CA1209874A - Hot wax hair remover apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE

A system for heating and applying a depilatory wax to skin for removal of hair. The system includes a reservoir which stores a supply of the wax and a dispenser coupled to the reservoir. The depilatory wax is essentially solid at room temperature but becomes flowable when heated. The heated wax flows from the reservoir to the dispenser for application. The roller applies the wax in a thin layer to prevent pain and burning.

Description

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HOT WAX HAIR REMOVER APPARATUS

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to an apparatus for removing hair by application of a hot wax to the skin, and, in particular, to an applicator system which stores and safely and painlessly applies a hot depilatory wax to the skin in sufficiently thin layers to maximize the effectiveness of epilation. The applicator syste~ includes a heating mechanism to heat wax that is normally stored in a hardened state in an applicator in order to lo melt the wax for safe application by the applicator to the skin.
Epilation by application of a hot depilatory wax to the skin and removal of the wax from the skin after cooling is an accepted technique for ef~ective, long-lasting hair removal. As the wax haraens a cloth is pressed thereagainst. When the wax is hard, the cloth is pulled back and pulls the wax and hair captured the.reby from a human's pores~
The accepted commercial technique of removing hair by application of a hot wax ~epilatory usually includes heating a large quantity of depilatory wax to a molten state in a large, open vat. The individual then tests the temperature o~ the wax by touching. Generally, a skilled individual will apply the melted wax by dipping a spoon or stick applicator into the vat and collecting a blob of molten ~ax on the applicator and coating the skin in the area where hair is to be removed~ Wax is wasted due to the dripping and spilling as the applicator is removed from the vat. Moreover, when the wax is heated to a molten state ~or application to the skin, it retains a high viscosity similar to that of molasses or thick honey due to the properties thereof.
Because of this high viscosity property, the depilatory wax tends to be appli~d to the skin in thick blobs.

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It is noted, however, that depilatory wax is like candle wax and, thus, when molten, can cause severe pain and burning of the skin if applied in thick blobs. Moreover, the imprecise application of molten wax using a spoon or a stick does not permit the thickness of the layer of wax applied to be controlled to any great degree and, the thicker the wax-layer applied, the less hair is removed by peeling of the wax from the skin after hardening.
It is for these reasons that heretofore~ efficient, safe and burn-free waxing has been l~rgely limited to the skill of lo trained, experienced salon personnel and have not generally been available for home use due to the severe burning and pain which can occur if the wax is improperly applied. Accordingly, a hot wax haix remover apparatus which permits the depilatory wax to be m~lted and which includes an applicator for applying a suffici-ently thin layer of the hot melted wax to the skin that avoids pain and burning and yet is safe and effective for home use, is desired.
SUklMARY OF THE INVENTION

Generally speaking, in accordance with the instant inven-tiont a hot wax hair remover apparatu~ includes an applicator having a reservoir for storing a supply of the d pilatory wax tha~
is essentially hard at room temperature but becomes viscous when heated to a suf~icient temperature. A film dispenser is supported on the reservoir in fluid communiçation therewith so that the wax when heated to a low viscous state can flow through the dispenser for application o the wax to the skin for epilation. The dispenser is adapted to apply the hot melted wax to the skin in a suffi~iently thin layer, preferably between 0.1 and ~.3mm in thickness,.so that the final skin temperature immediately after the wax is applied is maintained below 111.2F, the threshold temperature for thermally evoked pain, thereby preventing pain and burning of the skin.

~2~374 In an exemplary embodiment the dispenser is a cylindrical roller having a smooth surface formed about the periphery thereof.
The width of the roller is determined by the precise anatomy to be epillated.
In a preferred embodiment, a housing is provided that includes three differently sized openings for removably receiving three differently sized applicators. A large applicator is sized for application of melted depilatory wax to skin on the legs. An intermediate sized applicator is sized for application of melted o depilatory wax to skin on the body. A smaller applicator device is sized for easy application of melted depilatory wax to skin on the face~ The applicators as described above, apply a thin, uniform layer of the melted depilatory wax to the skin. The thin layer of wax causes adhesion and shearing of the hair to be concen-trated at the skin-wax interface rather than interstitially in the thicker wax layer applied under known techniques.
Accordingl~, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved hot wax hair remover apparatus.
A further object of the invention is to pxovide a hot wax hair remover apparatus which is safe ~or personal, home and professional use.
Still a further object of the invention is to provide a hot wax applicator device which applies a sufficiently thin layer of hot melted depilatory wax to the skin to prevent burning and pain.
Yet another object of the invention is to provide a hotwax hair remover apparatus which is capable of heating the wax and considerably eliminates the risk of burning the skin and evoking of pain to th~ areas o~ the skin receiving the hot wax.
Yet another object of the instant invention is to provide an improved hot wax epilation device which substantially increases the effectiveness and completeness of hair removal.

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Still other objects and advantages of the invention will in part be obvious and will in part be apparent from the specifi-cation.
The invention accordlngly comprises the features of con-struction, combination of elements, and arrangement of parts which will be exemplified in the construction hereinafter set forth, and the scope of the invention will be indicated in the claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a fuller understanding of the invention, reference is 0 had to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:
Fig. 1 is perspective view of a hot wax hair remover apparatus constructed in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention;
Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line 2-2 of Fig. 1, Fig~ 3 is a sectional view taken along line 3-3 o~ Fig. 2;
Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken along line 4-4 of Fig. 2;
Fig. 5 is an elevational view of the heating mechanism utilized in the hot wax apparatus depicted in Figs. 1 through 4, shown removed and spread flat;
Fig. 6 is a graph illustrating final skin temperature verses thickness of wax applied for describing the characteristics of the hot wax hair remover apparatus of the present invention;
Fig. 7 is a sectional view taken along line 7-7 of Fig. 3, Fig. 8 is a sectional view taken along line 8-8 of Fig. 3;
and, Fig. 9 is a partial elevational view of a dispensing head having a smooth roller surface in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the instant inventionO

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$874 DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Reference is ~irst made to Figs. 1 through 4 wherein a hot wax hair remover system, generally indicated as 10 includes a housing 12 having a unitary bottom and side wall 16 defining an inner chamber generally indicated as 18 and a top wall 20 secured to the bottom and side wall 16. Different sized openings 22, 24 and 26 are provided in top wall 20. Applicator devices 30-l, 30-2 and 30-3 are formed in three different sizes for reasons discussed below and are removably positioned within the chamber 18 and orespectively extend through openinys 22, 24 and 26. It is noted that the present invention is not limited to requiring three applicator devices and is illustrated with three applicators by way of example only.
Each of the three applicators 30-l, 30-2 and 30-3 are similarly constructed and include a reservoir 40 which is adapted to hold a supply of depilatory wax 39 therein and a dispensing head 44. As particularly shown in Figs. 4 and 8, r2servoil-40 includes a neck finish 37 having an opening 42 at the top 43 thereo~ through which the dep~lator~ wax can flow when melted in the manner 20described below.
Dispenser head 44 is hollow and includes an interior cross-strut 45 that defines an opening 45a which is snap fit in an annular recess 37a found in neck finish 37 to thereby removably secure the hollow interior of the dispenser head in fluid communi-cation through opening 42 to the reservoir 40. Dispensing head 44 is defined by a rounded upright opposed shoulder 47a and a flat wiper wall 47b which define an opening 41 for receiving a grooved roller 46 therein. As depicted in Fig. 3, roller 46 includes projections 49 on the ends 46a which are captured in blind holes 3051 formed on opposed inner surfaces of shoulders 47aO Roller 46 ;

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is cylindrical and includes a plurality of axially oriented grooves 48 peripherally disposed around the surfase thereof. The flat wiper walls 47b are spaced from the outer radial dimensions of grooves 48 a predetermined distance to define a clearance of between 0.010 and 0.020 inches to act as a wiper to limit the thickness o~ the wax flowing onto the roller~
In an exemplary embodment the reservoir 40 is constructed from a semi-transparent PVC material which allows viewing into reservoir to determine the amount o depilatory wax therein.
Generally, in the art, two types of wax for depilatory purposes are used for hair removal, a hot wax or a cold wax. Cold wax is gummy at room temperature, whereas hot wax is hard to medium hard at room temperature. The depilatory wax of the present invention is a medium hard hoL wax made from hydrogenated rosinates and beeswax having a density on the ordex of 1.080kg/L. This wax is essential-ly solid and non-flowable at room temperature. In an exemplary embodiment, a wax having 47~ triethylene glycol hydrogenated rosinate, 46~ glyceryl hydrogenated rosinate and 7% beeswax will provide a wax having the characteristics described herein although these values are by w~y of example only. When heated to a suffici-ent temperature o~ about 150F this wax becomes free flowing and, yett remains hard at room temperature.
Heating sleeves 50, 52 and 54 are constructed of a heat~
transmissive metal and are provided in housing 12 in alignment with openings 22, 24 and 26 in top wall 20. Heating sleeves 50, 52 and 54 are coupled together by coupling plates 55 to define a unitary structure and ar~ sized to snugly receive applicators 30-1, 30-2 and 30-3 therein. Legs 56 and 58 extend ~rom the ends o~ the unitary s~ucture defined by coupled sleeves 50, 52 and 54 and are received in slots 60 and 62, defined by the side wall 16. The slots 60 and 62 to properly orient the heating sleeves in alignment with the respective openings in top wall 20.

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A heating assembly 70 is depicted in Fig. 5, and is wrapped around heating sleeves 50, 52 and 54. Heating blanket 70 includes a rope heater 71 sandwiched between thin pressure sensitive aluminum sheets 74. Rope heater 71 is spread between aluminum sheets 74 so as to provide at least one portion thereof along opposite sides of heating sleeves 50, 52 and 54. The rope heater 71 is disposed on both sides of the heating sleeves.
A first terminal wire 66 includes a first end 66a coupled to a first end 71a of rope heater 71 through a thermostat 68.
o second terminal wire 73 includes a first end 73a coupled to the second end 71b of rope heater 71 through a fuse 72. The second ends 66b and 70b of terminal wires 66 and 70 are coupled to a socket 75.
One end 76a of a ground wire 76 is also coupled to socket 7S. Thè
second end 76b of ground wire 76 is coupled to leg 56 forgrounding~
Socket 74 is adapted to be coupled to a suitable power source such as to receive an AC line cord which applies a voltage across ends 71a and 71b of rope heater 71 for heating rope heater 71. The heat created by rope heater 71 is passed through aluminum sheets 74 to heat sleeves 50, 5~ and 54.
In operation applicators 30-1, 30-2 and 30-3 are placed into heating sleeves 50, 52 and 54 through the respective openings in the top wall 20. The rope heater 71 is activated to surround the heating sleeves 50; 52 and 54 with heat. Thermostat 68 controls the heating and limits the temperature to 150 F. The heat from heating sleeves 50~ 52 and 54 will, in turn, be trans-ferred to each of the reservoirs 40 and, thus, to the depilatory - wax 39 stored within each reservoir. By heating the wax to a suîtable temperature the wax becomes flowable. In the present invention, the depilatory wax is heated to a preferred temperature of 150F which assumes that the depilatory wax is melted to a sufficient degree for application by applicator device 30 in the ~2~

manner described below. Thus, the instant invention is ~haracter-ized by the h~ating of the depilatory wax above an individualls threshold temperature of thermally evoked pain.
Each applicator is variously sized for application of the hot melted depilatory wax various to various surfaces of the human body. For example, applicator 30-1 is for application of wax to a person's legs for hair removal. Applicator 30-2 is for proper application of the hot depilatory wax to skin at an underarm area.
Applicator device 30-3 is for proper application of the hot o depilatory wax 39 to the eyebrow area of the face for hair removal therefrom.
Referring to the graph depicted in Fig. 6, the various parameters under which the melted wax is applied to the skin by applicator device 30, in accordance with the present invention, is described. An individual's threshold temperature for thermally evoked pain caused by application of heat to the skin is 111.2F.
Nevertheless, in the instant invention, the depilatory wax in reservoir 40 is heated to about l~O~F. Application of wax heated to 150 by means of a stick or spoon would normally cause pain and if applied in a thick enough layer to raise the final skin temperature above 111.2F can burn the individual's skin. The critical valu~ is the final ski~ temperature rSF imm~diately after the hot wax is applied.
The final skin temperature rSF can be represented by the following equation-[(~ W3(~W3(CW)( ~ VS)(cs)( ~SI)]
s~ = 1( W)(~TW)~CW~] ~ [( s)(Vs)(Cs~3 where- ~ - wax density = lo 080 kg/L
VW = wax volume = volume/cm2 C~ = specific heat of wax = 0.434(@150F) ~W = wax temperature = 150F = (343.2 K) 87~

~S = skin density = 1.071 kg/L
VS = skin volume = 1.0 x 10-7 m3 CS = specific heat of skin = 1.000 ~SI = initial skin temperature = 94F = (307.7K).
Thus, as aforenoted, the applicator of the present inve~-tion is constructed to apply a sufficiently thin layer of hot melted wax to the skin such that the threshold temperature for thermally evoked pain is never reached on the skin surface.
Referring to ~ig.. 6, when the thickness of wax applied is below o 0.8mm and the wax is heated to a temperature of about 150F, the temperature threshold for thermally evoked pain, namely, 111.2F
will not be reached on ~he skin's surface. Accordingly, the clearance between the roller and the wiper wall 47b is specifically selected so as to apply a layer of hot wax to the skin having a thickness no greater than 0.8mm. In a preferred embodiment, the thickness of the layer of wax applied is between 0.1 mm and 0.3 mm.
In this range, the ~inal skin temperature will be between 97F and 102~F, which is well below an individual's threshold temperature for thermally evoked pain although the wax has been heated to a temperature o~ about 150F to permit the wax to becomeflowable and dispens~d by the dispenser~
When an applicator is turned so that roller 46 is directed downwardly, gravity will cause the hot melted wax to flow through opening 42 in the reservoir to surround roller 46 on the inside of the cap. Roller 46 is then pressed against the skin and rolled thereagainst. The hot melted wax supplied to roller 46 is then dispensed through thP clearance between wiper wall ~7b and roller 46 and is applied by roller 46 as a thin layer of wax. As best depicted in Fiy. 7~ the clearance 41 in the dispenser or head is preferably between .01 and .02 inches, so as to provide the reduced layer thickness.
Roller 46 applies a thin layer o~ wax to the skin as it is rolled thereon. As afoxenoted, the thickness of the wax layer ..

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applied is no greater than 0.8mm and preferably between 0.1 mm and 0.3 mm. Although the wax is heated to temperatures as high as 150 F., the final skin temperature immediately after the hot wax is applied is maintained below 111.2F, the temperature threshold for thermally evoked pain. Immediately after the wax is applied to the skin, a fabric, such as polyester cloth, is pressed thereagainst.
After the wax cools and hardens to the cloth the wax is peeled off of the skin thereby removing the hair. Due to the thinness of the wax layer, the wax is sheared at the wax-skin interface thereby lQ leaving the skin smooth and stubble free.
Reference is next made to Fig~ 9, wherein roller 46 is provided with a continuously smooth surface ~8'. Initially it was believ~d that a roller 46 having grooves 48 therein was necessary to provide sufficient friction to the roller to overcome the viscosity of the melted wax so that the roller could be rolled against the skin to apply a thin layer of wax. Although the grooves 48 in roller 46 are believed to have provided such a bene~it, this benefit was also accompanied by a disadvantage. Speciically, overzealous users o the applicator would press the grooves 48 of the roller 46 against the skin with a sufficient force to emboss the skin with an impression of the grooves. A further problem was.
created by users that would squeeze the reservoir 40 in such manner that an excess amount of wax could flow out of the clearance in the application defined hy the roller 46 and wiper wall 47b. This excess can result from the differential clearances caused by the grooves in the roller.
It has therefore been discovered that the roller 46 should have a continuously smooth sur~ace 48' of the type depicted in Fig.
9, like reference numerals being used to denote like elements. A
continuously smooth surface will cause a thinner film of wax than was here~ofore attainable with a ~rooved roller to be applied to -37~L

the skin. Using a continuously smooth surface 48', with the same diameter as the outer ai~meter of the previously discussed grooved roller 48 will cause a layer of wax that is on the order of one-third to one-half the thickness of the wax layer provided by the grooved roller to be applied to the skin. Moreover, the layer of wax applied is of a more uniform thickness and eliminates the skin from being embossed to thereby optimize the hair removal operation - that follows.
The hot wax hair remover apparatus of the present inven-o tion provides a hot wax depilatory system which can be safely used in the home without the need for professional assistance. The cvnstruction of the applicator device is such that a sufficiently thin layer of hot wax is applied to the skin which leaves the final skin temperature below the threshold for thermally evoked pain although the wax is heated to a temperature of about 150F.
Moreover, ~he instant invention improves the e~ficiency and com-pleteness of hair removal when compared to known techniques because a thin film at a high temperature will wet the hairs more completely and thereby provide increased adhesion of the hair to the wax. The heating mechanism automatically heats the wax in th~
reservoir which forms a part of the applicator. Thus, the spilling of wax is prevented as in the old vat techniques an~ the enclosed reservoir acts as the hand grip for the applicator.
It will thus be seen that the objects set forth above, among those made apparent from the preceding description, are efficiently attained and, since certain changes may be made in the - above construction without departing from the spirit and scope o~
the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

~Z~ 174 It is also to be understood that the following claims are intended to cover all of the generic and specific features of the invention herein described and all statements of the scope of the invention which, as a matter of language, might be said to fall S therebetween.

Claims (17)

THE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION IN WHICH AN EXCLUSIVE PROPERTY
OR PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS:

1. A wax applicator for use with a depilatory wax for removal of hair from the skin comprising a reservoir means for holding said depilatory wax, said depilatory wax being normally disposed in a substantially solid state when at room temperature and being flowable when heated to a predetermined temperature, dispenser means disposed in fluid communication with said reservoir means for dispensing said wax when heated to a predetermined temperature in a sufficiently thin layer to assure that final skin temperature immediately after application of the heated wax is below the threshold temperature for thermally evoked pain.

2. The wax applicator as claimed in claim 1, said pre-determined temperature being above a human's threshold temperature for thermally evoked pain.

3. The wax applicator as claimed in claim 2, wherein said dispenser means includes a roller and surrounding wiper means, said roller being seated in said surrounding wiper means to define a clearance for limiting the hot melted wax flowing onto said roller.

4. The wax applicator as claimed in claim 3, wherein said roller is a continuously smooth cylindrical surface.

5. The wax applicator as claimed in claim 3, wherein said clearance between said wiper means and roller prevents said layer of hot melted wax applied to the skin from exceeding a thickness of 0.8 mm.

6. The wax applicator as claimed in claim 5, wherein said dispenser means applies said hot melted wax to the skin at a thickness between 0.1 and 0.3 mm.

7. The wax applicator as claimed in claim 6, said pre-determined temperature being in excess of 111.2°F.

8. The wax applicator as claimed in claim 7, said pre-determined temperature being about 150°F.

9. A wax applicator assembly comprising in combination a housing having at least one sleeve, heating means supported in said housing about said sleeve, applicator means including a reservoir means for storing depilatory wax and a dispensing means supported on said reservoir means for dispensing said depilatory wax when melted, said reservoir means being in fluid communication with said dis-pensing means, said applicator means being positionable in said sleeve, said heating means being adapted to heat said wax in said reservoir means to a predetermined temperature when said applicator means is positioned in said housing sleeve to thereby melt said wax so that said dispensing means can apply said hot melted wax to the skin in a sufficiently thin layer so that the final skin temperature after application of the wax is less than the threshold temperature for thermally evoked pain.

10. The wax applicator assembly as claimed in claim 9, wherein said applicator means is selectively insertable into said heating sleeve.

ll. The wax applicator assembly as claimed in claim 10, wherein said heating means is a rope heater adjacent said sleeve for heating said sleeve to a predetermined temperature.

12. The wax applicator assembly as claimed in claim 11, wherein said heating means further includes a thermostat for regu-lating the heat produced thereby.

13. The wax applicator assembly as claimed in claims 9, 10 or 12, wherein said dispensing means is adapted to be releasably coupled to said reservoir means and including a rotatably supported roller means.

14. The wax applicator assembly as claimed in claim 13 wherein said roller means is cylindrical and has a smooth surface.

15. The wax applicator assembly as claimed in claim 14, wherein said dispensing means includes a wiper wall means surround-ing said roller means for creating clearance to limit the thickness of the layer of wax applied by said roller means.

16. The wax applicator assembly as claimed in claim 15, wherein said roller means applies a layer of hot melted wax to skin at a thickness no greater than 0.8 mm.

17. The wax applicator assembly as claimed in claim 16, wherein said roller means applies said layer of hot melted wax to the skin at a thickness between 0.1 and 0.3 mm.