EP2903475B1 - Isostatic epilator comprising tweezers moving in translation - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to the technical field of body care appliances employing a mechanical care head driven by an electric motor and in particular the field of mechanical hair removal apparatus used for pulling hair.

In the above field it is known depilatory apparatus comprising an epilation head equipped with a depilating roller movable in rotation about an axis parallel to the surface of the skin to be depilated. The depilatory roller is then equipped with a series of pliers that open and close as the rotation of the roller.

An apparatus of this type is described in a document FR 2,858,528 .

Another device of this type is described in a document US 2005/0101971 in which the tear-off pliers are formed by several rows of blades movable in translation bearing against fixed blades vis-à-vis, all the movable blades of a row being carried by a peripheral shuttle of a rotating roller . Each shuttle comprises cams which, when driving the shuttle about a central axis, cooperate with cam paths formed by the two groove edges formed on the periphery of a central shaft rotatably connected to case of the device. The shuttles are arranged around the central shaft, being movable axially along this shaft, while being radially blocked by intermediate connecting elements constituting a tubular cage movable in rotation around the central shaft. The central shaft is more mobile in axial translation being subjected to the action of axial springs which induce the clamping force of all the clamps.

Such an apparatus can actually pull body hair. However, the fact that several movable blades are rigidly connected to each other induces an unequal distribution of the force of the springs so that not all the clamps have the same efficiency.

It has therefore appeared the need for a device whose clamps have substantially the same efficiency.

Another object of the invention is to provide a tweezer having a better speed of closure of the clamps.

Another object of the invention is to provide a more robust epilator.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a more compact epilator.

• un arbre central fixe destiné à être lié en rotation à un boîtier de l'appareil d'épilation,
• une cage tubulaire :
  • qui est mobile en rotation autour de l'arbre central et destinée à être entraînée en rotation par un moteur de l'appareil
  • qui porte des pinces d'arrachage chacune formée d'une lame fixe liée de manière rigide à la cage tubulaire et d'une lame mobile entre une position ouverte dans laquelle la lame mobile est éloignée de la lame fixe et une position fermée dans laquelle la lame mobile est en contact avec la lame fixe,
• des moyens de manoeuvre des lames mobiles entre leur position d'ouverture et de fermeture lors de la rotation de la cage tubulaire autour de l'arbre central.

In order to achieve these objectives the invention relates to a hair removal head roller for a motor depilatory device comprising:

• a fixed central shaft intended to be rotatably connected to a housing of the hair removal apparatus,
• a tubular cage:
  • which is rotatable about the central shaft and intended to be rotated by a motor of the apparatus
  • which carries tearing tongs each formed of a fixed blade rigidly connected to the tubular cage and a blade movable between an open position in which the movable blade is moved away from the fixed blade and a closed position in which the moving blade is in contact with the fixed blade,
• means for actuating the movable blades between their open and closed position during the rotation of the tubular cage around the central shaft.

• des ressorts de rappel destinés à amener les lames mobiles en position fermée,
• pour chaque lame mobile, une came individuelle qui est liée en translation à ladite lame et qui, pour l'ouverture de la lame mobile, se déplace contre un chemin de came aménagé à la périphérie de l'arbre central.

According to the invention, the roller is characterized in that the maneuvering means comprise:

• return springs for moving the movable blades to the closed position,
• for each movable blade, an individual cam which is translationally connected to said blade and which, for the opening of the movable blade, moves against a cam path arranged at the periphery of the central shaft.

The implementation of an individual cam for each movable blade, which moreover is not rigidly connected to any other movable cam, makes it possible to obtain independent movements of each movable blade so that the clamping force applied by a movable blade does not depend or is disturbed by the clamping force applied by another blade.

According to one characteristic of the invention, each return spring acts on at most two movable blades. Thus, the clamping force is perfectly mastered.

In the same direction and according to a characteristic of the invention, each return spring is in direct contact with each movable blade that it remembers in the closed position.

In the same sense, according to another characteristic of the invention, each return spring is interposed between two movable blades.

According to another embodiment of the invention, each return spring is interposed between a movable blade and the tubular cage, the roller comprising at least as many return springs as movable blades. The fact that each spring acts only on a single blade ensures that the entire clamping force induced by the spring is transmitted to said blade.

According to yet another characteristic of the invention, each individual cam is in contact with the corresponding cam path only for a phase of displacement of the corresponding clamp. Thus, the cam is not in contact with the cam path during a large part of the rotation of the tubular cage and in particular when the corresponding movable blade is in the position of displacement, closure or opening respectively, in the pulling phase of the cam. a hair respectively phase of release of the hair. In this respect, in a preferred embodiment, the phase of displacement of the clamp on the cam path corresponds only to an opening phase of the corresponding clamp. Thus the cam path is made so as to interrupt as quickly as possible its contact with the cam to allow the passage of the movable blade in the closed position without interfering with the force applied by the spring or springs associated with said movable blade .

According to one characteristic of the invention, the tubular cage comprises means for guiding the mobile blades in translation.

According to another characteristic of the invention, each movable blade comprises at least one guide shoe in translation.

According to one embodiment of the invention, each movable blade comprises a working head intended to cooperate with the fixed blade and opposite the head, a maneuvering foot forming or carrying the individual cam.

According to a variant of this embodiment, the movable blade is in part at least formed by a metal blank.

According to another variant of this feature, each movable blade comprises, between its working head and its operating foot, a body carrying at least one guide shoe.

According to a feature of the invention, each movable blade is rigidly connected to a translation guide carriage which cooperates with at least one guide rod carried by the tubular cage.

According to a variant of this characteristic, the carriage comprises at least one bore for passage of a guide rod carried by the tubular cage.

According to another variant of this characteristic, each return spring surrounds a guide rod.

According to a characteristic of the invention, the roll comprises at least one row of clamps aligned in an axial direction perpendicular to a median plane normal to the axis of rotation of the tubular cage, the movable blades located on the same first side of the median plane moving from their closed position to their open position in the same direction while the movable blades located on the other side of the median plane move from their closed position to their open position in opposite directions to that of the movable blades located on the first side of the median plane. Such an embodiment makes it possible to balance the forces applied on the tubular cage.

According to a variant of this feature, the central shaft comprises at least as many cam paths as each row comprises aligned clamps.

According to the invention, it is also possible to envisage a depilatory apparatus comprising a housing designed to be held in the hand and enclosing an electric drive motor and which comprises an epilation head roller according to one of the preceding claims.

In addition, according to one embodiment of the depilatory device (A), the epilation head roller is removable and interchangeable with another body care accessory. Here means body care accessory any means of treating a human body part such as a massage accessory, an exfoliation accessory or a shaving head / mower, etc..

Of course, the various features, variations and embodiments of the invention may be associated with each other in various combinations to the extent that they are not incompatible or exclusive of each other.

• La figure 1 est une perspective schématique d'un appareil d'épilation électrique comprenant un rouleau de tête d'épilation selon l'invention.
• La figure 2 est une élévation en vue de côté partiellement arrachée de l'appareil illustré à la figure 1.
• La figure 3 est une perspective schématique d'un rouleau de tête d'épilation selon l'invention.
• La figure 4 est une coupe transversale du rouleau de tête d'épilation illustré à la figure 3.
• La figure 5 est une élévation en vue de côté du rouleau de tête d'épilation illustré à la figure 3.
• La figure 6 est une coupe axiale partielle du rouleau de tête d'épilation représenté figure 3.
• La figure 7 est une perspective d'une lame mobile du rouleau de tête d'épilation des figures 3 à 6.
• La figure 8 est une élévation en vue de côté de la lame mobile représentée figure 7.
• La figure 9 est une perspective schématique partiellement arrachée du rouleau de tête d'épilation illustré figure 3.
• La figure 10 est une perspective montrant l'arbre central du rouleau de tête d'épilation illustré figures 3 à 6.
• La figure 11 est une élévation en vue de côté de l'arbre central représenté figure 10.
• La figure 12 est une coupe axiale partielle analogue à la figure 6 d'une autre forme de réalisation d'un rouleau de tête d'épilation selon l'invention.
• La figure 13 est une perspective schématique montrant deux lames mobiles du rouleau de tête d'épilation de la figure 12.
• La figure 14 illustre une autre forme de réalisation d'une lame mobile pour rouleau de tête d'épilation selon l'invention.

Furthermore, various other features of the invention emerge from the attached description with reference to the drawings which illustrate non-limiting embodiments of a roller of an epilator according to the invention.

• The figure 1 is a schematic perspective of an electric hair removal apparatus comprising an epilation head roller according to the invention.
• The figure 2 is a partial side elevation of the apparatus shown in FIG. figure 1 .
• The figure 3 is a schematic perspective of an epilation head roll according to the invention.
• The figure 4 is a cross-section of the epilation head roll illustrated in FIG. figure 3 .
• The figure 5 is a side elevation view of the epilation head roll shown in FIG. figure 3 .
• The figure 6 is a partial axial section of the hair removal head roller shown figure 3 .
• The figure 7 is a perspective of a movable blade of the hair removal head roller Figures 3 to 6 .
• The figure 8 is an elevation in side view of the movable blade shown figure 7 .
• The figure 9 is a diagrammatic perspective partially removed from the epilation head roll illustrated figure 3 .
• The figure 10 is a perspective showing the central shaft of the hair removal head roller shown Figures 3 to 6 .
• The figure 11 is an elevation in side view of the central shaft shown figure 10 .
• The figure 12 is a partial axial section similar to the figure 6 another embodiment of an epilation head roll according to the invention.
• The figure 13 is a schematic perspective showing two moving blades of the hair removal head roller of the figure 12 .
• The figure 14 illustrates another embodiment of a movable blade for hair removal head roller according to the invention.

It should be noted that in these figures the structural and / or functional elements common to the different variants may have the same references.

An electric and mechanical depilatory device according to the invention, as illustrated in FIGS. Figures 1 and 2 , comprises a hollow housing, generally designated by the reference 1, which consists of two half-shells 2 and 3 monoblocks defining together on the one hand, by their outer surfaces a gripping area of the epilator and, d ' on the other hand, a box containing and holding various functional elements constituting the epilator. Thus, the housing 1 encloses an electric motor 4 associated with means 5 for transmitting the rotational movement of the output gear 6 of the motor 4. According to the illustrated example, the transmission means 5 comprise a gear train of axes. parallel to the axis of rotation of the motor.

The housing 1 is equipped with an epilation head 10 which comprises a hollow body 11 delimiting an epilation chamber 12 inside which is disposed an epilation roller 13 which is flush with a window 14 arranged in the hollow body 11. The epilation roller 13 is partly rotatable about an axis Δ and is rotated via the transmission means 5 by the electric motor 4. The epilation roller 13 comprises at the level of its periphery a series of clamps 15 opening and closing as the rotation of the roll.

The invention relates more particularly to the design of the hair removal roller 13 also referred to as hair removal head roll.

The roller 13 includes, as shown more particularly the figure 3 a stationary central shaft 20 intended to be rotatably connected to the housing 1 either directly or by means of a movable part allowing adjustment of the angular position of the central shaft 20 with respect to the housing 1.

The roller 13 also comprises a tubular cage 21 which carries the clamps 15 and which is rotatable about the central shaft 20 being driven by means of a wheel 22 rotatably connected to the tubular cage 21. According to illustrated example the tubular cage 21 comprises six bars 23, visible at the figure 4 , and which each carry a row of five tear-off pliers 15 aligned in a direction D substantially parallel to the axis Δ.

Each tear-off pliers 15 is formed of a fixed blade 25 and a movable blade 26. The fixed blades 25 are rigidly connected to the tubular cage 21 insofar as according to the illustrated example the fixed blades 25 the same row form an integral part of the corresponding bar 23. Each movable blade 26 is capable of moving between a closed position F visible figure 5 and an open position O visible to Figures 5 and 6 . To ensure the movements of the movable blades 26, the roller 13 comprises operating means 27, the embodiment of which will appear subsequently.

Each movable blade 26 comprises a working head 30 which is intended to cooperate with the corresponding fixed blade 25 and which is formed by a metal blank. Each movable blade 26 also comprises, as shown by the Figures 7 and 8 , a guide carriage 31 which, according to the example illustrated, is overmolded on the metal blank constituting the working head 30. The guide carriage 31 thus forms the body of the movable blade 26 and is rigidly connected at the head of work. The guide carriage 31 cooperates with at least one and, according to the illustrated example, two translational guide rods 32 which are more clearly visible at the figure 9 . In this case, the guide rods 32 are each formed by a cylindrical guide rod of revolution extending parallel to the axis Δ. The guide carriage 31 then comprises, at a body of the movable blade 26, two bores 33 which are delimited by two sleeves extending on either side of the working head 30 and which are traversed by the guide rods 32 so that the movable blades 26 can move in translation along the latter.

For this purpose, the operating means 27 comprise, for each movable blade 26, at least one and according to the illustrated example two springs 34 for returning the corresponding movable blade in the closed position F. in this case each spring 34 is interposed between the movable blade 26 and the tubular cage 21. Indeed, each spring 34 is supported on the corresponding bar to push the movable blade 26 so that the working head 30 bears against the fixed blade 25 which is an integral part of this same bar. Thus in the closed position, all the forces exerted by each spring 34 is completely absorbed by the corresponding bar 23 so that this isostatic mounting prevents the forces exerted by the spring or springs of a clamp 15 in the closed position do not disturb the operation of the other clamps 15. According to the arrangement adopted here, the springs 34 are helical springs which each surround a guide rod 32, which facilitates the mounting of the roller 13 according to the invention.

The operating means 27 also comprise, for each movable blade 26, an individual cam 35 which is translationally connected to the corresponding movable blade 26 and which in this case is formed by a maneuvering foot extending opposite the the head 30 relative to the bores 33. The individual cam 35 here has a substantially cylindrical shape of revolution.

The operating means 27 further comprise at the outer surface of the central shaft 20 a plurality of cam paths 37, visible to the Figures 10 and 11 in particular, which are each intended to cooperate with an individual cam 35. Thus, the central shaft 20 comprises at least as many cam tracks 37 that each row comprises clamps 15. According to the illustrated example, the central shaft comprises more of cam tracks 37 that each row does not include clips 15 to hold the axial displacement of the pliers from one row to the other as is apparent from the figure 5 especially.

The cam paths 37 are configured to enable an opening to be controlled and to allow each clamp 15 to close upon rotation of the tubular cage 21. Thus, each time an individual cam 35 enters the corresponding cam path 37 it bears against one edge of the latter and the movable blade 26 is progressively moved to the open position in which it is located when the clamp 15 arrives at the beginning of the window 14 taking into account the direction of rotation of the tubular cage 21. The movable blade 26 is held in this open position on a portion of the window 14, for example to the middle, to allow grasping of bristles. Then, each cam path 37 is designed to allow a movable blade return 26 in the closed position to pinch the bristles under the effect of the springs 34.

Insofar as the clamping force is not applied by the cam tracks 37, the latter are, according to the illustrated example, designed to be in contact with the corresponding individual cam 35, only during the phase of FIG. opening and holding open the clamp. Thus, the cam paths 37 occupy only part of the circumference of the central shaft 20 as shown by the Figures 10 and 11 . In addition, the cam paths 37 are interrupted abruptly so that the clamps 15 close very quickly under the effect of the return springs 34 which also allow to obtain a rather large clamping power.

Moreover, in order to ensure, as far as possible, compensation or balancing of the forces induced by the individual cams 35 on the central shaft 20, the movable blades 26 on the same side of a normal midplane M the axis of rotation Δ open in the same direction while the movable blades 26 located on the other side of the median plane M open in an opposite direction. So, on the figure 5 , the movable blades 26 located to the left of the median plane M move to the left as they move from their closed position F to their open position O, while the movable blades 26 located to the right of the median plane M move to the left when they move from their closed position F to their open position O. Of course, another direction of opening could have been chosen.

According to the previous example described in relation to the Figures 1 to 11 , the springs act each on only one movable blade 26. However, according to the invention each spring 34 can act directly on two movable blades 26 as is the case in the other illustrated embodiment figure 12 and 13 .

According to this other embodiment, each return spring is interposed between two movable blades 26 whose opening movements are in opposite directions.

Furthermore, according to this embodiment the movable blades 26 are each formed by folding a metal blank which forms the working head 30 and the body 40 of the corresponding movable blade 26. The body 40 carries, according to this example, two guide pads 41 which are formed by folding of the metal blank and which are intended to cooperate with guide grooves 42 of the tubular cage 21. According to this embodiment, each individual cam 35 is formed by a rivet which is rigidly connected to the body 40 and whose foot is intended to cooperate with a cam path 37 of the central shaft 20.

The figure 14 illustrates another embodiment of a movable blade 26 which is formed by a flat metal blank which has a generally T-shaped and whose body 40 comprises two lateral guiding fingers 43 and opposite the working head The individual cam 35. Of course, each movable blade could be of any other shape.

Moreover, according to the examples described above, the movable blades 26 move in translation. However, they could move between their open position and closure in a rotational movement or oscillation about an axis in a plane normal to the axis Δ.

Of course, various other modifications may be made to the invention within the scope of the appended claims.

Claims (17)

1. Epilation head roller for motor-driven epilation appliance, comprising:

   - a fixed central shaft (20) intended to be rotatably connected to a housing of the epilation appliance,

   - a tubular cage (21):

   - which can rotate freely about the central shaft (20) and is intended to be driven in rotation by a motor of the appliance

   - which carries plucking tweezers (15) each consisting of a fixed blade (25) rigidly connected to the tubular cage (21) and a mobile blade (26) movable between an open position (O) in which the mobile blade (26) is far from the fixed blade (25) and a closed position (F) in which the mobile blade is in contact with the fixed blade (25),

   - means for manoeuvring the mobile blades (26) between their open position (O) and closed position (F) as the tubular cage (21) rotates about the central shaft (20), characterised in that the manoeuvring means comprise:

   - return springs (34) intended to bring the mobile blades (26) into closed position,

   - for each mobile blade (26), an individual cam (35) which is connected in translation to said blade and which, to open the mobile blade (26), moves against a cam path (37) arranged on the periphery of the central shaft (20).
2. Epilation head roller according to claim 1, characterised in that each return spring (34) acts on at most two mobile blades (26).
3. Epilation head roller according to claim 1, characterised in that each return spring (34) is inserted between two mobile blades (26).
4. Epilation head roller according to claim 1, characterised in that each return spring (34) is inserted between a mobile blade (26) and the tubular cage (21), the roller comprising at least as many return springs (34) as mobile blades (26).
5. Epilation head roller according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that each individual cam (35) is in contact with the corresponding cam path (37) only for a moving phase of the corresponding tweezer (15).
6. Epilation head roller according to the preceding claim, characterised in that the moving phase of the tweezer on the cam path (37) corresponds only to an opening phase of the corresponding tweezer (15).
7. Epilation head roller according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the tubular cage (21) comprises means for guiding the mobile blades (26) in translation.
8. Epilation head roller according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that each mobile blade (26) comprises a working head (30) intended to cooperate with the fixed blade (25) and opposite the head, an operating foot forming or carrying the individual cam (35).
9. Epilation head roller according to claim 8, characterised in that the mobile blade (26) is at least partly formed by a metal flank.
10. Epilation head roller according to claim 8 or 9, characterised in that each mobile blade (26) comprises between its working head (30) and its operating foot a body carrying at least one guide shoe (41).
11. Epilation head roller according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterised in that each mobile blade (26) is rigidly connected to a translation guide carriage (31) which cooperates with at least one guide rod (32) carried by the tubular cage (21).
12. Epilation head roller according to claim 11, characterised in that the carriage comprises at least one bore (33) for inserting a guide rod (32) carried by the tubular cage (21).
13. Epilation head roller according to claim 12, characterised in that each return spring (34) surrounds a guide rod (32).
14. Epilation head roller according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that it comprises at least one row of tweezers (15) aligned in an axial direction perpendicular to a median plane (M) normal to the axis of rotation of the tubular cage (21), the mobile blades (26) located on a given first side of the median plane (M) moving from their closed position (F) to their open position (O) in a given direction while the mobile blades located on the other side of the median plane (M) move from their closed position (F) to their open position (O) in a direction opposite to that of the mobile blades (26) located on the first side of the median plane (M).
15. Epilation head roller according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the central shaft (20) comprises at least as many cam paths (37) as each row comprises aligned tweezers.
16. Epilation appliance (A) comprising a housing designed to be held in the hand and containing an electric drive motor, characterised in that it comprises an epilation head roller according to one of the preceding claims.
17. Epilation appliance (A) according to claim 16, characterised in that the epilation head roller is removable and interchangeable with another body care accessory.

Images