(19)
(11) EP 2 377 421 A1

(12) EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION
published in accordance with Art. 153(4) EPC

(43) Date of publication:
19.10.2011 Bulletin 2011/42

(21) Application number: 09837616.3

(22) Date of filing: 09.01.2009
(51) International Patent Classification (IPC): 
A45D 44/22(2006.01)
A61H 37/00(2006.01)
(86) International application number:
PCT/KR2009/000116
(87) International publication number:
WO 2010/079855 (15.07.2010 Gazette 2010/28)
(84) Designated Contracting States:
AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU LV MC MK MT NL NO PL PT RO SE SI SK TR

(71) Applicant: Pion-Tech Co., Ltd.
Cheongwan-gun Chungcheongbuk-do 363-885 (KR)

(72) Inventor:
  • KIM, Tae Gon
    Cheongju-si Chungcheongbuk-do 361-270 (KR)

(74) Representative: Collin, Jérôme et al
Cabinet Regimbeau 20, rue de Chazelles
75847 Paris Cedex 17
75847 Paris Cedex 17 (FR)

   


(54) FUNCTIONAL BEAUTY APPLICATOR USING COLD STEAM


(57) The present invention relates to a functional beauty applicator using cold steam, which supplies natural functional cosmetics in the form of cold steam to the skin of a user to provide the skin with functionality, and which has a far infrared radiation heat source for providing a pre-steam treatment function. The functional beauty applicator of the present invention comprises a body support which receives a natural aqueous functional cosmetic solution and converts the solution into atomized steam, a connection neck which transfers the atomized steam generated by the body support, and an ejection head which ejects atomized steam to the outside or directly onto the skin of the user.




Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION



[0001] The present invention relates to a functional beauty applicator using cold steam. More particularly, the present invention relates to a functional beauty applicator, which can supply natural functional cosmetics in the form of cold steam to the skin of a user and can also perform pre-steam treatment using a far infrared heat source, thereby improving moisture retention and resilience of the skin.

DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART



[0002] It is very important to people that their skin remain healthy and beautiful. For this purpose, conventional cosmetology generally employs cosmetic products, such as collagen, a nutritive milky lotion, essence, etc., which assist in moisture retention, supply of nutrition, and activation of a skin function. However, there is a limit in achieving satisfactory skin care and skin protection using only the cosmetic products. This is attributed to the fact that a thick protein protective layer is formed as a barrier layer under the corneous tissue of the outer skin and divides the skin into the inner skin and the outer skin, so that bodily wastes accumulated on the inner skin cannot be removed therefrom even by cosmetic products having excellent skin protection effects.

[0003] Accordingly, appliances for skin care have recently been proposed, which serve to increase production of collagen and elastic fibrous material in the inner skin using ultrasonic waves or low frequency current (positive and negative ion current) to regenerate skin cells and keep the skin healthy and elastic, functional facial masks such as a cucumber pack, mud pack, etc., which are attached to a user's face to prevent evaporation of facial moistures and increase the skin temperature, and the like. However, such appliances for skin care have a problem such as lack of a function of controlling power output, often making the skin dry, and the masks have problems in terms of wearing sensation and material, thereby reducing cosmetic effects.

[0004] To solve these problems, recently proposed beauty applicators are configured to generate steam and render the sensitive skin such as the face exposed to the steam to open the pores of the skin such that dirt and oil are removed from the skin. Such applicators generally include a main body having a solution container, an electric heating plate generating heat upon receiving electric power, a discharge path of steam, and an opening formed at an upper side of the body and configured to come into contact with sensitive skin such as the face. In such applicators known in the art, water in the bath is heated by the electric heating plate and is discharged through a steam outlet, and heated steam is brought into contact with the skin to moisturize the skin, improving skin health.

[0005] In recent years, to further improve the function of the applicator, new applicators have been proposed, which can extract substances beneficial to the skin or health from mugwort, natural green wood components or the like and supply the substances to the skin in a concentrated state or in a diluted state in addition to simply generating steam and exposing the skin to the steam, and many studies have been conducted to develop such applicators.

[0006] However, since steam discharged through the steam outlet is heavier than air, some of the steam flows downward even when the steam is discharged at regular intervals, so that the steam is not uniformly sprayed to the skin, and water drops are formed on the skin upon contact, thus resulting in use inconvenience and inapplicability of the applicator to cosmetically-coated skin, thereby degrading cosmetic effects.

[0007] Therefore, there is a need to provide a functional beauty applicator which has improved functions and can discharge steam in the form of fine water particles to ensure that substantially all of the discharged steam is uniformly sprayed to the sensitive skin such as the face without forming water drops on the skin, thereby providing effective massaging effects to the skin.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION


Technical Problem



[0008] Through various investigations, the inventor of the present invention developed a beauty applicator using cold steam, which can solve problems in the art, is suited to facial skin care, and provides convenience and improved functionality.

[0009] One aspect of the present invention is to provide a functional beauty applicator using cold steam which induces expansion of intercellular spaces in the skin through far infrared heating and allows cold steam produced from a natural aqueous cosmetic solution to deeply permeate into the expanded intercellular spaces, thereby keeping the skin healthy through improvement of moisture retention and resilience of the skin.

[0010] Another aspect of the present invention is to provide a functional beauty applicator capable of improving absorption of an aqueous cosmetic solution to the skin by making decomposed water particles finer using an ultrasonic vibrator and a blowing fan.

Technical Solution



[0011] In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a functional beauty applicator including a body support having upper and lower casings; a connection neck; and an ejection head. The body support generates atomized steam from an aqueous cosmetic solution and discharges the atomized steam. The upper casing includes a receiving hole in which a solution container containing natural aqueous functional cosmetic solution is detachably mounted, an LED operation display having buttons for operation and control of the applicator, a viewing window having an openable cap to check an amount of the cosmetic solution in the body support, and a fastening connector. The lower casing includes a drainage lever for discharging the solution remaining in the solution container and a lever guide slot along which the drainage lever slides, a detachable drainage basin storing the discharged solution, and an openable basin cover. The connection neck has upper and lower ends, wherein the lower end is rotatably connected to the fastening connector of the body support, and the upper end is integrally formed with the ejection head to deliver the atomized steam from the body support to the ejection head. The ejection head includes a radiating outlet discharging far infrared heat, a steam ejection port spraying the atomized steam supplied from the connection neck, and a facial mask to be brought into close contact with the face while collecting heat emitted from the radiating outlet or steam emitted from the steam ejection port.

[0012] The body support includes an anti-rotation member securing the connection neck in the upper and lower casings and controlling rotation of the connection neck; an assembly of a solution reservoir and a sealing cover thereof, which includes a solution storage mechanism for receiving and storing aqueous cosmetic solution from the solution container, an atomizing mechanism for atomizing the solution into steam, an air inflow mechanism for creating a vortex of the atomized steam, and a drainage mechanism for discharging the atomized steam and remaining aqueous cosmetic solution to an outside; and an assembly of a drainage lever, a lever connector, and a drainage channel, which discharges the remaining solution in the solution reservoir into the drainage basin of the lower casing.

[0013] The anti-rotation member includes a flange symmetrically extending in opposite directions into a wing shape, protrusion steps vertically formed at opposite ends of the flange, and a hook formed at the lowermost end of the connection neck and latched by the protrusion steps to be rotated within 180° in one direction between the protrusion steps.

[0014] In one embodiment of the invention, the solution reservoir includes a solution supply part having a vertical rod inserted into the solution container to allow supply of the cosmetic solution, an atomizing part having an ultrasonic vibrator to atomize the solution supplied from the solution supply part into steam using vibration, a steam discharge part which includes a level sensor for detecting a level of the solution and through which the atomized steam is discharged into the connection neck, an air inlet through blown air is introduced to create a vortex of the atomized steam, and a drainage port through which the remaining solution is discharged outside.

[0015] The sealing cover of the solution reservoir covers the atomizing part, the steam discharge part, and the air inlet, and includes a steam outlet through which the atomized steam discharged from the steam discharge part is delivered to the connection neck, an internal viewer for checking the internal state of the solution reservoir, and a support column for assembly between the upper casing and the solution reservoir.

[0016] The sealing cover of the solution reservoir has an air baffle mounted between the support columns to interfere with an air flow flowing from the air inlet to increase the velocity of air and create a vortex.

[0017] The solution supply part may be located higher than the atomizing part.

[0018] The drainage lever includes a lever grip to be held for movement, a plate member integrally formed with the lever grip to close the lever guide slot, and a hollow protrusion protruding opposite the lever grip from the plate member.

[0019] The lever connector includes a hook-shaped connector head protruding upwards so as to be inserted into the hole of the hollow protrusion of the drainage lever, a hook-shaped connector tip extending into a shape like a "L" with the connector head and having a securing hole through which a fastening member is rotatably fastened when assembled to the solution reservoir, and a connector press plate extending in a lateral direction at an angle from the hook-shaped connector tip to operate oppositely to the connector head by means of a reverse elastic member.

[0020] The drainage channel includes a drainage guide passage to be pressed downwards by the connector press plate so as to turn towards an inlet of the drainage cover, a drainage cap for opening and closing the drainage basin of the solution reservoir, a drainage collecting part collecting the solution drained from the drainage basin, and a securing plate integrally formed with the solution-collecting part while extending oppositely thereto, and having a fastening part at a leading end thereof.

[0021] The drainage guide passage includes opposite side plates to define a passageway such that a leading end of the drainage guide passage is formed inclined into a round shape and a height thereof gradually increases from the leading end to a distal end thereof.

Advantageous Effects



[0022] According to embodiments of the invention, the functional beauty applicator using cold steam may supply a natural aqueous functional cosmetic solution in the form of steam to the skin to provide functionality to the skin, and irradiate far infrared light to the skin as pre-steam treatment to expand intercellular spaces.

[0023] Further, the functional beauty applicator according to the embodiments of the invention is configured to make decomposed water particles of steam much finer through an ultrasonic vibrator and a blowing fan so that the applicator can be used even on sensitive skin such as the face, e.g. cosmetically-coated skin, without forming water drops on the skin, thereby maximizing use convenience and improving permeability and absorption of cosmetic materials into the skin.

[0024] Furthermore, in the functional beauty applicator according to the embodiments of the invention, the ejection head can be rotated 180°, so that a user can use the applicator while lying down.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS



[0025] The above and other aspects, features and advantages of the invention will be more clearly understood from the detailed description of the following embodiments in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a front view of a functional beauty applicator using cold steam according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side view of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of a solution reservoir for natural aqueous functional cosmetic solution which is used in the present invention;

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the functional beauty applicator of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a side view of a solution reservoir 30 shown in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a plan view of FIG. 5, which shows flowing directions of aqueous cosmetic solution and air;

FIG. 7 is a side view showing a cover of the solution reservoir of FIG. 4;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged perspective view of a drainage lever shown in FIG. 4;

FIG. 9 is an enlarged perspective view of a lever connector shown in FIG. 4;

FIG. 10 is an enlarged perspective view of a drainage channel shown in FIG. 4; and

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of assembly of drainage means showing the operation state of the drainage means.


DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS



[0026] Exemplary embodiments of the present invention will now be described.

[0027] Herein, a detailed description of related known functions or constructions unnecessarily making the invention ambiguous will be omitted for clarity. Since terms used herein are defined by taking functions of the invention into account and can be changed according to the custom or intention of users or operators. Therefore, definition of the terms should be construed according to the overall disclosures set forth herein.

[0028] FIG. 1 is a front view of a functional beauty applicator using cold steam according to an embodiment of the invention and FIG. 2 is a side view of FIG. 1.

[0029] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the functional beauty applicator 10 using cold steam generally includes a body support 11, a connection neck 12, and an ejection head 13. Specifically, in operation of the beauty applicator 10, a solution container containing natural aqueous functional cosmetic solution is fitted into the body support 11 to allow the solution to flow into the body support 10 and the solution is converted into very fine atomized steam by an ultrasonic vibrator in the body support 11 upon application of power through manipulation of a button such that the atomized steam is discharged to the outside or towards the user's face through the ejection head 13 via the connection neck 12.

[0030] The body support 11 includes upper and lower casings 20, 25. The upper casing 20 includes a receiving hole 15 to which a solution container 14 containing a natural aqueous functional cosmetic solution is detachably mounted, an LED operation display 16 having buttons for operation and control of the beauty applicator 10, a viewing window 18 having an openable cap 17 to check the amount of solution in the body support 11, and a fastening connector 19 into which a lower end of the connection neck 12 is inserted, as described below. The lower casing 25 includes a drainage lever 21 for discharging the cosmetic solution remaining in the body support 11 and a lever guide slot 22 along which the drainage lever 22 slides back and forth in the direction indicated by an arrow, a drainage basin 23 having an externally detachable mounting structure and storing the cosmetic solution discharged by manipulation of the drainage lever 21, and an openable basin cover 24.

[0031] Here, the LED operation display 16 includes a variety of buttons such as a power button, a steaming dedicated mode button, a hybrid mode button of far infrared radiation plus steaming mode, an intensity button for regulating an amount and an ejection distance of steam, and the like.

[0032] In addition, the LED operation display 16 may include an automatic mode button which can automatically regulate far infrared radiation and steam discharge stepwise, a timer button which allows an operation to be performed for a certain time, a residual amount gauge button which can check the residual amount of cosmetic solution, and the like.

[0033] As shown in FIG. 3, the solution container 14 generally includes a refillable vessel 141 containing a natural aqueous functional cosmetic solution and an assembly cap 142 screwed to a lower side of the vessel 141. The assembly cap 142 may be received in the hole 15 of the body support 11 in a one-touch manner. The vessel 141 is filled with the cosmetic solution, which may be a diluted solution prepared by diluting a concentrated liquid according to a corresponding method which differs from product to product.

[0034] Since a sealing pack 143 and a spring 144 are disposed at the inner center of the assembly cap 142, when the solution container 14 is inserted into the hole 15 of the upper casing 20, a vertical rod disposed in the body support 11 pushes up a pin 145 located at the inner center of the assembly cap 142 and the sealing pack 143 assembled with the pin 145 is also pushed up, as described below, so that the solution contained in the vessel 141 flows into the body support 11. On the contrary, when the solution container 14 is removed from the hole 15, the vertical rod is pulled out of the inner center of the assembly cap 142 and the sealing pack 143 assembled with the pin 145 blocks the vessel 141 by an elastically restoring force of the spring 144, so that the cosmetic solution does not leak from the vessel 141. This principle is the same as that of a water vessel in a typical humidifier.

[0035] The connection neck 12 includes a pipe through which atomized steam generated in the body support 11 is delivered to the ejection head 13, wherein an upper end of the pipe is integrally formed with the ejection head 13 and a lower end of the pipe is rotatably mounted in the fastening connector 19 of the body support 11. While the connection neck 12 is rotatable as indicated by an arrow shown in FIG. 2, it is rotatable only within 180° in one direction by means of an anti-rotation member mounted in the body support 11. Thus, when the connection neck 12 is rotated up to 180°, the ejection head 13 integrally formed with the connection neck is also rotated in a direction opposite to the direction indicated by the arrow shown in FIG. 2, a user may use the beauty applicator while lying down.

[0036] The ejection head 13 includes a radiating outlet 26 discharging far infrared heat which can expand intercellular spaces of the skin, a steam ejection port 27 spraying atomized steam supplied from the body support 11, and a facial mask 28 to be brought into close contact with the face while collecting heat emitted from the radiating outlet 26 and atomized steam emitted from the steam ejection port 27 in such a manner as to suit the size of the face.

[0037] According to the embodiment, a halogen lamp is mounted in the radiating outlet 26 on the ejection head 13. The halogen lamp is coated with ceramics using a silicon frame, which ceramics and silicon frame radiate far infrared rays with emissivity of 90% or more when activated by thermal energy of the lamp, thereby activating the skin and maximizing absorption of skin nutritive materials or steam into expanded intercellular spaces of the skin.

[0038] In addition, since the atomized steam sprayed from the steam ejection port 27 is composed of finer particles than those of the conventional applicator, the atomized particles roughly linearly move towards the user's face when sprayed, thereby having the effect of intensively treating the skin.

[0039] FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view showing an internal structure of the body support 11 of the beauty applicator 10 according to the embodiment of the invention. As described above, the body support 11 includes a steam-generating mechanism, a steam-spraying mechanism, and a cosmetic solution-discharging mechanism in an internal space defined by the upper and lower casings 20, 25.

[0040] Specifically, referring to FIG. 4, the body support 11 includes the upper casing 20 as described above; an anti-rotation member 29 which is inserted into the fastening connector 19 of the upper casing 20 to secure the connection neck 12 and control rotation of the connection neck; an assembly of a solution reservoir 30 and a sealing cover 31 thereof, which includes a solution storage mechanism for receiving a natural aqueous functional cosmetic solution from the solution container 14, an atomizing mechanism having an ultrasonic vibrator for atomizing the cosmetic solution into steam using ultrasonic waves, an air inflow mechanism for creating a vortex of atomized steam to supply the atomized steam to the connection neck 12, and a drainage mechanism having a level sensor for detecting the level of cosmetic solution for discharging the atomized steam and remaining cosmetic solution to the outside; an assembly of the drainage lever 21, a lever connector 32 and a drainage channel 33, which discharges the remaining cosmetic solution in the solution reservoir 30 downwards; and the lower casing 25 formed at the lateral side thereof with the lever guide slot 22 along which the drainage lever 21 slides, and at the rear side thereof with the drainage basin 23 and the cover 24 thereof.

[0041] The anti-rotation member 29 is inserted into the fastening connector 19 of the upper casing 20, and includes a flange 291 symmetrically extending in opposite directions into a wing shape and protrusion steps 292 vertically formed at opposite ends of the flange 291, as shown in FIG. 4.

[0042] Thus, when the anti-rotation member 29 is completely inserted into the fastening connector 19 and the flange 291 and the protrusion steps 292 of the anti-rotation member 29 are closely coupled to a steam outlet 311 of the sealing cover 31, a small hook (not shown) formed at the lowermost end of the connection neck 12 is located in a cross (+) shape between the protrusion steps 292 formed at the opposite sides of the flange. Thus, the hook can be rotated within 180° in one direction between both protrusion steps 292. When the connection neck 12 is rotated 180°, the facial mask 28 of the ejection head 13 is also rotated in the opposite direction, so that a user can advantageously use the beauty applicator with respect to any part of the body while lying down.

[0043] FIG. 5 is a side view showing the solution reservoir 30 of FIG. 4 and FIG. 6 is a plan view of the solution reservoir 30 which receives and stores a natural aqueous functional cosmetic solution supplied from the solution container 14. In the solution reservoir, the cosmetic solution is atomized into cold steam by the ultrasonic vibrator and sprayed to the outside through the connection neck 12.

[0044] Specifically, the solution reservoir 30 includes a solution supply part 302 having a vertical rod 301 to push up the sealing pack 143 of the solution container 14 to allow supply of the cosmetic solution; an atomizing part 304 including an ultrasonic vibrator 303, which atomizes the cosmetic solution supplied from the solution supply part 302 into steam, and a drainage port 305 for discharging remaining cosmetic solution to the outside; a steam discharge part 307 having a level sensor 306, which detects the level of the cosmetic solution and interrupts the operation of the beauty applicator 10 when the level of the cosmetic solution is at the lowest point, and discharging the atomized steam into the connection neck 12; and an air inlet 308 which allows inflow of air blown in the direction indicated by an arrow from a blower (not shown) mounted in the lower casing 25.

[0045] FIG. 7 is a side view of the sealing cover 31, which covers the atomizing part 304, the seal outlet section 307, and the air inlet 308 of the solution reservoir 30. The sealing cover 31 includes a steam outlet 311 formed corresponding to the steam discharge part 307 to allow the atomized steam discharged from the steam discharge part 307 shown in FIG. 5 to be delivered to the connection neck 12 therethrough, an internal viewer 312 which is located corresponding to the viewing window 18 of the upper casing 20 for checking the state of the cosmetic solution stored in the atomizing part 304, a plurality of first columns 313 formed on an upper surface of the sealing cover to secure a space for assembly with the upper casing 20 and a plurality of second support columns vertically formed on a lower surface of the sealing cover for firm assembly with the solution reservoir 30, as shown in FIG. 7, and an air baffle 315 mounted to keep a gap with respect to a wall surface narrower so as to interfere with an air flow flowing from the air inlet 308.

[0046] When the sealing cover 31 is coupled to the solution reservoir 30, the air baffle 315 is located at a position of "A" in FIG. 6, and interferes with an air flow flowing in the direction indicated by an arrow while turning the air flow to create a vortex through the narrow gap.

[0047] A procedure of atomizing a natural aqueous cosmetic solution into steam using the aforementioned construction of the solution reservoir 30 and the cover 31 will now be described. When the solution reservoir 14 is fitted into the hole 15 of the upper casing 20, the natural aqueous functional cosmetic solution is mechanically supplied to the solution supply part 302 by operation of the vertical rod 301 of the solution reservoir 30.

[0048] The cosmetic solution supplied to the solution supply part 302 is supplied to the atomizing part 304 and the steam discharge part 307 to a certain level. Then, when electric power is supplied, the cosmetic solution is atomized by the ultrasonic vibrator 303. Here, air flow generated by the blower (not shown) mounted in the lower casing 25 is introduced into the solution reservoir 30 through the air inlet 308, so that the air is intensively introduced into the atomizing part 304 having the ultrasonic vibrator 303 while having increased velocity caused by operation of the air baffle 315 of the cover 31, thereby creating a vortex of the atomized steam.

[0049] Here, the atomized steam is whirled together with the introduced air flow in the atomizing part 304 so that relatively large droplets are drawn out by centrifugal force, collide with an inner wall of the atomizing part 304 and flow down to the cosmetic solution, and relatively small, fine droplets whirl and move to the steam discharge part 307 having the level sensor 306, and are sprayed outside or towards the user's skin through the steam ejection port 27 via the steam outlet 311, the connection neck 12, and the ejection head 13.

[0050] Referring to FIG. 5, the solution supply part 302 is located above the atomizing part 304, so that when the level of the cosmetic solution in the atomizing part 304 equals and balances the level of the solution supply part 302, the cosmetic solution in the solution container 14 cannot be introduced into the solution supply part 302 due to pressure equilibrium.

[0051] According to the embodiment of the invention, as shown in FIG. 4, the drainage mechanism for draining the remaining solution downwards from the solution reservoir 30 is provided to the beauty applicator. The drainage mechanism includes the drainage lever 21, the lever connector 32, and the drainage channel 33, wherein the drainage lever 21 is configured to move back and forth along the lever guide slot 22 which is formed on the lateral side of the lower casing 25.

[0052] As shown in FIG. 8, the drainage lever 21 includes a lever grip 211, a plate member 212 integrally formed with the lever grip 211 so as to close the lever guide slot 22, and a hollow protrusion 213 protruding opposite to the lever grip 211 from the plate member 212.

[0053] As shown in FIG. 9, the lever connector 32 is assembled under the drainage lever 21, and includes a hook-shaped connector head 321 protruding upwards such that a protruding rod (not shown) formed at a lower end of the hollow protrusion 213 is inserted, a hook-shaped connector tip 323 extending in a bird's neck shape from the connector head 321 in a rear direction and having a securing hole 322 through which a fastening member such as a screw is rotatably fastened when assembled to the solution reservoir 30, and a connector press plate 324 extending in a lateral direction at an angle from the hook-shaped connector tip 323. Accordingly, the connector press plate 324 moves together with the hook-shaped connector head 321 in a direction to which the hook-shaped connector head 321 moves about the securing hole 322.

[0054] As shown in FIG. 10, the drainage channel 33 includes a drainage guide passage 331 to be pressed downwards by the connector press plate 323 of the lever connector 32 such that the leading end of the guide passage is tilted towards the inlet 241 of the drainage cover 24, a drainage collecting part 333 having a drainage cap 332 for opening and closing the drainage port 305 of the solution reservoir 30 and serving to guide the cosmetic solution drained from the drainage port 305 into the drainage guide passage 331 integrally connected to the drainage collecting part, and a securing plate 335 integrally formed with the drainage collecting part 333 while extending opposite to the drainage guide passage 331, and having, at a leading end thereof, a fastening part 334 for screw-fastening.

[0055] Particularly, according to the embodiment of the invention, as shown in FIG. 10, the drainage guide passage 331 includes opposite side plates 336, 336' to define a passageway such that the surfaces of the leading ends of the side plates 336, 336' are formed inclined into a round shape, that is, the height gradually increases from the leading end to a distal end thereof.

[0056] A procedure of draining the residual cosmetic solution from the solution reservoir 30 to the outside or into the drainage basin 23 will now be described. Referring to FIG. 11, when the lever grip 211 of the lever guide slot 22 formed on the lateral side of the lower casing 25 is pulled to the left, the hollow protrusion 213 pulls the connector header part 321 of the lever connector 32 in the same direction in cooperation with the plate member 212.

[0057] Thus, the connector press plate 324 integrally connected with the connector head 321 moves along the inclined surface (the height gradually increases from the front side to the rear side) of the side plate 336 of the drainage guide passage 331 in the rear direction, so that the whole drainage channel 33 is gradually pressed, thereby turning the leading end of the drainage guide passage 331 towards the inlet 241 of the drainage cover 24.

[0058] When the drainage guide passage 331 is pressed downwards as set forth above, the drainage cap 332 blocking the drainage port 305 of the solution reservoir 30 is opened, the remaining solution is collected in the drainage collecting part 333, and the collected solution is introduced into the drainage basin 23 through the inlet 241 along the drainage guide passage 331 having the side plates 336, 336'.

[0059] As shown in FIG. 4, the drainage basin 23 and the cover 24 thereof are mounted on the rear side of the lower casing 25, and may be drawn into and out of the lower casing using a switch (not shown) inside the lower casing 25. The cover 24 is provided with a grip 242 for opening and closing the cover 24 and a small hole 243 through which the remaining solution in the drainage basin 23 is discarded, with the drainage basin covered by the cover 24.

[0060] The drainage system according to the embodiment of the invention allows easy removal of unused remaining cosmetic solution, thereby providing user convenience, and allows immediate drainage of the cosmetic solution after use, thereby preventing decay of the remaining cosmetic solution and reproduction of bacteria in the applicator.

[0061] Although some embodiments have been described herein, it should be understood by those skilled in the art that these embodiments are given by way of illustration only, and that various modifications, variations, and alterations can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Therefore, the scope of the invention should be limited only by the accompanying claims and equivalents thereof.


Claims

1. A functional beauty applicator using cold steam comprising:

a body support generating atomized steam from an aqueous cosmetic solution and discharging the atomized steam, the body support comprising upper and lower casings,
the upper casing comprising a receiving hole in which a solution container containing a natural aqueous functional cosmetic solution is detachably mounted, an LED operation display having buttons for operation and control of the applicator, a viewing window having an openable cap to check an amount of the cosmetic solution in the body support, and a fastening connector,
the lower casing comprising a drainage lever for discharging the solution remaining in the solution container, a lever guide slot along which the drainage lever slides, a detachable drainage basin storing the discharged solution, and an openable basin cover;

a connection neck having upper and lower ends, the lower end being rotatably connected to the fastening connector of the body support, the upper end being integrally formed with the ejection head to deliver the atomized steam from the body support to the ejection head; and

an ejection head comprising a radiating outlet discharging far infrared heat, a steam ejection port spraying the atomized steam supplied from the connection neck, and a facial mask to be brought into close contact with the face while collecting heat emitted from the radiating outlet or steam emitted from the steam ejection port.


 
2. The functional beauty applicator of claim 1, wherein, in the upper and lower casings, the body support comprises an anti-rotation member securing the connection neck and controlling rotation of the connection neck; an assembly of a solution reservoir and a sealing cover thereof, the solution reservoir including a solution storage mechanism for receiving and storing aqueous cosmetic solution from the solution container, an atomizing mechanism for atomizing the solution into steam, an air inflow mechanism for creating a vortex of the atomized steam, and a drainage mechanism for discharging the atomized steam and remaining aqueous cosmetic solution to an outside; and an assembly of the drainage lever, a lever connector and a drainage channel, which discharges the remaining solution in the solution reservoir into the drainage basin of the lower casing.
 
3. The functional beauty applicator of claim 2, wherein the anti-rotation member comprises a flange symmetrically extending in opposite directions into a wing shape, protrusion steps vertically formed at opposite ends of the flange, and a hook formed at a lowermost end of the connection neck and latched by the protrusion steps to be rotated within 180° in one direction between the protrusion steps.
 
4. The functional beauty applicator of claim 2, wherein the solution reservoir comprises a solution supply part having a vertical rod inserted into the solution container to allow supply of the solution, an atomizing part having an ultrasonic vibrator to atomize the solution supplied from the solution supply part into steam using vibration, a steam discharge part which includes a level sensor for detecting a level of the cosmetic solution and through which the atomized steam is discharged into the connection neck, an air inlet through which blown air is introduced to create a vortex of the atomized steam, and a drainage port through which the remaining solution is discharged outside.
 
5. The functional beauty applicator of claim 2, wherein the sealing cover of the solution reservoir covers the atomizing part, the steam discharge part, and the air inlet, and includes a steam outlet through which the atomized steam discharged from the steam discharge part is delivered to the connection neck, an internal viewer for checking an internal state of the solution reservoir, and a support column for attaching the upper casing to the solution reservoir.
 
6. The functional beauty applicator of claim 5, wherein the sealing cover has an air baffle mounted between the support columns to interfere with an air flow flowing from the air inlet to increase a velocity of air and create a vortex.
 
7. The functional beauty applicator of claim 4, wherein the solution supply part is located higher than the atomizing part.
 
8. The functional beauty applicator of claim 2, wherein the drainage lever comprises a lever grip, a plate member integrally formed with the lever grip to close the lever guide slot, and a hollow protrusion protruding opposite the lever grip from the plate member and having a protrusion rod at a lower end thereof.
 
9. The functional beauty applicator of claim 2, wherein the lever connector comprises a hook-shaped connector head protruding upwards such that the protrusion rod of the hollow protrusion of the drainage lever is inserted, a hook-shaped connector tip extending downwards into a bird's neck shape with respect to the connector head and having a securing hole through which a fastening member is rotatably fastened when assembled to the solution reservoir, and a connector press plate integrally extending in a lateral direction at an angle from the hook-shaped connector tip.
 
10. The functional beauty applicator of claim 2, wherein the drainage channel comprises a drainage guide passage to be pressed downwards by the connector press plate so as to turn towards an inlet of the drainage cover, a drainage cap for opening and closing a drainage port of the solution reservoir, a drainage collecting part collecting the solution drained from the drainage basin, and a securing plate integrally formed with the solution-collecting part while extending oppositely thereto, and having a fastening part at a leading end thereof.
 
11. The functional beauty applicator of claim 10, wherein the drainage guide passage comprises opposite side plates to define a passageway such that a leading end of the drainage guide passage is formed inclined into a round shape and a height thereof gradually increases from the leading end to a distal end thereof.
 




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