EP0895453A1

EP0895453A1 - Depilatory device with rotary roller

Info

Publication number: EP0895453A1
Application number: EP98902021A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Bernard Louison; Bernard Beillard; Yves Rosson; Moshe Dolev
Original assignee: SEB SA
Current assignee: SEB SA
Priority date: 1997-01-06
Filing date: 1998-01-05
Publication date: 1999-02-10
Anticipated expiration: 2018-01-05
Also published as: IL126052A; BR9804761A; EP1240843B1; DE69813407D1; CN1138495C; FR2758060B1; EP0895453B1; HK1019545A1; DE69813407T2; AU5868298A; JP2000507145A; IL126052A0; EP1240843A2; WO1998030125A1; DE69821807D1; ES2194301T3; CN1500422A; FR2758060A1; US6033416A; CN1215981A

Abstract

The invention concerns a depilatory device comprising a motor for driving a roller (1), said roller comprising one or several rows of tweezers, each row being formed by a first series of blades (20) inserted in a second series of discs, and control means (56-85) for moving the blades in translation along the shaft so as to press them against the others and then bring them apart. The invention is characterised in that the blades (20, 40) of at least one series is cross-shaped, one pair of opposite arms (23) being at least partly curved in one longitudinal direction, the other orthogonal pair of opposite arms (23') being at least partly curved in the other direction, said blades being held by their respective support (10, 30) in their base at the junction point of the arms (21,41).

Description

ROTARY ROLLER DEPILATOR

TECHNICAL AREA

The present invention relates to a depilatory device capable of being held in the hand and intended to depilate the hairs of the human body considered to be superfluous for aesthetic or other considerations.

PRIOR ART

A known family of epilators is based on a roller movable in rotation about a central axis arranged behind a window at one of the ends of the housing, this roller comprising one or more rows of pliers, each row being formed of a first series of parallel side-by-side movable blades inserted in a second series of fixed disks or equally movable blades, a clamp therefore being constituted by a blade of the first series associated with the adjacent disk or blade of the second series. Control means are further provided for successively causing the blades to clamp against each other to pinch the hairs to be pulled out and then to move apart to allow the removal of the hairs pulled out before the introduction of the following hairs. between the blades.

To be effective, an epilator must simultaneously resolve several constraints. First, the row of pliers or two adjacent rows must be able to handle the entire area defined by the window. Secondly, the clamps must be able to close as quickly as possible at the precise moment when they pass at the base of the hair at the level of the skin, and this is all the more so when the nip is not very wide. Thirdly, the value of the clamping pressure must be able to be established at a value which is neither too large in which case the hair is only cut, nor too low in which case the hair slides without being pulled out. Fourth, the qualities mentioned above must be found simultaneously so homogeneous on each of the pliers forming a row. Finally, the control mechanism must be as simple as possible to be reliable over time and inexpensive.

A first type of epilator called "swivel blades" of this family, described in document EP 328 426 (Demmester / Braun), comprises a rotary roller formed by a series of circular blades arranged side by side, each blade having two protruding diametrically opposed pinching zones. These blades are mounted by a central opening on the shaft of the roller so as to be pivotally movable along an axis perpendicular to this shaft. Two bars (or rods) slidably mounted parallel to the shaft have transverse grooves inside each of which is engaged an edge of the central opening of a blade, these blades being coupled alternately with one of these barrettes and with each other. Each bar is actuated by a cam against a small return spring so as to ensure simultaneously, twice per turn of the roller, the pivoting of these blades one in one direction and the next in an opposite direction to come in contact like pliers.

The apparatus according to document EP 403 315 (SEB) is similar except that the clamps are each formed by a pivoting half-blade belonging to a first series in association with a fixed disc belonging to a second series, a single bar actuation then being sufficient to actuate the clamps of a row. Each half-blade is pivotally mounted around its foot retained in a notch in the hub, this pivoting being printed by the notch of the bar engaged with the lower edge of the orifice of the half-blade through which the bar passes. .

In these two devices, there is therefore normally only two rows of pliers per roller, all the pliers in a row being simultaneously active when they pass in front of the window of the housing.

In addition, the correct return of the blades to the spread position is dependent on springs which must be hard enough to actuate all the blades, which exerts a damaging stress on the motor, but small enough to be able to be accommodated discreetly.

The first variant of the hair removal device described in document FR 2 662 338 (Matsushita) comprises a roller composed of fixed discs and laterally movable blades. These discs and blades, having a square central orifice, are threaded alternately on a central rotary drive shaft of also square section. The fixed circular discs are held equidistant by spacers, and have four orifices arranged in a cross for the passage of control rods located near the central shaft. The movable blades have a roughly cross shape, and their central orifice is also cruciform apart from the center widened into a square to be threaded in a mobile manner in rotation on the spacers. Two control rods diametrically opposite the shaft are engaged with a first series of movable blades for, by moving in the opposite direction, imparting to them a pivoting movement; the two other rods located at 90 ° passing freely, but being in engagement with the second series. Each rod carries at its end a roller engaged in a helical groove of a fixed end bearing acting as a cam, this groove alone requiring the movement back and forth without using a spring. The movable blades will then pivot to alternately come into contact with their two adjacent discs.

This device with its blades substantially in the form of a cross therefore has four rows of pliers around the roller, one pliers out of two being however inactive when passing a row in front of the window. This means that half of the hair is pulled out offset by a quarter of a turn, which dissipates and reduces pain.

On the other hand, the control mechanism with four control rods and two cams with helical grooves is particularly complex, therefore of doubtful reliability over time and of a cost of manufacture and assembly not negligible. In particular, the roller is caused to change cyclically in the direction of rotation when it approaches an alternating slope of the helical groove during the passage from a "go" towards "return" movement, or vice versa. These sudden changes of direction of rotation imply stresses, therefore rapid wear of the rollers.

The basic principle of these epilators with movable blades in pivoting is therefore that the lever arm with which the control bars act on the pinch blades is relatively small so that with a relatively small bar stroke we can obtain a spacing of maximum pliers blades facilitating the engagement of bristles between these blades. For a given gripper opening, the bar stroke is moreover half as small in the first device, all the blades of which are movable, as in the last two devices described. The speed of closing is all the greater the greater the leverage effect making the cam less shallow. However, the slightest alteration in the shape of the cam, for example by stamping, can cause a detrimental delay in the closing moment.

On the other hand, the value of the clamping force at the level of the nip, which is then a sub-multiple of the force applied to the bar by the cam, as well as the regularity along the row, is determined by the end positions of many rather rigid parts. So, the slightest error in the dimensions of one of them, whether it is the shape of the cam, the distribution of the grooves on the bars or the length of the blades, affects far too much, either at the start during the manufacture of these parts, or as a result of wear and tear, this effective tightening value is detrimental.

Above all, since the various clamping elements pivot at the central axis of the rotary cylinder, they form a relatively large angle in their clamping position so that frequently the edges which are in abutment against each other only cut the hairs instead of plucking them.

A second type of epilator called "with translational blades" of this family is described as a variant in document EP 147 285 (Alazet). This epilator comprises a first series of parallel discs fixed on a hub driven in rotation by an electric motor, and a second series of narrow blades arranged between the discs and integral with a rod which carries them in the manner of a comb. The rod is moved axially by a cam acting at one of its ends, and this meets a return spring acting at its other end. Thus, these blades move in translation together in parallel and in principle simultaneously come into contact with the discs to produce a pinching effect.

However, the correct engagement of the bristles in these pliers and the regularity of the gripping force from one plier to another also depends strongly on the precision of two elements: the stacking of the discs and of the blades of the comb, the intervals of which must be strictly equal to each other. This drawback affects the cost and efficiency of this device. In addition, only two rows of diametrically opposed pliers are provided on the roller, all the pliers being active when the row passes behind the window of the housing.

The document WO 92/15223 (Dolev) describes another epilator with blades movable in translation in which the rotary roller on a central shaft comprises a series of planar discs fixed in the longitudinal direction and of planar movable blades interposed, defining between them the clamps . The discs have on one side of the tenons, and on the other side of the holes so as to fit when stacked to form the roller which is rotated by a crown arranged on one of the end flanges. The movable circular blades have orifices in correspondence with the tenons so that they can be arranged between the fixed disks while being longitudinally movable relative to the roller. The central orifices of these movable discs have radial pins oriented inwards which are engaged and locked in transverse grooves formed at regular intervals on the rotary shaft.

The inner end of the central shaft housing is itself secured to a gear wheel meshed with a clearly wider pinion. The internal face of this toothed wheel is extended by a cylindrical block at the periphery of which is cut a sinusoidal groove. Casters secured to the housing are engaged in this groove. Thus, during the rotation of the shaft, the action of the rollers in the cam groove causes an alternative advance and retreat of this shaft in addition to its rotation, which pushes and withdraws the movable blades against their adjacent fixed disks . The reciprocating movements of the shaft therefore cause the pliers to open and close, trapping the hairs in these spaces when open and pulling them out when closed.

In a variant, the longitudinally fixed rotary roller is formed of a cruciform cross-section tube in the branches of which grooves are cut at regular intervals. Cross-shaped blades are locked on the central shaft movable in translation so that the blade branches emerging in the grooves pinch the bristles against the edges of the grooves.

However, the direct cam control device without spring, having to ensure a long back and forth movement of each blade of one of its discs adjacent to the other, is particularly bulky and complex, and therefore expensive. In addition, as mentioned above, a roller traversing a sinusoidal groove is caused to change cyclically in the direction of rotation suddenly, which is detrimental for its longevity.

An advantage of these epilators with blades movable in translation is that it is easier to create flat pinching zones distributing the clamping force in a pressure which better grips the hair to pull it out.

Again, again, the effectiveness of the hair removal of this device, both in terms of setting the tightening value and the regularity of the tightening actions of each of the pliers, depends on the precision of the intervals between discs and between blades which must be rigorously equal, blade flexibility for compensation having little effect during plan-to-plane contact. In the variant, it is suggested to make the groove edge oblique to allow a certain play through the flexibility of the blades. However, this oblique edge then acts rather like a knife.

STATEMENT OF THE INVENTION

The object of the present invention is to provide a rotary drum epilator comprising pliers formed from movable blades in association either with other movable blades or with fixed discs which offers a better compromise for the different constraints to be met in order to obtain optimum hair removal for removal.

As far as possible, a row of pliers, or two adjacent rows, that is to say which appear successively in the window of the housing at short intervals, for example less than a third of roller rotation, must be able to treat practically the entire area of the skin appearing in front of the window of the housing by effective closing and at the appropriate time of all the pliers of a row.

Such a device must in particular make it possible to ensure a relatively constant pinch pressure value without requiring a system for adjusting the pinch force during assembly, an operation which is always expensive, or a system for adjustment by the user with external control. constituting a too random solution.

The control mechanism must be able to take into account inevitable clearances between parts necessary for their proper functioning, while remaining relatively simple in design to increase reliability and reduce production costs.

These purposes are achieved by an epilator comprising a housing intended to be held in the hand and containing a drive motor for a roller movable in rotation around a central shaft arranged behind a window formed in a housing, this roller comprising one or more several rows of pliers, each row being formed of a first series of parallel blades side by side movable ribs and inserted in a second series of fixed disks or blades that are also mobile, (each clamp thus being constituted by a blade of the first series associated with the adjacent disk or blade of the second series), as well as control means to move the movable blades in translation in the longitudinal direction of the shaft so as to clamp them against the others to pinch the hairs to be plucked then to spread them apart, since the blades of at least one of the series are have a cruciform shape, a pair of opposite arms being at least partly curved in one of the longitudinal directions, the other pair of opposite orthogonal arms being at least partly curved in the other direction, these blades being held by their respective support at their junction base of the arms.

Thus, by combining a movement of the active blades in translation from their base, and the cross blades, one implements a bending elasticity of the blade arms in a voluntary and controlled manner. Indeed, the elasticity of an arm can be very well established by choosing a metal with a determined elasticity coefficient, and by fixing the section, normally flattened rectangular, of the blade as well as its straight height between its fixing base and its pinching periphery. This elasticity can also be adjusted by providing an opening in the arm of the blade locally modifying the section, therefore its elasticity.

According to the technique of manufacturing the blades, in particular by cutting and stamping or stamping, the curvature of a blade can be regularly distributed over the entire height of its arms, or this curvature can be formed only in part of these, by example either at their fixing base, or just below the curvature delimiting their pinch end zone.

An elastic element of well-predetermined coefficient is thus inserted in the control kinematics going from the cam roller to the nip area, making it possible to establish, for a value of displacement in theoretical longitudinal translation, an exact value of clamping force, But above all, to establish, for a range of inevitable error of this displacement, a range of clamping force, the minimum of which prevents the hair from sliding, and the maximum of which in any case remains below a critical value for cutting the hair. Thanks to this elastic intermediate part, the clamping force can therefore be better controlled in terms of maximum and minimum for a maximum predictable kinematic play, which therefore overcomes to a large extent the disadvantage of a constraint of precision machining of parts which has repercussions in terms of possibilities of realization and cost.

In addition, this elasticity implemented for the establishment of the clamping force can simultaneously be used to advantageously return the kinematics in the reverse direction after a displacement in the forward direction imposed simply by a set of cams. In other words, the bulky spring used before to operate a cam control device is here distributed in the row of blades, each blade contributing for the equivalent of the work provided by a spring turn. This operating spring distributed in the row of blades then proves to be very reliable while being discreet.

In the case of a series of movable blades associated with fixed disks, the control means can simply either comprise a cam on either side of the blade support member respectively for the forward movement towards the first adjacent disk and for the return movement towards the other adjacent disc, either a double-acting cam arranged only on one side of the support member.

Preferably, the projection on the shaft of the arm curvature is between one third and two thirds, preferably half, of the value of displacement in longitudinal translation of their support.

In combination with cruciform blades to treat the entire area of the skin appearing in front of the window by two rows of successive pliers offset only by a quarter of a turn, the curvature of the arm makes it possible to voluntarily establish the displacement portion devoted to the opening of the pliers for engaging the bristles, and the displacement portion, resolutely greater than before, devoted to the implementation of the elastic part of the blade arms for application of the desired range of clamping force.

Preferably, the two series are composed of curved blades, the blades of one series being curved in the opposite direction to the other.

Uncertainties in establishing the coefficient of elasticity of each of the flexible arms can then be compensated for in order to obtain an even more regular tightening value along the row.

In this case of two series of movable blades, it is then advantageously possible to provide simple control devices with cams and rollers for each of the support members, but only half the depth of the displacement between the blades, which appreciably increases their service life. .

Preferably, the peripheral zone of the blades constituting the nipping zone has an angle between 1 and 15 degrees relative to the perpendicular plane of the shaft. This peripheral pinching zone is then delimited at the end of the arm by a fold.

Then, under the force of the predetermined clamping force, these zones return practically in the plane perpendicular to the shaft to grip the bristles no longer at a point, but advantageously along a line of contact, even a contact plane.

Usefully, the periphery of the blades constituting the pinching zone has a width greater than that of the arm carrying it.

Given that the width of the arm is preferably reduced to leave this arm with a certain useful rectilinear height of foreseeable bending from its junction base, the enlarged clamping end zone makes it possible to compensate for possible shifts in moment of closure relative to the base of the hairs at the level of the skin. According to another aspect of the invention, the epilator comprising a housing intended to be held in the hand and containing a drive motor for a roller movable in rotation around a central shaft arranged behind a window formed in a housing, this roller comprising one or more rows of pliers, each row being formed of a first series of parallel blades side by side movable and interposed in a second series of fixed discs or blades also mobile, (each clamp thus being constituted by a blade of the first series associated with the disc or the adjacent blade of the second series), the peripheral zones of pinching of the blades being offset in the axial direction relative to the bases of the blades, as well as control means for moving the blades movable in translation in the longitudinal direction of the shaft so as to clamp them against the others to pinch the hairs to be plucked then to spread them apart, is remarkable in that the first series of blades is secured to a central walkman, the other series of blades is secured to a cage surrounding the walkman coaxially, the control means applying reciprocating movements to the walkman and the cage respectively in reverse directions.

Thus, a normally long travel of translation is divided into two half-journeys carried out reciprocally by the walkman on the one hand and the cage on the other hand which makes it possible to envisage for each of these parts a control device with a shallower cam , therefore more reliable over time.

Preferably, the player is a sleeve surrounding the roller shaft, or the roller shaft itself, at the outer periphery of which are formed retaining grooves of the base of the blades.

Preferably, the cage is composed of a plurality of axial rods the ends of which are fixed on either side at regular intervals on the periphery of two lateral flanges bordering the roller, the radially internal face of the rods having retaining grooves from the base of the blades.

In the case of the use of cruciform blades, such a structure only four rods turn out to be made up of parts that are simple to make and easy to assemble. In particular, it is possible to envisage a relatively wide shaft, for example with a diameter of about a third of that of the roller, and thick rods passing between the arms in a cross, for example equivalent to the rectilinear height of the arms of the cross, this assembly allowing maintain very firmly the bases of blades equidistant from each other.

Advantageously, the control means applying to the player and to the cage reciprocating translational movements respectively in opposite directions comprise - a first pair of cams in diametrically opposite circular sectors secured to the external face of at least one of the flanges of the cage , -and inserted between the first pair, a second pair of diametrically opposite circular sector cams secured to the end of the player,

- these cams acting against a diametrical pair of rollers mounted on the housing opposite the flange

- as well as elastic return means acting on the one hand on the cage and on the other hand on the player.

Thus, when one pair of cams is driven in by the rollers, the other pair is free to come out under the effect of the return means, thus elegantly carrying out a reciprocal double reciprocating movement. Thanks to this arrangement, it is possible to successively actuate two separate blade support members, namely a walkman and a cage, by a control device whose volume thickness is hardly greater than the cam depth in relation with the magnitude of the displacement.

Preferably, the blades are cruciform with a pair of opposite arms curved in a longitudinal direction and the other pair of arms curved in the other direction, the blades of one series being curved in the opposite direction to the other. Then, the other flange and the other end of the player present respectively a pair of cams in circular sector, which pairs are interposed between them and offset by a quarter of a turn relative to the cams of the first flaccid.

The blades themselves ensuring the function of elastic return in one direction then in the other, we can then consider having two sets of cams offset by a quarter turn on either side of the roller, but with depths less cam, increasing their longevity. A so-called "neutral" position of equilibrium appears when the rollers are located just between two cams which are then flush in the same plane, the pinching zones of the blades being, in this position, equidistant, or even just contiguous. On the other hand, the reciprocal action of the rollers on a pair of cams on either side of the roller acting respectively on the player and on the cage, or vice versa, makes it possible to voluntarily apply the displacement in a direction called "go" for positively tighten the series of pliers, momentarily tearing located in the second half of the window it is about to leave, and simultaneously effectively open the other adjacent series of pliers, momentarily collecting, arriving in the first half window. The return to the neutral transient position is mainly ensured automatically by the elastic load stored in each of the clamped blade arms.

In particular, this symmetrical control device makes it possible to envisage placing the window in the middle of one of the ends of the housing which can then receive a substantially parallelepiped shape with rounded angles similar to electric razors, pleasant to hold in the hand.

Above all, this device for controlling complex movements ensuring both the advance and the return of double rows of blades is in fact produced by a relatively simple mechanism tolerant of operating clearances and comprising a limited number of parts which are easy to produce.

SUMMARY DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will be better understood from the study of an embodiment taken without any limitation being implied and illustrated in the appended figures in which: FIG. 1 is a view in longitudinal section of an epilator according to the invention,

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the main parts making up the epilator according to FIG. 1,

FIGS. 3a and 3b are schematic perspective views of the situation of a blade with respect to its two adjacent blades respectively in a first angular position, and in a second angular position offset by a quarter of a turn,

FIGS. 4a, 4b 4c and 4d illustrate perspective views of the cams crossed according to the viewing angle IV of FIG. 2, respectively in the disassembled, neutral position, in the "walk-around" and "go-cage" position, and

- Figures 5a-5h schematically illustrate a first mode of operation of the epilator during a rotation of the roller half-turn.

- Figures 6a-6e schematically illustrate a second mode of operation of the epilator during a quarter-turn rotation of the roller.

BEST WAY TO IMPLEMENT THE INVENTION

In Figures 1 and 2 is illustrated a depilation head comprising a rotary drum 1 composed of a central shaft 10 movable in rotation in a cradle 5 and a cage mounted coaxially on the tree it surrounds, this cage being formed by two lateral flanges 50, 60 holding between them four rods 30.

In the embodiment described, the left flange 50 has a lateral pinion 52 driven by a reduction gear passing through an orifice formed in the wide base cross member of the cradle 5 and rotated by an electric motor contained in the housing.

The cage thus driven by its left flange is also engaged by the crenellated central orifices 53, 63 of its flanges with a longitudinal toothing 14 of the shaft 10. The two smooth ends 12 are supported in orifices 81 formed in discs - arranged bearings, not movable in rotation, on either side against each of the lateral branches 6 of the cradle 5. A first series of cruciform blades 20 is mounted in parallel, side by side at regular intervals along the shaft 10. To this end, the teeth 14 have circular grooves 16 equidistant. In correspondence, the junction base 21 of the blades 20 has an orifice with a diameter identical to that of the crest of the teeth 14, and four radial tenons 22 oriented inwards with an internal diameter identical to that of the longitudinal toothing 14. of a blade 20 on the shaft 10 then consists in engaging the tenons 22 in the longitudinal inter-tooth spaces to bring the blade to its longitudinal position then, by a quarter-turn rotation, engaging these tenons 22 in its corresponding groove 16 on the shaft. The blade 20 is then secured longitudinally to this shaft.

A second series of cruciform blades 40 inserted in the first, is held by the cage, in particular by grooves 32 formed in the internal radial face of the axial rods 30. To this end, the junction base 41 of these blades 40 is in the form of a circular crown having a central orifice 42 of diameter greater than that of the crests of the longitudinal teeth 14. Then, each blade 40 of the second series is threaded on the shaft 14 after each blade 20 of the first series, these blades 40 remaining momentarily free on the teeth 14 between two grooves. Once the two series have been threaded and the first has been locked in these grooves, it is then possible to install the axial rods 30 so that the grooves 32 engage respectively in each of the circular junction bases 41 of blades 40 of the second series, as as illustrated in 49, the angular junction bases 21 of the blades 20 of the first series leaving free passage for the rods 30 as illustrated in 29 in FIG. 2.

Furthermore, the internal faces of the flanges 50 and 60 respectively have four housings 34 of rod ends 32. Thus, once the two series of integrated blades 20, 40 are put in place on the shaft 10, and after installation of the rods axial 30, the flanges 50 and 60 are mounted on either side on the shaft 10 so that, simultaneously, their grooved orifices 53, 63 come into engagement with the longitudinal teeth 14 and that the ends of axial rods 30 engage in their corresponding housing 34 of flanges.

More particularly according to the invention, it is provided that the shaft 10 retaining the first series of cruciform blades 20 on the one hand, and the cage 30/50/60 retaining the second series of blades 40 on the other hand, are movable axially in opposite directions relative to each other in addition to their common rotary movement within the cradle 5.

As such, there is provided on the one hand, on each external face of flange 50, 60, a device of identical nested crossed cams, but offset by a quarter of a turn 56/70 relative to the other 66/75; and on the other hand, located opposite each crossed cam device, a pair of rollers 84 diametrically opposite with respect to the shaft 10, and installed respectively in a right disc 85 and a left disc 80 carrying rollers located at the end of the roller against the corresponding arm 6 of cradle 5.

More specifically, and as best seen in Figures 4, the flange 60 comprises, in one piece on its outer face, two cams 66 66 'diametrically opposed in the form of a portion of circular crown corresponding to a circular sector of angle at apex of the order of 90 °, the central recess corresponding to the grooved orifice 63 for passage of the sliding mobile shaft 10. Between these two female cams 66 of flanges 60 is installed a male cam 75 composed of a crown central 76 bearing against the teeth 14 of the sliding shaft 10, this central crown being surmounted by a pair of male cams 75 75 'diametrically opposed each in the form of a portion of circular crown of angle at the top of the order 90 °.

The angular position of the cams relative to the cage determines the closed position of a row of pliers relative to its midline. This closure can thus be triggered either when this midline is found in the middle of the window, either early or late. It is also conceivable that one row of pliers remains closed longer than the other, the angle at the top of one of the pairs of opposite cams, male or female, being greater than 90 ° for example 120 °, the angle at the center of the other pair of opposite cams being reduced by as much, for example 60 °. In the extreme, one can envisage eight rows of pliers, the cams then being cruciform with an angle sector at the top of the order of 45 °, and also offset by 45 ° relative to one another.

This crossed cam device is found almost identically on the left flange 50 except for the fact that the pair of left female cams 56 56 ′ is integrated inside the toothed drive pinion 52 by providing an internal wall of flanges 54 in the center of which appears the grooved orifice 53 through which the teeth 14 of the sliding shaft 10 pass. These female cams 56 therefore leave, inside the pinion 52, a housing for a left male cam also formed of a central crown 71 bearing against the teeth 14 of the sliding shaft 10, this crown being surmounted by two male cams 70, 70 'diametrically opposed in the form of circular crown of angle at the top of the order of 90 °.

As best seen in FIGS. 2 and 4, each circular crown cam, whether male or female, has a first climb ramp 73 followed by a flat 72 and terminated by a descent ramp 74.

In particular, this descent ramp can be faster than that of climb, for example this descent ramp corresponding to a circular sector of angle at the top of the order of 20 ° for an ascent ramp corresponding to a circular sector of angle at the top of the order of 30 °, the flat part then corresponding to a circular sector of angle at the top of the order of 40 °. According to another version, the climb ramp may correspond to a circular sector with an angle at the top of the order of 25 ° to 35 °, in particular

30 °, the flat may correspond to a circular sector with an angle at the apex of between 50 ° and 60 °, in particular 55 °, the descent ramp then being very reduced, for example of circular sector with an angle at the top less than 5 °. The difference in height of the flat with respect to the start of the climb ramp determines the displacement imposed by this cam on its corresponding part, and is between 0.4 and 1.2 mm.

As best seen in Figure 1, the male cams 70, 75 are therefore mounted on the smooth end portions 12 of the sliding shaft 10, which ends move inside the bearing orifices 81 of the discs 80, 85 carrying the rollers 84, these discs being held in rotation by the cradle, for example by locking the locking pins 82 of the discs 80, 85. The male cams and the shaft being all driven at the same speed by the flanges, these parts are therefore immobile in rotation with respect to each other.

The two pairs of rollers 84 being on the one hand horizontal, that is to say approximately parallel to the bottom cross member of the cradle 5 (or vertical as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2), and the left crossed cam devices and straight being, on the other hand, shifted a quarter of a turn relative to each other, means that when one of the pairs of rollers acts on a male cam to push the sliding shaft in one direction, the other opposite pair of rollers then acts on a female cam pushing the cage in the opposite direction, this situation being reversed a quarter of a turn after thus creating a double reciprocal reciprocal movement of the wandering shaft 10 relative to the cage 30 / 50/60.

FIG. 4c illustrates in perspective the situation of the crossed cams 66, 75 of the right part of FIG. 1, situation in which the male cam 75 is pressed into the female cam 66, the wandering shaft being pushed to the left more and the cage to the far right. Figure 4d illustrates the corresponding situation of the cams on the left side of this figure 1. Figure 4b illustrates a neutral transient situation in which the cams 66 and 75 are flush in the same plane, the cage then being centered relative to the portable shaft 10. These back-and-forth movements between portable player and cage then bring each cruciform blade 20 of portable player in contact successively with these two cruciform blades 40 from adjacent cages.

According to another no less important aspect of the invention, the cruciform blades 20, 40 of the two series are by no means flat, but doubly curved in the opposite direction. As best seen in Figures 3a and in the lower right of Figure 2, the blades 20 of the first series belonging to the player 10 have a pair of arms 23 opposite curved in a first direction 24 so that the peripheral pinching zone 25 is close to a peripheral pinching zone 45 of the adjacent blade 40 of the second series secured to the cage, the corresponding arms 43 ′ also having a curvature 44 oriented in opposite directions, that is to say facing screw. The other pair of arms 23 ′ of blade 20, at right angles to the first 23, on the other hand has curvatures 26 in opposite directions, moving the corresponding pinch zones 27 away. It is the same for the other pair of arms 43 opposite orthogonal to the blade 40 whose curvatures 46 also distance the corresponding pinching zones 47 which, moreover, brings it closer to the pinching zones vis-à-vis of the following cruciform blade.

In other words, the plane orthogonal to the sliding shaft 10 passing through the nip zones 25 on the one hand and the orthogonal plane passing through the nip zones 27 offset by a quarter turn on the other hand, located on either side, at equal distance, from the base plane 21 of the junction of the blade on its support. The same is true for the two orthogonal planes passing respectively through the nip zones 45 and 47 lying on either side of the base junction plane 41 of the strip 40.

A pair of blade arms is therefore curved in the direction of the corresponding pair of blades of the adjacent blade with which it will be brought into contact when the sliding shaft 10 is moved in a given direction relative to the cage 30 / 50/60. The inverted curvature of the orthogonal arms is in correspondence with the displacement in opposite direction of the sliding shaft relative to the cage a quarter of a turn afterwards, as well illustrated in FIG. 3. It should be noted that the curvature of each blade arm can be evenly distributed over the entire height of the arm which is then arched, or can be concentrated in a fold at the junction base, a second fold delimiting the peripheral zone of pinch bringing it back in a plane substantially perpendicular to the shaft as illustrated in Figures 3; or can be concentrated in a double fold under the peripheral pinching zone as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2. In these last two examples, the arms are then substantially rectilinear, either oblique or perpendicular to the shaft.

A first operating mode of the epilator described above will now be explained in more detail, in view of the schematic figures 5a to 5h. This operating mode presupposes a relatively rigid cradle 5 in combination with arms of curved blades so that their peripheral pinching zones 25, 45 are practically contiguous in the neutral position of cage and sliding gear, and in combination with cams having ramps notable descent.

In these Figures 5 is illustrated schematically the player 10 arranged movable in longitudinal translation inside the cage referenced by its axial rods 30. The cams nested angularly here are developed in line thus illustrating their order of arrival in front of the pairs of rollers 84 along the arrow (f) of Figure 5a, and also illustrating their angular offset on either side of the same room. More specifically, the player 10 is first actuated on the left by the first male cam 70 then on the right by the second male cam 75, then again on the left by the third male cam 70 'diametrically opposite the first, and finally on the right by the fourth male cam 75 'diametrically opposite the second 75. Conversely, the cage 30 is first actuated on the right by the first female cam 66, then on the left by the second female cam 56, then again on the right by the third female cam 66 'diametrically opposite to the first 66, and finally on the left by the fourth female cam 56 'diametrically opposite the second 56.

The player 10 carries a cruciform blade 20 of which a first pair of arms has been shown in the plane of the figure, these arms being here bent to the right and carrying the pinching zones 25; as well as, in the middle of the player 10, the second pair of perpendicular arms curved in opposite directions and carrying the nipping area 27. The nipping area 25 is found opposite a nipping area 45 of a adjacent blade 40 secured to the cage 30 while the nipping area 27 is found opposite a nipping area 47 belonging to the other adjacent blade 40 secured to the cage 31.

In the starting position at 0 ° as illustrated in FIG. 5a, the rollers 84 keep the player 10 and the cage 31 tight against each other so that the nip zones 25 and 45 are tight one against the other while the pinch zones 27, 47 are widely spaced from each other. This situation continues as long as the rollers 84 roll along the cam flats, corresponding to an advance of 25 ° of rotation.

FIG. 5b illustrates the situation during rotation between 25 ° and 40 °, so that the rollers are now placed on the descending ramps of the cams 66, 70. Then, the elastic tensions stored in the arms of zones 25 and 45, acting in the manner of cups of coil springs, begin to separate the player from the cage, and this as much as authorized by the position of the rollers on the ramps.

FIG. 5c illustrates the situation during the rotation between 40 ° and 44 ° so that the rollers are about to leave the descending ramps of the cams 66, 70. The tensions in the arms of the zones 25, 45 are now lower, in particular to the point that the zones 25, 45 have found an initial inclination. Simultaneously, the two orthogonal pinching zones 27, 47 are substantially brought closer.

FIG. 5d illustrates the situation after the 45 ° rotation in which the player finds himself in a neutral position relative to the cage and in which, on each side, the cams are found in the same plane. The rollers 84 having left the cams 70, 66, have not yet approached the following cams 56, 75. The pinch zones 25, 45 on the one hand and 27, 47 on the other hand, are just joined without exerting any elastic force. In this situation, no effort is exerted either on the cage or on the player and we can then see the existence of little play between the rollers and the cams generally due to a perfect non-coincidence between the return stroke due the elastic effect of the cruciform blade arms and the cam stroke. This play, which in the best of cases can be zero at the start, is generally created thereafter either because of manufacturing dispersions, or because of wear, creep or dulling due to operation.

However, the U-shaped support cradle 5, mainly intended to be rigid, such as a casing, to maintain the cohesion of an assembly, may however contain a relative reserve of elasticity. In other words, a slight initial prestress of this cradle can be established at a value just necessary to subsequently compensate for these clearances appearing during this transition.

FIG. 5e illustrates the situation during the rotation between 45 ° and 70 ° when the rollers 84 now act on the rising ramps of the cams 56, 75. These rollers then impose a spacing of the player 10 relative to the cage 31 which constrains positively the other pair of orthogonal arms corresponding to the pinch zones 27, 47, these arms now storing elastic energy. Simultaneously, the pinch zones 25, 45 begin to open relative to each other.

FIG. 5f illustrates the situation during the rotation between 70 ° and 90 ° of rotation when the rollers have passed over the flats of the cams 56, 75 causing the player to be moved as far as possible from the cage. The pinch zones 27, 47, initially slightly oblique, have now returned in a plane perpendicular to the tree, effectively pinching the hair along a line or a plane, which avoids cutting it. It will be noted more particularly that, at this instant, the clamping force is transformed into a pressure along the line of contact of the hair. Above all, this clamping force was mainly established, according to the invention, by the elastic bending of the arms corresponding to the zones 27, 47 developing during the entire phase of displacement corresponding to FIG. 5e. This relatively large voluntary bending causes the resulting clamping force to have at least a minimum, but also a maximum, which can be predicted as a function of the inevitable play in the displacements on the one hand, but on the other hand of the flexing elasticity of the arms. However, the flexural elasticity coefficient of these arms can be predetermined with relative good precision by choosing an appropriate elastic material and / or by determining the section and the height of the flexible arm. This elasticity implemented throughout the displacement corresponding to the phase of FIG. 5e is radically different from the prior art in which the rather rigid blades only flexed at the end of the course if and only if they were actually joined with the corresponding blade or disc, but at the risk, by being too rigid, of developing clamping forces ending in a cutting of the hair.

FIG. 5g illustrates a return to equilibrium during the transition to 135 ° of rotation, this situation being substantially identical to that of FIG. 5d. FIG. 5h illustrates the situation at 180 ° of rotation corresponding to the return from the situation in FIG. 5a.

A second alternative mode of operation of the epilator will now be described in the light of schematic figures 6a to 6e. This operating mode assumes a cradle 5 having a relative elasticity around a prestressing value, for example of the order of 3.5 kg; in combination with blade arms of shape corresponding to that of FIGS. 1 and 2 and having a spacing in neutral cage and sliding position; and in combination with cams with downward ramps reduced to a minimum. In these figures 6, references identical to those of figures 5 are used to designate similar parts.

FIG. 6a illustrates the situation in which the player 10 is moved as far as possible from the cage 30 by the action of the rollers 84 on the cams 56 and 75 respectively. The pinch zones 27, 47 are pressed against each other, their arms having accumulated elastic energy.

FIG. 6b corresponds to the moment when the axes of the rollers 84 have started to exceed the downstream angular edges of the cams 56, 75. It can then be seen that these downstream angular edges of the cams 56, 75 follow the arcuate peripheries of their corresponding roller under the pressure in spacing of the spring-blades 27, 47. This displacement of cams 56, 75 causes the following cams 66 ′, 70 ′ to be discarded in front of the rollers 84 and therefore do not necessarily come into contact with them. The movement of the cams 56, 75 back to the neutral position is therefore essentially carried out by the elastic tension of the expanding blades 27, 47. It is also noted that the cam track has better continuity, which limits the noise in the event of positioning play.

Figures 6c and 6d correspond to an intermediate phase in which the blades 27, 47 are disjoint and no longer have an effect, but in which the clamping pressure (S) coming from the elasticity of the cradle, symbolized by the arrows acting on the rollers 84, push them slightly inwards which, in turn, push the following cams 66 '70' towards each other until the nip zones 25, 45 of the blades following 20, 40 come into contact.

FIG. 6e corresponds to the pinching position of the blades 20, 40, the player 10 and the cage 30 being in an extreme close position, and this following the rise of the rollers 84 on the ramps then passages on the cam flats 66 ', 70 '. As can be seen, the rise of the rollers on the cams resulted on the one hand in a deflection of the blade arms 20, 40 again storing elastic energy, the pinching zones 25, 45 being pressed against each other the other according to a pinch plane and, on the other apart, a slight spacing of the rollers 84 in the initial position outward.

This variant of the operating mode therefore brings into play simultaneously an elasticity of blades and an elasticity of cradle for a more flexible operation, therefore more reliable and less noisy.

As we have seen from this presentation, the epilator according to the present invention is essentially composed of simple parts to be produced, for example by machining the sliding shaft 10, by cutting rods 30, and by molding for parts 50, 60, 70 and 75. The blades can be cut from metal strips and simultaneously stamped and / or dies to give them their final volume form. Above all, by using the elasticity of the arms of cruciform blades, and also to a certain extent a preload of the cradle 5, it is possible to elegantly overcome the problems due to the necessary clearance of operation between the different moving parts.

Hair removal is all the more effective as two successive rows of pinching zones cover the entire area of skin appearing in front of the window, and this by the action of tweezers acting with substantially uniform clamping forces throughout the row and established in a predetermined value range. In addition, the clamps are closed by positive action of rollers on relatively shallow cams, so the actions are therefore rapid.

A certain number of improvements can be made to this device within the framework of the invention.

In particular, one can take advantage of the external faces of the rods 30 to line them with brushes with tufts of aligned bristles raising the bristles for better engagement in the adjacent pliers.

On the other hand, it is conceivable that the sliding shaft 10 is composed of a fixed central axis integral with the cradle 5, this axis being surrounded by a sleeve whose periphery has teeth crossed by grooves.

Furthermore, the curvature of the arms of cruciform blades can either be given by a constant slope of these arms as illustrated in FIGS. 3, or by an arcuate shape of the arms, or by a recess between the arm and the pinching zone such that 'illustrated on the blades of Figure 2. The dimensions reported in Figures 1 and 2 give orders of magnitude but can, of course, be optimized

POSSIBILITIES OF INDUSTRIAL APPLICATION

The invention finds its application in the technical field of hair removal devices and more particularly in that of consumer devices.

Claims

1. epilating appliance comprising a housing intended to be held in the hand and containing a drive motor for a roller (1) movable in rotation around a central shaft (10) arranged behind a window formed in the housing, this roller comprising one or more rows of pliers, each row being formed of a first series of parallel blades (20) side by side movable and interposed in a second series of fixed discs or blades (40) also movable, as well as control means (56-85) for moving the movable blades in translation in the longitudinal direction of the shaft so as to clamp them against the others to pinch the hairs to be plucked then to spread them apart, characterized in that the blades (20,40) of at least one of the series is in the form of a cruciform, a pair of opposite arms (23) being at least partially bent in one of the longitudinal directions, the other pair of arms ( 23 ') opposite orthogonal being at least partially curved in the other direction, these blades being held by their respective support (10, 30) at their junction base (21, 41) of the arms.

2. epilating appliance according to claim 1, characterized in that the projection on the shaft of the curvature (24, 26, 44, 46) of arms is between one third and two thirds, preferably half, of the displacement value in longitudinal translation of their support (10, 30).

3. epilating device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the two series (20, 40) are composed of curved blades, the blades of a series (20) being curved in the opposite direction to the other ( 40).

4. epilating device according to one of claims 1 to 3 characterized in that the periphery of the blades constituting the nip (25, 27, 45, 47) have an angle between 1 ° and 15 ° relative to the plane perpendicular to the tree.

5. epilating device according to one of the preceding claims characterized in that the periphery of the blades constituting the nip (25, 27, 45, 47) has a width greater than that of the arm carrying it.

6. Epilator comprising a housing intended to be held in the hand and containing a drive motor for a roller movable in rotation around a central shaft arranged behind a window formed in the housing, this roller comprising one or more rows of pliers , each row being formed of a first series of parallel blades side by side movable and inserted in a second series of fixed discs or blades also movable, the peripheral zones of pinching of the blades being offset in the axial direction relative to the bases of the blades, as well as control means for moving the movable blades in translation in the longitudinal direction of the shaft so as to clamp them against the others to pinch the hairs to be plucked then to spread them apart, characterized in that the first series of blades (20) is secured to a central walkman (10), and in that the other series of blades (40) is secured to a cage (30/50/60) surrounding t the player coaxially, the control means (56-85) applying to the player and to the cage reciprocating translational movements respectively in opposite directions.

7. hair removal device according to claim 6, characterized in that the player is a sleeve surrounding the roller shaft, or the shaft (10) even of the roller, at the outer periphery of which are formed grooves (16) of retaining the base (21) of the blades (20).

8. Hair removal device according to claim 6 or 7, characterized in that the cage is composed of a plurality of axial rods (30) whose ends are fixed on either side at regular intervals on the periphery of two flanges lateral (50, 60) bordering the roller, the radially inner face of the rods having grooves (32) retaining the base (41) of the blades (40).

9. hair removal device according to one of claims 6 to 8, characterized in that the control means applying reciprocating translational movements to the player and the cage respectively in reverse direction, comprise

a first pair of cams (66) in diametrically opposite circular sectors secured to the external face of at least one of the flanges (60) of the cage, and

- inserted between the first, a second pair of cams (75) in circular sector, diametrically opposite integral with the end of the player (10) these cams acting against a diametrical pair of rollers (84) mounted on the housing (85) in vis-à-vis the flange (60), as well as elastic return means (20, 40) acting on the one hand on the cage and on the other hand on the player.

10. A hair removal device according to claim 3 and 9 characterized in that the other flange (50) and the other end of the player (10) respectively have a pair of cams (56, 70) in circular sector, which pairs are interposed between them and offset by a quarter turn relative to the cams (66, 76) of the first flange.