EP1797788B1 - Epilating device - Google Patents

Abstract

The epilator has a coupling section (3), and an epilator roller (4) at which circumference clamping units are provided. The units are reciprocated between clamping and non-clamping positions by an operating device. The device is switchable by a switching device between partial operating position in which a part of the units is reciprocated and full operating position in which all the units are reciprocated between the positions.

Description

The present invention relates to an epilator for removing body hair with a rotatably driven epilating roller, on whose circumference preferably tweezer-type clamping elements are provided, which are cyclically reciprocable by an actuating device upon rotation of the depilation roller between a clamping position and a non-clamping position.

Epilators periodically pluck the body hairs to be removed by rotating epilating rollers on the circumference of which clamping elements are initially opened to capture the body hair and then brought into their clamping position, so that the hair clamped by the clamping elements is plucked by the rotary movement of the rotating roller. There are two opposing requirements: While on the one hand as many body hairs as possible to be captured and plucked for a most efficient epilation, the number of plucked body hair per unit time may not exceed a certain value for a gentle and painless application. Especially beginners feel uncomfortable on high efficiency trimmed epilators. It is therefore common in the art to provide replaceable epilation heads. Instead of the usual efficiency-oriented epilation head, there are so-called beginner's attachments in which fewer clamping elements are provided on the circumference of the depilation roller so that less body hair is plucked per unit of time, which makes the application more pleasant.

In order not to burden the manufacturing costs by such separate essays, retooling measures have already been proposed with the aid of which an epilator can be changed in terms of the number of its effective clamping elements. In the DE 102 58 518 C1 For this purpose, a cap slidable over the depilation roller is proposed by means of which a part of the clamping elements can be covered. In this case, the cap has a slotted design, so that not the working width of the depilation roller is reduced in total, but only a few clamping elements, so to speak staggered behind each other are covered. However, a problem with such covers is their thickness. If they are formed extremely thin in the manner of a film in order to still be able to guide the uncovered clamping elements very close to the surface of the skin, their durability suffers. If, on the other hand, they are made more solid, a certain distance from the skin surface inevitably results for the uncovered clamping elements, as a result of which the efficiency of the epilation movement is reduced.

In the DE 202 09 887 U1 It is proposed to shorten some of the clamping elements and thus put out of action. As a result, although a so-called beginner's head can be provided with low production costs, however, a second attachment head with unabridged clamping elements is required if the device is to be converted to the full efficiency level.

The present invention is therefore based on the object to provide an improved epilator of the type mentioned, which avoids the disadvantages of the prior art and the latter further develops in an advantageous manner. Preferably, on the one hand, an epilating operation with the highest efficiency and, on the other hand, an epilating operation with a reduced number of plucking operations per unit time should be made possible in a simple manner.

According to the invention this object is achieved by an epilator according to claim 1. Preferred embodiments of the invention are the subject of the dependent claims.

It is therefore proposed to variably form the drive of the clamping elements and to realize different soft heating or efficiency levels of the epilation process via the drive of the clamping elements. According to the invention it is provided that the actuating device by a switching device selectively in a partial operating position, in which only a part of the clamping elements between their clamping and non-clamping position is reciprocated, and a full operating position, in which all clamping elements between their clamping and not Clamping be moved back and forth, is switchable. Unlike in the prior art, the accessibility of the clamping elements need not be changed by providing a cover or a part of the clamping elements themselves, but the deactivation is provided on the actuator or the drive train of the clamping elements. As a result, the effect of the working clamping elements does not have to be suppressed, as it were in the prior art, since the corresponding clamping elements do not even work in partial operation of the actuating device. The actuator is totschaltbar with respect to some clamping elements. To realize a smoother operation, simply a part of the clamping elements is not actuated by the actuator is disabled in this respect. Although the clamping elements rotate with the epilating, they do not perform their intended clamping movement. The dead-connected clamping elements can remain completely unconfirmed with respect to their reciprocating clamping movement, so be kept either in the fully closed or in an open position. Alternatively, it is also possible, the clamping elements easy to move back and forth, as long as they are not completely brought into their clamping position, ie, for example, between a more open and less open position to be moved back and forth and thus no Auszupffunktion can perceive. However, if you want to work with full efficiency, the actuator is switched so that they all purpose clamped back and forth between their clamping position and non-clamping position.

Here, the clamping position according to a first embodiment, an embodiment and arrangement of the forceps-like clamping elements in the maximum body hair for epilation can be detected. For maximum detectability of the body hair, the tweezer-type clamping elements are maximally spaced apart in the opened or spaced-apart, not yet clamping, hair-collecting position in order to capture as many hairs as possible between the clamping elements.

According to a second embodiment, the clamping position in different positions of the tweezer-type clamping elements is variable or stepped adjustable. Thus, such clamping elements of the clamping position in the hair-detecting open arrangement are not maximally open, so the clamping elements less than maximally possible spaced, so that the probability of hair detection and epilation is less. According to this second embodiment, e.g. Some clamping elements always in the non-clamping position, some clamping elements in the optimal clamping position and some clamping elements in a less optimal clamping position (i.e., less optimal is the hair detection with the clamping elements) so that the degree of depilation is finely adjustable or variably adjustable. This setting can be referred to as a special form of the partial operating position and as a variable partial operating position.

The partial shutdown of the actuator can basically be effected in various ways. According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the actuator has a plurality of actuators, each separately cyclically reciprocate only individual clamping elements or a group of clamping elements in the desired manner when the epilating rotates. In order to work for a smooth operation with only a subset of the clamping elements, the switching device associated with the actuating device can easily deactivate at least one of these actuators, while the remaining actuators remain active. Accordingly, the clamping elements assigned to the dead-controlled actuator do not work even when the depilation roller is in operation rotates, so that the epilation process is effected only by the remaining working clamping elements.

Preferably, the clamping movement of the clamping elements is derived from the rotational movement of the depilation. For example, the aforementioned actuators may be set in motion via a cam control surface as the epilator roller rotates. In order to deactivate individual clamping elements for smooth operation in such a mechanical coupling of the clamping elements to the rotational movement of the depilation, a clutch can be provided in the invention, by means of which some of the clamping elements of the corresponding mechanical drive means, the coupling to the rotational movement cause the epilator, can be disconnected.

In particular, the clamping elements can be driven on the depilation roller via a cam drive. In a manner known per se, for example, a cam part can be provided opposite the end faces of the depilation roller, which sets the cam driven parts arranged on the end faces of the depilation roller in motion when they are guided over the cam part during rotation of the depilation roller. In order to be able to deactivate the operation of individual clamping elements or a group of clamping elements in such an embodiment of the actuating device, the engagement conditions between the cam member and the respective Nockenabtriebsteil can be changed in a further development of the invention. In particular, means for adjusting the relative position between the cam part and the cam driven part can be provided.

If not all the clamping elements are driven by a common cam part, but different cam parts are provided for driving them for different clamping elements, an adjustability of at least one cam part can be provided in a further development of the invention. For example, the cam part can be removed from the associated Nockenabtriebsteil far enough that it does not force this into its clamping position. Alternatively, it could also be provided to bring the cam member with respect to the rotation of the depilation in a different angular position, for example, to carry out the clamping movement no longer in the working sector of the depilation, but in an ineffective portion of the orbital motion.

Preferably, however, are provided in a development of the invention means for adjusting at least one Nockenabtriebsteiles relative to the cam member. Here, the cam member remain undisturbed and not to be deactivated clamping elements on the corresponding drive non-adjusted cam output parts in the desired manner. Only the cam driven parts connected to the clamping elements to be deactivated are moved to a corresponding deactivated position. In this case, they are in particular adjusted in such a way that they are, so to speak, uncoupled from the cam part.

According to a particularly advantageous embodiment of the invention, an adjustable holder can be provided by which the clamping elements to be deactivated are held in their closed, clamping position. The holder prevents the opening of the clamping elements, so that they rotate permanently in their closed position with the epilating roller. This prevents hair from being caught by the clamping elements. The cam drive runs as it were empty. The corresponding Nockenabtriebsteil is lifted from the cam member. Only at the point of maximum adjustment movement of the cam part of the intrinsically intended engagement takes place, which would force the associated clamping element in its clamping position, the clamping element is already held in this position.

The adjustable holder can be arranged and / or formed in various ways. For example, it could each attack on the clamping elements to be deactivated, so that the cam driven parts could still perform their drive movement, while doing empty. Preferably, however, the aforesaid holder engages itself on the respective cam driven part and keeps the latter out of engagement with the cam part. As a result of the assignment of the holder to the respective cam output part, a central shutoff can be achieved, as it were, since all clamping elements driven by the respective cam driven part can be deactivated.

The adjustable holder can be mounted displaceably in the direction of the axis of rotation of the depilation roller between a deactivating position and an unlocking position, wherein it can preferably sit on the axis of rotation of the epilating roller itself.

In a further development of the invention are provided as Nockenabtriebsteile plunger, the body parallel to the axis of rotation of the epilating roller inside the rollers and / or are mounted longitudinally displaceable on the roller body, wherein the plungers project with their heads frontally over an end face of the roller body. The cooperating with the plunger heads cam member extends in the region of the supernatant opposite to said end face of the roller body, so that in a corresponding rotational position, the cam member pushes the projecting plunger head inwardly into the roller body. The pestles can In this case, according to an embodiment of the invention, it may be designed as a clamping element carrier, on which directly preferably a plurality of clamping elements are arranged in the manner of a comb, so that an inner pressing of the plunger moves the corresponding clamping elements in the direction of the axis of rotation of the depilation roller. Alternatively, the clamping elements can also be stored separately and only actuated by the respective plunger.

In order to deactivate some of the clamping elements in the desired manner, the plungers may have radially protruding engagement pieces which can cooperate with the aforementioned adjustable holder. In particular, inwardly projecting engaging tabs may be provided on the plungers, so that a generally annular or plate-shaped holder entrain the Nachnachendrücken the plunger, which has such lobes, and keeps them away from the cam member, while the other plunger that no such engaging tabs have to be pressed cyclically inwardly in per se intended manner upon rotation of the epilating roller of the cam member.

The holding the plunger away from the cam member holder can be operated in a different manner. According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, it can be adjusted axially by a rotary switch, which has a screw-threaded engagement piece over which its rotational movement is converted into an axial adjusting movement. As a result, the epilator can be switched from smooth operation to full operation by simply adjusting this rotary switch.

Fig. 1:

eine perspektivische Teilansicht des Werkzeugaufsatzes eines Epiliergeräts nach einer bevorzugten Ausführung der Erfindung, die ein stirnseitiges Ende der Epilierwalze des Aufsatzes und die darin aufgenommenen Betätigungsstößel für die Klemmelemente der Epilierwalze zeigt,

Fig. 2:

eine perspektivische Explosionsdarstellung des Werkzeugaufsatzes aus Fig. 1, die den verstellbaren Halter für die Deaktivierung einzelner Stößel und den Drehschalter zur Betätigung des Halters zeigt,

Fig. 3:

einen vergrößerten Ausschnitt des in Figur 2 mit X gekennzeichneten Bereiches der Epilierwalzenmantelfläche, die die Betätigung der Klemmelemente verdeutlicht, und

Fig. 4:

einen Längsschnitt durch die Epilierwalze des Aufsatzes aus den vorhergehenden Figuren, der die Betätigungsvorrichtung für die Klemmelemente und die dieser zugeordnete Schaltvorrichtung zur teilweisen Deaktivierung der Betätigungsvorrichtung für einzelne Klemmelemente zeigt.

The invention will be explained in more detail below with reference to a preferred embodiment and associated drawings. In the drawings show:

Fig. 1:

a partial perspective view of the tool attachment of an epilator according to a preferred embodiment of the invention, showing an end face of the depilation of the epilator and recorded therein actuating plunger for the clamping elements of the depilation,

Fig. 2:

an exploded perspective view of the tool attachment Fig. 1 showing the adjustable holder for deactivating individual plungers and the rotary switch for actuating the holder,

3:

an enlarged section of the in FIG. 2 X marked region of the Epilierwalzenmantelfläche, which illustrates the operation of the clamping elements, and

4:

a longitudinal section through the epilating roller of the article from the preceding figures, which shows the actuating device for the clamping elements and their associated switching device for partially deactivating the actuating device for individual clamping elements.

The tool attachment of an epilating device shown in the figures can be placed in a conventional manner on a hand part of an epilating device which is likewise conventional and which comprises the drive motor and a transfer gearbox with the aid of which the tool attachment is made of FIGS. 1 to 4 is driven. Said tool attachment 1 comprises a frame or housing 2, which can be set with a coupling portion 3 on the handpiece of the epilator. On the housing 2, an epilating roller 4 is rotatably mounted, which has at its periphery a plurality of tweezer-type clamping elements 5, which are distributed in a grid over the lateral surface of the depilation roller 4. As FIG. 3 clarifies the clamping elements 5 protrude coat surface side out of the body of Epilierwalze 4 to reach there to remove hair to pinch and pluck. The clamping elements 5 are movably mounted in the interior of the depilation roller 4 and pass through suitable recesses in the lateral surface of the depilation roller 4 therethrough (see. Figures 3 and 4 ).

As FIG. 4 clarified, the clamping elements 5 can be formed by wobbling discs, which are held on the axis of rotation 6 of the depilation roller 4 and sitting on it bearing pieces 7 slidably and / or tilted. With each movable clamping element 5 acts while a resting with the depilation roller 4 clamping element, against which the respective movable clamping element 5 can be pressed.

For actuating the clamping elements 5, an actuating device 8 is provided, which comprises a plurality of actuators 9 in the form of plungers or Nockenabtriebsteilen 10 which are mounted substantially parallel to the axis of rotation 6 longitudinally displaceable in the body of Epilierwalze 4 and each actuate at least one clamping element 5 , In the illustrated embodiment, ten plungers 10 are distributed over the circumference of the epilating roller 4, namely from each end face of the epilating roller 4, so that a total of twenty actuating plungers 10 are provided when viewing both halves of the depilation roller.

As FIG. 4 shows, the plunger 10 are each with its inner end to the respectively associated clamping element 5, so that the respective clamping element 5 is pressed into its clamping position by moving the plunger 10 into the interior of the depilation 4. In order to move the clamping elements 5 in their open non-clamping position, spring elements 11 may be provided which press the clamping elements 5 away from their counterparts.

As the Figures 1 and 2 show, the plunger 10 are all arranged on a circular path about the rotation axis 6 of the depilation roller 4, so that the plunger 10 can be actuated on each side of a common cam member 12 which is fixedly arranged together with the housing 2. The plungers 10 project frontally over an end face of the body of the epilating roller 4, so that the protruding head of the plunger can be displaced in a corresponding manner from the cam part 12 in the direction of the interior of the depilation roller 4. As the Figures 2 and 4 show, the end face of the depilation roller 4, over which the plunger 10 project, be an inwardly offset end face of the roller body, so that the plunger 10 are received in an annular, frontal recess of the depilation roller 4, wherein the mantle surface side wall, which are the emergent Plunger heads surrounds, is designed as a drive gear, via which the epilating roller 4 is driven by a not specifically shown, provided on the handle of the depilation drive pinion.

The tappet 10 driving cam member 12 may be mounted on the housing portion 2, which supports the axis of rotation 6 of the depilation 4, wherein the cam member 12 may optionally be axially adjustable in the direction of the axis of rotation 6 to adjust the adjusting movement and possibly the clamping force On the other hand, an adaptation of the cam position to the supernatant of the plunger 10 can be accomplished.

If the depilation roller 4 is driven to rotate about its axis of rotation 6 via the drive wheel 13, the heads of the plungers 10 on the opposite end faces of the depilation roller 4 pass by the non-rotating cam part 12, each time they run onto the cam part 12 , Are pressed inward, whereby the clamping elements 5 are cyclically forced to its clamping position, as the left side of the FIG. 4 clarified. There, the upper plunger is pushed inwardly by the cam member 12 so that the clamping member 5 is in its clamping position while the lower plunger 10 of the left half of FIG. 4 together with the associated clamping element 5 in the non-clamping position.

The aforementioned actuating device 8 can be partially deactivated by means of a switching device 14. As the Figures 1 and 2 illustrate, some of the plunger 10 inwardly radially projecting engagement pieces 15, which are provided on the front side protruding from the body of Epilierwalze 4 head portions of the plunger 10. In the illustrated embodiment, four of the total of ten plungers 10 of each side are provided with such an engagement piece 15, so that four of said ten plunger 10 can be deactivated. For this purpose sits on the axis of rotation 6 of the depilation 4, an axially displaceable holder 16 and deactivating, which / is disc-shaped and has a diameter which is sufficiently large to engage with the engaging pieces 15 on the plungers 10 in engagement. As FIG. 4 shows, the flange-shaped edge web of the holder 16, the radially inwardly projecting engagement pieces 15, so that at Nachinnendrücken the holder 16 presses this provided with engaging pieces 15 plunger 10 in its clamping position, regardless of their position relative to the cam member 12th Mit In other words, by axial displacement of the holder 16, each of the plungers 10 provided with an engaging piece 15 is permanently forced into its inwardly depressed position, so that the clamping elements 5 cooperating with these plungers 10 are permanently held in their closed clamping position.

To adjust the holder 16, a rotary knob 17 is provided, which is axially fixed, but rotatably mounted on the housing 2 and has a threaded engagement portion 18 with which the holder 16 is engaged. The holder 16 is accordingly axially displaceable, but rotatably mounted.

Thus, the following operating modes are achievable: If the holder 16 is moved axially beyond the rotary knob 17 from the end face of the depilation 4 in its drive permitting position, all plunger 10 including those who carry the engaging pieces 15, in their intended manner axially opposite to the Carcass of Epilierwalze 4 movable, so that all clamping elements 5 can be pressed on the spring elements 11 in its open position. When the depilation roller 4 rotates, the plungers 10 are cyclically moved into their clamping position when the cam part 12 is swept over, so that all the clamping elements 5 open and close cyclically, thereby capturing and plucking body hairs.

If, however, the holder 16 is forced by turning the rotary knob 17 axially inwardly on the front side of the depilation 4 in his deactivation, takes the flange-shaped edge web of the holder 16 provided with the engaging pieces 15 ram 10 and forces the thus actively connected clamping elements 5 permanently in their closed clamping position, so that although these clamping elements 5 rotate with the epilating 4, but permanently in their closed clamping position remain and are therefore ineffective.

Preferably, such a holder 16 may be provided with an associated rotary knob 17 on both end faces of the depilation roller 4, so that a total of three switching positions are possible. If both holders 16 in their position releasing the plunger 10, all clamping elements work. If one of the holders 16 is moved into its deactivation position, a first smaller number of tappets 10 and thus clamping elements 5 are deactivated. If, however, both holders 16 are moved into their deactivation position, a second, larger number of plungers 10 and thus clamping elements 5 are deactivated. This allows three levels of efficiency with different Epilationseffizienz and vice versa gentility of the application set.

Claims (9)

1. An epilator (1) for removing body hair, provided with a rotatably driven epilation roller (4) preferably having tweezer-like clamping elements (5) on its circumference that can cyclically be moved back and forth between a clamping position and a non-clamping position by an actuation device (8) for rotating the epilation roller (4), characterized in that the actuation device (8) can be selectively switched by a switching device (14) between a partial operating position in which only one part of the clamping element (5) is moved back and forth between its clamping and non-clamping position and a full operating position in which all clamping elements (5) are moved back and forth between their clamping and non-clamping positions.
2. The epilator according to the preceding claim, wherein the actuation device (8) has multiple actuators (9) for separate actuation of individual clamping elements (5) or groups of clamping elements (5), and the switching device (14) comprises a deactivating device (16) for deactivating at least one of the actuators (9).
3. The epilator according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the actuation device (8) has mechanical drive mechanisms (10, 12) that move the rotation of the epilation roller (14) into an oscillating drive motion of the clamping elements (5) around its rotational axis (6), preferably essentially parallel to the rotational axis (6), and the switching device (14) has a coupling device (15, 16) for decoupling some of the clamping elements (5) from the drive mechanisms.
4. The epilator according to any of the preceding claims, wherein a cam piece (12) and a jointly functioning cam drive part (10) are provided as actuators (9), and the switching device (14) has mechanisms for adjusting the level of engagement between the cam piece (12) and the cam drive piece (10).
5. The epilator according to the preceding claim, wherein the switching device (14) has a mechanism for adjusting the cam piece and/or a mechanism (16) for adjusting the cam drive piece (10) with respect to the cam piece (12).
6. The epilator according to any of the two preceding claims, wherein the switching device (14) has an adjustable holder (16) by means of which the respective cam drive piece (10) is kept from engaging with the cam piece (12).
7. The epilator according to the preceding claim, wherein the adjustable holder (16) is supported in a sliding manner between a deactivation position and a release position in the direction of the rotational axis (6) of the epilation roller (4), and preferably sits on the rotational axis of the epilation roller (4).
8. The epilator according to either of the two preceding claims, wherein the adjustable holder (16) has a rotary switch knob (17) with a threaded engagement section (18) for axial adjustment of the holder (16).
9. The epilator according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the actuation device (8) has a plurality of cam followers (10) that are arranged essentially parallel to the rotational axis (6) of the epilation roller (4) so as to slide with respect to the epilation roller body and can be placed into a state of active connection with at least one clamping element (5), wherein a part of the cam follower (10) has radially projecting engaging members (15) that can be used to force this section of the cam follower into a deactivated position.

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