JP2008289810A - Optical hair remover - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an optical hair remover capable of reliably preventing the leak of light rays from a portion between the optical hair remover and the skin when irradiating the skin with the light rays by pressurizing the optical hair remover against the skin, and irradiating the skin with the light rays in an optimum state in accordance with the portion where a user treats a hair removal in a user. <P>SOLUTION: The optical hair remover includes: a light irradiation part arranged on the outer surface of a remover body 1; and a light shielding cylinder 6 for enclosing the light irradiation part at the outer surface side of the remover body 1. The end surface at the opposite side of the remover body 1 in the axial direction of the light shielding cylinder 6 is defined as a skin contact surface 11. A hair removal treatment is performed by irradiating the skin S enclosed by the light shielding cylinder 6 with the light from the light irradiation part in a state where the skin S is brought into contact with the skin contact surface 11. A plurality of different kinds of light shielding cylinders 6a-6c to be selectively attached to the remover body 1 are arranged as the light shielding cylinder 6. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an optical hair removal device that performs hair removal treatment by irradiating light onto a skin from a light irradiation unit.

  As a device for performing hair removal treatment, an optical hair removal device is known that heats the hair papilla by transmitting the light energy emitted by laser diodes and flash lamps to the hair and makes it difficult for nutrients to reach the hair. Yes. In such an optical hair removal device, it is required to irradiate light in a vertical direction with respect to hairy skin. On the other hand, in the optical hair removal device disclosed in Patent Literature 1 and Patent Literature 2, a plurality of contact sensors are arranged at a position surrounding the laser light irradiation unit at the device tip, and each contact sensor detects contact with the skin. At this time, it is determined that the robot is in the vertical posture, and the laser beam irradiation is started.

However, the above-mentioned photo epilation device is insufficient as a safety measure against light leakage to the outside, and particularly when the flash lamp flash is used as a light source, the flash easily leaks to the outside. There is a fear. In addition, the part to be subjected to hair removal treatment has different surface shape and illuminance necessary for hair removal for each part, and as described above, the skin is simply brought into contact with the position surrounding the laser light irradiation part of the optical hair removal device. Then, the optimal hair removal process according to the site | part to which a hair removal process is performed cannot be performed.
JP 2005-278724 A Special table 2006-52536

  The present invention was invented in view of the above-described conventional problems, and when light is applied by pressing the optical hair removal device against the skin, it is ensured that light leaks from between the optical hair removal device and the skin. It is an object of the present invention to provide an optical hair removal device that can prevent light and can irradiate the skin with light in an optimum state according to the user's hair removal treatment site.

  In order to solve the above problems, an optical hair removal device according to the present invention includes a device body 1, a light irradiation unit (lamp cover 4) provided on the outer surface of the device body 1, and a light irradiation unit on the outer surface side of the device body 1. A light-shielding cylinder 6 is provided, and the end surface on the opposite side of the device main body 1 in the axial direction of the light-shielding cylinder 6 is a skin contact surface 11, and the skin S is in contact with the skin contact surface 11 from the light irradiation unit to the light-shielding tube. 6 is an optical hair removal device that performs light removal treatment by irradiating light to the skin S surrounded by 6, and includes a plurality of different light shielding tubes 6 a to 6 c that are selectively attached to the device body 1 as the light shielding tube 6. It is characterized by comprising.

  With the above configuration, it is possible to irradiate the skin S with light for hair removal treatment from the light irradiation unit with the skin contact surface 11 of the light shielding tube 6 in contact with the skin S. At this time, the light shielding tube 6 surrounding the light irradiation unit is used. It can prevent that the light irradiated from a light irradiation part leaks outside. In addition, since an arbitrary light-shielding tube 6 can be selected from a plurality of light-shielding tubes 6 and attached to the apparatus main body 1, hair removal is performed using an optimum light-shielding tube 6 according to a user's hair removal treatment site or the like. Processing can be performed.

  Moreover, it is preferable that the plurality of types of light shielding cylinders 6 include light shielding cylinders 6 having different distances a in the axial direction of the light shielding cylinder 6 from the light irradiation unit to the skin contact surface 11 in a state of being attached to the apparatus main body 1. The illuminance of light hitting the skin S can be adjusted by exchanging the light shielding cylinder 6.

  The light shielding cylinders 6 are attached to the device main body 1 so as to be floatable in the axial direction of the light shielding cylinders 6, and the set amount D of the light shielding cylinder 6 with respect to the device main body 1 is set in advance. It is preferable to provide a control circuit 5 that can irradiate light from the light irradiator only when the amount is greater than or equal to the amount D1, and to make the set sink amount D1 variable. In this way, by attaching each light shielding cylinder 6 to the device main body 1 so as to be floatable, even if the device main body 1 is slightly moved, the light-shielding cylinder 6 that is floatable follows the skin S while moving up and down. Maintain the state. Further, by making the set sink amount D1 variable, it is possible to adjust the set sink amount D1 in a state where the light shielding cylinders 6 are attached to the apparatus main body 1 to adjust the illuminance of the light for the hair removal treatment that strikes the skin S.

  In the invention according to claim 1, light for hair removal treatment can be applied to the skin from the light irradiation unit with the skin contact surface of the light shielding tube being in contact with the skin, and the light irradiated from the light irradiation unit by the light shielding tube is outside. Can be surely prevented. In addition, since any light-shielding tube can be selected from a plurality of light-shielding tubes and attached to the device body, the hair removal treatment is performed using an optimum light-shielding tube according to the user's hair removal site, Light can be applied to the skin in an optimal state.

  Further, in the invention according to claim 2, in addition to the effect of the invention according to claim 1, the illuminance of light hitting the skin can be adjusted by exchanging the light-shielding tube for another light-shielding tube, and an optimal hair removal treatment can be performed. .

  Further, in the invention according to claim 3, in addition to the effect of the invention according to claim 1 or 2, the device main body 1 is slightly moved by attaching each light shielding tube 6 to the device main body 1 so as to float freely. However, the light-shielding tube 6 that is free to float can maintain a state of being in close contact with the skin S while moving up and down, thereby further preventing light leakage. In addition, it is possible to easily adjust the illuminance of the light for the hair removal treatment that strikes the skin by adjusting the set sink amount with each light shielding cylinder attached to the apparatus main body.

  Hereinafter, the present invention will be described based on embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings. 1 to 4 schematically show an entire example of an optical hair removal device according to an embodiment of the present invention. The optical hair removal device incorporates a flashlight 2 made of a xenon lamp as a light source unit 20 in a box-shaped device body 1 that can be held with one hand. A light irradiation port 3 facing the flash light 2 is opened at a position near the flash light 2 on the outer surface of the front end portion of the apparatus body 1, and a transparent lamp cover 4 is fitted into the light irradiation port 3. It is out. The pulsed flash emitted from the flashlight 2 is emitted toward the outside of the device main body 1 through the lamp cover 4, that is, in this example, light is applied to the skin S by the lamp cover 4 provided at the light irradiation port 3. The light irradiation part to irradiate is comprised. Reference numeral 5 denotes a control circuit built in the device main body 1 while being connected to the flashlight 2. The control circuit 5 applies a high voltage obtained by boosting the voltage supplied from the power source to the flashlight 2 and appropriately controls on / off of light emission of the flashlight 2.

  Moreover, an optical hair removal apparatus is selectively used for the apparatus main body 1 as shown, for example in FIG. 1 (a)-(c) as the light shielding cylinder 6 surrounding the lamp cover 4 which is a light irradiation part in the outer surface side of the apparatus main body 1. FIG. A plurality of different types of light shielding cylinders 6a to 6c to be attached are provided.

  First, a common configuration of the light shielding cylinders 6a to 6c will be described. Each light shielding cylinder 6 is formed in an elliptical cylinder shape using a flexible elastic body such as rubber or elastomer, and is floatably and detachably connected to a position surrounding the lamp cover 4 on the outer peripheral surface of the apparatus body 1. Is done. Here, the floatable state is a state in which the light shielding tube 6 is movable in the axial direction within a certain range while urging the light shielding tube 6 in the direction opposite to the device body 1 in the axial direction. Hereinafter, the side opposite to the device main body 1 in the axial direction of the light shielding cylinder 6 (that is, the direction along the light irradiation direction) is referred to as “upward”, and the device main body 1 side in the axial direction of the light shielding cylinder 6 (ie, in the light irradiation direction). The direction of receding along) is called “downward”.

  In the illustrated example, as means for freely connecting each light shielding cylinder 6 to the apparatus main body 1, a connecting projection 7 extends inward from the inner peripheral surface of the lower part of the light shielding cylinder 6, and the above connection is made to the side wall of the apparatus main body 1. A connecting port 8 for inserting the convex portion 7 to be connected to be movable up and down is opened, and a receiving portion 9 is provided at a position on the inner peripheral surface of the device main body 1 and in the vicinity of the lower end edge of the connecting port 8. The spring member 10 is interposed between the receiving portion 9 and the connecting convex portion 7. The light shielding cylinders 6 are attached and detached by, for example, slightly elastically deforming the light shielding cylinders 6 and pulling out or inserting the device main body 1 from the light shielding cylinders 6.

  As shown in FIG. 1, each of the light shielding cylinders 6 has an end surface (that is, an upper end surface) opposite to the device main body 1 in the axial direction as a skin contact surface 11 that is pressed in direct contact with the human skin S. Yes. Contact sensors 12 are arranged at a plurality of positions on the skin contact surface 11 that are equally spaced from each other, and the control circuit 5 detects the human skin only when all the contact sensors 12 detect contact with the skin S. Assuming that S is in close contact with the tip of the light shielding tube 6, the flashlight 2 is brought into a light emitting state.

  FIG. 1 shows a state where the light-shielding cylinder 6 is located at the uppermost position (that is, the sinking amount D = 0 of the light-shielding cylinder 6 with respect to the device body 1), and FIG. In this case, the skin contact surface 11 of the light shielding tube 6 is positioned above the light irradiation port 3 of the device main body 1 in each case. The vertical dimension of the light shielding cylinder 6 is set. Further, even when the light-shielding cylinder 6 is in a state where it is sunk by the maximum sinking amount Dmax, the skin S which is pressed by the skin contact surface 11 and swells downward ensures a gap d between the light irradiation port 3 and The dimension of each light shielding cylinder 6 is set.

  Further, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, a switch spring 13 is fixed to the inner peripheral surface of each light shielding cylinder 6, and the control circuit 5 is a device of the light shielding cylinder 6 attached to a predetermined position of the apparatus main body 1. Only when the downward sinking amount D with respect to the main body 1 is equal to or larger than a preset setting sinking amount D1 (0 <D1 <Dmax), the pair of switch springs 13 of the light shielding cylinder 6 incorporated in the device main body 1 The contact between the connection terminals 14 and the connection terminals 14 can be energized, and the flashlight 2 is ready to emit light.

  Here, the set sink amount D1 of this example is variable. In the illustrated example, a handle 17 mechanically connected to the connection terminal 14 is provided on the outer surface of the device body 1 so as to be slidable up and down, and the user can slide the handle 17 to change the vertical position of the connection terminal 14. It can be changed in three stages, and the set sink amount D1 is made variable. Reference numeral 18 in FIG. 5 denotes a lock button 18 provided on the handle 17. By operating the lock button 18, the handle 17 at an arbitrary position in each step in the vertical direction is fixed to the device body 1. In addition, this fixation can be released. The connection terminal 14 is always electrically connected to the control circuit 5 when the sinking amount D is in the range of 0 to Dmax.

  Further, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, an irradiation switch 15 for manually operating on / off of the light emission of the flashlight 2 is provided on the outer peripheral surface of the device main body 1 at the center on the front side. Each light shielding cylinder 6 is provided with an operation port 16 formed with a hole for exposing the irradiation switch 15 when the light shielding tube 6 sinks a certain amount downward, and the control circuit 5 controls the irradiation switch exposed from the operation port 16. The flashlight 2 can emit light only when the user continues to press 15 (or is fixed in the ON state).

  In the control circuit 5 of the present example, as schematically shown in FIG. 7, the switch spring is turned on when the sinking amount D of the light shielding tube 6 with respect to the device main body 1 is equal to or larger than the set sinking amount D1. 13 and the connection terminal 14 are electrically connected to each contact sensor 12 so that the switch SW1 is turned on when all the contact sensors 12 at the tip of the light shielding cylinder 6 detect contact with the skin S. A switch SW2 and a switch SW3 formed so as to be turned on when the irradiation switch 15 installed in the apparatus main body 1 is pressed are connected in series to form a triple switch circuit.

  Accordingly, when all the switches SW1, SW2, SW3 are turned on, that is, the sinking amount D of the light shielding tube 6 with respect to the device body 1 is equal to or larger than the set sinking amount D1, and the tip of the light shielding tube 6 is in close contact with the skin S. The flash light 2 emits pulses only when the contact sensor 12 is turned on and the condition that the user manually operates the irradiation switch 15 of the device body 1 is satisfied.

  In order to be able to irradiate the skin with light in an optimal state according to the user's hair removal site such as the side, arm, leg, etc. As shown in FIG. 1C, the light shielding cylinders 6 extending from the lamp cover 4 to the skin contact surface 11 in a state in which the light shielding cylinders 6 are attached to the equipment body 1 with different projecting lengths from the equipment body 1. The distance a in the axial direction is made different, the shape of the skin contact surface 11 is changed as a surface perpendicular to the axial direction of the light shielding tube 6 or an arcuate surface, and the lamp cover 4 to the skin contact surface 11 The distance a and the shape are different from each other.

  In order to use the optical hair removal device of the present example having the above-described configuration, for example, an optimum light shielding tube 6 is first selected from among the plurality of light shielding tubes 6 according to the user's hair removal site or the like. In the state surrounded by the ring-shaped skin contact surface 11 by attaching the skin contact surface 11 of the light shielding tube 6 to the human body skin S with the device body 1 attached to the device body 1 and holding the device body 1 with one hand. Are provided so that the skin S of the site to be processed is located. When the device body 1 is further pushed into the skin S in this state, the light shielding tube 6 sinks downward while increasing the upward biasing force, and the skin contact surface 11 is in close contact with the skin S over the entire circumference. Let Here, even if the device main body 1 is moved somewhat, the light-shielding tube 6 that is floatable keeps in close contact with the skin S while moving up and down.

  Then, the user manually operates the irradiation switch 15 exposed from the operation port 16 of the light shielding tube 6 in a state where the sinking amount D of the light shielding tube 6 is equal to or greater than a certain amount D1 and each contact sensor 12 detects the contact of the skin S. When turned on by the operation, the flashlight 2 emits light in pulses and irradiates the skin S of the site to be treated from the light irradiation port 3 to perform a hair removal process. At this time, since the skin contact surface 11 of the light shielding tube 6 is kept in pressure contact with the skin S over the entire circumference, a situation in which flash light emitted from the light irradiation port 3 leaks outside is prevented, There is no danger of entering the eyes of the user. Further, since the light shielding cylinder 6 is formed of a flexible elastic body such as rubber, adhesion is further ensured.

  Moreover, since the switch for turning on / off the flashlight 2 is the above-mentioned triple switch, the irradiation switch 15 is intentionally in a state where the skin contact surface 11 of the light shielding tube 6 is in close contact with the skin S with a sufficient load over the entire circumference. If it is not operated, no light is emitted, and the safety is further increased.

  In addition, the optical hair removal apparatus includes a plurality of different types of light shielding cylinders 6, and one light shielding cylinder 6 can be selected from the plurality of light shielding cylinders 6 and attached to the apparatus main body 1. Using the light shielding cylinder 6 having a shape, the skin contact surface 11 of the light shielding cylinder 6 is improved in adhesion to the skin S, and the light shielding cylinder 6 having a short distance a from the lamp cover 4 to the skin contact surface 11 is used. The illuminance of the light hitting the skin S can be increased, and conversely, the illuminance can be decreased using the light-shielding tube 6 having a long distance a from the lamp cover 4 to the skin contact surface 11, depending on the user's hair removal part, etc. The hair removal treatment can be performed using the optimum light-shielding cylinder 6. Moreover, since the set sinking amount D1 is variable in the optical hair removal device of this example, the set sinking amount D1 is adjusted in a state where the light shielding cylinders 6 are attached to the device main body 1, and the illuminance of the light for the hair removal treatment hitting the skin S Can be adjusted easily.

  The switch in the control circuit 5 may not be a triple switch, but may be a double switch circuit in which switches SW1 and S2 are connected in series as shown in FIG. 8, or only from the switch SW1 as shown in FIG. It is good also as a switch circuit. In the case of FIG. 8, when the sinking amount D of the light shielding cylinder 6 with respect to the device body 1 is equal to or larger than the set sinking amount D1, the tip of the light shielding cylinder 6 is in close contact with the skin S and all the contact sensors 12 are turned on. The flashlight 2 emits light in pulses. In the case of FIG. 9, the flashlight 2 emits light in a pulsed manner when the sinking amount D of the light shielding tube 6 with respect to the device body 1 becomes equal to or larger than the set sinking amount D1.

  Further, the light source unit 20 is not limited to the flashlight 2 made of xenon light, but may be a flashlight 2 made of another configuration, or irradiates laser light using a laser diode or the like. Also good. The light irradiating unit is the lamp cover 4 through which the hair removal treatment light is transmitted. However, the light irradiation unit may be an opening through which the hair removal treatment light passes, or may be the light source unit 20. Further, although the set sink amount D1 is variable in three steps, it may be variable in a plurality of steps of two steps or four or more steps, or may be variable in a stepless manner.

(A)-(c) is explanatory drawing which shows roughly the optical hair removal apparatus of an example of embodiment of this invention. It is explanatory drawing which shows roughly the state which sunk the light shielding cylinder shown to Fig.1 (a) to the lowest part. FIG. 1 schematically shows an optical hair removal device provided with a light-shielding cylinder shown in FIG. 1A, and FIGS. 1A, 1B, and 1C are a front view, a side view, and a plan view, respectively. FIG. 1A shows a state where the light shielding cylinder shown in FIG. 1A is sunk downward to expose the irradiation switch, where FIG. 1A is a front view and FIG. 1B is a side sectional view. It is sectional drawing which shows the mechanism of switch SW1 same as the above, (a) is the state which set the maximum sinking amount D1 short, (b) is the state which set the maximum sinking amount D1 to the inside, (c) is the maximum sinking amount D1. Shows a state where is set for a long time. It is a side view which shows the mechanism of switch SW1 same as the above. FIG. 3 is a circuit block diagram schematically illustrating an example control circuit. It is a circuit block diagram which shows roughly the control circuit of another example. FIG. 6 is a circuit block diagram schematically showing another example of a control circuit.

Explanation of symbols

S Skin 1 Device body 4 Lamp cover 6 Shading tube 11 Skin contact surface

Claims (3)

  A device main body, a light irradiation unit provided on the outer surface of the device main body, and a light shielding cylinder that surrounds the light irradiation unit on the outer surface side of the device main body. A photo epilation device that performs epilation by irradiating the skin surrounded by the light shielding tube from the light irradiation unit with the skin in contact with the skin, and selecting the device body as the light shielding tube An optical hair removal device comprising a plurality of different types of light-shielding cylinders that can be attached in a fixed manner.   2. The light shielding cylinder according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of kinds of light shielding cylinders include light shielding cylinders having different distances in the axial direction of the light shielding cylinder from the light irradiation unit to the skin contact surface in a state of being attached to the apparatus main body. Light hair removal equipment.   Each of the light shielding cylinders is attached to the device main body so as to be floatable in the axial direction of the light shielding cylinder, and only when the amount of sinking of each light shielding cylinder with respect to the device main body is equal to or larger than a preset set amount of sink. 3. The photo epilation device according to claim 1, further comprising a control circuit capable of irradiating light from a light irradiation unit, wherein the set sinking amount is variable.

Images