GB2278544A

GB2278544A - Facial treatment apparatus

Info

Publication number: GB2278544A
Application number: GB9311333A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Kai Fai Fung; Kit Lun Leung
Original assignee: Continental Conair Ltd
Current assignee: Continental Conair Ltd
Priority date: 1993-06-02
Filing date: 1993-06-02
Publication date: 1994-12-07
Anticipated expiration: 2013-06-02
Also published as: GB9311333D0; GB2278544B

Abstract

The apparatus comprises a facial mask 10 which can be held against the face of a user and which includes a flexible bag 13, means 11, 12 for supplying steam to the interior of the bag and means 18, 20 on one side of the mask for dispensing steam from the interior of the bag across the face of a user. <IMAGE>

Description

Facial Treatment Apparatus This invention relates to facial treatment apparatus.

According to the invention, there is provided facial treatment apparatus comprising a facial mask which can be held against the face of a user and which includes a flexible bag, means for supplying steam to the interior of the bag and means on one side of the mask for dispersing steam from the interior of the bag across the face of a user.

Preferably, one side of the bag has a plurality of apertures therein and the steam dispersing means comprises a porous layer attached to said one side of the bag. In this case, the porous layer is, advantageously, of resilient material, e.g. of sponge or sponge-like material. The steam dispersing means may also include a plurality of steam diffusers between the bag and the porous layer, each diffuser having a plurality of apertures therein and being secured to said one side of the bag over a respective aperture in the bag. A layer of filter material may be interposed between the bag and the porous layer.

Preferably, the other side of the bag is imperforate and, preferably, a resilient layer is attached to the other side of the bag. The mask can then be used either to provide wet or dry facial heat treatment according to which side of the mask is placed against the face of a user.

Preferably, the mask has a nose opening therein.

Preferably, the steam supply means comprises a water boiler and a flexible hose connecting the water boiler to the interior of the flexible bag. Preferably, means are provided for returning condensate from the interior of the bag to the water boiler. Conveniently, valve means are provided for controlling the flow of steam from the water boiler to the bag. The valve means may be provided in the flexible hose.

Preferably, the mask includes means for supporting the mask on the face of a user.

The invention will now be more particularly described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is an exploded perspective view of one embodiment of facial treatment apparatus according to the invention, Figure 2 is a sectional view of the facial mask shown in Figure 1, Figure 3 is a schematic section along line III-III of Figure 2, Figure 4 shows one method of assembly of the facial mask of Figures 2 and 3, Figure 5 is a sectional view of the water boiler shown in Figure 1, and Figure 6 is a sectional view of the steam control valve shown in Figure 1.

Referring to the drawings, the facial treatment device shown therein comprises a facial mask 10, a water boiler 11 mounted in a stand 9 and a flexible hose 12 connecting the water boiler 11 to the mask 10.

The mask 10 comprises a flexible plastics bag 13, typically of polyvinylchloride, having an opening 14. One side 15 of the bag 13 is provided with a plurality of apertures 16 and the other side 17 of the bag is imperforate.

As shown, there are five such apertures 16 and a steam diffuser 18 is provided over each aperture 16. The steam diffusers 18 are in the form of flexible, circular pads secured, such as by heat welding, to the bag 13. Each pad 18 has a plurality of apertures 19 to more evenly distribute steam leaving the bag 13 through apertures 16 over the side 15 of the bag.

A layer 20 of porous, resilient material, such as polyurethane sponge, is attached to the side 15 of the bag 13 and a high density polyethylene fibre filter 21 is interposed between the bag 13 and the porous layer 20.

Also, a layer 22 of resilient material, such as styrene butadiene rubber foam, is attached to the side 17 of the bag 13. The layers 20 and 22 and the filter 21 may be attached to the bag 13 by stitching, but more preferably they are attached to the bag 13 by strips 23 of U-shaped cross-section (Figure 4) as this enables the resilient layers 20 and 22 and the filter 21 to be removed for cleaning or replacement.

The strips 23 are of resilient plastics material and have projections 24 with enlarged heads 25a spaced at regular intervals along the inner surface of one limb for cooperation with respective apertures 25b in the other limb. The projections 24 pass through apertures in the bag 13, the layers 21 and 22 and the filter 21 and snap fittably engage with the apertures 25b.

Only one strip 23 is shown in Figure 4, but the mask has a nose opening 26 and a further clip 23 is provided in this opening.

The hose 12 contains two flexible tubes 27 and 28. The tube 27 supplies steam from the water boiler 11 to the mask 10 and the tube 28 returns condensate from the mask 10 to the water boiler 11. The tubes 27 and 28 extend at one end into respective through bores of a connector 29 which is releasably engaged with a socket 30 in the opening 14 of the bag 13.

A T-shaped coupler 31 is connected to the socket 30 in the bag 13 and communicates with the tube 27. Two plastics tubes 32 are connected to the coupler 31. These tubes 32 extend within the bag 13 to positions adjacent opposite sides of the bag 13 and terminate in nozzles 33.

The mask 10 also has an elasticated strap or ear pieces (not shown) for supporting the mask on the face of a user.

The water boiler 11 comprises a body 34 and a lid 35 threadably engaged with the body 34. A buffer plate 36 and gasket 37 are clamped between the lid 35 and the body 34. An electric heater 38 is provided in the body 34 below the plate 36. The plate 36 has a small opening containing a mesh 39. A block 40 of porous, water absorbent, e.g. foam, material is provided in the lid 35 over the mesh 39. This prevents the ready flow of water from the heater compartment below plate 36 should the boiler 11 topple over.

The hose 12 and tubes 27 and 28 are connected to the lid 35 by a connector 41 which will readily separate from the lid 35 if any significant force is applied to the hose 12 or boiler 11 as a safety measure. A one way valve 42 is connected to the end of the tube 28 to prevent steam flowing into the tube 28. The lid 35 has a safety stud 43 which will blow out to release pressure in the boiler 11 should this become excessive.

A control valve 44 is provided in the hose 12. This valve 44 includes a ramp 45 and a slider 46. The slider 46 can be moved by an operator to squeeze the tube 27 against the ramp 45 to reduce the flow rate of steam through the tube 27.

In use, water is placed in the boiler 11 and the heater 38 is turned on. When the water boils, steam will pass through the mesh 39 and the tube 27 into the mask 10. The steam will cause the bag 13 to inflate slightly and steam will escape from the bag 13 through the apertures 16 and will be dispersed across the one side of the mask 10 by the diffusers 18 and the porous layer 20. The filter 21 reduces the quantity of steam which passes directly through the porous layer 20.

If a user desires a wet facial treatment, he/she wears the mask 10 with the porous layer 20 against his/her face.

If, on the other hand, the user desires a dry facial treatment, he/she wears the mask 10 with the layer 22 against his/her face.

The embodiment described above is given by way of example only and various modifications will be apparent to a persons skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention defined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. Facial treatment apparatus comprising a facial mask which can be held against the face of a user and which includes a flexible bag, means for supplying steam to the interior of the bag and means on one side of the mask for dispersing steam from the interior of the bag across the face of a user.

2. Facial treatment apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein one side of the bag has a plurality of apertures therein and the steam dispersing means comprises a porous layer attached to said one side of the bag.

3. Facial treatment apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein the porous layer is of resilient material.

4. Facial treatment apparatus as claimed in claim 2 or claim 3, wherein the steam dispersing means also includes a plurality of steam diffusers between the bag and the porous layer, each diffuser having a plurality of apertures therein and being secured to said one side of the bag over a respective aperture in the bag.

5. Facial treatment apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 4, wherein a layer of filter material is interposed between the bag and the porous layer.

6. Facial treatment apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 5, wherein the other side of the bag is imperforate.

7. Facial treatment apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein a resilient layer is attached to the other side of the bag.

8. Facial treatment apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the mask has a nose opening therein.

9. Facial treatment apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the steam supply means comprises a water boiler and a flexible hose connecting the water boiler to the interior of the flexible bag.

10. Facial treatment apparatus as claimed in claim 9, further comprising means for returning condensate from the interior of the bag to the water boiler.

11. Facial treatment apparatus as claimed in claim 9 or claim 10, further comprising valve means for controlling the flow of steam from the water boiler to the bag.

12. Facial treatment apparatus as claimed in claim 11, wherein the valve means is provided in the flexible hose.

13. Facial treatment apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the mask includes means for supporting the mask on the face of a user.

14. Facial treatment apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.