GB2297294A - Multiple ball applicator for applying lotions to the skin having rotary stirrer - Google Patents

Multiple ball applicator for applying lotions to the skin having rotary stirrer Download PDF

Info

Publication number
GB2297294A
GB2297294A GB9526440A GB9526440A GB2297294A GB 2297294 A GB2297294 A GB 2297294A GB 9526440 A GB9526440 A GB 9526440A GB 9526440 A GB9526440 A GB 9526440A GB 2297294 A GB2297294 A GB 2297294A
Authority
GB
United Kingdom
Prior art keywords
applicator
balls
skin
stirrer member
brushes
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Granted
Application number
GB9526440A
Other versions
GB9526440D0 (en
GB2297294B (en
Inventor
Yen Tung-Yan Lau
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Specialife Ind Ltd
Original Assignee
Specialife Ind Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Specialife Ind Ltd filed Critical Specialife Ind Ltd
Priority to GB9526440A priority Critical patent/GB2297294B/en
Priority to GB9701304A priority patent/GB2304645B/en
Publication of GB9526440D0 publication Critical patent/GB9526440D0/en
Publication of GB2297294A publication Critical patent/GB2297294A/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of GB2297294B publication Critical patent/GB2297294B/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Fee Related legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61H—PHYSICAL THERAPY APPARATUS, e.g. DEVICES FOR LOCATING OR STIMULATING REFLEX POINTS IN THE BODY; ARTIFICIAL RESPIRATION; MASSAGE; BATHING DEVICES FOR SPECIAL THERAPEUTIC OR HYGIENIC PURPOSES OR SPECIFIC PARTS OF THE BODY
    • A61H15/00—Massage by means of rollers, balls, e.g. inflatable, chains, or roller chains
    • A61H15/0078—Massage by means of rollers, balls, e.g. inflatable, chains, or roller chains power-driven
    • A61H15/0085—Massage by means of rollers, balls, e.g. inflatable, chains, or roller chains power-driven hand-held
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A45—HAND OR TRAVELLING ARTICLES
    • A45D—HAIRDRESSING OR SHAVING EQUIPMENT; EQUIPMENT FOR COSMETICS OR COSMETIC TREATMENTS, e.g. FOR MANICURING OR PEDICURING
    • A45D34/00—Containers or accessories specially adapted for handling liquid toiletry or cosmetic substances, e.g. perfumes
    • A45D34/04—Appliances specially adapted for applying liquid, e.g. using roller or ball
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A45—HAND OR TRAVELLING ARTICLES
    • A45D—HAIRDRESSING OR SHAVING EQUIPMENT; EQUIPMENT FOR COSMETICS OR COSMETIC TREATMENTS, e.g. FOR MANICURING OR PEDICURING
    • A45D34/00—Containers or accessories specially adapted for handling liquid toiletry or cosmetic substances, e.g. perfumes
    • A45D34/04—Appliances specially adapted for applying liquid, e.g. using roller or ball
    • A45D34/041—Appliances specially adapted for applying liquid, e.g. using roller or ball using a roller, a disc or a ball
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61H—PHYSICAL THERAPY APPARATUS, e.g. DEVICES FOR LOCATING OR STIMULATING REFLEX POINTS IN THE BODY; ARTIFICIAL RESPIRATION; MASSAGE; BATHING DEVICES FOR SPECIAL THERAPEUTIC OR HYGIENIC PURPOSES OR SPECIFIC PARTS OF THE BODY
    • A61H15/00—Massage by means of rollers, balls, e.g. inflatable, chains, or roller chains
    • A61H2015/0064—Massage by means of rollers, balls, e.g. inflatable, chains, or roller chains with freely rotating spheres
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61H—PHYSICAL THERAPY APPARATUS, e.g. DEVICES FOR LOCATING OR STIMULATING REFLEX POINTS IN THE BODY; ARTIFICIAL RESPIRATION; MASSAGE; BATHING DEVICES FOR SPECIAL THERAPEUTIC OR HYGIENIC PURPOSES OR SPECIFIC PARTS OF THE BODY
    • A61H2201/00—Characteristics of apparatus not provided for in the preceding codes
    • A61H2201/10—Characteristics of apparatus not provided for in the preceding codes with further special therapeutic means, e.g. electrotherapy, magneto therapy or radiation therapy, chromo therapy, infrared or ultraviolet therapy
    • A61H2201/105—Characteristics of apparatus not provided for in the preceding codes with further special therapeutic means, e.g. electrotherapy, magneto therapy or radiation therapy, chromo therapy, infrared or ultraviolet therapy with means for delivering media, e.g. drugs or cosmetics

Landscapes

  • Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Epidemiology (AREA)
  • Pain & Pain Management (AREA)
  • Physical Education & Sports Medicine (AREA)
  • Rehabilitation Therapy (AREA)
  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Animal Behavior & Ethology (AREA)
  • General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Public Health (AREA)
  • Veterinary Medicine (AREA)
  • Massaging Devices (AREA)
  • Media Introduction/Drainage Providing Device (AREA)

Description

"ApDllcator" This invention relates to an applicator for applying lotions, medicaments or other topical substances (hereinafter called lotions) to the skin.
Such an applicator is known which has a chamber for containing a lotion, an external wall of the chamber being formed with a plurality of apertures having freely rotatable applicator balls trapped therein which are arranged to be rolled on a user's skin in use whereby to pick up lotion from within the chamber and apply it to the skin. Such an applicator is that hereinafter referred to as being of the kind described.
A problem with such an applicator is that, particularly if the lotion is relatively viscous, it tends to collect, or be left, in regions of the said chamber away from the applicator balls, and consequently not to be taken up by the balls when they rotate.
Viewed from one aspect the present invention provides an applicator of the kind described, including a lotion stirrer member rotatably mounted in the said chamber and arranged to have rotary stirring motion imparted thereto by the said balls when they rotate in use.
Thus, as the balls rotate during use of the applicator, they impart rotary motion to the stirrer member, which stirs the lotion to discourage it from collecting in regions of the chamber.
Preferably all of the said balls have their centres located on a common imaginary circle centred on the centre of rotation of the said stirrer member. The stirrer member may then include a drive ring lying on said imaginary circle and engaging the said balls. Such a drive ring may be formed with a rough surface engaging the said balls, to increase its frictional engagement with the latter.
Preferably the said stirrer member is formed with one or more stirring protrusions spaced outwardly from its rotary axis and extending towards the said balls.
Conveniently the stirrer member may be substantially flat and uniplanar with the exception of said protrusion(s).
Preferably the applicator is provided with one or more brushes on the outside of said external wall, for contact with a user's skin. The engagement of such brush(es) with a user's skin in use assists in spreading the lotion and causing the lotion to penetrate the pores of the skin.
Preferably the said brushes are elongate and extend radially with respect to the axis of the said imaginary circle. Preferably a said brush is located between each adjoining pair of said applicator balls.
Viewed from another aspect the invention provides an applicator of the kind described, which is provided with one or more brushes on the outside of said external wall, for contact with a user's skin. Such an applicator may furthermore have any one or more of the features set forth above with respect to the first aspect of the invention.
Preferably an applicator according to the invention is provided with drive means for rotating it in the plane of said external wall, so that the face of the said wall, containing the said applicator balls, rotates on a user's skin in use. The said drive means may conveniently comprise an electric motor, gearing, and a drive shaft all housed in a head mounted on a handle, a housing of the applicator (defining the said chamber) being mountable on the said drive shaft for rotation relative to the said head. Preferably magnets are provided on the end of the said drive shaft and on the applicator housing, for holding the same together.
An embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of an applicator according to the invention; Figure 2 is a plan view of the lotion chamber of the applicator, partly broken away to show the interior; and Figure 3 is a perspective view of a stirrer member.
Referring to the drawings, an applicator comprises a housing 1 defining an internal chamber 2 for containing lotion to be applied to a user's skin. An external wall 3 of the chamber is formed with three circular apertures each holding an applicator ball 4, the dimensions of the balls and apertures being such that the balls will pick up lotion from within the chamber and apply it to the user's skin when the balls roll on the skin. Brushes 5 are mounted on the wall 3, between the balls 4, to assist in spreading the lotion on the skin and causing it to penetrate into the pores.
The housing 1 is removably mounted on a drive shaft (not visible) extending from a head 6 containing a gear box and a miniature electric motor powered by suitable batteries housed in a handle 7. Thus, when operated and applied to a user's skin, the housing is rotated about its axis, causing the balls 4 to roll on the skin and the brushes 5 to spread the lotion applied by the balls.
Magnets (not visible) are provided on the end of the drive shaft and at the end of a shaft receiving recess in the rear wall of the housing 1, to hold the parts together in releasable fashion. The housing is formed in two separate parts, 1A and 1B, and the part 1A has an internal axially extending portion 8 which defines the said shaft receiving recess.
Referring now to Figures 2 and 3, a stirrer member 9 of wheel-like configuration is rotatably mounted in the chamber 2, on a fixed stub shaft at the centre of the wall 3, by way of its central hub 10. An outer ring 11 of the stirrer member is pressed against the balls 4, in the chamber 2, by the portion 8 of the housing part 1A when the two housing parts are interengaged, while still allowing the stirrer to rotate. The face of the ring 11 engaging che balls is roughened by being formed with closely spaced ribs 12 all around it, with the result that as the balls rotate against a user's skin they impart rotary motion to the stirrer member, about its axis. The ring 11 thus acts as a drive ring for the stirrer member. The other side of the stirrer member, opposite from the ribs 12, is formed with inner and outer protrusions 13 and 14 which project into the lotion in the chamber, to have a stirring effect on the lotion when the stirrer member rotates, thus discouraging the lotion from collecting in regions of the chamber away from the applicator balls.

Claims (15)

Claims:
1. An applicator of the kind described, including a lotion stirrer member rotatably mounted in the said chamber and arranged to have rotary stirring motion imparted thereto by the said balls when they rotate in use.
2. An applicator as claimed in claim 1, wherein all of the said balls have their centres located on a common imaginary circle centred on the centre of rotation of the said stirrer member.
3. An applicator as claimed in claim 2, wherein the said stirrer member includes a drive ring lying on said imaginary circle and frictionally engaging the said balls.
4. An applicator as claimed in claim 3, wherein the said drive ring is formed with a rough surface engaging the said balls.
5. An applicator as claimed in claim 4, wherein the said rough surface is radially ribbed.
6. An applicator as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the said stirrer member is formed with one or more stirring protrusions spaced outwardly from its rotary axis and extending towards the said applicator balls.
7. An applicator as claimed in claim 6, wherein the said stirrer member is substantially flat and uniplanar with the exception of said protrusion(s).
8. An applicator as claimed in any preceding claim, which is provided with one or more brushes on the outside of said external wall, for contact with a user's skin.
9. An applicator as claimed in claims 2 and 8, wherein the said brushes are elongate and extend radially with respect to the axis of the said imaginary circle.
10. An applicator as claimed in claim 9, wherein a said brush is located between each adjoining pair of said applicator balls.
11. An applicator of the kind described, which is provided with one or more brushes on the outside of said external wall, for contact with a user's skin.
12. An applicator as claimed in any preceding claim, which is provided with drive means for rotating it in the plane of said external wall.
13. An applicator as claimed in claim 12, wherein said drive means comprises an electric motor, gearing, and a drive shaft all housed in a head mounted on a handle, a housing of the applicator being mountable on the said drive shaft for rotation relative to the said head.
14. An applicator as claimed in claim 13, wherein magnets are provided on the end of the said drive shaft and on the applicator housing, for holding the same together.
15. An applicator substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
GB9526440A 1995-12-22 1995-12-22 Applicator Expired - Fee Related GB2297294B (en)

Priority Applications (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB9526440A GB2297294B (en) 1995-12-22 1995-12-22 Applicator
GB9701304A GB2304645B (en) 1995-12-22 1995-12-22 Applicator

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB9526440A GB2297294B (en) 1995-12-22 1995-12-22 Applicator

Publications (3)

Publication Number Publication Date
GB9526440D0 GB9526440D0 (en) 1996-02-21
GB2297294A true GB2297294A (en) 1996-07-31
GB2297294B GB2297294B (en) 1997-06-04

Family

ID=10786021

Family Applications (2)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
GB9526440A Expired - Fee Related GB2297294B (en) 1995-12-22 1995-12-22 Applicator
GB9701304A Expired - Fee Related GB2304645B (en) 1995-12-22 1995-12-22 Applicator

Family Applications After (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
GB9701304A Expired - Fee Related GB2304645B (en) 1995-12-22 1995-12-22 Applicator

Country Status (1)

Country Link
GB (2) GB2297294B (en)

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO1998031321A1 (en) * 1997-01-16 1998-07-23 Jones Rick E Combined massage, acupressure and biomagnetic therapy apparatus

Families Citing this family (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20060272668A1 (en) 2005-06-02 2006-12-07 The Procter & Gamble Company Cosmetic applicator
US8485201B2 (en) * 2007-02-21 2013-07-16 The Procter & Gamble Company Cosmetic applicator with torque limiter
US8985883B2 (en) 2007-07-30 2015-03-24 The Procter & Gamble Company Control surfaces for applicator with moveable applicator head
US8079373B2 (en) 2007-09-18 2011-12-20 The Proctor & Gamble Company Applicator with helical applicator surface

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO1998031321A1 (en) * 1997-01-16 1998-07-23 Jones Rick E Combined massage, acupressure and biomagnetic therapy apparatus

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB9526440D0 (en) 1996-02-21
GB2297294B (en) 1997-06-04
GB2304645B (en) 1997-06-04
GB2304645A (en) 1997-03-26
GB9701304D0 (en) 1997-03-12

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Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
PCNP Patent ceased through non-payment of renewal fee

Effective date: 20051222