JP4442637B2 - Optical hair removal equipment - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an optical hair removal device that performs hair removal treatment by irradiating light.

  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. Such an optical hair removal device is required to irradiate light in the vertical direction with respect to the intended skin surface. On the other hand, in the optical hair removal apparatus disclosed in Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2, a plurality of contact sensors are arranged at positions surrounding the laser light irradiation unit at the front end of the apparatus, and each contact sensor makes contact with the skin surface. At the time of detection, it is determined to be in a vertical posture, and laser light irradiation is started.

However, according to the above configuration, although the posture of the photo epilation device during light irradiation is accurately corrected, it is insufficient as a safety measure against light leakage to the outside. In particular, when the flashlight of a flash lamp is used as a light source, the above configuration may cause the flashlight to leak outside and enter the eyes, and a certain safety measure is required.
JP 2005-278724 A JP-T-2006-525036

  The present invention has been invented in view of the above-described problems, and provides an optical hair removal device that can prevent light leakage by bringing a light-shielding portion into close contact with the skin surface and perform hair removal treatment with high safety. The issue is to provide.

In order to solve the above-described problems, the photo epilation device of the present invention includes a light source unit 20 and a device main body 1 having a light irradiation port 3 that emits light emitted from the light source unit 20, and a position surrounding the light irradiation port 3 of the device main body 1. The skin contact surface 11 formed in an elliptical ring shape in plan view at the tip of the light shielding part 6 is a convex protruding in the light irradiation direction. The contact sensor 12 is a curved surface having two portions on both ends of the major axis direction, and is installed only in the concave portion 11b formed between the convex portions 11a of the skin contact surface 11; And the control circuit 5 that causes the light source unit 20 to emit light only when contact is detected . The skin contact surface 11 is formed over the entire circumference by a flexible elastic body. Dedicated to fit the shape of the side part of the human body Is obtained by total, the two protrusions 11a abuts at positions sandwiching back and forth side parts of the human body, it is assumed that the both recesses 11b are provided so as to be in close contact when positions sandwiching the side parts of the human body to the left and right. By doing in this way, the skin contact surface 11 at the tip of the light-shielding portion 6 is easily adhered to the skin surface S of the side part of the human body that forms the curved surface, and the skin contact surface 11 and the side of the human body are easily adhered. The situation where light leaks from the gap with the skin surface S of the part is prevented.

The skin contact surface 11, because a curved surface to the convex portion 11a of the two positions of the longitudinal ends together forming a planar view elliptical ring shape, with respect in particular the skin surface S of the side parts of the body, biconvex portion 11a The skin contact surface 11 can be brought into close contact with the skin surface S without any gap by applying the skin contact surface 11 so that the side portions are sandwiched back and forth.

Then, by arranging the contact sensor 12 only in the concave portion 11b that does not easily come into contact with the skin surface S of the skin contact surface 11, the light until the skin contact surface 11 is in close contact with the skin surface S over the entire circumference. Irradiation can be prohibited. Moreover, when it is going to perform photo epilation by applying the skin contact surface 11 to parts other than a process target, since it is difficult to apply the skin surface S to this contact sensor 12, parts other than a process target Inadvertently irradiating light can be prohibited.

  The skin contact surface 11 is also preferably formed over the entire circumference with a flexible elastic body. Thereby, the adhesiveness of the skin contact surface 11 and the skin surface S can further be ensured.

The invention according to claim 1 is such that the skin contact surface formed in a ring shape in plan view at the tip of the cylindrical light shielding portion is a curved surface having two convex portions protruding in the light irradiation direction. The skin contact surface of the light-shielding part is brought into close contact with the skin surface of the human body, so that light leakage is surely prevented, and the hair removal process can be performed with high safety. In addition, the skin contact surface has an elliptical ring shape in plan view and has a convex portion at two positions on both ends of the long axis direction, so that the skin contact surface is in close contact with the skin surface of the side portion of the human body without gaps. The light leakage can be surely prevented. Then, by arranging a contact sensor only in the concave portion of the skin contact surface and causing the light source unit to emit light only when the contact sensor detects contact with the skin surface, the skin contact surface covers the entire circumference. There is an effect that light irradiation is prohibited until the surface comes into close contact with the surface, and light leakage can be more reliably prevented. Moreover, there exists an effect that the adhesiveness of a skin contact surface and a skin surface can further be ensured by forming a contact surface with a flexible elastic body over a perimeter.

  Hereinafter, the present invention will be described based on embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings. 1 to 3 schematically show an entire example of an optical hair removal device according to an embodiment of the present invention. The optical hair removal device of the present example is one in which a flashlight 2 made of a xenon lamp is incorporated as a light source unit 20 in a box-type device body 1 that can be held with one hand. A light irradiation port 3 is opened at a position near the flashlight 2 at the tip of the device main body 1, and a pulsed flash emitted from the flashlight 2 is directed to the outside of the device main body 1 through the light irradiation port 3. Irradiate. A transparent lamp cover 4 is fitted into the light irradiation port 3, and light is irradiated upward through the lamp cover 4 in FIG. Reference numeral 5 denotes a control circuit built in the device main body 1 in a state connected to the flashlight 2. The control circuit 5 applies a high voltage obtained by boosting a voltage supplied from a power source to the flashlight 2 and appropriately controls on / off of light emission of the flashlight 2.

  And in this example, the light shielding part 6 formed in the cylinder shape using flexible elastic bodies, such as rubber | gum and an elastomer, in the position surrounding the light irradiation port 3 in the outer peripheral surface of the apparatus main body 1 can float freely. Connected. Here, the floatable state is a state in which the light shielding unit 6 is allowed to advance and retreat along the light irradiation direction within a certain range while being urged toward the light irradiation direction. Hereinafter, in the text, the direction along the light irradiation direction is referred to as “upward”, and the direction of retreating along the light irradiation direction is referred to as “downward”.

  In the illustrated example, as means for connecting the light shielding portion 6 to the device main body 1 in a freely floatable manner, a connecting projection 7 extends inward from the inner surface side of the light shielding portion 6, and the above connection is made on the side wall of the device 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 surface of the apparatus 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 portion 9 and the connecting convex portion 7. The connecting means may be other means.

  As shown in FIG. 2 (c) and FIG. 4, the cylindrical light-shielding portion 6 that fits freely on the outer peripheral surface of the device main body 1 has a distal end surface formed in a ring shape in plan view. The skin contact surface 11 is pressed directly against the skin surface S. More specifically, the skin contact surface 11 is a curved surface formed as a convex portion 11a that is formed in an elliptical ring shape in plan view and gently protrudes upward at two locations on both ends in the long axis direction. Two places on both ends of the skin contact surface 11 in the short axis direction are concave portions 11b that are gently curved downward between the convex portions 11a, and contact with the skin surface S is detected at the center of both concave portions 11b. A contact sensor 12 is provided.

  Only when both the contact sensors 12 detect contact with the skin surface S, control is performed so that the flashlight 2 emits light, assuming that the skin contact surface 11 of the light shielding unit 6 is in close contact with the skin surface S of the human body. A circuit 5 is provided. The arrangement of the contact sensors 12 is not limited to the illustrated example, and at least one contact sensor 12 may be disposed at least in each recess 11b.

  FIG. 1A shows a state in which the light shielding unit 6 is located at the uppermost position (that is, the sinking amount D = 0 of the light shielding unit 6 with respect to the device main body 1), and FIG. In this case, the skin contact surface 11 at the tip of the light-shielding portion 6 is above the light irradiation port 3 of the device main body 1 in a state where it sinks downward (that is, sinking amount D = maximum sinking amount Dmax). The vertical dimension of the light-shielding portion 6 and the maximum sinking amount Dmax are set so as to be located at

  As shown in FIG. 5, a switch spring 13 is fixed to the inner surface of the light shielding portion 6, and the amount of sinking D of the light shielding portion 6 with respect to the device main body 1 is a predetermined amount D1 (0 <D1 <Dmax) or more. Only when this occurs, the control spring 5 is provided so that the switch spring 13 contacts the pair of connection terminals 14 on the apparatus main body 1 side so that the connection terminals 14 can be energized and the flashlight 2 emits light. .

  Further, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, an irradiation switch 15 for manually operating on / off of light emission of the flashlight 2 is provided on the outer peripheral surface of the device main body 1 in the center on the front side. The shading unit 6 is provided with an operation port 16 that exposes the irradiation switch 15 when the shading unit 6 sinks below a certain amount. The user presses the irradiation switch 15 exposed from the operation port 16. The control circuit 5 is provided so that the flashlight 2 is caused to emit light only when it is kept (or fixed in the on state).

  That is, in the control circuit 5 of this example, as schematically shown in FIG. 6, when the sinking amount D of the light shielding unit 6 with respect to the device main body 1 is equal to or larger than the predetermined amount D1, it is turned on in conjunction with this. The switch SW1 formed using the switch spring 13 and the connection terminal 14 (see FIG. 5) and the contact sensor 12 installed on the skin contact surface 11 of the light shielding portion 6 are in contact with the skin surface S. When the switch SW2 that is electrically connected to each contact sensor 12 and the irradiation switch 15 that is installed on the device body 1 are pressed, the switch SW2 is connected to the contact sensor 12 so as to be turned on in conjunction with the switch. A switch SW3 formed so as to be turned on is connected in series to form a triple switch circuit.

  Therefore, only when all the switches SW1, SW2, and SW3 are turned on, that is, the sinking amount D of the light shielding unit 6 with respect to the device body 1 is equal to or greater than the predetermined amount D1, and the skin contact surface 11 of the light shielding unit 6 is the skin surface. The flashlight 2 emits light only in a pulsed manner when both the contact sensors 12 are in close contact with S and the condition that the user manually operates the irradiation switch 15 of the device body 1 is satisfied. .

  According to the optical hair removal device of the present example having the above-described configuration, the user first touches the skin contact surface 11 at the tip of the light shielding portion 6 against the skin surface S of the human body while holding the device body 1 with one hand, It is provided so that the skin surface S of the site to be processed is located in a region surrounded by the skin contact surface 11 forming a visual elliptical ring shape. When the device body 1 is further pushed into the skin surface S side, the light shielding portion 6 sinks downward while increasing the upward biasing force, and the skin contact surface 11 is in close contact with the skin surface S over the entire circumference. Let Here, even if the device main body 1 is moved somewhat, the light-shielding portion 6 that is free to float keeps in close contact with the skin surface S while moving up and down.

  Then, in the state where the sinking amount D of the light shielding unit 6 is equal to or greater than the predetermined amount D1 and each contact sensor 12 installed on the skin contact surface 11 of the light shielding unit 6 detects the contact of the skin surface S, When the user turns on the irradiation switch 15 exposed from the operation port 16 by manual operation, the flash light 2 emits pulses to irradiate the skin surface S of the treatment target site through the light irradiation port 3 and remove hair. Process.

  The light-shielding part 6 of this example is a dedicated member formed so that the part to be processed for photo epilation is a side part of the human body, and the shape of the skin contact surface 11 at the tip thereof is fitted to the shape of the side part of a general human body. is there. Therefore, the both convex portions 11a formed in the major axis direction of the skin contact surface 11 are applied to the positions where the side portions of the human body are sandwiched back and forth, and the both concave portions 11b formed in the minor axis direction are placed on the side portions of the human body. By touching the left and right positions, the entire skin contact surface 11 that is a curved surface is in close contact with the side portion of the human body without a gap.

Here, since the contact sensor 12 is installed in both the concave portions 11b that are difficult to be brought into close contact with the skin surface S among the skin contact surfaces 11, when the contact sensor 12 detects contact, the skin contact surface 11 It will be in the state closely_contact | adhered with respect to the skin surface S of a side part over the perimeter. By providing the flashlight 2 so as not to emit light until this state is reached, a situation in which flashlight leaks from the gap between the skin surface S of the side portion and the skin contact surface 11 of the light shielding portion 6 is reliably prevented and used. The risk of getting into the eyes of a person disappears. In particular, the contact sensor 12 is located at a position where it is difficult to contact the skin surface S when the light-shielding portion 6 is applied to a portion (arm, shin, etc.) other than the side portion. when an attempt is inadvertently irradiated light to parts positions other than certain side portion it becomes to prevent this.

  Furthermore, in this example, the light-shielding part 6 is formed of a flexible elastic body such as rubber, so that the adhesion to the skin surface S is further secured. It is not necessary to form with a body, and at least the skin contact surface 11 should just be formed over the perimeter by the said elastic body.

  The switch in the control circuit 5 may not be a triple switch, but may be a double switch circuit in which switches SW2 and SW3 are connected in series as shown in FIG. 7, or only from the switch SW2 as shown in FIG. It is good also as a switch circuit. In the case of FIG. 7, the skin contact surface 11 of the light shielding unit 6 is pressed against the skin surface S, all the contact sensors 12 are turned on, and the irradiation switch 15 of the device body 1 is manually turned on by the user. At the stage, the flashlight 2 emits pulses. In the case of FIG. 8, if the skin contact surface 11 of the light shielding portion 6 is pressed against the skin surface S and all the contact sensors 12 are turned on, the flashlight 2 emits pulses at that stage. Yes. When the switch SW1 is not used as described above, the light shielding unit 6 may be fixed to the device main body 1.

  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.

It is sectional drawing which shows roughly the structure of the example of the photo epilation apparatus in embodiment of this invention, (a) is the state which does not press a light-shielding part on skin, (b) is the state which pressed the light-shielding part on skin Is shown. The external appearance of the optical hair removal apparatus same as the above is shown schematically, (a) is a front view, (b) is a side view, and (c) is a plan view. The state which pushed down the light-shielding part of the optical hair removal apparatus same as the above is shown schematically, (a) is a front view, (b) is a sectional side view. It is a schematic perspective view of the light-shielding part of an optical hair removal apparatus same as the above. It is explanatory drawing of the switch structure using the switch spring of an optical hair removal apparatus same as the above, (a) shows the state which looked at the switch structure from the side, (b) has shown the state seen from the front. It is explanatory drawing which shows roughly the control circuit of an optical hair removal apparatus same as the above. It is explanatory drawing which shows roughly the modification of a control circuit same as the above. It is explanatory drawing which shows roughly the other modification of a control circuit same as the above.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Apparatus main body 3 Light irradiation port 5 Control circuit 6 Light-shielding part 11 Skin contact surface 11a Convex part 11b Concave part 12 Contact sensor 20 Light source part S Skin surface

Claims (1)

An optical hair removal device comprising a light source unit and a device main body having a light irradiation port for irradiating light emitted from the light source unit, and a cylindrical light blocking unit installed at a position surrounding the light irradiation port of the device main body, The skin contact surface formed in an elliptical ring shape in plan view at the tip of the light shielding portion is a curved surface having convex portions protruding in the light irradiation direction at two locations on both ends of the long axis direction, and between the convex portions of the skin contact surface. And a control circuit that causes the light source unit to emit light only when the contact sensor detects contact with the skin surface . The skin contact surface is made of a flexible elastic body. It is formed over the entire circumference, and the shape of the skin contact surface is specially designed to fit the shape of the side part of the human body, and the both convex parts sandwich the side part of the human body back and forth. The position where the two recesses sandwich the side part of the human body from side to side Photo-epilation device, characterized in that provided in close contact hit by.

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