EP0786213B1 - Depilatory apparatus for the human body - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to the removal of unwanted hair, and more precisely a device for human hair removal, with wax.

Hair removal techniques by applying a depilatory wax have been developed. These techniques involve melting a certain amount of wax, then apply it in the molten state on the area to be epilated. After hardening, that is to say after cooling, the cold wax film is then removed. The hairs are then extracted from the skin, due to their joining with the wax.

The implementation of these techniques generally requires the use relatively bulky devices, giving rise to a hair removal operation long, tedious, and often messy.

In order to improve the prior devices, devices have been developed, in particular that described in European patent application EP-A-O 629 366 concerning an applicator of hot-melt products, in particular of wax depilate.

This device comprises a housing associated with a gripping means, a reservoir of the product to be applied, heating means and, at least one applicator roller. This compact device, of simplified design, allows the control and optimal control of the wax application temperature, a ease of use and cleaning, and limits the risk of environmental pollution.

A hair removal technique using a support band has also been developed, pre-coated with depilatory wax. The operator places a sheet, or a pre-coated strip, in a device. This heats this strip, and allows the fusion of the wax which coats the support. After melting the wax on the support to which it adheres, the operator extracts the tape from the device and applies it to the skin at depilate, the coated side being deposited on the skin. The hairs are then coated, and after solidification, it suffices to manually tear off the strip to realize epilation of the desired area. Such sheets, or pre-coated strips, are for example described in document US-2,425,696. This document describes also coating wax formulas.

• des moyens de préhension manuelle,
• des moyens de stockage du ruban respectivement avant et après usage,
• des moyens d'avancement du ruban permettant de présenter une nouvelle zone du ruban pour chauffage,
• des moyens de chauffage du ruban et
• un support portant les moyens de stockage et les moyens de chauffage du ruban.

Document LU-A-85026 describes a waxing device comprising a body, carrying means making it possible to apply, to an area of the wearer's skin, a ribbon pre-coated with a composition to be depilated. , tearing means intended for removing the tape previously applied to the skin of the user. The device includes:

• manual gripping means,
• tape storage means respectively before and after use,
• means for advancing the ribbon making it possible to present a new zone of the ribbon for heating,
• tape heating means and
• a support carrying the storage means and the ribbon heating means.

The device further comprises means to cool the strip before tearing. However, this device finds its limits when by tearing off the strip of wax, the skin has the tendency to lift and follow the contour of the rounded rear frame, causing the formation of a bead and, consequently, the appearance of pain important.

Ribbon devices have the advantage of greatly simplifying the operation hair removal. However, if the operation of manually tearing off these strips remains relatively easy in accessible and relatively flat surfaces, like that of the legs or arms, this operation remains particularly difficult in inaccessible places, and particularly painful in places where the skin can be distended, especially under the armpits.

The object of the invention is to remedy the drawbacks of the methods previously mentioned, and to provide a device for human hair removal, the implementation of which is particularly simplified.

Another object of the invention is to allow the user easy use, on yourself, even in places that are not easily accessible.

Another object of the invention is also to limit the pain felt during the hair removal operation.

To achieve these goals, the invention relates to an apparatus for hair removal. Human with the features of claim 1.

This particular arrangement thus allows its user to maneuver the device with one hand, during all stages of the process hair removal. This arrangement thus facilitates the hair removal operation, and even in places that are not easily accessible. The use of a pre-coated tape, facilitates the implementation, and allows an effective depilation even on the hairs short.

• L'appareil comprend des moyens de maintien permettant de maintenir la peau durant l'enlèvement du ruban. Cette caractéristique permet de limiter la douleur, en maintenant la peau tendue, sans quelle soit excessivement tirée, durant l'arrachage du ruban pré-enduit. Ceci est particulièrement efficace, dans les zones où la peau est détendue, notamment sous les aisselles.
• L'appareil comprend des moyens de maintien, comprenant des éléments venant en appui sur la peau de l'utilisatrice, et définissant une zone de maintien dont le contour est ouvert.
• L'appareil comprend des moyens de maintien, qui comprennent des éléments venant en appui sur la peau de l'utilisatrice, et définissant une zone de maintien dont le contour est fermé.
• La zone de maintien est sensiblement de forme rectangulaire.
• L'appareil comprend, des moyens de préhension manuels, des moyens de stockage du ruban respectivement avant et après usage, des moyens d'avancement du ruban permettant de présenter une nouvelle zone du ruban pré-enduit pour chauffage, des moyens de chauffage du ruban.
• L'appareil comporte un boítier portant les moyens de maintien permettant de maintenir la peau durant l'enlèvement du ruban, un support portant les moyens de stockage et, les moyens de chauffage du ruban, ledit support étant mobile par rapport aux moyens de maintien et ayant trois positions stables, une position de repos, une position de mise du ruban en contact avec la peau et une position de refroidissement du ruban.
• La distance entre la position de mise du ruban en contact avec la peau et la position de refroidissement du ruban est déterminée de façon à compenser l'usure du ruban.
• Les moyens de chauffage comprennent un patin chauffant, à température contrôlée.
• Le support porte des moyens de blocage, des moyens de stockage, lesdits moyens de blocage étant commandés par des moyens de commande portés par le boítier et prenant soit une position de repos soit une position active, lesdits moyens de blocage étant en position de repos lors du passage du support de sa position de mise en contact avec la peau à la position de refroidissement et, en position de blocage lors du passage du support de sa position de refroidissement à sa position de repos.
• Les moyens de chauffage permettent de réchauffer la composition à épiler sur une longueur du ruban sensiblement égale au double de celle de la zone d'application du ruban sur la peau.
• L'épaisseur de la composition à épiler, pré-enduite sur le ruban, est comprise entre 0,2 et 0,5 mm.

In different particular embodiments, the invention comprises the following characteristics, taken in isolation or in all their technically possible combinations.

• The apparatus includes holding means for holding the skin during the removal of the tape. This characteristic makes it possible to limit the pain, by keeping the skin taut, without it being excessively pulled, during the tearing off of the pre-coated tape. This is particularly effective, in areas where the skin is relaxed, especially under the armpits.
• The device comprises holding means, comprising elements bearing on the skin of the user, and defining a holding zone whose outline is open.
• The apparatus comprises holding means, which comprise elements coming to bear on the skin of the user, and defining a holding zone whose contour is closed.
• The holding zone is substantially rectangular in shape.
• The apparatus comprises, manual gripping means, means for storing the ribbon respectively before and after use, means for advancing the ribbon making it possible to present a new zone of the pre-coated ribbon for heating, means for heating the ribbon .
• The apparatus comprises a housing carrying the holding means making it possible to hold the skin during the removal of the ribbon, a support carrying the storage means and, the heating means of the ribbon, said support being movable relative to the holding means and having three stable positions, a rest position, a position for bringing the ribbon into contact with the skin and a position for cooling the ribbon.
• The distance between the position for placing the ribbon in contact with the skin and the position for cooling the ribbon is determined so as to compensate for the wear of the ribbon.
• The heating means comprise a heating pad, at a controlled temperature.
• The support carries blocking means, storage means, said blocking means being controlled by control means carried by the housing and taking either a rest position or an active position, said blocking means being in the rest position during of the passage of the support from its position of contact with the skin to the cooling position and in the blocking position when the support passes from its cooling position to its rest position.
• The heating means make it possible to heat the composition to be depilated over a length of the ribbon substantially equal to twice that of the zone of application of the ribbon to the skin.
• The thickness of the depilatory composition, pre-coated on the tape, is between 0.2 and 0.5 mm.

• La figure 1 représente une coupe transversale, d'une réalisation de l'appareil selon l'invention.
• La figure 2 représente en coupe droite, la réalisation de la figure 1.
• La figure 3 représente une autre coupe droite de la même réalisation.
• La figure 4 représente une coupe horizontale réalisée au niveau d'un rouleau de stockage.
• Les figures 5A, 5B, 5C, 5D et 5E représentent un ensemble de vues montrant la position des pièces, représentées à la figure 3, au cours des différentes étapes d'utilisation de l'appareil.
• Les figures 6A, 6B,6C, 6D et 6E représentent un ensemble de vues montrant la position des pièces, représentées à la figure 2, au cours des différentes étapes d'utilisation de l'appareil.

Various other characteristics and advantages of the invention will emerge from the description which follows, given by way of example and without limitation, with reference to the appended drawings in which:

• Figure 1 shows a cross section of an embodiment of the apparatus according to the invention.
• FIG. 2 represents in cross section, the embodiment of FIG. 1.
• Figure 3 shows another cross section of the same embodiment.
• FIG. 4 represents a horizontal section made at the level of a storage roller.
• FIGS. 5A, 5B, 5C, 5D and 5E represent a set of views showing the position of the parts, represented in FIG. 3, during the various stages of use of the device.
• Figures 6A, 6B, 6C, 6D and 6E show a set of views showing the position of the parts, shown in Figure 2, during the various stages of use of the device.

An apparatus for human hair removal, according to the invention, shown more particularly in FIG. 1, comprises a body 1, carrying and containing, all the constituent elements of this achievement. This body serves also manual gripping means of the device.

This device can be compact and can be operated with one hand.

Inside this body 1 is disposed a mobile support 10. This support 10 can be moved vertically by manual action of the user, exercised on a control lug 11. This lug 11, positioned in a slot 12, passes through the body 1 and overflows on the outside thereof, thus allowing the operation of maneuvering and moving the entire support 10 by relation to the body 1.

The support 10 is held in the high position by the action of a spring 13. On the support 10 are positioned two coils 5 and 7 for storing a ribbon 4 comprising a support pre-coated with a depilatory composition. Advantageously, the depilatory composition is a coating wax to be heated. before application. Such a composition is particularly effective, because it allows better coating and coating of the hair to be depilated. A heating element 8 connected to a heating pad 6, the assembly being connected to the support 10, makes it possible to reheat the ribbon 4, and thus melt the wax before application to the skin.

The front face of the body 1, or case, is closed by a removable cover 28. When the cover 28 is removed, the resulting opening provides access to inside the body 1, making it possible in particular to remove the used ribbon 4, mounted on the storage rollers 5 and 7, and replace them with new ones reels 5 and 7 fitted with a new ribbon 4.

The body 1, of the hair removal device, is provided in its lower part with an opening 2 more particularly visible in Figure 2. During hair removal, this opening 2 is placed and held on the skin 3 of the user.

A temperature sensor 9 allows regulation, by a device electronic, of the heating element 8. The temperature of the pad 6 is adapted to quickly melt the wax deposited on the ribbon 4, in its part in contact with this skate.

Advantageously, the shoe 6 has a slightly curved shape, in its part low. This shape is also substantially parallel to the opening 2.

At the start of use, or just after loading a new ribbon 4, this is mainly wound on the reel 5. As it is use, the ribbon 4, new, unrolls from the reel 5 and is transferred progressively on the spool 7 containing the used ribbon.

The tape storage and transfer means can be maintained in position via stop means. These means thus allow a blocking of the unwinding of the ribbon 4. In the illustrated embodiment of the invention, the means for blocking the unwinding of the tape, consist of by two pawls 24 and 25. These pawls are in the form of an inverted V, and held in position by a spring device. Each pawl 24, 25 is held by an axis, integral with support 10. In position high, one of the two branches of each pawl 24, 25 engages in a clearance 26, 27 arranged inside the side walls of the body 1. The other branch of the pawl 24, 25 is thus, under the action of the spring, brought to the contact of at least one of the two outer discs of the coil 5 or 7. This branch of the pawl 24 or 25 then engages in a toothing system, shape combined with that of the branch, and thus allowing blocking, in rotation, coils 5 and 7, and consequently the blocking of the ribbon.

The mobile support 10 is shown in the high position, in FIG. 3. This support can move along a rod 22, and is held in position high by the action of a spring 13. Inside the support 10, and around the rod 22, is placed a ring 21, conical, split. This ring 21 engages in a conical housing, arranged in the support 10, under the action of a spring 23 'supported by a cover fixed on the support 10.

A locking device for the low position comprises a part, positioned on the body 1, comprising a lug 15 which can engage, in the low position, in a clearance arranged in the support 10, and thus blocking the assembly of the support in the low position.

The means for unlocking the low position include a push button 16 arranged on the blocking part.

Locking means, in an intermediate position, include a flip-flop 17. This flip-flop comprises, in its lower part, a ramp 19 and in its upper part a shoulder 20, coming into contact with the support 10 mobile. Inside the rocker 17 is arranged a spring 14 coming in support, on one side on the rocker 17, and on the other side on a through span of the support 1. In the intermediate position, a heel fitted in the rocker 17 engages in an opening 18 arranged in the body 1.

The means for unlocking the intermediate position comprising a button pusher 23 arranged on a flexible element positioned on the body 1.

FIG. 4 is a section taken at the level of the reel 5 of the ribbon 4 and allows to represent the section plane 1-1 used for figure 1.

FIGS. 5A to 5E and 6A to 6E represent the positions, and the relative displacements of the different moving parts during operation of the device.

In FIGS. 5A, 5E are shown more particularly, the means of blocking of the lower position and the intermediate position, as well as the means for unlocking these two positions.

The support 10 and the rocker 17 are shown in the high position in the figure 5A. The support 10 is held in this position by the action of the spring 13, and maintains in this position the rocker 17 by pressing on the shoulder 20, the rocker 17 comes to bear on the axis 29, through, integral with the body 1 and thus maintains all of the parts 10, 17 in the high position.

A manual action exerted on the lug 11, shown in Figure 1, allows cause a downward movement of the support 10. The displacement of the support 10 causes by the action of the ramp 19 a simultaneous movement of the toggle 17.

When passing from an intermediate position, represented in FIG. 5B and under the combined action of the ramp 19 and the spring 14, a lug 30, integral with the rocker 17, engages in an opening 18 arranged in the body 1, thus locking the rocker in an intermediate position.

The action maintained on the pusher 11 makes it possible to continue the descent of the support 10 to the low position shown in Figure 5C. In this position, the lug 15 of the locking means of the low position engages in a recess 31 arranged in the support 10, blocking the latter in the low position. In this position, the support 10 prevents displacement lateral of the rocker 17, and maintains the lug 30 in the opening 18. The two springs, 13 and 14 are in the compressed position.

Thus, as shown in FIG. 5B, the action on button 16 causes the deformation of the locking device around an axis integral with the body 1. The lug 15 emerges from the recess 31. The action of the spring 13 causes the raising the support 10.

During this movement, the combined action of the spring 23 'and the housing taper of the split conical ring 21 exerts a tightening thereof on the rod 22. This ring then constitutes a brake allowing a progressive ascent and smoothly of the support 10. The support 10 coming to bear on the shoulder 20 is in turn maintained in an intermediate position.

As shown in Figure 5E, the implementation of the means of release of the intermediate position, i.e. in this embodiment an action on the push button 23 instantly causes, under the action of the springs 13, 14, the immediate rise of the support 10 and the rocker 17. In its part high, the rod 22 is of a diameter less than that of its lower part. So the conical and split ring 21 exerts no tightening on the rod 22, the ascent from the intermediate position to the high position is therefore done suddenly and without braking.

Figures 6A to 6E show the elements presented in Figure 2 and present the different operating steps of the hair removal process.

In the initial step, shown in 6a, the support 10 is in the high position. In at the very beginning of a hair removal operation, this step also constitutes a step preheating.

Advantageously, the ribbon 4 is pre-coated with a fusible depilatory composition to a temperature higher than the temperature of the human body but lower than 100 ° C. This avoids excessive heat transfers from the device towards the skin, which can then cause burning phenomena. Advantageously, an operating temperature is thus chosen located around 70 ° C.

The thickness of the composition deposited on the tape is between 0.2 and 0.5 mm. Advantageously, this thickness is greater than the diameter of the hairs to be coated.

The heating element 8 is regulated by a simple electronic device and a temperature sensor 9. It allows rapid heating of the heating pad 6. The temperature of pad 6 is sufficient to melt the wax very quickly deposited on the ribbon 4 in its portion in contact with the shoe 6. The support 10 is then lowered manually.

In this step shown in 6b, the part of the ribbon 4 in contact with the pad 6 comes into contact with the skin 3. It is also possible to produce step 6A of preheating and 6B of descent of the shoe 6 when the appliance is not not in contact with the skin 3. In this case, when the shoe 6 is in position low, the part of the tape 4 in contact with the shoe 6 can then be applied directly with the appliance on the area to be epilated. In this position, the shoe 6 heating maintains the composition to be depilated in a viscous state. Pressure applied to the user's skin, makes it possible to coat with hot wax supported by ribbon 4, the area to be epilated.

In this position, the two pawls 24, 25 for blocking the coils 5, 7 are noted. The two coils 5 and 7 can then rotate freely, and let the ribbon unroll.

The user then presses the unlocking button in the low position. The support 10 then moves to the intermediate position.

In this step shown in 6C, the part of the ribbon 4 brought into contact previously with the skin remains, by adhesion, bonded thereto. Rolls; Coils 5, 7 free in rotation let the ribbon 4 unwind.

At the end of the movement, and in the intermediate position, the two pawls 24, 25 engage in the openings 26, 27 then block the rollers 5 and 7.

In this position, the ribbon wax 4 is no longer in contact with the heating elements, cools, hardens, and traps hairs.

When the wax has sufficiently hardened, the operator then presses the means for unlocking the intermediate position. The support 10 then moves suddenly from the intermediate position to the high position.

During this step, shown in 6D, the two pawls 24, 25 remain engaged and prevent rotation of the rollers 5, 7 for storing the ribbon 4. The tape 4 is then detached from the skin and the hairs, located on the area to be epilated, are torn off.

During this operation, a slight pressure from the user keeps the device in contact with the skin 3. The lateral edges, of the body 1, applied to the skin, prevent it from being pulled with the ribbon. Maintaining the skin thus avoids pain related to stretching. The rapid execution of uprooting avoids also too much pain.

At the end of depilation, shown in 6E, an opening located on the cover or on the housing 1, rotates the reel 7 for receiving the ribbon 4. The strand relaxed during the hair removal operation is then rewound. Advantageously, the distance traveled by the shoe 6 between the low position and the intermediate position is equal to the length of the surface of the shoe 6 applied to the skin. In this way, when the skate is moved from the low position at the intermediate position, the ribbon 4 unwinds a length equal to the length of the ribbon used by each cycle of use. So when rewinding the ribbon 4 on the receiving reel 7, this operation allows to compensate for the wear of the ribbon 4 and a new surface of this ribbon comes in contact with the shoe 6.

In the embodiment of the invention, shown in the figures, the shoe 6 heater is L-shaped allowing to warm the composition to depilate over an area roughly twice that of the area applying tape 4 to the skin. The heating pad 6 allows you to redesign the depilatory wax in the part coming into contact with the skin, the other area corresponds to a preheating zone thus allowing to preheat the composition to depilate and to decrease the wait necessary for the remelting of the wax between two cycles of use of the appliance.

During the step of tearing off the tape 4 from the skin 3, the lateral edges of the body 1 in contact with the skin 3, make it possible to maintain the latter, without the excessively tender. This support helps limit pain during tearing off the ribbon 4, and depilation. In the embodiment, the invention, shown in the figures, the side walls of the body 1 coming resting on the skin 3 of the user define a holding zone whose outline is closed. This arrangement corresponds to a preferred arrangement, but it is perfectly conceivable not to keep, resting on the skin of the user, that two side walls of the body 1, in opposition. This provision also allows maintenance of the skin of the user while defining a holding zone whose outline is open.

In the present description, the use of terms relating to an orientation, vertical, top and bottom was made in relation to the figures representing a mode embodiment, in which the device is positioned vertically. In actual use situation, the device can be positioned in space in any orientation, terms describing the relative positions of elements must then be adapted to this orientation.

In a preferred embodiment of the apparatus, the area of the pad 6, heating, coming into contact with the user's skin 3 is of substantially shaped rectangular with a length of 4 cm and a width of 3 cm. The height of the device is between 15 and 20 cm.

The support band, used in the device, is chosen according to its mechanical qualities, on the one hand, having to withstand tension and stress exercised during the lifting phase, and on the other hand, because of its properties thermal, to be adapted to the depilatory wax coating the support, retain its properties when heating or reheating the wax depilate, while ensuring mechanical properties of attachment of this wax and by resisting chemical phenomena and aggressions. This support can be of cellophane sheet type, or also of plastic material of the type tape roll.

Claims (10)

1. An appliance for human epilation, the appliance comprising a body (1) carrying means enabling a tape (4) precoated in an epilatory composition to be applied to an area of the skin (3) of the user; tear-off means for taking away tape (4) that has previously been applied to the user's skin (3);

   manual handle means;

   means for storing the tape (4) both before and after use;

   means for advancing the tape (4), enabling a new area of tape (4) to be presented for heating;

   means for heating the tape (4); and

   a support (10) carrying the means for storing the tape and the means for heating the tape (4), the appliance being characterized in that it comprises a housing (1), and in that said support (10) is movable relative to the housing and has three stable positions, a rest position, a position in which the tape is put into contact with the skin (3), and a position in which the tape cools.
2. An appliance according to claim 1, characterized in that the distance between the position for putting the tape into contact with the skin (3) and the position for cooling the tape is determined so as to compensate for the amount of tape (4) that is used.
3. An appliance according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the heater means comprise a heating plate (8) at a controlled temperature.
4. An appliance according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the support (10) carries locking means for each of the storage means, said locking means being controlled by control means carried by the housing (1) and making up either a rest position or an active position, said locking means being in a rest position while the support goes from its position for putting the tape into contact with the skin to the cooling position, and in a locking position while the support goes from its cooling position to its rest position.
5. An appliance according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the heater means enable the epilatory composition to be heated over a length of tape that is substantially twice the length of the area of tape (4) that is applied to the skin (3).
6. An appliance according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the thickness of the epilatory composition that is precoated on the tape (4) lies in the range 0.2 mm to 0.5 mm.
7. An appliance according to claim 1, characterized in that it also comprises holding means enabling the skin (3) to be held while the tape (4) is removed.
8. An appliance according to claim 7, characterized in that the holding means comprise elements that press against the skin (3) of the user, defining a holding zone whose outline is open.
9. An appliance according to claim 7, characterized in that the holding means comprise elements that press against the skin (3) of the user, defining a holding zone whose outline is closed.
10. An appliance according to claim 8 or 9, characterized in that the holding zone is substantially rectangular in shape.

Images