EP0772984A1 - Roller for applying wax of different widths and wax applicator with such a roller - Google Patents

Abstract

The roller (10), designed to apply a layer of molten epilatory wax to the skin, is made in two sections (10a, 10b), one of which (10b) can be locked or freed relative to the other by means of a control member (20) to vary the width of the applied wax layer. The two roller sections (10a, 10b) have the same diameter and lie coaxially with one another and are preferably so that they fit one inside the other, e.g. by means of a matching projection (16) and recess (15). The control member (20) has a mechanical or magnetic lock to fix the two roller sections together or allow one to rotate while the other is fixed. The roller is also equipped with a chamber (2) and a heater for the wax.

Description

The present invention relates to the general technical field of devices for applying hot-melt products, and in particular to devices for applying depilatory wax, said devices being suitable for storing the wax in solid form at room temperature, while being capable to make it change state, and to make it pass to a state at least pasty or liquid in order to be able to apply it using a roller.

The present invention relates more particularly to a hot melt depilatory wax applicator roll intended to be functionally associated with or with a wax applicator assembly comprising a housing associated with a gripping means and a reservoir of the product to be applied, said reservoir being in thermal relation with heating means.

The present invention also relates to a wax applicator assembly comprising the applicator itself, as well as the applicator roller according to the invention.

We already know, for example from patent FR-A-2520601, the hair removal technique by applying a depilatory wax using a roller.

Generally, this technique consists in melting a certain quantity of wax which is substantially in the solid state at room temperature, then in applying it, in the molten state, in the form of a layer to the area to be depilated.

After hardening, that is to say after cooling, the film of cold wax is removed using appropriate means which differ according to the tearing-off technique used.

For example, the removal of the strip of wax can be carried out directly manually if the wax has the necessary characteristics and elasticity, or indirectly using additional means, such as a cloth or a Adhesive paper.

When the wax is removed, the hairs are pulled from the skin due to their attachment to the melted wax.

The traditional wax applicators of the prior art include a housing intended to be held in or in the hand, as well as a reservoir intended to store the wax, the housing comprising heating means in thermal relation with the reservoir for carrying the wax at the melting temperature, in order to make it change state.

The conventional devices known to date also include application means which can be in the form of various tips or even rollers. In some wax applicators, the heating means are independent of the housing (FR-A-2520601) and mounted in a base to form a heating base.

In the specific application of hot-melt depilatory wax which relates directly to the invention, namely the application of depilatory wax via roller applicators, patent application EP-A-0368698 is known which describes a manual applicator comprising, in the same housing, a wax reservoir, a heating resistor and an applicator roller.

The wax applicator being turned over, the wax is applied in the molten state to the skin by means of the gravitational force, when the roller, which channels and spreads the wax in a thin and controlled layer of thickness, is applied to the skin.

Apparatuses of this type generally give overall satisfaction, and are particularly used to apply wax in small quantities for depilation of the legs.

Applicators of this type nevertheless suffer from a major drawback linked to the difficulty or even the impossibility of easily depositing strips of wax in different areas of the body, such as the armpits, the mustache, certain areas of skin fold etc. This is largely due to the impossibility of varying, and in particular reducing the width of the strip of wax to be applied by the roller.

Currently, the only devices allowing, under certain conditions, to deposit wax strips of variable width, are all based on the principle of a simple change of accessory, or even by a complete change of the applicator itself using another applicator equipped with a roller whose tread has a different width (FR-A-2520601).

The solutions based on the simple change of accessory, have the drawbacks which one seeks precisely to avoid in the case of wax hair removal devices, namely: an extension of the epilation time, since it is then necessary wait until the wax of the new cartridge or new applicator is ready, as well as an increase in the number of manipulations, since it is necessary to remove the cartridge, clean it, put it away, and install a new cartridge and a new accessory.

The present invention aims precisely to solve all of the drawbacks listed above, and in particular to produce a depilatory wax applicator roller capable of applying strips of wax of variable width, in a simple and rapid manner for the user. .

Another object of the invention consists in producing an applicator roller and the apparatus associated therewith, which make it possible to provide numerous possibilities for variations in widths of application of wax, while remaining particularly simple in design.

Another object of the invention further aims to provide a wax applicator roller and the apparatus associated therewith which is capable of ensuring or facilitating the passage from one width of selected wax strip to another with reliability and speed.

The objects assigned to the invention are achieved using a hot-melt depilatory wax applicator roll, intended to be functionally associated with or with a wax applicator assembly, characterized in that it comprises application means of wax, capable of ensuring, selectively by control means, the deposition on the skin of strips of wax of different widths according to the selection made.

The objects assigned to the invention are also achieved using a hot melt depilatory wax applicator intended to be held in or in the hand, and comprising a means for storing a mass of wax and a heating means of wax, as well as a wax applicator roller, characterized in that it comprises means for applying the wax capable of ensuring, selectively, by control means, the deposition on the skin of strips of wax of different widths depending on the selection made.

• La figure 1 montre selon une coupe partielle établie selon un sens transversal longitudinal, un rouleau applicateur conforme à l'invention, intégré dans un ensemble applicateur de cire, correspondant à une première variante de réalisation.
• La figure 2 montre selon une coupe transversale établie selon la ligne ll-ll de la figure 1, un détail d'un moyen de blocage en rotation du rouleau conforme à l'invention, le rouleau étant en position de blocage.
• La figure 3 montre selon une coupe analogue à la figure 2 un exemple du moyen de blocage en position de dégagement du rouleau.

Various other characteristics will emerge more clearly from the description given below, with reference to the appended drawings, which show, by way of nonlimiting examples, embodiments of the subject of the invention, in which:

• FIG. 1 shows, in a partial section established in a longitudinal transverse direction, an applicator roller according to the invention, integrated into a wax applicator assembly, corresponding to a first embodiment.
• Figure 2 shows in a cross section established along the line II-II of Figure 1, a detail of a rotation locking means of the roller according to the invention, the roller being in the locking position.
• Figure 3 shows in a section similar to Figure 2 an example of the locking means in the release position of the roller.

The applicator for hot-melt products shown in a partial view in FIG. 1 conventionally comprises an external casing 1 made for example of a plastic material having, in a nonlimiting manner, a generally elongated shape allowing it to be easily held at or in the hand.

Inside the housing 1 is housed a reservoir 2 externally limited by a wall 3 generally made of a material which is a good heat conductor and for example metallic.

The tank 2 therefore forms a means for storing the wax, or more generally the hot-melt product to be applied.

Advantageously, the wall 3 of the reservoir 2 is made of aluminum and advantageously extends over the entire central part of the housing 1, being limited to its lower part by a bottom (not shown) and to its upper part by a metal head 4, possibly attached or screwed to the wall 3.

The metal head 4 internally delimits an upper opening of the applicator forming a conduit 5 which allows the wax, by gravity, to flow from tank 2 to the outside.

In a manner known per se, the wax applicator device according to the invention comprises heating means (not shown in the figures) housed and fixed in the housing 1, preferably in its lower part and in thermal relation with the or the walls 3. The heating means can be constituted by any conventional electrical element capable of supplying high or low voltage, thermal energy to ensure the melting of the wax.

By way of non-limiting example, the heating means may consist of an electrical resistance or a PTC, for example at least partially surrounding the tank 2. The heating means are also, as is well known in the prior art , associated with thermal regulation means, such as a thermostat and a fuse (not shown in the figures).

The wax applicator roller 10 according to the invention, with a longitudinal axis of revolution xx 'is arranged in the duct 5 and rests for example by lateral pins 11 in recesses 12 made in the walls of the head 4. The roller applicator 10 is supported in the recesses 12 and mounted free to rotate about its axis x-x '. The pins 11 have axes coinciding with the longitudinal axis x-x '.

The applicator roller 10 is for example made of a metallic material provided on its peripheral surface with a coating of plastic material, advantageously overmolded forming the wax application layer.

The applicator roller 10 comprises means for applying the wax which are capable of ensuring, selectively by control means, the deposition on the skin of strips of wax of different widths, according to the selection made.

To this end, the application means comprise, as shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, at least two adjacent cylinders 10a, 10b forming the applicator roller 10, at least one of the cylinders being capable of being selectively be blocked in rotation, or free to rotate through the control means.

As shown in Figure 1, the cylinders 10a, 10b are coaxial, of the same diameter and side by side, and preferably are mounted so as to fit into each other to form a single applicator roller 10 Thus, the cylinder 10a comprises for example in its central part a well 15 in which is slidably mounted a male part 16 secured to the cylinder 10b. The dimensional relationships between the well 15 and the male part 16 are such that the well 15 forms a bearing for the male part 16. Thus, the cylinders 10a and 10b can be rotated at the same speed when the roller 10 runs on the skin. Similarly, when one of the cylinders is locked in rotation, the other cylinder can be rotated, when the roller 10 runs on the skin.

According to a preferred version of the invention, the cylinders 10a, 10b are preferably two in number although a greater number of adjacent cylinders is also possible.

In another preferred version of the invention, each cylinder 10a, 10b has a tread having a specific application width which is different from the width of the other cylinder so as to be able to apply wax strips of corresponding widths and different from each other.

Thus the cylinder 10a (FIG. 1) whose tread is of width La, is greater than the width Lb of the tread of the cylinder 10b, the sum La + Lb forming the width L corresponding to the tread of the entire applicator roller 10.

The control means comprise means for blocking the rotation of the application means, that is to say cylinders 10a and 10b. Preferably, the locking means are mechanical locking means including the control means, namely an arm 20 pivotally mounted in the vicinity of a side face of a cylinder 10a, 10b on the applicator assembly. The arm 20 is pivotally mounted by an axis 21 between a position for disengaging the axis x-x '(Figure 3) and a position for engaging the same axis (Figure 2).

The arm 20 has at its upper part a housing 22 forming a cutout or an opening with a profile conjugated to the profile of a portion of the axis x-x '. By way of nonlimiting example, the arm 20 is mounted in the vicinity of the cylinder 10b and comprises a housing 22 of substantially oblong shape and one of the end edges 22a of which has a partially hexagonal profile which, when the arm 20 is in its position of engagement of axis xx '(figure 2), to engage a hexagonal part of axis x-x'. Preferably, the hexagonal part of the axis x-x 'is formed by the pin 11 so as to block said axis in rotation at this level. In such a case, when the applicator roller 10 rolls on the skin, only the cylinder 10a is rotated, which allows the application of a strip of wax of width La. Conversely when the arm 20 is in the release position shown in Figure 3, the two cylinders 10a, 10b can be rotated simultaneously on the skin so as to apply a layer of wax of width L.

As a further variant, it is possible to provide and associate an arm 20 with each cylinder 10a, 10b so as to be able to selectively control the locking in rotation of one or the other of the cylinders 10a, 10b. In this case, the applicator roller 10 is able to selectively apply three different widths of wax strips.

In the embodiments described above, the arm 20 is provided at its upper part with a lug 26 serving as control means for selecting one or the other of the positions of said arm.

In a particularly advantageous manner, the space "e", shown in FIG. 2, defined between the tread of the applicator roller 10 and the internal wall of the head 4 is substantially equal to 0.5 mm and preferably between 0 , 4 mm and 1 mm. Compliance with these dimensional criteria makes it possible to prevent the wax from flowing when the applicator roller 10 does not rotate.

The operation of the applicator roller according to the invention is as follows. The user selects using the control means 20, 26, the desired wax strip width by choosing to selectively block either one or the other of the cylinders 10a, 10b, or by not blocking any of said cylinders . It therefore has three widths of wax strips, to choose from. Once the selection has been made, the user turns the applicator over and applies it to the area to be depilated by moving it.

It is therefore possible for the user to select, depending on the area to be depilated, any of the widths of the wax bands available and this using particularly easy handling.

As a further variant, it is obviously possible to use, in place of a mechanical locking means, any equivalent magnetic locking means, involving a magnet or an electromagnet.

Another embodiment may consist in mounting each cylinder 10a, 10b, not on a common axis, but on separate axes, aligned when the rollers 10a, 10b are in position at the bottom of the duct 5. The cylinders 10a, 10b, are arranged side by side at the bottom of the conduit 5 and prevent the exit of the wax. Each cylinder 10a, 10b, can be mounted on the head 4 so as to ability to slide and occupy a high working position, in which the wax can flow. This embodiment therefore makes it possible to select several widths of wax strips by selecting the high position of the cylinder or cylinders 10a, 10b which it is desired to use and to move in rotation on the skin.

Claims (10)

Roller applicator (10) of hot-melt depilatory wax, intended to be functionally associated with or with a set of wax applicator, characterized in that it comprises means for applying (10a, 10b) of the wax, capable of ensuring, selectively by control means (20, 26), the deposition on the skin of wax strips of different widths according to the selection made. Roller according to claim 1, characterized in that the application means comprise at least two adjacent cylinders (10a, 10b) forming the applicator roller (10), at least one of the cylinders being capable of being selectively be blocked in rotation, or free to rotate by the control means (20, 26). Roller according to claim 2, characterized in that the cylinders (10a, 10b) are coaxial and of the same diameter and preferably mounted so as to fit into each other. Roller according to one of Claims 1 to 3, characterized in that each cylinder (10a, 10b) has a tread having a specific application width (La, Lb) which is different from the other cylinders so that it can be applied wax strips of corresponding widths which are different from each other. Roller according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the control means (20, 26) comprise mechanical (22, 22a) or magnetic means for locking in rotation the application means (10a, 10b). Roller according to claim 5, characterized in that the means for locking are mechanical locking means (20), pivotally mounted between a release position and an engagement position of the longitudinal axis (x-x ') of at least one cylinder (10a, 10b) to lock it in rotation. Roller according to claim 6, characterized in that the pivoting locking means is an arm (20) pivotally mounted on the applicator assembly, said arm comprising a housing (22, 22a) of profile conjugated to the profile of a portion of the 'axis (x-x') so that it can be locked in the engagement position. Hot melt depilatory wax applicator intended to be held in or in the hand, and comprising a means of storage (2) of a mass of wax, and a means of heating the wax, as well as an applicator roller (10) wax according to one of claims 1 to 7. Applicator according to claim 8, characterized in that the applicator roller (10) is mounted at least partly in a wax outlet duct (5), at a sufficiently small distance "e" from the walls of the duct (5) running alongside the roller application surface, so that the wax does not flow by gravity out of the duct (5) when the roller (10) is locked in rotation. Applicator according to claim 9, characterized in that the distance "e" is substantially equal to 0.5 mm and preferably between 0.4 mm and 1 mm.

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