JP5329413B2 - Method and hair removal apparatus for cosmetically removing body hair - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a method and a hair removal apparatus for cosmetically removing body hair.

  Various devices for hair removal have been technically proposed. In addition to the classic method of shaving where the hair is cut or sheared as close as possible to the surface of the skin, the epilator device that tries to uproot the hair for as long as possible reduces hair density for as long as possible. It has been implemented. During hair removal, the root portion removed together with the hair largely depends on the pulling speed, particularly the pulling direction. Conventionally, epilator devices have rotating epilation cylinders around which the tweezer-like clamping elements first open and capture the hair, after which they are moved to the clamping position, where the hair clamped by the clamping elements It is extracted by the rotational movement of the epilation cylinder. Such an epilator device is disclosed, for example, in DE 10 2004 047 875 A1, and a three-dimensional rib-shaped clamp structure for a tweezer-like clamping tool has been proposed so that it can be pulled out more tightly and gently. Because of the rotational movement of the hair clamp and hair removal cylinder to be pulled out, the pulling direction is not perpendicular to the skin surface, but is inclined at an acute angle to the skin surface. In this case, it can happen that instead of the hair being pulled out with a large root portion as desired, the hair can be easily peeled off. In addition, the periodic separating and converging movements of the tweezer-like clamping tool require the creation of an actuation movement of the clamping element in addition to the rotational movement of the epilation cylinder, resulting in a complex mechanical arrangement It can only be realized.

  The use of ultrasound has also been proposed in the art as a means of permanently removing hair with as little pain as possible. For example, issued US patent specifications US 4,646,756, US 4,556,070, US 6,200,326, WO 02/09813, WO 00/21612 propose sonication of body hair in order to destroy the hair root. Applying ultrasound will create a temperature rise in the follicle region, thus causing desirable follicle breakage. Furthermore, the published specifications JP 8154728, JP 2001029126, JP 2279107 propose to use ultrasound as a means to reduce pain during hair loss. This is related to applying ultrasound to the hair to be removed and / or to each extraction tool while the hair in question is extracted with the extraction tool. The application of ultrasonic waves means that the hair is pulled out with little pain, but an ultrasonic generator suitable for a hair removal apparatus is required.

  Beginning with these considerations, the underlying objective of the present invention is to provide an improved method for cosmetically removing hair and a hair removal improvement device of the type mentioned, which is a prior art. It is to avoid disadvantages and develop the prior art more advantageously. In particular, the present invention aims to remove hair efficiently by reducing tension as much as possible by applying tension to hair removed in a direction as perpendicular as possible to the surface of the skin. To do.

  According to the invention, this object is achieved by a method according to claim 1 and a hair removal device according to claim 6. Preferred embodiments of the invention are the subject of the dependent claims.

  Contrary to the approach that has been pursued so far, the hair that has been captured once in the hair removal cylinder is pulled out with a single pull. It has been proposed to loosen the anchorage first, and then gradually pull out each hair. According to the present invention, the hair that is gripped by the grip element is removed from the skin in multiple strokes, the grip elements are separated between strokes, then returned to near the skin, and then for regripping. ) Converge. Advantageously, hairs that are released at short intervals are quickly re-gripped so that they can be withdrawn slightly and necessarily for viscoelastic fixation of the follicles without regaining their initial position. . The re-gripping is done quickly so that the hair cannot be returned quickly enough to its initial position, but is subsequently removed. Thus, by putting out hair in a plurality of micro strokes, it is possible to considerably reduce the sense of pain, and it is also possible to increase the hair root portion that is gripped during the putting out. Furthermore, particularly short hair can be captured with good results, but the gripping element is pivoted several times to the surface of the skin. In order to put out the hair in multiple strokes, it has been proposed to use a device with a drive device with a gripping element according to the invention, this drive device being used in a single movement cycle, The stroke length of the closed grip element is configured to be smaller than the distance required to move it out completely. Thus, the stroke length of the drive device is limited so that the grip element is reopened before the hair captured by the grip element is completely removed.

  The hair removal method of the present invention is also intended to cover the process of cutting the hair. In the process of separating the hair, the skin is brought out in at least two micro strokes without the hair being pulled out. After that, the hair is cut off, in particular by cutting or cutting, and the follicle portion is not pulled out, but after the hair has been released by the gripping element, it is convenient not to protrude the rest of the hair beyond the surface of the skin. Fortunately it is pulled back into the capillary.

  Re-grip of grip elements, including work that is separated and pulled back in the direction of withdrawal and converges again, makes sure that the same grip element does not have other grip elements that move to the hair and hair grip engagements that are simultaneously withdrawn. Special practice is to grab the hair multiple times. Unlike rotating epilation cylinders, where different grip elements pass continuously over the hair or across the treated hair segment, the same grip element is moved back and forth in a vibrating manner.

  Advantageously, the process includes unfolding and retracting the grip element substantially perpendicular to the front working surface of the device, where the device is guided and engages the skin surface. Across the surface of the skin. In this way, since a minimal pulling angle can be obtained with respect to the longitudinal direction of the hair root, a larger hair root portion can be removed than the conventional hair removal system using a hair removal cylinder. In this case, the reciprocating stroke of the grip element does not necessarily have to be carried out with a translational vibration movement along an axis perpendicular to the above-described conceptual operating surface. In a further aspect of the invention, the reciprocating stroke of the grip element is relative to the skin surface or the front end working surface of the device, at an angle of 30 ° to 150 °, in particular an angle of 60 ° to 120 °, preferably 75 ° to 105 °. At these angles, the device is engaged with the skin surface and can be guided across the skin surface. With the configuration using this angle range, the drawing is advantageously performed in the direction in which the hair extends. This does not mean that the full reciprocal stroke needs to be performed in the above angular range, especially when the reciprocating stroke is along the vibration axis and not performed purely in translation. However, the main part of the reciprocating stroke, in particular at least two-thirds of the stroke length, is carried out in the aforementioned angular range. Alternatively, the extraction unit can be integrated within the cylinder, and within the cylinder, the extraction unit can be extracted vertically, but the cylinder is mounted for rotation, so the superimposed movement of the cylinder and the extraction unit Through, the drawing is performed in a hair growth direction other than the hair growth direction perpendicular to the surface of the skin.

A further aspect of the present invention is driven at a stroke frequency in excess of 500 Hz so as not to give time to the viscoelastic anchorage of the follicles during re-gripping of the grip element which is essentially retracted back in its initial position. A driving frequency of the grip element exceeding 1 kHz is preferable. As a result, the return movement of the grip element takes place quickly during re-gripping so that the hair can only be retracted while not being gripped by the grip element. The stroke length of the closed grip element (5) is shorter than 5 mm, preferably shorter than 3 mm.

  In order to facilitate such a high-frequency operating movement of the grip element, in a further aspect of the invention, the opening and closing movement of the grip element is performed in the reciprocating stroke plane of the grip element. As a result, this satisfies a grip element that is mounted for movement of the grip element on two axes and / or a drive device that consists of two axes. Three-dimensional motion or a third motion axis is generally not required, even if possible.

  According to a particularly advantageous embodiment of the invention, the reciprocating stroke of the grip element may essentially take place in a flattened elliptical shape, the major axis of which is at least the horizontal axis of the elliptical motion path. Conveniently it is twice. In this case, it is not necessary to accurately describe the elliptical motion path in mathematical orientation, but an oval or similarly flattened motion path may be provided, and if applicable, a small three-dimensional It will be understood that the component may include perpendicular to the ellipsoid.

  In a preferred further aspect of the invention, two grip elements of each cooperating pair of grip elements are driven in opposite movement paths, but these paths are essentially elliptical in the previously described orientation. It has become. The motion component parallel to the major axis of the elliptical motion path performs a reciprocating stroke, while the motion component parallel to the horizontal axis of the ellipse performs the motion gripped by the grip elements towards each other. It will be appreciated that the movement path of each grip element is not strictly an ellipse and is not at least a section where the two grip elements are pushed into contact with each other. As an alternative to the opposite movement of two grip elements in a pair of grip elements that cooperate, it is generally possible to have these two grip elements moving in the same direction along the path, in which case two The movement centers of the paths are offset from each other by a distance sufficient for the grip elements to perform a grip advancement and retraction movement with respect to each other.

  According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the drive for the grip element may be a piezoelectric drive. In particular, it is possible to provide a piezoelectric actuator with which the grip element can be driven at a high frequency. Instead of the piezoelectric actuator, it is also conceivable to use a linear motor or other high-frequency positioning system as the actuator. Alternatively, two actuators can be used for each “ellipse”.

In a further aspect of the invention, the grip elements may be fixed to a preferably plate-like support that is movable in at least two axes independently of each other. In this arrangement, each grip element constituting a pair of grip elements may be fixed to each support. For example, the left-hand side grip element may be fixed to one support body, and the right-hand side grip element of the grip element pair may be fixed to the second support body.

  The preferably plate-like supports for the grip elements may be attached for themselves to move on two axes. Alternatively or additionally, the support may be a bent and elastic support, and the gripping and stroke movements of the grip elements are created by elastic deformation of the support. In particular, the elastic support can be deformed into a wave-like configuration by means of a piezoelectric actuator, so that the grip element fixed to the support performs on the one hand a converging movement and a separating movement and on the other hand a reciprocating stroke. Exercise in the direction of.

  These further features, advantages and possible applications of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of the preferred embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings. A single feature described and / or displayed for purposes of illustration when used alone or in any meaningful combination or sub-combination can be used as a means of the present invention regardless of the summary and backreference of the claims. It may be formed.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of the drive cycle of a gripping element of a epilation device according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, showing different sections of the motion cycle in all six representative examples. FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view of the drive device and mounting structure of the grip element of FIG. 1 in accordance with an advantageous embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a schematic overall view of a hair removal device according to an embodiment of the present invention in order to easily illustrate the direction of movement of the grip element.

Detailed Description of the Invention

  The epilation device 1 presented schematically in FIG. 3 roughly comprises a cubic hand piece 2 and an operating head 3 in the form of an attachment 4 in which a controller, for example a chargeable one, is provided. A battery-type power source and drive device can be accommodated, and the attachment 4 can be connected to the handpiece 2 and includes a plurality of grip elements 5. Hereinafter, the grip element 5 will be described in detail. As is apparent from FIG. 3, the working head 3 defines a conceptual working surface or working surface 7 with the front end 6 and is in contact with and engages the skin surface 8 of the site 9 to be treated. The epilation device 1 and its grip element 5 are guided across the skin surface 8 of the area 9 to be treated.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the plurality of grip elements 5 are fixed to the two plate-like supports 10 and 11 and arranged in pairs with each other, and one grip element of the pair of grip elements is: One support body 10 is fixed, and the other grip element of the pair of grip elements is fixed to another support body 11.

In this arrangement, the grip element 5 is configured in a generally tweezered manner, advantageously as thin as possible for mass inertial forces, and for high integration density, for example, roughly in the form of a sheet metal body. Has been. As shown in FIG. 2, the clamping surfaces 12 of the grip elements 5 facing each other are conveniently sharp edges and, if applicable, have a rough finish so that a sufficiently high withdrawal force can be applied to the hair. It is configured. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the clamping surface 12 may include a protruding, preferably sharp, clamping edge 13. Also, when a certain contact pressure between the grip elements exceeds, this cuts off the hair by cutting off.
In this arrangement, the protruding free end of the grip element 5 faces the aforementioned front end working surface 7 (FIG. 3).

  The drive mechanism 14 for moving the grip element 5 is the piezoelectric actuator 15 shown in the embodiment. The piezoelectric actuator 15 operates in two dimensions and is coupled to the plate-like supports 10 and 11. .

The supports 10, 11 are parallel to the above-described conceptual operating surface 7 of the epilation device 1 for movement in two dimensions (i.e., in the x-axis and z-axis directions shown in FIG. 2). Furthermore, the clamp surface 16 is mounted perpendicularly to the clamping surface 16, but the clamping surface 16 is defined by the two grip elements 5 which are pressed into contact with each other and further by the z-axis and the y-axis shown in FIG. It is made. As an alternative to the mounting of the plate-like supports 10 and 11 that can actually move on two axes, the support may be configured for elastic deformation performance, for example, formed from a sufficiently thin metal plate. As such, the supports 10, 11 can be deformed in a wavy configuration by the piezoelectric actuator 15 in order to produce a drive movement of the grip element 5. Hereinafter, the driving motion of the grip element 5 will be described in detail.

  In particular, thanks to the piezoelectric actuators 15 for the two supports 10, 11, the grip elements 5 fastened to them can be driven in opposite directions along essentially an elliptical or oval movement path 17. The long axis 18 of these movement paths 17 extends substantially perpendicular to the operating surface 7 of the epilation device described above, and the horizontal axis 19 of these movement paths 17 is substantially relative to the operating surface 7. Parallel to each other and perpendicular to the clamping surface 16 of the grip element 5.

  As a result, the grip element 5 passes continuously through the movement cycle station shown in FIG. Initially, the grip element 5 is released as shown by the diagram a) of FIG. This is followed by a downward movement towards the skin surface 8, i.e. a process in which the grip element 5 extends essentially substantially perpendicular to the aforementioned operating surface 7 of the epilation device 1, so that at the end of the downward movement the grip element 5 converges, thereby grasping the hair 20 to be pulled out and holding the hair 20 clamped between the grip elements 5 (see FIG. 1). Thereafter, an upward movement, which is convenient and essentially perpendicular to the skin surface 8 and the conceptual operating surface 7 of the epilation device 1, is followed, contrary to the downward movement described above. That is, the grip element 5 is retracted into the hair removal apparatus 1. In this process, the ascending movement is limited so that the hair 20 to be grasped is not pulled out completely straight and only a minute pulling out is performed. At the end of the lifting movement, the grip element 5 is released again, as shown in the diagram d) of FIG. 1, to complete one movement cycle of the grip element 5. The working frequency of the drive 14 is very high, but as illustrated by the diagram e) in FIG. 1, the new lowering and closing is so quick that the hair 20 returns quickly and fully to the initial position. I can't. Usually, the viscoelastic fixation of the hair root will carry out such a return movement, because the hair was not sufficiently pulled out of the fixing part in the first stroke. However, this return movement is subject to a specific time function, whereas the re-grip or return movement of the grip element 5 is adapted. In specific terms, re-gripping is done quickly, so no hair return movement is performed or only a slight hair return movement is performed. As clearly shown in FIG. 1 f), the closing operation is followed by a new microstroke with the gripping element 5, which causes the gripped hair 20 to come out a little further. These micro strokes are repeated many times until the hair is completely removed. Accordingly, since the hair 20 to be removed is continuously taken out in a plurality of strokes, the grip element 5 is opened between strokes and retracted back to the skin and closed again in order to re-grab the hair from the bottom. .

  According to the preferred application, the hair 20 does not have to be pulled out completely. In addition, in order to cut off the hair 20 by a high-frequency opening / closing movement of the grip element 5 or by a high convergence pressure of the grip element 5, after a certain length of pulling movement, that is, after a certain number of micro strokes, It is possible to stop the lowering of the grip element 5. As a result, the hair is not regrown but is withdrawn due to loosening of the hair root tissue. Given a sufficient length of pulling stroke, the hair ends disappear under the surface of the skin.

  In an alternative embodiment, the hair removal device is a combination of a hair removal device and a shave. In this case, the partially drawn hair (as described above) is cut off or cut / cut by a separate cutting element or blade or long hair trimmer. The remainder of the hair that stays with the hair root is then retracted into the skin and is typically not visible or touched.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Hair removal apparatus, 2 ... Handpiece, 3 ... Operation | movement head, 4 ... Attachment, 5 ... Grip element, 6 ... Front end part, 7 ... Operation | movement surface, 8 ... Skin surface, 9 ... Region | part, 10 ... Plate-shaped support body, DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 ... Plate-shaped support body, 12 ... Clamp surface, 13 ... Clamp edge, 14 ... Drive mechanism, 15 ... Actuator, 16 ... Clamp surface, 17 ... Ellipse or egg-shaped movement path, 18 ... Long axis, 19 ... Horizontal axis, 20 ... Hair

Claims (28)

In the method of cosmetically removing body hair, the gripping elements (5) are separated from each other, moved toward the skin , converged and separated from the skin , the hair (20) to be removed periodically grabbed by driven tweezers-like grip element (5), at least in part by the reciprocal movement of the grip element (5) is issued from the skin, a said method,
The hair (20) grasped by the grip element (5) is removed from the skin by repeating the stroke a plurality of times , during which the grip elements (5) are separated from each other and re-gripped for The method, characterized in that it is retracted close and converges again.   2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the stroke length of the individual strokes of the grip element (5) is less than the distance required to be moved out completely. It said stroke, the stroke subsequent to the step of grasping said grip element (5) again, the time interval between, hair (20) is shorter than the time interval retracted to the initial position partially out, claim The method according to 1 or 2. It said grip element (5) is driven by the stroke frequency exceeding 0.5 kHz, A method according to any one of claims 1 to 3. It said grip element (5) is moved with respect to the previous yellowfin exercise route on a two-axis (17), The method according to any one of claims 1-4.   The method according to claim 1, wherein the opening and closing movement of the grip element (5) is performed in a reciprocating stroke plane of the grip element (5). Reciprocating stroke of the grip element (5), with respect to the surface (8) of the skin, carried out at 150 ° angular degrees from 30 °, The method according to any one of claims 1 to 6. The hair is a second and subsequent strokes, are disconnected from the remainder remain in the skin, the method according to any one of claims 1 to 7. Oite hair removal equipment, and periodically grab motion of the grip element (5) which moves forward and backward with each other, the periodic reciprocating stroke of the grip elements for issuing a hair (20) at least partly gripped (5) A drive mechanism (14) for generating the at least one pair of grip elements (5) movable in a tweezer manner,
Said drive mechanism (14) is characterized in that within the movement cycle of the grip element (5), the stroke length of the closed grip element (5) is smaller than the distance required to move it out completely. The hair removing device. Said drive mechanism (14) is a section of the cycle between two consecutive said stroke of said grip element (5) is the time hairs part is pulled out is required to return to its initial position The hair removal device according to claim 9 , wherein the hair removal device is configured to be shorter than the target interval. The grip element (5) has a front and rear vibration drive mechanism (14) so that the same pair of grip elements (5) grips the hair (20) to be taken out a plurality of times without any further grip elements (5). 11. A hair removal device according to claim 9 or 10 , adapted to be driven by: The driving device of the grip element (5) has a frequency in excess of 0.5 kHz, hair removal apparatus according to any one of claims 9-11. Hair removal device according to any one of claims 9 to 12, wherein the stroke length of the closed grip element (5) is shorter than 5 mm. The grip movement of the grip element (5), the said stroke of the round-trip grip element (5) is performed in a plane parallel to the plane to be performed, according to any one of claims 9-13 Hair removal device. Substantially elliptical path of movement is provided for the reciprocal movement of the grip element (5), the long axis of the front Symbol elliptical motion path, exceeds twice the length of the horizontal axis of the elliptical motion path, claim 9 The hair removal apparatus as described in any one of -14. Two grip element pairs of work each together of grip element (5) (5) is adapted to be driven in the opposite direction on the qualitatively elliptical path of movement (17), wherein The hair removal apparatus as described in any one of claim | item 9 -15. The reciprocating stroke of the grip element (5) is performed in a direction substantially perpendicular to the operating surface (7) of the hair removal device, and is adapted to guide the hair removal device accordingly. , engages a surface (8) of the skin to be treated, and / or, across the surface (8) of the skin to be treated, the hair removal apparatus according to any one of claims 9 to 16. Reciprocating stroke of the grip element (5), the relates operation surface of the hair removal device (7), in a direction at an angle range of 150 ° from 30 °, and extends over at least two thirds of the path length The hair removal apparatus according to claim 17 . The hair removal device according to any one of claims 9 to 18, wherein the drive mechanism (14) includes an actuator (15) working in two dimensions. The hair removal device according to claim 19 , wherein the actuator (15) is a piezoelectric actuator. The hair removal device according to any one of claims 9 to 20, wherein the grip element (5) is fixed to two plate-like supports (10, 11) movable on two axes. The hair removal device according to claim 21, wherein the two plate-like supports (10, 11) are attached to move independently of each other. The two plate-like supports (10, 11) are flexible and elastic, and the gripping and stroke movement of the grip element (5) is created by elastic deformation of the support (10, 11). The hair removal apparatus according to claim 21 or 22. The hair removal device according to any one of claims 9 to 23, wherein each grip element (5) constituting the pair of grip elements (5) is fixed to each support (10, 11). 24. The two plate-like supports (10, 11) according to any one of claims 21 to 23, arranged substantially parallel to the operating surface (7) of the hair removal device. Hair removal device. In the closed and converged state, the grip element (5) defines a clamping line and / or clamping surface (16), which clamp line and / or clamping surface (16) reciprocates the grip element (5). 26. A hair removal device according to any one of claims 9 to 25, which is orthogonal to the movement plane (x, z) of the grip element (5) defined by a stroke and a grabbing movement. 27. A hair removal device according to any one of claims 9 to 26, wherein the second and subsequent reciprocating strokes of the grip element (5) are moved towards each other with high pressure in order to separate the hair. In the reciprocating stroke of the second and subsequent, by disconnecting the hair remainder remain within the skin, comprising at least one cutting blade adapted to be driven with a Work device to decouple the hair, according to claim 9 The hair removal apparatus as described in any one of -26.

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