EP1255464B1 - Hair removing appliance with vibrating rotary roller - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention concerns an appliance for removing body hair comprising a roller (5) mounted rotatable in a housing (1) designed to be hand-held, said roller comprising at least two tweezers (5a, 5b) designed to squeeze and pull out hairs, the roller being adapted to be driven in rotation by an electric motor (8) via a transmission system (12). More particularly, the invention is characterised in that the assembly formed by the roller, the transmission system and the motor is divided into two parts, each part being integral with a support (11a, 11b) mounted floating relative to the housing and being driven in vibration at a predetermined frequency, the vibration frequency of one of the parts being in one hundred and eighty degree phase shift relative to the other part.

Description

The present invention relates to a hair removal device of the type comprising a rotary roller fitted with pliers designed to pluck excess hair, not of the human body.

This type of device has clamps in the form of blades or discs arranged on a rotating roller, the clamps being caused to close and open periodically so as to tighten the hairs close to the skin and, respectively, to evacuate the hairs pulled out by the rotation of the roller. Hair removal is a very effective method against regrowth, but often it causes significant pain.

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

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

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

Thus, documents EP 0 671 136 and WO 99/13750 in the name of the Applicant describe pins and brushes fixedly mounted on the roller rotary carrying the clamps. Brushes and pins are supported by a zone elongated recessed extending parallel to the alignment of the roll clamps rotary. Brushes have a bristle straightening effect before waxing, while the pins produce a massage effect on the skin, more or less less accentuated causing a sensation of pain which masks the pain of waxing. However, the brushes and especially the pins remain long enough in contact with the skin and they produce a friction effect on the latter, effect which can cause irritation.

WO 97/00032 has also been proposed with a tweezer rotary comprising a series of movable rollers pushed radially by the centrifugal force and / or by springs, castors which apply pulses mechanical on the skin to camouflage the pain caused by lifting hairs. This solution is however complicated, it also requires execution details and high costs for its components.

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

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

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

The object of the invention is to remedy, at least in part, the drawbacks mentioned above and to propose a tweezer with pliers intended for applying vibrational stimulation on the area to be epilated substantially at the same time that plucking the hairs so as to effectively mask the pain felt during hair removal.

A solution was proposed in patent application FR 9908885 in the name of the plaintiff. This patent application describes a hair removal device comprising an assembly formed by the gripper roller, the motor and the system transmission, the assembly being mounted floating relative to the housing the device. Said assembly also comprises an unbalanced part which is placed in rotation during operation of the device so that it generates vibrations in the gripper roller, vibrations that stimulate the skin when waxing. Functioning to satisfaction in terms of pain-relieving vibration stimulation of the skin, we realized that the vibrations were not completely cushioned in the camera body and caused unpleasant sensations in the user's hand.

The object of the present invention is to provide a hair-removing device with a roller tongs comprising means capable of efficiently generating vibrations in said roller while ensuring good damping of vibrations in the housing of the device.

Another object of the invention is a hair removal device provided with pain-relieving means reliable, simple construction and suitable for mass production, for lower manufacturing costs.

An additional object of the invention is a means of hair removal painkillers which act simultaneously with the uprooting, while leaving visible the These goals are achieved with a hair removal device to remove body hair comprising a roller mounted to rotate in a housing intended to be held by hand, said roller comprising at least two clamps intended to clamp and tear off the bristles, the roller being capable of being rotated by a motor electric via a transmission system, since the assembly formed by the roller, the transmission system and the engine is divided into two parts, each part being secured to a separate support mounted floating relative to the and being driven in vibration at a predetermined frequency, the vibration movement of one of the parts being in phase opposition by compared to that of the other party.

Thus, the means for rotating the epilation roller are also designed to generate vibrations in the roller at the same time as the uprooting. The vibratory stress on the skin therefore produces an effect pain reliever simultaneously with the hair removal process reducing pain while throughout this process. So, in order to prevent the transmission of these vibrations to the housing and from here in the user's hand, it also solicits vibration, same frequency, but in phase opposition, the other moving parts of the roller drive mechanism. Means are provided for keep the assembly in contact during operation.

The assembly formed by the roller, the transmission system and the motor electric actuator is therefore split into two parts which vibrate at the same frequency, in phase opposition, parts which are mounted on supports mounted floating relative to the housing so that they can vibrate independently of each other. Therefore, at the time of training in vibration of the two parts the vibrations of a first part, in particular of the roller cancel those of the second part, in particular of the motor, so that the vibrations are completely neutralized with respect to a fixed mark, including the housing.

Advantageously, the assembly formed by the roller, the transmission system and the engine is split into two parts of substantially equal mass.

So the parameters of the vibrations generated in these two parts, especially the amplitude, can be better controlled, especially when using a unique means of vibration which oscillates the two at the same time parts.

Preferably, 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 vibration stimulation. In the framework of the invention, the frequency can be advantageously chosen by the speed of rotation of the unbalanced part.

Advantageously, the elastic means of mounting the assembly in the case and the moving part are determined so that the amplitude vibration 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, masks 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 rotary roller therefore strikes the skin vertically, the vibrations being completely absorbed by the latter, which provides an analgesic effect effective. Oscillatory movements in phase opposition are produced easily in the longitudinal direction of the housing.

According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the supports of the moving parts are actuated by vibrating means integrated into the transmission system.

Vibration systems could have been produced, in particular in the form two integral weights, one of the hair removal roller and producing vibrations of a certain frequency and amplitude in the latter, and the other integral with the engine and / or transmission system and vibrating at the same frequency, but 180 ° out of phase.

For reasons of simplicity of construction and efficiency of the drive, we chose to integrate the vibrating means into the transmission system of the movement of the motor with the epilation roller.

Advantageously, said means for vibrating consist of a rotary part whose axis of rotation is mounted fixed relative to the housing, said rotary part comprising a first toothing provided to cooperate with a first toothed wheel secured to the first support and a second toothing designed to cooperate with a second toothed wheel secured to the second support, the center of the cross section of each toothing being offset by on either side of the common axis of rotation in a direction perpendicular to this last.

The moving masses are split into two parts, each part being integral with a support mounted floating relative to the housing so that that each support can be driven in vibration separately. We could have provide a system with two or more cams rolling on top of each other, each belonging to one of said parts, so as to receive the movement of the gear train and subsequently drive each support in vibration.

We nevertheless chose to use a rotating part provided with at least one toothing because it can be easily integrated into the transmission system or gear train, this part being able to be rotated by a wheel neighbor or by the motor output axis. In addition, the constructive parameters of this part, in particular the diameters, speeds, modules of its teeth can be calculated so as to obtain a speed of operation of the roller and a predetermined vibration frequency of this latest.

Thus, when the part and its teeth are rotated, the latter transmit to the wheel or wheels that they generate an imbalance equivalent to the value of their offset or offset relative to the axis of rotation, imbalance absorbed by the floating support of each of the wheels. Through Consequently, each support performs a translational movement in the direction of the respective eccentricity, so that displacements in opposite directions of the two supports.

Advantageously, the first toothing has a value offset equal, but diametrically opposite to the eccentricity of the second toothing.

In this case, the vibrations obtained in each of the floating supports, and therefore in the two moving parts of said set, have equal amplitudes but in the opposite direction and, consequently, they cancel each other out.

Advantageously, the value of the eccentricity of each toothing relative to its axis of rotation corresponds to half the amplitude of the vibrations obtained in each of the supports.

By its construction, the rotary part with two offset teeth induces vibrations of equal amplitudes, but in opposite directions in each of the supports. When rotating the two teeth, when the distance between the periphery of the first toothing and the periphery of the second toothing is maximum, the two teeth act on the floating supports by moving them away one from another. The amplitude of the vibrations obtained in this case is maximum and it is represented by the sum of the eccentricities of the two teeth, in particular twice one of them for equal values of the two eccentricities.

Preferably, the eccentricity of the teeth is adjusted so that that the maximum amplitude of the vibrations is obtained when the clamps are in the closed position.

Thus, the maximum amplitude of stimulation is obtained just before uprooting hair, which provides very effective skin stimulation.

In an advantageous variant of the invention, the supports are mounted sliding on guides in the housing.

This directs the vibrational movements substantially in one direction, in particular perpendicular to the skin, while ensuring the stability of the masses in vibration.

• la figure 1 représente une vue en coupe longitudinale selon le plan B-B de la figure 2 d'un appareil à épiler selon l'invention ;
• la figure 2 est une vue en coupe réalisée selon le plan A-A de la figure 1 d'un appareil à épiler de l'invention ;
• la figure 3a est une vue en coupe similaire à celle de la figure 1, mais sans le boítier, le rouleau, le train d'engrenages et le moteur ;
• la figure 3b est une vue en coupe réalisée selon le plan C-C de la figure 3a ;
• les figures 4a et 4b représentent des vues schématisés en deux positions de fonctionnement du train d'engrenages de la figure 1.

Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will appear more clearly in the light of the description and of the drawings which follow, illustrating, by way of nonlimiting examples, embodiments of the invention.
Thus, reference is made to Figures 1 to 4, where:

• Figure 1 shows a longitudinal sectional view along the plane BB of Figure 2 of a hair removal device according to the invention;
• Figure 2 is a sectional view taken along the plane AA of Figure 1 of a hair removal device of the invention;
• Figure 3a is a sectional view similar to that of Figure 1, but without the housing, the roller, the gear train and the motor;
• Figure 3b is a sectional view taken along the plane CC of Figure 3a;
• FIGS. 4a and 4b represent diagrammatic views in two operating positions of the gear train of FIG. 1.

The appended figures illustrate a device for hair removal from human skin provided means for vibrating the rotary roller or the epilating head 5 of this device so that the cyclic waves from these vibrations cause a painkiller effect on the area to be epilated.

An example of a hair removal device inside which means have been integrated of vibration, in particular of the epilation head of the device, is described in document FR 2 758 060 in the name of the plaintiff. It is however obvious that this device is only an example of the use of resources painkiller according to the invention, because any hair removal device with pliers, can be adapted in order to integrate pain relief means of the invention.

In Figures 1 to 3 we can notice a hair removal device comprising a rotary roller 5 provided with a central shaft movable in rotation in a cradle 20 and a cage mounted coaxially on the tree it surrounds, this cage being formed by two lateral flanges 21,22 holding between them four rods 23.

The left flange 21 is integral with a pinion 13 engaged with a train reduction gears or transmission system 12 driven by a pinion 9 secured to the output shaft of a drive motor 8.

Two series of alternate cruciform blades 5a, respectively 5b, are mounted on the central shaft of the rotating roller 5, each pair of alternating blades 5a, 5b forming a tweezer, a movable blade 5a of which is capable of move away from a fixed blade 5b and, alternatively, apply against it. The actuation of the movable blade 5a causes the opening, respectively the closing the tweezers, in order to tighten and pluck the hairs, and to release after tearing, as the roller 5 rotates. Thus, the hairs of the area to be epilated appearing before a window 24 of the housing 1, are torn off following the rotation of the roller or the epilation head 5.

Advantageously, the epilation head 5 can have brushes 25 and / or pins 26 arranged in the recessed elongated zone extending parallel to the alignment of the blades 5a, 5b. The brushes 25 have the role of straightening the hairs for removal, while the pins 26 prevent the head hair removal 5 jumps on the skin when passing the hollow area.

Figures 1 to 3 illustrate a preferred embodiment of the invention according to which the gripper roller 5 and the wheels 6 and 7 are integral with a first support or upper carriage 11a, while the motor 8 and its pinion outlet 9 are mounted on a second support or lower carriage 11b.

As best seen in Figures 2 and 3b, the supports or carriages 11a and 11b are mounted floating relative to the housing 1 of the device. More precisely, the supports 11a, 11b are slidably mounted, against the springs of reminder 10, on guide rods 4a, 4b mounted fixed in the arms 14a, 14b, 14c, 14d of stirrup 2.

In the transmission system or gear train 12 is interposed a rotating part 3 or a wheel with two teeth 3a and 3b. Rotating part 3 is mounted on an axis of rotation A integral with the housing 1, axis supported in rotation in the bearing 18 of the caliper 2. The caliper 2 is directly fixed to the housing 1 of the device by means of fixing screws, rivets or other means of removable or non-removable fixing.

The two teeth 3a, 3b are preferably integral with the same part 3 including a first toothing 3a is provided to cooperate with the pinion 9 integral with the output axis of the motor 8, and the second toothing 3b is intended to mesh with the toothed wheel 7 and further transmit the movement of rotation of the motor 8, in the transmission system 12 as far as the roller 5.

More particularly according to the invention, the central axis of each toothing is offset from the general axis of rotation A of the rotating part 3. As better visible in Figures 4a or 4b, the teeth 3a are offset by a value "e" with respect to the axis A in a direction perpendicular to the latter and the teeth 3b have an offset of the same value, but arranged at 180 ° compared to the first.

In Figure 3a it can be seen that the upper support or carriage 11a has bearings 16 and 17 for rotationally supporting the axes of the gears 6 and 7 and that it also supports the frame 15 of the roller 5. The motor 8 with its pinion 9 are fixed on the support or lower carriage 11b.

The springs 10 are preferably in number of four, two for each supports 11a, 11b. The springs 10 are cylindrical helical, they are mounted on the rods 4a, 4b with one of the ends fixed by stops 14a, respectively 14b, 14c, 14d relative to one of the rods 4a, 4b, while the other free end bears on one of the sliding supports 11a, 11b. Thus, the results of the respective efforts of the springs 10 tend to bring the two supports 11a and 11b together so as to keep the gears 7,3 and 9 of the transmission system 12.

The housing 1 of the device is preferably made in two parts 1a, 1b in order to facilitate the assembly of the various components of the device. Parts 1a, 1b are made of plastic by a molding technique. The gables or gears of the gear train 12 of the apparatus are preferably produced made of wear-resistant plastic to reduce the total weight of the device.

In operation, when the motor 8 is started, its movement of rotation is transmitted, via the pinion 9, to the rotating part 3, in particular to the toothing 3a of the latter.

When the toothing 3a is in the position shown in FIG. 4a, with the eccentricity "e" located above the axis A, the teeth 3b are presented with its eccentricity "e" below the axis A, so that the distance "d" measured between the point of contact of the teeth 3a with the pinion 9 and the point of contact of the teeth 3b with the wheel 7 is at its minimum, this distance being less than the sum of the radii of the original circles of the pinions 3a and 3b of a value equal to twice that of the offset “e”. In this case, the supports or upper 11a and lower 11b carriages, pushed by the springs 10, are in their position of extreme closeness.

The pinion 9 continues its rotation and at a position located at 180 ° relative to that described above, and as shown in Figure 4b, the offsets teeth 3a and 3b are reversed. Thus the offset “e” of the teeth 3a is located below axis A and that of teeth 3b above the same axis, so that the distance "D" between their points of contact with the adjacent wheels reaches its maximum value, this distance being equal to the sum of the radii of the primitive circles of the teeth 3a, 3b plus a value equal to twice that of the offset “e”. In this case, the supports 11a and 11b are in their position of extreme separation. We note that, the supports 11a, 11b being mounted on springs 10, therefore isolated from the housing 1, none of the moving parts comes into contact with the housing 1 during operation.

After another 180 ° rotation, the teeth return to their position shown in Figure 4a. We therefore see that the position of the two supports or carriages 11a, 11b and, therefore, that of the components of the apparatus integral with each of said supports, oscillates between these two extreme positions, that of approximation represented in FIG. 4a and that of separation of the Figure 4b. This results in back and forth movements in the two supports 11a and 11b with a predetermined frequency and an amplitude equal to twice the eccentricity “e”, the vibrations produced being in phase opposition one, in particular that of the support 11a, relative to the other, that of the support 11b. AT nonlimiting example title, for an offset value "e" of 0.25 mm, the amplitude of the vibrations produced in the epilation head is 0.5 mm.

Preferably, the fixed axis A as well as the centers of mass of each of the supports 11a, 11b are located in the vertical plane of symmetry of the device. In in this case, the springs 10 are identical, they have the same stiffness constant and the same dimensions.

Advantageously, the parameters of the gears of the transmission system 12 are calculated so as to obtain vibrations in the gripper roller 5 a frequency greater than 50 Hz which is considered as a frequency threshold Pain killer. For example, for an engine speed of 7200 rot / min, one obtains, with an apparatus of the type described, vibrations at a 120Hz frequency in the epilation head 5.

In order to obtain vibratory stimulation of the skin before the tearing-off phase of the bristles, the epilation head 5 must strike the skin when the tweezers are in closed position. Thus, the position of the eccentricities of the two teeth is such that the maximum amplitude of the vibrations is obtained just after the closing of the clamps, this position being shown in Figure 4b.

Thus, in the case of a hair removal device more particularly described in the document FR 2 758 060 in the name of the plaintiff, the roll 5 relates to its periphery four rows of pliers. Therefore, the rotating part or wheel 3 must have a speed of rotation four times greater than the speed of rotation of the roller 5 and the setting of the eccentricities must be done so that the clamps 5a, 5b are always in contact with the skin when they are closed.

Other variant embodiments of the invention can be carried out without leaving of the framework of its claims.

In particular the rotary part 3 comprising a double toothing 3a, 3b could be a toothed wheel composed of the assembly of two wheels 3a, 3b in diameter different primitive.

The rotary part or wheel with two offset teeth can be optionally replaced by a wheel or gear with concentric pinions to their axis of rotation, other means can be used to bring vibrations of the two supports and their components. These means can be, by example, two unbalances operating in phase opposition, each one being secured to one of the floating supports. We could also use any other means capable of producing vibrations in rotation or in translation, but in phase opposition in each of the floating supports.

Claims (11)

1. An epilator appliance for removing body hair, the appliance comprising a roller (5) rotatably mounted in a housing (1) designed to be held in the hand, said roller including at least two pincers (5a, 5b) for pinching and plucking out hairs, the roller (5) being suitable for being driven in rotation by an electric motor (8) via a transmission system (12), the appliance being characterized in that the assembly constituted by the roller, the transmission system, and the motor is subdivided into two portions, each portion being secured to a separate support (11a, 11b) floatingly mounted relative to the housing and being driven in vibration at a determined frequency, the vibratory motion of one of the portions being in phase opposition relative to that of the other portion.
2. An appliance according to claim 1, characterized in that the assembly formed by the roller (5), the transmission system (12), and the motor (8) is subdivided into two portions of substantially equal mass.
3. An appliance according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterized in that the frequency of the vibration produced in the roller (5) is greater than 50 Hz.
4. An appliance according to any preceding claim, characterized in that the amplitude of the vibration generated in the roller (5) lies in the range 0.1 mm to 1 mm.
5. An appliance according to any preceding claim, characterized in that said supports (11a, 11b) are driven in vibration in such a manner that the vibration transmitted into the roller (5) presents a component in a direction that is substantially perpendicular to the skin.
6. An appliance according to any preceding claim, characterized in that the supports (11a, 11b) are actuated by vibrator means (3) integrated in the transmission system (12).
7. An appliance according to claim 6, characterized in that said vibrator means are constituted by a rotary part (3) whose axis of rotation (A) is mounted stationary relative to the housing (1), said rotary part (3) presenting a first set of teeth (3a) designed to co-operate with a first toothed wheel (7) secured to the first support (11a) and a second set of teeth (3b) designed to co-operate with a second toothed wheel (9) secured to the second support (11b), the center of the cross-section of each set of teeth (3a, 3b) being offset on either side of the common axis of rotation (A) in a direction perpendicular thereto.
8. An appliance according to claim 7, characterized in that the first set of teeth (3a) is off-center by a distance equal to but diametrically opposite from the distance whereby the second set of teeth (3b) is off-center.
9. An appliance according to claim 8, characterized in that the off-center distance of each of the sets of teeth (3a, 3b) from the axis of rotation (A) corresponds to half the amplitude of the vibration obtained in each of the supports (11a, 11b).
10. An appliance according to any one of claims 7 to 9, characterized in that the off-center distances of the sets of teeth (3a, 3b) are adjusted in such a manner that the maximum amplitude of vibration is obtained when the epilator pincers (5a, 5b) are in the closed position.
11. An appliance according to any preceding claim, characterized in that the supports (11a, 11b) are slidably mounted on guides (4a, 4b) in the housing (1).

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