EP0097074B1 - Apparatus and method for removing hair with wax - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an apparatus for waxing.

The present invention also relates to a method of waxing.

We know that waxing consists of heating the wax to soften it, spreading it over the skin with a spatula, so as to form strips, then, after the wax has hardened, removing these strips. so as to pluck the hairs trapped in the wax. It is then necessary to recover the wax by removing it from its hair. For this, the strips are heated until a liquid bath is obtained which is to be filtered.

FR-A-2 222 974 discloses an apparatus for carrying out these various operations. It includes a low tank -or drawing tank-, and a high tank -or filtration tank-, provided with a weir overhanging the low tank. In the latter, the temperature is maintained at approximately 60 ° C. The wax can be drawn from it to be immediately applied to the skin. After removing the strips, we put them in a filter that we installed in the upper tank, brought to a temperature of about 120 ° C, where they melt. The resulting liquid wax passes through the filter and returns to the lower tank through the weir while the bristles are retained in the upper tank by the filter.

In order to reduce their size, devices for specifically domestic use have only one tank which is used as a drawing-off tank during the actual hair removal, and which is then brought to a higher temperature to carry out filtration.

These household appliances have various drawbacks. As it is necessary to wait for the end of the actual hair removal to be able to filter the wax, on the one hand the overall duration of the operation is increased, and on the other hand it is necessary to store the removed strips while waiting to be able to put them back in tank. During filtration, the filter must be raised to allow the filtered wax to pass underneath. This manipulation can be dangerous because the wax then has its temperature of 120 ° C.

On the other hand, in filtration apparatus with two tanks, such as that described in FR-A-2 222 974, the two tanks are at very different temperatures, for example 120 ° C. for the filtration tank and 60 ° C for the drawing tank. When wax arrives from the filtration tank in the drawing tank it heats the wax, in particular on the surface of the drawing tank, bringing it to a temperature which may be too high for direct use.

This drawback would manifest itself more if it were envisaged to produce on the principle described in FR-A-2 222 974 a domestic appliance, because the tank capacity of a domestic appliance is more reduced, and consequently the thermal influence resulting from the arrival in the drawing-off tank, coming from the filtration tank, of a flow of molten wax corresponding to a given use would be stronger there.

The object of the invention is to make the device with two tanks compatible with domestic use. To this end, it proposes, on the one hand, a device with two tanks, and on the other hand, a process of hair removal with wax implemented in a device with two tanks.

According to its first aspect, the invention relates to an apparatus for waxing, comprising a body, a drawing-off tank carried by the body and associated with heating and regulation means, a filtration tank also associated with heating and regulation means and which, when the appliance is in the service position, is raised and offset laterally relative to the drawing-off tank, and a weir intended to make. communicate the bottom of the filtration tank with the drawing tank.

According to the first aspect, the apparatus is characterized in that the filtration tank is mounted movable relative to the body between the aforementioned service position, in which it is overhanging relative to the body, and a storage position in which it is brought back above the drawing tank.

In the operating position, the device has all the advantages of two-tank devices. In particular, it is possible to ensure that the upper tank releases almost all of the access to the lower tank.

By cons, in the storage position, the two tanks are substantially perpendicular to each other, so that the horizontal size of the device is similar to that of a device with a tank.

According to its second aspect, the invention relates to a method of waxing by means of an apparatus comprising a drawing-off tank whose bottom is associated with heating means and with a thermostat, a filtration tank also associated with heating means and which, when the appliance is in the operating position, is raised and offset laterally relative to the drawing-off tank, and a weir intended to make the bottom of the filtration tank communicate with the drawing-off tank. According to this process, the wax is softened in the drawing-off tank, it is spread over the skin, it is allowed to cool there, it is removed and it is deposited in a filter installed in the filtration tank.

According to the second aspect of the invention, the method is characterized in that from the weir, the filtered wax is led directly to the bottom of the drawing-off tank.

The wax from the filter tank is too hot to be reused immediately. By driving it to the bottom of the drawing-off tank, it is avoided that it is immediately withdrawn. In addition, this wax strongly influences the nearby thermostat. This immediately stops the heating, to take into account the calorific intake due to the wax coming from the filtration tank. These results are particularly advantageous in the context of domestic use because then the drawing-off tank is of low capacity and the wax coming from the filtration tank risks having a prohibitive influence on the temperature of the ready-to-use wax. .

Other features and advantages of the invention will emerge from the description below.

• . la figure 1 est une vue de l'appareil en position de service, en coupe selon le dièdre I-I de la figure 3 passant par les axes des cuves et ayant pour arête leur axe de pivotement mutuel ;
• . la figure 2 est une vue analogue à la figure 1, mais partielle, et en coupe selon le dièdre II-II de la figure 3 dont l'arête est l'axe du déversoir ;
• . la figure 3 est une vue de dessus de l'appareil des figures 1 et 2 ;
• . la figure 4 est une vue partielle en perspective de la cuve de puisage avant montage de la cuve de filtration ;
• . la figure 5 est une vue en coupe selon le plan V-V de la figure 1 ; et
• '. la figure 6 est une vue en élévation latérale de l'appareil en position de rangement avec coupe axiale et arrachement du couvercle.

In the appended drawings, given by way of nonlimiting examples:

• . Figure 1 is a view of the apparatus in the service position, in section along the dihedron II of Figure 3 passing through the axes of the tanks and having for edge their mutual pivot axis;
• . Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1, but partial, and in section along the dihedral II-II of Figure 3 whose edge is the axis of the weir;
• . Figure 3 is a top view of the apparatus of Figures 1 and 2;
• . Figure 4 is a partial perspective view of the drawing tank before mounting the filtration tank;
• . Figure 5 is a sectional view along the plane VV of Figure 1; and
• '. Figure 6 is a side elevational view of the device in the storage position with axial section and cutaway of the cover.

The device comprises a body 1 of plastic material having a base 2 and a side wall 3. The body 1 of axis XX vertical when the device is placed by its base 2 on a horizontal surface, is substantially cylindrical.

In the upper part of the body 1 is fixed an aluminum drawing tank 4 consisting of a bottom 6 and a cylindrical side wall 7, of axis XX, the upper edge of which is joined with that of the wall 3 of the body 1. The tank 4 occupies almost the entire useful diameter of the body 1. It is fixed to the base 2 of the body 1 by a spacer 8.

Against the outer wall of the bottom 6 are arranged heating means by electrical resistance 9 which are electrically supplied by means of a thermostat 11, the bimetallic strip 10 of which is brought into thermal contact with the bottom 6 of the drawing-off tank by a thermal bridge 10a. The thermostat 11 controls the heating means 9 so as to maintain in the tank 4 a temperature of the order of 60 ° C., adjustable by means of the rotary wheel 12.

The apparatus further comprises an upper housing 13 comprising a bottom 14 and a cylindrical side wall 16 of axis YY parallel to the axis XX, the diameter of which is close to that of the body 1, but the height of which is approximately 2, 5 times less than that of the body 1. In this housing is placed a filtration tank 17 formed by a cylindrical side wall 18, and a bottom 19. The filtration tank 17, in which a flexible filter is installed in service (for example canvas) or rigid 21, occupies almost all of the useful diameter of the housing 13 and about half of its height.

Against the bottom 19 of the tank 17, on the side of the bottom 14 of the housing 13, are provided heating means 22 supplied by conductors 23 connecting, like the heating means 9, to a connector 25 from which a conductor three-wire 24 used to connect the device. The heating means 22 provide in service a fixed temperature of the order of 120 ° C. They consist of a self-regulating resistance by increasing its ohmic value with temperature.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the bottom 19 of the tank 17 is planar with the exception of a peripheral channel 26 inclined towards the side where it communicates with a weir 27 opening into the drawing tank 4.

According to the invention, the upper housing 13 is articulated to the body 1 along an axis ZZ parallel to the axes XX and YY.

In the example shown, the housing 13 is superimposed on the body 1 and the geometric pivot axis ZZ passes inside the two tanks 4 and 17, near their side walls 7 and 18.

By the aforementioned pivoting, the filtration tank 17 is movable between a service position (Figures 1 to 3) and a storage position (Figure 5). In the operating position the filtration tank is offset laterally with respect to the drawing tank 4 and thus gives very convenient access to the latter. The filtration tank 17 then forms an overhang relative to the horizontal size of the body 1, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. However, a certain region of the filtration tank 17, where the weir 27 is located, is located at above the drawing tank 4.

In the storage position (Figure 6), the housing 13 is in the extension of the body 1, the axes XX and YY being combined. The device can then be closed by a cover 28 enclosing both the housing 13 and the top of the body 1, which keeps the device in the storage position.

The means ensuring the pivoting of the housing 13 comprise a plate 31 of plastic material fixed to the edge of the drawing-off tank 4. It covers the abovementioned edge at a certain angle, and projects towards the axis XX. Its area is such that it is almost entirely covered by the housing 13 even when the latter is in the service position. The plate 31 (FIG. 5) has an external edge in a sector of a circle 32, two lateral edges 33, the extension of which would cut the axis XX, and a rectilinear internal edge 34 forming the same obtuse angle A with the two edges 33. The plate 31 is symmetrical with respect to a plane passing through the axes XX and YY in the service position (FIG. 5).

The plate 31 has, on the side of the housing 13, a cylindrical boss 36 crossed by a bore 37, of axis ZZ, widened on the side directed towards the tank 4 by a shoulder 38 (Figure 1).

For its part, the bottom 14 of the housing 13 has a recess 39 in which fits the boss 36 of the plate 31. At the center of the recess 39 is arranged a cylindrical boss 41 fitted into the bore 37. At its end directed to the plate 31, the boss 41 has a profiled flange 42 snapped onto the shoulder 38. The elements 36 to 42 are all of axis ZZ and ensure the pivoting of the housing 13 relative to the body 1.

In addition, the boss 41 also has an axial through bore 43. The latter communicates with the interior of a flexible conduit 44 going from the bore 37 of the plate 31 to an orifice 46 passing through the wall 7 of the tank. 4, in which the duct 44 is tightly fixed. Between the heating means 22 and the conductor 24, the conductor 23 is engaged in the bore 37 and the conduit 44.

The weir 27 is a rigid aluminum tube, the axis UU of which is parallel to the axes XX, YY, ZZ. It partially protrudes from the housing 14 by a light 47 from the latter, and projects permanently into the drawing-off tank 4.

In the operating position of the device, the weir 27 is engaged in a notch 48 formed in the plate 31 between the boss 36 and the edge 33 which is the most distant from it. It has two lateral edges 49 in arcs of a circle centered on the axis ZZ, and a semi-circular bottom 51 whose radius is greater than that of the weir 51. In the example shown, the plate 31 is adjacent by its edges 33 and 34 to a skirt 52 (FIG. 4) directed towards the bottom 6 of the tank 4, and the notch 48 is connected to a rectangular notch 53 of the skirt 52.

According to an important feature of the invention, the apparatus further comprises a metal partition 54 which defines in the tank 4 a prechamber 56 into which the weir 27 opens into the service position.

The base of the partition 54 is adjacent to the bottom 6 of the tank 4, and is fixed to the latter by a riveted tab 57.

The upper part of the partition 54 is contiguous with the skirt 52, so that the profile of the partition 54 corresponds to that of the plate 31 under which the prechamber 56 is housed.

In the example shown, the partition 54 internally covers the plate 31 and is finally fixed to the edge of the tank 4 in common with the plate 31. Of course, in this case the partition 54 has notches corresponding to the notches 48 and 53 of the plate 31 and the skirt 52 to allow passage of the weir 27.

The two side walls 58, located directly above the edges 33 of the plate 31, each have a chamfered lower angle so that between these chamfers and the walls of the tank 4 are formed two openings 59 making the prechamber 56 communicate with the tank 4 in the immediate vicinity of the bottom 6 of the latter.

We will now describe the operation of the apparatus for waxing, this description including that of the method according to the invention.

At the start of a hair removal operation, the appliance is placed in the service position shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, in which the weir 27 is in abutment at the bottom 51 of the notch 48, and wax is put in the tank 4 in order to soften it. The desired temperature for the wax is adjusted by means of the rotary wheel 12. The molten wax is taken from the tank 4 and applied in strips on the skin. After the wax has solidified, the strips are removed from which rollers are formed which are placed in the filtration tank 17 provided with the filter 21. The strips are transformed there into a liquid bath which flows through the filter 21 and the weir 27 in the prechamber 56. Through the vents 59, the superheated wax joins the wax ready for application in the immediate vicinity of the bottom 6 of the drawing-off tank 4. Thus, the superheated wax is not directly accessible to the use. In addition, the superheated wax immediately influences the thermostat 11 which interrupts the supply of the heating means 9.

To store the device, the housing 13 is pivoted around the axis ZZ. In the example shown where the axis ZZ is outside the plane defined by the axes YY and XX (Figure 3) in the service position, the rotation required to move into the storage position is less than 180 °. In the storage position, the weir 27 abuts against the edge 33 of the plate 31 opposite the notch 48 (position shown in phantom in Figure 5). We can then set up the cover 28 (Figure 6).

It will be noted that the invention, in particular in the embodiment shown, ingeniously exploits the raised and offset position necessary for the filtration tank in the service position, with a view to achieving using a very simple and very economical structure. an appliance having in the storage position a space compatible with the requirements of domestic use.

Of course, the invention is not limited to the example described and shown.

One could in particular provide that the housing such as 13 is mounted between the ends of two parallel rods the other ends of which are articulated at the edge of the drawing-off tank. In the service position, the box rests on the edge of the drawing tank. In the storage position, it is fitted into the drawing tank.

It is also possible to provide that the housing such as 13 is slidably mounted on a slide placed radially on the rim of the drawing-off tank. In the storage position, the two tanks would be one on top of the other and, in the service position, the housing 13 would be pulled out as far as possible to clear the drawing tank.

Claims (9)

1. A device for wax depilation, comprising a body (1), a drawing recipient (4) borne by the body (1) and coupled to heating means (9), a filtering recipient (17) also coupled to heating means (22) and which when the device is in the operational position, is raised and laterally off-set with respect to the drawing recipient (4), and a spout (27) intented for providing communication between the bottom (19) of the filtering recipient (17) and the drawing recipient (4), characterized in that the filtering recipient (17) is movably mounted with respect to the body (1) between the aforesaid operational position in which it overhangs the body (1) and a fold-away position in which it is brought back above the drawing recipient (4).

2. A device in accordance with claim 1, characterized in that the filtering recipient (17) is superposed on the drawing recipient (4) and pivoted thereon along an axis (ZZ) that is vertical when in use.

3. A device in accordance with claim 2, characterized by the filtering recipient (17) being pivoted on the drawing recipient (4) by means of a hollow pivot (36-42) having axially running therethrough electrical supply leads (23) for the heating means (22) coupled to the filtering recipient (17).

4. A device in accordance with one of claims 2 or 3, characterized in that one portion of the filtering recipient (17) is located above the drawing recipient (4) even in the operational position, and in that the spout (27) is provided in this portion of the filtering recipient (17) and protrudes into the drawing recipient (4).

5. A device in accordance with one of claims 1 to 4, characterized by comprising a thermostat (11) beneath the bottom (6) of the drawing recipient (4) to regulate the temperature of the wax contained therein, and means (54. 59) for directing to the bottom (6) of the drawing recipient (4) the wax flowing down from the filtering recipient (17).

6. A device in accordance with claim 5, characterized in that these latter means comprise a partition (54) setting apart a prechamber (56) in the drawing recipient (4), said prechamber (56) being positioned vertically below the spout (27) when the device is in the operational position, and in that the prechamber (56) is in communication with the drawing recipient (4) via at least one opening (59) made in the base of the partition (54).

7. A device in accordance with claims 5 and 6, characterized in that, in the fold-away position, the upper part of the partition (54) including a cut- away (48, 53) for free movement of the spout (27) above said partition.

8. A device in accordance with one of claims 6 or 7 characterized in that the prechamber (56) is covered by a plate (31) carrying the filtering recipient (17) pivoting means (36-42).

9. A method for wax depilation using a device comprising a drawing recipient (4) whose bottom (6) is coupled to heating means (9) and to a thermostat (11), a filtering recipient (17) also coupled to heating means (22) and which when the device is in the operational position, is raised and laterally off-set in relation to the drawing recipient (4), and a spout (27) intended for providing a communication between the bottom (19) of the filtering recipient (17) and the drawing recipient (4), the method comprising the steps whereby wax is softened in the drawing recipient (4), spread onto the skin, left to cool, peeled off and placed in a filter (21) installed in the filtering recipient (17), characterized in that from the spout (27), the filtered wax is guided directly to the bottom (6) of the drawing recipient (4).

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