Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02411234 2002-12-09
WO 01/93767 PCT/ILO1/00524
HAIR DEPILATING DEVICE UTILIZING MECHANISM TO. SPIRALLY
ALIGN COUPLED-TWEEZER ELEMENTS
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a hand held, motorized depilatory device for
removing unwanted skin hair, and more particularly, to a revolutionary concept
and
mechanically correct design to pluck out skin hair, utilizing a novel
mechanism to
spirally align coupled-tweeter elements.
BACKGROrtIND OF THE INVENTION
The prior art of motor-powered depilatory devices for removing skin hair is
based on a well-known concept disclosed in a patent covering an earlier
mechanical
device, Swiss Patent 268,696 to Fischer. There, a helical spring is arched, to
provide
spaces between loops of its convex side, and the spring is placed on the skin,
under
slight pressure, and rolled, in the direction of hair growth. The rolling
motion of the
helical spring causes hairs, which become trapped in the spaces, between the
coil
loops, on the convex side, to be plucked, when these spaces close, on the coil
spring
concave side.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,524,772 to Daar, et. al., discloses an arched, helical spring,
which is provided with high speed, rotational motion via motor-driven
couplings,
connected at its ends. The contact between the helical spring wire and
individual
hairs is essentially point-like. A hair that is caught between the closed
spring loops
may be released before the plucking operation has been completed, which
results in
ineffcient plucking and unnecessary pain.
1
CA 02411234 2002-12-09
WO 01/93767 PCT/ILO1/00524
Once a hair becomes trapped between closed helical spring loops, continued
application of rotational force causes the spring to "wind up", since it is
composed of
flexible wire material, yet the hair is still ~in place. As the spring
continues to "wind",
the~pulling tension applied to the hair increases until the necessary force is
developed
for plucking. Because a f nite interval is required for this force to be
developed, the
user is subjected to an increased pain level..
The helical spring may break during use, due to the continuous bending
stresses applied to it, creating a hazard to the user, as the spring is in
direct contact
with the skin.
In addition, a transverse deflection of hairs takes place, due to lateral
movement of the spaces between the helical spring loops, which rotate in
spiral
fashion. Therefore, shorter hairs tend to escape the traps, created by the
helical spring
loops.
-In U.S. Pat. No. 4,575,902 to Alazet, there is disclosed a depilatory device,
comprising a series of adjacent, closely-spaced hair-plucking discs, driven by
an
electxic motor, housed .within a casing. The discs are periodically deformed
during
their rotation, such that adjacent ones, thereof, are pressed together to
pluck hairs,
which may have become trapped between them, when the unit is passed over the
skin.
When the discs are pressed together, the ~ external hair traps, thus formed,
capture
maimly hairs located in the center of the device's rotational path. The short
hairs,
located on the peripheries of the rotational path, are not trapped and
consequently, nit
plucked.
In US Patent 4,575,902 to Alazet; US Patent 5,041,123 to Oliveau, and US
Patent 4,960,422 to Demeester, simultaneous closing of blades is complicated
and
extremely difficult to ensure, while maintaining a uniform gripping force in
all
2:
CA 02411234 2002-12-09
WO 01/93767 PCT/ILO1/00524
hair-traps. These .patents describe devices, in which, parallel-positioned
plucking
blades or disks are fixed, relative to the; rod, which carries them.
Typically, cam
driven motion of the rods -causes the blades to close one against the other.
On
application of force, sufficient gripping force will be attained by some of
the blades,
while other blades will not be subjected.to su~cient force and will remain
open.
The difference in plucking-blade ,response o a given mechanical force is
primarily a result of non-uniformity in the production of the unit elements.
As a
certain level of non-uniformity accompanies all production, correct and
efficient
performance requires finding a method to decrease, or preferably, . eliminate
the
detrimental effects of non-uniform production.
In order for the blades to close; .further force must be exerted, which causes
excessive stress on the blades, which closed first. Excessive stress on the
blades
typically causes hair to be cut instead of plucked. .In addition, a certain
percentage of
plucking attempts is unsuccessful. Each time hairs are pulled, without
plucking the
hairs, the result is increased pain, .increased energy consumption, (which is
particularly significant in the case of battery-operated devices), increased
noise and
excessive wear and tear of parts.
Therefore, it would be desirable to provide a superior power-driven depilatory
device; which provides a drastic improvement in the ratio of plucked to cut
hairs,
while :minimising pain associated with the ° interval between grasping
and plucking of
individual hairs.
It would also be desirable to provide a depilatory device, which would reduce
noise, and therefore be less frightening to the user.
3
CA 02411234 2002-12-09
WO 01/93767 PCT/ILO1/00524
Furthermore, in the prior art, the depilatory devices were designed, so that
to
be effective, the user had to hold the device substantially perpendicular to
the skin
surface, at many times, a most awkward position.to work in.
Therefore, it would also be desirable to provide a depilatory device, whose
design allows the user to e~ciently utilize the device at additional contact
angles with
the skin surface. This would allow the user to easily maneuver the device, so
as to
remove hair efficiently, in hard-to-get to v-eas, such as the back of the knee
joint area.
In addition, such a design would also allow the user to easily view the area
to be
depilated, which was most di~cult to do in prior art devices.
Additionally, it would be desirable to provide a depilatory device, whose
mechanically correct design will lead to an e~cient distribution of the
applied force
and thereby reduce excessive.wear of parts and improve the plucking
efficiency.
SUMMARY O>F THE INVENTION
Accordingly, it is a principal object..of the present invention to overcome
the
above=mentioned disadvantages and provide a hand-held, motorized depilatory
device
for removing unwanted skin hair, utilizing a mechanically correct design
employing a
novel mechanism to spirally align coupled-tweeter elements.
In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, there is
provided a motor-powered depilatory device comprising:
a manually-held housing;
motor means disposed in said housing; and
a hair-plucking assembly, exposed through an opening in said housing, and
coupled to said motor means, said hair-plucking assembly containing a right
hand
actuator element and a left hand actuator element, identical in construction,
each
CA 02411234 2002-12-09
WO 01/93767 PCT/ILO1/00524
carrying opposing tweezer elements, which fit together in interleaved fashion,
arranged to define hair-traps,
said hair-plucking assembly being rotatable about a central shaft and operable
to close and open said hair-traps by a system of cams and springs.
Hair-traps .are developed by a series of tweezer elements, mounted
circiumferentially on said hair-plucking assembly. Each of said actuator
elements has a
pair of carrier arms, containing slots, in which said tweezer elements are
mounted.
The actuator elements are arranged to provide slots for installation of a
plurality rows
of tweezer elements, arranged in a staggeired, rather than tandem arrangement.
The actuator elements, in the preferred embodiment of the present invention,
are made of plastic and are simply designed, and identical in construction,
making
them inexpensive to manufacture, via injection molding.
On each actuator element, adjacent to the carrier arms are cams, on which are
positioned cam followers that are supported by~cam follower holders. Two sets
of cam
followers are held, one at each end, formed by the actuator elements, and are
prevented from rotating by an actuator spring. The actuator spring is held in
place
within a slit, in the body of the appliance, which prevents it from rotating
with the
hair-plucking assembly. The actuator spring exerts pressure on the ends of the
central
shaft, which is relayed to the cam follower holders, the cam followers, and
through
the cams to the actuator elements.
The actuator spring transfers gripping force to the tweezer elements, where
gripping force is the specific force required to grip and pluck the hairs.
Gripping force
is required only at specific points in the operating cycle..During the
remainder.of the
cycle, a retaining spring mounted on the shaft provides the force needed to re-
open
the hair-traps.
S
CA 02411234 2002-12-09
WO 01/93767 PCT/ILO1/00524
In operation, when the hair-plucking assembly receives rotational motion, the
cam followers roll on the cams and when they reach a.projection on the cam
surface,
the actuator elements are pushed one against the other, thereby causing the
tweeter
elements, of opposing ~.ctuator elements, to engage, forming hair-traps on all
rows of
tweeter elements, simultaneously. Thus, hairs are plucked out, during the
rotational
motion of the hair-pluckingvassembly. The cam followers continue rolling along
the
contour of the cams, eventually arriving at a depression in the cams. At that
point, the
retaining spring is free to return the actuator elements, as well as the
tweeter elements
situated on them, to their initial positions, thereby opening the hair-traps,
allowing the
plucked hair to be released.
Cams are located at each end of the hair-plucking assembly, and are arranged
as a set in a circular arrangement, which effectively constitutes a continuous
cam
arrangement. In the preferred embodiment, a set of four cam followers,
arranged
perpendicular to each other, is positioned on each set of cams. This correct
mechanical design , allows the force applied by the actuator spring to be
evenly
distributed on all points of the cams of the actuator, surrounding the shaft.
Thus, the
force per point is smaller than in prior art devices, reducing the stress per
point, which
is an important factor in reducing accelerated wear of parts and excessive
noise.
Each tweeter element comprises two wing segments and a central portion. In
one of its embodiments, the tweeter element, in its central segment, has
formed
thereon protrusions. A tweeter element, when engaged, is able to rock slightly
around
the protrusions. This arrangement permits self alignment of the tweeter
element,
thereby enabling uniform distribution of gripping force among all hair-traps.
In
another embodiment, instead of a protrusion on the tweeter element, a swivel
ridge is
formed on the wall of the slot, in which the tweeter element is mounted.
s
CA 02411234 2002-12-09
WO 01/93767 PCT/ILO1/00524
The assembly procedure of the hair-plucking assembly is quite . simple and
rapid. The tweeter elements are snapped imo position easily, and held in place
by a
tongue, or other mechanical means, such as the hair-guide unit, utilized in
one of the
embodiments.
The tweeter elements are arranged around the hair-plucking. assembly, in such
a way, that the tips of each tweeter element can engage with the tips of each
of two
adjacent tweeter elements, so that the tweeter elements form a continuous
spiral
around the circumference of the assembly. The tweeter elements are able to
rock
slightly around said protrusions, and thereby align themselves relative to
fixed points,
provided by a fixed tweeter element. This novel mechanism ensures that all
tweeter
elements close simultaneously, developing an appropriate equal gripping force,
despite inaccuracies in manufacture.
The inventive hair-plucking assembly insures all the hair-traps close
simultaneously during a revolution of the hair-plucking assembly, with no
excessive
applied force being required. Quality of hair plucking is thereby improved,
where
quality of plucking is defined as the percentage of hairs plucked versus
percentage of
hairs .cut. In prior art devices, excess applied force led to an increase in
the number of
hairs cut rather than plucked.
The staggered arrangement of tweeter elements contributes to a much more
even treatment of the skin surface, and to an increase in the speed of removal
of hairs
from a given area, thus leading to reduced energy consumption per unit of
time.
A further advantage of the present invention is the operation of the actuator
elements by the continuity of the cams. The use of four cam followers per cam,
eliminates the need to jump from one cam to another, as is the case in, other
hair
7
CA 02411234 2002-12-09
WO 01/93767 PCT/ILO1/00524
plucking appliances. This configuration decreases noise levels, reduces energy
requirements and reduces 'wear and tear of the device.
Other features and advantages of the inventiomwill become apparent from the
drawings and the description contained herein below.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
For a better understanding of the invention, with regard to the embodiments
described, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, in which like
numbers
designate corresponding elements or sections throughout, and in which:
Fig. 1 schematically illustrates a prior art hair .plucking device
disadvantage, in
which only a portion of the hair-traps are closed, while other traps remain
open;
Fig. 2 schematically illustrates a prior art hair plucking device situation
where
excess force is exerted in order to ensure closure of all the hair-traps;
Fig. 3 shows a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a hair-plucking
assembly for use in a hair depilating device, constructed and .operated in
accordance with
the principles of the present invention;
Figs. 4a-d shoal a single actuator element, illustrating a tweezer element
mounting method using a hair guide to hold them in place, while guiding the
hairs;
Fig. 5 shows a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the hair
depilating
device, using the hair-plucking assembly of Fig. 3;
Fig. 6 shows a perspective view of the hair plucking assembly of Fig. 5,
without the housing;
Fig. 7 shows a side view of a preferred embodiment of the depilating device;
Fig. 8 displays a sectional view of the apparatus taken along the section line
VIII-VIII of Fig 7;
Fig. 9 shows a perspective exploded view of the device hown in Fig. 5;
s
CA 02411234 2002-12-09
WO 01/93767 PCT/ILO1/00524
Fig. 10 is a perspective view of a.tweezer element;
Fig. 11 shows a perspective view of a segment of a carrier arm, showing the
tweeter elements within the slots;
Fig. 12 is a side view of the segment of the carrier arrn. shown in Fig. 1 l;
Fig. 13 is a front view of the carrier arm of Fig. 1 l;
Fig. 14 is a sectional view of the segment of the carrier arm, taken along
section line XIV-XIV of Fig. 13;
Fig. 15 is a top, sectional view of the segment of the carrier arm, taken
along
section line XV-XV of Fig. 13;
Fig. 16 is a top view of the segment of the carrier arm shown in Fig. 11;
Fig. 17 is a cross-sectional view of the segment of the carrier arm taken
along
section line XVII-XVII of Fig. 12;
Fig. 18 is a perspective view of the tweeter elements, when all the traps are
closed, showing the arrangement. as a spiral .continuity;
Fig. 19 is an additional perspective view of the tweeter elements in closed
hair-trap formation;
Fig. 20 is a view of the hair-plucking assembly, cut and opened out along its
longitudinal axis, with the tweeter elements in open hair-trap formation;
Fig. 21 is a view of the arrangement of Fig. 20, with the tweeter elements in
closed hair-trap formation;
Fig. 22 is a schematic representation of the tweeter elements performing
self alignment;
Fig. 23 is a schematic representation of the tweeter elements after self
alignment,
and schematically displays the spiral, staggered arrangement of the tweeter
elements;
y
CA 02411234 2002-12-09
WO 01/93767 PCT/ILO1/00524
Figs. 2~a-b are top and cross-sectional views of a section of the carrier arm,
showing an embodiment in which the tweezer element rocks on a .swivel ridge
that
protrudes into the gap between the tthieezer element and the slot 'call;
Fig. 25 is a perspective exploded view of an actuator element in an
embodiment of the device, showing the taieezer elements mechanically locked in
the
slots via pins that pass through them, over the actuator element length;
Fig. 26 schematically illustrates the additional angles at which the user may
hold the device while depilating, to facilitate the depilating process;
Fig. 27.schematically illustrates use of the device against a hard to reach
skin
surface, without requiring a change in the angle at which the device is
applied;
Fig. 28 shows an alternative embodiment of the hair-plucking assembly,
featuring an annular grouping of tweezer elements;
Fig. 29 is a perspective view of the tweezer elements, when all the traps are
open, showing the arrangement of.the annular grouping;
Fig. 30 is a schematic representation of the tweezer elements after self
alignment,
and schematically displays the annular grouping of the tweezer elements;
Fig. 31 is a view of 'the hair-plucking assembly of Fig. 28, cut and opened
out
along its longitudinal axis, with the tweezer elements in open hair-trap
formation; arid
Fig. 32 is a view of the arrangement of Fig. 31' with the tweezer elements in
closed hair-trap formation.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Referring now to prior art Figs. 1 and 2, there are shown.enlarged views of
plucking elements 30, each pivotally mounted at one end along the axis of a
mounting
.. . . ,. . ~, " ,, .10 , . . v.
CA 02411234 2002-12-09
WO 01/93767 PCT/ILO1/00524
element 32 to define hair-traps 34. In such an arrangement, even distribution
of
gripping force is extremely difficult to achieve primarily due to the
cumulative effect
of production non-uniformities.
As shown in Fig. 1, on application of pressure by an actuator 36, su~cient
gripping force will be attained by some of the plucking elements 30, and their
corresponding hair-traps 34 will close, while a certain percentage of open
hair-traps
34 will not receive sufficient gripping force, and therefore, will remain
open. As seen
in Fig. 2, in order for the hair-traps of all the plucking elements 30 to
close, further
pressure must be exerted. Some plucking elements become distorted, and this
causes
excessive wear, excessive noise, excessive energy consumption, and cuts the
hair
instead of plucking it. The present invention provides a solution to this
problem.
Referring to Figs. 3-4, there is shown a perspective view of an exemplary
embodiment of a hair-plucking assembly 3S, for use in a.hair depilating device
36
(Fig. S), constructed. and .operated in accordance with the principles of the
present
invention, the purpose of which is to trap unwanted hairs in hair-traps 40 and
to pluck
them out from the root. Hair-plucking assembly 3S comprises two identical,
opposing
actuator elements, a right-hand actuator element 42 and a left=hand actuator
element
44 (Fig. 4a), which fit together between circular endplates 46. When
assembled,
hair-plucking assembly 3S .has a substantially circular cross-section.
. . ~,u_plucking assembly 3S is driven'by a motion conversion mechanism (Fig.
6) that translates the rotational motion of the hair plucking assembly into
reciprocating motion of endplates 46 along the longitudinal axis of hair-
plucking
assembly 3S, as indicated by motion arrows X and Y. The detailed components of
the
mechanism are shown in Fig. 8.
,l I
CA 02411234 2002-12-09
WO 01/93767 PCT/ILO1/00524
In Figs. 4a-b, there .are shown perspective eXploded views of the left-hand
actuator element 44. In respective actuator elements 42 (Fig. 8) and 44 there
are a pair
of carrier arms 47, 48. There are formed in carrier arms 47, 48 spaced-apart
slots 50,
each having seated therein a tweeter element 52, the wings of which are
exposed on
the periphery -of each earner arm 47, 48. Each tweeter element 52 is shaped as
a
central portion 54, with peripheral wing sections 56, f8 formed on opposing
sides of
central portion 54, one wing slightly offset forward of central portion 54 and
one
behind it, as further illustrated in Fig. 10.
Slots 50 are formed transverse to the longitudinal axis of the hair plucking
assembly 35, and tweeter elements 52 are each formed with a pivoting point,
which
allows longitudinal rocking motion of tweeter elements 52 with respect to the
longitudinal axis, within the slot. This enables self alignment of the tweeter
elements
529 , as further illustrated in Fig. 15.
Slots 50 on actuator element 48 and slots 50 on actuator element 44 are
arranged, such that the wings 56, 58 of the tweeter elements 52, mounted on
one
actuator element are.interleaved with the wings of tweeter elements 52 on the
other.
Thus, spaces are developed between opposing wings .of interleaved tweeter
elements
52, these spaces being defined as hair-traps 40. Also shown is hair-guide
retaining
unit 60, which fits over tweeter elements 52 and holds them in place, while
directing
the hairs that escape one hair-trap .into the path of the next hair-trap, and
so forth.
Hair-guide retaining unit 60 also completes the ~ cylindrical contour of 'the
hairmplucking assembly 35.
Fig. 4c is a side view of the left-hand actuator element 44 of Fig. 4b. Fig.
4d is
a cross-sectional view taken along section line d-d, showing hair guide 60
seated over
:. ,
i~
CA 02411234 2002-12-09
WO 01/93767 PCT/ILO1/00524
tweeter element 52, to hold it ~in place, by snap-in clips 59 which engage
grooves 61
'formed on the carrier arms 47, 48.
In Fig. 5, there is shown a perspective view of the exemplary embodiment of
hair depilating device 36, which comprises .a casing 64, in which there is
mounted a
hair-plucking assembly 35, as shown in Figs. 3-4. The hair-plucking assembly
35
comes in contact vrtith the skin via an opening in the casing 64. The casing
is
connected on one side to a cover 66.
As can be seen in the perspective view of Fig. 6, the hair-plucking assembly
35 is driven by an electric motor 68 via a reduction gear 70 rotating on shaft
71. The
hair-plucking assembly 35 comprises a right-hand actuator element 42 and a
left-hand
actuator element 44, which fit together between circular endplates 46, each
one
identical .to the other, and formed .integrally with a respective actuator
element.
Hair-plucking assembly 35 also comprises cam follower holders 72, an actuating
spring 74, and a split central shaft 76a-b. The hair-plucking assembly 35 is
designed
to have mounted thereon a series of tweeter elements 52.
Fig. 7 shows a side view of the exemplary embodiment of depilating device 36.
Figures 8 and 9 show further construction details of the hair-plucking
assembly 35.
Fig. 8 displays a sectional view of the device 36, taken along section line
VIII-VIII of Fig 7. .
In each actuator element 42 and 44, there is a hole, 78 and 80 respectively,
which serves as a bearing to the central shaft 76a-b. On each actuator
element, there
are integrally formed on endplates 46 a set of cams, 82 and 84; on which are
positioned cam followers 86, which are supported .by cam follower holders 72.
Two
sets of identical cam followers 86 are held, one at eaeh.end of hair-plucking
assembly
' 13
CA 02411234 2002-12-09
WO 01/93767 PCT/ILO1/00524
35, formed by the actuator elements 42, 44. The cam follower holders 72 are
prevented from rotating by an actuator spring 74.
The actuator spring 74 is held in place within a slit 88 (shown in Fig. 9), in
the body of the appliance, which prevents the actuator spring from rotating
with the
hair-plucking assembly 35. There is a niche 75 at each end of the actuator
spring 74.
As the heads 77 of the central shaft 76a=b are spherical, they fit snugly into
said
niches, allowing for excellent self alignment of the assembly.
The actuator spring 74 presses inwards at the heads of the central shaft 76a-
b,
which applies pressure on the cam follower holders 72, which, in turn,
transfer the
pressure via the mechanism of the cam followers 86, and the cams 82 and 84, to
the
actuator elements 42 and 44.
The central shaft 76a-b comprises two . identical halves of fixed length,
mounted end to end, whose purpose is to provide pretensioning of the actuator
spring
74, until the spring is brought into operation. This occurs when the cam
followers 86
reach the raised portion on the surfaces of the cams 82 and 84. The purpose of
the
actuator spring 74 is to transfer gripping force to the tweeter .elements 52.
Gripping
force is the specific force required to grip the hairs and pull them out by
the root.
The shaft '76a-b is important in regulating the resistance to rotation of
''°hair-plucking assembly 35. If there were no shaft, the full
magnitude of
inwardly-directed force provided by actuator spring 74 would ,be applied as
soon as
,,
the assembly'~35 began its rotation. This would result in increased resistance
to
rotational motion and would necessitate a higher energy input by motor 68 to
overcome it. There would also be much more noise and greater wear.
The .gripping force is only required during a portion of the operating cycle
and
is only effective during this period. During the remainder of the operating
cycle, the
CA 02411234 2002-12-09
WO 01/93767 PCT/ILO1/00524
full farce of the actuator spring 74 is not required, and as described
previously, central
shaft 76a-b maintains pretensioning of actuator spring 74. Retaining spring 85
is
provided between sections of the central shaft 76a~b, to hold the hair-traps
40 open,
by forcing the actuator elements 42 and 44 apart, until the next time they are
driven
together by cams 82, 84.
Fig. 9 presents a perspective exploded view of the device shown in Fig. 5.
The hair-plucking assembly 35 is contained within a depression 90, formed in
one end
of casing 64, and cover 66. Cover 66 is located on the opposite end of the
casing. The
hair-plucking assembly 35 comprises two identically constructed actuator
elements,
42 and 44, each of which contains a pair of carrier arms 47 and 48. Each
carrier arm
47, 48 is formed with slots 50, which hold the tweeter elements 52.
Each carrier arm has one fixed end blade 92, which does not move from its
position and is secured in place by positioning pin 93, or by other mechanical
means.
Central shaft 76a-b passes through a hole 78, 80 formed in each actuator
element. The
grooves 94, formed on carrier arms 47, 48 around the tweeter element slots 50,
function to guide the hairs into.the hair-traps 40, which are created at the
ends of the
tweeze- elements.
Cams 82, 84 are formed on each end of the hair-plucking assembly 35,
comprised of the interleaving actuator elements 42, 44. The cams $2, 84 are
arranged
as a set of four, in a circular arrangement, which effectively creates a
continuous cam
arrangement. A set of four cam followers 86, arranged perpendicular to each
other, is
positioned on each set of cams. The cam followers 86 are mounted so as to be
free to
rotate in slots 101 of cam follower holders 72, which are supported on shaft
76. The
cam follower holders 72 are prevented from rotating by the actuator spring 74,
which
is situated in slots 102 of the cam follower holders 72.
IS
CA 02411234 2002-12-09
WO 01/93767 PCT/ILO1/00524
In operation, the hau-plucking assembly 35 receives rotational motion from
the motor 68, via the reduction gear 70 (see Fig. 6). The cam followers 86
roll on the
cams 82, $4, and when they reach the raised portion of the cam surface, as
shown in
Fig. 21, actuator element 42 and 44 are pushed one against the other, thereby
causing
the plucking elements 52, of the opposing actuator elements, to engage,
thereby
forming hair-traps 40. Thus, hairs are plucked out during the rotational
motion of the
hair-plucking assembly 35. As shown in Fig. 20, the cam followers 86 continue
following the contour of cams 82, 84, eventually arriving at a depression on
the cam
surface. The retaining spring 85 then causes the actuator elements 42 and 44,
together
with the tweeter elements 52 mounted on them, to return to their normally open
positions, thereby opening the hair-traps 40 and allowing the plucked hair to
be
released. The process repeats for subsequent rotations of hair-plucking
assembly 35.
Fig. 10 is a perspective view of a tweeter element 52. Each tweeter 'element
52 comprises two wing segments 56, 58 and a central portion 54. In this
embodiment,
the plucking element 52 in its central segment, has formed thereon protrusions
121,
which enables the tweeter .element to rock slightly about the protrusions, in
the
directions shown by the arrows in Fig 15. The purpose of this design is to
permit
self alignment of the tweeter elements, thereby contributing to uniform
distribution of
gripping force among the hair-traps 40. The tweeter elements 52 are snapped
into
position in slots 50 and held in place by a tongue 122 or by other mechanical
means.
Fig. 11 shows a perspective view of a segment of a carrier arm 47 of actuator
element 42, showing the tweeter elements 52 mounted within the slots 50. The
positioning pin 93, or other mechanical means, holds the fixed tweeter element
92 in
place.
16
CA 02411234 2002-12-09
WO 01/93767 PCT/ILO1/00524
Fig. 12 shows a side view of the segment of carrier arm 47, seen in Fig. I 1,
showing the tweeter elements 52 within the slots 50 and the adjacent grooves
94
which guide the hairs into the traps 40.
Fig. I3 is a front view of the segment of carrier arm 47, seen in Fig. 11.
Fig. 14 shows a sectional view of carrier arm 47, taken along section line
XIV-XIV of Fig. 13, in which there is shown tweeter element 52 and its swivel
protrusion 121. The tweeter element is held in place by tongue 122. Also shown
is a
fixed tweeter element 92, which is held in place by positioning pin 93.
Fig. 15 is a top, sectional view of carrier arm 47~ taken along section line
X~T-XV of Fig. 13, in which there is shown the mounting of tweeter elements
52,
arranged to rock back and forth on carrier arm 47. Also shown is the fixed
tweeter
element 92, which is held in place by positioning pin 93, slots 50 and the
hair-guide
grooves 94.
Fig. 16 is a top view of the segment of the earner arm 47 shown in Fig. 11.
Figs. 1 S-16 assist the viewer in visualizing the self alignment possibilities
that this
devicx-design allows.
Fig. 17 is a cross-sectional view of a segment of carrier arm 47 taken along
section line XVII-XVII of Fig. 12.
Fig. 18 is a perspective view of the tweeter elements 52, when all the
hair-traps 40 are closed, showing the arrangement as a spiral continuity 124.
Fig. 19 is an additional perspective view of the tweeterelements 52 in clbsed
hair-trap formation. This view better illustrates protrusions 121, providing
swivel
points enabling e~cient 'gripping force distribution among tweeter elements
52,
which are arranged as shown around central shaft 76a-b (shaft not shown).
m
CA 02411234 2002-12-09
WO 01/93767 PCT/ILO1/00524
Figs. 20 and 21 show how the hair-plucking assembly.3S would.appear if cut
along its longitudinal axis and opened out. This illustration enables an
appreciation of
the mechanically correct and efficient staggered hair-trap arrangement
relative to the
surface being depilated.
In Fig. 20, the cam followers 86 have reached the depressions in the surface
of
the cams 82, 84, and consequently, the hair-traps 40 are open. The continuous
cam
arrangement can be clearly seen in these. figures. The cam followers 86 roll
smoothly
from cam to cam iri a continuous circle, without the need to jump from cam to
cam, as
occurs in prior art devices. The equalized stress distribution on the cams and
cam
followers is also apparent, and this reduces wear and tear, noise generation,
and
energy consumption.
Fig. 21 shows the arrangement of Fig. 20, with the cam followers 86 located
on the raised portions of the cams 82, 84, causing the tweezer elements S2, of
;
. ,. , .,
opposing actuator elements 42 and 44, to close against each other, thereby;
closing
hair-traps 40.
Fig. 22 is a schematic representation of the tweezer elements performing
self alignment. Fig. 23 shows how toveezer elements S2 are arranged around the
cylindrical hair-plucking assembly 3S, so that the tips of each tweezer
element S2 can
engage with the tips of each of two adjacent tweezer elements. Thus, the
tweezer
. elements S2 create a continuous spiral 124 . around the circumference of the
.,
hair=plucking assembly 35,~ and guarantee self alignment all along the spiral.
'
In Fig. 22, the misalignment of the tweezer elements is exaggerated for the
.. ,
purpose of demonstration. The tweezer elements 52 are able to rock
slightlyaround a
ridge 130, and thus align themselves relative to fixed points, provided by the
fixed
tweezer elements 92. This design ensures that all tweezer elements S2 close
1$
CA 02411234 2002-12-09
WO 01/93767 PCT/ILO1/00524
simultaneously in response to an :appropriate gripping force, and even
compensates
for manufacturing inaccuracies, as illustrated in Figs. 22 and 23. In Fig. 23,
there are
also shown schematically the elements 52 spiraling along the circumference of
assembly 35.
In Figs. 24a-~b, there are shown top and cross=sectional views of a segment of
earner arm 47. In this embodiment,. the wall of slot 50 has formed thereon a
ridge
130, to maintain tweezer element 52 spaced apart from the wall. The tweezer
element
52 is able to rock slightly about this ridge protrusion. The purpose of this
design is to
permit self alignment of the tweezer elements, thereby contributing to uniform
distribution of gripping force among the hair-traps 40.
In Fig. 2'S, there is shown a perspective exploded view of an actuator element
42, showing an alternative mechanical locking arrangement of tweezer elements
52 in
the slots, using pins 132 (Fig. 24b) that pass through them over the actuator
length.
In Fig. 26, there is shown a schematic representation of four depilating zones
on the invention's hair-plucking assembly periphery. In accordance with the
present
invention, four depilating rows are employed on the periphery of hair plucking
assembly 35, and up to three zones may be exposed simultaneously, thereby
facilitating depilation in hard-to-reach areas.
In Fig. 27, there is shown a schematic representation of the device 36
depilating a hard-to-reach area behind the knee joint. The device may be held
at one
particular angle, without requiring adjustment on passing between portions of
the leg.
Fig. 28 shows an alternative embodiment of the hair-plucking assembly 35,
featuring an annular grouping of tweezer elements 52.
Fig. 29 is a perspective view of the tweezer elements 52, when all the
hair-traps 40 are open, showing the arrangement the annular grouping.
19
CA 02411234 2002-12-09
WO 01/93767 PCT/ILO1/00524
Fig. 30 is a schematic representation of the tweeter elements 52 after
self alignment, and schematically displays the annular grouping of the tweeter
elements. Fig. 30 shows how the tweeter elements are arranged around the
cylindrical
hair-plucking assembly, so that the tips of each tweeter element 52 can engage
with
the tips of each of two adjacent tweeter elements. Tn this embodiment, the
tweeter
elements are :arranged in fbur discrete annular groupings. Within each
grouping,
self alignment is performed.
Fig. 31 is a view of the hair- plucking assembly of Fig. 28, cut and opened
out
along its longitudinal axis, with tweeter elements 52 in open hair-trap 40
formation.
Fig. 32 is a view of the arrangement of Fig. 31 with the tweeter elements 52
in
closed hair-trap 40 formation.
Having described the invention with regard to a certain specific embodiment,
it is to be understood that the description is not meant as a limitation since
further
modifications may now suggest themselves to those skilled in he art, and it is
intended
to cover such modifications, as fall within the scope of the appended claims.
~0
