DEVICE

Abstract

The present invention provides a device comprising a housing assembly comprising a housing, a control means and a vibratory means; and a head assembly, wherein the housing assembly and the head assembly are separately formed and comprise complementary features that together form a releasable coupling means for coupling the housing assembly and the head assembly, wherein the vibratory means has a first vibration setting at which the vibratory means does not vibrate, a second vibration setting at which the vibratory means vibrates at between 100 and 200 Hz and a third vibration setting at which the vibratory means vibrates at between 200 and 300 Hz, and wherein the control means controls the level of vibration created by the vibratory means by switching the vibratory means between the first, second and third vibration settings.

Claims

1. A device comprising: a housing assembly comprising a housing, a control means and a vibratory means; and a head assembly wherein the housing assembly and the head assembly are separately formed and comprise complementary features that together form a releasable coupling means for coupling the housing assembly and the head assembly, wherein the vibratory means has a first vibration setting at which the vibratory means does not vibrate, a second vibration setting at which the vibratory means vibrates at between 100 and 200 Hz and a third vibration setting at which the vibratory means vibrates at between 200 and 300 Hz, and wherein the control means controls the level of vibration created by the vibratory means by switching the vibratory means between the first, second and third vibration settings.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the vibratory means vibrates at between 150 and 180 Hz at the second vibration setting and vibrates at between 220 and 250 Hz at the third setting.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the head assembly comprises a reservoir and at least one ball which is contactable with the skin of the user, a portion of the at least one ball being in fluid communication with the reservoir and a retainer means for rotatably retaining the at least one ball in the head assembly.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the head assembly comprises an elongate portion extending perpendicular to the axis along which the head assembly is attached to the housing assembly and/or extending perpendicular to the central axis of the housing assembly.

5. The device of claim 4, wherein the head assembly is formed from metal, preferably aluminium or steel.

6. The device of claim 4, wherein the elongate portion has a length of between 3 and 6 cm.

7. The device of claim 4, wherein the elongate portion has a length of between 6 and 12 cm.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein a base surface of the head assembly contacts a top surface of the housing when they are connected via the releasable coupling means.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein the head assembly comprises one or more ridge on the external surface of the head assembly surrounding the releasable coupling means.

10. The device of claim 1, wherein the vibratory means is adjacent the releasable coupling means.

11. The device claim 1, wherein the head assembly comprises a releasable O-ring attached around the outer surface of the head assembly.

12. The device of claim 11, further comprising a fabric extending over at least part of the head assembly and held in position using the releasable O-ring.

13. The device of claim 12, wherein the fabric is impregnated with a cosmetic composition, optionally wherein the cosmetic composition is an exfoliant.

14. The device of claim 1, wherein the vibratory means is rechargeable.

15. A kit comprising: a housing assembly comprising a housing, a control switch and a vibratory means; a head assembly comprising a reservoir and at least one ball which is contactable with the skin of the user, a portion of the at least one ball being in fluid communication with the reservoir and a retainer means for rotatably retaining the at least one ball in the head assembly; and a head assembly comprising an elongate portion extending perpendicular to the axis along which the head assembly is attached to the housing assembly wherein the housing assembly and the head assemblies are separately formed and comprise complementary features that together form a releasable coupling means for coupling the housing assembly and each of the head assemblies, wherein the vibratory means has a first vibration setting at which the vibratory means does not vibrate, a second vibration setting at which the vibratory means vibrates at between 100 and 200 Hz and a third vibration setting at which the vibratory means vibrates at between 200 and 300 Hz, and wherein the control means controls the level of vibration created by the vibratory means by switching the vibratory means between the first, second and third vibration settings.

16. The kit of claim 15, further comprising a fabric that can be impregnated with a cosmetic composition, optionally wherein the fabric is impregnated with a cosmetic composition.

17. The kit of claim 15, further comprising a cosmetic composition.

18. A method of cosmetically treating the skin of a user comprising: applying the device of claim 1 when vibrating at the second vibration setting to a first portion of the skin; and applying the device when vibrating at the third vibration setting to a second portion of the skin.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein the first portion of the skin is the portion directly under the eye of the user and the second portion of the skin is at least part of the rest of the user's face.

Description

[0064] A specific embodiment of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

[0065] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a device according to the first aspect of the present invention;

[0066] FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of the device of FIG. 1 where the head assembly and the housing assembly have been separated;

[0067] FIG. 3 shows a front plan view of a head assembly according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

[0068] FIG. 4a shows a side plan view of a head assembly according to a second embodiment of the present invention;

[0069] FIG. 4b shows a perspective view of the head assembly of FIG. 4a; and

[0070] FIG. 4c shows a perspective view of the head assembly of FIG. 4a in combination with a housing assembly.

[0071] FIGS. 1 and 2 show a combined massage and cosmetic composition dispensing device 1. It is particularly, but not exclusively, suited to treatment of facial areas.

[0072] The device 1 has an elongate housing assembly 2 which is shaped and proportioned to permit it to be comfortably handheld. The housing assembly 2 comprises a housing 4 and a control means 5. The vibratory means is positioned within the housing 4 but is not shown in these figures. Towards one end, the housing 4 broadens to form a base and at the other end it is coupled to a head assembly 3.

[0073] The head assembly 3 forms a reservoir for the cosmetic composition and comprises a ball 6 which is rolled across the user's skin to dispense cosmetic composition.

[0074] The control means 5 comprises a press switch which, when depressed by the user, changes the level of vibration produced by the vibratory means. Depressing the switch once means that the vibratory means vibrates at the second vibration setting, at a frequency of between 100 and 200 Hz. Depressing the switch again means that the vibratory means vibrates at the third vibration setting, at a frequency of between 200 and 300 Hz. Depressing the switch for a third time stops the vibratory means vibrating.

[0075] The head assembly 3 is also provided with a cap 7. The cap 7 is releasably coupled to the head assembly 3 by an inwardly protruding flange which is received by a complementary groove formed in the head assembly 3.

[0076] The cap 7 is formed of a clear material which is sufficiently flexible such that the circumference of the region of the cap where the flange is formed can be transiently expanded to enable the cap 7 to be removed from the head assembly 3 by the user.

[0077] As shown in FIG. 2, the head assembly 3 is releasably coupled to the housing assembly 2 via complementary threaded portions 8 in the head assembly 3 and the housing 4 of the housing assembly 2. These threaded portions 8 together form the releasable coupling means of the device.

[0078] FIG. 3 illustrates a head assembly 10 according to one embodiment of the present invention. The head assembly 10 comprises an upper surface 12 in which the ball will be positioned and a lower surface 11 which will contain the releasable coupling means required to attach the head assembly 10 to a housing assembly.

[0079] The head assembly 10 further comprises three ridges 13 on the external surface of the head assembly 10, surrounding the releasable coupling means. The ridges 13 help to direct the vibrations from the vibratory means towards the upper surface 12 of the head assembly and away from the housing assembly, when the device is in use. The ridges 13 can also help the user grip the head assembly 10 when attaching or detaching it from the housing assembly.

[0080] FIGS. 4a and 4b illustrate an alternative head assembly 20 to that disclosed in FIG. 3. This head assembly 20 is in a T-bar shape, comprising a neck portion 21 and an elongate portion 22 extending perpendicular to the direction in which the head assembly is attached to the housing assembly. The head assembly 20 is formed from aluminium.

[0081] The head assembly 20 also comprises a threaded portion 23, which is used to connect the head assembly 20 to a housing assembly. The long central axis of the elongate portion 22 does not intersect the central axis of the threaded portion 23 and therefore does not intersect the central axis of the housing assembly when the head assembly 20 is connected thereto, or the axis along which the head assembly 20 is attached to the housing assembly.

[0082] The elongate portion 22 has an oval cross-section and does not contain any sharp edges. Instead, the elongate portion 22 is curved, thereby making it more comfortable for the user and allowing the elongate portion 22 to fit into the contours of the user's body, such as the neck.

[0083] FIG. 4c illustrates the head assembly 20 connected to a housing assembly 25. The head assembly 20 in this figure further comprises three ridges 24. As with the head assembly in FIG. 3, these ridges help to direct the vibrations into the head assembly and away from the housing assembly and can also help the user grip the head assembly 20 when attaching or detaching it from the housing assembly 25.

[0084] As can be seen from this figure, the central axis of the housing assembly 25, which extends along the length of the housing from the base to the releasable coupling means, does not intersect with the central axis of the elongate portion 22, due to the curvature of the neck portion 21.

EXAMPLE 1

[0085] A device as shown in FIG. 1 was run at a frequency of 167 Hz (i.e. the second vibration setting) and at 233 Hz (i.e. the third vibration setting) while the reservoir was full of the same amount of the same serum. The amount of serum released onto a surface when the rollerball was run continuously over the surface for 10 cm at each setting was measured.

[0086] It was found that significantly more serum was released at the third vibration setting than at the second vibration setting.

EXAMPLE 2

[0087] The lifting effect created by a device as shown in FIG. 1 was tested. The device was applied to one cheek of a user for 10 seconds while running at a frequency of 167 Hz (i.e. the second vibration setting) and to the other cheek of the user for 10 seconds while running at a frequency of 233 Hz (i.e. the third vibration setting).

[0088] A visual comparison of the two cheeks was made. The muscles of the cheek treated at the third vibration setting were noticeably more lifted than those of the cheek treated at the second vibration setting.

EXAMPLE 3

[0089] The effect of the device shown in FIG. 1 was tested over 8 weeks on 30 individuals, using cutometry and profilometry tests, as well as digital photography. Each individual used the device on the periorbital area and cheek on one side of their face at the second vibration setting (183 Hz). This side is the treated side, while the opposite side of the face provides the untreated measurements.

[0090] Replicas of the skin profile in the test region were made using a Silflo material. Each replica was illuminated with a collimated light source directed at a 25 angle from the plane of the replica and then analysed using profilometric software.

[0091] The luminance was measured along a set of 10 equal length parallel lines running across the replica parallel to the lighting direction. Variations in luminance were treated as being indicative of the roughness and analysed using traditional surface roughness statistics. The average maximum difference in luminance value for five equal length segments in each of the 10 lines was calculated (Rz) and the results are shown in Table 1.

TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1 Pre-treatment 1 Hour 8 Weeks Untreated 123.1 123.0 123.1 Treated 123.0 118.8 88.9

[0092] These results showed a statistically significant reduction (p<0.001) in fine lines and wrinkles. Fine lines were reduced by an average of 3.42% after one hour of treatment and by 27.7% after 8 weeks of treatment. On untreated sites, fine lines increased by an average of 0.03% over 8 weeks.

[0093] Skin viscoelasticity was also tested using a Cutometer, based on the suction method. Negative pressure was created in the device and the skin was drawn into the aperture of a probe. The penetration depth of the skin within the probe was detected by a non-contact optical measuring system. The resistance of the skin to being sucked up by the negative pressure (firmness) and its ability to return to its original position (elasticity) were measured. These were used to calculate the viscoelasticity of the skin as delayed distention over immediate distention (Uv/Ue) and the results are shown in Table 1.

TABLE-US-00002 TABLE 2 Pre-treatment 1 Hour 8 Weeks Untreated 0.518 0.518 0.518 Treated 0.518 0.560 0.755

[0094] As shown in this table, the skin viscoelasticity was statistically significantly improved (p<0.001), as the skin was firmed by 7.98% after one hour of treatment and 45.67% after 8 weeks of treatment. On untreated sites, the viscoelasticity did not significantly change.