EP3254584B1 - Hand-held device for skin care - Google Patents

Description

Technical field

The present invention relates to a hand-held device for use on human skin, in particular facial skin, according to the preamble of claim 1 and a method for using the hand-held device.

State of the art

Nowadays people invest a lot of time and energy in their external appearance and in health care. The care of the face and facial skin is often of great importance. Facial skin cleansing can be an essential aspect of facial care. For example, it can be the basis for the efficient operation of cosmetics and / or cosmezeutika.

In order to be able to clean the face as best as possible, there are a variety of products and devices. It has been shown that physical cleaning and care of the skin using brushes and the like can be advantageous. In addition to the efficient removal of impurities and dead skin particles, the skin can be massaged at the same time. This can stimulate the blood circulation in the skin and contribute to an improvement in the complexion.

In the prior art is in the WO 2015/181329 A1 describes a facial cleaning brush with a handle body and an interchangeable brush head, which is formed by a bristle bundle carrying cleaning element carrier. This facial cleansing brush has an electric drive that drives the brush head. The brush head practices in electrical operation triggers a combination movement of vibration and rotation and thereby removes dirt, dead skin cells and make-up residues from the skin.

In the GB 1 480 265 A describes a device for massaging the skin, which essentially consists of an electromagnetic oscillation drive for the oscillating movement of a circular massage brush, a storage container for a massage substance, such as oil or pasty substances, and a housing with a handle.

The massage brush, which is formed from elastic knobs, is supplied with a massage substance during the massage via a line by manual actuation of an elastic storage container. The massage substance is massaged into the skin by the oscillating movement of the massage brush.

Disadvantages are the separately required manual handling of the massage substance and the difficulties of exact positioning and metering of the massage substance. Furthermore, a change of the brush is also not provided here.

The EP 1 132 022 A1 describes a household appliance which has a rotating brush head, the brush head being divided into coaxially arranged rings which can rotate in opposite directions. The DE 201 03 026 U1 describes an automatic massage brush and the US 8,966,710 B1 a facial cleansing brush.

The DE 202014104267 describes a drive device for a sound wave face brush, which comprises an electromagnetic drive unit and an electromagnetic work unit, the electromagnetic drive unit having an iron core stator, a plastic sleeve into which the iron core stator is inserted, a winding which is wound around the plastic sleeve, and a protective housing , which encloses the winding, and wherein the electromagnetic working unit has an induction gap (A) from the electromagnetic unit and has a holder, an elastic arm, a swivel body, a pair of opposite-pole magnet pieces for the electromagnetic drive unit and a swivel axis for the brush head, the Holder carries a magnetic iron core, the two magnet pieces are spaced on one side of the magnetic iron core, the pivot body is attached to the housing, the elastic arm at one end with the pivot body and at the other E nde is connected to the holder and wherein the pivot axis is connected to the holder.

The automatic facial cleaning brushes known from the prior art are designed such that they always have a single brush head for use on the skin on the hand-held device. With facial care, however, it should be noted that, for example, the skin under the eyes is three times thinner and therefore significantly more sensitive than in other parts of the face. For this reason, different brush heads are typically used, for example with brushes of different softness, since the skin should not be unnecessarily exposed to irritation. For this purpose, the brush head must be replaced during the treatment of the facial skin. Or it is necessary to cut out individual skin areas to avoid irritation. For the user, this means cumbersome handling with possibly unsatisfactory cleaning and care results.

The object of the invention is therefore to provide a hand-held device which enables simple and gentle use on human skin and which can be flexibly and easily adapted to different skin areas and different substances.

Presentation of the invention

According to the invention, the object is achieved by a hand-held device as defined by the features of independent claim 1. Advantageous embodiments of the invention result from the dependent claims.

The essence of the invention is as follows: A handheld device for use on or on the human skin comprises a handpiece and a headpiece, a drive device being provided within the handheld device. The head piece has at least two adapters for receiving an exchangeable treatment head. The head piece can be fixedly connected to the hand piece or can be formed in one piece. As an alternative to this, the head piece can be detachably connected to the hand piece and thus be exchangeable.

When using facial cleaning brushes, the face is usually moistened with water. Then the desired detergent or peeling is applied directly to the face or brush. With circling Movements are usually gently massaged on the face. You should be careful here and never build up too much pressure.

In order to do justice to different skin areas and different skin types, the hand-held device is designed according to the invention with several adapters. Different models of treatment heads can be arranged on it at the same time, for example in different shapes, textures and / or sizes. The treatment heads can also be designed for different forms of use, for example for cleaning or massaging the skin or for introducing cosmetic and / or cosmeceutical creams or ointments or lotions or other substances.

The embodiment according to the invention thus enables a plurality of treatment heads to be attached to the head piece of the hand-held device, which can be used depending on different skin types, areas of use and preferences.

The treatment heads are detachably mounted on the adapters on the head piece. The treatment heads are attached to the adapters via known attachment systems such as click mechanisms or rotary movements or screwing.

The hand-held device according to the invention provides that several treatment heads, such as a cleaning brush for the initial cleaning of the skin and a massage brush for introducing or introducing substances such as, for example, care or bleeding creams or specific cosmetics, can be arranged on the head piece at the same time after the cleaning. It has been shown that facial brushes remove dirt more effectively from the skin, clean the pores more intensively and also better remove dead skin cells from the skin. As a result, the skin structure improves and the skin can better absorb substances such as care products, creams or serums. The handheld device according to the invention saves the consumer having to use several handheld devices or having to change the individual brush heads during care. This enables particularly easy handling and use of the handheld device.

The at least two adapters can preferably be coupled to the drive device, so that the at least one treatment head can be operated in rotating or oscillating movements by means of the drive device when it is placed on one of the at least two adapters. The at least one treatment head can thus be operated in rotating or oscillating movements by means of the drive device. When moving the brush head, several variants can be distinguished, in particular rotation and oscillation. During the rotation, the brush head turns around the axis. With this variant, there is a risk that the tissue is "rotated" and distorted. This promotes friction and can lead to irritated skin, but it is cleaned well. Oscillating devices are a little gentler here, because they clean by swinging and vibrating movements of the brush head.

The at least two adapters are particularly preferably designed such that the treatment head can be operated in a reciprocating movement by means of the drive device when it is placed on one of the at least two adapters. With this type of rotation, on the one hand, the advantage of good cleaning of the skin by means of the treatment head can be achieved, and on the other hand, it can be prevented that the skin tissue is rotated excessively and is thereby stressed.

It has proven to be particularly advantageous if the treatment head can be operated by means of the drive device in a reciprocating movement with a rotation angle range of at least 1 ° or at least 3 °, preferably at least 5 ° or at least 8 ° and in particular at least 10 °. The angle of rotation range can be at most 50 °, at most 90 °, at most 180 ° or at most 270 °. The treatment head therefore not only moves back and forth in one direction, but at short intervals. Compared to rotating treatment heads that only work in one direction, this has the advantage that the skin is treated much more gently and thus skin redness and irritation are avoided. In comparison to oscillating movements, the back and forth movement has a larger scope, as is defined by the rotation angle ranges. This can improve the effect of the care head. A mutual rotation can also achieve the advantage of good cleaning of the skin by means of the treatment head on the other hand, it prevents the skin tissue from being rotated excessively and thereby being stressed.

Preferably, the at least two adapters are designed such that a first section of the treatment head can be operated in a first direction rotating movement by means of the drive device and a second section of the treatment head can be operated in a second direction rotating movement opposite to the first direction when the drive device is placed on one of the at least two adapters. By such a simultaneous rotation of the treatment head in the opposite direction, an analog effect and effects can be achieved, as with the back and forth rotation of the treatment head described above.

The at least two adapters are preferably designed so that an angle at which the treatment head protrudes from the hand-held device when it is placed on one of the at least two adapters can be adjusted. This adjustability of the protrusion angle can be provided either in the treatment head itself or in the adapter or in both. By adjusting the protrusion angle of the treatment head, it is possible to adapt the direction of action of the treatment head in the application. This enables, for example, a relatively simple operation of the hand-held device to be achieved, even if skin areas that are relatively difficult to access are treated.

In an advantageous embodiment, the invention provides that a treatment head is placed on each of the at least two adapters. Such an embodiment has the advantage that the consumer does not have to laboriously change the treatment heads and can quickly switch back and forth during the applications between the individual stages of facial care if necessary.

Different forms of treatment heads for the hand-held device are conceivable, which are suitable for use on human skin. However, the treatment head is preferably a brush head. Brush heads enable an even distribution and, associated with this, a better and deeper effect of the cleaning products and a subsequent introduction of substances such as creams and the like. A headpiece with a brush head can quickly and effectively get the skin you want and clean subsequent care steps on the facial skin can be carried out without time-consuming changing of the treatment heads. Brush heads can be adapted to their intended use. For example, the type, shape and hardness of the bristles can be adapted to the skin type or the place of use. The radii of the brush heads can also be different, with which a speed of movement of the bristles can be influenced.

The headpiece can also be equipped with various treatment heads, for example a brush head and a massage head. This can ensure that the desired cleaning of the skin and the subsequent care steps on the facial skin can be carried out quickly and effectively, without the time-consuming changing of the treatment heads.

A transmission is provided within the hand-held device, which connects the drive device to the at least two adapters. The gear unit can include a contact piece, a counterpart and a rod device.

The invention provides that the treatment heads can be switched on and off individually by means of the gear. The treatment heads can advantageously be operated at different rotational speeds. Depending on the desired field of application of the treatment head, individual control of an individual treatment head is therefore possible. The hand-held device according to the invention can therefore be used individually for different skin types. This also enables several treatment heads to be located on the head piece, but only one of them, if desired, is in operation. This leads to a significantly simplified application of the handheld device.

The invention further provides that the transmission comprises a linkage connected to the drive device, on which two contact pieces are arranged at different heights, the transmission being movable, so that alternatively the one contact piece is operatively connected to a counterpart of the at least two adapters or that another contact piece with another counterpart of the at least two adapters. This enables, on the one hand, a selective control of the individual treatment heads and, on the other hand, that the treatment heads are connected to the drive device via the transmission and can be operated via the latter. The Contact pieces and the counterparts can be designed as gear wheels or deflection wheels. In particular, a rotational or rotational movement can be transmitted from the contact piece to the counterpart by means of friction or intervention.

In an advantageous embodiment, the invention provides that a plurality of treatment heads can be operated simultaneously by means of the transmission. Such an embodiment has the advantage that the consumer can do without the cumbersome changing of the treatment heads and can quickly switch back and forth during the applications between the individual care levels if necessary.

The handheld device preferably has a battery and / or an accumulator. Wireless devices that are operated by means of rechargeable batteries or by means of batteries are advantageous because they simplify handling considerably and, for example, make it easy to take with you when traveling. They are also smaller and save space.

An advantageous embodiment of the invention provides that the hand-held device is designed as a waterproof hand-held device. This enables use in the shower and can therefore be easily combined with other personal care products.

The hand-held device according to the invention is suitable for the treatment of human skin and enables a particularly simple and gentle combination of cleaning and care, in particular of the facial skin.

Brief description of the drawings

Fig. 1a und 1b

Schnittansichten eines ersten Ausführungsbeispiels eines erfindungsgemässen Handgeräts mit zwei Behandlungsköpfen,

Fig. 2

eine Schnittansicht eines zweiten Ausführungsbeispiels des erfindungsgemässen Handgeräts mit drei Behandlungsköpfen,

Fig. 3

eine Schnittansicht eines Bürstenkopfs als Behandlungskopf eines dritten Ausführungsbeispiels des erfindungsgemässen Handgeräts, und

Fig. 4

eine Schnittansicht eines Bürstenkopfs als Behandlungskopf eines vierten Ausführungsbeispiels des erfindungsgemässen Handgeräts.

Further advantageous embodiments of the invention result from the following description of exemplary embodiments of the invention with the aid of the schematic drawing. In particular, the hand-held device according to the invention is described in more detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings using exemplary embodiments. Show it:

1a and 1b

Sectional views of a first embodiment of a hand-held device according to the invention with two treatment heads,

Fig. 2

2 shows a sectional view of a second exemplary embodiment of the hand-held device according to the invention with three treatment heads,

Fig. 3

a sectional view of a brush head as a treatment head of a third embodiment of the handheld device according to the invention, and

Fig. 4

a sectional view of a brush head as a treatment head of a fourth embodiment of the handheld device according to the invention.

Way (s) of carrying out the invention

Certain terms are used in the following description for practical reasons and are not meant to be limiting. The words "right", "left", "bottom" and "top" indicate directions in the drawing that are referred to. The terms "inward", "outward" "below", "above", "left", "right" or similar are used to describe the arrangement of designated parts relative to one another, the movement of designated parts relative to one another and the directions towards or away from geometric center of the invention and named parts thereof used as shown in the figures. This spatial relative information also includes different positions and orientations than those shown in the figures. For example, when a part shown in the figures is turned over, elements or features described as "below" are then "above". The terminology includes the words expressly mentioned above, derivatives of the same, and words of similar meaning.

In order to avoid repetitions in the figures and the associated description of the different aspects and exemplary embodiments, certain features are to be understood as common for different aspects and exemplary embodiments. The omission of an aspect in the description or a figure does not suggest that this aspect is missing in the associated exemplary embodiment. Rather, such omission can serve clarity and prevent repetition. In this context, the following definition applies to the entire further description: If reference numerals are included in a figure for the sake of clarity in the drawing, but are not mentioned in the directly associated description text, reference is made to their explanation in the preceding description of the figures. Are also mentioned in the description text directly associated with a figure, reference numerals in the associated Figure is not included, so reference is made to the preceding and following figures. Similar reference numerals in two or more figures stand for similar or identical elements.

Figure 1a shows in longitudinal section a first embodiment of a hand-held device 1 according to the invention with a handpiece 10 and a headpiece 12 removably mounted on the handpiece 10. Two adapters 19 are provided on the headpiece 12 at different heights, on each of which a treatment head 14 is arranged. The adapters 19 each comprise a connecting pin 191 onto which the associated treatment head 14 is attached, an axle shaft 192 and a counterpart designed as a conical toothed disk 193. One of the two treatment heads 14, in Fig. 1a and Fig. 1b if this is the left one, it is designed as a massage head 141 and the other one, in Fig. 1a and Fig. 1b this is the right one, as a brush head 142. The treatment heads 14 are mounted on the adapters 19 with a common plug / clamp connection via the connecting pins 191.

Inside the hand-held device 1 there is an electric motor 22, operated by a battery, as the drive device and a gear 16. The gear 16 comprises a linkage 162 coupled to the electric motor 22 and two contact pieces designed as conical toothed disks 161. The toothed disks 161 are fixed in rotation on the linkage 162 at different heights, so that rotation of the linkage 162 rotates the circular disk-shaped and horizontally aligned toothed disks 161 about their central axis. The toothed disks 161 of the transmission 16 are arranged such that they can connect to the vertically aligned toothed disks 193 of the adapters 19 or can engage in them when they are at the appropriate height.

The transmission 16 also has a coupling part 163 which is connected to a sliding element 20. The coupling part 163 couples the electric motor 22 to the linkage 162. The sliding element 20 is mounted on a housing of the handpiece 10 and is accessible from the outside. In particular, a user of the handheld device 1 can move the sliding element 20 into a lower and an upper position.

In Figure 1a the sliding element 20 is shown in the lower position. The coupling part 163 is pulled down together with the linkage 162 and the toothed disks 161 of the transmission 16. This causes the top Toothed washer 161 of the gear 16 is in operative connection with the toothed washer 193 of the upper adapter 19. In the Fig. 1a this is the left adapter 14 equipped with the massage head 141. As a result, the massage head 141 is rotated or driven by means of the electric motor 22 via the gear 16 and the left adapter 19. The brush head 142 is not driven in this position.

In Figure 1b the sliding element 20 is shown in the upper position. The coupling part 163 is pushed upwards together with the linkage 162 and the toothed disks 161 of the transmission 16. As a result, the lower toothed disk 161 of the transmission 16 is operatively connected to the toothed disk 193 of the lower adapter 19. In the Fig. 1a this is the right adapter 14 equipped with the brush head 142. As a result, the brush head 142 is rotated or driven by means of the electric motor 22 via the gear 16 and the right adapter 19. The massage head 141 is not driven in this position.

With that in the Figure 1a and the Figure 1b Handheld device 1 shown, it is possible to connect exactly one treatment head 14 to the electric motor 22. The two treatment heads 14 can thus alternatively be rotated or operated with respect to one another. However, embodiments are also conceivable which provide for the simultaneous operation of both or more treatment heads. In this case, the counterparts of both treatment heads could be connected to a single contact piece at the same time. A sliding element would not be necessary.

Figure 2 schematically shows a cross section through a head piece 32 of a second exemplary embodiment of a hand-held device 30 according to the invention. In this case, the head piece 32 has three adapters 38 on which treatment heads 34 are mounted. The adapters 38 are regularly distributed around the head piece 32. A first of the adapters 38 in the Figure 2 if this is the adapter 38 at the top right, it is equipped with a hard-bristled brush head 341, a second one in the Figure 2 this is the adapter 38 on the left, with a soft-bristled brush head 342 and a third one in the Figure 2 this is the adapter 38 at the bottom right, with a massage head 343.

The adapters 38 each comprise a connecting bolt 381 onto which the associated treatment head 34 is attached, an axle shaft 382 and a counterpart designed as a conical rubber washer 383.

The handheld device 30 further comprises a gear 36 with a clutch mechanism 362 and a contact piece designed as a conical rubber disk 361. The rubber disc 361 of the gear 36 is aligned horizontally, connected to a drive and is rotated by it. The adapters 38 are individually slightly displaceable inwards via the coupling mechanism 362 of the transmission 36. As a result, their vertical rubber washers 383 can be operatively connected to the rubber washer 361, so that the connected adapter 38 is operated. The operative connection can be produced in particular by friction between the rubber disks 383, 361. The adapters 38 can be moved inwards manually, for example, using an adjusting device. Or the adapter 38 can be moved inwards by pressure on the associated treatment head 34, for example by pressing on the skin.

In the Figure 3 Another embodiment of a treatment head 4 for a handpiece according to the invention is shown. The treatment head 4 has a central inner brush section 42 and an annular outer brush section 41 arranged around the inner brush section 42. The inner brush section 42 and the outer brush section 41 can be rotated independently of one another. In particular, the inner brush section 42 can be operated in a first rotational direction and the outer brush section in a second direction opposite to the first direction.

Figure 4 shows another further embodiment of a brush head 5 as a treatment head for a hand-held device according to the invention. The brush head 5 comprises a rotary section 51 with the bristles, an outer section 52 and an inner section 53. The outer section 52 and the inner section 53 are connected to one another via an adjustable joint. As a result, an angle at which the treatment head 5 projects from the hand-held device can be set when it is placed on an adapter of the hand-held device.

Although the invention is illustrated and described in detail by means of the figures and the associated description, this illustration and this detailed description are to be understood as illustrative and exemplary and not as restrictive of the invention. In order to keep the description of the invention easy to understand, in certain cases well-known structures and techniques may not be shown and described in detail. It is understood that changes and professionals Modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the following claims. In particular, the present invention covers further exemplary embodiments with any combinations of features that may differ from the combinations of features explicitly described.

The present disclosure also includes embodiments with any combination of features mentioned or shown above or below regarding various embodiments. It also includes individual features in the figures, even if they are shown there in connection with other features and / or are not mentioned above or below. The alternatives of embodiments and individual alternatives whose characteristics described in the figures and the description can be excluded from the subject matter of the invention or from the disclosed objects. The disclosure includes embodiments that exclusively include the features described in the claims or in the exemplary embodiments, and also those that include additional other features.

Furthermore, the term "comprise" and derivatives thereof do not exclude other elements or steps. Likewise, the indefinite article "a" or "an" and derivatives thereof do not exclude a large number. The functions of several features listed in the claims can be fulfilled by a unit or a step. The mere fact that certain masses are listed in different dependent claims does not mean that a combination of these masses cannot be used to advantage. The terms “essentially”, “approximately”, “approximately” and the like in connection with a property or a value also define precisely the property or exactly the value. The terms "about" and "approximately" in the context of a given numerical value or range can refer to a value or range which lies within 20%, within 10%, within 5% or within 2% of the given value or range. All reference signs in the claims are not to be understood as limiting the scope of the claims.

Claims (12)

1. Handheld appliance (1; 30) for use on human skin, comprising a handpiece (10) and a headpiece (12; 32), wherein
   a drive device (22) is provided inside the handheld appliance (1; 30),
   the headpiece (12; 32) has at least two adapters (19; 38) each for receiving an exchangeable treatment head (14; 34; 4; 5),
   a gear (16; 36) is provided inside the handheld appliance (1; 30), said gear (16; 36) connecting the drive device (22) to the at least two adapters (19; 38), and
   the treatment heads (14; 34; 4; 5) can be switched on and off individually by means of the gear (16; 36),
   characterized in that
   the gear (16; 36) comprises a linkage (162) which is connected to the drive device (22) and on which two contact pieces (16; 361) are arranged at different heights, wherein the gear (16; 36) is movable such that either the one contact piece (16; 361) is operatively connected to a mating piece (198; 383) of the at least two adapters (19; 38) or the other contact piece (16; 36) is operatively connected to another mating piece (198; 383) of the at least two adapters (19; 38).
2. Handheld appliance (1; 30) according to claim 1, characterized in that the at least two adapters (19; 38) can be coupled to the drive device (22), such that the at least one treatment head (14; 34; 4; 5), when mounted on one of the at least two adapters (19; 38), can be driven in rotating or oscillating movements by means of the drive device (22).
3. Handheld appliance (1; 30) according to claim 2, characterized in that the at least two adapters (19; 38) are designed such that the treatment head (14; 34; 4; 5), when mounted on one of the at least two adapters (19; 38), is drivable in a forward and backward rotational movement by means of the drive device (22).
4. Handheld appliance (1; 30) according to claim 3, characterized in that the treatment head (14; 34; 4; 5) is drivable by means of the drive device (22) in a forward and backward rotational movement with a rotation angle range of at least 1° or at least 3°, preferably at least 5° or at least 8° and in particular at least 10°.
5. Handheld appliance (1; 30) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a treatment head (14; 34; 4; 5) is mounted on each of the at least two adapters (19; 38) .
6. Handheld appliance (1; 30) according to claim 5, characterized in that at least one of the treatment heads (14; 34; 4; 5) is a brush head (142; 341; 342; 4; 5).
7. Handheld appliance (1; 30) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that several treatment heads (14; 34; 4; 5) can be driven simultaneously by means of the gear (16; 36).
8. Handheld appliance (1; 30) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the at least two adapters (19; 38) are designed such that the at least one treatment head (14; 34; 4; 5), when mounted on one of the at least two adapters (19; 38), can be driven by means of the drive device (22) at a rotational speed which is different from a rotational speed of the at least one treatment head (14; 34; 4; 5) when mounted on another of the at least two adapters (19; 38).
9. Handheld appliance (1; 30) according to one of claims 2 to 8, characterized in that the at least two adapters (19; 38) are designed such that a first portion (41) of the treatment head (14; 34; 4; 5) can be driven, by means of the drive device (22), in a first rotation movement direction and a second portion (42) of the treatment head (14; 34; 4; 5) can be driven, by means of the drive device (22), in a second rotation movement direction counter to the first direction, when mounted on one of the at least two adapters (19; 38).
10. Handheld appliance (1; 30) according to one of claims 2 to 9, characterized in that the at least two adapters (19; 38) are designed so as to permit adjustment of an angle at which the treatment head (14; 34; 4; 5) protrudes from the handheld appliance (1; 30) when mounted on one of the at least two adapters (19; 38).
11. Use of a handheld appliance (1; 30) according to one of claims 1 to 10, comprising a handpiece (10) and a headpiece (12; 32) wherein a drive device (22) is provided inside the handheld appliance (1; 30) and the headpiece (12; 32) has at least two adapters (19; 38), each designed to receive an exchangeable treatment head (14; 34; 4; 5), for non-therapeutic treatment of human skin.
12. Method for a non-therapeutic treatment of human skin by means of a handheld appliance (1; 30) according to one of claims 1 to 10, comprising a handpiece (10) and a headpiece (12; 32) wherein a drive device (22) is provided inside the handheld appliance (1; 30) and the headpiece (12; 32) has at least two adapters (19; 38), each designed to receive an exchangeable treatment head (14; 34; 4; 5).

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