BODY GROOMING DEVICE
The present invention is concerned with a body grooming device that comprises a head section that comprises a drivable body grooming unit, a hand piece section that comprises a drive, and an attachment section detachably arranged between the head section and the hand piece section. The attachment section comprises a power transmission unit arranged for transmitting power from the hand piece section to the head section in an operation mode of the body grooming device.
The present invention is concerned with body grooming devices that have a head section and a hand piece section that can be detachably connected. The present invention in particular is concerned with body grooming devices according to the previous sentence wherein the head section comprises a drivable body grooming unit and the hand piece section comprises a drive.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONIt is generally known to add further functions to a body grooming device. For example, European patent application EP 2103232 A1 describes an epilator device that further comprises a vaporizer for applying vaporized liquid onto the skin during operation of the epilator device.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONIt is desirable to improve known body grooming devices and in particular to provide a body grooming device that adds additional comfort to the user or additional functionality in an improved manner.
The proposed body grooming device comprises a head section and a hand piece section. The head section comprises a drivable body grooming unit, e.g. an epilation unit, a shaving unit or a massaging unit etc. and the hand piece section comprises a drive, e.g. a DC motor or a linear motor. Additionally, the body grooming device comprises an attachment section that in an attached state is detachably arranged between the head section and the hand piece section. The attachment section comprises a power transmission unit for transmitting power from the hand piece section to the head section, so that power generated by the drive is passed through to drive the drivable body grooming unit in an operation mode with the necessary power (power in the present context means mechanically provided power). The power transmission unit thus effectively couples the drive disposed in the hand piece with the drivable body grooming unit. According to an embodiment, the attachment section has an attachment section coupling that couples to a hand piece power output of the hand piece section and an attachment section power output that couples to a head section coupling of the head section. During operation, the power provided through the hand piece power output is transmitted by the power transmission unit through the attachment section and provided via the head section coupling to the drivable body grooming unit.
Such an attachment section can e.g. be used to individualize the body grooming device by e.g. adding length to the device when the attachment section is mounted between the head section and the hand piece section. Users having larger hands than others may find it more convenient to use the body grooming device with the mounted attachment section. Instead of extending the body grooming device, the attachment section may also provide for an angle between the head section and the hand piece section that is not present if the head section is directly mounted to the hand piece section. Some users may find it more convenient if the hand piece section is arranged at a certain angle with respect to the head section. An attachment section as described can provide for such an arrangement. Different attachment sections may differ in their geometrical parameters, e.g. two different attachment sections may differently extend the length of the body grooming device or may lead to different angles between the head section and the hand piece section. Different attachment sections may hence be used by different users to individualize the body grooming device according to their wishes. The attachment section coupling and the attachment section power output are part of the power transmission unit. The attachment section coupling and the attachment section power output may be movably supported in the attachment section and they may be connected by a simple shaft so that the power provided at the attachment section coupling is transmitted to the attachment section power output via the shaft. In a realization, the attachment section coupling may comprise a cavity to receive the hand piece section power output in a form-fit manner so that e.g. a rotation of the hand piece power output is trans-mitted to the attachment section coupling. In a refinement, the power transmission unit comprises a gear section to e.g. realize a change in the direction of the shaft axis or a lateral shift of the shaft axis or a change in the frequency of a rotary motion provided at the attachment section coupling.
A “body grooming device” is a device out of the class of devices that are used to treat the body, specifically the skin, by hair removal through plucking, shaving or sheering, by massaging (e.g. to stimulate blood circulation, remove muscle tension or to treat cellulites), peeling or abrading, by rubbing in an application material such as a nurturing lotion etc. The drivable body grooming unit may comprise a combination of two or more sub-units for performing two or more of the mentioned grooming treatments.
In another embodiment, the attachment section comprises a second attachment section coupling that mates in the attached state with a second hand piece section power output. In such an embodiment, the power transmission unit transmits power from the drive in the hand piece section to the drivable body grooming unit in the head section and the second attachment section coupling and second hand piece power output arrangement can be used to transfer power from the drive in the hand piece section to a powered unit in the attachment section.
In another embodiment of the proposed body grooming device, the attachment section comprises a powered unit. The powered unit may e.g. be an ultrasonic vaporizer that is powered with energy. The energy source may then be comprised in the hand piece section (where this should include cases in which an energy source such as a battery or an accumulator is present in the hand piece section and cases where the hand piece section is connected to mains voltage) or in the attachment section. In an embodiment, the hand piece section is equipped with a hand piece energy contact structure and the attachment section with an attachment section energy contact structure. The hand piece energy contact structure may comprise electrical contacts that connect in an assembled state with electrical contacts of the attachment section energy contact structure so that energy can be transferred from the energy source to the powered unit in a wired manner. In another realization, the energy is transferred in a wireless manner, e.g. inductively, in which case the hand piece energy contact structure may comprise a primary coil for generation of electromagnetic radiation and the attachment section energy contact structure may comprise a secondary coil for receiving the energy from the electromagnetic radiation. Alternatively, the powered unit may be mechanically drivable, e.g. the powered unit may comprise a fan or a pump. The drive for driving such a powered unit may be present in the hand piece or in the attachment section. In the first case, the attachment section may have a second attachment section coupling to connect with a second hand piece power output of the hand piece. Alternatively, power may be extracted from the power transmission unit by a power extraction unit, which can be realized, e.g., as a gear wheel arrangement. In such an embodiment with a powered unit present in the attachment section, the attachment section can add a function to the body grooming device without the need to amend the hand piece section and/or the head section. Different attachment sections could then provide different functions. Such a modular approach makes the body grooming device very versatile.
In another embodiment, the attachment section of the proposed body grooming device comprises a container. A container can be used to store a liquid, a lotion, or a gel. The container may be coupled to a liquid supply that is arranged to contact the skin during operation of the body grooming device. In particular, the liquid supply can be arranged to transport liquid from the container to the skin due to capillary forces.
In a further embodiment, the attachment section comprises a first attachment section connector structure that detachably couples in the attached state with a hand piece connector structure and a second attachment section connector structure that detachably couples in the attached state with a head section connector structure. In this embodiment, the three parts of the body grooming device can be detachably connected by using the additional connector structures. In a refinement of this embodiment, the hand piece section connector structure is arranged to detachably connect also with the head section connector structure. Hence, the head section and the hand piece section can also be connected together without the attachment section attached in between. In such a case, the head section power output is also arranged to mate with the head section coupling.
The invention is also concerned with an attachment section as described that can be detachably coupled between a head section and a hand piece section so that a body grooming device is formed. The attachment section comprises a power transmission unit for transferring power from the hand piece section to the head section. A drivable body grooming unit present in the head section can thus be driven by a drive present in the hand piece section. Such an attachment section may be sold as an accessory for a two-part body grooming device that has only a head section and a hand piece section so that customers can add functionality to the two-part body grooming device according to their individual wishes or a customer can geometrically adapt the two-part body grooming device according to individual wishes by using such an attachment section.
The invention is further concerned with a kit comprising a head section comprising a drivable body grooming unit, a hand piece section comprising a drive, and a first attachment section comprising a power transmission unit, where the first attachment section is arranged to become detachably attached between the head section and the hand piece section to form a body grooming device such that in operation the power transmission unit transmits power from the hand piece section to the head section. Hence, the power transmission unit passes through the power generated by the drive so that the drivable body grooming unit can be driven in an operation state of the body grooming device.
In an embodiment, the kit further comprises a second attachment section that differs from the first attachment section in at least a geometrical parameter or a function provided by the second attachment section. The geometrical parameter can in particular be the different length of the first attachment section and the second attachment section or the different angle between head section and hand piece section introduced by the first attachment section or the second attachment section. The attachment sections may geometrically coincide but differ in a function. E.g. the first attachment section may serve no other function than to provide an extension of the hand piece section, while the second attachment section may have an atomizer unit for applying a mist of atomized liquid onto the skin during operation.
The invention will be further elucidated by detailed explanation of exemplary embodiments and with reference to figures. In the figures
The hand piece section power output 311 is arranged to mate with the attachment section coupling 110 in the attached state. In the shown embodiment, the hexagon shaft then sits in the respective form-fit hexagon recess provided in the shaft of the attachment section coupling 110. In another embodiment, the hand piece power output 311 is realized as a gear wheel and the attachment section coupling 110 is also realized as a gear wheel, the teeth of the gear wheels meshing with each other in the attached state. Any other realization of the hand piece power output 311 and the attachment section coupling 110 known to a skilled person are also possible. In the same manner, the attachment section power output 111 mates with the head section coupling 210 in the attached state. In the present example, the hexagon shaft of the attachment section 100 then sits in the respective form-fit hexagon recess provided in the shaft of the head section coupling 111.
The hand piece connector structure 320 is arranged to mate with the first attachment section connector structure 120a in the attached state; in the shown embodiment, the first attachment section connector structure 120a is realized a undercut structures that are received by recesses of the hand piece connector structure 320. At least an element of the hand piece connector structure 320 is movably arranged. In the shown embodiment, the undercut structures snap-fit onto movably mounted hooks and can be released from the snapped state by a push button realized on the back of the hand piece section 300 that moves the hooks against a spring bias. The attachment section 100 and the hand piece section 300 can be detached while the push button is depressed. Similarly, the head section 200 comprises a head section connector structure 220 and the attachment section 100 comprises a second attachment section connector structure 120b. The second attachment section connector structure 120b is realized essentially identical to the hand piece section connector structure 320 and the head section connector structure 220 is realized essentially identical to the first attachment section connector structure 120a. As further, the attachment section coupling 110 is designed essentially identical to the head section coupling 110 the head section coupling 210 and the head section connector structure 220 can also mate with the hand piece section power output 311 and the hand piece section connector structure 320. A two-part body grooming device could thus be formed without the attachment section 100, which renders the proposed body grooming device 1 as specifically versatile.
The dimensions and values disclosed herein are not to be understood as being strictly limited to the exact numerical values recited. Instead, unless otherwise specified, each such dimension is intended to mean both the recited value and a functionally equivalent range surrounding that value. For example, a dimension disclosed as “40 mm” is intended to mean “about 40 mm.”
Claims
1. Body grooming device comprising:
- a head section that comprises a drivable body grooming unit;
- a hand piece section that comprises a drive; and
- an attachment section detachably arranged between the head section and the hand piece section, the attachment section comprising a power transmission unit arranged for transmitting power from the hand piece section to the head section in an operation mode of the body grooming device.
2. Body grooming device according to one of claim 1, wherein the attachment section has an attachment section coupling that mates in the attached state with a hand piece section power output and an attachment section power output that mates in an attached state with a head section coupling, the attachment section coupling and the attachment section power output being part of the power transmission unit.
3. Body grooming device according to claim 2, wherein the head section coupling is arranged to be connectable with the hand piece power output.
4. Body grooming device according to claim 2 that comprises a second attachment section coupling that mates in an attached state with a second hand piece section power output.
5. Body grooming device according to claim 1, wherein the attachment section comprises a powered unit.
6. Body grooming device according to claim 5, wherein the attachment section comprises a power extraction section that is coupled with the powered unit and the power transmission unit.
7. Body grooming device according to claim 1, wherein the attachment section comprises a drive.
8. Body grooming device according to claim 1, wherein the attachment section comprises an energy source.
9. Body grooming device according to claim 1, wherein the attachment section comprises a container.
10. Body grooming device according to claim 1, wherein the attachment section comprises an attachment section energy contact structure and the hand piece section comprises an hand piece section energy contact structure.
11. Body grooming device according to claim 1, wherein said attachment section comprises a first attachment section connector structure that detachably mates in the attached state with a hand piece connector structure and a second attachment section connector structure that detachably mates in the attached state with a head section connector structure.
12. Body grooming device according to claim 11, wherein said hand piece connector structure is arranged to be connectable with the head section connector structure.
13. Body grooming device according to claim 1, wherein the body grooming device is realized as a device from the group consisting of an epilator device, a shaving device, a massaging device, a peeling device, an abrading device, and a rubbing device.
14. An attachment section for detachably connecting a head section that comprises a drivable body grooming unit and a hand piece section that comprises a drive of a body grooming device, the attachment section comprising a power transmission unit for transmitting power from the hand piece section to the head section in an attached state during operation.
15. A kit comprising:
- a head section of a body grooming device that comprises a drivable body grooming unit;
- a hand piece section that comprises a drive; and
- a first attachment section that comprises a power transmission unit;
- wherein the first attachment section is arranged so that it can be detachably coupled between the head section and the hand piece section so that the power transmission unit transmits power from the hand piece section to the head section in an operation mode.
16. A kit according to claim 15 that comprises at least a second attachment section comprising a power transmission unit and said second attachment section differing from the first attachment section at least in a geometrical parameter or in a function provided by the second attachment section.
Type: Application
Filed: Oct 4, 2011
Publication Date: Jan 26, 2012
Inventor: Pedro Sanchez-Martinez (Kronberg)
Application Number: 13/252,495
International Classification: A45D 26/00 (20060101); A45D 44/00 (20060101);