one of the three circular abrasive pads of  FIG. 9A  partially removed from one of the three circular bases in accordance with the present invention.  
         [0034]      FIG. 11  is a diagram of the electric motor and control and the gear box of the hair remover of  FIGS. 4A, 4B ,  4 C, and  5  in accordance with the present invention.  
         [0035]      FIG. 12  is a diagram of the electric motor and control and the gear box of the hair remover of  FIGS. 6A, 6B ,  6 C,  7  and  8  in accordance with the present invention.  
         [0036]      FIG. 13  is a diagram of the electric motor and control and the gear box of the hair remover of  FIGS. 9A, 9B ,  9 C, and  10  in accordance with the present invention.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0037]     Referring now to the drawings,  FIG. 1  shows a perspective view of an electric hair remover  10  showing a power plug  12 , which is plugged in to provide power to the electric hair remover  10 . An ac-dc adapter (not shown) converts AC power to DC power for the power plug  12 . The handle  14  of the electric hair remover  10  contains a electric motor  16 , which drives a gear box  18 , as shown in  FIG. 11 . The handle  14  also has an On/Off switch  20 , which turns power on and off to the electric motor  16 . The head  22  of the electric hair remover  10  has a circular shape and has a circular base  24 , which rotates when the on/off switch  20  is turned on.  FIG. 2  is a side view of the electric hair remover  10  showing an abrasive pad  26  removably attached by hooks  28  and loops  30  to the circular base  24 , as shown in  FIG. 3 , which is an enlargement of the circled portion of  FIG. 2 . In  FIG. 3  the loops  30  are shown on the abrasive pad  26  and the hooks  28  are shown on the circular base  24 , but the hooks could be located on the abrasive pad and the loops on the circular base, as desired. The abrasive pad has fine grit on its surface.  
         [0038]      FIG. 4A  is a bottom perspective view of the electric hair remover  10  showing the abrasive pad  26  attached to the circular base  24 .  FIG. 4B  shows the direction of rotation of the abrasive pad  26  when the on/off switch  20  is turned on. The direction of rotation is continual in the same direction and the speed of rotation can be controlled using speed control  32 , which controls the speed of the electric motor  16 , as shown in  FIG. 11 . The electric motor rotates the circular base  24  via the gearbox  18 .  
         [0039]      FIG. 4C  is a diagram showing the abrasive pad  26  rotating in alternating directions. Switch  36  is provided to select between continual rotation in one direction or rotation in alternating directions. Alternating rotation helps lift the hair to allow it to be easier to abrade. The electric motor  16  rotations are electronically controlled and can be selected to rotate in the alternating directions via switch  36  shown in  FIG. 11 .  
         [0040]      FIG. 5  is a diagram showing the abrasive pad  26  partially removed from the circular base  28 .  
         [0041]      FIG. 6A  is a bottom perspective view of an electric hair remover  40  having an inner circular abrasive pad  42  removably attached to an inner circular base  44 , as shown in  FIG. 12 .  FIG. 6B  also shows another outer ring abrasive pad  46  surrounding and concentric with the inner circular abrasive pad  42  and removably attached to an outer ring base  48 , which is surrounding and concentric to the inner circular base  44 .  
         [0042]     When the on/off switch  20  is turned on, the direction of rotation of the inner circular abrasive pad  42  and the outer ring abrasive pad  46  is shown in  FIG. 6B . The rotation of the inner circular base  44  and the outer ring base  48  are driven from gearbox  52  via shafts  60  and  62 , respectively, as shown in  FIG. 12 .  
         [0043]     To further improve the operation of the electric hair remover, the speed of rotation of the inner circular base  44  and the outer ring base  48  can be controlled via speed controls  54  and  56 , respectively. Varying the speed of rotations can be implemented in a number of ways. The most common configuration is to switch between gear ratios in the gearbox  52  to accomplish different speeds. Another method is to provide two electric motors  50  with separate drive shafts  64  and  66 , which can be controlled to spin at different rates. The drive shafts via gearbox  52  drive the inner circular base  44  and the outer ring base  48 , respectively. This latter method has the advantage of finer speed control because the electric motors  50  are electronically controlled.  
         [0044]      FIG. 6C  is a diagram showing altering directions of rotation of the inner circular abrasive pad  42  and the outer ring abrasive pad  46 . Switch  36  is provided to select between continual rotation in one direction or rotation in alternating directions, which is implemented by electronic control of the electric motor  50 , which can be quickly reversed. As described above, alternating rotation helps lift the hair to allow it to be easier to abrade. As in the continual rotation in one direction, the speed of alternating rotation of the inner circular base  44  and the outer ring base  48  can be controlled via speed controls  54  and  56 , respectively. Again, controlling the speed of the alternating rotations can be implemented by either switching between gear ratios in the gearbox  52  or by providing two electric motors  50  with two separate drive shafts  64  and  66 , which via gearbox  52 , drive the inner circular base  44  and the outer ring base  48 , respectively. This latter method has the advantage of finer speed control because the electric motors  50  are electronically controlled.  
         [0045]      FIG. 7  is a diagram showing the inner circular abrasive pad  42  partially removed from the inner circular base. Likewise,  FIG. 8  is a diagram showing the outer ring abrasive pad  46  partially removed from the outer ring base  48 .  
         [0046]      FIG. 9A  is a bottom perspective view of an electric hair remover  40  having three circular abrasive pads  82 ,  84 , and  86  removably attached to three circular bases  72 ,  74 , and  76 , as shown in  FIG. 13 . When the on/off switch  20  is turned on, the direction of rotation of the three circular abrasive pads  82 ,  84 , and  86  is shown in  FIG. 9B . The rotation of the three circular bases  72 ,  74 , and  76  are driven from gearbox  122  via shafts  102 ,  104  and  106 , respectively, as shown in  FIG. 13 .  
         [0047]     The speed of rotation of the three circular bases  72 ,  74 , and  76  can be controlled via speed controls  92 ,  94  and  96 , respectively. Varying the speed of rotations can be implemented in a number of ways. The most common method of varying the speed of rotations is to switch between gear ratios in the gearbox  122  to accomplish different speeds. Another method is to provide three electric motors  120  with three separate drive shafts  112 ,  114  and  116 , which can spin at different rates and which via gearbox  122  drive the three circular bases  72 ,  74 , and  76 , respectively. This method has the advantage of finer electronic speed control.  
         [0048]      FIG. 9C  is a diagram showing alternating directions of rotation of the three circular abrasive pads  82 ,  84 , and  86 . Switch  36  is provided to select between continual rotation in one direction or rotation in alternating directions, which is implemented by electronic control of the electric motor  120 , which can be quickly reversed. As described above, alternating rotation helps lift the hair to allow it to be easier to abrade. As in the continual rotation in one direction, the speed of alternating rotation of the three circular abrasive pads  82 ,  84 , and  86  can be controlled via speed controls  92 ,  94  and  96 , respectively. Again, varying the speed of the alternating rotations can be implemented by either switching between gear ratios in the gearbox  122  or by providing three electric motors  120  with three separate drive shafts  112 ,  114 , and  116 , which can be controlled to spin at different rates. This has the advantage of finer electronic speed control by controlling electric motor  120 .  
         [0049]      FIG. 10  is a diagram showing circular pad  84  partially removed from circular base  74 .  
         [0050]     While the present invention is described herein with reference to illustrative embodiments for particular applications, it should be understood that the invention is not limited thereto. Those having ordinary skill in the art and access to the teachings provided herein will recognize additional modifications, applications, and embodiments within the scope of the present invention and additional fields in which the present invention would be of significant utility.  
         [0051]     It is therefore intended by the appended claims to cover any and all such applications, modifications and embodiments within the scope of the present invention.