JP2011523581A - Method and apparatus for imparting high frequency vibration to hair for hair removal - Google Patents

Abstract

A pair of tongs (11, 12) having bristle gripping ends (11a, 12a), which are coupled to at least one of the tongs that can be brought into a high-frequency vibration state with respect to each other. With a transducer (13) for converting AC voltage into mechanical vibration to generate sufficient heat in the body to facilitate undesired hair removal. A device (10) for applying vibrations to the hair. Preferably, the transducer is a piezoelectric element that vibrates the hair at 100-500 KHz, preferably 100-350 KHz, and produces a displacement of 5-20 microns.
[Selection] Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to a device for applying high-frequency vibrations to an object, which device is particularly useful for hair removal.

Hair is composed of an outer cuticle, an intermediate cortex, and a protein called keratin arranged in three layers called the central medulla. Hair grows from hair follicles, which are goblet pits buried under the skin. The follicle wall forms the outer root sheath of the hair. The base of the hair follicle, called the dermal papilla, is fed by nutrients that carry nutrients (eg, nutrients and oxygen) that produce new hair and remove waste products (eg, CO ₂ ) formed in the process. Is done. The lower part of the hair follicle spreads to form a hair bulb that contains the embryonic matrix that is the source of hair growth. Hair growth is initiated by hair bulges, which are small bulges of hair follicles that form small smooth muscle attachment sites called napped muscles. During growth (the hair growth phase), the dermal papilla signals the bulge stem cells that move down along the hair follicle. When induced by the dermal papilla, stem cells begin to proliferate and form new hair shafts after cell differentiation.

  There are various methods and devices for removing unwanted hair. Known devices typically use various types of gripping, pulling, and / or cutting means to strip the hair that is secured to the tissue. Existing techniques can be divided into two main categories: short-term and long-term hair removal techniques.

  In short-term hair removal techniques, hair removal is performed without significantly damaging the vital regeneration and / or regrowth mechanisms found at the base of each hair. Such techniques only work on the part of the hair shaft that is located outside the skin, while the living body part of the hair (the hair follicle that attaches to the dermal papilla) continues to grow. The most common short-term hair removal techniques include shaving, rotary machine hair removal, wax hair removal, and chemical hair removal.

  Long-term hair removal techniques have an impact on the biological regrowth mechanism of extracted hair, and thus have the potential to inhibit regrowth hair regrowth from treated tissue. The most common long term hair removal techniques include electrolysis, laser, and ultrashort pulse (non-laser) light.

  Companion Application No. 10/590477, filed February 20, 2005 and assigned to the same assignee as the present application, transmits sound waves through the hair shaft to generate enough heat to break the hair root. A method and apparatus for depilation based on the treatment is disclosed. This is done by gripping a portion of the hair and transmitting sound waves to the hair. The application describes a number of embodiments including a wave capacitor for focusing sound waves before transmitting them to the hair. Not only the structure of the device described in the above-cited patent application, but also further details of the prior art in this field are obtained from the description of that application, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.

  The present invention provides another device for efficiently coupling acoustic energy to hair at locations outside the skin to generate heat in the hair roots for hair removal.

  In a broad aspect of the invention, a pair of tongs having bristle gripping ends biased toward each other, wherein one tong acts as a hammer that can be in a high frequency vibration state relative to the other tong; A transducer coupled to only one of said tongs and for converting an AC voltage into mechanical vibration to vibrate a bristle gripping end of said one tong relative to the other tong, The hair gripping end of the hair includes a gripping surface for gripping the hairs between them and for generating sufficient heat in the hair root by vibrating the hairs to facilitate hair removal, or Provided is a device for vibrating a hair rooted in the body, coupled to a gripping surface.

  The invention of the present application is distinguished from the prior application 10/590477 cited above. Thus, previous US patent applications also depilate by sound waves, in which case the hair is used as a waveguide for acoustic energy, preferably using a wave capacitor for sound waves before transmitting the sound waves to the hair To couple to the acoustic driver. FIGS. 4a and 4b of the application show the configuration when the hair is gripped by wave capacitors carried on the ends of a pair of tongues, each driven by a piezoelectric element.

  This is because vibration is imparted to the hair by a pair of tongs having hair gripping ends that are biased toward each other, and only one of the tongs acting as a hammer is vibrated at high frequency relative to the other by the transducer. Distinguished from the present invention, the holding end includes or is coupled to a gripping surface to induce vibration in the hair to generate sufficient heat in the hair root to facilitate hair removal.

  In the preferred embodiment described, the transducer is a piezoelectric element. In addition, at least one of the gripping surfaces includes a layer of compliant material, such as an epoxy resin film, allowing for small displacement of the hair, increasing the contact surface between the tongue and hair, and with various diameters Can be held and vibrated.

  Preferably, the AC voltage is 100-500 KHz, more preferably 100-350 KHz, and the transducer converts the AC voltage into a 5-20 micron displacement of the hair gripping surface. The hair gripping surface can grip the hair so that the hair oscillates along any one or combination of three orthogonal axes.

  In one preferred embodiment to be described, the piezoelectric element is secured to one bristle gripping end of the tongue and is coupled to the bristle gripping end of the other tongue for gripping the hair between them. Define the gripping surface. One tong is attached so that the hair gripping end vibrates and the other tong acts as a relative stationary anvil. The tip of one or both tongs can be disposable.

  A second embodiment is described in which the piezoelectric element is coupled to the hair gripping end of one tongue through one end of the horn to increase the displacement of the hair gripping end of one tongue. To do. The end of the horn opposite the side that is coupled to the piezoelectric element has one of the gripping surfaces cooperating with the hair gripping end of another tong to grip the hair between them. Shaped to define. In addition, the opposite end of the horn and the hair gripping end of the other tongue are directed inward toward each other to define a gripping surface for gripping the hair therebetween. In the preferred embodiment described, the other tongue is fixed and acts as a relative stationary anvil.

  Further embodiments are described in which the apparatus further comprises a clamping member for applying a preload force to the piezoelectric element so as to increase the displacement of the piezoelectric element in the direction of the applied force.

  Yet another embodiment is described in which at least one tongue is attached such that the bristle gripping end vibrates and the other tongue also vibrates.

  In this embodiment, the piezo-electric element is connected to one of the second horns through one end of the second horn so as to vibrate the other tongue's bristle gripping end in synchrony with the one tongue's bristle gripping end. Connected to the hair gripping end. The opposite ends of the two tongs are directed inward toward each other to define a gripping surface for gripping the vibrating hair.

  Yet another embodiment is described in which a piezoelectric element is coupled to one side of one bristle gripping end of the tongue and the opposite side carries a horn that increases its displacement. The horn has a large diameter end coupled to the hair gripping end of one tongue, and a small diameter end defining a gripping surface for gripping the oscillated hair with the other hair gripping end of the tongue. It has a conical shape. In addition, the other tongue is fixed and acts as a stationary anvil.

Two further embodiments are described. In one embodiment, the horn is frustoconical and the truncated end of the cone is flattened to define one of the hair gripping surfaces. In another embodiment, the horn includes a small diameter end that is bent toward the free end of the other tongue and defines a gripping surface for gripping the oscillated hair. In this embodiment, as in the other embodiments, at least one of the gripping surfaces is roughened to securely grip the hair.

  The device may include multiple pairs of such tongs to grip and vibrate multiple hairs at once.

  As will be described in more detail below, such a device is particularly useful for vibrating hairs in order to weaken or destroy the roots with heat and to facilitate removal by pulling out such hairs. It is.

  Further features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description.

  The present invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an embodiment of the present invention shown as an example.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of another embodiment of the present invention shown as an example.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of yet another embodiment of the present invention shown as an example.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of a further embodiment of the present invention shown as an example.

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of a further embodiment of the present invention shown as an example.

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of a further embodiment of the present invention shown as an example.

FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram of a further embodiment of the present invention shown as an example.

FIG. 8 is embodied as a pair of tongs arranged in a row to grip and vibrate a plurality of hairs at once, with one tong of each pair being a vibration hammer and the other tong of each pair being a stationary anvil. 1 is a schematic representation of an invention.

FIG. 9 is a side view showing the vibration hammers arranged in a row of the apparatus of FIG. 8 with each stationary anvil omitted.

FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram showing a rectangular matrix of a plurality of vibration hammers arranged in a plurality of horizontal lines and vertical columns according to FIG. 9, with the stationary anvil between the vibration hammers of each vertical line omitted.

FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram showing an apparatus including a plurality of pairs of vibration hammers arranged in a staggered manner, with the stationary anvil cooperating with each vibration hammer omitted.

  It is understood that the above drawings and the following description are provided primarily for ease of understanding of conceptual aspects of the invention and its possible embodiments, including those presently preferred. It will be. For the sake of clarity and brevity, no attempt is made to provide a more detailed description than is necessary to one skilled in the art to understand and practice the invention using routine techniques and designs. Furthermore, it is to be understood that the described embodiments are for illustrative purposes only and that the invention can be implemented in other forms and applications than described herein.

  FIGS. 1-7, described in more detail below, illustrate some preferred devices of the device constructed in accordance with the present invention to vibrate waste hair rooted in the body in order to destroy and remove their hair roots. It relates to an embodiment. Generally speaking, the device grips the hair between a pair of tongs with a predetermined contact force. At the point of contact between the bristles and their respective tongs, the bristles are preferably subjected to mechanical displacement at a frequency of 100-500 KHz, more preferably 100-350 KHz, and an amplitude of 5-20 microns. The vibration can be in a direction along the hair shaft, in a direction perpendicular to the hair shaft, or a combination of both.

  If only one of the tongs vibrates, the vibrating tong is called a hammer and the stationary tong is called an anvil. A portion of the hammer includes a transducer, such as a piezoelectric element, for converting a high frequency AC voltage into mechanical vibration to vibrate at least one tong hair gripping end with respect to another tong hair gripping end. It is. The piezoelectric element can vibrate freely or may be preloaded by a clamping device. A horn or other mechanical amplification mechanism can be used to amplify the displacement of the hair during the vibration of the hair by the piezoelectric element. The free ends of the tongue pairs generate enough heat in the hair root to grip the hair in between and induce vibrations in the gripped hair to damage or destroy the hair root, thereby removing the hair Including or coupled to a gripping surface to facilitate

  The following is a more complete description of the various devices shown in the drawings.

  The apparatus shown in FIG. It is in the form of one tongue 11, 12 having hair gripping ends 11 a, 12 a that are inwardly facing each other and a piezoelectric element 13 inserted between the two inward ends of the tongue pair. A transducer. The upper surface of the hair gripping end 11 a is preferably rounded along a line extending in the lateral direction of the tongue 11 so as to engage with the lower surface of the piezoelectric element 13. The lower surface of the tongue end 12a is preferably flattened.

  The upper surface of the bristle gripping end 11a is covered by a film 11b of a compliant or pliable material such as epoxy resin to allow displacement of the gripped bristle and to accept hairs of various diameters. One or both gripping surfaces can be roughened to securely grip the hair.

  The two tongue gripping ends 11 a and 12 a grip the hair H to be removed from the human body along the line contact surface between the upper surface of the end 11 a of the tongue 11 and the lower surface of the piezoelectric element 13. To do so, they are biased toward each other by force, as shown by arrow F.

  The piezoelectric element 13 can be configured to apply a vibration force to the hair H gripped along any one or any combination of three orthogonal axes. Thus, by attaching the electrode to the opposing surface of the piezoelectric element 13, the gripped hair is subjected to vibration displacement in the longitudinal direction (x-axis) or both directions of the hair as shown by the arrow 14a. On the other hand, by attaching electrodes to the surface 13b and its opposing surface opposite the piezoelectric element, the gripped hair is subjected to a lateral (y-axis) vibration displacement as indicated by the arrow 14b. In either case, the heat generated in the hair roots imparts sufficient vibration to the hairs to weaken or break them, facilitating hair removal by pulling.

  In the apparatus shown in FIG. 1, the lower tongue 11 is fixed and can therefore be called an anvil, while the upper tongue 12 is cantilevered to vibrate and can therefore be called a hammer.

  The apparatus of FIG. 2, indicated generally at 20, also includes a pair of tongs 21, 22 having inward facing hair gripping ends 21a, 22a. Again, the lower tongue 21 is stationary and acts as an anvil, while the upper tongue 22 is cantilevered and acts as a hammer. In addition, a compliant or elastic plastic material membrane 21b is provided on the upper surface of the tongue end 21a to allow small displacement of the gripped hair and to accept hair of various diameters. The two tongs 21, 22 are loaded with the force indicated by the arrow F, and the two inward ends of the tongs are biased towards each other to grip the hair between them.

  However, in this case, the piezoelectric element 23 engages with the end opposite to the inward end 22a of the upper tongue 22 and gives vibration to the end. In addition, the upper tongue 22 includes or is configured to act as a horn to suppress the increase in amplitude of vibration caused by the piezoelectric element 23.

  Similar to the embodiment of FIG. 1, the piezoelectric element 23 can be configured to induce vibrational displacement along any one or any combination of the orthogonal axes of FIG. That is, the vibrational displacement can be along the longitudinal axis (x-axis) of the hair as shown by arrow 24a, in a direction perpendicular to the hair as shown by arrow 24b, or both. In this case, the displacement in the perpendicular direction is not the direction across the hair (y-axis) but the vertical direction (z-axis).

  In all other respects, the apparatus shown in FIG. 2 can be configured and used to include a compliant membrane 21b and / or a rough surface, as described above.

  FIG. 3 shows an apparatus generally designated 30. The apparatus 30 of FIG. 3 further includes a clamping member, indicated generally at 35, for preloading the piezoelectric element 33 so as to increase the displacement of the piezoelectric element in the direction of applied force 34a or 34b. 2 is the same as the apparatus 20 of FIG. The structure of the device 30 shown in FIG. 3 is otherwise the same as that described above with reference to FIG. 2, with the inward ends facing each other to act as a contact surface for gripping the hairs therebetween. It includes a relative stationary tongue 31 and a vibrating tongue 32 each having a portion 31a, 32a. The surface 31a can include a compliant film 31b and / or a rough surface, as in FIGS.

  FIG. 4 is similar in structure to FIG. 3 and includes two tongs 41, 42 having inward ends 41a, 42a, respectively, for gripping the hairs between them, with the piezoelectric element 43 being the upper tongue 42. FIG. 4 shows the device, generally designated 40, located at the opposite end of FIG. However, in this case, both tongs are mounted in a cantilevered manner, and the piezoelectric element 43 has an end 42b of the upper tongue 42 and an inward end of the lower tongue 41 so that both tongs vibrate synchronously. 41c.

  Similar to the previous embodiment, the piezoelectric element 43 is designed to generate a vibrational force along the hair axis as shown by arrow 44a or perpendicular to the hair axis as shown by arrow 44b. be able to. In addition, the two tongs are biased toward each other by the force indicated by arrow F to grip the hairs between their inward ends 41a, 42a. In this case, the upper tongue 42 vibrates in both directions as indicated by arrows 44a and 44b. One (or both) inward ends 41a, 41b may include a compliant membrane (41b) and / or a rough surface.

  The apparatus shown in FIG. 5, indicated generally at 50 in FIG. 5, shows a further arrangement according to the invention that also includes a pair of tongs 51, 52. In this case, the lower tongue 51 is stationary and acts as an anvil, and the upper tongue 52 vibrates and acts as a hammer. The lower tongue 51 has an inward end 51a that faces the bristle gripping end 52a of the upper tongue 52 and can also include a compliant membrane 51b and / or a rough surface. However, the end 52a of the tongue 52 is not inward as before, but rather generates a vibration force that approaches or separates from the inward end 51a of the lower tongue 51 as indicated by the arrow 54. An enlarged surface for mounting the piezoelectric element 53 preferably having a circular shape.

  The lower surface of the enlarged end 52a of the tongue 52 facing the inward end 51a of the tongue 51 has a large diameter facing the end 52a of the tongue 52 and a small diameter apex facing the inward end 51a of the lower tongue 51. It carries a conical horn 55 having The apex of the horn 55 is preferably blunted, flattened or roughened to define a positive contact with the hair gripped between the two tongs.

  Similar to the previous embodiment, before activating the piezoelectric element 53 and applying vibration to the gripped hair, the hair is placed between the apex of the horn 55 and the upper surface of the inward end 51a of the lower tongue 51. For gripping, the two tongs 51, 52 are normally biased towards each other by the force indicated by the arrow F.

  FIG. 6 is shown generally at 60, also including a lower tongue 61 and an upper tongue 62, having hair gripping ends 61a, 62a that serve as contact surfaces for gripping the hair subjected to vibration by the piezoelectric element 63. Fig. 4 shows a further apparatus that has been used. As in FIGS. 1-5, the upper surface of the inward end 61a may include a plastic resin film 61b and / or to receive and retain hairs of various diameters and to be gripped May be roughened to allow a small displacement of. However, in this case, the piezoelectric element 63 is opposite to the end 62a of the tongue 62 so that the vibrational displacement of the hair due to the activation of the piezoelectric element 63 causes a displacement along the axis of the held hair as indicated by the arrow 64. It is attached to the side end 62b.

  Again, the upper tongue 62 may include a conical horn or be formed as a conical horn to increase the amplitude of vibration generated by the piezoelectric element 63. Similar to the previous embodiment, the upper surface of the inward end 61a of the lower tongue 61 is rounded so that an appropriate contact surface for gripping the hair subjected to vibration due to the activation of the piezoelectric element 63 is defined. On the other hand, the lower surface of the end portion 62a of the upper tongue 62 may be flattened, or conversely, the upper surface of the inward end portion 61a of the lower tongue 61 may be flattened and the end of the upper tongue 62 may be flattened. The lower surface of the portion 62a may be rounded (as shown).

  Similar to the device described above, the two tongs 61, 62 are urged toward each other by the force indicated by the arrow F in order to grip the bristles before receiving the vibration due to the activation of the piezoelectric element 63.

  The device of FIG. 7 is that the upper tong conical horn is not truncated, but rather has its apex or small diameter end bent toward the inwardly extending end of the lower tong. This is the same as the apparatus shown in FIG.

  Thus, the device shown in FIG. 7, indicated generally at 70 in FIG. 7, takes the form of a conical horn configuration with a lower tongue 71 having an inwardly bent end 71a or a conical horn. It includes an upper tong 72 that includes the configuration. The piezoelectric element 73 is fixed to the large-diameter end of the upper tongue 72, while the small-diameter end 72a of the tongue 72 is inwardly facing the lower tongue 71 in order to grip the hair between the contact surfaces of the two tongues. Bent inward toward the end 71a extending inward. As described above, the upper tongue 72 is forced by the force indicated by arrow F so that the hair to be grasped and removed is securely held between the two contact surfaces of the two tongue ends 71a and 72a. It is biased toward the lower tongue 71. The surface 71a may include a compliant membrane 71b of plastic resin and / or may be roughened to securely grip hair of various diameters.

  It will be appreciated that in the configuration of FIG. 7, the vibration or displacement of the gripped hair by the piezoelectric element 73 occurs along the hair axis as indicated by arrow 74.

  In all other respects, the apparatus shown in FIG. 7 is constructed and operates in particular as described above with respect to FIG.

  FIGS. 8 and 9 show a structure that includes multiple pairs of tongs coupled to a transducer to allow multiple hairs to be grasped and vibrated simultaneously.

  Thus, as shown in FIG. 8, the apparatus includes a plurality of vibrating tongs acting as hammers arranged in a row, as shown by the first two hammers pointed out at 81a and 81b. Each hammer 81a, 81b is arranged in one row on one side of the hammers 81a, 81b and fixed tongs 82a, 82b acting as anvils, and a second group of fixed tongues arranged in one row on the opposite side of the hammers 81a, 81b or Work with anvils 82c, 82d. Since the rows of hammers 81a and 81b are coupled to the common piezoelectric element 83 via the common base 84, when the piezoelectric element 83 is activated, all the hammers 81a and 81b vibrate together. On the other hand, each row of anvils 82a-82d is mounted on a fixed base 85a, 85b.

  Thus, in the configuration shown in FIG. 8, the rows of hammers 81a, 81b can grip and vibrate one row of hair between a pair of anvils 82a, 82b, and another row of hairs. It can be seen that a plurality of hairs are removed at one time because they can be gripped and vibrated between a pair of anvils 82c, 82d.

  FIG. 9 shows in more detail a row of hammers, indicated generally at 81, a common piezoelectric element 83 for vibrating the hammer, and a common base for coupling the hammer to the piezoelectric element 83. For clarity, the anvils 82a-82d and their mounting bases 85a, 85b are not shown in FIG.

  FIG. 10 shows that multiple pairs of tongs are connected to a plurality of horizontal lines and vertical so that more bristle can be gripped and vibrated at one time by activation of a common piezoelectric element, generally designated 103. The configuration is the same as that shown in FIGS. 8 and 9 except that it is arranged in accordance with a rectangular matrix indicated by 101 as a whole including columns. For the sake of clarity, the anvil is not shown in FIG.

  FIG. 11 includes a plurality of horizontal line and vertical column tongue pairs, but in this case shows another variation where the rows are staggered from one another. Thus, as shown in FIG. 11, one row of vibrating tongs or hammers 111a is staggered with respect to the next adjacent row 111b of vibrating tongs or hammers. As shown, all the hammers are activated simultaneously by the common piezoelectric element 113. Again, for the sake of clarity, the fixed tongues or anvils on each side of each vibrating hammer are not shown.

  While the invention has been described in connection with some preferred embodiments, it will be understood that these are listed by way of example only and that many other variations can be made. In order to generate vibration, a transducer device other than a piezoelectric element, such as a magnetostrictive element, can be used. In addition, the vibrational displacement of the hair to be removed can be along any combination of such axes, as well as along any one of the orthogonal axes of the hair. Alternatively, instead of mounting the “hammer tong” (eg, 12 in FIG. 1) cantilevered, it can be pivoted and a reaction force (eg, a spring) can be included on the opposite side of the pivot. Furthermore, stationary tongs (eg, 11 in FIG. 1) may include some movement, so they are stationary “relatively” to “hammer tongs”. Still further, the contact surfaces of both tongs can be coated and / or roughened with a compliant or bendable membrane to ensure grip of hair of various diameters. Also, other mechanical amplification mechanisms as known in the art can be used in place of the horn described above.

  Many other variations, modifications and applications of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

Claims (20)

  A pair of tongs having bristle ends biased toward each other, one tong acting as a hammer that can be in a high frequency vibration state with respect to the other tong, and only one tong And a transducer for converting an AC voltage into mechanical vibration to vibrate the bristle gripping ends of the one tong with respect to the other tongs, the bristle gripping ends of the pair of tongs being Includes, or is coupled to, a gripping surface for gripping the hairs between them and for generating sufficient heat in the hair root by vibrating the hairs to facilitate hair removal A device for applying vibration to hair that is rooted in the body.   At least one of the gripping surfaces is compliant or bent, allowing small displacement of the bristles, increasing the contact surface between the tongues and bristles, and can grip and vibrate bristles of various diameters The device of claim 1, comprising a layer of easy material.   The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the AC voltage is between 100 and 500 KHz.   The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the transducer converts an AC voltage to a 5-20 micron displacement of the bristle gripping surface.   The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the hair gripping surface grips the hair to be removed such that the hair is vibrated along one or more of three orthogonal axes.   The transducer is secured to the bristle gripping end of the one tongue and defines a gripping surface that can cooperate with the bristle gripping end of the other tongue to grip the hair between them. The device described in 1.   5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the at least one tongue is mounted such that its hair gripping end is vibrated and the other tongue is acting as a relative stationary anvil.   The transducer of claim 1, wherein the transducer is coupled to the bristle gripping end of the one tong through one end of a horn to increase the displacement of the bristle gripping end of the one tong. apparatus.   The end of the horn opposite the side coupled to the transducer has one of the gripping surfaces cooperating with the hair gripping end of the other tongue to grip the hair between them. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the apparatus is shaped to define.   10. The opposite end of the horn and the bristle gripping end of the other tong are oriented inward toward each other to define the gripping surface for gripping the hair therebetween. apparatus.   The apparatus of claim 9, further comprising a clamping member for applying a preload force to the transducer to increase the displacement of the transducer in the direction of the applied force.   9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the opposite end of the other tong is further attached so that its bristle gripping end vibrates by and in synchronization with the bristle gripping end of one tong.   13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein opposing ends of the two tongs are directed inward toward each other to define a gripping surface for gripping the vibrating hair.   The transducer is coupled to one side of one bristle gripping end of the tongs and the opposite side of the one tong bristle gripping end carries a horn that increases the displacement of the bristle gripping end of the one tong. Item 5. The apparatus according to Item 4.   The horn includes a large diameter end coupled to the bristle gripping end of the one tongue and a small diameter end defining a gripping surface for gripping the oscillated bristle together with the free end of the other tongue. The device of claim 14, wherein the device is conical.   15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the horn is frustoconical and the truncated end of a cone defines one of the bristle gripping surfaces.   15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the horn includes a small diameter end that is bent toward the hair gripping end of the other tongue, and defines a gripping surface for gripping the oscillated hair.   The apparatus of claim 1, wherein there are a plurality of the pair of tongs coupled to the transducer to allow a plurality of hairs to be grasped and vibrated at one time.   19. One tong in each of the plurality of pairs is vibrated by the transducer to act as a hammer and the other tong in each of the plurality of pairs is relatively stationary to act as an anvil. The device described.   The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the plurality of pairs of tongs are arranged in one or more rows.

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