EP1191858B1 - Hair remover with vibrating rotary roller - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention concerns a hair remover for removing body hair comprising a roller (1) mounted rotating in a housing (20) designed to be hand-held, said roller comprising at least two tweezers (7, 8) designed to grip and pull out the hairs, the roller (1) being capable of being driven in rotation by an electric motor (12) via a transmission system (10); the motor (12), the transmission system 810) and the roller (1) forming an assembly mounted in the housing (20) of the appliance via elastic means (24). The assembly comprises at least a component (18), mounted in such a way that, when it is actuated by the motor, it generates vibrations in said assembly reaching up to the rotary roller (1).

Description

The present invention relates to a depilatory device of the type comprising a rotating roller provided with tongs for removing unwanted hair, no desired, of the human body.

This type of device includes clips in the form of blades or disks arranged on a rotating roller, the tongs being caused to close and open periodically in order to tighten the hairs close to the skin and, respectively, to remove the hair torn off by the rotation of the roller. The pulling of hair is a very effective method against their regrowth, but, often, it causes a significant pain.

The state of the art attests the use of several methods using various pain devices associated with depilatory devices. So, we known, in particular from WO 95/07638 in the name of the applicant, a skin cooling device, just before hair removal, using evaporation of a liquid deposited on the skin. This device, however, uses means, such as a liquid reservoir, a fan, which increase the size and cost of the device.

Other pain-killing devices for hair removal are known from DE documents 44 08 809 and WO 98/55000 which describe electrical stimulation means of the skin, by sending electrical impulses or discharges respectively on the area to be depilated. These devices are of limited effectiveness, while being complex and expensive.

The effectiveness of pain devices used in combination with devices hair removal has been greatly improved by the use of mechanical stimulation vibratory skin simultaneously with hair removal.

Thus, the documents EP 0 671 136 and WO 99/13750 in the name of the Applicant describe pins and brushes mounted fixed on the roll rotating bearing the tongs. Brushes and spikes are supported by an area recessed length extending parallel to the alignment of the roll clamps rotary. Brushes have a hair straightening effect before hair removal, while the pimples produce on the skin a massage effect, more or less accentuated causing a sensation of pain that masks the pain of waxing. However, the brushes and especially the spikes remain long enough in contact with the skin and they produce a rubbing effect on the skin, effect that can cause irritation.

It has also been proposed in WO 97/00032 a pliers epilator rotary machines comprising a series of mobile rollers pushed radially by the centrifugal force and / or by springs, casters which apply impulses on the skin in order to hide the pain caused by tearing hairs. This solution is nevertheless complicated, it also requires Execution details and high costs for its components.

Other epilators comprising devices for vibratory stimulation of the skin have been proposed in documents such as EP 0 493 849, where a vibrating grid capping means of depilation, where in EP 0 760 219 where the housing of the apparatus has a vibrating frame or additional vibrating rollers, the frame or rollers being arranged next to the gripper roll. These vibrating means have the main disadvantages of hiding the area to be depilated and additional mechanisms for their training.

WO 97/19613 discloses an epilator comprising a comb or a hand with flexible pins, mounted vibrating on the housing, outside the roller to pliers. However, this solution requires a mechanism of vibration even more elaborate, so complex.

Document FR 2 745 992 in the name of the applicant describes an epilator of which the hair removal roller is surrounded by a stirrup mounted vibrating on the housing. same if the means of training in vibration are a little simplified by compared to previous achievements, the fact remains that vibration also mask the area to be depilated, which is inconvenient for the user.

The object of the invention is to remedy, at least in part, the disadvantages mentioned above and to propose a tweezers for application vibratory stimulation on the area to be depilated at the same time as the pulling of hairs in order to effectively hide the pain felt during hair removal.

Another object of the invention is a depilatory device provided with painkiller means reliable, simple construction and suitable for mass production, for lower manufacturing costs.

An additional object of the invention is a depilatory device with pain means which act simultaneously to the pulling, while leaving visible the zone to be depilated.

These goals are achieved with a hair removal device to remove body hair comprising a roller rotatably mounted in a housing intended to be held by hand, said roller having at least two clamps for clamping and tearing hair, the roller being capable of being rotated by an engine electric via a transmission system; the engine, the transmission system and the roll forming a set are fixedly mounted in a floating mounted frame relative to the housing of the apparatus by means of the elastic means, the fact that the assembly comprises at least one mounted piece so that, when set in motion from the engine, it generates vibrations having a principal component in a direction substantially perpendicular to the skin in said assembly into the rotating roller.

Thus, the means for rotating the hair removal roller serve also to generate vibrations at the same time as tearing. The vibratory solicitation of the skin thus produces an analgesic effect simultaneously the process of hair removal reducing pain throughout this process.

The mechanical vibratory stimulations are thus obtained with means very simple, using for example only an unbalanced piece placed on, or in connection with, an existing part of the assembly formed by the engine drive, the transmission system and the rotary roller. Per room to unbalance one generally understands a rotating part comprising a the weight that produces an imbalance in the latter because its center mass is not on the axis of rotation. According to another embodiment, the piece can be a cam or an eccentric interacting with part of the housing. The use of a single complementary piece in a depilatory device confers the advantage of a simple, reliable solution that does not require any means additional external vibrator next to the hair removal head or worn by this last.

Advantageously, the frequency of the vibrations produced in the rotary roller is greater than 50 Hz.

Theoretical and applied medical studies have indeed established that the effect analgesic is a function of the frequency of the vibratory stimulation. In the In the context of the invention, the frequency can advantageously be chosen by the rotational speed of the unbalanced piece.

Advantageously, the elastic means of mounting the assembly in the housing and the moving part are determined so that the amplitude vibrations is between 0.1 mm and 1 mm, preferably 0.5 mm.

It has been shown that such an amplitude applied with a frequency greater than 50 Hz, mask the pain due to hair removal.

Preferably, the moving part generates vibrations of the rotating roller in a direction substantially perpendicular to the skin.

The rotating roller thus comes to strike the skin vertically, the vibrations being fully absorbed by the latter, which ensures an analgesic effect effective.

According to a first embodiment of the invention, the moving part generates rotational vibrations in the rotating roller.

This solution is very simple to implement, the apparatus comprising several parts in rotation, it is enough to arrange a weight unbalanced on one of them to get these vibrations in rotation. Moreover, she is easily adaptable to any epilator with rotating epilation head.

According to a first variant of the first embodiment, the piece in movement is a fixed mounted unbalance on one of the gears of the system of transmission.

This solution is extremely simple because, just place the unbalance on a pinion rotating at the right speed to obtain vibrations at the frequency desired overall, the rotating vibrations produced by the unbalanced pinion being transmitted to the epilation head. Moreover, the solution presents facilities significant construction, the unbalanced room that can integrate well inside housing.

Advantageously, the unbalanced pinion rotates at a speed such that the vibration frequency of the rotating roller is about 120 Hz.

It has been established that the attenuation of pain is the most effective with vibratory stress approximately equal to 120 Hz.

According to a second variant of the first embodiment, the part in movement is a fixed mounted unbalance on one end of the axis of the drive motor.

In this variant, the speed of the motor is calculated and, respectively, the motor is dimensioned, so as to obtain vibrations at a frequency greater than 50 Hz. The mounting of the unbalance on the end of the motor shaft made by any known means of assembly, dismountable or not removable, in particular by a fastening screw, clipping, welding, etc. This offers a means of simple vibration, while remaining discreet.

According to a third variant of the first embodiment, the mass unbalanced is a flyweight supported by the rotating roller.

Thus, the means generating vibrations are located close to the skin, which ensures a more efficient transfer to the latter, without their amplitude being reduced by the elastic means supporting the entire roller.

According to a second embodiment of the invention, the apparatus comprises a moving part that generates vibrations in translation in the roll rotary.

The vibrations in translation are vibrations in one dimension, which provides more stability to the assembly and requires less the fastening means of the assembly relative to the housing. The amplitude of the vibrations in translation is thus more easily controlled.

According to a preferred variant of the second embodiment, the piece in movement is an eccentric whose one end is fixedly mounted on the axis of a sprockets of the transmission system and the other end slides in a longitudinal slot of the housing of the device.

This solution makes it possible to create and impart vibrations in translation to the assembly formed by the motor, the transmission system and the epilation head. This points to the advantages of reliability in operation and ease of operation. production.

Preferably, the elastic means are constituted by springs.

The springs are simple and reliable ways to fix a set floating at his housing. So the vibrations produced in this set are not transmitted to the housing, because they are largely absorbed by the springs, which ensures on the one hand a good longevity of moving parts and, on the other hand, a good comfort to the use of this device. In addition, the springs can be easily sized to obtain a given elasticity and, by following, a predetermined amplitude of the oscillations produced.

Advantageously, the drive motor, the transmission system and the rotating roller are mounted fixed in a frame that is integrated into the housing of the device via a damping device.

This damping device has the role of modulating the amplitude of the oscillations generated by the vibrating means. It is indeed established that the amplitude of an oscillator in forced mode must be judiciously damped so to avoid resonance phenomena. Such a shock absorber therefore plays a role of brake, delimiting the amplitude value of the oscillating system. In addition, this damper serves as a means of maintaining the frame of the motor assembly, transmission, rotating roller to the housing of the device.

According to an advantageous variant of the invention, the speed of the motor The drive is adjustable to adjust the frequency of vibrations in a frequency range between 50 and 300 Hz.

This confers the advantage of being able to easily adjust the frequency of vibrations depending on the degree of sensitivity of the person using it. It is indeed proven that beyond 300 Hz, the frequency of the vibratory stimulation no longer produces an effect analgesic on the skin.

• la figure 1 est une vue frontale d'un appareil à épiler selon le premier mode de réalisation de l'invention, la partie avant du boítier étant enlevée ;
• la figure 2 représente une vue en perspective du même appareil, ayant, de plus, dégagé la partie supérieure du boítier de l'appareil ;
• la figure 3 représente une vue en coupe longitudinale de l'appareil précédemment représenté ;
• les figures 4a et 4b illustrent des vues en coupe transversales selon les directions A-A et B-B de la figure 3 ;
• la figure 5 représente une vue en perspective schématique d'un appareil selon une troisième variante du premier mode de réalisation de l'invention, la partie avant du boítier étant enlevée ;
• la figure 6 représente une vue en perspective et un détail d'un appareil selon un deuxième mode de réalisation de l'invention, la partie avant du boítier étant également enlevée.

The invention will be better understood with the study of the embodiments taken in no way limiting and illustrated in the accompanying figures in which:

• Figure 1 is a front view of a depilatory device according to the first embodiment of the invention, the front part of the housing being removed;
• Figure 2 shows a perspective view of the same apparatus, having, in addition, cleared the upper portion of the housing of the apparatus;
• Figure 3 shows a longitudinal sectional view of the apparatus previously shown;
• Figures 4a and 4b show cross sectional views along the directions AA and BB of Figure 3;
• Figure 5 shows a schematic perspective view of an apparatus according to a third variant of the first embodiment of the invention, the front part of the housing being removed;
• Figure 6 shows a perspective view and a detail of an apparatus according to a second embodiment of the invention, the front part of the housing being also removed.

The appended figures illustrate an apparatus for depiling human skin provided with means for vibrating certain components of this apparatus of such cycloidal waves emanating from these vibrations painkiller on the area to be treated.

An example of a hair removal device with integrated hair removal means of vibrating, in particular of the epilation head of the apparatus, is described in document FR 2 758 060 in the name of the applicant. It is however obvious that this device is only one example of the use of painter means according to the invention, because any depilatory device, in particular to rotating roller with tear-off tongs, can be adapted for the purpose of integrating it painter means of the invention.

FIGS. 1 to 4 show a depilatory apparatus comprising a rotating roller 1 provided with a central shaft 2 mobile in rotation in a cradle 3 and a cage mounted coaxially on the tree that it surrounds, this cage being formed by two lateral flanges 4,5 holding between them four rods 6.

The left flange 4 is secured to a pinion 9 engaged with a train of gear reducer 10 driven by a pinion 11 secured to the shaft of output 13 of a drive motor 12.

Two series of alternate cruciform blades 7, respectively 8, are mounted on the shaft 2 of the rotary roller 1, each pair of alternating blades 7,8 forming an epilation forceps, including a movable blade 7 is likely to deviate from a fixed blade 8 and, alternatively, to apply against it. Actuation of the movable blade 7 causes the opening or closure of the clamp in order to tighten the hair and tear it off, and release them after tearing, this as and when the rotation of the roller 1. Thus, the hairs the depilatory area in front of a window 21 of the housing 20, are torn off by rotation of the roller or epilation head 1.

Advantageously, the epilation head 1 may have brushes 14 and / or spikes 15 arranged in the recessed extended area extending parallel to the alignment of the blades 7,8. The brushes 14 have the role of straighten the hairs for tearing, while the pins 15 avoid that the epilation head 1 jumps on the skin as the hollow zone passes.

Figures 1 to 4 illustrate a first variant of the first embodiment of embodiment of the invention according to which an eccentric flyweight 18 having a unbalance is integral with a pinion 16 of the transmission system or train In the example shown, the weight 18 has a section cross-sectional half-disc with center approximately in the axis of rotation of the pinion 16.

The weight or unbalance 18 can be made in one piece with the pinion 16 or in a separate piece, made integral with the pinion by any means known fixation.

According to the invention, the epilation head or rotary roller 1, the system 10 and the motor 12 are fixedly mounted on a frame 28, chassis which is in turn mounted on a frame 25. The frame 25 has a section longitudinally substantially U-shaped and has the role of maintaining everything the assembly 27 constituted by the head 1, the transmission system 10, the motor 12 and the frame 28.

The frame 25 is mounted floating relative to the housing 20 via the elastic means 24. The elastic means consist, in the examples shown, by springs 24. The springs 24 are steel and they can be of several types: compression springs, traction springs or leaf. In other variants, it is conceivable to replace the springs 24 by other parts or assemblies having elastic properties, such as rubber or elastomer pads, rings or tubes.

As represented in FIGS. 1 to 6, the springs 24 connect the frame 25 to the housing 20, one of their ends being fixed in a hole 23 of the ear of fixing 22 which is secured to the housing 20 while the other is fixed in a orifice 26 made in the frame 25.

The number of springs, as well as their respective stiffness constants, are chosen according to the configuration of the suspended assembly, as well as its static balancing. Advantageously, the springs are of the number of minus three.

According to an advantageous variant of the invention, the center of mass of the assembly 27 is located in the vertical axis of symmetry of the frame 25. case, the springs 24 placed symmetrically with respect to the median axis of the frame 25, are identical, having the same dimensions and even constant of stiffness. By way of example, the four springs 24 illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 4 and 6, have a length of about 15 mm and a stiffness of 25 N / m.

If, on the other hand, the center of mass of the assembly 27 is not located in the axis of vertical symmetry of the frame 25, the springs 24 must be calculated from to ensure a vibratory regime with constant parameters over time of the assembly 27. Or guiding devices in vertical translation of the assembly 27 must be added to the housing 20.

In operation, the motor 12 drives, via the transmission system 10, the hair removal head 1 and its mechanism of tweezers in rotation. Pinion 16 is thus set in motion and rotates the flyweight 18 which causes vibratory movements in the assembly suspended by the frame 25. These oscillations are felt in the hair removal head 1 in the form of movements having a principal component in one direction perpendicular to the skin.

Thus, when the roller 1 is applied to the skin and pulls the hairs off presenting in the window 21 of the apparatus, the pain felt during hair removal is masked and significantly reduced by the vibrations that this same roll 1 imparts to the skin, especially on the area to be depilated.

Preferably, the pinion 16 is rotated at about 7200 rpm, this which causes the unbalance 18 to vibrate the whole suspended at a frequency about 120 Hz, which corresponds to an optimal pain frequency.

It should be noted that the vibrating assembly as described can be likened to a oscillator in forced mode. It is established that the amplitude of such an oscillator be damped, in particular modulated to obtain a constant value during oscillation of the latter, as well as to avoid resonance.

Thus, a damping device 30 is arranged inside the housing 20, to connect the floating frame 25 to the housing 20. In the variants shown in the appended figures, the damping device 30 comprises a V-shaped flexible cable 31 whose base is fixed, via a screw 34, to the frame 25, and the two branches comprise pads 32 supported by the elasticity of the cable 31 on a flange 33. The flange 33 is L-shaped, the part in contact with the pads 32 also has properties of elasticity, the base being secured to the housing 20. The skids 32 have a role of brake and they are in particular a polymer loaded with graphite.

The constructive solution chosen for this shock absorber has the advantage of a reduced manufacturing cost and significant manufacturing facilities. However, other damping devices may be used, including hydraulic or pneumatic dampers.

Thus, the roller 1 applied to the skin for the purposes of hair removal imparts vibratory stimulation on the area to be treated, vibrations whose frequency located at about 120 Hz and the amplitude is about 0.5 mm. The action of the waves Cycloidal effects from these vibrations causes an analgesic effect on the skin at the same time as hair removal.

According to a second variant of the first embodiment, not shown in the drawings, the unbalance weight is fixed on one end of the axis 13 of the drive motor 12. In this case, the speed of the motor 12 is calculated to obtain vibrations from the suspended system 27 from minus 50 Hz. Other variants may also be considered according to which one or more weights are attached to one or both ends of the axis 13 of the motor 12. These weights may have the same angular offset, or a different offset, so as to generate vibrations in a predetermined frequency range.

According to a third variant of the first embodiment of the invention, the weight unbalance 36 is supported by the hair removal head or roller In this case, the weight 36 advantageously has a shape cylindrical and is arranged inside the rotary roller 1 at a distance predetermined with respect to the axis 2 of the roll 1. The dimensions of the weight 36 and the distance from its location relative to the axis 2 of the roll 1 are determining in the values of the amplitude of the vibrations generated. The speed of the roll must be calculated in such a way as to obtain oscillations of the depilation head 1 greater than 50 Hz.

Advantageously, the unbalanced moving part has a mass greater than 10 g, preferably between 10 g and 50 g over a radius of the order of 10 mm.

FIG. 6 illustrates a second embodiment of the invention in which the apparatus tweezers comprises means generating vibrations in translation in the suspended system 27.

According to this embodiment, one of the gears 16 of the transmission system or gear train 10, has an elongate axis 38 provided at its end opposed to that secured to the pinion 16, a finger-shaped eccentric 40. The finger 40 is attached to the periphery of the front portion of the axis 38 and is moved in a horizontal oblong slot 42 formed in the housing 20 or in another room or fixed part of the device.

In operation, the motor 12 drives the roller 1 by the train gear 10. The pinion 16 is set in motion and drives the axis 38, respectively the finger 40 moving in the slot 42. Thus, the Rotational movement of the eccentric 40 is transformed into a movement of vertical translation back and forth of the frame 25, and therefore of all the whole that he supports. The vibrations in translation of the assembly 27 are transmitted to the skin, in the area to be depilated, by the vibrating hair removal head 1, reducing so the pain.

The pinion 16 rotates at a speed of about 7200 rpm, which causes vibrations at a frequency of about 120 Hz, in one direction perpendicular to the skin of the hair removal head 1.

Other variants or constructive modifications can be envisaged without depart from the scope of the present invention. Thus, the suspended frame 25 can be guided in its vertical movement on fixed mounted rails in the housing 20. This would ensure vibrational movements substantially in one direction.

Advantageously, the presented variants could be supplemented by additional damping means vibrations transmitted to the housing 20 of the device.

Thus, one could consider arranging outside the same housing 20 a outer casing, having substantially the same shape as the first, a energy absorbing material being in this case interposed between the two housings. The material introduced between the two housings is a coating intermediate damping mechanical vibrations produced in the assembly suspended 27, such a material being in particular a foam-based material, a viscoelastic material or any other material having properties similar to these.

Another means of amortizing vibrations produced in the suspended system compared to the housing of the device by the arrangement of an unbalance in the housing, unbalance which would work in phase opposition to the first supported unbalance by the suspended system. An example of such a construction, no represented in the attached figures, but based in particular on the mode of embodiment illustrated in Figure 1, comprises an integral axis housing 20, axis on which is mounted an unbalance of the same order of magnitude as the unbalance 18 supported by the pinion 16, but mounted at 180 ° relative thereto. In this case, this second unbalance is rotated by the unbalance axis 18, respectively of the pinion 16, via an elastic coupling. The second unbalance therefore rotates at the same speed as the unbalance 18, its mass and radius at center of gravity being adjusted so as to neutralize the vibrations in the housing 20. Thus, this second imbalance induced in the housing 20 vibration of contrary to those received (produced by the unbalance 18 as a whole suspended 27), thus compensating for the effect of vibrations in the housing.

Claims (13)

1. An epilator appliance for removing body hairs, the appliance comprising a roller (1) mounted to rotate in a housing (20) for holding in the hand, said roller having at least two pincers (7, 8) designed to pinch on and pluck out hairs, the roller (1) being suitable for being driven in rotation by an electric motor (12) via a transmission system (10); the motor (12), the transmission system (10), and the roller (1) together forming an assembly (27) that is mounted in fixed manner in a frame (25) itself floatably mounted relative to the housing (20) of the appliance via resilient means (24), the appliance being characterized in that the assembly (27) includes at least one part (18, 36, 40) mounted in such a manner that on being set into motion by the motor, it generates vibration in said assembly (27) including in the rotary roller (1), said vibration presenting a main component in a direction substantially perpendicular to the skin.
2. An appliance according to claim 1, characterized in that the frequency of the vibration produced in the rotary roller (1) is greater than 50 Hz.
3. An appliance according to either preceding claim, characterized in that the moving part (18, 36, 40) and the resilient means (24) for mounting the assembly (27) in the housing (20) are designed in such a manner that the amplitude of the vibration lies in the range 0.1 mm to 1 mm.
4. An appliance according to any preceding claim, characterized in that the moving part (18, 36) generates rotary vibration in the rotary roller (1).
5. An appliance according to claim 4, characterized in that the moving part (18) is an unbalanced weight mounted in fixed manner on one of the gearwheels (16) of the transmission system (10).
6. An appliance according to claim 5, characterized in that the frequency of vibration of the rotary roller (1) is about 120 Hz.
7. An appliance according to claim 4, characterized in that the moving part (18) is an unbalanced weight mounted in fixed manner on one of the ends of the shaft (13) of the drive motor (12).
8. An appliance according to claim 4, characterized in that the moving part (36) is a flyweight supported by the rotary roller (1).
9. An appliance according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that said moving part (40) generates vibration in translation in the rotary roller (1).
10. An appliance according to claim 9, characterized in that the moving part (40) is an eccentric having one end mounted in fixed manner on the shaft (38) of one of the gearwheels (16) of the transmission system, and having its other end sliding in a longitudinal slot (42) in the housing (20) of the appliance.
11. An appliance according to any preceding claim, characterized in that the resilient means (24) are constituted by springs.
12. An appliance according to any preceding claim, characterized in that the drive motor (12), the transmission system (10), and the rotary roller (1) are mounted in fixed manner in a frame (25) which is in turn secured to the housing of the appliance via a damper device (30).
13. An appliance according to any preceding claim, characterized in that the speed of the drive motor (12) is adjusted so as to adjust the frequency of vibration in a frequency range of 50 Hz to 300 Hz.

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