WO2006125367A1

WO2006125367A1 - Scalp care apparatus

Info

Publication number: WO2006125367A1
Application number: PCT/CN2006/000898
Authority: WO
Inventors: Wing Kin Chan
Original assignee: Dickson Industrial Co., Ltd.
Priority date: 2005-05-24
Filing date: 2006-05-17
Publication date: 2006-11-30

Abstract

A scalp care apparatus (100;200;300;400) comprises a head-wear portion (10) for maintaining the apparatus on a head of a user and a scalp care portion. The head-wear portion comprises a top portion which defines a space between the scalp of the user and the apparatus, and the scalp care portion comprises a light source for activating the scalp of the user to stimulate hair growth and control mechanism, wherein the control mechanism comprises means for causing the light source to operate to different portions of the scalp of the user during use.

Description

SCALP CARE APPARATUS

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to scalp care apparatus, and more particularly, to scalp therapeutic apparatus with means for stimulating hair growth and/or for mitigation of hair loss.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Hair loss may result in hair thinning and even baldness. Although some medicines are known to be effective to mitigate or slow down hair loss, the side effects of medicines are not always acceptable and are sometimes resentful to the users. Hence, it will be highly desirable if there can be provided non-medicinal means to mitigate hair loss and/or to stimulate hair growth.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of this invention to provide a scalp therapy apparatus which can operate to alleviate hair loss in adults. At a minimum, it is object of this invention to provide a scalp therapeutic apparatus for use by the public.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Broadly speaking, the present invention has described a scalp care apparatus (100; 200; 300; 400) comprising a head-wear portion (10) for maintaining the apparatus on the head of a user and a scalp care portion, said head-wear portion comprising a top portion which defines a space between the scalp of a user and the apparatus, said scalp care portion comprising a light source for activating the scalp of a user to stimulate hair growth and a control mechanism, wherein said control mechanism comprises means for causing said light source to operate on different or selected portions of the scalp of a user during use.

Such a light source could operate to activate the scalp of a user to stimulate hair growth. The provision of a controllable light source which can be moved relative to the scalp of a person wearing the apparatus is beneficial, since a stimulating radiation can be applied to different regions of the scalp of a user to achieve added benefits. For example, stimulating radiation can be applied more frequently to selected regions of the scalp or regions of the scalp which are more severely affected by hair loss. Such a movable light source makes possible the use of a single or a small number of light sources to cover the entire scalp of a user. Also, such a light source also makes gradual and/or cyclical activation of the scalp possible for optimal scalp activation.

Preferably the control mechanism is adapted so that a therapeutic light radiation emitted by said light source scans through different regions of the scalp of a person wearing said apparatus during use. Such an adaptation facilitates intermittent illumination of the exposed scalp of a user so that a stimulating light of a higher energy level can be applied while alleviating possible risks associated with prolonged illumination of the same scalp region.

Preferably, the control mechanism is further adapted so that the therapeutic light radiation gradually scans through different regions of the scalp of a person wearing said apparatus person wearing said apparatus during use. Preferably, said control mechanism is arranged so that the scanning of said therapeutic light on different portions of the scalp of a user is cyclical. Such an adaptation facilitates a more regular treatment process.

Preferable, said control mechanism is arranged so that the scanning of said therapeutic light on different portions of the scalp of a user follows a predetermined pattern.

Preferably, said light source is mounted on said top portion and aligned so that said therapeutic light radiation is emitted towards the scalp of a user.

Preferably said light source is a therapeutic light source comprising a coherent light, and more preferably, said light source comprises a Class III laser source. Yet more preferable, said light source comprises a plurality of Class III laser sources so that a more distributed illumination grid can be formed.

Preferably, said top portion is elevated above the scalp of a user during use, said light source is aligned so that a therapeutic light radiation is emitted towards the scalp of a user after passing through a space formed between said top portion and the scalp of a user during use.

Preferable, said head-wear portion further comprises a grid-like structure, said grid structure being intermediate said top portion and the scalp of a user wearing said apparatus during use; said grid-like structure and said top portion together defines a compartment for accommodating said light source, and wherein said light source and said grid-like structure are arranged so that therapeutic light radiation can pass through said grid-like structure and reach the scalp of a user during use. Use of a grid-like structure facilitates fixation of the apparatus on the head of a user while at the same time permits passage of light from the top portion to the scalp of a user.

Preferable, said light source is movable so that the orientation of light emission from said light source is variable through movable of said light source within said compartment.

Preferably, the scalp therapy apparatus further comprises a plurality of massaging fingers, wherein said massaging fingers are disposed intermediate the light source and the scalp of a user.

Preferably, said massaging fingers are mounted on a grid-like structure, and said massaging fingers are driven by a mechanical vibration mechanism.

Preferably, said head-wear portion comprises a rigid or a semi-rigid top portion and a grid-like structure underneath said top portion, said grid structure is for mounting said apparatus onto the head of a user; and said light source is mounted on said grid-like structure with orientation of light emission aligned towards said top portion, and wherein a rotate-able mirror for reflecting light radiation originating from said light source towards different portion of the scalp of a user during use is disposed on the underside of the top portion.

Preferable, said apparatus further comprising a plurality of magnets, a plurality of Germanium chips and a plurality of infrared light sources for stimulating the scalp of a user during use. Preferable, said apparatus further comprising a plurality of massaging fingers and a driving means for causing mechanical vibration of the massaging fingers.

Preferable, said apparatus further comprising a hot water chamber in communication with a plurality of massaging fingers for massaging the scalp of a user at an elevated temperature.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be explained in further detail below by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:-

Fig. 1 shows a schematic diagram of a first preferred embodiment of this invention,

Fig. 2 shows a a schematic diagram of a second preferred embodiment of this invention,

Fig. 3 shows a schematic diagram of a third preferred embodiment of this invention, and

Fig. 4 shows a schematic diagram of a fourth preferred embodiment of this invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to Fig. 1 , there is shown a first preferred embodiment of a scalp care apparatus 100 of this invention. The scalp care apparatus 100 comprises a head-wear portion 10 and a light source 20. The head-wear portion comprises a head-mount so that a user can wear the apparatus like wearing a hat, a cap or a helmet. The light source comprises a plurality of therapeutic light sources which are adapted to activate the scalp of a user while not causing harm or irritation to the scalp. Each exemplary therapeutic light source comprises a Class III laser diode, that is, a power level of less than 4.5 mW. To enhance operation efficiency and to reduce weight of the apparatus, the light source is mounted on a movement mechanism.

The movement mechanism is arranged so that the emitted light will move across different regions of the scalp of a person wearing the apparatus. In one form of the arrangement, the movement mechanism is programmed so that a therapeutic light radiation originating from the therapeutic light source will gradually scan across different regions of the scalp of a person wearing the apparatus. In another form of the arrangement, the movement mechanism is programmed or preset so that the scanning is cyclical, repetitive or according to a predetermined pattern. For example, the movement mechanism can be programmed so that a more severely affected or bald scalp region can be exposed to the therapeutic light source for a longer period of time and vice versa. The selective illumination would afford a more efficient use of the light source.

For the avoidance of doubt, although a Class III laser diode is used in this embodiment, it will be appreciated that other optical devices with therapeutic light radiation sources, such as LEDs, could be used without loss of generality.

By arranging the therapeutic light source on a movement mechanism such that a scalp activating light radiation is gradually applied across the scalp of a user during use, the scalp of a user is gradually and/or cyclically exposed to a stimulating light radiation for scalp activation. This has been shown to improve blood circulation and thereby stimulating hair growth. As can be seen from Fig. 1 , the therapeutic light source is mounted on a head mount which is part of the head- wear portion of the apparatus. The top portion of the head mount comprises a housing which can be a rigid or semi-rigid structure. Such a top portion enables a reliable positioning of the therapeutic light sources can be substantially fixed. The head mount can be part of a headwear such as a head, a cap or a helmet. To further enhance the therapeutic effect of this scalp therapy apparatus, additional massaging means are provided. The exemplary massaging means comprises a plurality of massaging fingers 30 which are distributed across the area under the coverage of the therapeutic light source.

The massaging fingers are disposed so that a fixed end is mounted on a frame disposed intermediate the lighting source and the scalp and a free end is in contact with the scalp. A frame is a grid-like structure 40 provided for the mounting a plurality of massaging fingers so that light radiation can pass through the openings in the frame-like grid to provide the appropriate radiation while the massaging fingers can provide physical rubbing or massaging action on the scalp.

A vibration means 50, for example, a motor with an eccentric shaft, is mounted on the housing of the head mount. The vibration resulting from the operation of the vibrating means will bring about the vibration of the head mount, thereby causing the massaging fingers to move into massaging action. By providing physical massaging on the scalp in addition to the stimulating radiation, the therapeutic effect is more enhanced. Of course, the scalp therapy apparatus can be equipped with the movable light source but without the massaging part without loss of generality and the use of the additional massaging means is merely provided enhanced effect to users. Naturally, other massaging driving mechanism can be used without loss of generality.

Referring to Fig. 2, there is shown a second preferred embodiment 200 of a scalp therapeutic apparatus of this invention. This scalp therapeutic apparatus is substantially identical to the apparatus of Fig. 1 except that the therapeutic light source is mounted on the frame-like grid structure and is aimed away from the scalp. The output of the therapeutic light source is aligned with a rotatable mirror mounted on the main housing of the hat-like structure so that therapeutic light radiation originating from the therapeutic light source will be reflected towards the scalp and the rotation of the mirror will facilitate the scanning of the radiation across the scalp of a user.

Referring to Fig. 3, there is shown a third preferred embodiment 300 of this invention. The scalp therapeutic apparatus of this preferred embodiment is substantially identical to that of Fig. 1 , except that additional infrared light source and a plurality of magnets and Germanium chips are disposed. The infrared LED produces thermal radiation, the Germanium chips can stimulate metabolism and the magnet provides magnetic field, all are beneficial to stimulating hair growth.

Referring to Fig. 4, there is shown a fourth preferred embodiment of this invention. The scalp therapeutic apparatus of this preferred embodiment is substantially identical to that of Fig. 1 except that a hot water chamber 60 which is communicable with the plurality of massaging fingers are provided so that the massager fingers, which can be rigid, semi-rigid or even flexible, can provide physical massaging on the scalp with an elevated temperature to further stimulate hair growth.

Appropriate therapeutic light sources for this hair growth applications are known to persons skilled in the art and have been described, for example, in European Patent Publication No. EP0159446A, US Patent No. 6,497,719 and the references cited therein. The above publications are incorporated herein by reference. It will be appreciated that the above optional features can be used jointly, severally, in combination or standing alone without loss of generality.

While the present invention has been explained by reference to the examples or preferred embodiments described above, it will be appreciated that these are examples to assist understanding of the present invention and are not meant to be restrictive. Variations or modifications which are obvious or trivial to persons skilled in the art, as well as improvements made thereon, should be considered as falling within the scope and boundary of the present invention.

Furthermore, while the present invention has been explained by reference to using Class III laser as the therapeutic light source, it should be appreciated that the invention can apply, whether with or without modification, to other therapeutic light source without loss of generality.

Claims

1. A scalp care apparatus (100; 200; 300; 400) comprising a head-wear portion (10) for maintaining the apparatus on the head of a user and a scalp care portion, said head-wear portion comprising a top portion which defines a space between the scalp of a user and the apparatus, said scalp care portion comprising a light source for activating the scalp of a user to stimulate hair growth and a control mechanism, wherein said control mechanism comprises means for causing said light source to operate on different portions of the scalp of a user during use.

2. A scalp care apparatus according to Claim 1, wherein said control mechanism is adapted so that a therapeutic light radiation emitted by said light source scans through different regions of the scalp of a person wearing said apparatus during use.

3. A scalp care apparatus according to Claim 2, wherein said control mechanism is further adapted so that the therapeutic light radiation gradually scans through different regions of the scalp of a person wearing said apparatus during use.

4. A scalp care apparatus according to any of Claims 2 or 3, wherein said control mechanism is arranged so that the scanning of said therapeutic light on different portions of the scalp of a user is cyclical.

5. A scalp care apparatus according to any of Claims 2 to 4, wherein said control mechanism is arranged so that the scanning of said therapeutic light on different portions of the scalp of a user follows a predetermined pattern.

6. A scalp care apparatus according to any of the preceding Claims, wherein said light source is mounted on said top portion and aligned so that said therapeutic light radiation is emitted towards the scalp of a user.

7. A scalp care apparatus according to any of the preceding Claims, wherein said light source is a therapeutic light source comprising a coherent light.

8. A scalp care apparatus according to any of the preceding Claims, wherein said light source comprises a Class III laser source.

9. A scalp care apparatus according to any of the preceding Claims, wherein said light source comprises a plurality of Class III laser sources.

10. A scalp care apparatus according to any of the preceding Claims, wherein said top portion is elevated above the scalp of a user during use, said light source is aligned so that a therapeutic light radiation is emitted towards the scalp of a user after passing through a space formed between said top portion and the scalp of a user during use.

11. A scalp care apparatus according to any of the preceding Claims, wherein said head-wear portion further comprises a grid-like structure, said grid structure being intermediate said top portion and the scalp of a user wearing said apparatus during use; said grid-like structure and said top portion together defines a compartment for accommodating said light source, and wherein said light source and said grid-like structure are arranged so that therapeutic light radiation can pass through said grid-like structure and reach the scalp of a user during use.

12. A scalp care apparatus according to Claim 11 , wherein said light source is movable so that the orientation of light emission from said light source is variable through movable of said light source within said compartment.

13. A scalp therapy apparatus according to any of the preceding Claims, further comprising a plurality of massaging fingers, wherein said massaging fingers are disposed intermediate the light source and the scalp of a user.

14. A scalp therapy apparatus according to Claim 13, wherein said massaging fingers are mounted on a grid-like structure, and said massaging fingers are driven by a mechanical vibration mechanism.

15. A scalp therapy apparatus according to Claim 1 , wherein said head-wear portion comprises a rigid or a semi-rigid top portion and a grid-like structure underneath said top portion, said grid structure is for mounting said apparatus onto the head of a user; and said light source is mounted on said grid-like structure with orientation of light emission aligned towards said top portion, and wherein a rotate-able mirror for reflecting light radiation originating from said light source towards different portion of the scalp of a user during use is disposed on the underside of the top portion.

16. A scalp care apparatus according to any of the preceding Claims, further comprising a plurality of magnets, a plurality of Germanium chips and a plurality of infrared light sources for stimulating the scalp of a user during use.

17. A scalp care apparatus according to any of the preceding Claims, further comprising a plurality of massaging fingers and a driving means for causing mechanical vibration of the massaging fingers.

18. A scalp care apparatus according to any of the preceding Claims, further comprising a hot water chamber in communication with a plurality of massaging fingers for massaging the scalp of a user at an elevated temperature.