WO2009074954A2

WO2009074954A2 - Tweezer for personal care use

Info

Publication number: WO2009074954A2
Application number: PCT/IB2008/055163
Authority: WO
Inventors: Giora Tamir
Original assignee: Giora Tamir
Priority date: 2007-12-09
Filing date: 2008-12-09
Publication date: 2009-06-18
Also published as: WO2009074954A3

Abstract

Tweezers for personal use are partially coated by a plastic resin. A cross lever slidable over the two prongs is used for enhancing the user's leverage capability. The cross lever may be parked on notches on the surface of a prong. A lighting assembly can be provided, located between the prongs.

Description

TWEEZER FOR PERSONAL CARE USE

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to personal care tools, and more specifically to modified tweezer.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Tweezer for personal use, in general are a gripping tools, used often for cosmetic purposes such as for plucking or manipulating small objects like hair. Plucking hair with tweezers involves pressing opposing resilient prongs together, firmly catching the hair. Often, a considerable power is to be exerted by the clutching fingers in order to enable the user to manipulate the hair. The use of a lighting element has been disclosed by several publications. In US patents USD537208, USD497215, USD253974 a lighting element was positioned between the prongs of the tweezer, shedding light in the direction of the manipulated object.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Tweezer in accordance with the present invention is a metallic pincers coated to some extent by plastic coating. The tweezer includes a cross power lever that leans against one prong, available for manipulation by the user by pressing against an extension of the lever. In some embodiment the lever is parkable in a notch carved in one of the prongs. An illumination system disposed at least partially between the two prongs contains a lighting element to shed light aimed at objects between the two prongs.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The present invention will be understood and appreciated, from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the appended drawings in which:

Fig. 1A is a schematic isometric description of a tweezer of the invention, including leaver and notches; Fig. 1 B is a schematic isometric description of the tweezer of Fig. 1A with lever removed; Fig. 2A is a schematic isometric description of the cross power lever with two windows;

Fig. 2B is a schematic isometric description of the cross power lever with a single window;

Fig. 2C is a schematic isometric description of the cross power lever with three windows; Fig. 2D is a schematic isometric description of the cross power lever with two windows and a stylized handle; Fig. 3A is a schematic isometric description of a tweezer with an illuminating module;

Fig. 3B is a schematic isometric description of an illuminating module showing battery access port; Fig. 4A is a schematic isometric description of the tweezer of the invention showing coating;

Fig. 4B is a schematic isometric description of a tweezer matching tweezer of Fig. 4A, devoid of coating.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to tweezers equipped with a cross power lever, to assist the user in manipulating small objects, typically hair.

To describe an exemplary embodiment of the invention, reference is made first to Fig. 1 A which shows tweezer 20; equipped with a cross lever 22 that enables clenching of the biased - apart prongs 24 and 26 together, by pressing lever handle 28. Wedge 32 of the lever fits into any of respective notches such as notch 36 and 38 on prong 24. On the opposite prong, i.e. prong 26, opening 42 in lever 22 permits free sliding of lever 22 along the prong when the lever is released. This sliding permits positioning of the lever anywhere along the notches, to be fixed in place as wedge 32 is inserted into one of the recesses. As can be seen clearly in Fig. 1 B to which reference is now made, the tweezer with lever removed, exhibits a series of notches 42. Positioning of the lever in association with a notch, along the prongs changes the leverage the lever has on the prongs. Pressing on the lever brings jaws 48 and 50 together catching any object between the jaws. The closer the lever is positioned in the direction of the jaws, the stronger the leverage is, or in other words, more force can be applied on the jaws. In some embodiments of the present invention, only one notch is disposed on the prong. Typically the notches are associated with the lever handle, but in other embodiments, the extreme lever frame member (ELFM) can be used to park the lever along the tweezer prong. This will be explained in more detail below. Lever handle 28 is an extension of the lever that facilitates the user to apply force on the prongs of the tweezer. The length and shape of the handle are a subject to physical considerations, i.e. the longer the handle is, the larger the torque applied on the prongs can be, and design considerations as well. In Fig. 2D, handle 94 with different design is shown having a deflected form and niche 96 for directing the user's finger or thumb to the desired location.

The cross lever The cross lever leans at one end against one prong, while at the non leaning end it extends forming usually a lever handle to facilitate the application of force by the user. In Figs 2A- D to which reference is now made, additional features of the lever are shown. In Fig. 2A, a lever having window 82 disposed at the extreme end of the lever is shown. This window is limited by extreme lever frame member (ELFM) 84 which presses against the associated prong of the tweezer (not shown), when the lever is pressed. The ELFM may be put in a notch of the associated prong or if the notch is disposed in the other prong, it may be pressing on the straight prong. Window 86 accommodates for the other prong of the tweezer. In Fig. 2B, an embodiment of a lever is shown featuring one window 88, that accommodates for both prongs of the tweezer. In Fig. 2C, an embodiment of the lever is shown in which three windows are disposed. Windows 84 and 86 function as explained above, to accommodate for the two prongs, respectively, while window 90 functions as an illumination window as will be explained below. Although embodiments of the invention are mostly operative also in the absence of the cross lever, the actual application of the cross lever can ease the use of the tweezer. The application of the lever can ease off physical stress developing over the fingers in prolonged usage terms.

The illumination subsystem

In another aspect of the invention, an illumination module is disposed on the tweezer. Such an illumination unit includes a lighting element such as a LED, a power source (typically batteries), an on/off switch and the appropriate conducting elements to connect together these components. As can be seen in Figs. 3A- B to which reference is now made, illumination module 120 includes a body 122, and a lighting element 124. The illumination system is disposed in this particular case attached to bridging element 126 , that connects prong 130 with prong 132. The illumination module can be disposed anywhere along the prongs as long as it sheds light in the direction of the jaws of the prongs, i.e. to illuminate the manipulated object. As can be seen in Fig. 3B access port cover 136 is disposed at the side of the illuminating module, to change batteries typically disposed within the illuminating module. The access port can be disposed anywhere on the illumination module to facilitate battery exchange. In some embodiments of the invention however, the batteries or other components are disposed within a coating of the tweezer. The lighting element is typically a LED (light emitting diode). To switch on and off the illuminating module, a switch id employed, either in connection with the illumination module or elsewhere along the prongs or associated with a bridging element.

The coating

In a different aspect of the invention, the prongs are coated, at least partially, using a layer of polymeric resin, such as rubber, silicon rubber, epoxy, or any resin known in the art. Coverage may be partial or complete, but the jaws are typically free of coating. In one embodiment of the invention, the polymer coat is locally thickened. In the thickened zone, the batteries are disposed. As can be seen in Figs. 4A - B, tweezer 160 has two prongs, each of which is coated by coatings 162 and 164 respectively. In coating 162 notch 166 is disposed. Notch 168 is disposed in the respective prong, in a zone devoid of coating. In Fig. 4B an equivalent tweezer devoid of coating, is shown. In some embodiments, the cross power lever is partially or fully coated, and in some other embodiments the bridging element is partially or fully coated.

The role of the coating

The coating described above plays several roles. Aesthetically, the coating may increase the appeal, for example by concealing the metallic tint of the prongs or the entire tweezer. The coating may be applied in any combination of colors and tints providing diverse design opportunities. Second, the plastic coating provides better for better grip and softer, more pleasant feeling than if a metallic was to be handled . Third, as mentioned above, parts of the electrical components of the illuminating system can be concealed inside the coating, such as batteries and on/off switch,

Claims

1. A tweezer for personal use comprising:

• two prongs resiliency mutually connected at one end;

• a cross lever having at least one openings for sliding over at least one prong of said tweezer, and

• at least one notch disposed on at least on of said prongs, and wherein said two prongs are at least partially coated.

2. The tweezer according to claim 1 , further including a layer of plastic resin coating at least a portion of said prongs.

3. The tweezer according to claim 1 , further including an illumination subsystem.

4. The tweezer as in claim 2, wherein at least one notch is disposed in said coating.

5. The tweezer as in claim 2, wherein at least one component of an illumination system is disposed therein.

6. The tweezer as in claim 2, wherein the jaws of said prongs are uncoated.