GB2334014A - Depilatory wax dispenser - Google Patents

Abstract

A hand held depilatatory wax dispenser comprises a body with a pistol-grip handle, a melt chamber 21 for wax from a cartridge 40, a heater element 36, an outlet 28 and a control valve 19 for regulating the discharge of melted wax. The cartridge 40 comprises a deformable tube for location within a housing 54, leaf springs being provided within the housing to urge the tube towards a flattened condition.

Description

Depilatory Wax Dispenser This invention relates to the (controlled/regulated) melting and dispensing, of (viscous) flowing materials, for (controlled) application - such as in an even depth coating- upon a substrate.

As such, some aspects of the invention are concemed with the application of melted wax to the skin, as a superficial (skin hair) 'capture' layer, for cosmetic depilatory - ie hair removal - purposes.

Depilatory skin waxing typicaliy involves the careful (temperature-controlled) localised or topical application of wax to the (delicate) skin surface.

In a primitive direct technique, an air hardening wax would be dispensed direct from a tube. The wax is usually rendered into a softened (less) viscous flowing condition, by moderate pre-heating, to facilitate its spread over the skin.

Traditionally, wax spread over a limited target skin area is undertaken manually, using a wooden spatula, dipped in a jar of heated wax. This is inherently messy process, with the risk of hazardous wax drips on the surrounding floor and slippage.

There is also a hygiene issue - and even a risk of cross-contamination between recipients of successive treatments through use of a common wax supply re-tainted with the spatula.

Wax is applied in this way as an incremental strip coating of regulated depth, progressively over the skin surface area to be treated. This in itself requires some manual dexterity, good judgement and timing.

Subsequently, cooled, and so hardened, wax strips (with entrained hair strands and hair follicles) are removed, by careful but brisk manual peeling, to minimise skin abrasion and attendant discomfort. A skin soothing and (re-)moisturising lotion is applied after wax removal in this way.

Misapplication (eg excess wax) and careless removal can readily lead to skin damage and even stripping of an outer skin layer, with exposure to contamination and infection.

Whilst it admits of self-application or treatment, depilatory waxing is generally undertaken by a qualified beauty therapist practitioner - who may be salon-based or mobile for itinerant client visits.

Dedicated depilatory wax pre-heaters for bulk wax storage and dispensers for (disposable) tubes or cartridges of wax are known. However, these have not proved entirely satisfactory, in combining portability, ease and consistency of use, without undue skill or training, and modest cost.

In particular, apparatus for pre-heating a tube of wax, fitted with an applicator head direct, is known. The tube is inserted with its neck downward and body inclined in an electrically heated chamber, which takes some time to bring the wax tube up to temperature.

Upon removal, the tube of heated softened wax is available for use for some minutes, and fitted with an applicator head to its neck can be used for the direct application of a wax strip, by gently squeezing the tube from its end remote the discharge neck.

Nevertheless, this pre-warmed tube still requires some judgement and skill in use, not least in determining optimum temperatures for application and re-charging.

More generally, the self-contained, portable dispenser/applicator art for viscous media or softening hard media into viscous flowing form embraces hot-melt adhesive or glue 'guns'.

Such adhesive guns heat a specially-formulated, 'solid' adhesive cartridge insert and dispense molten adhesive through a nozzle, by squeezing a trigger on a dispenser pistol-grip handle. The nozzle may be fitted with, or may incorporate an integral, spreader applicator head.

According to one aspect of the present invention a (depilatory) wax dispenser comprises a body portion, with a (pistol) grip handle, and a (malleable or viscous) wax storage chamber, for at least an end part of a solid wax cartridge, a heater chamber, adjacent the storage chamber, a heater element, disposed in or around the heater chamber, to soften or melt wax locally, an outlet for melted wax from the heater chamber, a regulator valve in the outlet, controlled by a pressure-action trigger, in the handle grip, a spreader head or applicator, detachably fitted to the outlet, to spread discharged melted wax over a substrate surface.

Desirably, the heater element is thermostatically controlled.

For hygiene, the applicator head for direct skin contact during treatment may be disposable - eliminating risk of cross-contamination between skin surfaces.

The body, and indeed internal components and applicator head, are all conveniently moulded from synthetic plastics material, such as ABS, nylon, or polyethylene.

There now follows a description of some particular embodiments of depilatory wax dispensers according to the invention, by way of non-limiting example only, with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic and schematic drawings in which: Figure 1 shows a perspective outer assembly view, from one side, of a depilatory wax dispenser according to the invention; Figure 2 shows a perspective assembled view of an internal sub-assembly of the dispenser of Figure 1, and comprising an integrated internal wax output flow control valve and operating trigger mechanism; Figure 3 shows an exploded view of the valve and operating trigger sub-assembly of Figure 2; Figure 4 shows the nonle-trigger assembly of Figures 2 and 3, fitted with a loaded (malleable or viscous) wax cartridge and spreader head; Figure 5A shows an axial or longitudinal section of the dispenser control valve of Figures 1 to 3, in a closed, wax shut-off, condition; Figure 5B shows a longitudinal section through the dispenser control valve of Figures 1 through 4A, in open, wax delivery, condition; Figure 6A shows a interacting satellite dispenser (gun) and docking receptacle, with quick release power supply interconnection; Figure 6B shows a dispenser with an umbilical roving power supply lead; Figures 7A through 7E detail the resiliently deformable wax cartridge and discharge bias for the dispenser of Figures 1 through 6B; thus: Figure 7A shows a side elevation of a dispenser, with an end cartridge and associated cover part-sectioned; Figure 7B shows a longitudinal cross-sectional detail of the end cartridge and cover of the dispenser of Figure 7A, fitted with a spring bias discharge or delivery mechanism, depicted at full (retracted) travel, but without a cartridge insert; Figure 7C shows the cover and delivery bias loading mechanism of Figure 7B at an opposite, fully discharged, end of travel, but again with no cartridge insert; Figure 7D shows the cover and delivery bias loading mechanisms of Figures 7B and 7C, at an intermediate delivery bias loading setting, and with a deformable wax cartridge inserted; Figure 7E shows the loaded cartridge and cover of Figure 7D at a full discharge setting of the delivery bias loading mechanism; Figures 8A through 8C show an alternative cartridge dispensing mechanism for the dispenser of Figures 1 through 6C; thus: Figure 8A shows a side view of a dispenser with a wax cartridge end fitting and associated cover part-sectioned; Figure 8B shows, in longitudinal section, a detail of the end fitting of Figure 8A, with a trigger operated cartridge tube squeezing mechanism at one end of its travel, corresponding to a full cartridge; Figure 8C shows the cartridge and housing detail of Figure 8B, but with the cartridge tube squeezing mechanism at an intermediate poSition, with the tube partemptied; Figures 9 through 13 show perspective views of various dispenser and docking station (styling) configurations; and Figure 14 shows leg waxing in progress.

Referring to the drawings, a dispenser 10 has a body 11 with a 'pistol' configuration, including a barrel 12 and a pistol-grip handle 14. The handle 14 incorporates a squeeze-action trigger 15, connected to an internal control and regulator valve assembly 19, detailed in Figures 2 through 4B. As shown in Figures 2, 3 and 5, the trigger 15 is integrated (eg by moulding) with a unitary yoke frame 29 for interconnection with the control valve 19.

Spaced U-profile limbs of the yoke 29 fit respective pivots 23 on opposite sides of a valve sleeve 24. The sleeve 24 is (slidably) located upon a valve barrel 22, and carries a forward threaded stem 35, for detachably mounting a wax spreader or applicator head 30 (Figure 3).

At the forward end of the barrel 22, 'downstream' stream of the heater/melter chamber 21, is an end closure plate 25, with an outlet nozzle aperture 28 for molten wax. The degree of opening, or outright closure, of the outlet 28 is controlled or regulated by a protruding valve stem, or control rod 26A. The control rod 26A is fitted to the (forward) end of a (floating) valve head 27 within the barrel 22.

The valve head 27 has a conical forward nose, selectively engageable with a complementary tapered inner seat profile of the barrel closure plate 25, when the valve is closed and the control rod 26A obstructs the outlet 28.

The valve head 27 also has a 'relieved' cruciform stem 26B, with protruding radial limbs, bearing upon the inner surface of the barrel 22. The stem 26B crosssectional profile allows by-pass of wax melt 45, upon valve opening, with the control rod 26A displaced (rearwardly) somewhat, to expose the outlet 28.

A coil spring 37, reacts between the cruciform stem 26B of the valve head 27 and a diametral pin 33 across the barrel 22, to bias the valve head 27 into contact with the tapered seat in the closure wall 25. A coil spring 39 also reacts between respective shoulders on the sleeve 24 and barrel 22, to bias them apart.

Squeezing the trigger 15 creates a rearward translational movement of the yoke 29 in the housing 12, against the bias of the spring 39, which is thereby compressed, and the sleeve 24 and barrel 22 brought closer together.

This in turn creates a clearance between the control rod 26A and the outlet 28 and between the valve head 27 and the conical valve seat in the closure plate 25 allowing a greater through-flow of wax melt 45, to a mouth 34 internally of the nozzle spreader head or applicator 30.

Overall, initiation and regulation of discharge of molten wax from the nozzle 28 is by squeezing the control trigger 15 towards the pistol grip handle 14, by a variable prescribed amount.

The yoke 29 carries slide bearings 31, 32 locating within recesses (not shown) in the internal wall profile of the body 11. Constructionally, in practice, the body 11 is conveniently moulded as a pair of complementary split-(half) shells 13A, 13B, joined by self-tapping screws and/or (captive) nuts and bolts (not shown).

As shown in the Figures 5A and 5B sections, wax melt 45 is achieved in an internal heater or melt chamber 21, defined within the barrel 22. Around the melt chamber 21, the barrel 22 is fitted with a heater element 36, configured as a (part) circumferential U-clip band or shroud, with electrical connection leads 43, 44. The heater element 36 is conveniently a bi-metallic strip.

The melt chamber 21 is disposed forwardly of a (malleable or viscous) wax storage cartridge 41 fitment. The fitment 41 is configured as a flared outer shroud, to receive the complementary (tapered) nose profile of a cartridge or slug 40 of wax.

The fitment 41 also has a 're-entrant' inner collar, to locate both around, and marginally within, the neck of the wax cartridge 40, to effect an interference (push) fit seal.

The cartridge 40 is (pre-) loaded with a (depilatory) wax 42, in a malleable or viscous state. The cartridge 40 walls are (resiliently) deformable, so that, upon contraction of the cartridge body, a continuous wax stream 45 emerges into the melt chamber 21.

Continuity of flow of the wax stream 45 is promoted by occasional re-orientation of the dispenser 10.

When energised, the heater element 36 elevates the temperature of the wax stream 45, to promote its flow (forwardly) into the dispenser nozzle 28. Once heated, the thermal mass of the heater chamber body helps preserve the wax temperature.

As depicted in Figures 6A, the dispenser 10 is periodically (heat) 're-charged', by mounting in a docking station 46, temporarily to 'energise' the heater element 36 and to warm the heater chamber 21 and allied componentry.

The docking station 46 has a receptacle 47 for a probe 52 on the dispenser nose, with shielded (make-or-break) electrical connection 48. Alternatively, as depicted in Figure 6B, the heater element 36 of a dispenser 10 may be continuously connected, by a roving umbilical fly lead 51, to an electrical power supply. In either case, for handling safety, the supply is desirably of low voltage and mains isolated, such as a step-down transformer output.

Figures 9 through 13 detail a refinement of a complementary inter-fitting docking station and dispenser.

Alternative cartridge discharge or contents delivery schemes, by cartridge wall deformation, are detailed in Figures 7A through 7E and 8A through 8C respectively.

Figures 7A through 7E show: wax storage and delivery, using a detachable wax cartridge 60, structured as a self-contained deformable wall 'squeeze' tube; and the provision of supplementary positive mechanical feed bias for wax delivery, through a cartridge spring compaction or squeezing mechanism.

The cartridge tube 60 serves as a (deformable walled) reservoir of (malleable or viscous) wax - transformed, by locally applied heat, and dispensed incrementally in heated, melted viscous flowing form, at a user-operator's discretion.

The cartridge tube 60 has a threaded neck 61 around a (contents) discharge nozzle or spout 62, upon which is fitted a closure cap (not shown), to seal the contents before use and for installation upon a complementary 'interference-fit' mounting collar of fitment 41 on the dispenser 10.

The fitment 41 extends marginally along the body of the tube 60, for support and guidance, and locates a rear hollow cover shell or housing 54. The housing 54 enshrouds the (rearward) bulk of the cartridge tube 60, and is of generally complementary tapered conical profile, for close conformity with the tube outer wall, as depicted in Figure 7A.

The housing 54 is fitted internally with a cartridge tube dispenser mechanism comprising opposed arcuate leaf springs 57, 59, set respectively in upper and lower walls of the housing 54.

The leaf springs 57, 59 are configured to apply a localised, opposed lateral 'squeeze-action', bias (pre-)loading to opposite side walls of an installed cartridge tube 60 - as depicted in Figures 7D and 7E.

The upper leaf spring 57 is longitudinally adjustable in the upper wall of the housing 54 by a friction-grip thumb slider 56 mounting on one end. The lower leaf spring 59 is fitted to the inner end of the lower wall of the housing 54.

Figure 7B shows a rearward position of the slider 56, in which the upper leaf spring 57 is drawn backwards, with its otherwise free end abutting the corresponding free end of the lower leaf spring 59. In this (relative) condition, the leaf springs 57, 59 leave (most) room at the forward end of the housing 54, in which to accommodate a cartridge tube 60. Thus, once a cartridge tube 60 has been installed upon the end of the dispenser 10, the housing 54 may be fitted over it, with the adjustment slider 56 set fully rearward, as depicted in Figure 7B.

Once the housing 54 and cartridge tube 60 are installed, modest forward adjustment of the slider 56 brings the upper and lower leaf springs 57, 59 into progressively greater contact loading, as shown in Figures 7D and 7E.

The mutually compressed leaf springs 57, 59 in turn incrementally deform and crush together opposite side walls at the end of the cartridge tube 60. Squeezing the cartridge tube 60 urges its (malleable and viscous) wax contents 'forwardly', to discharge through the nozzle 62.

Figure 7C shows a (fully) 'forward' position of the adjustment slider 56 and the associated upper leaf spring 57, relative to the lower leaf spring 59.

Figure 7E shows the effect with a cartridge 60 installed of the equivalent slider 56 position to that of Figure 7C.

Figure 8A shows an alternative housing 64, with a somewhat less waisted (rearward end) profile, to accommodate a mechanical ratchet mechanism 80.

The ratchet 80 imposes positive-displacement compaction or crushing loads upon opposite deformable side walls of a cartridge tube 60. This in turn promotes discharge of the (malleable and viscous) wax contents of the cartridge tube 60.

The ratchet 80 incorporates a carrier bar 67, fitted at one ('rearward') end with a stem 66 supporting a yoke or throat 65 to embrace a cartridge tube 60 form its flattened (rear) end, as shown in Figure 8B. At the opposite ('forward') end of the carrier bar 67 is movably fitted a traveller or carriage 68.

The traveller 68 may be a sliding fit upon the carrier bar 67, and periodically locked thereto by an entrained depending pawl 73. Optionally, ratchet teeth 72 may be incorporated on the carrier bar 67 to 'discipline' its relative movement to the traveller 68. The pawl 73 is periodically engaged and then disengaged by a rocker 69, displaced by rearward travel of a (finger) trigger 70 of a dispenser 10. The rocker 69 is automatically 'returned', by a (return) spring 71, once its end has passed the pawl 72, at the end of each ('rearward') operating stroke of the trigger 70.

Figure 8B shows the ratchet 68 at a fully outward or 'rearward' limit of its travel, with the yoke 65 just at the end of the cartridge tube 60.

Figure 8C shows the carrier bar 67 drawn progressively into the throat of the traveller 68 by successive incremental movements of the interconnected pawl 73 and rocker 69, initiated by repeated squeezing of the trigger 70.

Figure 9 shows a more refined styling exposition of the receptacle or (re-charge) docking station, base or stand of Figure 6B.

A docking stand 80 embodies a bespoke moulded outer profile, embracing a holster stem 81, with a receptacle 82 and shallow recesses 83, 84 in a base platform for accessories, depicted in Figures 11 through 13.

Figure 10 shows the docking stand of Figure 9, with a supplementary holder 88, with a slot 89, for so-called 'pellen', (impregnated) fabric accessory wipes 86, for the removal by careful, but abrupt, peeling of residual applied (set) depilatory wax and entrained hairs and hair follicles. The pellen holder 88 is mounted, 'piggy-back' fashion, upon the rear upper profile of the stem 81.

Figure 11 shows the augmented docking stand 80 of Figure 10, with pump head containers 93, 95 for other preparatory and post waxing treatments. By this means, cleansers, softeners, antiseptics and soothing ointments, etc., may be kept readily to hand, to replace natural skin oils lost from the wax removal process.

Figure 12 shows the docking stand 80 of Figure 11 with a dispenser 10 'docked'.

The dispenser 10 is effectively suspended from its power pick-up probe 52, located in the recess 82, which enshrouds electrical supply connectors (not shown) coupled to the mains by a fly lead 87. Upon mounting of the dispenser 10 in the docking stand 80, the internal dispenser heater element 36 is powered constantly (subject to an over-ride safety thermostat).

In a practical embodiment, the heater 36 takes some 10 minutes to bring the internal wax stream 45 up to delivery temperature.

Once pre-heated in this way, the dispenser 10 may be removed and remains sufficiently 'heat-charged' for some 20 minutes use.

Operationally, it is envisaged that the dispenser 10 be replaced in the docking stand (holster) 80 between application of each wax strip, which takes some 45 seconds, with some 45-60 seconds for its removal. This allows continual re-charging and thus effectively ongoing availability for use until the treatments is complete.

Warning lights (not shown) may be used to signal to the operator that the wax has reached temperature or the dispenser needs re-charging with heat. Similarly, a thermostatic cut-out may be fitted to avoid over-heating, along with safety cut-outs or relay trips, in the event of electrical short circuits or (earth) current leakage.

Figure 13 shows the dispenser 10 and docking stand 80 of Figure 12, with dispenser 10 'un-docked'.

Figure 14 shows (leg) waxing in process, using the dispenser 10 to apply a strip layer 91 of softened, pre-heated wax to a target skin area 90 upon a limb, in this case the calf of a leg.

Wax delivery is by simultaneously squeezing the dispenser trigger 70 and drawing the very end tip of dispenser delivery nozzle (applicator head) 30 progressively over the skin 90, in a continuous, even (gliding) stroke motion. Wax flow on to the skin 93 effectively lubricates the (onward) passage of the applicator 30 in a gliding action.

Ergonomically, the dispenser 10 is drawn towards the user, with its pistol grip shank 14 held securely in the grasp of one hand, with a finger upon the trigger 70. This single-handed grip leaves the other user hand free to apply localised skin pressure or taut stretching, to present the skin at an optimum contact angle. A modest excess wax accumulation at the noule trailing edge promotes an even depth layer when wiped over the skin.

Component List 10 dispenser-applicator 11 body 12 barrel 13A split-housing portion 13B split-housing portion 14 pistol-grip handle 15 squeeze-action trigger 19 control valve assembly 21 melt chamber 22 barrel 23 pivot 24 sleeve 25 end closure wall 26A control rod 26B cruciform valve stem 27 valve head 28 outlet aperture 29 yoke 30 applicator-spreader head 31 slide bearing 32 slide bearing 33 diametral reaction pin 34 mouth (applicator 30) 35 threaded shank 36 heater element 37 return-bias spring 38 yoke 39 return-bias spring 40 wax cartridge 41 (cartridge mount) fitting 42 wax contents 43 electrical supply lead 44 electrical supply lead 45 wax stream 46 docking station 47 receptacle 48 electrical connection 49 limbs 51 (umbilical) power lead 52 probe 54 housing 56 adjustable slider 57 leaf spring 59 leaf spring 60 cartridge tube 61 threaded neck 62 discharge nozzle or spout 65 yoke 66 stem 67 carrier bar 68 traveller 69 rocker 70 trigger 71 return spring 72 rack teeth 73 pawl 80 ratchet mechanism 81 holster stem 82 receptacle 83 recess 84 recess 86 fabric wipes 87 mains (fly) lead 88 supplementary holder 89 slot 90 (skin) target area 91 wax strip 93 container 95 container

Claims (5)

1. Claims 1.

   A (portable) depilatory wax dispenser (10), comprising a body (11), with a pistol-grip handle (14), a melt chamber (21), to receive (malleable and viscous) wax, from a cartridge insert (40, 60), a heater element (36), adjacent the melt chamber for localised wax melt, a control valve (19), to determine (contiguous) wax melt supply, from the cartridge, through the melt chamber, to an outlet (28).
2. 2.

   A depilatory wax dispenser, as claimed in Claim 1, with a demountable wax supply cartridge, and a mechanical bias, bearing upon the cartridge, to promote wax flow through the dispenser.
3. 3.

   A depilatory wax dispenser, substantially as hereinbefore described, with reference to, and as shown in, the accompanying drawings.
4. 4.

   A bespoke or dedicated docking station (80), for a depilatory wax dispenser, as claimed in any of the preceding claims.
5. 5.

   A docking station, as claimed in Claim 4, including electrical supply connections, for a dispenser heater.