Note : Les descriptions sont présentées dans la langue officielle dans laquelle elles ont été soumises.
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BODY HAIR TREATING IMPLEMENT
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a body hair treating
implement which can be advantageously used to cut or dress
unwanted body hair_ of arms or legs, etc. , or underarm hair,
before e.g., one wears a bikini.
2. Description of the Related Art
For instance, if a cutting tool, such as scissors or
a razor, is used to cut unwanted hair before one wears a
hi-leg swimsuit or leotard, the tips of the cut hair are
sharp due to shear cutting. The sharp tips of the cut hair
IS can easily penetrate through the material of the swimsuit,
etc . , and protrude out of the material, or cause the wearer
to feel pain upon touching.
The applicant of the present application has proposed
a hair treating implement having an electrical heating
element (electrical heating wire) which burns and cuts the
body hair so as to leave a rounded tip on the hair.
In this hair treating implement, provision is
essentially made for two comb tooth plates which are
juxtaposed and spaced from one another at a distance of
approximately 5 to 10 mm; and an electrical heater, such
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as a nichrome wire, which is provided between the opposed
comb tooth plate:c, and is in contact with the body hair
between the adjacent comb teeth of the comb tooth plates.
With this arrangement, when electrical power is supplied
to the nichrome wire, the nichrome wire generates red-
heat, and burns and cuts the body hair brought into contact
therewith.
The body hair which is in contact with the nichrome
wire can be easily burned and cut. The tip edges of the
burned and cut hair are not sharp but rounded, unlike the
conventional hair remover using a cutting tool such as a
razor or scissors, etc., in which the hair is sheared.
The proposed hair treating implement can be also used
as a hair dressing tool in a barber or beauty shop. Namely,
the tips of the dressed hair can be rounded, curled or
frizzled to obtain a desired hair style by burning and
cutting the dressed hair with the heating element whose
nichrome wire portion is brought into slide-contact
therewith.
Summary of the Invention
The present invention provides a further improved
body hair treating implement which has useful functions
which cannot be achieved in the prior art, and which has
an enhanced operat>ility.
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According to an aspect of the present invention,
there is provided a body hair treating implement including
two opposed comb tooth plates each having a plurality of
comb teeth; an electrical heating wire which extends
between the comb tooth plates, and which is arranged to
generate red heat due to electrical power supplied thereto,
and to burn and cut body hair combed with the comb teeth;
and a illumination device for illuminating front of the
comb tooth plates and the inside thereof when the body hair
is being burnt and cut by the electrical heating wire.
According to another aspect of the present invention,
there is provided a body hair treating implement including
two opposed comb tooth plates each having a plurality of
comb teeth; an electrical heating wire which extends
IS between the comb tooth plates, and which is arranged to
generate red heat due to electrical power supplied thereto,
and to burn and cut body hair combed with the comb teeth;
and a vibration device for vibrating at least the comb tooth
plates when the bady hair is being burnt and cut by the
electrical heating wire.
According to further aspect of the present invention,
there is provided a body hair treating implement including
two opposed comb tooth plates each having a plurality of
comb teeth; an electrical heating wire which extends
between the comb tooth plates, and which is arranged to
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generate red heat due to electrical power supplied thereto,
and to burn and cut body hair combed with the comb teeth;
a illumination device for illuminating front of the comb
tooth plates and the inside thereof when the body hair is
being burnt and cut by the electrical heating wire; and
a vibration device for vibrating at least the comb tooth
plates when the body hair is being burnt and cut by the
electrical heating wire.
According to further aspect of the present invention,
there is provided a body hair treating implement including
two spaced and opposed upper and lower comb tooth plates
which respectively have a plurality of comb teeth, and
which lie horizontally with respect to a base implement
body of the body hair treating implement; an electrical
IS heating wire which extends between the comb tooth plates,
and which is arranged to generate red heat due to electrical
power supplied thereto, and to burn and cut body hair combed
with the comb teeth; and a grip portion extending upward
from said base implement body of the body hair treating
implement.
According to still further aspect of the present
invention, there is provided a body hair treating implement
including two spaced and opposed upper and lower comb tooth
plates which respectively have a plurality of comb teeth,
and which lie horizontally with respect to a base implement
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body of the body hair treating implement; an electrical
heating wire which extends between the comb tooth plates,
and which is arranged to generate red heat due to electrical
power supplied thereto, and to burn and cut body hair combed
with the comb teeth; a grip portion extending upward from
the base implement body of the body hair treating
implement; and a illumination device for illuminating
front of the comb tooth plates and the inside thereof when
the body hair is being burnt and cut by the electrical
heating wire.
According to yet another aspect of the present
invention, there is provided a body hair treating implement
including two spaced and opposed upper and lower comb tooth
plates which respectively have a plurality of comb teeth,
IS and which lie horizontally with respect to a base implement
body of the body hair treating implement; an electrical
heating wire which extends between said comb tooth plates,
and which is arranged to generate red heat due to electrical
power supplied thereto, and to burn and cut body hair combed
with the comb teeth; a grip portion extending upward from
the base implement body of the body hair treating
implement; and a vibration device for vibrating at least
the comb tooth plates when the body hair is being burnt
and cut by the electrical heating wire.
According to still another aspect of the present
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invention, there is provided a body hair treating implement
including two spared and opposed upper and lower comb tooth
plates which respectively have a plurality of comb teeth,
and which lie horizontally with respect to a base implement
body of the body hair treating implement; an electrical
heating wire which extends between said comb tooth plates,
and which is arranged to generate red heat due to electrical
power supplied thereto, and to burn and cut body hair combed
with the comb teeth; a grip portion extending upward from
t0 the base implement body of the body hair treating
implement; a illumination device for illuminating front
of the comb tooth plates and the inside thereof when the
body hair is being burnt and cut by the electrical heating
wire; and a vibration device for vibrating at least the
comb tooth plates when the body hair is being burnt and
cut by the electrical heating wire.
The body hair treating implement preferably includes
a rotatable head in which the two spaced and opposed upper
and lower comb tooth plates, and the electrical heating
wire are provided. Furthermore, the rotatable head can be
made rotatable with respect to the base implement body of
said body hair treating implement.
The upper comb tooth plate or the lower comb tooth
plate can be detachably attached to the base implement body
of the body hair treating implement.
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The lower comb tooth plate is preferably made of
aluminum die cast:.
The body hair treating implement is preferably
provided with a timer function which is activated by the
turning ON of a switch to activate a power supply circuit
for the electrical heating wire. The timer function is
arranged to interrupt power supply to the electrical
heating wire after a lapse of a predetermined time from
the turning ON of the switch even when the switch is being
kept ON .
The body hair treating implement can include a
protection cap which is detachable from the body hair
treating implement , and covers at least the two comb tooth
plates when the protection cap is attached to the body hair
IS treating implement.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The present invention will be discussed below in
detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in
which:
Figure 1 is a perspective view of a body hair treating
implement with a protection cap attached thereto;
Figure 2 is a perspective view of the body hair
treating implement with the protection cap detached
therefrom;
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Figure 3 is an explanatory view of the body hair
treating implement in use;
Figures 4A, 4B, 4C, 4D, 4E and 4F show a front
elevational view, a right side elevational view, a left
side elevational view, a plan view, a back view and a bottom
view, of the body hair treating implement, respectively;
Figure 5 is an exploded perspective view of a base
implement body of the body hair treating implement and a
rotatable head;
Figures 6A, 6B and 6C are explanatory views showing
an angular displacement of the rotatable head;
Figure 7 is an exploded perspective view of the base
implement body of the body hair treating implement;
Figure 8 is an exploded perspective view of the
IS rotatable head of the body hair treating implement;
Figure 9 is an exploded perspective view showing a
power receiving electrode plate, a heating wire supporting
electrode plate, and a heating wire;
Figure 10 is an exploded perspective view of a
tensioning mechanism for the heating wire;
Figure 11 is an explanatory view of the heating wire
supporting electrode plate to which the heating wire is
secured;
Figure 12 is a bottom view of a lower housing of the
rotatable head;
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Figure 13 is a schematic cross-sectional view of comb
teeth of the rotatable head;
Figure 14 is an exploded perspective view of a slip
ring mechanism between the rotatable head and a second
circuit board;
Figure 15 is a block diagram of an electric circuit
system;
Figures 16A and 16B are plan views of inner and outer
(bottom) sides of a lower comb tooth plate;
Figures 17A and 17B are plan views of inner and outer
sides of a lower comb tooth plate having a higher-density
comb teeth arrangement;
Figure 18 is a perspective view of the lower comb
tooth plate having the higher-density comb teeth
IS arrangement; and
Figure 19 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing
a symmetrical arrangement of comb teeth of the lower and
upper comb tooth plates;
Figure 20 is a perspective view of a body hair
treating implement in which the illumination lamps are
mounted on the rotatable head; and
Figure 21 is an exploded perspective view of the
rotatable head in which the illumination lamps are
provided.
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DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Figure 1 is a perspective view of a body hair treating
implement 1 with a protection cap 2 attached thereto. In
this embodiment, as will be discussed hereinafter, the body
hair treating implement 1 includes ( i ) spaced and opposed
upper and lower comb tooth plates ( two opposed comb tooth
plates) 24 and 23 which are provided horizontally with
respect to a base implement body 8 of the body hair treating
implement 1, and which constitutes a comb tooth portion
3, ( ii ) an electrical heating wire 27 ( hereinafter, a
heating wire; see figure 8 ) which extends between the upper
comb tooth plate 24 and the lower comb tooth plate 23, and
is brought into contact with the body hair combed by the
adjacent comb teeth of the comb tooth plates 24 and 23,
and ( iii ) a grip portion 4 which protrudes upward from the
base implement body 8. Accordingly, when the heating wire
27 is supplied with electricity, the heating wire 27
generates red-heat, and burns and cuts the body hair
brought into contact therewith.
The protection cap 2 is arranged to protect and to
keep the comb tooth portion 3 ( the comb tooth plates 24 and
23) clean when the body hair treating implement 1 is not
used. When the protection cap 2 is mounted, the body hair
treating implement 1 and the protection cap 2 are made
integral in shape, so that the comb tooth portion 3 is
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covered and becomes externally invisible. When the body
hair treating implement 1 is being used, the protection
cap 2 is removed therefrom. Figure 2 shows the protection
cap 2 detached from the body hair treating implement 1.
To supply electricity to the body hair treating
implement 1, a commercial AC power source 100 (see figure
) , as an external power supply source, can be used. As
shown in figure 3, the body hair treating implement 1 is
connected to the AC power supply source through an adaptor
10 (AC-DC converter and voltage regulator) 101.
An output plug 103 is provided at the front end of
an output cord 102 of the adaptor 101. The output plug
103 is inserted in a power receiving socket 13 ( see figure
7 ) which is fixed, through an insertion hole 5 ( see figures
15 4E and 4F) formed in the rear surface of the grip portion
4, to a first circuit board 11. Accordingly, the body
hair treating implement 1 is electrically connected to the
AC power source.
Upon the body hair treatment implement 1 being
electrically connected to the AC power source via the
adapter 101 as shown in figure 3, the user holds the right
and left portions of the grip portion 4 of the body hair
treating implement 1 with his or her thumb 104 and fore
finger 105 of right or left hand, while abutting an upper
end 4a of the grip portion 4 against the palm between the
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thumb 104 and the fore finger 105 of the right or left hand.
Consequently, the user can stably handle the body hair
treating implement 1, while holding the grip portion 4.
When the user who is holding the body hair treating
implement 1 depresses one or both of switching push buttons
( key tops ) 6-6 provided on the right and left portions of
the grip portion 4 corresponding to the tips of the thumb
104 and forefinger 105, a heating wire drive circuit 52
( see figure 15 ) provided on the first circuit board 11 in
the grip portion 4 is activated; thereby the heating wire
27 ( see figure 8 ) in the comb tooth portion 3 is supplied
with electricity. Consequently, the heating wire 27
generates red heat.
The user brings the heating wire 27 generating red
IS heat into contact with the body hair between the adjacent
comb teeth of the comb tooth portion 3, while combing the
body hair by the comb tooth portion 3. As a result, the
body hair brought into contact with the heating wire 27
is easily burnt and cut. The body hair tips which have
been burnt and cut are rounded, unlike in the case of
shearing by a cutting tool, such as scissors or a razor.
In the body hair treating implement 1 of the
illustrated embodiment, as mentioned above, the upper comb
tooth plate 24 and the lower comb tooth plate 23,
constituting the comb tooth portion 3, is mounted on the
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base implement body 8, and substantially lie in horizontal
planes; and the grip portion 4 extends upward from the base
implement body 8.
Due to the upwardly extending grip portion 4, a
(downwardly oriented)pressingforce,from the user's hand,
to hold and move the body hair treating implement 1 on the
user's skin where the body hair is being cut and burnt
can be smoothly and adequately transmitted thereto.
Accordingly, the lower surface of the comb tooth portion
3 , i . a . , the lower ( bottom ) surf ace of the lower comb tooth
plate 23 can be smoothly moved on a user's skin while
keeping close surface contact therewith. Therefore the
body hair can be easily combed.
Figures 4A, 4B, 4C, 4D, 4E and 4F show a front
IS elevational view, a right side view, a left side view, a
plan view, a back view and a bottom view, of the body hair
treating implement 1, respectively. More specifically,
as shown in figure 5, the body hair treating implement 1
includes (i) the base implement body 8 having the grip
portion 4 and a rotatable-head receiving pocket 7, and
(ii) a disc-shaped rotatable head 9 (hereinafter, the
rotatable head 9) in which the comb tooth portion 3,
constituted by the upper comb tooth plate 24 and the lower
comb tooth plate 23, is formed.
The rear half of the rotatable head 9 is inserted in
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the rotatable-head receiving pocket 7 of the base implement
body 8; and an upward shaft 33 is provided on an upper
surface of the rotatable head 9, and a downward shaft 35
is provided on a lower surface of the rotatable head 9.
These upward shaft 33 and the downward shaft 35 are
respectively inserted and engaged in shaft receiving holes
7a and 7b formed in the inner-upper and inner-lower
surfaces of the rotatable-head receiving pocket 7.
Accordingly, the rotatable head 9 is rotatable about the
shafts 33 and 35, with respect to the base implement body
8 of the body hair treating implement 1.
When the rotatable head 9 is manually rotated with
respect to the base implement body 8, the direction of the
comb tooth portion 3 is varied from an angular position
IS of 0 ° , in which the comb tooth portion 3 is oriented forward
as shown in figure 6A, to an angular position of +/- 45°
as shown in figures 6B and 6C. The angular displacement
is restricted by right and left stop projections 22a of
the rotatable head 9, which interfere with right and left
edges 7c formed at the opening portion of the
rotatable-head receiving pocket 7. The angular position
of the rotatable head 9 is stably held at any angular
position within an angle range of approximately 90 ° , due
to friction between an O-ring 37 and the inner surface of
the rotatable-head receiving pocket 7. Since the
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direction of the comb tooth portion 3 can be adjusted by
manually rotating the rotatable head 9 to a desired
direction with respect to the base implement body 8, the
operability of the body hair treating implement 1 can be
enhanced.
The base implement body 8 of the body hair treating
implement 1 includes the first circuit board 11 and a second
circuit board 12 incorporated therein.
Figure 7 is an exploded perspective view of the base
implement body 8 of the body hair treating implement 1.
The base implement body 8 is constituted by split-type
right and left housing halves 10-10 which are registered
and connected to each other (for example, by fitting or
an adhesive) to thereby form the grip portion 4 and the
rotatable-head receiving pocket 7.
The first circuit board 11 is secured in the grip
portion 4 of the base implement body 8.
The second circuit board 12 is secured in the
rotatable-head receiving pocket 7 of the base implement
body 8.
Namely, the first circuit board 11 is considered to
be a vertical circuit board; while, the second circuit
board 12 is considered to be a horizontal circuit board.
The power receiving socket 13 is fixed to the upper
end of the first circuit board 11; and the output plug 103
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of the power source adaptor 101 is arranged to be inserted
into the power receiving socket 13. In addition, the first
circuit board 11 is provided, on a central surface portion
of each surface of the first circuit board I1, with micro
switches 14-14, and provided, on the lower portion of the
first circuit board 11, with a vibrator motor 15 as a
vibration generator (vibrator) secured thereto with a
holder 16. An illumination lamp (illumination device) 17
a . g . , a high brightness white LED ) is fixed to the lower
end of the first circuit board 11 below the vibrator motor
15. The illumination lamp 17 is fixed to face forward,
and oriented toward the inside of the rotatable head 9.
The second circuit board 12 is electrically connected
to the first circuit board 11. The front end of the second
circuit board 12 is formed to be an arched shape as shown
in figure 7. On the upper and lower surfaces of the
arched-shape front end of the second circuit board 12,
metal plates 18-18 for power supply to the heating wire
27 (hereinafter, the power-supply metal sliding-surfaces
18-18) are provided.
The right and left push buttons (switches) 6-6 are
exposed from holes lOc-lOc formed on the right and left
housing halves 10-10, corresponding to the right and left
micro switches 14-14 provided on the first circuit board
11 .
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When the push button 6 is depressed to turn the
corresponding micro switch 14 ON, the power supply circuit
of the circuit board 11 is closed.
when the push button 6 is released, the switch is
turned OFF, so that the power supply circuit is open.
Figure 8 shows a exploded perspective view of the
rotatable head 9. The rotatable head 9 includes a
disc-shaped lower housing 21, a disc-shaped upper housing
22, the lower comb tooth plate 23 which is detachably
t0 attached to the lower surface of the lower housing 21, and
the upper comb tooth plate 24 which is integrally formed
in the upper housing 22.
The body housing halves 10-10, the lower housing 21
and the upper housing 22 of the rotatable head 9, and the
protection cap 2 are molded out of a heat-resistant resin
material, such as ABS resin, polycarbonate resin, or
DELRIN.
In the lower housing 21, a pair of right and left power
receiving electrode plates 25-25, a pair of right and left
heating wire supporting electrode plates 26-26, a heating
wire 27 extending between the right and left heating wire
supporting electrode plates 26-26, and a tensioning device
28 which is arranged to tension the heating wire 27, are
mounted.
Figure 9 shows an exploded perspective view of the
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power receiving electrode plates 25-25, the heating wire
supporting electrode plates 26-26, and the heating wire
27.
Figure 10 is an exploded perspective view of the
_5 tensioning device 28 for the heating wire 27.
The tensioning device 28 for the heating wire 27
includes ( i ) a stem 30 ( support member ) which is held so
as to slide in the forward and backward direction in the
lower housing 21 through a bracket 29 which is
substantially provided at the center portion thereof , ( ii )
a stem carrier (cover member) 31 which covers the bracket
29 to prevent the stem 30 from being detached from the
bracket 29, and ( iii ) a piano wire 32, as a spring member,
whose right and left ends are respectively fixed to
IS engagement portions 21a-21a in the lower housing 21, and
which is located on the side opposite to the heating wire
27 with respect to the stem 30.
The stem 30 is provided on the front end thereof with
a recess 30a, in which an intermediate portion of the
heating wire 27 is engaged, and on the rear end thereof
with a recess 30b in which an intermediate portion of the
piano wire 32 is engaged. Consequently, the stem 30 is
movably supported between the heating wire 27 and the piano
wire 32 due to the flexural elasticity of the piano wire
32. As a result, the heating wire 27 is continuously
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tensioned.
The right and left power receiving electrode plates
25-25 (see figures 8 and 9) are arranged to be brought
into elastic contact with the power-supply metal
S sliding-surfaces 18-18 ( see figure 14 ) to establish stable
electrical connection. To this end, the power receiving
electrode plates 25-25 are made of a metal plate of higher
hardness with higher elasticity.
The heating wire supporting electrode plates 26-26
partly overlap the right and left power receiving electrode
plates 25-25, respectively, and are mounted in the lower
housing 21. Therefore the right and left heating wire
supporting electrode plates 26-26 are electrically
connected to the right and left power receiving electrode
plates 25-25, respectively.
The heating wire 27 is secured and supported at its
right and left ends by the right and left heating wire
supporting electrode plates 26-26 in such a way that the
right and left heating wire supporting electrode plates
26-26 are partly cut to form raised portions (punched
portion) 26a-26a, in which the ends of the heating wire
27 are inserted, held and are crimped to immovably secure
the heating wire 27 (by pushback or downward pressing).
Figure 11 is an explanatory view of the heating wire
supporting electrode plate 26 to which the heating wire
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27 is secured. In order to secure the ends of the heating
wire 27 to the heating wire supporting electrode plates
26-26 by crimping, it is necessary for the heating wire
supporting electrode plates 26-26 to have a certain
thickness and to be made of a softer material than a
nichrome wire, of which the heating wire 27 is made ( softer
than the power receiving electrode plates 25 which is
required to be resilient). Namely, the heating wire
supporting electrode plates 26-26 are made of a softer
material, such as a pure copper (annealed copper) or an
aluminum, which is soft enough not to damage the heating
wire 27 when the heating wire 27 is crimped to the raised
portions 26a-26a.
In the illustrated embodiment, the heating wire 27
IS can be easily secured to the heating wire supporting
electrode plates 26-26 by inserting the heating wire 27
in the raised portions 26a-26a, and crimping each end of
the heating wire 27 to the raised portions 26a-26a, so that
the manufacturing costs can be reduced.
In the rotatable head 9, as shown in figure 8, a
circular groove 34 for receiving the 0-ring 37, formed
concentrically around the upward shaft 33. On the other
hand, figure 12 shows a bottom view of the lower housing
21. The downward shaft 35 is provided on the lower (bottom)
surface of the lower housing 21, and a circular groove 36
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for receiving the O-ring 37 is formed concentrically around
the downward shaft 35.
The upper housing 22 is abutted against and connected
to the lower housing 21, in which the components 25 through
32 have been incorporated therein, by fitting or an
adhesive. The lower comb tooth plate 23 is mounted to the
lower surface of the lower housing 21. The O-ring 37 made
of a rubber or resin is respectively fitted in the O-ring
receiving grooves 34 and 36 formed in the central portions
of the upper surface of the upper housing 22 and the lower
(bottom) surface of the lower housing 21. Consequently,
the assembly of the rotatable head 9 is completed. The
upward shaft 33 of the upper housing 22 and the downward
shaft 35 of the lower housing 21 are aligned on a common
IS vertical axis.
As shown in figure 13, the comb tooth portion 3 of
the rotatable head 9 include the upper comb tooth plate
24 of the upper housing 22 and the lower comb tooth plate
23 of the lower housing 21. The upper comb tooth plate
24 and the lower comb tooth plate 23 are spaced at a distance
of, for example, 5 to 12 mm. The heating wire 27 is located
between the two comb tooth plates 23 and 24 and close to
the base ends of the comb teeth. The distance between the
heating wire 27 and the inner surface of the lower comb
tooth plate 23 is, for example, approximately 2 to 6 mm.
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After the rotatable head 9 has been assembled, the
rear part of the rotatable head 9, located opposite to the
comb tooth portion 3, is inserted in the rotatable-head
receiving pocket l of the base implement body 8 of the body
hair treating implement 1; and the upward shaft 33 and the
downward shaft 35 are respectively fitted in the shaft
receiving holes 7a and 7b ( see figure 5 ) formed in the upper
and lower surfaces inside the rotatable-head receiving
pocket 7. Consequently, the rotatable head 9 is rotatable
about the these shafts 33 and 35.
When the rotatable head 9 is assembled into the
rotatable head receiving pocket 7, rear contacts (sliding
contacts) 25a-25a of the right and left power receiving
electrode plates 25-25 in the rotatable head 9 are, as shown
in figure 14, elastically in contact with the power-supply
metal sliding-surfaces 18-18 mounted on the upper and lower
surfaces of the arched-shape front end of the second
circuit board 12.
The contacts 25a-25a and the power-supply metal
sliding-surfaces 18-18 constitute a slip ring mechanism.
Due to the slip ring mechanism, the electrical connection
between the power supply circuit of the second circuit
board 12 and the power supply circuit, in the rotatable
head 9, for the heating wire 27 is stably established,
regardless of the rotational angle of the rotatable head
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9.
In the state where the rotatable head 9 is
incorporated in the rotatable-head receiving pocket 7 so
as to rotate about the upward shaft 33 and the downward
shaft 35, the O-rings 37 on the upper and lower surfaces
of the rotatable head 9 are brought into frictional
contact with the inner surfaces of the rotatable-head
receiving pocket 7. Due to the frictional contact between
the O-rings 37 and the inner surfaces of the rotatable-head
receiving pocket 7, the rotatable head 9 can be stably held
at any angular position within the angular displacement
range ( see figure 6 ) . Since the direction of the comb tooth
portion 3 can be adjusted by manually rotating the
rotatable head 9 to a desired direction with respect to
IS the base implement body 8, the operability of the body hair
treating implement 1 can be enhanced.
Figure 15 shows a block diagram of an electric circuit
system for the body hair treating implement 1. As mentioned
above, the AC-DC converted power which has dropped to a
predetermined voltage can be supplied from the AC power
source 100 to the electric circuit system of the body hair
treating implement 1 through the power source adaptor 101,
the output cord 102, the output plug 103 and the power
receiving socket 13.
More specifically, according to figure 15, the
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electric circuit system includes a control circuit 51, a
heating wire drive circuit 52, an illumination lamp drive
circuit 53, and a vibrator motor drive circuit 54.
The control circuit 51 activates the heating wire
drive circuit 52, the illumination lamp drive circuit 53,
and the vibration motor drive circuit 54, when at least
one of the right and left push buttons 6-6 is depressed
to turn the corresponding micro switch 14 ON. Furthermore,
the control circuit 51 has a timer function.
When the heating wire drive circuit 52 is activated,
electricity is supplied to the heating wire 27, so that
the heating wire 27 generates red heat.
The illumination lamp 17 is illuminated when the
illumination lamp drive circuit 53 is activated.
IS The vibrator motor 15 is driven when the vibrator
motor drive circuit 54 is activated.
When the illumination lamp 17 is illuminated, light
emitted therefrom is transmitted to the rotatable head 9,
so that the inside space between the upper comb tooth plate
2 4 and the lower comb tooth plate 23 , i . a . , the inside of
the comb tooth portion 3, is illuminated. The light
illuminating the inside of the comb tooth portion 3 is
further emitted from the comb tooth portion 3. In figure
3, the symbol L represents the illumination light which
is emitted from the comb tooth portion 3 to the outside
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thereof to illuminate front of the comb tooth portion 3,
i.e., front of the comb tooth plates 23 and 24.
Accordingly, the user can bring the heating wire 27
generating red heat with the body hair between the adjacent
S comb teeth of the comb tooth portions 3, and burn and cut
the body hair, while combing the body hair by the com tooth
portions 3 under the illumination light.
In the prior art, the inside of the comb tooth portion
is dark, and light emitted from a room lamp is often
intercepted by the user him/herself during the cutting
operation. Having no illumination device makes it
difficult for the user to suitably cut the body hair.
On the other hand, since (i) the illumination lamp
17 is arranged to illuminate the inside of the comb tooth
IS plates 23 and 24, and ( ii ) the light from the illumination
lamp 17 is also arranged to be emitted from the comb tooth
portion 3, the operability of the body hair treating
implement is enhanced.
The illumination lamp 17 further serves as a pilot
lamp. When the use sees the emitted light in and from the
comb tooth portion 3, the user can confirm that the heating
wire 27 is supplied with electricity.
The body hair treating implement 1 is vibrated by the
vibrator motor 54. In a conventional body hair treating
implement, when the body hair is being cut, most users draw
2S
CA 02497034 2005-02-15
1
and tension the body hair with their fingers and cut the
body hair by the heating wire brought into contact
therewith. In this case, the tip of cut hair tends not to
be sufficiently round. It is desirable that the body
hair be cut without tensioning the same, i.e., the body
hair be burnt and cut only by contacting the heating wire
with the body hair.
In the illustrated embodiment, since the body hair
treating implement 1 is arranged to be vibrated, the body
hair which is combed by the comb tooth portion 3 is f finely
vibrated and less tensioned, so that the tip of the cut
hair can be made as round as possible. The vibration of
the body hair caused by the vibration of the comb tooth
portion 3 contributes to easy combing of the body hair by
IS the comb tooth portion 3. It has been experimentally found
that the magnitude of the vibration to be applied to the
body hair treating implement 1 can be small enough to be
approximately equal to that of a cellular phone.
In the body hair treating implement 1 of the
illustrated embodiment, the power supply circuit is
activated to supply the power to the heating wire 27 when
at least one of the micro switches 14 is turned ON via the
corresponding push button 6. While the micro switch 14
is kept ON, the power supply to the heating wire 27 is
automatically terminated after the lapse of a
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predetermined time set by a timer. Namely, the timer
function of the control circuit 51 begins counting from
the time when the micro switch 14 is turned ON. Even if
the micro switch 14 is kept ON, the heating wire drive
circuit 52, the illumination lamp drive circuit 53, the
vibrator motor drive circuit 54 are deactivated, when the
timer counts for about 30 seconds, in the illustrated
embodiment. Consequently, it is possible to prevent the
heating wire 27 from overheating which would otherwise
occur if the power supply to the heating wire 27 continues
for a longer time. A user can recognize that the timer
function has been activated, by the turning-Off of the
illumination lamp 17 , and by the stopping of the vibrator
motor 15. If the push button 6 is depressed again to turn
the micro switch ON, the timer is reset. Consequently,
the heating wire drive circuit 52, the illumination lamp
drive circuit 53, and the vibrator motor drive circuit 54
are activated again. After the timer counts the time in
response to the operation of the micro switch 14, if the
micro switch 14 is turned OFF within about 30 seconds, the
control circuit 51 immediately deactivates the heating
wire drive circuit 52, the illumination lamp drive circuit
53, and the vibrator motor drive circuit 54.
It is also possible to selectively use the vibration
function using a selection switch 55, as shown in figure
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CA 02497034 2005-02-15
15.
The heating wire 27 can be made of a nichrome wire.
In the illustrated embodiment, the heating wire 27 has
relatively a large diameter ( a . g. , ~ 0 . 2 to 0 . 32 mm) for
the purpose of preventing a slack of the wire due to thermal
expansion as minimum as possible. Such a slack may occur
when the wire generates red heat (400°C). Also, a thick
heating wire tends not to break easily.
When electricity is supplied to the heating wire 27,
thermal expansion occurs according to the length of the
heating wire 27.Therefore even if the heating wire 27 has
a large diameter, slack still occurs. To prevent a thermal
deformation of the comb teeth due to the slacked heating
wire 27 coming close to the comb teeth, the stem 30 is
provided for the heating wire 27 as mentioned above ( see
figures 8 and 10).
The stem 30 is made of a punched stainless steel plate,
and the piano wire 32 is used to control the slack of the
heating wire 27. Due to this arrangement, if the heating
wire 27 loosens, the heating wire 27 is moved forward by
the stem 30 to maintain a distance of the heating wire 27
from the lower comb teeth, in order to prevent the heating
wire 27 from coming into contact with the lower comb teeth.
The heating wire 27 has a relatively large diameter,
and the stem 30 is positioned at the intermediate portion
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CA 02497034 2005-02-15
of the heating wire 27 to minimize the slack thereof .
Consequently, no additional self-tensioning mechanism to
automatically tension the wire is necessary in the
illustrated embodiment. No additional self-tensioning
mechanismsimplifiesthe manufacturing process and reduces
the manufacturing costs.
In the body hair treating implement 1 , the lower comb
tooth plate 23 of the rotatable head 9 is detachable from
the lower surface of the lower housing 21 of the rotatable
head 9 in order to remove the cut pieces of body hair in
or on the comb tooth portion 3. When the lower comb tooth
plate 23 is detached, the heating wire 27 is exposed, so
that the heating wire 27, the upper comb tooth plate 24
and the lower comb tooth plate 23 can be cleaned using a
l5 cleaning brush or the like, attached as an accessory. The
detached lower comb tooth plate 23 can be washed with water.
Figure 16A shows a plan view of the inner side of the
lower comb tooth plate 23, and figure 16B shows a bottom
view thereof . The lower comb tooth plate 23 is made of
aluminum die cast. The lower comb tooth plate 23 is
provided on its inner surface with heat radiation fins to
enhance radiation efficiency.
As shown in figure 8 , to attach the lower comb tooth
plate 23 to the lower housing 21, right and left engagement
side portions 23b-23b of the lower comb tooth plate 23 are
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CA 02497034 2005-02-15
engaged with engagement guide edges 21b-21b of the lower
housing 21, and thereafter the lower comb tooth plate 23
is slid rearward. When the lower comb tooth plate 23 is
sufficiently moved rearward, an engagement projection 21c
(see figure 9) of the lower housing 21 is engaged in an
engagement recess 23c (see figure 16B) of the lower comb
tooth plate 23. Thus, accidental detachment of the lower
comb tooth plate can be prevented.
Conversely, a forward movement of the lower comb
tooth plate 23 causes the disengagement of the projection
21c from the engagement recess 23c, so that the lower comb
tooth plate 23 can be detached from the lower housing 21.
In order to ensure a secure sliding movement of the lower
comb tooth plate 23, antiskid rough surface portions 23d
are provided on the outer surface thereof (see figure 16B) .
Although the number of the comb teeth of the lower
comb tooth plate 23 (density of the comb teeth)is smaller
than the number of the comb teeth of the upper comb tooth
plate 24 in the illustrated embodiment ( see figure 8 ) , the
number of the comb teeth of the lower comb tooth plate 23
can be the same as the number of the comb teeth of the upper
comb tooth plate 24, as shown in figures 17A and 17B, and
18.
The cross-sectional shape of the comb teeth of the
lower comb tooth plate 23, with respect to a side
CA 02497034 2005-02-15
elevational view, is different from the shape of the comb
teeth of the upper comb tooth plate 24 in the illustrated
embodiment, as shown in figure 13; however, as shown in
figure 19, the cross-sectional view of the comb teeth of
the lower comb tooth plate 23 and that of the upper comb
tooth plate 24 can be made symmetrical.
The illumination lamp 17 which illuminates the inside
of the comb tooth portion 3 and emits light therefrom is
provided in the base implement body 8 in the illustrated
embodiment; however, the illumination lamp 17 can be
provided in the rotatable head 9.
Figures 20 and 21 show another arrangement of the
illumination lamp 17 (e. g. , a high brightness white LED) ,
in which the two illumination lamps 17 are provided in the
IS rotatable head 9. AS clearly shown in figure 20, one
illumination lamp 17 is mounted in the vicinity of a side
of the comb tooth portion 3, and the other illumination
lamp 17 is mounted in the vicinity of the other side of
the comb tooth portion 3. More specifically, according to
figure 21, each illumination lamp 17 is installed in a hole
22b, formed on the upper housing 22, in the vicinity of
each side of the upper comb tooth plate 24.
Due to this arrangement, when the illumination lamps
17 are illuminated, the inside space between the upper comb
tooth plate 24 and the lower comb tooth plate 23, i.e.,
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the inside of the comb tooth portion 3, is illuminated.
The light illuminating the inside of the comb tooth portion
3 is further emitted from the comb tooth portion 3. In
figure 20, the symbol L represents the illumination light
which is emitted from the comb tooth portion 3 to the
outside thereof to illuminate front of the comb tooth
portion 3, i.e., front of the comb tooth plates 23 and 24.
Since the illumination lamps 17 are mounted on the
rotatable head 9, even when the rotatable head 9 is rotated,
the illumination lamps 17 can be suitably oriented toward
a target ( desired ) area on the user' s skin where the body
hair is being cut and burnt. Consequently, sufficient
illumination can be constantly given to the target
(desired) area on the user's skin.
IS Furthermore, as shown in figure 21, the illumination
lamps 17 are connected to a printed circuit board 40. The
printed circuit board 40 is mounted on the lower housing
21 of the rotatable head 9; and contacts 40a and 40 are
arranged to resiliently come into contact with terminals
26b and 26b of the supporting electrode plates 26-26.
Consequently, the printed circuit board 40 is electrically
connected to the supporting electrode plates 26-26; and
when electricity is supplied to the heating wire 27,
electricity is also supplied to the illumination lamps 17.
Also, it is possible to provide the illumination lamp
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17 on the upper surface of the upper housing 22 of the
rotatable head 9 to illuminate the inside and front of the
comb tooth portion 3.
It is sufficiently enough to apply vibration to at
_5 least the comb tooth portion 3; accordingly, the vibrator
motor (vibration generation device) 15 can be incorporated
in the rotatable head 9. It is also possible to externally
provide the vibrator motor 15 onto the body hair treating
implement 1.
The commercial AC power source 100 is used for the
body hair treating implement 1 in the illustrated
embodiment, and the body hair treating implement 1 is
electrically connected to the commercial AC power source
100 using the electrical cord 102, through the power source
adaptor 101 to supply electricity to the body hair treating
implement 1. In place of such an external power supply
source, it is possible to provide an internal power supply
system using a battery or rechargeable battery
incorporated in the body hair treating implement 1.
The lower comb tooth plate 23 is detachably mounted
to the body hair treating implement 1 in the illustrated
embodiment; however, it is possible to make the upper comb
tooth plate 24 detachable. Furthermore, both the lower comb
tooth plate 23 and the upper comb tooth plate 24 can be
detachably mounted to the body hair treating implement 1.
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According to the present invention, the body hair
treating implement has the illumination device which
illuminates front of the comb tooth plates and the inside
thereof when the body hair is being burnt and cut by the
electrical heating wire. It is therefore advantageous for
a user to use the body hair treating implement, under the
illumination by the illumination device, to burn and cut
the body hair located between the adjacent comb teeth,
while combing the body hair by the comb teeth. Consequently,
the operability of the body hair treating implement can
be enhanced.
According to the present invention, the body hair
treating implement has the vibration device for vibrating
the two comb tooth plates. Accordingly, it is possible to
IS finely vibrate the body hair being combed by the comb teeth
to thereby reduce the tension, so that the cut end of the
body hair can be made rounded. Also, as the body hair is
vibrated due to the vibration of the comb teeth, combing
the body hair by the comb teeth can be more easily carried
out .
According to the present invention, the body hair
treating implement is provided with the arrangement of ( i
the two spaced and opposed upper and lower comb tooth plates
which respectively have a plurality of comb teeth, and
'which lie horizontally with respect to a base implement
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body of the body hair treating implement, and ( ii ) a grip
portion extending upward from the base implement body of
the body hair treating implement.
Due to the upwardly extending grip portion, a
(downwardly oriented)pressingforce,fromthe user's hand,
to hold and move the body hair treating implement 1 on the
user' s skin where the body hair is being cut and burnt can
be smoothly and adequately transmitted thereto.
Accordingly, the lower surface of the comb tooth portion,
i . a . , the lower ( bottom ) surf ace of the lower comb tooth
plate can be smoothly moved on a user's skin while keeping
close surface contact therewith. Therefore the body hair
can be easily combed.
According to the present invention, the body hair
IS treating implement has the rotatable head in which ( i ) the
two spaced and opposed upper and lower comb tooth plates
are provided, i.e., the comb tooth portion is provided,
and (ii) the electrical heating wire is provided. Due to
the rotatable head, the angular position of the comb tooth
portion with respect to the base implement body of the body
hair treating implement can be made adjustable.
Consequently, the operability of the treating implement
can be enhanced.
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