HK40088427A - Handheld skin cleansing device - Google Patents

Description

Handheld skin cleansing device

Background Technology

Existing handheld devices that use pumps and fluids to cleanse the skin have several drawbacks. For example, in various situations, many such devices can easily draw fluid into the pump, damaging it and potentially requiring replacement. As another example, many such devices only provide fluid-based cleansing care, thus offering only limited cleaning or requiring the user to apply additional care separately, often using a separate device. Furthermore, many such devices can become unhygienic, posing a potential risk of infection or a negative user experience. Therefore, new and/or improved handheld skin devices are needed.

Summary of the Invention

This invention relates to various handheld skin cleansing devices, comprising: a first conduit providing fluid communication between a care container and a first opening in a tip of the device; a second conduit providing fluid communication between a second opening in the tip and a waste container of the device; a pump in fluid communication with the waste container, the pump being configured to create a pressure differential between the waste container and the second opening in the tip when the tip is applied to the skin, so as to guide fluid from the care container via the first and second conduits to the tip and to the waste container; and one or more pump protection systems. In some embodiments, the proximal end of the waste container may be fixedly attached to a handheld body housing the pump, and the distal end of the waste container may include a removably attached cap.

Such a pump protection system can be configured to impede fluid communication between the waste container and the pump when the pump is off, and to allow fluid communication between the reservoir and the pump when the pump is on. One embodiment may include a check valve.

Another such pump protection system can be configured to shut down the pump when it detects that the fluid in the care container has reached a predetermined level, i.e., corresponding to sufficient fluid having been dispensed to bring the fluid to a predetermined level within the waste container; and to prevent the pump from restarting until it is detected that the waste container has been opened, disassembled, or otherwise emptied. One embodiment may include a Hall effect sensor and a corresponding float.

Another such pump protection system can be configured to shut down the pump when moisture is detected upstream of the pump; and to prevent the pump from restarting until the waste container is detected to have been opened, separated, or otherwise emptied.

Another such pump protection system can be configured to detect when the angle of the device exceeds a predetermined threshold and shut down the pump.

In another aspect, the present invention relates to a handheld skin cleansing device comprising: a tip having an outer surface, a first opening therethrough for delivering a care fluid to the outer surface, and a second opening therethrough for withdrawing the care fluid from the outer surface; and a body portion having a distal end thereon or integrally formed with the tip, the body portion including a pump configured to deliver the care fluid to and withdraw the care fluid from the outer surface, respectively, and a light source located at the distal end of the body portion, the light source being configured to emit light onto user skin proximate to the outer surface. The light source is selectively controllable via an interface on the body portion.

In another aspect, the present invention relates to a tip for a handheld skin cleansing device, the tip comprising: an outer surface; a first opening through which a care fluid is delivered to the outer surface; a second opening through which the care fluid is drawn out from the outer surface; and a light source configured to emit light onto user skin proximate to the outer surface. The operation of the light source can be selectively controlled via an interface on the body portion.

Attached Figure Description

The illustrative, non-limiting exemplary embodiments will be more clearly understood from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

Figure 1 shows a representative handheld skin cleansing device 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention;

Figures 2A, 2B and 2C show a device 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention, wherein the bottom shell 52 and the transparent shell 51 are removed, exposing the first container 46 and the second container 47.

Figure 3 shows a handheld skin cleaning device 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention, wherein the top shell 9 is further removed to expose the pump 17;

Figure 4 shows a handheld skin cleaning device 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention, wherein pump brackets 16 and 26 are removed, exposing a first conduit 24 connecting the care container 46 and the tip 1;

Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view of the upper part of a handheld skin cleaning device 100 including a tip 1 and a pump 17 according to an embodiment of the present invention, and shows a representative connection of the first conduit 24 and the second conduit 23 to the tip 1.

Figure 6 is a side view of the interior of a handheld skin cleaning device 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 7 is a pseudo-schematic diagram illustrating the fluid connections between the various components of a handheld skin cleaning device 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 8 is a pseudo-schematic diagram showing the electrical connections between the various components of a handheld skin cleaning device 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention;

Figures 9A and 9B illustrate a representative embodiment of the tip 1 of a handheld skin cleaning device 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention;

Figures 10, 11 and 12 illustrate a representative pump protection system 200 according to an embodiment of the present invention, which is configured to prevent pump 17 from drawing waste fluid from waste container 47 when pump 17 is shut down.

Figures 13, 14, and 15 illustrate a representative pump protection system 300 according to an embodiment of the present invention, which, in various embodiments, is configured to prevent the pump 17 from drawing waste fluid from the waste container 47 when the pump 17 is turned on, such as when the waste container 47 is overfilled; and

Figure 16 is an exploded view of a representative skin cleansing device 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Detailed Implementation

Handheld skin cleansing device 100

Figure 1 illustrates a representative handheld skin cleansing device 100. Generally, a handheld skin cleansing device may include a main body (shown here as including a top shell 9, a transparent shell 51, and a bottom shell 52) configured to be held in a user's hand, a tip 1 configured to contact the user's skin, and a control interface for operating the device 100 (shown here as a silicon button 12 and a button key 13).

Figures 2A, 2B, and 2C illustrate device 100, in which the bottom shell 52 and transparent shell 51 are removed, exposing a first container 46 (sometimes referred to herein as the "care container") configured to contain a fluid for caring for a user's skin ("care fluid") and a second container 47 (sometimes referred to herein as the "waste container") for collecting used care fluid ("waste fluid"). In various embodiments, care container 46 may be configured to be detachable from skin cleansing device 100, allowing a user to fill care container 46 with care fluid. In various embodiments, waste container 47 may be fixedly attached to skin cleansing device 100 and has a removably attached end cap 50 (sometimes referred to herein as the "waste tank cap"). Removing end cap 50 allows a user to drain waste fluid from waste container 47 and clean the interior of waste container 47.

Figure 3 shows a handheld skin cleansing device 100 with the top shell 9 further removed, exposing the pump 17 (sometimes referred to herein as a “miniature diaphragm vacuum pump”) and various other components. In operation, the pump 17 is in fluid communication with the waste container 47 and is configured to create a pressure differential between the interior of the waste container 47 and the outer surface of the tip 1, thereby drawing fluid from the care container 46 via an internal conduit to the tip 1 and into the waste container 47, as will be described in more detail later herein. Figure 4 shows the handheld skin cleansing device 100 with the pump supports 16 and 26 removed, exposing the first conduit 24 connecting the care container 46 and the tip 1. Figure 5 is a top cross-sectional view of the handheld skin cleansing device 100 including the tip 1, pump 17, and various other components, and shows representative connections of the first conduit 24 and the second conduit 23 to the tip 1. Figure 6 is a side view of the interior of the handheld skin cleansing device 100, further illustrating such connections. As described in more detail later, the distal end of the first conduit 24 may be connected to a first opening 1A in the tip 1 for delivering care fluid from the care container 46 to the outer surface 1C of the tip 1. Similarly, the distal end of the second conduit 23 may be connected to a second opening 1B in the tip 1 for drawing waste fluid from the outer surface 1C of the tip 1 into the waste container 47, which will be described in more detail later. A straw-like conduit 45 (which in some cases may be considered an extension of the first conduit 24) may extend into the interior of the care container 46, preferably to its bottom, to maximize the amount of care fluid that can be dispensed from the care container 46. As shown, the transparent shell 51 may be positioned such that the care container 46 and/or the waste container 47 are visible to the user when the handheld skin cleansing device 100 is fully assembled, allowing the user to easily monitor the fluid level in each container 46, 47. In such embodiments, the care container 46 and/or the waste container 47 may be transparent, and in some embodiments, one or more lights may illuminate the containers 46, 47 to enhance visibility and visual appeal. Another advantage of this configuration is that it allows the user to immediately see the device removing dirt and other contaminants from their skin, thus providing a positive reinforcement. In yet another embodiment, the lamp may emit ultraviolet light to disinfect fluids in one or both containers, thereby improving the overall hygiene of the device 100.

Figure 7 is a pseudo-schematic diagram illustrating the fluid connections, etc., between various components of the handheld skin cleansing device 100. Specifically, the care container 46 is in fluid communication with the tip 1 (and specifically, its first opening 1A) via a first conduit 24, and the waste container 47 is in fluid communication with the tip 1 (and specifically, its second opening 1B) via a second conduit 23. Furthermore, the inlet port 17A of the pump 17 is in fluid communication with the waste container 47 via a third conduit 55, while the outlet port 17B of the pump 17 is open to the atmosphere. According to the configuration, the pump 17 can draw air from the waste container 47 via the third conduit 55 and discharge the pumped air to the atmosphere, thereby creating a pressure difference between the interior of the waste container 47 and the atmosphere. A similar pressure difference will exist between the interior of the waste container 47 and the second opening 1B of the tip 1, thus providing suction for drawing waste fluid from the outer surface of the tip 1. As described in more detail later, the tip 1 that comes into contact with the user's skin serves as a gate to turn the circuit to include the first conduit 24 and the care container 46, such that a pressure differential is used to draw care fluid from the care container 46 into the first opening 1A of the tip 1 for care of the user's skin.

Figure 8 is a pseudo-schematic diagram showing the electrical connections, etc., between various components of the handheld skin cleansing device 100. Specifically, each of the PCBA 37 (with its control interface 13), battery 22, pump 17, and PCBA 25 (with its charging control interface) is electrically connected to the main PCBA 29. Depending on the configuration, power can be distributed from the battery 22 and various controlled features to the pump 17 and interface 13.

Figures 9A and 9B illustrate representative embodiments of the tip 1 of a handheld skin cleansing device 100. In various embodiments, the tip 1 may include an outer surface 1C having a first opening 1A, a second opening 1B, and one or more outwardly extending protruding elements 1D. The first opening 1A may be in fluid communication with a first conduit 24 to deliver a care fluid to the outer surface 1C, and the second opening 1B may be in fluid communication with a second conduit 23 to draw the care fluid from the outer surface 1C. The protruding elements 1D may be configured to create a gap between the outer surface 1C and the user's skin to receive the care fluid, and to define a path along the outer surface 1C to guide the flow of the care fluid and generate bubbles, as previously described.

Although not shown, in various embodiments, the tip 1 and/or body portion of device 100 may include one or more light sources configured to emit light onto a user's skin. In some embodiments, the light source may be on the tip 1, while in other embodiments, the light source may be on the body portion. Regardless of where the light source is mounted, each light source can be selectively controlled by the user via interface 13 on the body portion. In some embodiments, interface 13 may be configured to allow the user to selectively turn one or more of the light sources on or off regardless of whether device 100 is in use. For example, the user may be able to turn on one or more of the lights while cleansing the skin with a care fluid, or turn on one or more of the lights while the cleansing function is off, thereby allowing the user to illuminate the skin for an extended period without causing irritation or harm, where the cleansing function might otherwise be continuously running.

In one embodiment, the light source may emit white light to help the user observe the location of tip 1 on their skin in a mirror. Additionally or alternatively, in another embodiment, one or more light sources may be configured to emit light with wavelengths configured to provide therapeutic, antibacterial, or other therapeutic effects. For example, lower wavelengths of red light are known to treat skin problems such as wrinkles, scars, and persistent wounds, while certain wavelengths of blue light can treat acne and reduce photodamage. Combining therapeutic light with fluid cleansing is particularly effective, exceeding the sum of the two components, as opening pores through fluid cleansing enhances the efficacy of the light treatment.

Various other components of the handheld skin care device 100 are shown and described in more detail in the following description and the exploded view of Figure 16.

operate

During operation, the user can press and hold the "On" button for 2 seconds. The indicator light on the keypad 37 will illuminate, and the miniature diaphragm vacuum pump 17 will start running, creating a negative pressure (vacuum). At this time, a pressure difference will be generated between the suction port of the miniature diaphragm vacuum pump 17 and the waste container 47. Under these conditions, air is drawn from the waste container 47 through the suction port 17A of the miniature diaphragm vacuum pump 17 and discharged through the outlet 17B of the miniature diaphragm vacuum pump 17.

The miniature diaphragm vacuum pump 17 continues to operate, and the pressure inside the waste container 47 slowly decreases. It also creates a pressure difference with the area outside the second opening 1B of the tip 1. Air is drawn from the outside into the waste container through the tip 1 and the second conduit 23. When the tip 1 contacts the skin, the device 100 creates a negative pressure circuit. The care fluid in the care container 46 flows to the tip 1 through the straw-like conduit 45 and the first conduit 24. The suction created by the negative pressure draws out impurities and debris from the skin. The care fluid flows back and forth in the circuit of the tip 1, so the tiny bubbles carrying the care solution help soften, exfoliate, moisturize, and deliver nutrients to the skin. When the care fluid flows to the second opening 1B of the tip 1, it is drawn away through the second conduit 23 and into the waste container 47. Simultaneously, impurities and debris removed from the skin are also carried away.

Pump protection system 200

Figures 10, 11, and 12 illustrate representative embodiments of the pump protection system 200 of the present invention. In various embodiments, the pump protection system 200 may be configured to prevent pump 17 from drawing waste fluid from waste container 47 when pump 17 is shut off, as will be described in more detail herein.

Referring first to Figure 10, in various embodiments, the pump protection system 200 may be located upstream of the pump 17. For example, in the illustrated embodiment, the system 200 is located between the waste container 47 and the inflow port 17A of the pump 17. In one embodiment, the system 200 may include a check valve 34, shown here as being located within a portion of the intermediate housing 36 of the waste container. In various embodiments, the check valve 34 may include a valve housing 34A, a piston 34B, and a spring 34C. Generally, the valve housing 34A may be substantially hollow, with its necked opening facing the waste container 47. The piston 34B may be located within the valve housing 34A, with its head oriented toward the necked opening of the valve housing 34A. The spring 34C may extend along the rod of the piston 34B and bias the piston 34B toward the necked opening of the valve housing 34A.

Figure 11 shows the state of the pump protection system 200 when pump 17 is off. Here, piston 34B is biased against the necked portion of valve housing 34A, sealing the necked opening and thereby preventing fluid from passing through. Figure 12 shows the state of the pump protection system 200 when pump 17 is on. Here, the suction generated by pump 17 pulls piston 34B back, and as long as the suction exceeds the spring tension, piston 34B retracts from the necked opening, compressing spring 34C in the process. In this state, pump 17 is in fluid communication with waste container 47, allowing pump 17 to remove air from the interior of waste container 47 and generate suction to draw nursing fluid to tip 1 and associated waste fluid into waste container 47. The inner diameter of the non-necked portion of valve housing 24A may be larger than the outer diameter of the head of piston 24B, allowing fluid to pass through piston 24B when piston 24B retracts from the necked portion. When pump 17 is subsequently shut off, suction stops and spring 34C pushes the head of piston 34B back into the constricted portion, closing check valve 34 to prevent waste fluid from flowing into pump 17 when device 100 is shut off.

It should be recognized that the pump protection device 200 is particularly useful in embodiments where the waste container 47 includes a removably attached end cap 50. Specifically, when a user empties the waste container 47, they can choose to flip the device 100 so that the open end of the waste container 47 faces upwards for rinsing under a tap. Without the pump protection system 200, water from the tap might flow out from the top of the waste container 47 by gravity, through the third conduit 55, and into the pump 17. However, the check valve 34 prevents water from flowing into the pump 17 because it closes when the pump 17 is shut off (as is done when emptying and cleaning the waste container 47).

Pump protection system 300

Figures 13, 14, and 15 illustrate representative embodiments of the pump protection system 300 of the present invention. In various embodiments, the pump protection system 300 may be configured to prevent the pump 17 from drawing waste fluid from the waste container 47 when the pump 17 is turned on, such as when the waste container 47 is overfilled, as will be described in more detail herein.

Referring first to Figure 13, in various embodiments, the pump protection system 300 may be located at or otherwise extended to the top of the waste container 47. Here, the system 300 is shown as being located within the top shell 36 of the waste container. In one embodiment, the system 300 may include a fluid level detection system (FLDS) 56, which is shown here as being located in a portion of the intermediate tank 36 of the waste container. In various embodiments, the FLDS 56 may include a float 41/42 having a magnet 40 located at the top (i.e., at the end of the float 41/42 closest to the top of the waste container 47), and a Hall effect sensor 29A mounted on a structure separate from the float 41/42 and the magnet 40. The Hall effect sensor 29A may be electrically connected to the main PCBA 29 such that when the Hall effect sensor 29A detects a Hall effect emanating from the magnet 40, it may send a command to shut down the pump 17.

Generally, when the waste fluid in the waste container 47 reaches a certain level, the floats 41/42 in the top shell 36 of the waste container will slowly rise. When it reaches the maximum level (or any other predetermined threshold), the magnet 40 on the float (41/42) will trigger the Hall effect sensor 29A on the main PCBA 29, and the pump 17 will immediately stop operating. The device 100 can be configured to automatically sound an alarm until the waste fluid in the waste container 47 is drained. Then, the floats 41/42 will fall back to their normal position toward the bottom of the waste container 47, moving the magnet 40 away from the Hall effect sensor 29A. The miniature diaphragm vacuum pump 17 will then operate again.

Additionally or alternatively, FLDS 56 may be configured to detect when the care fluid level drops below a predetermined level in care container 46. Specifically, FLDS 56 may shut off pump 17 when it detects that the fluid level in care container 46 has reached a predetermined level, corresponding to sufficient care fluid being dispensed to bring the associated waste fluid to a predetermined level in waste container 47. In one embodiment, FLDS 56 may be inverted and positioned near the bottom of care container 46 to detect low care fluid levels. Furthermore, in one embodiment, system 300 may be configured to prevent pump 17 from being restarted until system 300 detects that waste container 47 has been opened, disconnected, or otherwise emptied. Those skilled in the art will recognize various methods for detecting whether waste container 47 has been opened, disconnected, or otherwise emptied, including, for example, sensors on end cap 50.

Pump protection system 400

Although not shown, embodiments of the invention include a pump protection system 400. Similar to pump protection system 300, in various embodiments, pump protection system 400 may be configured to prevent pump 17 from drawing waste fluid from waste container 47 when pump 17 is turned on, such as when waste container 47 is overfilled. Specifically, system 400 may include a moisture sensor upstream of pump 17 (e.g., within a third conduit 55). Upon detecting moisture, the moisture sensor will indicate that waste fluid is escaping from waste container 47, and system 400 may shut down pump 17 and prevent it from restarting until it is detected that the waste container has been opened, disconnected, or otherwise emptied.

Pump protection system 500

Although not shown, embodiments of the invention include a pump protection system 500, which, in various embodiments, can be configured to prevent pump 17 from drawing waste fluid from waste container 47 when pump 17 is turned on and device 100 is tilted beyond a threshold angle. Specifically, an anti-tilt alarm sensor can be added to the main PCBA 29 to alert the user to operate device 100 at an appropriate angle. When the anti-tilt alarm sensor senses that device 100 has tilted beyond a specified angle, pump 17 will stop operating. Device 100 can also automatically issue an alarm. When device 100 returns to the appropriate angle, pump 17 will restart.

It should be recognized that various embodiments of the handheld skin cleansing device 100 may include any one or a combination of pump protection systems 200, 300, 400 and 500, depending on the circumstances.

Figure 16 is an exploded view of the representative skin cleansing device 100 described earlier. Table 1 below includes a list of each component.

Table 1 Component List of Exploded View

While the invention and its advantages have been described in detail, it should be understood that various changes, substitutions, and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. Furthermore, the scope of this application should not be limited to the specific embodiments of the processes, machines, articles, compositions of matter, apparatuses, methods, and steps described herein. As will be readily apparent from the invention to those skilled in the art, currently existing or later-developed processes, machines, articles, compositions of matter, apparatuses, methods, or steps that perform substantially the same functions or achieve substantially the same results as the corresponding embodiments described herein can be utilized according to the invention. Therefore, the scope of the appended claims should include such processes, machines, articles, compositions of matter, apparatuses, methods, or steps.

Claims (11)

1. A tip for a handheld skin cleansing device, the tip comprising: Outer surface; A first opening through which nursing fluid is delivered to the outer surface; A second opening through which the nursing fluid is drawn from the outer surface; and The light source is configured to emit light onto the user's skin near the outer surface. The operation of the light source can be selectively controlled via an interface on the main body. 2. A handheld skin cleansing device, comprising: Tips, including: Outer surface; A first opening through which nursing fluid is delivered to the outer surface; A second opening through which the nursing fluid is drawn from the outer surface; and A body portion having a distal end, the tip being located on or integrally formed on the distal end, the body portion comprising: The pump is configured to deliver the nursing fluid to the outer surface and to extract the nursing fluid from the outer surface, respectively. A light source located at the distal end of the main body portion, the light source being configured to emit light onto the user's skin near the outer surface. The operation of the light source can be selectively controlled via an interface on the main body. 3. A handheld skin cleansing device, comprising: A first conduit provides fluid communication between the care container and a first opening in the tip of the device; A second conduit provides fluid communication between a second opening in the tip and the waste container of the device; A pump in fluid communication with the waste container, the pump being configured to create a pressure differential between the waste container and a second opening in the tip when the tip is applied to the skin, so as to guide fluid from the care container via the first and second conduits to the tip and into the waste container; The pump protection system is configured as follows: When the pump is turned off, fluid communication between the waste container and the pump is impeded, and When the pump is turned on, fluid communication between the reservoir and the pump is permitted. 4. The handheld skin cleaning device according to claim 3, The waste container is fixedly attached to its proximal end to a handheld body that houses the pump, and The distal end of the waste container includes a detachably attached cap. 5. The handheld skin cleansing device of claim 3 further includes a pump protection system configured to shut off the pump upon detecting any one or more of the following: (i) the fluid in the waste container reaches a predetermined level, (ii) the fluid in the care container reaches a predetermined level corresponding to sufficient fluid being dispensed to bring the fluid to a predetermined level within the waste container, and (iii) there is moisture upstream of the pump. 6. The handheld skin cleaning device according to any one of claims 3-5, wherein the pump protection system includes a check valve. 7. A handheld skin cleansing device, comprising: A first conduit provides fluid communication between the care container and a first opening in the tip of the device; A second conduit provides fluid communication between a second opening in the tip and the waste container of the device; A pump in fluid communication with the waste container, the pump being configured to create a pressure differential between the waste container and a second opening in the tip when the tip is applied to the skin, so as to guide fluid from the care container via the first and second conduits to the tip and into the waste container; The pump protection system is configured as follows: The pump is shut off when it is detected that the fluid in the care container has reached a predetermined level, i.e., when sufficient fluid has been dispensed to bring the fluid to a predetermined level in the waste container; and The pump is prevented from restarting until the waste container is detected to have been opened, separated, or otherwise emptied. 8. The handheld skin cleaning device according to claim 7, wherein the pump protection system includes a Hall effect float. 9. A handheld skin cleansing device, comprising: A first conduit provides fluid communication between the care container and a first opening in the tip of the device; A second conduit provides fluid communication between a second opening in the tip and the waste container of the device; A pump in fluid communication with the waste container, the pump being configured to create a pressure differential between the waste container and a second opening in the tip when the tip is applied to the skin, so as to guide fluid from the care container via the first and second conduits to the tip and into the waste container; The pump protection system is configured as follows: The pump is shut off when moisture is detected upstream of the pump; and The pump is prevented from restarting until the waste container is detected to have been opened, separated, or otherwise emptied. 10. The handheld skin cleaning device according to any one of claims 3-9, further comprising a pump protection system configured to detect that the angle of the device has exceeded a predetermined threshold and to shut off the pump. 11. The handheld skin cleaning device according to any one of claims 6-10, further comprising a pump protection system configured to impede fluid communication between the waste container and the pump when the pump is turned off.