EP1196060B1 - Epilation device - Google Patents

Abstract

An epilator for plucking hairs from human skin, the epilator having a housing in which an epilating head driven by drive elements and carrying plucking elements is mounted, provision being made in the area of the epilating head for movably mounted driven elements for the mechanical stimulating striking of the skin by a contact element, the striking reducing the subjective pain of epilation to the user.

Description

The invention relates to an epilation device for plucking hair from the human A skin having a housing in which a drive means driven, Zupfelemente bearing epilation head is mounted, wherein in the region of the epilation head movable in the Housing or in a mounted on this attachment part, driven means for mechanical stimulating action on the skin provided by a contact element are.

Such an epilation device is known, for example, from WO 97/19613. This document shows, with an integrated epilator massage arm facing the skin elastic protrusions of soft material, guided by two handlebars and through an eccentric driven parallel to the housing longitudinal axis is moved back and forth. Of the Eccentric acts on the massage arm via a coil spring and causes a in the direction changing moment on the massage arm. The height of the eccentric on The massage force transmitted by the clamping conditions and the geometric Dimensions are set and thus is also the stimulation of the skin of the user always constant through the massage arm. The linear movement of the Masagearmes holds In addition, in conjunction with the curved outer contour of the housing the risk of Pinching the skin of the user.

Also EP-A-760 219 discloses a stimulation device integrated in an epilation device known for the user's skin for pain reduction. The stimulation agent shown there consists of a pivotally mounted on the housing U-shaped bracket, the directly by arranged on the epilator cam during rotation of this roller is driven swinging. In this arrangement, both stroke and frequency of the Stimulation agent constant, so that even with this device, the intensity of skin stimulation is fixed.

Another disadvantage that is common to both known epilators is the special, elaborate drive mechanism for the powered skin stimulant

As is known, the stimulation devices of the epilators serve to reduce the subjective pain sensation when plucking body hair. This is achieved by that the pain caused by the plucking of the hair is an additional stimulus whose intensity is less than the Ausschupfschmerz or physiologically less unpleasant is, is superimposed. It has now been shown that the stimulus to be superimposed optimal Pain reduction in extremely strong measure of the individual characteristics and the different sensitivity of each user depends. This is in the known Epilation equipment is not taken into account, so that the pain reduction by this Devices are not sufficient for many users.

Therefore, the present invention has the object, a generic epilator to create, with a simple structure and in a cost effective way for different Users with individual pain perception allows optimal pain reduction and wherein the intensity of the application by the user is changeable.

This object is achieved by this means at least one resilient Having component which elastically biases the contact element in the direction of the skin, and that the drive of these means takes place by coupling to the Epilierkopf. This solution contributes to a greater extent the aspect of particularly low production costs and the extremely low structural cost, as for driving the skin stimulant hardly any additional components are needed.

Particularly advantageous is an embodiment of the invention in which the intensity of Loading as a function of the angle of attack between the epilator and the Skin is changeable, since in this case the user of the epilator without interruption During the epitation process in the simplest way and without manual adjustments the stimulation effect on his individual needs can adapt. This is also possible in an embodiment of the invention in which the intensity of the application depending on the contact pressure between Epilationsgerät and skin is changeable.

For an effective and noticeable pain reduction during epilation it is from particular advantage when the application of the skin is pulsed. This can be realize in a simple manner and with little effort, that the means for mechanical stimulating action on the skin at least one elastically toughened Have contact element. Ideally, this contact element is elastic in direction harnessed to the skin. realize in a simple manner and with little effort, that the means for mechanical stimulating action on the skin at least one elastically toughened Have contact element. Ideally, this contact element is elastic in direction harnessed to the skin.

Particularly suitable contact elements are rams or rollers, in particular Spiked or geared rollers rolling on the skin exposed.

If the contact element is guided such that its trajectory concentric with the Epilierkopf extending arc represents, so on the one hand a particularly sensitive intensity control enables the skin to be applied and, moreover, ensures that that by the constant distance between Epilierkopf and skin stimulant the skin can not pinch between the contact element and the epilation head.

An almost complete pain reduction is with an embodiment of the invention possible in which, in addition to the driven means for stoichiometric loading the skin has at least one other non-powered skin stimulant is provided. The practical embodiment of such a design could be designed in this way be that, for example, to be epilated skin section before the plucking process is acted upon by one or more driven contact elements to a physiological to apply less unpleasant stimulus of high intensity, while the skin section after performing the plucking by one or more non-driven Contact elements is subjected to a stimulus of significantly lower intensity in the skin initiates.

For a simple construction of the epilation device according to the invention contributes in particular in that the means for the mechanical stimulating action on the skin by the Drive means of Epilierkopfes, ie without its own separate drive, are actuated, wherein it is particularly favorable in terms of drive technology, if these agents directly through the Epilierkopf be operated. As a pulse-like exposure to the skin for optimal Pain reduction is crucial sees a preferred embodiment of the invention suggest that the operation of the means for mechanical stimulatory loading of the Skin via elastically deformable transmission elements takes place. This will be a sudden Release of the application energy after exceeding a predefined deformation allows the transmission element in a particularly simple way.

A further embodiment of the invention, which, however, also simultaneously as independent Invention, provides that the means for stimulating the skin are provided in an attachment which has a body for attachment to the Housing and movably mounted in the base body means for stimulating application the skin, which is provided with coupling elements for coupling to the drive means are. This solution, which is innovative in itself, creates the opportunity for the To use pain relief agents as an accessory, which the user of the epilation device can use as needed. This also makes it possible already existing Retrofit epilation equipment with a pain reduction device, without a special complicated conversion with costly changes to the epilator is necessary. Especially in the execution of pain reducer suitable as a retrofit accessory especially the embodiment in which the means for mechanical stimulatory Application of the skin can be actuated directly through the epilation head.

The main body of the attachment can be positively or non-positively on Attach housing; is particularly favorable in terms of accuracy of fit and stability However, an embodiment in which the body by a releasable lock with the housing is connectable.

Fig. 1

eine perspektivische Darstellung des erfindungsgemäßen Epilationsgerätes,

Fig. 2

ein vom Epilationsgerät abgenommenes Aufsatzteil in perspektivischer Darstellung,

Fig. 3 und Fig. 4

jeweils eine Schnittdarstellung durch das Epilationsgerät in zwei unterschiedlichen Anstellwinkeln zur Hautoberfläche,

Fig. 5

ein Kontaktelement,

Fig. 6

einen Schnitt entlang der Linie A-A gemäß Fig. 5,

Fig. 7

eine weitere Ausführungsform eines Aufsatzteils und

Fig. 8

einen Schnitt durch ein Aufsatzteil gemäß Fig. 7.

Further advantageous features and the function of the invention will be explained below with reference to an embodiment. All described or illustrated features alone or in any combination form the subject matter of the present invention, regardless of their inclusion in the claims or their dependency. This shows:

Fig. 1

a perspective view of the epilation device according to the invention,

Fig. 2

an attachment removed from the epilation device in a perspective view,

FIG. 3 and FIG. 4

each a sectional view through the epilation device in two different angles of incidence to the skin surface,

Fig. 5

a contact element,

Fig. 6

a section along the line AA of FIG. 5,

Fig. 7

a further embodiment of an attachment part and

Fig. 8

a section through an attachment according to FIG. 7

Corresponding parts will become apparent in the drawings and in the description below used in all figures, the same reference numerals.

The epilator shown in Fig. 1 has a partially illustrated housing 1, in an epilation head 2 is rotatably mounted. The housing 1 also takes in his not graphically represented part, which also the gripping and holding by hand the user is used, an electric motor also not shown and the associated Torque transmission elements, these are in particular gear transmission to the rotating Drive the Epilierkopfes 2 on. The epilation head according to the embodiment is as Rotary cylinder formed, as it is known from WO 98/05234. On the disclosure content This International Patent Application is expressly incorporated by reference. Of the Epilierkopf 2 is driven so that its rotation corresponds to the direction of the arrow 3. This is also the direction in which the epilation device plucking the hair is passed over the skin. The epilation head 2 is a plurality of substantially in the circumferential direction extending Einfädelnuten 4, which the hair to be dispensed the Feed clamping elements 5.

The clamping elements 5 are not shown by drawing longitudinally in the epilation head. 2 extending plunger operated by means of laterally arranged next to the Epilierkopf 2 cams. These graphically also not shown cams are arranged so that approximately in the visible in the plan view of FIG. 1 range of about one quarter of the peripheral surface the actual plucking area of the epilation head is formed. In this plucking area the tweezer-type clamping elements 5, which open this plucking area in Reach position, gradually closed and after a certain angle of rotation in the closed position, opened again to the during the Close picked up hair and plucked out during the further rotation.

However, before the skin comes into contact with the depilating head to be hairbrushed out, it experiences a mechanical stimulation by the rolling on her first spiked roller. 6 The applied with the first spiked roller 6 stimulus has the consequence that by the subsequent Plucking the hair caused pain is perceived as less strong. Around through the first spiked roller 6, which runs parallel to the longitudinal axis of the epilation head, to increase applied mechanical stimulus, this is, as will be explained later, in a swinging substantially perpendicular to the skin surface direction driven. Also parallel to the longitudinal axis of the Epilierkopfes runs on the other side a second spiked roller 7 whose function is to tighten the skin in the epilation area, to improve the gripping of the hair by the clamping elements. The spiked rollers 6 and 7 are formed of individual rings 8 and 9 lined up on a common axis, where the rings can rotate independently. Every single ring is provided with eight evenly distributed on the circumference conical spines, which themselves to rejuvenate to the outside.

Fig. 2 shows the trained as an attachment part for pain reduction, which on the Housing 1 is placed, as a separately shown item. This attachment consists of a base body 10, the inner contour of the outer contour of the housing 1 of the epilation device is adapted. The body is made in one piece and can by his conical inner contour by simply pressing on the housing 1 frictionally with be connected to the epilator. The main body 10 carries the two spiked rollers 6 and 7, whose respective axes 8 and 9 are mounted with their end portions in each case in arms 11 are, which are guided displaceably in a shaft 12 of the base body 10. Out Stability reasons, the two each have an axis 8 and 9 supporting arms 11 at their the respective axes 8 and 9 opposite ends integral with a carrier thirteenth connected.

As can be seen in Fig. 3, the shaft 12 in the base body 10 has an arcuate shape curved course. The circular arc of the two shafts 12 are concentric to the rotation axis A of the epilating head.

Between the bottom of the shaft 12 and one arm 11, a compression spring is inserted, which the arms 11 and thus also the spiked rollers 6 and 7 in the direction of the pretensioned skin to be epilated. This ensures that the spiked rollers also at different angular position of the housing 1 of the epilator to the surface of the to epilating skin 15 are always pressed against the latter.

While the spiked roller 7 only with the force determined by the compression spring 14 the skin rests and rolls on it, the spiked roller 6 additionally swinging in Directed by the arrow B, so that the mechanical stimulus, by the spines the spiked roller is generated, yet a vibration is superimposed. These are the two End regions of the Epilierkopfes 2 each more - in this case, there are four - rib-shaped Driver 16 evenly distributed around the circumference, which with two each cooperate as leaf springs 17 formed Ankoppelelementen which on the carrier 13 or are attached to the arm 11. The two leaf springs 17 are integral with one formed with them strip 18 at its side facing away from the spiked roller 6 page connected with each other. The spiked roller 6 facing the end of the leaf springs 17 is hook-shaped inwards, i. towards the epilation head, bent over. A U-shaped extending end portion of the leaf spring thus engages in between two adjacent Mitnehmer 16 recessed area on the circumference of the Epilierkopfes 2 and is thus in the orbit of the driver 16.

As soon as the driver 16 acts on the leaf spring 17, as indicated by the arrow C in FIG is indicated, the two arms 11 arcuately within the shaft 12 after pressed down and the compression spring 14 is compressed. Due to the progressive characteristic the compression spring 14 now increases acting between the driver 16 and the leaf spring 17 Reaction force, up from a certain threshold, by the spring stiffness the compression spring 14 and the leaf spring 17 is determined, the hook-shaped portion of the leaf spring 17 is pivoted about the pivot point D down. Immediately after this panning grab the leaf springs 17 on the corresponding driver 16, so that the arms 11 and thus the spiked roller 6 driven by the bias of the compression spring 14 jump up in a burst. This upward movement becomes self-evident limited by an acting between the arms 11 and the base 10 stop. After skipping the driver 16 pivots the hook-shaped end of the Leaf spring 17 counterclockwise again about the pivot point D in its initial position back and there is a renewed action by the driver 16.

Now, as shown in Fig. 4, the angle of attack between the epilator and the Surface of the skin 15 is changed, so the arms 11 by the higher contact pressure between the skin 15 and the spiked roller 6 against the force of the compression springs 14 in the Shaft 12 is pushed in. The biasing force of the springs 14 then increases proportionally for lowering the arms 11 relative to the position shown in Fig. 3. Based on these higher biasing force now snaps the hook-shaped end portion of the leaf spring 17 already after a shorter caused by the driver 16 displacement after pivoting about the pivot point D via the driver 16, so that the oscillation with a reduced Hub is running.

In this way, it is possible for the user, the most comfortable relationship for him between (constant) contact pressure by the spiked rollers 6 and vibration intensity by adjusting the angle of attack between the epilator and the skin steplessly adjust. Once the user has the contact pressure between the spiked and the skin increases, the vibration intensity decreases and vice versa. The lower stroke the spiked rollers 6 is shown in Fig. 4 by the opposite Fig. 3 smaller double arrow B.

In a practical embodiment of the invention, the stroke B is the vibration of the spiked roller 6 adjustable between 0.1 and 0.7 mm. The angle of attack between the skin 15 and the epilation device is thereby changed by about +/- 15 °. This is also the plucking area, in which the clamping elements 5 have the optimum working range.

The training of pain reducer as an attachment with direct drive over As can be seen, the epilation roller provides a particularly favorable and also as retrofit part usable embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 7 shows a further embodiment of a trained as an attachment means for Pain reduction, which is placed on the housing 1, in perspective view. For a more detailed explanation, a section through such an attachment is shown in FIG. According to the attachment part according to FIG. 2, this attachment part also shows a basic body 10, in which spiked rollers carrying arms 11 slidably and elastically in the direction of the epilated skin are stored biased. As in the previously described Attachment is here also the spiked roller 6 shown on the left above the Leaf spring 17, which cooperates with the drivers 16 on the epilation head, drivable. On the axis 9 of the opposite spiked roller 7 a support plate 21 is mounted, which in turn carries another spiked roller 20. Since - as already described before - the spiked rollers are composed of individual successive rings, replace the carrier plates 21 two otherwise provided at this point spiked roller rings. By the articulation of the spiked roller 20 to the axis 9, it is common with the spiked roller 7 slidably and elastically biased in the main body 10 stored. Furthermore is the spiked roller 20, which is also composed of individual rings, due the elasticity of the support plates 21 and against the spiked roller 7 pivotally mounted.

By the additional spiked roller 20 an even better skin stimulation is possible, wherein however, the entire epilation device is still easy and comfortable to use remains.

It should be expressly noted at this point that the support plate 21 and the Spiked roller 20 also hinged to the spiked roller 6 bearing axis 8 in the same way can be. In this case, then two driven spiked rollers 6 and 20 present, wherein the spiked roller 20 also still pivotable with respect to the spiked roller 6 is. This embodiment, not shown, with two driven spiked rollers allows a particularly strong stimulation of the skin before the actual Haarausrupfvorgang, while the illustrated embodiment for increased skin stimulation after ensures the epilation. A particularly high pain mask and skin relaxation after epilation is achieved when both the driven and the non-driven Skin stimulation agent in each case two contact elements, in particular spiked rollers, exhibit. The number of driven and non-driven contact elements and the Order of their arrangement on the epilator can be freely according to the desired Stimulation effect can be selected.

Characterized in that the spiked rollers 6, 7, 20 both relative to the base body 10 and relatively mutually variable in position, i. are lowered or pivoted to each other, is a optimal adaptation to the contour of the skin to be epilated, especially near the skin Bones or joints ensured.

Claims (12)

1. An epilator for plucking hairs from human skin, comprising a housing (1) in which an epilating head (2) driven by drive elements and carrying plucking elements (5) is mounted, provision being made in the area of the epilating head (2) for movably mounted driven elements (6, 11, 13, 14) for mechanical stimulating striking of the skin by at least one contact element (6),
   characterized in that said elements include at least one resilient component (14) biasing the contact element (6) elastically in the direction of the skin, said elements (6, 11, 13, 14) being driven by coupling to followers (16) arranged on the epilating head (2).
2. The epilator as claimed in any one of the preceding claims,
   characterized in that said contact element is formed by at least one pin.
3. The epilator as claimed in any one of the preceding claims,
   characterized in that said contact element is formed by at least one rotatably mounted cylinder (6).
4. The epilator as claimed in any one of the preceding claims,
   characterized in that said contact element is formed by at least one spiked or gearwheel cylinder.
5. The epilator as claimed in any one of the preceding claims,
   characterized in that the striking of the skin takes place in pulsed fashion.
6. The epilator as claimed in any one of the preceding claims,
   characterized in that said contact element (6) is guided such that its path of motion defines an arc extending concentrically to the epilating head (2).
7. The epilator as claimed in any one of the preceding claims,
   characterized in that provision is made for at least one further, non-driven skin stimulation element (7) in addition to the driven elements (6, 11, 13, 14) for the stimulating striking of the skin.
8. The epilator as claimed in any one of the preceding claims,
   characterized in that the elements for the mechanical stimulating striking of the skin are actuated by means of elastically deformable transmission elements, in particular leaf springs (17).
9. The epilator as claimed in any one of the preceding claims,
   characterized in that the elements for the stimulating striking of the skin are provided in an attachment comprising a base body (10) for attaching to the housing (1) and elements movably mounted inside the base body for the stimulating striking of the skin, said elements being equipped with coupling elements, in particular leaf springs (17), for coupling to the drive elements.
10. The epilator as claimed in claim 9,
    characterized in that the base body (10) is connectable to the housing (1) by positive engagement therewith.
11. The epilator as claimed in claim 9,
    characterized in that the base body (10) is connectable to the housing (1) by frictional engagement therewith.
12. The epilator as claimed in claim 9,
    characterized in that the base body (10) is connectable to the housing (1) by means of a releasable detent.

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