GB2262237A

GB2262237A - Skin treatment instrument

Info

Publication number: GB2262237A
Application number: GB9225596A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Franz Haas
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1991-12-09
Filing date: 1992-12-08
Publication date: 1993-06-16
Anticipated expiration: 2012-12-08
Also published as: CA2084702A1; CH685529A5; ATA244391A; FR2684546A3; AT396650B; JPH05237147A; DE9215750U1; FR2684546B3; ITMI921035U1; ES1023162Y; GB2262237B; GB9225596D0; IT227033Y1; ES1023162U; ITMI921035V0

Abstract

Skin treatment instrument comprising a treatment head (1) with a shaft (2) and a handle (4) with spaced webs (10) with which the shaft (2) is engageable. The head is partly or completely filled with a cold-storing fluid or gel (32). A catch member (5) in the handle (4) is releasably engageable with the shaft (2). The head (1) has recesses and grooves (11, 12) and is of sintered metal to assist distribution of water condensed on the head. The head may be chilled then inserted into the handle for skin chilling treatment. A vibratory drive may be provided. <IMAGE>

Description

SKIN TREATMENT INSTRUMENT The invention relates to skin treatment instruments and in particular to instruments for facial cosmetic treatment which comprise a treatment head containing coldstoring fluid and a handle into which the treatment head may be inserted.

It is known that the pores open under application of heat and close in the cold. This fact is used in facial cosmetic treatment to increase the absorption of face creams. A chilling treatment may also be useful for the treatment of small injuries and haemotoma.

Treatment instruments are known which have a vibratory drive within the handle, into which it is possible at will to insert different treatment heads of metal, plastics material or hard rubber. The selection is made in accordance with the massage technique to be applied. One example is disclosed in patent specification DE-AS 20 16 984 which describes an electrically driven massage device which has different massage heads available.

One of these comprises a supporting member formed from plastics material incorporating a shaft. A fluid container is glued to and projects from the head. The fluid may be frozen in a freezer cabinet or heated in boiling water.

The treatment head is unsuitable for intense heating or cooling treatment because of its low storage volume and because of its structure as a whole.

The object of the invention is to provide a skin treatment instrument which can be used to apply a more intense cooling effect to skin than has hitherto been possible with prior art instruments.

Thus, according to the invention there is provided a skin treatment instrument comprising a shafted treatment head filled with cold-storing fluid or gel, and a handle with retaining means into which the shaft is insertable wherein the shaft includes a portion filled with said fluid or gel and a handle engageable section.

The treatment head of such an instrument can easily be removed from the handle and placed in a deep freezer device. When suitably cooled the shaft of the treatment head can be inserted into the handle and the instrument can be used to apply intense cold to skin. The presence of a cold-storing material filling the treatment head and extending into the shaft will assist in providing a cooling effect of greater intensity and for a longer period than has been possible with prior art instruments.

Preferably the treatment head comprises two metal spoon-shaped half shells which are splittable at right angles to a longitudinal axis of the treatment head and which are screwed together. The half shells define a hollow portion of the treatment head which is filled with the cold-storage material. The part of the shaft situated nearest to a skin contacting portion of the head is preferably formed as a pipe stub or socket and the section which is insertable into the handle is preferably at least partly constructed as a solid body and may engage the handle by means of a screw thread.

Conveniently the filled portion of the shaft can be closed by means of screwing the hand engageable section to it.

It is appropriate furthermore for the retaining means in the handle to comprise spacing webs for thermal insulation with respect to the handle. The warmth of a user's hand will not be transmitted to the treatment head, consequently cold stored is not dissipated via the handle.

In a preferred form of the embodiment, the treatment head is at least partially formed from sintered metal which has a porous surface for the reception and possible distribution of condensed water. The humidity produced by condensation as a result of the contact between the ice-cold treatment head and the warm part of the body is thereby retained on the surfacetof-. the treatment head for intensification of the effect. This action may be enhanced supplementally if the treatment head is provided with recesses for reception and possibly distribution of condensed water which precipitates in the area of a temperature jump, e.g. when the dew point is reached. It is appropriate in particular for a central recess and radial flutes or grooves to be provided in the treatment head.

The retaining means within the handle may also be coupled to a vibratory drive. The insulating action is of special importance in this case, so that the waste heat of the vibratory drive does not travel to the treatment head.

A special form of embodiment is characterised in that the extension of the longitudinal symmetry axis of the treatment head constructed as an ellipsoid, lies beyond the shaft, so that one half of the surface of the treatment head is available as a whole for treatment purposes.

The invention will be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: FIG. 1 is a partial cross-section of a first embodiment of the invention; FIG. 2 is a plan view of the device of Fig. 1; FIG. 3 is a rear view of an alternative treatment head; and FIG. 4 is a side view of the alternative treatment head shown in Fig. 3.

The skin treatment instrument shown in Fig. 1 comprises a treatment head 1 with a shaft 2 and a handle 4 containing retaining means 3 including webs or fins 10 with which the shaft 2 is engageable. The fins 10 serve to maintain a space between the shaft 2 and the outer surfaces of the handle 4 so as to reduce heat transfer between the two. The handle 4 includes a catch member 5 with a projection 9 which is biased by a spring 7 into engagement with a recess in the shaft 2.

The treatment head comprises two spoon-shaped half shells la and lb which are splittable along a central longitudinal axis 26 of the treatment head. The shells la and lb are held together by screws (not shown) to form the treatment head as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 which comprises a skin contacting portion 28 and a shaft 2. Both the skin contacting portion 28 and the shaft 2 enclose a space which is filled with cold-storing fluid or gel material 32. Such material is chosen for its high specific heat capacity.

A variety of differently shaped treatment heads may be provided to fit into the same handle 4.

The skin contacting portion 28 of the treatment head 2 has a slightly convex front surface 34 containing a central recess 11 with channels 12 radiating outwards therefrom. Condensed water or ice formed on the treatment head as a result of the coolness of the head relative to normal room temperature collects in the recess 11 and channels 12 from which it is distributed uniformly over the surface of the skin contacting portion 28. Humidity retention by the skin contacting portion 28 of the head 1 can be enhanced still further if its surface 34 is coated with a sintered material. The entire skin contacting portion 28 may alternatively be formed from sintered material.

The rear side of the skin contacting portion is formed with ridges 13 suitable for massaging purposes.

In the shaft shown in Fig. 1 a recess 2a containing the cold-storing material 32 extends the full length of the shaft 2 and is closed by a threaded stopper 36.

A thermal colour strip the colour of which depends on its temperature may be mounted on the shaft 2 to indicate whether the treatment head is cold enough for use, or whether the head is in need of re-cooling.

To secure the treatment head against twisting the shaft 2 has a guide groove 14 which is configured to cooperate with a rib formed in the handle.

An alternative treatment head is shown in Figs 3 and 4. The shaft 38 comprises a filled portion 40 containing cold-storing material 32 and a solid handle engaging section 42 with a catch member 44 for engagement by a ball catch in the retaining means 3 in the handle (not illustrated).

A front face 18 of the skin contacting portion 15 of the head is slightly concave, the rear face 19 is curved to a slightly greater extent and is convex. The rear side has a grooved or milled structure 20 for massaging purposes and a fin or rib of approximately conical shape with which punctiform treatment can be performed.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A skin treatment instrument comprising a shafted treatment head filled with cold-storing fluid or gel and a handle with retaining means into which the shaft is insertable wherein the shaft includes a portion filled with said fluid or gel and a handle engageable section.

2. Instrument as claimed in claim 1 wherein the filled portion of the shaft can be closed by means of screwing the handle engageable section to it.

3. Instrument as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the handle engageable section of the shaft is at least partly formed as a solid element.

4. Instrument as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the treatment head comprises two spoon-shaped half shells splittable at right angles to a longitudinal axis of the treatment head.

5. Instrument as claimed in claim 4 wherein the half shells are screwed together.

6. Instrument as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the fluid or gel includes an anti-corrosive component.

7. Instrument as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the retaining means comprises spaced webs for engaging the handle engageable section of the shaft.

8. Instrument as claimed in any preceding claim wherein a skin contacting portion of the treatment head is at least partially formed from sintered metal and has a porous surface.

9. Instrument as claimed in any preceding claim wherein a skin contacting portion of the treatment head includes recesses.

10. Instrument as claimed in claim 9 wherein the recesses include a central recess and radiating channels.

11. Instrument as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the treatment head includes a skin contacting portion with a central longitudinal axis angularly offset from the central longitudinal axis of its shaft.

12. Instrument as claimed in claim 11 wherein the skin contacting portion is ellipsoidally shaped.

13. Instrument as claimed in claim 11 or claim 12 wherein the shaft is connected to the skin contacting portion in a marginal area of its rear surface.

14. Instrument as claimed in any one of claims 11 to 13 wherein the skin contacting portion has a shallowly curved concave front surface and a more greatly curved convex rear surface.

15. Instrument as claimed in any one of claims 11 to 14 wherein the skin contacting portion includes a ribbed or finned region.

16. A skin treatment instrument substantially as herein described with reference to Figs. 1 and 2 or Figs. 3 and 4.