Abstract
The invention relates to an epilator (10) comprising an epilation head (18) having at least one rotatable disc-shaped member (20), a massaging member (34) arranged next to the epilation head, and a drive structure for driving the massaging member (34). According to the invention, the drive structure comprises a cylinder (26) for contacting a circumference of said at least one disc-shaped member (20) for the purpose of being rotated by said at least one disc-shaped member (20) about a rotational axis (30), wherein the cylinder (26) has a contact surface which is symmetrical about the rotational axis (30). The drive structure may further comprise an eccentric tappet (32) arranged for being rotated by the cylinder (26).
Claims
1. An epilator comprising: an epilation head having at least one rotatable disc-shaped member adjacent a treatment window, the at least one rotatable disc-shaped member for contacting a surface through the treatment window to perform epilation; a massaging member arranged next to the epilation head; a drive structure for driving the massaging member, said drive structure including a cylinder for contacting a circumference of said at least one rotatable disc-shaped member of the epilation head such that said at least one rotatable disc-shaped member of the epilation head rotates the cylinder of the drive structure about a rotational axis; wherein the cylinder has a contact surface which is symmetrical about the rotational axis; wherein an elastic rod or an elastic lead running parallel to the rotational axis of the cylinder biases the cylinder towards the at least one rotatable disc-shaped member; wherein two opposite bearings mount both ends of the elastic rod or elastic leaf to the epilator; and wherein the elastic rod or the elastic leaf is substantially straight throughout an entire length of the elastic rod or the elastic leaf between the two opposite bearings and deformable in a direction perpendicular to the rotational axis.
2. The epilator as claimed in claim 1, wherein the drive structure further comprises an eccentric tappet arranged for being rotated by the cylinder.
3. The epilator as claimed in claim 2, wherein the cylinder and the eccentric tappet are rigidly coupled to each other.
4. The epilator as claimed in claim 2, wherein the drive structure further includes a translational member arranged for being translated by the eccentric tappet.
5. The epilator as claimed in claim 4, further comprising: a carrier rigidly coupled to the translational member and carrying the massaging member.
6. The epilator as claimed in claim 5, further comprising: a rail for guiding the carrier.
7. The epilator as claimed in claim 4, wherein the elastic rod or the elastic leaf biases the translational member towards the eccentric tappet.
8. The epilator as claimed in claim 1, wherein the contact surface of the cylinder is made of a slip-resistant material.
9. The epilator as claimed in claim 1, wherein the massaging member includes a massage roller.
10. The epilator as claimed in claim 1, wherein the massaging member and the drive structure including the cylinder are part of an attachment which is attachable to and detachable from a housing of the epilator.
11. The epilator as claimed in claim 10, wherein the attachment includes an outer cap surrounding a portion of the epilation head.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
(1) FIG. 1 shows a simplified partially exploded front view of an epilator.
(2) FIG. 2 is a simplified front view of the epilator shown in FIG. 1.
(3) FIG. 3 shows a simplified oblique view of an epilator.
(4) FIG. 4 shows a simplified top view of an epilator according to a specific embodiment.
(5) FIG. 5 shows a simplified cross sectional view of a portion of the epilator shown in FIG. 4, taken along a first plane.
(6) FIG. 6 shows a simplified cross sectional view of the epilator shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, taken along a second plane parallel to the first plane.
(7) FIG. 7 shows a simplified oblique view of a portion of the epilator shown in FIGS. 4, 5, and 6.
(8) FIG. 8 shows a simplified cut-away oblique view of a portion of the epilator shown in FIGS. 4 to 7.
DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
(9) Identical reference numerals in different Figures are used to designate identical, similar or analogous components. Such components are not necessarily described more than once.
(10) FIG. 1 shows a simplified partially exploded side view of an epilator 10 comprising a housing 12, an epilation head 18, and a massaging member 34 for massaging skin during an epilation session. The epilation head 18 comprises several clamping discs 20 mounted rotatably about a rotational axis 40. The epilation head 18 is mounted to an inner cap 14 having means (not shown) for engaging with complementary means (not shown) of the housing 12, for fastening the inner cap 14 to the housing 12. Mechanically coupled to the clamping discs 20 is a gear wheel 38 which is intended for being driven by an electric motor (not shown) situated within the housing 12. The massaging member 34 is mounted to an outer cap 16 having means (not shown) enabling the cap to be attached to the housing 12. In an assembled state of the epilator 10, the outer cap 16 surrounds the inner cap 14 and defines a treatment window 24 through which the epilation head 18 may contact the skin. Also mounted to the outer cap 16 is a cylinder 26 for contacting the clamping discs 20 when the epilator 10 is in an assembled state. The cylinder 26 is substantially symmetrical under rotation about the rotational axis 30. Its cross section perpendicular to the rotational axis 30 thus defines a circle centered about the rotational axis 30. Formed in a single, essentially rigid, piece with the cylinder 26 is an eccentric tappet 32 contacting the massaging member 34. The single piece comprising the cylinder 26 and the eccentric tappet 32 can be made of metal, or plastic, or a combination of both, or of any other suitable material. The cross section of the eccentric tappet 32 perpendicular to the rotational axis 30 defines a Reuleaux triangle. As the cylinder 26 rotates about the rotational axis 30, and with it rotates the eccentric tappet 32, the tappet 32, due to its eccentricity, generates an up and down movement 36 of the massaging member 34 relative to the outer cap 16. The cylinder 26 is mounted to the outer cap 16 by means of an axle 28 running parallel to the rotational axis 30.
(11) In FIG. 2 the epilator 10 discussed above with reference to FIG. 1 is represented, in a simplified manner, in an assembled state. The outer cap 16 is mounted to the housing 12, thereby covering the inner cap 14 (see FIG. 1) and defining a treatment window 24 through which the epilation head 18 may contact the skin when the epilator 10 is in an assembled state. The cylinder 26 and the eccentric member 32 are hidden behind the epilation head 18.
(12) Referring to FIG. 3, there is shown, in a schematic and simplified manner, a portion of an epilator 10. The epilator 10 comprises an epilation head 18 having rotatable clamping discs 20, a massaging member 34 arranged next to the epilation head, and a cylinder 26 contacting the circumference of at least one of the clamping discs 20 for the purpose of being rotated by the clamping discs 20 about a rotational axis 30. The surface of the cylinder 26 is substantially symmetrical under rotation about the rotational axis 30. The epilator 10 further comprises an eccentric tappet 32 intended for being rotated by the cylinder 26. The cylinder 26 and the eccentric tappet 32 are rigidly coupled to each other. The epilator 10 further comprises a translational member 48 intended for being translated by the eccentric tappet 32, thereby translating the massaging member 34 relative to the epilation head 18. The epilator 10 further comprises a carrier 46 rigidly coupled to the translational member 48 and carrying the massaging member 34. The outer cap 16 has two vertical grooves 58 serving as rails for the carrier 46 on which the massaging member 34 is mounted. Thus, the carrier 46 is slidable relative to the outer cap 16. The cylinder 26 together with the eccentric member 32 is mounted to the outer cap 16 by means of an axle 28 supported by a bearing 34. As the epilation head 18 rotates about the rotational axis 40, friction between the epilation head 18 and the coupling cylinder 26 causes the coupling cylinder 26 to rotate about the rotational axis 30. The eccentric member 32, rotating along with the cylinder 26 about the common rotational axis 30 and contacting the translational member 48, moves the carrier 46 and hence the massaging member 34 in a substantially straight direction defined by the rail 58. The eccentric member 32, due to its eccentric transverse cross section with respect to the rotational axis 30, consequently converts the uniform rotational motion of the cylinder 26 into an up and down movement of the carrier 46 and thus of the massaging member 34. The effect of the massaging member 34 moving up and down is experienced by the user of the device 10 as a vibration on his or her skin. The massaging member 34 comprises a plurality of elementary massaging members 52 arranged in a row along a rotational axis 42 defined by the massaging member 34. In the specific embodiment illustrated here, the elementary massaging members 52 are spherical balls mounted to the carrier 46 by means of an axle (not shown) and a frame 50 having bearings for holding the axle.
(13) Referring now to FIGS. 4 to 8, there is illustrated in a simplified manner an epilator 10 according to a specific embodiment. The epilator 10 comprises an outer cap 16 partially surrounding an epilation head 18 having a plurality of clamping discs (not shown). Mounted to the outer cap 16 by means of a frame 50 is a massage roller 34 comprising a plurality of disc-shaped elementary massaging members 52 arranged in a row along the rotational axis of the roller 34. FIG. 5 illustrates a cross section of the epilator 10 along the line B-B in FIG. 4. The cylinder 26 contacts the circumference of a clamping disc 20 for receiving a force from the clamping disc when the clamping disc is rotated. The cylinder 26 has a non-slip surface provided, for example, by a rubber coating. FIG. 6 analogously illustrates the cross section of the epilator 10 along the line A-A in FIG. 4. The eccentric tappet 32 is asymmetrical under rotation about the rotational axis 30 of the cylinder 26. More specifically, the cross section of the eccentric tappet 32 perpendicular to the rotational axis 30 defines an ellipse. In the particular example shown here, the ratio of the ellipse's minor axis to the ellipse's major axis is in the range of 0.3 to 0.9. The eccentric tappet 32 contacts a translational member 48 mechanically coupled to the massaging member 34. As is best seen in FIGS. 4, 7, and 8, the epilator 10 comprises a spring 54 in the form of an elastic rod 54 running parallel to the rotational axis 30 of the cylinder 26. The spring 54, mounted to the outer cap 16 by means of two opposite bearings 56, biases the cylinder 26 toward the clamping discs 26, and the translational member 48 toward the cylinder 26. The outer cap 16 together with a driving mechanism 26, 32, 48, and the massage roller 34 form an attachment which is attachable to and detachable from the housing 12 of the epilator 10.
(14) While the invention has been illustrated and described in detail in, respectively, the drawings and the foregoing description, the drawings and the description are to be considered exemplary and not restrictive. The invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments. Equivalents, combinations, and modifications not described above may also be realized without departing from the scope of the invention.
(15) The verb to comprise and its conjugations neither exclude the presence of other steps or elements nor the matter the verb to comprise refers to. The indefinite article a or an does not exclude a plurality. It is also noted that a single unit may provide the functions of several means mentioned in the claims. The mere fact that certain features are recited in mutually different dependent claims does not indicate that a combination of these features cannot be used to advantage. Any reference signs in the claims should not be construed as limiting the scope.
