|
(11) | EP 3 643 197 A1 |
| (12) | EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION |
| published in accordance with Art. 153(4) EPC |
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (54) | SEMI-AUTOMATIC DEPILATORY TWEEZERS |
| (57) The invention relates to semi-automatic depilatory tweezers (1) comprising an open
fork (2) with two branches (3, 4) joined by an end area (5), the branches (3, 4) being
flexible and the points thereof comprising opposite, facing surfaces (30, 40) of mutual
contact for trapping the hair (100) during hair removal when the fork (2) closes,
the branches (3, 4) comprising intermediate support areas (31, 41) for pressing with
the fingers to cause the fork (2) to close. According to the invention, at least one
of the branches (3, 4) of the fork (2) comprises a magnetic section (6) with a magnetic
field sufficiently intense to generate magnetic attraction between both branches (3,
4) of the fork, to reduce the manual closing force of the fork (2) when the branches
(3, 4) approach one another and facilitate the removal of the hair. |
OBJECT OF THE INVENTION
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Depilatory tweezers are known which comprise an open fork with two branches joined by an end area, said branches being flexible in and of themselves and/or around said end area, and the points thereof comprising opposite, facing surfaces of mutual contact for trapping the hair during hair removal when the fork closes, the branches comprising intermediate support areas for pressing with the fingers to cause the fork to close.
[0003] These tweezers work well enough for one-time hair removal, but prolonged use produces seizures and cramps in the muscles that actuate the fingers which hold and close the tweezers (thumb and index, and middle finger sometimes) by continuously repeating the closing and opening actions, and having to keep the pressure on the tweezers so that the hair does not escape.
DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0005] The semi-automatic depilatory tweezers of the invention are of the type comprising an open fork with two branches joined by an end area, the branches being flexible and the points thereof comprising opposite, facing surfaces of mutual contact for trapping the hair during hair removal when the fork closes, the branches comprising intermediate support areas for pressing with the fingers to cause the fork to close; and according to the invention, at least one of the branches of the fork comprises a magnetic section with a magnetic field sufficiently intense to generate magnetic attraction between both branches of the fork, to reduce the manual closing force of the fork when the branches approach one another and facilitate the removal of the hair.
[0006] In this manner, the tweezers are configured as a semi-automatic utensil with the following advantages:
- The force used to close the tweezers decreases starting from the second half of the closing path, wherein more pressure is needed.
- It does not cut the hair due to excess force (a common problem), since when it closes and grips the hair during extraction, it doses and regulates the pressure exerted.
- The contacting strike offered by the attraction of the magnet in the complete closure thereof enables better synchronisation of continuous tweezing.
[0007] Furthermore, as an unexpected advantage during the development of the prototype and testing, it has been seen that in each tweezing motion, if a hair is inside the sound made is different from when it is not, thus detecting whether or not the hair has been tweezed. We can also use this sound feature to check if the opposite surfaces of mutual contact are clean or have been cleaned properly.
[0008] Approximately starting from the second half of the closing path, the magnetic sections begin to exert enough magnetic attraction to reduce the pressure that we manually exert in order to close them. Furthermore, the final contacting strike helps to better synchronise a continuous closing-opening exercise. The magnetic attraction force even regulates and doses the pressure exerted on the hair when it is held, helping the hair to not be cut or broken due to excess force, which is a very common problem.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0009]
Figure 1 shows three views of a variant of the tweezers of the invention wherein there is a magnetic section in a first branch, the second branch comprising in a position facing said magnetic section of the first branch a portion made of material able to be attracted by said magnetic section.
Figure 2 shows three views of another variant of the tweezers of the invention comprising two facing magnetic sections, one on each branch, with opposite, facing polarities.
PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION
[0010] The semi-automatic depilatory tweezers (1) of the invention are of the type comprising an open fork (2) with two branches (3, 4) joined by an end area (5), the branches (3, 4) being flexible and the points thereof comprising opposite, facing surfaces (30, 40) of mutual contact for trapping the hair (100) during hair removal when the fork (2) closes, the branches (3, 4) comprising intermediate support areas (31, 41) for pressing with the fingers to cause the fork (2) to close, and according to the invention, at least one of the branches (3, 4) of the fork (2) comprises a magnetic section (6) with a magnetic field sufficiently intense to generate magnetic attraction between both branches (3, 4) of the fork, to reduce the manual closing force of the fork (2) when the branches (3, 4) approach one another and facilitate the removal of the hair.
[0011] In one possible embodiment, shown in fig. 1, the tweezers (1) comprise a magnetic section (6) in a first branch (3), the second branch (4) comprising in a position facing said magnetic section (6) of the first branch (3) a portion (9) made of magnetic material (which is able to be attracted by said magnetic section (6), for example a ferromagnetic material), which in this particular example encompasses at least all of said second branch (4). The tweezers (1) could even be manufactured entirely from said magnetic material, thus having to install a single magnet or magnetic section (6) in one of the branches of the tweezers.
[0012] In another possible embodiment, shown in fig. 2, the tweezers (1) comprise two facing magnetic sections (6), one on each branch (3, 4), with opposite, facing polarities. This makes it possible to make the fork from nonmagnetic materials, installing two or more magnetic sections (6) with different poles in each branch.
[0013] Most preferably, the magnetic sections (6) comprise permanent magnets since this does not require any type of power supply.
[0014] Finally, it should be indicated that ideally the magnetic sections (6) have features such that the magnetic attraction force the branches (3, 4) of the fork (2) undergoes in the closed position of the tweezers (1) is less than the opening elastic force of the fork from said closed position, which in each case depends on the configuration of the fork, and the magnets are sized based on this. Thus, when opening again, the user stops applying the little force necessary to close the tweezers (1). When performing this action, the magnetic sections (6) momentarily resist this separation and are suddenly released, offering a recoil or opening speed much greater than that of conventional tweezers. This causes a small vibration due to the force with which the branches are separated, offering a greater probability that the hair will detach from the tweezers (1).
[0015] Having sufficiently described the nature of the invention, it is indicated that the description of it and of the preferred embodiment thereof should be interpreted in a non-limiting manner, and that it encompasses all the possible variant embodiments that may be deduced from the contents of the present specification and the claims.
1. A semi-automatic depilatory tweezers (1) comprising an open fork (2) with two branches
(3, 4) joined by an end area (5), the branches (3, 4) being flexible and the points
thereof comprising opposite, facing surfaces (30, 40) of mutual contact for trapping
the hair (100) during hair removal when the fork (2) closes, the branches (3, 4) comprising
intermediate support areas (31, 41) for pressing with the fingers to cause the fork
(2) to close; characterised in that, at least one of the branches (3, 4) of the fork (2) comprises a magnetic section
(6) with a magnetic field sufficiently intense to generate magnetic attraction between
both branches (3, 4) of the fork, to reduce the manual closing force of the fork (2)
when the branches (3, 4) approach one another and facilitate the removal of the hair.
2. The semi-automatic depilatory tweezers (1) according to claim 1 characterised in that they comprise a magnetic section (6) in a first branch (3), the second branch (4)
comprising in a position facing said magnetic section (6) of the first branch (3)
a portion (9) made of material able to be attracted by said magnetic section (6).
3. The semi-automatic depilatory tweezers (1) according to claim 2 characterised in that the portion (9) encompasses at least all of said second branch (4).
4. The semi-automatic depilatory tweezers (1) according to claim 1 characterised in that they comprise two facing magnetic sections (6), one on each branch (3, 4), with opposite,
facing polarities.
5. The semi-automatic depilatory tweezers (1) according to any of the preceding claims
characterised in that the magnetic sections (6) comprise permanent magnets.
6. The semi-automatic depilatory tweezers (1) according to any of the preceding claims
characterised in that the magnetic sections (6) have features such that the magnetic attraction force received
by the branches (3, 4) of the fork (2) in the closed position of the tweezers (1)
is less than the opening elastic force of the fork from said closed position.