FR3107168A1 - Vibratory skin cleaning device - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a device (10) for cleaning the skin, comprising a head (12) and a handle (14) for gripping. The head comprises a brush (20) comprising a plurality of bristles forming a first application surface (30), capable of being brought into contact with the skin of a user. The device comprises a cleaning element (16) capable of being removably assembled with a receiving area (32) of the head, so that in an assembled configuration, said cleaning element forms a second application surface ( 34), said cleaning element being adapted to generate an effervescent reaction on contact with water. The head further comprises an electrical member (24) configured to produce a dynamic vibration capable of imparting an oscillatory movement to the brush and / or to the receiving area with respect to the envelope of the head. Figure for abstract: Figure 2

Description

vibrating skin cleansing device

The present invention relates to a device for cleaning the skin, of the type comprising a head and a gripping handle, the head comprising a cover and a brush, the said brush comprising a plurality of bristles, each bristle comprising a free end, the free ends said plurality of bristles forming a first application surface, capable of being brought into contact with the skin of a user.

The invention applies particularly to devices for cleaning the skin comprising a vibratory member, capable of imparting an oscillatory movement to the bristles of the brush, as described for example in the document US2005/0277950.

Such cleaning devices make it possible to effectively clean the skin. However, the present invention aims to propose an improvement to existing devices, in order to provide an optimal quality of cleaning and/or care.

To this end, the subject of the invention is a cleaning device of the aforementioned type, in which: the head further comprises a zone for receiving a cleaning element; the device further comprises a cleaning element adapted to be removably assembled with the reception zone of the head, so that in an assembled configuration, said cleaning element forms a second application surface, substantially continuous with the first application surface of the brush, said cleaning element being able to generate an effervescent reaction on contact with water; and the head further comprises an electric member configured to produce a dynamic vibration capable of imparting an oscillatory movement to the brush and/or to the reception zone relative to the casing of the head.

According to other advantageous aspects of the invention, the cleaning device comprises one or more of the following characteristics, taken in isolation or in all technically possible combinations:

- the cleaning element comprises a first and a second reagent, capable of reacting with each other in the presence of water, so as to release carbon dioxide;

- the first reactant is a carboxylic acid and the second reactant is chosen from a carbonate and a bicarbonate;

- the first reactant is ascorbic acid;

- the first and second application surfaces are substantially concentric;

- one of the first and second application surfaces has the shape of a disk and the other of said first and second application surfaces has the shape of a ring surrounding said disk;

- the brush and the reception zone are configured so that the electrical component is capable of imparting an oscillatory movement simultaneously to said brush and to said reception zone, with respect to the casing of the head;

- the brush and the receiving zone are configured so that the electrical component is capable of imparting an oscillatory movement only to one of said brush and receiving zone, the other of said brush and receiving zone being fixed with respect to the head wrap;

- the cleaning element includes an effervescent tablet;

- the cleaning element has a solid base, porous to water, and an effervescent coating, impregnated in the pores of the base.

The invention further relates to a method for implementing a skin cleansing device as described above, comprising the following steps: in an assembled configuration of the cleansing device, bringing the first and second application surfaces with the skin of a user, in the presence of water; and activation of the electric component, so as to impart an oscillatory movement to the brush and/or to the reception zone with respect to the envelope of the head.

The invention will be better understood on reading the following description, given solely by way of non-limiting example and made with reference to the drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a schematic front view of a skin cleansing device according to a first embodiment of the invention;

Figure 2 is a schematic view, in section, of the device of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a schematic view, in section, of a skin cleansing device according to a second embodiment of the invention; And

FIG. 4 is a detail view, in section, of a device for cleaning the skin according to a particular embodiment of the invention.

Figures 1 and 2, on the one hand, and Figure 3 on the other hand, respectively show a first 10 and a second 110 devices for cleaning the skin. In the rest of the description, the devices 10 and 110 will be described simultaneously, the common elements being designated by the same reference numbers.

The cleaning device 10, 110 comprises a cleaning head 12, 112 and a gripping handle 14, integral with each other. The device 10, 110 further comprises a cleaning element 16, 116, removably assembled to the head 12, 112.

The head 12, 112 comprises: an envelope 18; a brush 20, 120; a cleaning element support 22, 122; and a vibratory member 24.

In the embodiments shown, the casing 18 of the head 12, 112 has a substantially hemispherical shape.

The brush 20, 120 is arranged on the surface of the casing 18. The brush 20, 120 comprises a brush support 26, 126 and a plurality of bristles 28.

Brush holder 26, 126 is received in shroud 18 and bristles 28 extend from said brush holder. Preferably, the bristles 28 extend substantially in the same direction X. Each bristle 28 has a free end opposite the support 26, 126 of the brush. Said free ends form a first application surface 30, 130, capable of being brought into contact with the skin of a user. Preferably, the first application surface 30, 130 is substantially planar and perpendicular to X.

The cleaning element support 22, 122 is received in the casing 18. A surface of said cleaning element support 22, 122 forms a reception zone 32, 132, adapted to be assembled with the cleaning element 16 , 116. The reception area 32, 132 comprises, for example, a substantially planar surface perpendicular to X.

The support 22, 122 preferably comprises means (not shown) for removable attachment with the cleaning element 16, 116. Said means comprise for example clipping elements.

According to a first alternative embodiment of the invention, as represented in FIG. 2, the support 22 of the cleaning element and the support 26 of the brush are formed in one piece; said supports 22, 26 are movable relative to casing 18 as will be described below.

According to a second alternative embodiment of the invention, as represented in FIG. 3, the cleaning element support 122 and the brush support 126 are movable relative to each other as will be described below. After.

Figures 1, 2 and 3 show an assembled configuration of the support 22, 122 and the cleaning element 16, 116. In said assembled configuration, said cleaning element 16, 116 forms a second application surface 34, 134, capable of being brought into contact with the skin of a user. Preferably, the second application surface 34, 134 of the cleaning element 16, 116 forms a substantially continuous surface with the first application surface 30, 130 of the brush.

In the embodiments shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3, the first 30, 130 and second 34, 134 application surfaces are concentric and substantially inscribed in a circle. In the embodiment of Figures 1 and 2, the second application surface 34 has the shape of a disk and the first application surface 30 has the shape of a ring or a crown surrounding said disk. For this purpose, the cleaning element 16 has the shape of a circular base cylinder.

In the embodiment of FIG. 3, the first application surface 130 has the shape of a disk and the second application surface 134 has the shape of a ring or a crown surrounding said disk. For this purpose, the cleaning element 116 has the shape of a ring.

Other geometric arrangements of the first 30, 130 and second 34, 134 application surfaces can be envisaged.

The vibratory member 24 is received in the casing 18, in contact with the support 22, 122 of the cleaning element and/or the support 26, 126 of the brush. The vibratory member 24 is an electrical member configured to produce a dynamic vibration. Said vibration is capable of imparting an oscillatory movement to the support 22, 122 of the cleaning element and/or to the support 26, 126 of the brush, relative to the envelope 18.

Preferably, a frequency of said vibration/said oscillatory movement is between 20 Hz and 1000 Hz, more preferably between 80 Hz and 200 Hz.

In the embodiment of Figures 1 and 2, the vibratory member 24 is capable of imparting an oscillatory movement simultaneously to the supports 22 of the cleaning element and 26 of the brush. In a variant not shown, the supports 22 and 26 are movable relative to each other and the vibratory member 24 imparts an oscillatory movement only to one of said supports 22, 26, the other of said supports being fixed by relative to envelope 18.

In the embodiment of Figure 3, the vibratory member 24 is capable of imparting an oscillatory movement to the support 126 of the brush, the support 122 of the cleaning element being fixed relative to the casing 18. In a variant not shown , the supports 122 and 126 are fixed relative to each other and the vibratory member 24 imparts an oscillatory movement to the two supports simultaneously.

Preferably, the cleaning device 10, 110 comprises a button 36 for actuating the vibratory member 24, said button 36 being located on the handle 14. Preferably, the cleaning device 10, 110 also comprises an element (not shown) for storing electricity to power the vibratory member 24. Said storage element, such as a cell or a battery, is for example received in the casing 18 of the head 12, 112 or even in the grip handle 14.

The cleaning element 16, 116 is capable of generating an effervescent reaction on contact with water.

More particularly, the cleaning element 16, 116 is capable of generating microbubbles on contact with water. By "microbubbles" is meant gas bubbles having a diameter of between approximately 10 μm and 100 μm.

Microbubbles have a large surface area and are negatively charged. Due to these properties, microbubbles have a great capacity to absorb impurities on the surface of the skin.

Also, due to their size, the microbubbles are able to penetrate the pores of the skin, increasing the cleansing effect inside the pores.

According to a preferred embodiment, the microbubbles contain carbon dioxide (CO ₂ ). A high concentration of CO ₂ close to the skin in fact promotes, through occasional anoxia, a fleeting dilation of the blood vessels and an influx of blood to the surface of the skin. The appearance of the skin is momentarily improved, such an effect being known as the “Bohr effect”.

Preferably, the cleaning element 16, 116 further comprises one or more active compounds capable of penetrating the pores and/or the skin. The penetration of said active principle(s) is in particular favored by the presence of the microbubbles. Such an active principle is for example vitamin C, or ascorbic acid.

According to a preferred embodiment, the cleaning element 16, 116 comprises a first and a second reagent, capable of reacting with each other in the presence of water so as to release carbon dioxide.

The first reagent is for example a carboxylic acid, of general formula R—COOH, R being an organic group.

The second reagent is for example a carbonate salt, such as sodium carbonate, or else a hydrogen carbonate or bicarbonate salt, such as sodium bicarbonate.

Preferably, the carboxylic acid is ascorbic acid. The reaction with a carbonate or a bicarbonate thus makes it possible to supply both CO ₂ and vitamin C.

According to a first variant embodiment, the cleaning element 16, 116 is an effervescent tablet, which disintegrates on contact with water, releasing gas microbubbles. Preferably, said tablet disintegrates in the form of granules, the size of which decreases as they react with water.

According to a second embodiment variant, represented in FIG. 4, the cleaning element 16, 116 comprises a solid base 40 and a coating 42 capable of reacting in the presence of water. The base 40 has open pores 44, capable of being penetrated by water. The coating 42 is impregnated inside said pores.

The porous solid base 40 is for example formed from a polymer of the polyurethane, polyethylene or polypropylene type. As a variant, the base 40 is formed from a textile, for example a nonwoven.

Optionally, base 40 is made of a biodegradable polymer. Said base is thus capable of disintegrating in the presence of water, but after a period significantly greater than the reaction time of the coating 42 in the presence of water.

The coating 42 comprises the reagents capable of generating the effervescent reaction in the presence of water. Said coating 42 is for example in the form of a powder, adsorbed inside the pores 44.

A method of operating a skin cleansing device 10, 110 as described above will now be described.

Device 10, 110 is considered to be in the assembled configuration described above. The first 30, 130 and second 34, 134 application surfaces are brought into contact with the skin of a user, in the presence of water. For example, a user soaks the head 12, 112 of the device 10, 110 in water before applying it to his face.

Simultaneously, the user presses the button 36 in order to activate the vibratory member 24. An oscillatory movement is thus imparted to the brush 20, 120 and/or to the cleaning element 16, 116, with respect to the envelope 18 of the head 12, 112. The oscillatory movement is thus transmitted, by contact, to the user's skin.

In parallel, the cleaning element 16, 116 releases microbubbles of gas, preferably of CO ₂ , which burst on contact with the skin of the user and/or penetrate into the pores. Eventually, the cleansing element releases one or more other active compounds, such as vitamin C, which are carried into the user's skin by the gas microbubbles.

Preferably, the user imparts to the device 10, 110 movements of low amplitude in contact with his skin, so as to enlarge the zone of skin treated.

In the case where the element 16, 116 is an effervescent tablet disintegrating in the form of granules, such displacements of the device 10, 110 generate an exfoliation action, by rubbing said granules against the skin of the user.

In the embodiment of Figures 1 and 2, both the brush 20 and the cleaning element 16 experience the oscillatory motion. In the embodiment of Figure 3, only the brush 120 undergoes this oscillatory movement, the cleaning element 116 remaining fixed.

The device 10, 110, combining the action of the oscillatory motion to that of the microbubbles, thus providing optimum cleaning efficiency. This effectiveness is possibly combined with a care action, by introducing active ingredients into the cleaning element.

Claims (11)

Device (10, 110) for cleaning the skin, comprising a head (12, 112) and a handle (14) for gripping, the head comprising a cover (18) and a brush (20, 120), said brush comprising a plurality of bristles (28), each bristle having a free end, the free ends of said plurality of bristles forming a first application surface (30, 130), capable of being brought into contact with the skin of a user,
the cleaning device being characterized in that:
- the head further comprises a zone (32, 132) for receiving a cleaning element (16, 116);
- the device further comprises a cleaning element (16, 116) able to be assembled in a removable manner with the reception zone of the head, so that in an assembled configuration, said cleaning element forms a second surface of application (34, 134), substantially continuous with the first application surface of the brush,
said cleaning element being able to generate an effervescent reaction on contact with water; And
- the head further comprises an electric member (24) configured to produce a dynamic vibration capable of imparting an oscillatory movement to the brush and/or to the reception zone relative to the casing of the head. A skin cleansing device according to claim 1, wherein the cleansing element (16, 116) comprises first and second reagents, capable of reacting with each other in the presence of water, so as to release carbon dioxide. A skin cleansing device (10, 110) according to claim 2, wherein the first reagent is a carboxylic acid and the second reagent is selected from a carbonate and a bicarbonate. A skin cleansing device according to claim 3, wherein the first reactant is ascorbic acid. A skin cleansing device (10, 110) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the first (30, 130) and second (34, 134) application surfaces are substantially concentric. A skin cleansing device according to claim 5, wherein one (34, 130) of the first and second application surfaces is disc-shaped and the other (30, 134) of said first and second application has the shape of a crown surrounding said disc. Device (10) for cleaning the skin according to one of the preceding claims, in which the brush (20) and the reception zone (32) are configured so that the electric member (24) is able to impart a movement oscillating simultaneously with said brush and said receiving zone, with respect to the casing (18) of the head. Device (110) for cleaning the skin according to one of Claims 1 to 6, in which the brush (120) and the reception zone (132) are configured so that the electric member (24) is able to print an oscillatory movement only to one (120) of said brush and landing zone, the other (132) of said brush and landing zone being fixed relative to the shell (18) of the head. Device (10, 110) for cleansing the skin according to one of the preceding claims, in which the cleansing element (16, 116) comprises an effervescent tablet. A skin cleansing device (10, 110) according to one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the cleansing member (16, 116) comprises a solid, water-porous base (40) and a coating effervescent (42), impregnated in the pores (44) of the base. Method of operating a device (10, 110) for cleaning the skin according to one of the preceding claims, comprising the following steps:
- in an assembled configuration of the cleaning device, bringing the first (30, 130) and second (34, 134) application surfaces into contact with the skin of a user, in the presence of water; And
- activation of the electric member (24), so as to impart an oscillatory movement to the brush and/or to the reception zone with respect to the envelope of the head.