RU2776746C1 - An epilating device for epilating hair - Google Patents

Abstract

FIELD: hairdressing equipment.

SUBSTANCE: invention relates to an epilating device for epilating hairs growing from skin, containing a mechanism for following the skin contour. An epilating device for epilating hairs growing from skin comprises: a housing; an epilation system provided with multiple hair clamping elements located adjacently and configured to rotate on the curvilinear support shaft extending in the plane of curvature; a drive system configured to rotate the hair clamping elements; an skin contact element configured to come in contact with the skin during use and to rotate relative to the casing around a first axis of rotation; a compression element located near the epilation system for applying a compression force to the epilation system, directed along the compression line; and a lever mechanism connecting the skin contact element and the compression element so that the rotary motion of the skin contact element around the first axis of rotation by a first angle of rotation leads to a rotary motion of the compression element around a second axis of rotation by a second angle of rotation equal to the first angle of rotation. The compression element is configured to rotate relative to the casing around the second axis of rotation in order to adjust the position of the compression line relative to the casing and is located in a fixed position relative to the curvilinear support shaft. The lever mechanism connects the skin contact element and the support shaft so that the rotary motion of the skin contact element around the first axis of rotation by the first angle of rotation leads to a rotary movement of the support shaft around the second axis of rotation at the second angle of rotation.

EFFECT: creation of an epilator with a mechanism for following the skin contour, provided with a curvilinear support shaft wherein multiple hair clamping elements are located rotatably, which provides the optimal angle of application when the epilator rotates relative to the skin contact element.

15 cl, 10 dwg

Description

FIELD OF TECHNOLOGY

The present invention relates to an epilation device for removing hair growing on skin, comprising a skin contour following mechanism.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

From US 6306148 B1 known epilation device for removing hair growing on the skin, which contains:

casing;

an epilation system comprising a plurality of hair clamping members positioned adjacent to each other and rotatable relative to the casing;

a drive system configured to rotate the hair clamp members;

a skin contact element configured to contact the skin during use and rotatable relative to the casing about a first axis of rotation such that during use the angular position of the skin contact element about the first axis of rotation is determined by the angular orientation of the casing relative to the skin contacting surface with an element for contact with the skin;

a compression member adjacent to the epilation system for applying a compression force along the compression line to the epilation system, said compression member being rotatable relative to the casing about a second pivot axis to adjust the position of the compression line relative to the casing; and

a lever mechanism connecting the skin contact element and the compression element in such a way that the rotational movement of the skin contact element about the first axis of rotation by the first rotation angle results in the rotational movement of the compression element about the second axis of rotation by the second rotation angle equal to the first rotation angle .

In order to obtain an optimal epilation result, the application angle, defined as the angle between the longitudinal axis of the epilation device and the skin surface, must be within a certain range.

In this case, the hair clamp members are located within a rotating cylinder capable of being driven by a pinch roller to effect a closing movement of the hair clamp members.

The element for contact with the skin is made with the possibility of rotation around the first axis of rotation. The pressure roller is rotatable about the second axis of rotation parallel to the first axis of rotation.

To ensure the optimal application angle, a lever mechanism is provided, which is configured to adjust the closing movement zone depending on the application angle. The linkage converts the rotational movement of the skin contact member about the first rotational axis into a corresponding rotational movement of the pressure roller about the second rotational axis by the same rotational angle. Thus, the linkage mechanism allows the skin contact element of the epilation system to move across the user's skin at different angles, while the closing movement area of the hair clip elements is maintained at an optimal angle with respect to the user's skin.

A similar epilator known from WO 2010/023629 A2 comprises a movable epilation unit with a skin contact element in which a set of hair clamp elements can be pivotally moved relative to the skin contact element. A predetermined range of angular positions between the hair clamp assembly and the surface of the skin contact member can be detected. Thus, the user can be instructed to move the epilator within a predetermined application angle relative to the skin, which should be in the preferred range of 75 to 105 degrees.

However, there are other epilators, such as those disclosed in US 2015/0245696 A1 and US 2015/0230580 A1, which use a curved support shaft on which a set of disc-shaped hair clamping elements is rotatably located. Thus, there is a certain angle given by the curved support roll at which maximum compression occurs between the hair clamping elements or discs. For optimum performance, the angle between the curved support shaft and the plane formed by the skin contact element should be within a predetermined range.

However, if the epilator is moved relative to the skin contact member, the angle may change.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide an epilator with a skin-following mechanism having a curved support shaft in which a plurality of hair-clamping members are rotatably arranged to provide an optimal application angle when the epilator rotates relative to the skin-contact member.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, it is proposed:

an epilation device for removing hair growing on the skin, comprising:

casing;

an epilation system comprising a plurality of hair clamping members positioned adjacent to each other and rotatable relative to the casing;

a drive system configured to rotate the hair clamp members;

a skin contact element configured to contact the skin during use and rotatable relative to the casing about a first axis of rotation such that during use the angular position of the skin contact element about the first axis of rotation is determined by the angular orientation of the casing relative to the skin contacting surface with an element for contact with the skin;

a compression member adjacent to the epilation system for applying a compression force along the compression line to the epilation system, said compression member being rotatable relative to the casing about a second pivot axis to adjust the position of the compression line relative to the casing; and

a lever mechanism connecting the skin contact element and the compression element in such a way that the rotational movement of the skin contact element about the first axis of rotation by the first rotation angle results in the rotational movement of the compression element about the second axis of rotation by the second rotation angle equal to the first rotation angle ;

wherein the hair clamp members are rotatable about a support shaft extending along a central axis that is curved in a plane of curvature;

the compression element is located in a fixed position relative to the support shaft; and

the linkage connects the skin contact element and the support shaft in such a way that the rotational movement of the skin contact element around the first axis of rotation by the first angle of rotation leads to the rotational movement of the support shaft around the second axis of rotation by the second angle of rotation.

According to the invention, during the pivotal movement of the skin contact element around the first axis of rotation by a first angle of rotation, a corresponding pivotal movement of the compression element by a second angle of rotation equal to the first angle of rotation is always provided.

In addition, during the rotational movement of the element for contact with the skin around the first axis of rotation by the first angle of rotation, a corresponding rotational movement of the support shaft around the second axis of rotation by the second angle of rotation is provided.

Thus, when the skin contact member rotates while following the user's skin, the curved support shaft and the compression member also rotate accordingly.

In this way, the application angle remains constant and the epilator is always used at the optimal application angle, while the compression element acts on the hair clip elements also at the optimal angle.

Preferred embodiments of the present invention are defined in the dependent claims.

It should be understood that the invention can be used not only in this combination of claims, but also in various combinations or independently within the scope of the present invention.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the second axis of rotation intersects the central axis at a first intersection point adjacent to the first end portion of the support shaft and at a second intersection point adjacent to the second end portion of the support shaft.

This provides a very simple design.

According to another embodiment of the invention, the compression line runs in the plane of curvature.

Thus, the force with which the hair is compressed upon entering the epilation system and finally pulled out increases during the rotational movement of the hair clamping members from the skin contacting member to the line where the hair is drawn out. This ensures a good epilation result.

According to another embodiment of the invention, the first axis of rotation and the second axis of rotation coincide.

This provides a very simple design. The linkage in this case may simply be a fixed joint without any moving parts.

According to another embodiment of the invention, the skin contact element, the compression element and the support shaft are arranged in mutually fixed positions by means of a lever mechanism and are rotatable about the first axis of rotation as a block.

It also provides a very simple structure, since the skin contact element, the compression element and the support shaft are located in a common block that holds these elements. In such a case, the common block may be rotatable about matching first and second axes of rotation. In this case, the skin contact element may act as a linkage to which the compression element is attached so as to rotate with the support shaft about the common first and second rotation axes.

According to another embodiment of the invention, the coinciding first and second axes of rotation are defined by two bearings, by means of which the block is rotatable relative to the casing.

This makes it possible to simplify the design, in particular with regard to the pivot bearing of the pivot axes.

According to another embodiment of the invention, the epilation system comprises a driven gear rotatable about coincident first and second axes of rotation, which is configured to engage with the driving gear of the drive system and which is connected to the hair clamp members to rotate the hair clamp members. around the base shaft.

Thus, the driving motion of the driving system can be easily transferred to the hair clamp members to rotate the hair clamp members around the support shaft.

According to another embodiment of the invention, the compression element is made in the form of a spring with legs, having at least a middle leg, a first leg extending from the middle leg at its first end, and a second leg extending from said middle leg at its second end, the middle leg extends along the skin contact member in a direction parallel to the first axis of rotation, and at least one of the first and second legs engages with a locking plate displacing the hair clamp members.

By aligning the compression element and the curved support shaft so that the middle leg is aligned with the skin contact element in a direction parallel to the first axis of rotation, a very simple design is achieved which provides optimum performance. In this case, the locking plate, which moves under the biasing effect of the compression member, ensures that the epilation system does not get stuck when the hair clamp members rotate on the curved support shaft.

According to another embodiment of the invention, the skin contact member comprises a skin contact surface extending in a first direction parallel to the first axis of rotation and in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction and configured to contact the skin during use.

Thus, a contour-following mechanism can be incorporated into a simple design to allow the epilator to move across the user's skin.

According to another embodiment of the invention, the support shaft comprises two ends, made in the form of pivot pins, rotatably positioned in pivot bearings.

According to another embodiment of the invention, the pivot pins are rotatably supported in holes provided in the support holders.

These members provide a simple design for the bearings used to support the support shaft and the compression member in a rotatable manner about coincident first and second axes of rotation.

According to another embodiment of the invention, the skin contact member comprises a frame surrounding an opening through which the epilation system is accessible to the skin, the skin contact surface comprising the outer surface of said frame and surrounding the opening.

This element facilitates the guiding of the skin contact element over the user's skin while still providing easy access to the epilation system.

According to another embodiment of the invention, the compression line extends in the compression plane passing through the second axis of rotation, and the compression plane and the plane perpendicular to the skin contact surface form an acute angle in the range from 65° to 90°, preferably from 70° to 85°, more preferably from 75° to 80°.

These angles have been found to lead to optimal epilation results when the epilator is moved across the user's skin.

According to another embodiment of the invention, the epilation device is in the form of a functional unit that can be connected to and detached from the main body of the epilation device, said main body housing an electric motor for driving a drive system.

This makes it easy to manufacture and assemble the epilation device. In particular, the common main body in which the motor for driving the epilator is installed can be used in combination with the epilator system. The functional block can be made as a replaceable block that can be replaced when worn.

According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided an epilation apparatus comprising:

a main body housing the electric motor; and

an epilation device according to any of the embodiments described herein connected to the main body;

moreover, the electric motor is configured to drive the drive system of the epilation device.

In addition, this makes it easy to manufacture and assemble the epilation apparatus. In particular, the main body in which the motor for driving the epilator is mounted can be used in combination with the epilation apparatus.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other aspects of the invention will be understood and explained with reference to the embodiments of the invention described hereinafter.

In the following drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the top of an embodiment of an epilation device according to the invention, in which the casing of the epilation device is partially cut off;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the epilation device of FIG. 1 bottom;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the epilation device of FIG. 2 from a slightly different direction;

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal view of the epilation device of FIG. 1 in which the hair clamp members of the epilation apparatus have been removed to show a view of the curved support shaft of the epilation apparatus;

Fig. 5 is a side view of the epilation device of FIG. 1 on the first side;

Fig. 6 is a side view of the epilation device of FIG. 1 on the second side with the skin contact member of the epilation device in the first angular position;

Fig. 7 is a side view of FIG. 6 with the skin contact element in the second angular position;

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the epilation device of FIG. 1 showing the drive system of the epilation device;

Fig. 9 is a view of the epilation device of FIG. 8, in which some details have been removed to more clearly show the engagement of the drive system with the set of hair clamps to rotate the hair clamps; and

Fig. 10 is a view of the epilation device of FIG. 1, which shows the relative orientation of the compression element of the epilation device and the curved support shaft.

IMPLEMENTATION OF THE INVENTION

On FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the epilation device 10.

The epilation device 10 includes a casing 12, the outer boundary of which is shown only partially in dotted lines. Inside the casing 12 is located the main body 13, which houses the motor (not shown) to drive the epilation device 10.

The epilation unit 14 is supported on the main body 13 or can be detached from it, for example, if it needs to be replaced in case of wear.

The epilation unit 14 is supported on the base structure 15 in a rotatable manner on swivel bearings 22 (only one of which can be seen in FIG. 1). The base structure 15 is a part that can be attached to or detached from the main body 13 attached to the casing 12.

The epilation unit 14 includes a skin contact member 16 having a hair access hole 18 and a skin contact surface 17 . The epilation unit 14 further comprises a set of 21 hair clamping members 20 in the form of discs which are rotatably arranged on a curved support shaft (not shown).

On FIG. 2 shows the epilation unit 14 from the inside. The epilation unit 14 comprises a curved support shaft 24 (see FIG. 4 for details) which extends at a distance from the skin contact member 16 and which is orientated on two flanges 46, 48 near the ends 28, 30 of the curved support shaft. shaft 24. Flanges 46, 48 protrude from element 16 for contact with the skin.

A pivot pin 32, 34 extends outward from the curved support shaft 24 at each end 28, 30. As described below with reference to FIG. 5 and 6, the epilation unit 14 is pivotally fixed relative to the base structure 15 by pivotally supporting pivot pins 32, 34 in respective holes which are provided in respective support holders 54, 56 supported on the base structure 15.

Thus, the epilation unit 14 as a whole can be rotated relative to the base structure 15 or casing 12, respectively.

A set 21 of hair clip members 20 is located on a curved support shaft 24 between two end plates 36, 38 (see FIG. 2). At one end is a driven gear 26 which is rotatably positioned on a curved support shaft 24 coaxially with it and interacts with an end plate 38 to drive the assembly 21.

The skin contact member 16 includes a frame 19 as shown in FIG. 1. The surface of the frame 19 defines the skin contact surface 17, whereby the skin contact member can be guided against the user's skin. The frame 19 surrounds an opening 18 through which the hair clamp members 20 have access to the skin to perform the epilation operation.

On the element 16 for contact with the skin, in addition, there is a compression element 42, which is made in the form of a spring with legs (see Fig. 2 and 3), having a middle leg 43, a first leg 44 extending from one end thereof, and a second leg 45 extending from its other end. The middle leg 43 is attached to a skin contact member 16 extending parallel to its longitudinal length.

The first leg 44 of the compression member 42 interacts with the locking plate 40 which contacts the end plate 36.

The second leg 45 of the compression member 42 is attached to the member 16 for contact with the skin.

The compression member 42 biases the hair clamp members 20 of the set 21 towards each other. During the rotation of the assembly 21, the fixing plate 40 can be responsive to the force applied by the compression member 42, allowing the hair clamp members 20 to rotate without blocking.

From FIG. 5, it can be seen that the epilation unit 14 is rotatably mounted on the base structure 15 . The base structure 15 includes a support holder 56 protruding from it. A hole 57 is made in the support holder 56. The pivot pin 32 of the curved support shaft 24 is held rotatably in the hole 57.

As can be seen from FIG. 6, the other pivot pin 34 of the curved support shaft 24 is also pivotally supported in the bore 55 of the support holder 54 protruding from the base structure 15.

By orienting the curved support shaft 24, the plane indicated in FIG. 6 reference position 52.

The central leg 43 of the compression member 42 is fixed to the skin contact member 16 and exerts a compressive force along a compression line that extends in the compression plane 53 shown in FIG. The compression plane 53 extends exactly in the same plane 52 in which the curved support shaft 24 is oriented.

Thus, when the hair clamp members 20 rotate on the curved support shaft 24, a compression line is formed along which the hair clamp members 20 are pressed against each other with maximum force. The compression line defines a compression plane 53 which coincides with the plane 52 defined by the orientation of the curved support shaft 24.

As can be seen from FIG. 6 and 7, the angle α is formed between the coinciding planes 52 and 53 defined by the curved support shaft 24 and the compression member 42 on the one hand, and the plane 50 which is perpendicular to the skin contact surface 17 on the other hand.

Angle α defines an application angle of 77.5°, which means that the hair clamp members 20 close 77.5° before the compression line. The compression of the hair clamp members 20 or discs provides the greatest clamping force of the hair clamp members at the point toward which the curved support shaft 24 points. But the hair clamp members 20 close 77.5° earlier from that point. The clamping force of the hair clamp members increases as the hair clamp members 20 move towards the compression line.

Thus, in any angular position in which the user holds the casing 12 relative to the skin, the optimal position of the set 21 of the elements 20 for hair clamping relative to the skin is always ensured in order to ensure optimal results during epilation.

In the structure described above, the skin contact member 16, the curved support shaft 24, and the compression member 42 are included in the epilation unit 14 and are all rotatably held together about a pivot axis 23 formed by two pivot bearings 22 that are supported on the base structure 15. . In this case, the skin contact member 16 acts as a lever mechanism that causes the skin contact member 16, the curved support shaft 24 and the compression member 42 to rotate through the same rotational angle about the pivot axis 23 when the epilation device 10 is moved by guiding its surface 17 skin contact on the user's skin.

However, the skin contact member 16 can also be pivotally positioned about the first pivot axis 23, while the compression member 42 and the curved support shaft 24 may be pivotally positioned about a second pivot axis parallel to the first pivot axis 23. In this case, the linkage connects the skin contact member 16, the compression member 42 and the curved support shaft 24 in such a way that the rotational movement of the skin contact member 16 about the first rotation axis 23 by the first rotation angle results in the rotational movement of the curved support shaft 24 and a compression member 42 around the second axis of rotation by a second rotation angle equal to the first rotation angle. In addition, an optimal epilation result is thus ensured.

On FIG. 8 and 9 show in greater detail the drive system 58 rotatable for the set 21 of the hair clamp members 20.

The drive system 58 is mounted on the base structure 15 and includes a motor 60 that drives a transmission mechanism with a plurality of gears in mesh with each other. The drive gear 62 of the drive system 58 drives the driven gear 26 located on the curved support shaft 24.

While the invention has been illustrated and described in detail in the drawings and in the foregoing description, such illustration and description is to be considered illustrative or exemplary and not restrictive; the present invention is not limited to the embodiments shown. Other variations of the disclosed embodiments of the invention can be understood and implemented by experts in the art in the implementation of the present invention in practice based on the study of the drawings, the text of the description and the accompanying claims.

In the claims, the word "comprising" does not exclude other elements or steps, and the grammatical means of expressing the singular does not exclude the presence of a plurality. A single element or other block can perform the functions of several products specified in the claims. The mere fact that certain measures are set forth in different dependent claims does not mean that a combination of these measures cannot be used to advantage.

No reference positions in the claims are to be construed as limiting the scope of the invention.

Claims (28)

1. An epilation device for removing hair growing on the skin, comprising: casing (12); an epilation system comprising a plurality of hair clamping elements (20) positioned next to each other and rotatable relative to the casing (12); a drive system (58) rotatable for hair clamping elements (20); element (16) for contact with the skin, made with the possibility of contact with the skin during use and the possibility of rotation relative to the casing (12) around the first axis (23) of rotation, so that during use the angular position of the element (16) for contact with the skin around the first axis (23) of rotation is determined by the angular orientation of the casing (12) relative to the surface of the skin in contact with the element (16) for contact with the skin; a compression element (42) located adjacent to the epilation system for applying a compression force to the epilation system directed along the compression line, wherein said compression element (42) is rotatable relative to the casing (12) around the second axis of rotation to adjust the position of the compression line relative to the casing (12); and a lever mechanism connecting the element (16) for contact with the skin and the element (42) compression in such a way that the rotational movement of the element (16) for contact with the skin around the first axis (23) of rotation by the first angle of rotation leads to the rotational movement of the element (42 ) compression around the second axis of rotation by a second angle of rotation equal to the first angle of rotation; different in that the hair clamping elements (20) are rotatable around a support shaft (24) extending along a central axis which is curved in the plane of curvature; the compression element (42) is located in a fixed position relative to the support shaft (24); and the linkage connects the skin contact element (16) and the support shaft (24) in such a way that the rotational movement of the skin contact element (16) around the first axis (23) of rotation through the first rotation angle leads to the rotational movement of the support shaft (24 ) around the second axis of rotation by the second angle of rotation. 2. The epilation device according to claim 1, characterized in that the second axis of rotation intersects the central axis at the first intersection point adjacent to the first end part (28) of the support shaft (24), and at the second intersection point adjacent to the second end part ( 30) support shaft (24). 3. An epilation device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the compression line runs in the plane of curvature. 4. An epilation device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first axis of rotation (23) and the second axis of rotation coincide. 5. The epilation device according to claim. 4, characterized in that the element (16) for contact with the skin, the element (42) compression and the support shaft (24) are located in mutually fixed positions by means of a lever mechanism and are rotatable around the first axis (23) rotation as block (14). 6. The epilation device according to claim 5, characterized in that the coinciding first (23) and second axes of rotation are set by two bearings (22), with the help of which the block (14) is rotatable relative to the casing (12). 7. The epilation device according to claim 6, characterized in that the epilation system comprises a driven gear wheel (26) rotatable around matching first (23) and second axes of rotation, which is configured to engage with the driving gear wheel (62) drive system (58) and which is connected to the hair clamping elements (20) for rotating the hair clamping elements (20) around the support shaft (24). 8. Epilation device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said compression element (42) is made in the form of a spring (42) with legs, having at least a middle leg (43), a first leg (44) extending from the middle leg at its first end, and a second leg (45) extending from said middle leg (43) at its second end, said middle leg (43) extending along the skin contact member (16) in a direction parallel to said first axis ( 23) rotation, and at least one of said first and second legs (44, 45) interacts with the locking plate (40) displacing said hair clamping elements (20). 9. An epilation device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the skin contact element (16) comprises a skin contact surface (17) extending in a first direction parallel to the first pivot axis (23) and in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, and made with the possibility of contact with the skin during use. 10. Epilation device according to claim. 9, characterized in that the specified support shaft (24) contains two ends (28, 30), made in the form of swivel pins (32, 34), located with the possibility of rotation in the swivel bearings (55, 57 ). 11. An epilation device according to claim 10, characterized in that the rotatable fingers (32, 34) are rotatably supported in holes (55, 57) provided in the support holders (54, 56). 12. Epilation device according to any one of paragraphs. 9-11, characterized in that the skin contact element (16) comprises a frame (19) surrounding an opening (18) through which the epilation system is accessible to the skin, wherein the skin contact surface (17) comprises the outer surface of said frame ( 19) and surrounds the opening (18). 13. Epilation device according to any one of paragraphs. 9-12, characterized in that the compression line passes in the compression plane (53) passing through the second axis of rotation, and the compression plane (53) and the plane perpendicular to the skin contact surface (17) form an acute angle in the range from 65° up to 90°, preferably from 70° to 85°, more preferably from 75° to 80°. 14. The epilation device according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the epilation device (10) is made in the form of a functional unit that can be connected to the main body (13) of the epilation device and detached from it, and the specified main body (13) accommodates an electric motor (60) for driving the drive system (58). 15. An epilation apparatus, comprising: the main body (13) containing the electric motor (60); and epilation device according to any one of paragraphs. 1-14 connected to the main body (13); moreover, the electric motor (60) is configured to drive the drive system (58) of the epilation device (10).

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