FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention concerns a skin treatment device for professional and private
use. The device is used for achieving cosmetic or well-being benefits, for example
it can be used to have a massage effect or for cleansing and refreshing the skin or
for applying a cosmetic composition.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] A wide variety of cosmetic moisturizing and other agents is available to meet the
interest in having a clean healthy and good-looking skin and face. Relative to these
offers of the cosmetic industry, the use of skin care appliances and devices is slightly
more limited, but many efforts have also been made in this field.
[0003] U.S. patent 2,714,788 discloses a device for removing hair which comprises an electric motor, a holder
for an abrasive pad and an abrasive pad. This device is ment to remove hairs from
the skin of, for example, the legs by means of abrasion.
[0004] EP 1 429 670 A2 discloses an ultrasonic cleaner comprising a handle and a brush positioned at the
proximal end off the handle. The cleaner further comprises an ultrasonic vibrator
operably attached to the brush. A battery positioned within the hollow interior of
the handle provides power to the ultrasonic vibrator. Ultrasonic vibration is transmitted
from the vibrator through the brush and to its bristles. The cleaner can hence be
used for skin cleaning.
[0005] WO 2010/100527 A1 discloses an appliance for facial care. The facial appliance comprises a tubular
body and axially extending from the tubular body a so-called facial puck. This facial
puck comprises a facial implement rotatable about a shaft and a sub assembly linked
to the shaft. This sub assembly includes a spinner journaled for rotation about an
axis extending from the tubular body. The spinner comprises opposing, radially extending,
resiliently biased, release fingers. These release fingers removably mount the applicator
implement (e.g. the facial implement) for rotation with the spinner. The spinner is
mounted to the main gear by slip bearings.
[0006] It is an objective of the present invention to provide a versatile skin treatment
device. The skin treatment device should be suitable for use with one or several implements,
the use should be intuitive and it should be safe. Further the skin treatment device
should provide gentle, but effective hair removal adapted to personal preference and
skin type.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] The present invention concerns a skin treatment device for professional and private
use. In particular the present invention concerns a skin treatment device comprising
a drive unit (20) and a first attachment and a second attachment, the first attachment
comprising a brush, the second attachment comprising an epilation or a depilation
unit, wherein the first attachment comprises a gear box and the second attachment
comprises a gear box and the gear box comprises by the second attachment provides
a gear reduction of at least 1.25 to 4. In a further aspect the invention concern
a method of using such a device for treating the human skin.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0008]
- Fig. 1
- shows a plain view onto a skin treatment device according to the present invention
comprising a first attachment.
- Fig. 2
- shows a side view of the skin treatment device of Fig. 1.
- Fig.3
- shows a plain view onto a skin treatment device according to the present invention
comprising a second attachment.
- Fig.4
- shows a partially cutaway side view of the skin treatment device comprising the first
attachment.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0009] The skin treatment device comprises a drive unit and a first and a second attachment.
The skin treatment device may also be provided as a kit with two, three or more attachments.
At a given time one attachment can be used with the drive unit. Additionally or alternatively,
the drive unit may also be adapted to operate two or more attachments at the same
time. However, a drive unit which can operate one attachment at the time has been
found useful. The attachment therefore can be removably mounted to the drive unit.
The drive unit can be hand operated or motor operated. Often the drive unit is operated
by an electric motor. This electric motor can be operated by a battery, for example
a rechargable battery. Drive units needing a cable for contact with the power supply
while being operated can also be useful.
[0010] The first attachment can comprise a skin treatment implement or element, for example
in the form of a brush and can comprise an output element. Alternatively the output
element, for example in the form of a gear box, can also be part of the drive unit.
Alternatively or additionally a further gear box or a force transmission element can
be comprised by the drive unit.
[0011] The second attachment can be a depilation or epilation attachment. A depilation attachment
is used to remove hair from the skin surface by cutting the hair slightly above and
typically closely to the skin surface. This can also be referred to as shaving. The
depilation can hence be undertaking in a wet shaving process, preferably using a blade
cartridge comprising two, three, four or more blades. Alternatively, the depilation
process can be an electric shaving process where typically a moving block of blades
is moved relative to a foil, which comprises openings for hairs. Another useful embodiment
of the present invention comprises a first attachment in the form of an epilation
attachment. In an epilation process hair is pulled and then plucked from the skin.
Hence, the whole hair is removed from the skin. Both processes and particularly the
epilation process induce a certain stress to the treated skin area. The process can
be rendered more efficient, for example in the case of an epilation process by increasing
epilation speed or the number of plucking tweezers or the like. However, such approaches
to increase efficiency are often associated with exposing the skin to more stress
and sometimes inducing an increased sensation of pain. Hence, there is a continued
need for providing a gentle but efficient process.
[0012] It has been found, that the skin treatment device when used with the first attachment
is of considerable benefit. The treatment of the skin with the brush, can give a certain
massaging and cleansing effect. The appearance of the skin can be overall improved.
Beyond this, the first attachment can enhance the benefits of the skin treatment device
when used with (widely used) second attachment. Surprisingly, it has been found that
the hair removal in particular by epilation process is more efficient, when the skin
is treated using the second attachment before the first attachment is used. While
these effects are not fully understood yet, it could be, that surface skin particles
are removed by the second attachment, and that thereby the access to hair is increased.
Hence, the hair removal by the first attachment is made more efficient.
[0013] It has been found that this effect is particularly pronounced if the rotational speed
of the first attachment is adapted accordingly. For a given drive unit useful for
use with a second attachment, in particular an epilation attachment, it is useful
that the second attachment comprises a gear box and that the gear box comprised by
the first attachment provides a gear reduction of at least 1.25 to 10. Values of 1.25
to 5 or 1.25 to 4 or 1.5 to 3 have also been found useful. A gear reduction leads
to a reduction of the rotational speed of the brush relative to the rotational speed
from an output shaft. Hence, the brush turn slower than the output shaft.
[0014] Where the first attachment comprises a gear box providing a first gear reduction
and the second attachment comprises a gear box providing a second gear reduction,
the frist gear reduction should be greater than the second gear reduction by a factor
of 1 to 5 or 2 to 3.
[0015] In a further aspect it has been found useful that the brush head comprised by the
first attachment has an average diameter of a certain range. If the brush is of circular
form, the average diameter is a standard diameter. If the brush is of non-circular
form, the average diameter is the diameter of a circular brush of the same area than
the actually used non-circular brush. An average diameter in the range of 1 cm to
7 cm or 3 cm to 5 cm have been found useful. Such a diameter allows to easily use
the skin treatment device and applying the right amount of force onto the skin when
the device is hold in the user's hands. It has also been found that the device is
efficient and yet gentle enough if the ratio of the gear reduction and the centimeter
value of the average diameter is from 1 to 2. For example, a gear reduction of 2 is
useful for a brush with an average diameter of 4 centimeters, hence, having a centimeter
value of 4. This also allows to provide a drive unit which can be battery operated
and still provides sufficient force for an efficient skin treatment process. Choosing
an appropriate gear reduction will also assist in preventing damage from the drive
unit. By manipulating the first attachment manually, a not too high amount of force
should be transmitted to the drive unit. A gear reduction as described is of assistance
in this context.
[0016] Further, to protect the drive unit and the gear box, a disengagement mechanism can
be provided. Such a disengagement mechanism for the first attachment can lead to the
disengagement of the chassis carrying the skin treatment element, for example the
brush and a rotary support element supporting the chassis and being coupled to the
gear box and thereby the drive unit. It is useful to provide such a disengagement
mechanism by providing the following: a drive unit comprising an output element, for
example a gear box, and a rotary support element, the rotary support element comprising
protrusions, the attachment comprising a skin treatment element and a chassis for
the skin treatment element, the chassis comprising a multitude of recesses to cooperate
with the protrusions of the rotary support element of the drive unit, wherein the
chassis can be supported by the rotary support element and, wherein the protrusions
can be brought into an engagement position with the recesses and, while the chassis
is supported by the rotary support element, into a disengagement position with the
recesses. It is useful that the recesses form a toothed ring. Many recesses in close
neighborhood can be thereby offered. It is useful to provide the protrusions in the
form of latches, for example spring loaded latches.
[0017] It is equally useful to couple the first attachment to the drive unit via an eccentric.
This provides an efficient way of driving the first attachment.
[0018] A useful gear reduction for the first attachment can be achieved by providing the
following: a first attachment which comprises a drive shaft for the transmission of
a rotary movement from the drive unit to the drive axis, the drive shaft being linked
to a sprocket, the sprocket engaging with a crown gear wheel and crown gear wheel
being linked to the drive axis.
[0019] In the context of the present invention, it has been found that a method for treating
human skin, the method comprising the following steps is useful:
- Treating the skin with an oscillating brush using a skin treatment device comprising
a drive unit and a first attachment, the first attachment comprising the brush
- Removing body hair from the skin using a skin treatment device comprising the drive
unit and a second attachment, the second attachment comprising an epilation or a depilation
unit
- wherein the drive unit can operate at a first preset speed and the preset speed is
used in both steps.
[0020] The method can be used in different sequences. For example, body hair can be first
removed from the skin, and then in a subsequent step the skin can be treated with
an oscillating brush. This method does not increase the efficiency of the hair removal
process, however, it can have a massaging and soothing benefit. The soothing effect
can be enhanced, if the method comprises a further step of applying a lotion to the
skin or to the brush.
[0021] Alternatively, the treating of the skin with the oscillating brush can be carried
out before removing body hair from the skin. This sequence of step has been found
to increase the efficiency of the body hair removal. In one effective process, the
treating the skin with the brush is carried out 24 to 72 hours before removing the
body hair from the skin. The brushing process is assumed to prepare the skin for the
hair removal process. As explained, the removal of surface skin particles can play
a role for achieving this benefit. In this brushing step a certain amount of stress
is induced on the skin. Waiting 24 to 72 hours before applying another skin treatment
step, allows the skin to recover. Alternatively, the treating of the skin with the
oscillating brush is carried out 60 to 1 minutes before removing body hair from the
skin. While potentially accepting, that the skin is thereby exposed to a slightly
increased stress, this timing of the two processes allows to carry out both steps
in essentially one session, typically in one place, for example the bathroom, and
hence to have a time efficient hair removal routine. In both cases, the pretreatment
of the skin by brushing will noticably increase the efficiency of the hair removal
process, particularly, but not only, if an epilation process is used. There is a particular
benefit in using a first and a second attachment with the gear reduction ratios as
given above.
[0022] It is particularly beneficial, to use one and the same drive unit with the first
and the second attachment. In particular if the drive unit allows four different speed
settings, for example a first (slower) and a second (faster) speed. Different users
will typically select a speed level according to their personal preferences. These
preferences can be influenced by skin type. For example, a user with a more sensitive
skin will often use the slower speed setting. The user can than use the first and
the second attachment with the same drive unit and with the same personal speed setting.
If, for example, a slow speed is used, the both process steps will be relatively gentle
as preferred by this particular user. The gear reduction level of the second attachment
relative to the first attachment can be chosen to accommodate typical user habits,
such that most users can reapply their personal speed setting in both process steps.
[0023] Fig. 1 shows a skin treatment device 10 comprising a first attachment with its essential
elements according to the present invention. The device 10 comprises a drive unit
20. The drive unit will comprise a motor which will typically provide a rotational
or vibrational movement to some output device. The motor will typically be an electrical
motor which can be battery operated, preferably by a rechargable battery. The drive
unit 20 will comprise a switch 22, for turning the unit on or off and/or making other
selections of an operation mode. The switch 22 allows to select a first operation
speed by turning it to position 24 and allows to select a second operation speed by
turning it to position 26.
[0024] An attachment 30 can be connected to the drive unit 20. A variety of suitable connectors
are well-known, often a positive fitting is useful. Other attachments can be connected
to the drive unit, for example attachment 30 can serve as a first attachment, and
a further attachment can serve as a second or third attachment, which can also be
connected to the same drive unit 20. The attachment 30 as shown comprises a brush
32. The term brush is used herein broadly, to denote an implement, which can comprise
conventional bristles of a variety of materials, as known from other areas. The brush
can also comprise rubber implements, which could have bristle form or which could
also have the form of bars or ligaments. The brush 32 will typically have a circular
outer shape, but could also have other shapes.
[0025] Fig. 2 shows the same device 20 in a side view. From the side view it is clear that
the main axis of the drive unit and the rotational axis of the brush 32 are tilted
towards each other. Angles in the range of 90° to 135° and 100° to 120° have been
found useful for convenient and effective handling. In this side view it can be readly
seen, that the attachment 30 comprises a gear box 60, onto which the brush 32 with
the brush chassis 34 is mounted. The gear box 60 is connected to the brush chassis
34 via a rotary support element 50, which is only visible in this view as a ring like
structure connection brush chassis 34 to gear box 60.
[0026] Fig. 3 shows a skin treatment device 10 comprising a second attachment with its essential
elements according to the present invention. The second attachment is an epilation
attachment 40. The epilation attachment 40 comprises an epilation cylinder 42. The
epilation cylinder 42 can be brought in contact with the skin. The epilation cylinder
42 rotates about his main axis (which in Fig. 3 lies in the horizontal direction).
The rotation is induces by the drive unit 20, which has been described before. The
epilation cylinder 42 is provided with tweezers which can pull and pluck out hair.
For an easier guidance of the device and also for achieving a certain reduction of
a subjective sensation of pain, skin contact rollers 46 are provided. These rollers
can provide an additional massage function. Hence, the present invention generally
also concerns a skin treatment device 10 comprising a drive unit 20 and a first attachment
30 and a second attachment 40, the first attachment comprising 30 a brush or a skin
treatment implement rotation about an axis generally vertical to the skin surface
and the second attachment 40 comprising skin contact rollers 46 rotating about an
axis parallel to the skin surface.
[0027] Fig.4 shows a partially cutaway side view of the skin treatment device 10 comprising
the second attachment. In this view details of the gear box 60 can be easily understood.
Power from the drive unit 20 is transmitted to the (incoming) drive shaft 64. Onto
the drive shaft a sprocket 66 is mounted. For corporation with this sprocket a crown
gear wheel 68 is provided. The crown gear wheel 68 sits on a drive axis 70. This axis
is tilted at an angle of about 110° relative to drive shaft 64. Angles in the range
of 90° to 135° and 100° to 120° have been found useful for convenient and effective
handling. Overall, hence, an angular gear is provided which serves as a two stage
speed reduction unit. The gear (or speed) reduction can be by a factor of 1.25 to
10. Values of 1.25 to 5 or 1.25 to 4 or 1.5 to 3 have also been found useful. It is
also apparent that this robust construction easily fits into the outer shape of the
gear box 60.
[0028] The drive axis 70 is parallel (as seen in this side view) to a central support axis
72. The central support axis 72 is not a driven axis. Hence the central support axis
72 provides rotary support for the rotary support element 50. Hence, the rotary support
element 50 has one degree of freedom, which is the freedom to move about the support
axis 72.
[0029] The rotary support element 50 comprises a rotary plate 52 onto which latches 54 are
mounted. The latches 54 are spring loaded by spring elements 56. Further a support
plate 58 is mounted onto rotary plate 52. The support plate 58 provides support to
a skin treatment element (not shown). A rotary oscillation movement can be provided
to the rotary support element 50. This movement is transmitted by drive axis 70. The
drive axis carries an eccentric 74. This eccentric 74 comprises an eccentric wheel
76, which carries an eccentric pin 78. The pin 78 can then cooperate with a slot (not
shown here) in the rotary plate 52.
[0030] The dimensions and values disclosed herein are not to be understood as being strictly
limited to the exact numerical values recited. Instead, unless otherwise specified,
each such dimension is intended to mean both the recited value and a functionally
equivalent range surrounding that value. For example, a dimension disclosed as "40
mm" is intended to mean "about 40 mm."
1. A skin treatment device (10) comprising a drive unit (20) and a first attachment (30)
and a second attachment (40), the first attachment comprising (30) a brush, the second
attachment (40) comprising an epilation or a depilation unit, wherein the first attachment
comprises a gear box and the second attachment comprises a gear box and the gear box
comprised by the second attachment provides a gear reduction of at least 1.25 to 4.
2. A skin treatment device (10) according to claim 2, wherein the brush comprises a brush
head and the brush head comprises an average diameter, the average diameter being
from 1 cm to 5 cm.
3. A skin treatment device (10) according to claim 2, wherein the ratio of the gear reduction
and the centimeter value of the average diameter is from 2 to 3.
4. A skin treatment device (10) according to anyone of the preceding claims, wherein
the first attachment is coupled to the drive unit via an eccentric.
5. A skin treatment device (10) according to anyone of the preceding claims, wherein
the skin treatment device (10) comprises a drive unit (20) and an attachment (30),
the drive unit (20) comprising an output element (60) and a rotary support element
(50), the rotary support element (50) comprising protrusions, the attachment (30)
comprising a skin treatment element (32) and a chassis (34) for the skin treatment
element (32), the chassis comprising a multitude of recesses to cooperate with the
protrusions of the rotary support element (50) of the drive unit, wherein the chassis
(34) can be supported by the rotary support element (50) and, wherein the protrusions
can be brought into an engagement position with the recesses and, while the chassis
(34) is supported by the rotary support element (50), into a disengagement position
with the recesses.
6. A skin treatment device (10) according to anyone of the preceding claims, wherein
the recesses form a toothed ring.
7. A skin treatment device (10) according to anyone of the preceding claims, wherein
the protrusions are provided in the form a latches (54).
8. A skin treatment device (10) according to anyone of the preceding claims, comprising
a first attachment (30) which comprises a drive shaft (62) for the transmission of
a rotary movement from the drive unit (20) to the drive axis (70), the drive shaft
(62) being linked to a sprocket (66), the sprocket (66) engaging with a crown gear
wheel (68) and crown gear wheel (68) being linked to the drive axis (70).
9. A method for treating human skin, the method comprising the following steps:
- Treating the skin with an oscillating brush using a skin treatment device comprising
a drive unit and a first attachment, the first attachment comprising the brush
- Removing body hair from the skin using a skin treatment device comprising the drive
unit and a second attachment, the second attachment comprising an epilation or a depilation
unit
and wherein the drive unit can operate at a first preset speed and the preset speed
is used in both steps.
10. The method of the preceding claim, wherein further a second preset speed in available.
11. The method of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the treating the skin with
an oscillating brush is carried out 24 to 72 hours before the removing body hair from
the skin.
12. The method of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the treating the skin with
an oscillating brush is carried out 60 minutes to 1 minute before the removing body
hair from the skin.
13. The method of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the first attachment comprises
a gear box and the second attachment comprises a gear box and the gear box comprises
by the second attachment provides a gear reduction of at least 1 to 2.5.
14. A kit comprising a drive unit (10), a first attachment (30) and an second attachment,
the first attachment comprising (30) a brush, the second attachment comprising an
epilation or a depilation unit, wherein the first attachment comprises a gear box
and the second attachment comprises a gear box and the gear box comprises by the second
attachment provides a gear reduction of at least 1 to 2.5.