DEVICE WITH COUNTER-FORM FOR CLEANSING THE HAIR BY ULTRASOUND

Abstract

The invention relates to a cosmetic device for cleansing the hair, comprising: an ultrasonic transmitter, a handpiece comprising a probe cooperating with a counter-form so as to pinch the lock of hair between a bearing surface of the counter-form and a distal outer surface of the probe.

It also relates to the cosmetic method for cleansing the hair that uses said device, preferably with a cleansing composition comprising at least one surfactant.

Claims

1. A cosmetic device for cleansing the hair, comprising: an ultrasonic transmitter, having an ultrasonic transducer powered by a current generator and configured to generate ultrasonic vibrations, a handpiece comprising a probe coupled to the ultrasonic transmitter so as to transmit the ultrasonic vibrations generated by the transducer to a lock of hair to be treated, the probe extending along a longitudinal axis between a proximal outer surface and a distal outer surface, wherein the handpiece also comprises a counter-form provided with a bearing surface, so as to at least partially receive the lock of hair to be treated, the probe cooperating with the counter-form so as to pinch the lock of hair between the bearing surface of the counter-form and the distal outer surface of the probe, and the counter-form delimits a receptacle of which the bottom defines the bearing surface.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the probe has an axial guiding channel passing through it.

3. The device according to claim 1, wherein the probe has a shape that flares in the direction of its distal end.

4. The device according to claim 1, wherein the bearing surface of the counter-form and the distal outer surface of the probe are parallel.

5. The device according to claim 1, wherein the handpiece comprises a first comb or a first brush disposed next to the probe and oriented towards the counter-form.

6. The device according to claim 1, wherein the counter-form comprises a second comb or a second brush 444 disposed on the outside of the bearing surface and oriented towards the probe.

7. The device according to claim 1, wherein the counter-form is equipped with a groove formed in its inner contour and disposed, in the position of use of the device, between the first comb or the first brush and the second comb or the second brush.

8. The device according to claim 1, wherein the ultrasonic frequency used by the transducer ranges from 16 kHz to 10 MHz and preferably from 16 kHz to 60 kHz.

9. The device according to claim 1, wherein it comprises a supply duct connected to a mixer connected to a reservoir for a concentrated cleansing solution.

10. The device according to claim 1, wherein the concentrated cleansing solution comprises at least one surfactant, which is preferably anionic.

11. The device according to claim 1, wherein it comprises a spent cleansing composition evacuation duct connected to the counter-form.

12. The device according to claim 1, wherein it comprises a unit for treating and recycling a spent cleansing composition.

13. A cosmetic method for cleansing the hair, comprising the operations consisting in: (i) Providing a device according to claim 1, (ii) Pinching at least one area of a lock of hair between the bearing surface of the counter-form and the distal outer surface of the probe, (iii) Generating ultrasound, (iv) Where appropriate, after relative movements of said lock with respect to the probe, successively treating one or more other areas so as to clean the desired part of the lock.

14. The method according to claim 13, comprising an operation (v) consisting in applying to the hair, during operation (iii), a metered amount of cleansing composition preferably comprising at least one surfactant, which is in particular anionic.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0074] FIG. 1 is an inclined perspective view of a device according to the invention,

[0075] FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the device in FIG. 1,

[0076] FIG. 3 illustrates a device according to FIGS. 1 and 2, connected to a reservoir containing a cleansing composition,

[0077] FIG. 4 illustrates the positioning of a lock of hair in a device according to the invention.

[0078] An implementation example of the invention has been illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, in which the treatment device comprises an ultrasonic transducer 13 for emitting acoustic waves at the input of the probe. The transducer 13 is powered by a current generator 15, which may or may not form part of the handpiece 18, for example being present in a base station to which the handpiece 18 is connected via a cable.

[0079] The device 1 has a counter-form 3 for receiving a lock of hair subjected to the acoustic waves emitted by the hollowed-out and flared probe 2. The probe 2 has a longitudinal axis X extending between its proximal outer surface 21 and its distal outer surface 22.

[0080] The probe 2 and the counter-form 3 are able to move with respect to one another between a spaced-apart configuration (not shown) for the introduction therebetween of a lock of hair, and a moved-together configuration for treatment, illustrated in FIG. 1.

[0081] The probe 2 and the counter-form 3 may be carried by an upper arm and a lower arm, respectively, which are for example independent of one another or connected together at one end by a joint, the handpiece 18 thus forming tongs. The invention is not limited to a particular way of connecting the probe 2 and the counter-form 3. However, the presence of a joint may be preferred for the ergonomics it provides.

[0082] The probe 2 and the counter-form 3 define between them an area for treatment of the head of hair, which is intended to receive a lock of hair to be treated, which is moved during the treatment, for example in the direction going from the root to the end of the hairs so as to ensure that the lock is completely cleansed.

[0083] It can be seen in the figures that the probe 2 comprises a partially hollow elongate body comprising a flared and flattened head intended to come into contact with or in proximity to a lock of hair that is spread out in a sheet on the bearing surface 31 formed by the bottom of the receptacle 30, such that an area of the lock to be treated is situated facing the distal outer surface 22 of the probe 2.

[0084] The probe 2 forms a removable component associated with the counter-form 3, of cooperating shape, by providing, between the bearing surface 31 and the distal outer surface 22, a space constituting a recess 60 for the lock. In the example shown, the probe 2 is moved by the user along the longitudinal axis X of the handpiece 18, so as to be moved away from or closer to the counter-form 3, so as to place the distal outer surface 22 and the bearing surface 31 facing one another and simultaneously allowing the pinching of the lock.

[0085] A groove 39 can be arranged on the edges of the upper surface 36 of the counter-form 3, for example in order to promote the evacuation of the spent cleansing composition.

[0086] In FIGS. 1 and 2, two first combs 32, 33 are disposed facing each other on either side of the probe and two second combs 34, 35 are arranged facing each other on either side of the longitudinal edges of the counter-form. The two first combs 32, 33 are symmetrical to each other with respect to a median plane of the probe 2 and the two second combs 34, 35 are symmetrical with one another with respect to a median plane of the counter-form 3.

[0087] FIG. 3 shows a device in accordance with FIGS. 1 and 2 that is supplied with cleansing composition via a supply duct 45 connected to a mixer 41 that may be connected to a water reservoir 42 and to a reservoir of a concentrated cleansing solution 43, which advantageously comprises at least one surfactant, which is preferably anionic. The hair composition passes through the probe via the axial guiding channel before being dispensed onto the hair, for example by a sprayer or nebulizer, after having passed through the outlet orifice of the guiding channel.

[0088] The counter-form 3 has a spent hair composition evacuation duct 44, which passes for example through a lateral wall 37 of the recess 60 receiving the lock of hair and opens into a cup 48 that collects the spent composition.

[0089] The supply and evacuation ducts can be equipped with a motor system 40 that makes drainage easier.

[0090] FIG. 4 schematically shows a lock of hair M ready to be inserted between the probe 2 and the combs 34, 35 of the counter-form 3 when the probe 2 is moved closer to the counter-form 3.

[0091] In order to use the device according to the invention, the probe 2 and the counter-form 3 are moved away from each other, so that a lock of hair can be placed between them. The probe 2 and the counter-form 3 are then moved closer to one another, so as to pinch the lock between the distal outer surface 22 of the probe 2 and the bearing surface 31 of the counter-form 3.

[0092] The handpiece 18 has a base station 19 that preferably has a cylindrical shape. It houses a source of electrical energy, for example one or more accumulators or cells, and a printed circuit board carrying the electronic components of the device. These components ensure, for example, the generation of the pressure necessary for the possible spraying of the cleansing composition, the control of the various electrical elements and can perform ancillary functions such as for example the calculation of the quantity of product that remains to be sprayed, in order to notify the user of the need to replace a cartridge containing the cleansing composition.

[0093] The user switches on the electrical power supply so as to expose the lock of hair to ultrasonic vibrations for a selected duration, in particular at least 1 second. The spraying of the cleansing composition may start at the same time that the transducer 13 is switched on and also stop at the same time, or the start of the spraying and the switching on of the transducer may be offset in time.

[0094] The user then moves the lock relative to the receptacle 30 so as to ensure that it is completely cleansed, over its entire length or the desired length.

[0095] The cleansing composition preferably comprises one or more surfactants. The preferred surfactants are nonionic, anionic, or amphoteric surfactants. Even more preferentially, the cleansing composition contains at least one anionic surfactant. The anionic surfactant may in particular be an alkyl sulfate salt or an alkyl ether sulfate salt.

[0096] Preferably, the concentration of surfactants in the cleansing composition varies from 0.05% to 20% by weight, better still from 0.1% to 10% by weight, even better still from 0.2% to 5% by weight, with respect to the total weight of the composition.

[0097] The cleansing composition may also comprise one or more hair conditioning agents chosen in particular from non-silicone cationic or amphoteric polymers, nonionic or cationic silicone oils or gums, mineral oils, oils of plant origin, waxes or butters of plant origin.

[0098] It can also comprise other compounds chosen from thickening agents, pearlescent or mattifying agents, basifying or acidifying agents, anti-UV agents, preserving agents, antibacterial agents, agents for preventing hair loss, grease-control agents, perfuming agents.

[0099] The invention is not limited to the examples specifically described. It encompasses in particular other structures of the handpiece 18 and other modes of relative arrangement of the transducer 13 and of the probe 2.