ES2533252T3 - Depilator with precision head - Google Patents

Abstract

Electric hair removal apparatus comprising: - a box (1) that accommodates an electric motor (4) associated with transmission means (5), - a hair removal head (10) that is related to the box (1) and comprising: - a hollow body (11) delimiting a depilatory chamber (12) opened by a depilation window (14) comprising two parallel straight longitudinal edges (20, 21) and two arched transverse edges (22, 23), - a depilator roller (13) that: - is arranged inside the epilator chamber (12) in order to peek through the hair removal window (14), - receives, from the drive means (5), a turn of axis Δ, the axis Δ being parallel to the longitudinal edges (20, 21), - comprises a series of clamps that open and close as the roller (13) rotates around the axis Δ, - definition means (15 ) of the angular sectors, around the axis Δ, of opening and closing of the tweezers of the depilating roller, characterized whereby the hair removal head (10) comprises a flap (25) provided with rotating movement around said axis Δ defining at least one movable longitudinal edge (21) of the hair removal window (14) and comprising a support heel (26) on the area to be depilated, which, running in extension of the mobile longitudinal edge (21) as opposed to the hair removal window (14), defines a contact surface (S) with the skin of the area That is going to be shaved.

Description

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DESCRIPTION

Depilator with precision head

The present invention relates to the technical field of electrical appliances for body care and, more particularly, to the field of electrical appliances for mechanical hair removal also referred to as depilators.

Hair removal devices are described, for example, in documents FR 2 668 902, FR 2 926 962 or EP 1 884 174. In general, an electric hair removal device comprises a box that accommodates an electric motor associated with a means of transmission. This box is equipped with an occasional removable hair removal head, which comprises a hollow body that delimits an epilator chamber opened by a hair removal window comprising two parallel straight longitudinal edges and two arched transverse edges. The epilation head accommodates a depilatory roller that appears through the epilation window and receives, from the actuation means, a rotating drive on itself along an axis ∆ parallel to the longitudinal edges of the window. The epilator roller comprises a series of tweezers that open and close as the roller rotates around the axis ∆. In order to control the opening and closing movements of the tweezers, the hair removal head also includes means for defining the angular sectors, around the axis ∆, for opening and closing the tweezers of the depilating roller. In fact, to provide proper hair removal, the tweezers must be open when they reach the window level and close while they are in the window to turn on the hairs to be torn off. Document DE-U1-200 21 185 describes the preamble of claim 1.

The hair removal devices that are known work at full satisfaction with regard to their hair removal function. However, it has been revealed that its ergonomics could be improved. Indeed, in view of the operation of the epilator roller, the epilation head has a sense of use according to which the spindle must be moved over the region to be depilated. Now, in the known devices, this sense is not immediately visible. In addition, in order to achieve a good quality of hair removal, it is preferable to slightly stretch the skin of the region to be shaved, which is generally done by means of the free hand that does not hold the epilator. However, this two-handed work is not always possible, especially in the depilation of, for example, the armpits.

Therefore, the need for a hair removal device that, on the one hand, unequivocally indicates the sense of use or application of the hair removal head and, on the other hand, makes a slight stretching of the skin of the region which is going to be shaved, without the need to use both hands.

On the other hand, in roller epilators that include pairs of rotating-actuated tweezers and that, due to their closure, get to catch the hairs, if the user does not hold his epilator with the good angle of hair removal, the efficiency will be less, when void The angle of inclination should be positioned so that the tweezers are closed again at the moment they are closest to the surface of the skin to be shaved. This allows to tear the shorter hairs and increase the effectiveness of the epilator. Therefore, according to certain angles of rotation of the tweezers, an efficiency problem arises due to the inclination of the epilating roller. In order to improve the clamping angle, a frame or semi-frame located around the rotating roller may be provided. This frame defines a plane and is related to the roller in order to orient the clamping angle. Thus, the passage of the frame on the skin allows the tweezers to be oriented to have a clamping angle as effective as possible. EP1024726 discloses such an apparatus that includes a head with two parallel cylinders on each side of the head that touch the skin when the user applies the device against the skin. The device, although it is true that allows to adjust the angle of hair removal according to the inclination through the two cylinders in contact with the skin, has several drawbacks: not allowing the skin to stretch, improper support on the skin, a large occupation of space...

In order to achieve these objectives, the invention relates to an electric hair removal apparatus comprising:

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a box that accommodates an electric motor associated with transmission means,

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a hair removal head that is related to the box and that includes:

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a hollow body that delimits an epilator chamber opened by a depilation window comprising two parallel straight longitudinal edges and two arched transverse edges,

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a depilator roller that:

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It is arranged inside the epilator chamber in order to peek through the hair removal window,

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receives, from the drive means, an axis rotation ∆, the axis ∆ being parallel to the longitudinal edges,

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2 comprises a series of tweezers that open and close as the roller rotates around the

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axis ∆,

- means for defining the angular sectors, around the ∆ axis, for opening and closing the tweezers of the epilating roller.

According to the invention, the hair removal head comprises a flap provided with a rotating movement around said axis ∆ defining at least one mobile longitudinal edge of the hair removal window and comprising a support heel on the area to be shaved. which, running in prolongation of the mobile longitudinal edge in opposition to the hair removal window, defines a surface of contact with the skin of the area to be depilated. The presence of the support heel unequivocally indicates the sense of use of the hair removal head, since the heel must be located upstream of the hair removal window in relation to the direction of travel of the hair removal head over the area to be shaved . In addition, the heel and its contact surface allow a slight stretching of the skin of the area to be shaved by virtue of friction and the slight traction induced by the heel and its contact surface in the displacement of the hair removal head against the skin of the area to be shaved. It should be noted that the rotation of the mobile flap and the heel of which it is a carrier, along a parallel axis and coinciding with the axis of rotation of the epilating roller, allows to keep, in the slight variations that in relation to the skin of the area that is It is going to depilate the user induces on the orientation of the epilation head, the contact with the skin of the area to be depilated. Thus, the heel and its contact surface always remain parallel to the skin of the area to be shaved, so that the slight tightness of the latter is always maintained, despite slight variations in the orientation of the hair removal head. Thus, the flap can be unique, and not duplicated on the front and back of the roller, construction is simplified and operation is effective.

According to a characteristic of the invention aimed at optimizing the effect of the support heel, the contact surface is tangent to an axis revolution cylinder ∆ in which the epilating roller is inscribed.

According to another feature of the invention, the support heel has, as opposed to the mobile longitudinal edge, a traction edge of the skin of the area to be shaved, which is located at a distance D from the axis ∆ greater than the radius of the axle revolution cylinder cuyo inside which the epilator roller is inscribed. This dimensional characteristic of the support heel allows at the same time a better stretching of the skin of the area to be shaved and a better monitoring of the variations of angular orientation of the hair removal head in relation to the skin of the area that is going to shave.

According to an embodiment aimed at preventing the friction of the traction edge of the support heel from being too intense and inducing discomfort for the user, the support heel comprises, as opposed to the movable longitudinal edge, a support roller on the surface to be shaved, equipped with rotating movement about an axis Ω parallel to the axis ∆. The turn can be free. In order to modulate the stretching of the skin of the area to be shaved, the rotation of the roller may occasionally be braked.

According to a variant of this embodiment, the axis Ω of the support roller is located at a distance D 'from the axis ∆ greater than the radius of the axis revolution cylinder ∆ in which the epilating roller is inscribed.

According to a characteristic of the invention, the mobile flap is integral with the means of definition of the angular sectors, in order to ensure, depending on the orientation of the mobile flap, a modification of the position of the angular sectors in relation to the head of hair removal Thus, the development of the opening and closing sequences of the tweezers is always optimal despite variations in the inclination of the box or the head in relation to the skin of the area to be shaved.

According to another feature of the invention, the electric hair removal apparatus comprises at least one removable cover intended to be fixed on the mobile flap of the hair removal head, in order to partially seal the hair removal window and define a reduced hair removal window. Such a reduced hair removal window allows for more precise hair removal operations than in the case of the implementation of the hair removal window without a lid. The reduction of the size of the depilation window allows, in addition, to reduce the surface of the epilator roller in contact with the skin, so that all the epilation power is available for the exclusive area defined by the reduced epilation window. This area will be used on non-flat skin surfaces (armpits, bikini ...).

According to an embodiment of this feature, the reduced depilation window is laterally offset with respect to an average plane of the depilator roller, the average plane being perpendicular to the axis of rotation ∆ of the roller.

According to a variant of this embodiment, the removable cover is adapted to be fixed on the mobile flap according to two positions, in order to, in a first position, locate the reduced window to the left of the middle plane and, in a second position, locate the reduced window to the right of the middle plane. This makes it possible to reduce the space occupied by the different accessories that are to be mounted on the epilator.

According to another embodiment of this feature, the reduced hair removal window is centered

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with respect to an average plane of the depilator roller, the average plane being perpendicular to the axis of rotation ∆ of the roller.

According to the invention, the hair removal head may be fixed relative to the box or, on the contrary, be provided with rotary movement relative to the box according to a rotation axis paralelo 'parallel to the axis of rotation ∆ of the roller.

Likewise, according to the invention, the hair removal head may be permanently fixed, and even integrated, in the box or, conversely, the hair removal head may be removably fixed on the box to allow disassembly of the epilation head in view, for example, to ensure its cleaning.

Of course, the different features, variants and embodiments of the invention can be associated with each other according to various combinations as long as they are not incompatible or exclusive between them.

On the other hand, various other features of the invention emerge from the attached description made with reference to the drawings, which illustrate non-limiting ways of carrying out an electric hair removal apparatus according to the invention.

Figure 1 is a schematic perspective of an electric hair removal apparatus according to the invention.

Figures 2 and 3 are an elevation in view from a partially sectioned side of the apparatus illustrated in Figure 1, Figure 3 depicting the apparatus in operation attached to the skin.

Figure 4 is a schematic perspective of a removable cover, with a centered window, intended to be adapted on the mobile flap of the electric hair removal apparatus illustrated in Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a partial schematic perspective showing the cover shown in Figure 4 adapted on the mobile flap.

Figure 6 is a schematic perspective of another removable cover, with offset window, intended to be adapted on the mobile flap of the electric hair removal apparatus illustrated in Figure 1.

Figures 7 and 8 are partial perspectives showing the removable cover shown in Figure 5, adapted in two different positions on the mobile flap of the epilator.

Figure 9 is an elevation view from one side of another embodiment of a hair removal device according to the invention whose hair removal head is articulated.

An electrical and mechanical hair removal apparatus according to the invention, as illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, comprises a hollow box, designated as a whole with reference 1, which is constituted from two half-shells 2 and 3 single piece which together they define, on the one hand, by their outer surfaces, a shaving area of the epilator and on the other, a confinement and support box of different functional elements constituting the epilator. Thus, the box 1 accommodates an electric motor 4 associated with transmission means of the turning movement 5 of the output pinion 6 of the motor 4. According to the illustrated example, the transmission means 5 comprise an axle gear train. parallel to the axis of rotation of the motor.

The box 1 is equipped with a hair removal head 10 comprising a hollow body 11 delimiter of a depilator chamber 12 inside which a depilator roller 13 is shown, which is shown through a window 14 in the hollow body 11. The hair remover roller 13 it is provided with rotational movement about itself about an axis ∆ and is driven in its rotation, through the drive or transmission means 5, by the electric motor 4. The epilator roller 13 comprises a series of tweezers perimeter that They open and close as the roller rotates. In order that the tweezers are open at the moment they begin to appear through the window 14 and close while still peeking out and well before leaving the hair removal window 14, the hair removal head 10 comprises definition means 15 of the angular sectors of opening O and closing F of the clamps. The means of definition 15 of the angular sectors O and F are determined, for example, by one or more cams associated with adapted cam paths. One skilled in the art is well aware of the embodiment of the tweezers as well as of the means of definition 15 of the angular sectors O and F, so that more extensive descriptions are not required at this point.

As stated above, the epilator roller 13 appears through the window 14 made in the body 11 of the epilation head 10. According to the illustrated example, the window 14 is delimited by two longitudinal edges 20 and 21 parallel to each other and to the axis of rotation ∆ of the roller 13, on the one hand, and, on the other, two transverse edges 22 and 23 that are parallel to each other and have an arcuate shape, being contained in planes perpendicular to the axis of rotation ∆. One of the longitudinal edges, at this point the lower edge 20, is fixed, being determined either by a fixed edge of the hair removal head 10, or by a fixed edge of the box 1. According to the invention, the other longitudinal edge, at this point the upper edge 21, is movable, being determined by a flap 25 provided with rotating movement around the axis ∆. The mobile flap 25 comprises a support heel 26 that runs in prolongation of the movable longitudinal edge 21 as opposed to the hair removal window 14. The heel 26 then defines a contact surface S with the skin of the area to be shaved. The surface of

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contact S defined by the heel 26 is preferably substantially tangent to a cylinder of revolution C of axis ∆ in which the epilating roller 13 is inscribed.

The hair removal apparatus thus constituted is implemented as follows. After starting the electric motor 4, the user moves the hair removal head 10 against the skin P of the area to be shaved, as shown in Figure 3. The user moves the head applied against the skin P in the direction of the arrow F1, so that the heel 26 is located upstream of the window 14 through which the epilating roller 13 appears. The heel 26 and its surface S then exert a slight stretching of the skin P, which contributes to lift the hairs and favors its grasp and its removal by means of the tweezers of the epilator roller 13 that is in contact with the skin P at the level of the window 14. The flap 25 and the heel 26 of which it is a carrier, since they are mobile around the axis of rotation ∆, they can follow the slight oscillations of the box 1, indicated by the arrow F2, induced by the user during the movement of the epilator. Thus, the support heel 26 and the epilator roller 13 always remain in contact with the skin P of the area to be shaved. In order to avoid that the friction of the edge of the support heel 26 located in opposition to the movable edge 21 is too intense and can induce a nuisance to the user, the support heel 26 comprises, according to the illustrated embodiment, in opposition to the movable longitudinal edge 21, a roller 30 provided with rotational movement about an axis Ω parallel to the axis of rotation ∆ of the epilator roller 13. Preferably, the axis Ω is located at a distance D 'from the axis ∆ greater than the radius R of the revolution cylinder C in which the epilating roller 13 is inscribed. This feature allows to guarantee a good lever effect in order to provide the flap 25 with a good monitoring of the surface of the skin P of the area to be shaved. The support roller 30 can extend along the entire epilator roller or the hair removal window, as illustrated in Figure 1. Alternatively, it can extend over a portion of the length of the epilator roller or the window hair removal, and in this case, it is advantageously located in the middle of the length.

In order to guarantee, with maximum efficiency, a start of the hairs of the area to be shaved, whatever the inclination of the box 1 or the head 10 with respect to the skin P, the mobile flap 25 is preferably integral of the means of definition 15 of the angular sectors of opening and closing of the clamps. Thus, the definition means 15 are provided with rotary movement around the axis ∆ and follow the variations of the inclination of the box or the epilation head in relation to the skin of the area to be depilated.

In order to allow the performance of hair removal operations that require greater precision than is possible by means of the hair removal apparatus as described above, the invention provides for the possibility of carrying out at least one removable lid 35 , as illustrated in Figure 4, and intended to be fixed temporarily on the flap 25, as shown in Figure 5. The removable cover 35 has a reduced hair removal window 36. Thus, when the cover 35 is located on the flap 25, the removable cover 35 seals at least partly the epilation window 14, so that the accessible epilation head part 13 appears only through the reduced window 36. According to the illustrated example, the window 36 it is substantially centered in a middle plane M, of the epilation head 10 or of the epilating roller 13, substantially perpendicular to the axis ∆.

The invention also provides for the possibility of carrying out a second cover 37 intended to be adapted on the flap 25, removably, according to two positions. This second removable cover 37 differs from the one described above in that it comprises a reduced depilation window 38 displaced laterally. Thus, when the second removable cover 37 is adapted, in a first position, illustrated in Figure 7, on the mobile flap 25, the reduced hair removal window 38 is to the left of the middle plane M. Instead, when the second removable cover 38 is adapted, on the mobile flap 25, in the second position, the reduced window 38 is to the right of the middle plane, as shown in Figure 8.

It should be noted that, according to the example illustrated and described above, the hair removal head 10 is removably adapted on the box 1 and can be separated therefrom by pressing a button 39 accessible from one side of the box 1. Of course, according to the invention, the hair removal head could be integrated in the box or fixed in box 1, permanently without being removable.

According to the example illustrated and described above, the orientation of the hair removal head 10 relative to the box 1 is fixed. However, such an embodiment is not strictly necessary for the realization of a hair removal apparatus according to the invention. Thus, Figure 9 shows an embodiment according to which the hair removal head 10 is mobile, relative to the box 1, along an axis ∆ 'parallel to the axis of rotation ∆ of the epilating roller 13. Thus, the hair removal head 10 can oscillate around the axis ∆ 'to better follow the skin of the area to be shaved. According to this embodiment, the mobile flap 25 does not comprise a roller and has, as opposed to the movable edge 21, a traction edge 41 of the skin of the area to be shaved. The traction edge is then located at a distance D from the axis ∆ greater than the radius R of the revolution cylinder in which the epilating roller 13 is inscribed. This feature allows to guarantee a good lever effect in order to give the flap 25 a Good monitoring of the skin surface of the area to be shaved.

Of course, various other modifications can be made to the invention, within the scope of the appended claims.

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Claims (12)

1. Electric hair removal apparatus comprising: -a box (1) that accommodates an electric motor (4) associated with transmission means (5), -a hair removal head (10) that is related to the box (1) and which comprises: 5 -a hollow body (11) delimiting a depilator chamber (12) opened by a depilation window (14) comprising two parallel straight longitudinal edges (20, 21) and two arched transverse edges (22, 23), -a depilator roller (13) that: -It is arranged inside the epilator chamber (12) in order to appear through the hair removal window (14), - it receives, from the drive means (5), an axis rotation ∆, the axis ∆ being parallel to the longitudinal edges (20, 21), - includes a series of tweezers that open and close as the roller (13) rotates around the axis ∆, 15 - means of definition (15) of the angular sectors, around the axis ∆, of opening and closing of the tweezers of the epilating roller, characterized in that the hair removal head (10) comprises a flap (25) provided with rotating movement around said axis ∆ defining at least one movable longitudinal edge (21) of the hair removal window (14) and comprising a heel of support (26) on the area to be shaved, which, extending along the edge Longitudinal mobile (21) as opposed to the hair removal window (14), defines a contact surface (S) with the skin of the area to be shaved.

2.

Electric hair removal apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the contact surface (S) is tangent to a revolution cylinder (C) of axis ∆ in which the epilating roller (13) is inscribed.

3.

Electric hair removal apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the support heel (26)

25 has, in opposition to the mobile longitudinal edge (21), a traction edge (41) of the skin of the area to be shaved, which is located at a distance (D) from the axis ∆ greater than the radius (R) of the cylinder of revolution (C) of axis ∆ in whose interior the epilator roller (13) is inscribed. 4. Electric hair removal apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the support heel (26) it comprises, as opposed to the movable longitudinal edge, a support roller (30) on the surface to be shaved, 30 provided with rotary movement about an axis Ω parallel to the axis ∆. 5. Electric hair removal apparatus according to claim 4, characterized in that the Ω axis of the support roller (30) is located at a distance D 'from the axis ∆ greater than the radius R of the axis revolution cylinder (C) cuyo inside which the epilating roller is inscribed. 6. Electric hair removal apparatus according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the 35 mobile flap (25) is integral with the means of definition (15) of the angular sectors, in order to provide, depending on the orientation of the mobile flap (25), a modification of the position of the angular sectors in relation to to the hair removal head. 7. Electric hair removal apparatus according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that It comprises at least one removable cover (35, 37) intended to be fixed on the mobile flap (25) of the hair removal head to partially seal the hair removal window and define a reduced hair removal window (36, 38).

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Electric hair removal apparatus according to claim 7, characterized in that the reduced hair removal window is displaced laterally with respect to a median plane (M) of the epilator roller (13), the median plane (M) being perpendicular to the axis of rotation ∆ of the roller .

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Electric hair removal apparatus according to claim 8, characterized in that the removable cover (37) is

45 adapted to be fixed on the mobile flap according to two positions, in order to, in a first position, locate the reduced window (38) to the left of the middle plane (M) and, in a second position, locate the reduced window ( 38) to the right of the middle plane (M). 10. Electric hair removal apparatus according to claim 7, characterized in that the reduced window of hair removal (36) is centered with respect to a median plane (M) of the epilator roller (13), the median plane (M) 50 being perpendicular to the axis of rotation ∆ of the roller. 6

eleven.

Electric hair removal apparatus according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the hair removal head (10) is provided with rotating movement in relation to the housing (1) along a rotation axis paralelo 'parallel to the rotation axis ∆ of the roller.

12.

Electric hair removal apparatus according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the hair removal head (10) is removably fixed on the box (1).

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