Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
21~2814 1~
~.~,WO 941fO4106 PCT/US93/075g4
,;~`; i ,
~D'.~ELD PQRTA8~E 8T~:AM RAZo~
D OF ~B I~N~rIoN
^ 5Thi~ inventiorl relates to a new shaYing apparatus
for using th~ physiGal and therapeutic properties of :~
team and vapor.
BA~ O~ OF ~E:: INV~NTIO~
;~ ; Steam has long been used îor traating the ~ody owing
~; 10to the therapeutic ef~ec:ts of moisture-laden vapor for
t~eatirlg skin and hair.
The us~ of steam in shaving allows the hair f ibers
to ~ moistened 2In~ f acilitates removal of the hair .
:
: ~The use: of ~;team in skin treatm~nt is generally
15 known, such a~; applied at team baths for causing
perspiration and opening of the pores~ The use of steam
: : as a ~ody treatment aids in relaxing muscles, and helps
to cl~n~e the skin through heating o~ the natural body
oils ~o a more liqui~i~d state in which removal c:f the
2Q oils is fa ~ tated a~ by wiping or washing away the
o i l ~
:: Tt is also known that many people find it.easier to
shav~ afl:er having showered or bathed, as the hair to be
~:: remsved h~s swelled and softened owîng ~o the absorption
2 5 ~x adsorption of water by the hair .
:: U.S, }?atent No. 4,3g~,3d~9 to l)eming et al, discloses
an elec:trically heated ~acial sawla appliancP having a
heater sucb as a ceramic resistance or positive
i
W094/04106 ~ 1 4 2 8 1 ~ P~T/US93/07594 ~ .
temperature coefficient (PTC) heater enclosed in an
aluminum case. A thermostat calibrated to about 100 -
110C is attached to the Deming heater. A fan is used to
propel the steam toward the face. No shavers or razors
are dicclosed, although Deming et al. generally describe
putting watsr or a~ueous solutions or emulsions
containing medicaments, colognes or perfumes,
moisturizers, and the like, into a water ta~k steam
generating chamber.
U.S~ Patent No. 3,800,&10 to Mercer discloses an
; appliance construction for use as a hair dressing tool
and a steam iron that schematically shows a tool or
implement which may be a brush, comb, or the like,
advantageously formed with pa~sageways (not shown); 15 through the comb baok or brush back for passing fluid
rom t~e interior :of a work head exteriorly thereof.
Mercer describes th~ application of steam to hair for
shaping hair in ~hair-dressing and hair-styling
operations;:however, no disclosure is made of applying
20 ~ steam to:~reat facial hair or other unwanted hair to be
removad by shaving
:U.S~. Paten~ No. 4,596,565 to Ruderian discloses a
salve applicator having a vibrating element independently
operable ~or~ ~ heing operated ind~pendently of a blower
:; 2S motor. The vibrating;element essen~ially vibrates the
casing and~ thereby facilitates thP absorption of a : -
medicant into the pores of a body portion when the salve
applicator is in use as a massager. No disclosure is
made ~of shaving attachments. j i
The use of ~he term "steam" is for convenience only, L
as all vaporized liquids and medicated solutions that may
b2 vaporized are:intended to:be within the scope of the
invention. :
: OBJE~T8 ~ND ~NN~RY OF_T~E INV~TION
. It is a first object of the invention to provide a -
compact, hand-held shaving device which has a steam
:; .-
2~ 12814 -
W094/04l~6 ~ , PCT/US93/07594
- 3 -
~enerating chamber and which directs steam at the skin
surf ace .
Another obj~c~ o~ the invention is to provide a
hand-held, porta~le shaving device which can be used as
a facial sha~er as well as ~ whole body shaver.
Yet another object of the invention is to provide a
hand-held, portable device which produces steam, yet
which requires no fan for directing steam at the user.
; ~nother object of the invention is to provide a
~ 10 hand-held, portable shaving d~vice which avoids the
;~ drawbacks of prior art shavers.
:A still ~urther object is to avoid the presence of
electrical components, including wires, in direct contact
: with a liquid reservoir.
15A fur~her object of the invention is to eliminate
: the ne~d for loc~ting an electrical heating element in a
~luid reservo~rO :
: ~nother object of the invention is to provide a
shaving device which ~an be used regardless of its
Qrien~ation4
Y~t:anothar object of the inv~n~ion is to provid~ a
sha~ing device including ~ st~amer with which the steam
generat~d close to the surfaces of the skin to be
treated so as~to :avoid the temp rature drop of s~eam
present in existing devices.
: It is yet another object of the invention to provide t
a shaviny device u~ing steam and:h~ving an improved flow
`~ path~confi ~ ration for both cooling parts of the device .,
; which require cooling and for conveying steam to the
: ~ 30 user's skin for ~hanced shaving~
A yet further object o~the inventisn is to provide
shaving d~vice which use steam and thereby supplies
moisture-laden air directly to the skin for providing .
natural moisturizing of the skin. .
35It is a yet further ob3ect of the in~ention to
provide a sha~ing device which makes unnecessary the use
: of pre-shave solu~ions.
WO94~04106 21 4 ~ ~ I 4 PCT/US93/07594
:~ - 4 ~
Still another ~eature of the invention is to provide
a hand-held steam shaving device having a self-contained
liquid reservoir.
Another object of the invention is to provlde a
hand-held, portable steam shaving device having a liquid
reservoir whioh does not leak liquid when the device is
in an inverted position while steam shaving.
Another object :of the invention is to provide a
portable steam shaving device including a wick for
drawing a liquid from the reservoir to the heating
eIement. ::
Still another object~of the invention is to provide
a wick which is sufficiently hydrophilic so as to draw up
liquid readily, and, at the same time, maintain a high
enough flow resistance, in part due to its "wetting
;: angle"~ to prevent 9'floodingi' when the entire device is
held upside down~while steam shaving.
: Yet~anothe~r object of the invention is to provide a
wic~wh;ich~is mechanically stable, even after soaking in
2~0 water.
: Yet another object~of the inve~tion is to pro~ide a
hand-held,:por~able, self-contained steam generation
device and sha~er which can apply steam to selected areas
af~the::body~while:simult:aneously directly contacting or
25~ ~belng~spaced~from those~areas.
:;Still another obj~ect o~ the invention is to provide
a compact:steam~shaving~de~ice including a~motor which
; pow~rs both a fan and a razor for efficiency and for
providin~ a compact construction.
30 ::~: A yet still further object of the inYention is to
provide a compact const~uction of the overall device.
A~:still further~object of the invention is to
provide a slngle~motor having a common shaft for powering
a fan and a razor.
35~ Another object of the invention is to enhance the
ef~ect of pre-shave, during have (e.g., shaving lotion
: which helps hair stand up), and aftershave lotions.
A yet still f~rther object of the invention is to
provide for improv~ shaving by using ambient air or
vapor~laden air for enhancing the action of a powered
razor and for making the process of shaving more
com~ortable and efficient.
A still further object of the invention is ~o
pro~ide a ~teamer:device which can produce ~apor or steam
by using a low power and/or voltage level AC or DC power
source.
In s~mmary, therefore, the in~ention is direc~ed to
body shaving devices which operate directly in contact
with the skin or spaced from the skin and usP steam to
enhance the ef~ectiveness of the shaving device.
In one embodiment the shaving device includes a
steam generator.
~ no~her embodiment ~f the shaving device is an
apparatus which includes a razor attachment which may be
s~ationary or motorized to shave and or remove hair from
th~ skin surface as steam is being applied.
The invention will be further described wikh
re~erence to the following drawing~.
~IEF DE~C~IPTION OF T~ _Ra~I~G8
:FIGURE 1 i~ a cross~sectional view of a f irst
pr4~erred e~ odiment of a portablel hand-h~ld steam
shaving deviGe according to the in~ention;
FIGURE 2 is a cross-sectional view of a portion of
the preferred embodiment of FIG. 1;
FIGURE 2A is an enlarged view of a portion~of FIG.
l;
FIGURE 2B is a ~iew ~imilar to FIG. 2A, of a further
preferred embodlment of a valve according to the
invention;
FIGURE 2C is a schematic view of the manner in which
the val~e o~ FIG. 2B is partially open;
FIGUR~ 2D is a schematic view similar to FI~. 2~,
showing the valve of FIG. 2B in a further open position;
WO94/041~6 PCT/US93/07594 ~.
21~281'~
- 6 -
FIGURE 2E is a schematic view similar to FI~. 2C,
showing the valve o* FIG. 2B in a still ~urther open
position; -^
FIGURE 3 is a cross-sectional view of another
pre~erred embodiment;
FIGURE 3A is a perspective ~-iew o~ a modular bottle
adaptor according to a preferred embodiment of the
invention;
FIG~RE 3B is a cross sectional view of the modular
bottle adaptor o~ FIG.~3A;
FIGURE 3C is a top plan view of the modular model
bottl of FIG. 3A,~
FIGURE 3D is a cross-~ectional view taken along line
~ 3d-3d o~ FIG. 3C;
: 15 FIGURE 4 is a front, elevational ~iew of a p~wered
: shaver head aecording to the invention;
FIGURE 5 is a partial sectional view of the powered
shaver head o~ FIG. 4, taken along line 5-5;
FIG~RE 6 is a side elevational view of certain
comp~nen~s of the powered shaver head of FI-. 4;
FIG~RE 7 is a perspectiYe view bf a blade assembly
.
: shown in FIGS, 4-6;
~: : FIGURE 8 is a schamatic view of further preferred
: embadiment o~ a~steam shaver according to the invention;
;
and ~ :
FIGURE 9 is an elevational view of a still further
preferred ~mbodiment o~ the inve~tion.
: ,:
~ j ; B~AI~D D~8CRIPTION OF ~ INVEN~ON
: FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate one of the preferred -
30 embodiments o~ a steam razor l0 according to the t
invention.
Steam razor l0 includes a housing 20 having a razor
blade head 30 attached ~o an upper end thereof. A .
heating element 40 heats and ~aporizes a liquid supplied
35 by a li~uid rei-ervoir 50 defined in housing 20~ A !:
battery or other power source 60 energizes heating ¦ ~
~ .
f~W094/04106 21~ ~ 814 PCT/US93/07594
-- 7
element 40, as will be explained in detail below.
A recharqing base 70 functions to both store steam
razor lO at rest and to recharge battery 60. An electric
cord 80 extends from r2charging base 70 and is
5 connectable to a conv~ntional 115 volt ~C electrical
outlet, for example.
More particularly, steam razor 10 includes a push-
button 100 connected to a rod 102. A spring 104,
preferably encircling and retained by rod 102, normally
: ~0 biases push-button 100 outwardly.
A valve 106 regulates the discharge of a liquid from
li~uid reservoir 50. Valve 106 includes ~pper and lower
sealing slements 108, 109, respectively, and an orifice
110 defined in a wall 112 of r~servoir 50. Sealing
15element 10~ blocks orifice llO when push-button 100 and,
hence, rod 102, are in their noxmal, upwardly biased
positions.
Heating element 40, which is preferably configur~d
with sloped upper walls 42, is electrically connected to
a ~hermostat 120, which, in urn, is electrically
connected to a male adaptor prong ~24 recei~able in a
f~mal~ r~ceptacle 126. :Upper walls ~2 are sloped for
atGhing all drops of liguid which are released by Yalve
~: ~ : 106 from r~ser~oir 50
~ ~ 25A conventional AC/DC convertor 128 electrically
`::connects female recaptacle 126 and AC electric cord 80,
for con~erting standard hou~ehold alternating current to
direct current of the appropriate voltage to recharge
:battery ~0, a~ wi~l be rea~ily understood by a person
ha~ing ordlnary~skill in the art.
A refill cap 132 is removably received in housing 20
for adding li~uid to reservoir 50.
A conventional DC motor is provided in housing ~0
and is preferably powered by battery 60 . A driven shaft
~ 35 134 pow~red by DC motor 130 rotates an offset weight or
;- ~ccentric 136~ Eccentric 136 induces Yibrations which
~ vibrate housing 20 and, hence, razor blade 30, thereby
,
:
~ ' ~
", ", " , , " , . , , , , . , .-
WO94/041~6 2 1 ~ 2 8 1 ll PCT/US93/07594 ~
-- 8 -- -
enhancing the shaving effect.
Preferably, heating element 40 is heated up by
supplying electricity directly from standard 115V
household current through male adaptor prong 124 and ,
thermcstat 120.
Alternatively, both motor 130 and heating element 40
a~e powered by battery 60.
A vapor p~ssage 140 directs vapor or steam ~
produced by heating element 40. The steam exits housing
20 along vapor passage 140 and through outlet 144 defined
in ra~or blade head 30. Outlet 144 is prefer~bly
provided adjacent a fixed razor blade 148.
A first baffle 149 cooperates with a second baffle
150 for de~lecting steam ~low and for preventing
'5 inserting of obiects into vapor passage 140 and into
contact with heating element 40, for example.
As best ~een in FIG. 2, a protective cover 152
Pncloses razor blade head 30 when not in ~lse. One or
more detents 156 provided on razor blade head 3~ engage
20 ~ lips 160 defined on housing 20r 50 that razor blade head
30 can be readily replaced, as nece~saryO
Pre~erably0 an elongated nack 1~0 i~ provided o~ ~:
housing 20 so that the effective length of steam razor 10
iS increased~ ..
FIG. 2A is a partial view of FIG. 1, on an enlarged
~: scale, showing details of valve 106. ~;
: FIG. 2B is a view similar to FIÇ. 2A, showing a
still further preferred embodiment of a valYe 170
according to the invention. Valve 170 includes a spring- ' .
loaded/ movable rod 172 having a first, elongated, semi~
circular actuating element or actuator 174 disposed
: ~ubstantially lengthwise thereon. A second elongated .
actuatDr element 176 is disposed substantially parallel
to and spaced from ~irst actuator element 174, and is .
: 35 preferably somewhat longer than first element 174.
third, elongated actuating element 178 is likewise
disposed substantially parallel to and spaced from
' ~ WO94/04106 2 1 4 2 8 1 ~ PCT/US93/07594
.
_ g
elongated elements 174 and 176, and is longer than each
of those two elements.
An ~-ring 1~2 surrounds rod 172 and pre~ents the
discharge of liquid from liquid reservoir 50 when in its
normally closed position.
FIGS. 2C-2E, schematically show how the O-ring i5
distorted at one or more places, depending on how many of
actuating elements 174, 176, and 178 are contacting O-
ring 1~2, when rod 172 is pushed downwardly during use.
: 10Specifically, FIG. 2C schematically shows the
: confisuration of O-ring 182 when rod 172 has been moved
partially downwardly and only the lower portion of third
element ~78 c~ntacts the inner wall of O-ring 182. A
: deflected area 181, caused by contact of element 178 with
15O-ring 182 defines elongated passages 182 and 183
directly adjacent thereto and through which a liquid
passes. As will readily apparent, it is li~uid from
reservoir 50, when steam ra20r 10 is in use in its
upright position which will pass ~hrough passages 182 and
O; 183 for~contacting heating element 40.
~; FIG. 2D schematically illustrat~s the deformation of
~: Q-ring 182 when rod 172 h s been pu~hed further
downwardly, than as shown in FIG. 2C, and both second
: element: 176 and third element 178 contact respective
25inside wall portions of O-ring 182. Second elem~nt 1~6
:~ causes a portion of O-ring 182 to deflect and de~ine a
d~flected portion 185 and adjacent passages 186 and 187
~: through which a li~Uid passes, in a manner analogous to
~ the deflection of O-ring 182 illustrated in FIG. 2C.
':1 ' 30Third elément 1~8 still contacts O-ring 182.
.
Accordingly, more liquid:will be allowed to pass from .
reservsir SO through passages 182, 183, 185 and }86, than
in the case where :pa sages 182 and 183 are the two
openings through which:fluid passes ~see FIG~ 2C).
~:~ 35FIG. 2E schematically shows the manner in which all
three eIements ~74, 176 and 17B are deflecting O-ring 182 .
simultaneously, in the case where rod 172 is in its
~: ' .
:~:
W094J04106 2 ~ ~ 2 8 1 ~ . PCT/US93/07594 ~
-- 10 --
furth~st, downward position, whPreby fluid passes through
passages defined adjacent deflected portion 189, and
designated 190 and 191 respectively.
It is noted that the spacing of the d~flected
5 portions 181, 185, and 1~9 is shown as being about 120
which is a suitable spacing. It is contemplated that
di~ferent spacings depending on the d~sired flow rates
and size of the actuating element.
Turning to FIG. 3 and FIGS. 4-7, a second preferred
embodiment o~ a shaving device and a particularly suited
shaving head will be described~
FIG. 3 shows a portable, hand-hPld or steam shaving
device 220 having a housing 222 made of plastic or of
another suitable material. Steamer device 220 includes
a lower portion 224 and an upper portion 226. Lower
portion 224 is configured for being held in the hand of
: a us~r~
.
; FIGS~ 3A-3D show details of a modular bottle adapter
M.
~: 20 A liquid r~ervoir 228 is disposed in low~r portion
224 of housing 222 thanks to its~being retainsd by
;: modular bottle adapter M. Liquid reservoir 228 is formed
.
of a s~itable material~ for re~aining liquids such ~s
~: wat~r and medi~ations.
- Threads 230 are disposed at a top par~ of reser~oir
228 for releasably attaching reservoir 228 to mating
~; . thr~ads 231 of modular bottle adaptor M. As re~uired, an
O-ring or gasket can be disposed b~tween the upper part
of reservoir 228 and hou~ing 222 for ensuring that
undesi able 1QSS ~f liquid from reservoir 228 is
:: ~ prevented.
~ne or more irflow openings 232 is defined in
modular bottle adaptor M.
,
A wick 234 is secured by wick holder 235 of housing
~22. Wick 234 may be ma~e of natural fibers suitable for
:operation at eleYated temperature sr an appropriately
selected synthetic material such as a dimensionally
.
.
21~28:14
~. WO9~/04106 ` ;-~ : PCT~US93/07~94
. .. ;,, ,. .
-- ,
-- 11 --
stable fibrous material (e.g., PRYOPEL~ supplied by A L
International L.P., Ma~sfield, Massachusetts) which has
desired wicking and temperature prop~rties.
It is preferred ~hat wick 234 is made of a material
having sufficient wicking action to draw a liquid from
uid reservoir 228, while having sufficient flow
: : resi~tance for preventing excessive flow of liquid from
wick 234 when Iiquid reserYoir 228 has been at least
partially inverted; e~g., when reservoir 228 is in an
orientation in which liquid reservoir 228 is disposed
partially ~bo~e one or both of a condensation collector
238 and a h~ating element 240 while in use. A fluid
passage 239 (FIG. 3D~ returns condensate to reservoir
f~O
: 15~eatlng e~lement 240 is electrically ~.onnected by one
or more conductors 24l via a resilient conductor element
243 to a pDwer source (not shown) such as rechargeable
: nickel-cadmium batteri~s, or to a standard AC or D~ power
: source. ~s best s~en in FIGS. 3A and 3C, it is preferred
that electrical connection posts 242 be provided for
re~leasably attaching and elecbrically connecting
:oonductors ~41. Heating element 240 can b~ plugged into
or:sold~red on~o posts 242 by means of conductors 241~
For: cvnnection to an external power sourcP, or ~or
cQnnection to a standard recharger, an adapter 244 is
provi~ed ~ which is inserted into and electrically
connect~d with re~epta~le 246. All electrical
~ conn~ctions can be~soldexed or confi ~red as male/female
;~ connectors, as requir~d.
~` ~ 30Known ! electrical wires 248 electrically connect
rece~ta~1e 246 (or:the battery power source) wlth a fir t
printed circuit (PC~ board 249. A motor ~50, which is
,~ ,
pr~ferably:a DC motor, is electrically connected to a .
: : second printed circui~ ~PC) ~oard 25l via connector 252. ~
35 Second PC ~oard 251 is electriGally conn~cted by wires -
. 253 to first PC board 249. First PC board 249 is .
connected, in turn, to a standard multi-position switch
:
~: : ~
W~94/04106 2 1 ~ 2 8 1 4 PCT/~S93tO7594f~
._
254, the positions of which are selected by, for example,
lateral sliding of a ~lide element 256 relative to
housing 222 and, hence, relative to the body of switch
: 254.
Motor 250 is pro~ided with a rear drive shaft 258
: and a front drive shaft 260 ~or powering a dri~e shaft
socket or modular coupling 251. Rear drive shaft 25~
drives a fan 2~2 while concurrently driving the razor
attachment shown in FIGS. -4-7 b~ means of front driv~
; ` ~ 10shaft 260 and associated drive shaft coupling 261.
~ Multi~position switch 254 includes an off position
:~ in which both motor 250 and heater 240 are off; a fan-
only position in which heater 240 is off and motor 250 is
on for powering fan 262 and front drive shaft 260; and a
;15 motor--plus-vaporizer position in which both motor 250 and
:::heater 240 are on for supplyin~ steam or other vapor to
a sur~ace to be:treated.
The powered razor 300 of FIGS. 4-7, described in
gr ater d~tail b~low, is detachably attached to housing
20222. :A detent 271 i defined in upper portion 226 o~
housing 222 f~r detachably holding ~ri~en razor 300, as
will be described ~ore fully below. Razor 3~0 is mated
: with a drive shaft coupling 261 by its driven shaft,
described below.
25Power razor 300 fu~ther includes a plurality of
steam ~rent holes or primary vapor passages through which
~ .
moisturized air and/or steam passes from the inside of
housing 222 to the skin ~ur~ces to be treated when razor
300~is~in place on device 220.
30An ambient air inlet 280 is provided in lower
portion 22~ of housing ~22 for introducing air into
device 220. Air than passes through air passage 282,
follow~ ambient air flow arrow 283 generally through an
: air passage 284, after ~which fan 2Ç2 forces the air
;35 thr~ugh both a cooling air inlet 286 and drives air past
wick 234 and heating element 240. Air passage 282 is
:~ ~preferably aligned with airflow opening 232. The cooling
,
WO94/04106 2 14 2 ~ 1 4 PCT~US93/07~94 l-
- 13 ~
air continues on through cooling air outlet 288 and
cooling air outlet 290, the cooling air ~inally exiting
device 220.
The other portion of the ambient air drawn in
through air passage 284 follows a path generally shown by
ambient air flow arrow 285 thereby becoming moisturized
air designated by an arrow 291 after passing wick 234 and
heating element 240. Moisturized air 291 continues out
through steam vent holes ln razor 300 to moisturize the
lQ user'~ face, for example.
FIGS a 4~7 ~illustrate the powered shaver 300 which
: includes a removable head 302 which is removably retained
by a head release actuator 304 outwardly biased by a
spring 306.~
~: ~ I5 . A plurality of blades 308 is provided on an upper
part of removable head 302 behind a screen or foil 310
having ~ap~Etures appropriately sized for hair, such as
beard~s~ubble to be shaved,:to pa~s therethrough. Blades
308 ara fixedly held~by;a plastic encasement member 312,
the movement o~ ~hich relative to foil 310 proYides for
: the shearing off o~ hair1 i~e., shavi~g. A retaining pin
314 is~attached to blade pedestal 316. A blade assembly
318:includes blades 308:, plastic encasement member 312,
: pin 3l4, and; blade pedestal 316. Foil 310 can be
Z5 saparately attached t~ head 3~2 by means of foil hooks
319. ~ :
A cammed slider 320 includes a blade ~upport 322 and
a~s~ap-in groove 24 defined in blade support 322 for
receiving pin 314~ A slider 326 i reciprocally movable
within a slider groove 328. A~driven shaft 340
confi~ured~to mate with drive shaft socket 261 of FIG. 3
is~ro~atably received in bearing 342. A cam 344 is
provided for con~erting the rotational movement of drive
shaft 340 into rPciprocal, linear mo~ement of slider 326
for reciprocating blade pedestal 316 and, hence, blades
308 relative to foil:310 for shaving, as will be readily
appreciated by person having ordinary skill in the art.
'; . ~ :
WO94/04106 PCT/US93/07594f~
21~281 'I
- 14 -
Primary vapor passages 350 are defined in the lower
portion of power shaver 3~0. Primary vapor passages 350
are fluidly connected with a plurality of secondary vapor
passages 352, likewise formed in the lower portion of
power shaver 300. Tertiary vapor passages 354 are
defined between the plurality of blades 30~ by which
~apor, such as steam, i5 exhausted directly adjacent a
user's skin surface to be shaved. Projections 362 are
configured to engage with detents 271 of the steam shaver
embodiment o~ FIG. 3~ as will readily apprecia~ed.
Turning to the ~mbodiment of FIG. 8, another
preferred embodiment of the invention is shown in which
a steam generator 460 provides a steady flow of steam
through a hose 462 to which a non-moving raz~r 464 is
attached.
Razor 464 include~ an elongated handle 468 having a
base 466 configured for mating with hose 46~. Vapor or
st~a~ 8 escap~s through a vent 470 located, preferably,
near the point~ of skin contact of one or more razor
blades 472. In a two blade 472 ~ype razor, the vapor
steam ~ is preferably vented between~the two blades 472
:~ ~ so that the vapor R is directly applied to the skin as
the shaving occur~. An electric cord 480 is attached to
conventional household curr2nt, as will he re~dily
- 25 appre~iated by:a person having ordinary skill in the art.
Tt is also contemplated that a conventional butane
heater known in ~he art be substituted for the heating
el~ments in thi~ e~ odim~nt or any o4 the other preferred
embodiments~
'~ 1` 1 ' i ! ; , ~ ' ,
Furthermore9 a driven raæor may be sub~tituted for
non-moving razor 464, with the addition o~ appropriate
:: electrical connections, as will be understood by a person
having ordinary skilI in the art.
FIG. 9 shows a further preferred embodiment o~ a
steam razor 500 ha~ing a handle 502 connected at a
modular Gonn~ction 504. The operation is substantially
the same as the operation cf the embodiment of FIG. 3.
I
2~49gl~1
!~` ' 9 3 ~ a 7 5 9 4
- 15 ~ IP~A/US 1 1 JIJL 1994
Handle 502 provides for razor 500 to be used as a "whole
body" shaver, where the user may easily shave the legs and
the small of the back.
OPERATION
The hand-held portable steam raæor lO of FIGS. 1 and
2 is used as follows.
The user unscrews filler cap 132 and pours the desired
liquid into liquid reservoir 50. After replacing filler
cap 132, steam razor 10 is placed in recharging base 70.
In the: case where heating elem~nt 40 is pawered directly
from household current, the device i5 switched on and
: heating elemen~ 40~is allowed to heat up su~ficiently ho~
to vaporize a liquid released from liguid reservoir 50.
15 ; The dequate temperature can be indicated ~y an LED ~light-
emitting diode)~, for example, or can be determined by the-
user s.imply depressing push-button 100, thereby releasing
a drop:o~ liquid~from liquid reservoir 50, and checking to
: s~e if;the li~uid has been:vaporized by heating element 40,
20~ as wil:l:be clearly indicated by escaping steam or vapor ~l
Once ~heati~g elem~n~ 40 is at th appropriate
; temperatur2 for vaporization of l~quid, the user removes
steam razor lO from base 70. Heating element 40 will
comprise~ a sufficiently large heat sink so that the
25:~ require~ heat is ma~intained for the typical amount of time
required to shave. If a large amount of time is required
for shaving ~a partic~lar user, such a~ when th~ user
desir~s:~o shave large:parts of his or her body; i.e.,
shaving ~he legs,:the user will replace steam razor 10 in
: recharging base 70, as required.
In thé case where rechargeable battery 60 provides
power for one~or both:of heating element 40 and motor 130,
the us~r simply withdraws steam raæor 10 from recharging
base 70 when the user:wants to shave. A multi-position
`3~5~ switch allows the user to either select both ~am and
A~'',E,IDE~ ~
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21428~ P(~ri~ 3~ 594
- 15/1 - IPEA/US 1 lJUL 1994
vibration, steam alone, or vibratior
:
, :
.
:
. - : ::
~142~
~",~".,W~94/0410S PCT/US93/07S94 1,
- 16 -
alone. Vibration of housing 20 is achieved by energizing , ,
DC motor 130 whereby shaft 134 rotates eccentric 136
which induces the desired vibration.
The embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2 is particularly
: 5 suited for shaving hard to reach parts of the body, such
as the:small of a woman's back, owing to its elongated
neck 180. ~ ; ,
To use hand-held steam shaver 220 of FIG. 3, a
liquid such as water, a medication, or a combination
thereof, is poured:into liquid reservoir 228. Liquid
reservoir~228 is attached to msdular~bottle adapter M by
en~agemen~ wi~h~threads 230. '~
If the user desires steam while shaYing, then slide
~"~:~ ,: element 256 of ;switch 254 is: moved to a "steam on"
15~ position.: The~steam~on position electrically connects
: the~power:~sour to:motor 250 and to heating element 240.
Hea~ing element':~240,~whi~h is :preferably a positive
tem~perature~coe~ficient (PTC3 thermistor, begins to heat
imme~iat~ly~ Thé~PTC- th~rmistor is preferably a
20~,;tèmpera~re-dépendent~ semiconductor reslstor ha~ing a
r,esistance~value~'which;~ises sharp~y with increasing
`emperature~ after~ a~':defined temp~rature (reference
temperature)~ has~ been~ :exceeded. Given this
c~ar~cteri~tic~ proper~y,~no ~hermostat ~or con~rolling
25~ the~témperature~of~heating;~element 240 is:reguired. No
thermostat~is~reguired~because:~the PTC the ~ is~or itself
operates~ to~avoid~undesirable~excessive temperatures,
:even~:if~o liguid~remains:in;liquid reservoir 22~. This
:sel:~regulation:~is,~achieved by virtue of the resistanca ,~ ,~
30 value~-of the PTC:thermistor increasing with increasing : ;
temperature6. A~PTC:~thermisto~ which has been attached
to~a:DC~power source~and~successfully used was~consistent s
:with::the'German~Industrial Standard,:DIN 44080.
When:~he heating element 240:has reached the temp
35~ nece~sary to vapori~ze~water (e.g., 100~ at sea level),
, . . . ~ : : . ~
then steam qeneration in the Yicinity of wick 234 occurs.
The~ambient air which has been drawn through air passages
t
2 ~
~ WO9~/04106 PCT/USg3/07594
i !
- 17 -
~80, 23Z, 282 and 284 then picks up ~apor or steam, after
which vapor~laden or moisturized air 291 continues past
wick 234 and exits housing 222 through steam vent holes
adjacent to and within a razor. Given that front drive
~haft 260 is being driYen by motor 250 at the same time
as rear drive shaft 258 which powers fan 262, the razor
~: : is driven for shaYing the skin at the same time
: ~ moisturized air or ste~m is being applied to the skin.
Standaxd DC motors in the range of 4000 to lO,000 rpm
~: 10 (revolutions per minute) have been successfully used for
driving the steam razor.
To use the reciprocating blade powered razor head of
FIGS. 4-7, one simply attaches powered shaver head 300 to
; the upper, right portion of the hand-held, portable
~steamer device of the preferred embodiment of FI~. 3.
Tha attachment is~ achiev~d by the engagemen~ of
projections:3~2 with detents 271, whereby drive shaft 340
o~ power shaver~300 engagas drive shaft coupling 2~. As
is apparent, this is best done when multi-position switch
254 is in ~ s off position~ If one likes to shave with
just ambient air blowing:onto the ~kin sur~aces to be
:shaved, one ~hifts slide element 256 from the off
position of switch 254 into the fan-only po~ition by
which heater 240 remains off and motor 250 is energiæed,
so ~hat ambient air is forced by fan 262 through the air
low passages shown:in FIG. 3, and through primary vapor
passage 350, secondary vapor passages 352,:andl ~inally,
ter~iary vapor passages 354. Some users find that the
dryin~ effe~t caused by this forced ambient air being
~xhausted dire~tly adjacent the skin surfaces to be
shaved enhances the shaving effect.
: : Other users whc w~nt to ha~e steam and air exhausted
directly adjacent the skin will shift slide element 256
into the position in which ~witch 254 is in its motor-
: 35 plus-vaporizer position whereby motor 250 and heater 240
are energized causing steam or other vapor to be produced
and propelled by fan 262, through the same passages as
:~
;
,- ~ 21 4 2 ~ PCT~ 3 ~ C 7 5 9 4
iPEAiUS 1 lJul. 199~ :
described immediately above, for moisturizing the skin and
the hair to be shaved~ thereby enhancing the efficiency of . ~.
the powered shaver. The fan-only position and the motor-
plus-~aporizer position of switch 254 each make the user's
shave mo~e pleasurable and efficiQnt, as the user's
particular skin and hair conditions and personal
preferences dictate.
It is also contemplated to add a stopper for
positively blocking leakage of fluid when the shaving
device is off. : :
Suitable ~aterials for housing 222 include synthetic
resins and other plastics and materials which are
compatible with heat and moisture. Heating element 240 has
been successfully used as a ceramic slice having dimensions
~: ~ of about 1,4 mm by 7 m~ by 14 mm~ extended above and- .: loosely touching the top ~ree end of the wickq The heating
element can be imbedded in the wick.
Baffles for defl2cting the flow of steam and for
~2~0~ preventing a user from inserting elongated objects through
th~ vapor passages and into contact with the heating
element will be provided as necess~ry.
It has been found that the application of steam
generated from water ontaining a small percentage of
25~ ~ aftershave lotions results in the aftershave being accepted
.
into:th~ steamed open pores. Thus, as long as 6-10 hours
later the a~ershave has been released from the pores at a
rate su~fici~nt to be appreciated by another person (i.e.,
sm~Iled by on~ nea~ to the user). Accordingly, the use of
! 13 ~aporized~; diluted aftershavs in the form of steam has
; resulted in enhanced effect of slow releas2 of the
: aftershave over time, while a }esser amount of aftershave
than normally required has been used.
~; The material: of the wick may include felt, glass
~: 35 fibers, and, preferably, a polyimide structural insulation :.
: .:
:
tO S~E
2142~14 PCTIl~ 93 / 07 5 9 4
IPEA/US 1 1 JUL 1~9
-- 18/ 1
suc:h as Pyropel MD-18 (trademark), as described above. The
wick may be of any material which will withstand the
:; .
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... ...
~:.WO94/0410S PCT/US93/07
~ 19 -
maximum temperature of the heating element. Anappropriate PTC thermistor has its maximum temperature in
the range of about 120-180C. The material of the wick
should be hydrophilic, have suitable wicking actisn to
pull the fluid upwardly sufficiently high and quickly
enough to at least match the evaporation rate of the
~aporization taking place in the vicinity of the heating
element; while at the same ~ime, maintaining a
su~fici~ntly high flow resistan~e, in part owing to its
"wetting angle" to prevent "flooding" in case the entire
steamer de~ice lS held upside down.
The wick may likewise be made of porous metals or
ceramics, and given the inheren~ heat limitations of th~
PCT thermistor, fibrous wicks are also possible. Th~
polyimide wicks described above are one of the preferred
~ materials be~ause the polyimide available in the form of
:~ ~ PYROPEL0 is mechanically stable, av~n after soaking, is
: easily cut or formed, and has a void/solid ratio in a
desired range.
Suitable ~oltage ranges for a DC power ~upply to
~:: power the motor and the heatiny ele~ent have been in the
range of 12-25 volts. The appropriate electrical
connections ~ill be readily understood to a person having
ordinary skill in the art. The use of a heating element
which is a PTC thermi~tor is explained more fully in "The
PTC Thermistor as Heating Element"~ Siemens Come~nents
: ~ya_~a~}L, ~o~ 2, pp. 56-59, by Gunter Ott, which is
incorporated herein by reference.
In order to maximize the benefits of PTC thermistor
controlled heating in conjunction with the lowest
possible Watt input, one mu~t minimize the ';heat
resistance" of the electrical insulation around the
heating element. The steam shaver device will operate
preferably at a low ~oltage, yet it is beneficial to
electrically insulate the electrical connections to the
heating element in order to prevent any galv nic action
in the aqueous/high humidity environment~ This is of
',.
C~ 2~14
?~ P~TIIJS 9 3 / 0.7 5 9 4 ~"
IPEA/US 1 1JUL 199~ !
- 20 -
particular importance with ceramic type elements requiring
metallization on opposite planes to make electrical
contact, such metallization will rapidly degrade if exposed
: S to galvanic action.
One way of avoiding galvanic action is to use the
heater ~Isandwich~ described above wherein the electrical
co~nectors are insulated from the heating element. The
central conductor can be a copper foil bonded to the
`~ 10 metallized surfaces (one each per element) of the ceramic
` heating elements either by appropriate soldering/ or by
using a suitable high temperature conductive adhesive,
e.g6, sil~er filled epoxy.
~ Another way to use PTC heating elements to achieve
: ~15 "surface boiling" of water at the surface of the
hydrophilic wick is to,use a sin~ular ceramic element,'
e,g., ~iemens:Q63100-P430 R800 and coat, after connecting
the electrical leads~ the entire heating element with a
thermally: conduc~ive, electrically insulating substance.
20;~ order to mi:nimize ~h~ hea~ "gradient" between the PTC
elemen~ per se and the surrounding water (i.e., th~ heat
load)~ such a coating should be assthin as possible and be
of high th~rmal conductivity, e.g., Emerson & Cuming
Ecco~oa~ 582 ~ or P~RYLENETM by Union Car~ide.
:25~: It~is also possible to electrically bond highly heat
conduct~ive ceramic plates, each having one side metallized,
: to the heating element such that the (insid~) metallization
`~ ~ : of the outer plates provides for electrical connections to
: : the heating eleme~t, while the outsides provide electrical
~ nsulatisn, yet~ provide high heat condu~tance to the
surrounding w~ter.
Yet anothQr way to achiev~ the de~ired heating is to
s~lk screen or print an el~ctrical conductor with suitakle
PTC characteristics on an electrically insulating yet ~ -
35~ thermally conductive ceramic substrate and bond a second
::
L~i'.'~G ~EE~
2~42~1'1
PCT/US 5 3 / 07 5 9 4
IPEA/US 1 1 JU~ 1994
- 21 -
(plain~ electrically insulating, but thermally conductive
plat~ ~e.g., ceramic) on the "printed" side of the first
ceramic plate.
While this invention has been described as having a
preferred d~sign, it is understood that it is capable o~
further modi~ications, uses and/or adaptations of the
invention following in general the principle of the
in~ention and including such departures from the presPnt
: 10~ disclosure as come within the known or customary practice
in the art to which to invention p~rtaing and as may be
: applied to the central features hereinbefore set forth, and
~:~ fall within the scop~ of the invention and of the limits o~
: the appended claims.
:
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F3 S~EEt
