EPILATOR

Abstract

An epilator includes a housing, a drive mechanism, and an epilation head mounted on the housing. The epilation head includes a barrel rotatable about a longitudinal rotation axis of the barrel and operatively connected to the drive mechanism for driven rotation of the barrel about its rotation axis. The barrel has an outer surface spaced transversely from the barrel rotation axis. The barrel has a convex longitudinal contour across at least a portion of the barrel outer surface. The barrel further has a plurality of sets of tweezer plates accessible from the outer surface of the barrel. Each set includes a first tweezer plate and a second tweezer plate. At least one of the first and second tweezer plates is moveable relative to the other one of the first and second tweezer plates for contact with each other in response to rotation of the barrel.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to provisional application Ser. No. 61/788,012, filed Mar. 15, 2013, the entire specification of which is incorporated herein.

FIELD

The field of the invention relates generally to epilators and more specifically an epilator having a rotatable convex barrel.

BACKGROUND

Epilators are devices configured to grasp and pull or pluck hair from a user, including portions of the hair below the skin surface. Often epilators include a plurality of gripping members in the form of set of tweezer plates supported by a rotatable barrel. At least one of the tweezer plates of the set of tweezer plates is moveable relative to the other as the barrel rotates to grasp and pull hair from the user. Known epilators have cylindrical barrels or concaved barrels (i.e., barrels having a concaved longitudinal contour). That is, the outer surface of known epilator barrels is generally flat or concaved. However, epilators having cylindrical and concaved barrels are unable to adequately pull hair from curved portions of the body (e.g., the underarms, the bikini area, the back of the knees). There is thus a need for an epilator having a barrel curved to better interface with the curves of the user's body, including the underarms, bikini area, and the back of the knees.

Additionally, in typical epilators, a transmission gear that operatively connects the barrel to drive motor in the handle is located at one end of the barrel, for example longitudinally between the barrel and a mount or cam plate that supports the barrel. There is need, however, for a transmission gear that is located longitudinally outward of the mount or cam plate to permit a reduction in size of the transmission gear. This would allow for an improved gear train ratio from the drive motor to the barrel.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION

In one aspect, an epilator generally comprises a housing, a drive mechanism, and an epilation head mounted on the housing. The epilation head comprises a barrel rotatable about a longitudinal rotation axis of the barrel. The barrel is operatively connected to the drive mechanism for driven rotation of the barrel about its rotation axis. The barrel has an outer surface spaced transversely from the barrel rotation axis. The barrel has a convex longitudinal contour across at least a portion of the barrel outer surface. The barrel further has a plurality of sets of tweezer plates accessible from the outer surface of the barrel. Each set comprises a first tweezer plate and a second tweezer plate. At least one of the first and second tweezer plates is moveable relative to the other one of the first and second tweezer plates for contact with each other in response to rotation of the barrel.

In another aspect, an epilator generally comprises a housing, a drive mechanism, and an epilation head mounted on the housing. The epilation head comprises a barrel rotatable about a longitudinal rotation axis of the barrel. The barrel is operatively connected to the drive mechanism for driven rotation of the barrel about its rotation axis. The barrel has longitudinally opposite ends, a longitudinal center, and a diameter. The diameter of the barrel at the longitudinal center is greater than the diameter of the barrel at least at one of the longitudinally opposite ends thereof. The barrel further has a plurality of sets of tweezer plates. Each set of tweezer plates comprises a first tweezer plate and a second tweezer plate. At least one of the first and second tweezer plates is moveable relative to the other one of the first and second tweezer plates for contact with each other in response to rotation of the barrel.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front view of one suitable embodiment of an epilator.

FIG. 2 is a front view of an epilation head for use with the epilator of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a rotatable barrel for use in an epilation head of an epilator;

FIG. 4 is a rear elevation thereof;

FIG. 5 is a left side elevation thereof;

FIG. 6 is a front elevation thereof;

FIG. 7 is a top plan view thereof;

FIG. 8 is a right side elevation thereof;

FIG. 9 is a bottom plan view thereof;

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a support assembly of the rotatable barrel of FIG. 3;

FIG. 11 is a rear elevation thereof;

FIG. 12 is a left side elevation thereof;

FIG. 13 is a front elevation thereof;

FIG. 14 is a top plan view thereof;

FIG. 15 is a right side elevation thereof;

FIG. 16 is a bottom plan view thereof;

FIG. 17 is a perspective view of a right gear member of the rotatable barrel.

FIG. 18 is a front elevation thereof;

FIG. 19 is a right side elevation thereof;

FIG. 20 is a rear elevation thereof;

FIG. 21 is a top plan view thereof;

FIG. 22 is a left side elevation thereof;

FIG. 23 is a bottom plan view thereof;

FIG. 24 is a perspective view of one center disc of the rotatable barrel;

FIG. 25 is a front elevation thereof;

FIG. 26 is a right side elevation thereof;

FIG. 27 is a rear elevation thereof;

FIG. 28 is a top plan view thereof;

FIG. 29 is a left side elevation thereof;

FIG. 30 is a perspective view of one flanking disc of the rotatable barrel;

FIG. 31 is a front elevation thereof;

FIG. 32 is a right side elevation thereof;

FIG. 33 is a rear elevation thereof;

FIG. 34 is a top plan view thereof;

FIG. 35 is a left side elevation thereof;

FIG. 36 is a bottom plan view thereof;

FIG. 37 is a perspective view of a bail spring of the rotatable barrel;

FIG. 38 is a perspective view of one movable tweezer plate of the rotatable barrel;

FIG. 39 is another perspective view of the tweezer plate of

FIG. 38;

FIG. 40 is a partially exploded perspective view of the rotatable barrel of FIG. 3.

FIG. 41 is a perspective view of one pin of the rotatable barrel;

FIG. 42 is a rear elevation thereof;

FIG. 43 is a front elevation thereof;

FIG. 44 is a right side elevation thereof;

FIG. 45 is a front elevation of the pin similar to FIG. 43, with a coiled spring located on a shaft of the pin; and

FIG. 46 is vertical cross-section of the rotatable barrel of FIG. 4.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

With reference now to the Figures, FIG. 1 illustrates one suitable embodiment of an epilator, indicated generally at 1, comprising a housing 3 having a gripping portion 5 (broadly, a “first housing portion”) and an epilation head 7 (broadly, a “second housing portion”) selectively attachable to and detachable from the gripping portion. The gripping portion 5 of the illustrated epilator includes a suitable driving mechanism (not shown) that is operably connectable to the head 7 when the head is attached to the gripping portion. The head 7 of the epilator 1 supports a rotatable barrel, indicated generally at 9, having a plurality of sets of tweezer plates adapted to grasp and pull the hair from the user. Each set of tweezer plates comprises a first tweezer plate and a second tweezer plate with at least one of the first and second tweezer plates being moveable relative to the other one of the first and second tweezer plates for contact with each other in response to rotation of the barrel.

FIG. 2 illustrates another suitable embodiment of an epilation head 11 selectively attachable to and detachable from the gripping portion 5. Thus in the illustrated embodiment, the user can readily change between the head 7 illustrated in FIG. 1 and the head 11 illustrated in FIG. 2. It is understood, however, that either of the heads 7, 11 can be non-removably attached to the gripping portion 5. It is also understood that the housing 3, including the gripping portion 5 and/or the head 7, can have any suitable size and shape. In one suitable example, the housing 3 can be adequately sized and shaped for use in removing hair over broad portion of the user's body (i.e., arms, legs). In another suitable example, the housing 3 can be adequately sized and shaped for use in removing hair over smaller, more focused portions of the user's body (i.e., armpits, bikini area, face).

As seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, each of the heads 7, 11 has an opening 13, 13′ in the outer surface through which the tweezer plates of the barrel are exposed. The heads 7, 11 illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 are generally dome-shaped adjacent the opening therein. More specifically, at least a portion of each of the outer surfaces of the heads 7, 11 adjacent the openings 13, 13′ has a longitudinal convex contour. It is contemplated that the heads 7, 11 can have any suitable size and shape without departing from some aspects of this invention.

FIGS. 3-9 illustrate one suitable embodiment of a rotatable barrel, which is indicated generally at 10, for use in an epilator, such as the epilator 1 illustrated in FIG. 1. The rotatable barrel 10 comprises a support assembly 12, a pair of gear members 14 supported by the support assembly, a plurality of rotatable discs 16 in face-to-face relationship with each other and disposed between the gear members, and a bail spring 19. The support assembly 12, the gear members 14, rotatable discs 16 and bail spring 19 are indicated generally by their respective reference numbers. The gear members 14 are adapted to operatively connect to a suitable drive mechanism for rotation of the gear members relative to the support assembly 12. As described in more detail below, rotation of the gear members 14 results in corresponding rotation of the rotatable discs 16 and in the longitudinal movement of a plurality of moveable tweezer plates 18 (broadly, a “first tweezer plate”) relative to a plurality of corresponding stationary tweezer plates 20 (broadly, a “second tweezer plate”). The tweezer plates 18, 20 are configured to cooperatively grasp hair of the user and pull the hair from the user's body during each rotation of the barrel 10.

The support assembly 12, which is illustrated in FIGS. 10-16, comprises a base, indicated generally at 26, and a pair of spaced apart mounts, indicated generally at 28, extending upward from the base. The base 26 includes a pair of beams 30 and a platform 32 extending between the beams. The illustrated platform 32 is concave for allowing the gear members 14 and the rotatable discs 16 to rotate freely past the base 26. Each of the beams 30 comprises a front, a back, a top, a bottom and a pair of ends. As seen in FIG. 10, the beams 30 include a socket 34 adjacent each of its ends. With reference now to FIGS. 11 and 13, each of the beams 30 includes an upper notch 36 in the top of the beam and an extension 38 extending downward from the bottom.

With reference again to FIG. 10, each of the mounts 28 of the support assembly 12 include an annular cam member 40, a pair of legs 42 extending downward from the annular cam member, and a post 44 extending outward from each of the legs. Each of the posts 44 is sized and shaped for a snap fit connection with one of the sockets 34 of the base 26. Each of the annular cam members 40 has a first side 46 (i.e., an outer side as seen in FIGS. 12 and 15) and a second side 48 (i.e., an inner side as seen in FIG. 10). The first side includes a channel 50 for receiving the bail spring 19. The second side 48 defines a cam surface having a cam 52. An annular support surface 54 extends between the first side 46 and the second side 48. Each of the annular support surfaces 54 is sized and shaped for rotatable receiving one of the gear members 14. It is understood that the base 26 and the mounts 28 can be coupled together in any suitable manner. It is further understood that the base 26 and the mounts 28 can be formed as single-piece.

FIGS. 17-23 illustrate one of the gear members 14 illustrated in FIGS. 3-9. Specifically, FIGS. 17-23 illustrate the right gear member 14 as seen in FIG. 3, however, the left gear member is similar in construction. Each of the gear members 14 includes an end disc 60 and a drive shaft 62 extending outward from the end disc. A transmission gear 64 configured to operatively engage the drive mechanism of the epilator is formed integral with the drive shaft 62. In the illustrated embodiment, the transmission gear 64 has a diameter approximately equal to the diameter of the drive shaft 62. It is understood, however, that the transmission gear 64 can have a diameter greater or smaller than the diameter of the drive shaft 62. The end disc 60 includes inner face 66 (FIG. 22), an outer face 68 (FIG. 19), and an outer edge 70 (FIG. 18). The drive shaft 62 extends outward from the center of the outer face 68 and is surrounded by an annular wall 72, which is spaced from the drive shaft to define a channel 74. A plurality of circular openings 76 (eight being illustrated in FIG. 19) are circumferentially aligned and disposed between the drive shaft 62 and the annular wall 72.

The inner face 66 of the end disc 60 includes a plurality of receptacles (four being illustrated in FIG. 22) for receiving one of the moveable tweezer plates 18. In one suitable embodiment, each of the receptacles is disposed in a different plane. In the illustrated embodiment, for example, the end disc 60 includes a first receptacle 80, which comprises a raised surface having a first height, a second receptacle 82, which comprises a recessed surface having a first depth, a third receptacle 84, which comprises a recessed surface having a second depth greater than the first depth, and a fourth receptacle 86, which comprises a recessed surface having a third depth greater than both the first and second depths. Each of the receptacles 80, 82, 84, 86 includes a post 88 for mounting the respective movable tweezer plate 18 to the end disc 60 of the gear member 16. One of the openings 76 through the end disc 60 is located in each of the receptacles 80, 82, 84, 86. The inner face 66 of the end disc 60 further includes a plurality of peripheral posts 90 for connecting the gear member 14 to the adjacent rotatable discs 16.

With reference now to FIG. 18, the outer edge 70 of the end disc 60 of the gear member 16 is beveled. More specifically, the outer edge 70 is angled upward from the outer face 68 to the inner face 66. For example, the outer edge 70 is angled upward at about angle α in the range of about 5 degrees to about 30 degrees, and in the illustrated embodiment about 19 degrees. It is understood that the outer edge 70 of the end disc 60 can have other suitable angles within the scope of this invention.

As seen in FIG. 4, the three rotatable discs 16 comprises a center disc 100 and two flanking discs 102 with one of the flanking discs being disposed on one side of the center disc and the other flanking disc being disposed on the opposite side of the center disc. It is contemplated that the rotatable barrel 10 seen in FIGS. 3-9 can comprise any suitable number of center discs and/or flanking disc 102. For example, the rotatable barrel 10 can include two center discs 100 and four flanking discs 102 with two of the flanking discs being disposed on one side of the center discs and the other two flanking discs being disposed on the opposite side of the center discs.

The center disc 100, which is illustrated in FIGS. 27-29, comprises two sides 104, 106 and an outer edge 108. A plurality of openings 109 (eight openings being illustrated in the illustrated embodiment) extend through the center disc 100. Each of the sides 104, 106 of the center disc 100 includes plurality of receptacles (four receptacles on each side being illustrated in FIGS. 26 and 29) for receiving one of the moveable tweezer plates 18. Each of the receptacles is disposed in a different plane. In the illustrated embodiment, for example, each side of the center disc 100 includes a first receptacle 110, which comprises a raised surface having a first height, a second receptacle 112, which comprises a recessed surface having a first depth, a third receptacle 114, which comprises a recessed surface having a second depth greater than the first depth, and a fourth receptacle 116, which comprises a recessed surface having a third depth greater than both the first and second depths. One of the openings 109 is located in each of the receptacles 110, 112, 114, 116. The center disc 100 further includes a plurality of peripheral apertures 118.

The outer edge 108 of the center disc 100 has a plurality of stationary tweezer plates 20 extending outwardly therefrom. The outer edge 108 of the illustrated center disc 100 has eight stationary tweezer plates 20 with the stationary tweezer plates being arranged in pairs wherein one of the stationary tweezer plates partially overlaps the other. Also extending outward from the outer edge 108 of the center disc 100 is a plurality of skin engaging nubs 111. As seen in FIG. 25, the outer edge 108 of the illustrated center disc 110 is generally flat (i.e., not angled) in cross-section. It is understood, however, that the outer edge 108 can be convex in cross-section.

FIGS. 30-36 illustrate only one of the two flanking discs 102 of FIGS. 3-9. However, the other (non-illustrated) flanking disc 102 is substantially identical to the one illustrated in FIGS. 30-36. The flanking disc 102 seen in FIGS. 30-36 comprises two sides 120, 122 and an outer edge 124. A plurality of openings 126 (eight openings being illustrated in the illustrated embodiment) extend through the flanking disc 102. Each of the sides 120, 122 of the flanking disc 102 includes a plurality of receptacles (four receptacles on each side being illustrated in FIGS. 32 and 35) for receiving one of the moveable tweezer plates 18. Each of the receptacles is disposed in a different plane. In the illustrated embodiment, for example, each of the sides 120, 122 of the flanking disc 102 includes a first receptacle 128, which comprises a raised surface having a first height, a second receptacle 130, which comprises a recessed surface having a first depth, a third receptacle 132, which comprises a recessed surface having a second depth greater than the first depth, and a fourth receptacle 134, which comprises a recessed surface having a third depth greater than both the first and second depths. One of the openings 126 is located in each of the receptacles 128, 130, 132, 134. One side of the flanking disc 102, which is seen in FIG. 35, include a post 136 within each of the four receptacles 128, 130, 132, 134 for mounting one of the moveable tweezer plates 18 thereto and a plurality of peripheral post 138. In addition, the flanking disc 102 includes a plurality of peripheral apertures 140.

The outer edge 124 of the flanking disc 102 includes a plurality of stationary tweezer plates 20 extending outwardly therefrom. The outer edge 124 of the illustrated flanking disc 102, for example, has four stationary tweezer plates 20. Also extending outward from the outer edge 124 of the flanking disc 102 is a plurality of skin engaging nubs 142. As seen in FIG. 34, the outer edge 124 of flanking disc 102 is beveled. More specifically, the outer edge 124 is angled upward from one side to the other. For example, the outer edge 124 may be angled upward at an angle 13 in the range of about 5 degrees to about 30 degrees, and in the illustrated embodiment it is about 8 degrees. It is understood that the outer edge 124 of the flanking disc 102 can have other suitable angles.

With reference now to FIG. 37, the bail spring 19 comprises an arcuate connecting portion 150 and a pair of spaced-apart raiser portions 152 extending outward from the arcuate connecting portion. Each of the raiser portions includes a hook portion 154. As seen in FIGS. 5 and 8, the two hook portions 154 are configured for insertion into the channels 50 on the first side 46 of the annular cam members 40 of the mounts 28. The bail spring 19 is adapted to apply a compressive force to the mounts 28 of the support assembly 12 and thereby the rotatable barrel 10.

As seen in FIGS. 38 and 39, each of the moveable tweezer plates 18 includes an attachment portion 160 and an engagement portion 162. The attachment portion 160 is tapered away from the engagement portion 162 and toward its free end. The attachment 160 includes a first opening 164 and a second opening 166. The first opening 164 in the illustrated attachment portion 160 is circular. The second opening 166 comprises a first larger portion 168 and a second smaller portion 170 (FIG. 39). The engagement portion 162 of the illustrated moveable tweezer plate 18 includes an arcuate outer edge 172 adapted to engage the skin of the user. The engagement portion 162 tapers from the outer edge 172 toward the attachment portion.

FIG. 40 is a partially exploded view of the rotatable barrel 10 illustrated in FIG. 3. As seen in FIG. 40, each of the receptacles 110, 112, 114, 116 of the center disc 100 has one of the moveable tweezer plates 18 therein. Each of the moveable tweezer plates 18 received in the receptacles 110, 112, 114, 116 of the center disc 100 are disposed adjacent one of the eight stationary tweezer plates 20 extending outward from the outer edge 108 of the center disc 100. The moveable tweezer plates 18 and corresponding stationary tweezer plates are configured to grasp and pull hair from the user during use. The plurality of peripheral post 138 disposed on the flanking disc 102 are received in corresponding peripheral apertures 118 formed in the center disc 100. As a result, the moveable tweezer plates 18 are captured between the center disc 100 and the corresponding flanking disc 102. In addition, the posts 136 on the flanking disc 102 are disposed within respective first circular openings 164 of the moveable tweezer plates 18.

When assembled, each of the receptacles 128, 130, 132, 134 in the flanking disc 102 has one of the moveable tweezer plates 18 therein. Each of the moveable tweezer plates 18 received in the receptacles 128, 130, 132, 134 of the flanking disc 102 are disposed adjacent one of the four stationary tweezer plates 20 extending outward from the outer edge 124 of the flanking disc 102. The moveable tweezer plates 18 and corresponding stationary tweezer plates are configured to grasp and pull hair from the user during use. The plurality of peripheral posts 90 disposed on the respective gear member 14 are received in corresponding peripheral apertures 140 formed in the flanking disc 102. As a result, the moveable tweezer plates 18 are captured between the flanking disc 102 and the corresponding gear member 14. In addition, the posts 88 on the gear member 14 are disposed within respective first circular openings 164 of the moveable tweezer plates 18.

With reference still to FIG. 40, eight pins (broadly, “actuating members”), indicated generally at 200, are generally circumferentially aligned and extend through the openings 76 in the gear member 14. Four of the pins 200 operatively engage the moveable tweezer plates 18 disposed between the gear member 14 and flanking disc 102. The other four pins 200, which are longer, extend through the openings 126 in the flanking disc 102 and operatively engage the moveable tweezer plates 18 disposed between the flanking disc 102 and the center disc 100.

As seen in FIGS. 41-45, each of the pins 200 includes a head indicated at 202, a shaft indicated at 204 extending from the head and a tip indicated at 206. The head 204 includes a front 208, a back 210, a top 212, a bottom 214, and two sides 216. The top 212 and bottom 214 of the head are generally arcuate and adapted to be received within the channel 74 defined by the drive shaft 62 and annular wall 72 of the gear member 14. The top 212 of the head 202 has a greater length than the bottom 214 of the head. Moreover, the top 212 of the head 202 includes a notched portion 220. The shaft 204, which is generally cylindrical, extends from the back 210 of the head 202. The shaft 204 includes two opposed flats 222 that extend the length of the shaft. The free end of the shaft 204 is angled (or sloped) toward the flats 222. The tip 206 of each of the pins 200 includes an engagement portion defined by an annular groove 224 extending about the circumference of the tip. The tip 206 further includes a beveled outer face 226.

With reference to FIGS. 40 and 45, a coiled spring 230 circumscribes each of the shafts 204 of the pins 200. As a result, the coiled springs 230 are disposed between the head 202 of the pin 200 and the outer face 68 of the end disc 60 of the gear member 14 and bias the pins away from the gear member. As a result, the heads 202 of the pins 200 are biased against the cam surface defined by the second sides 48 of the annular cam members 40 of the mounts 28 of the support assembly 12. As mentioned above, the hook portions 154 of the bail spring 19 are inserted into the channels 50 on the first side 46 of the annular cam members 40 of the mounts 28 and apply a compressive force to the mounts of the support assembly 12 and thereby the rotatable barrel 10.

FIG. 46 is a cross-section of the rotatable barrel 10 taken from FIG. 4. As seen in FIG. 46, the barrel 10 has a longitudinal axis LA and a transverse axis TA. As described in more detail below, the barrel 10 is rotatable about the longitudinal axis LA. With reference again to FIG. 46, the barrel 10 has an outer surface 300 spaced transversely from the longitudinal axis and has a convex longitudinal contour across at least a portion of the outer surface 300 of the barrel 10. In the illustrated embodiment, only portion of the outer surface 300 of the barrel 10 convex longitudinal contour. It is understood, however, that the entire outer surface 300 can have a convex longitudinal contour.

In the illustrated embodiment, the convex portion of the outer surface 300 of the barrel 10 is defined by the outer edge 108 of the center disc, the outer edges 124 of the flanking disc, and the outer edges 70 of the end discs 60 of the mounting gears 14. In one suitable embodiment, the convex portion of the outer surface 300 may have a radius in the range of about 10 mm to about 30 mm, and in the illustrated embodiment the radius of curvature is about 19 mm. It is understood that the radius of curvature of the convex portion of the outer surface 300 be greater or less than the above range and remain within the scope of this invention.

As seen in FIG. 46, the center disc 100 has a diameter (i.e., the distance from the longitudinal axis LA to the outer edge 108) and the flanking discs 102 have a diameter (i.e., the distance from the longitudinal axis LA to the respective outer edge 124). The outer edge 108 of the illustrated center disc 100 is generally parallel to the longitudinal axis LA. As a result, the center disc 100 has a generally constant diameter across its width. The outer edges 124 of the illustrated flanking disc 102 are sloped or otherwise angled downward away from the center disc 100. That is, the diameter of the flanking disc 102 decreases across its width moving away from the center disc 100. Accordingly, the flanking disc 102 has a maximum diameter adjacent the center disc 100 and a minimum diameter spaced from the center disc. The diameter of the center disc 100 is greater than at least the minimum diameter of the flanking disc 102. In the illustrated embodiment, the diameter of the center disc 100 is greater than at least the minimum diameter of the flanking discs 102. In one suitable embodiment, the diameter of the center disc 100 is greater than both the minimum and the maximum diameters of the flanking discs 102. Thus, the diameter of the barrel 10 at the longitudinal center (i.e., along the transverse axis TA) is greater than the diameter of the barrel at the longitudinally opposite ends thereof.

As mentioned above, the barrel 10 can include more than one center disc and more than two flanking discs 102. For example, the barrel 10 illustrated in FIG. 46 could include two center discs 100 having substantially the same diameter and four flanking discs 102 with two of the flanking discs being disposed on one side of the center discs 100 and the other two flanking discs being disposed on the opposite side of the center discs. In such an embodiment, each of the flanking discs 102 could have a diameter less than the diameter of the center discs 100. It is contemplated the longitudinally outermost flanking discs 102 of such an embodiment of the barrel 10 could have a diameter less than the diameter of the inner flanking discs 102 such that the outer surface 300 of the barrel is continuously convex.

In use, the drive mechanism (e.g., a battery or ac motor) of the epilator 1 engages and rotates the transmission gear 64 of one or both the gear members 14. The rotation of the transmission gear 64 by the drive mechanism results in rotation of the barrel 10 about the longitudinal axis LA thereof. More specifically, rotation of the transmission gear 64 results in conjoint rotation of the gear members 14, the pins 200 and springs 230 carried by the gear members, the flanking discs 102 and the center disc 100. During rotation, the fronts 208 of the heads 202 of the pins 200 slidingly engage the cam surface on the second side 48 of the annular cam members 40 of the mounts 28. As the heads 202 rotate over the cams 52 of the cam surface, the respective pin 200 is pushed longitudinally inward (see, e.g., the upper right pin illustrated in FIG. 46). The tip 206 of the pin 200, which is operatively connected to one of the moveable tweezer plates 18, result is the tweezer plate moving relative to the corresponding stationary tweezer plate 20 for grasping and pulling hair from the user.

This written description uses examples to disclose the invention, including the best mode, and also to enable any person skilled in the art to practice the invention, including making and using any devices or systems and performing any incorporated methods. The patentable scope of the invention is defined by the claims, and may include other examples that occur to those skilled in the art. Such other examples are intended to be within the scope of the claims if they have structural elements that do not differ from the literal language of the claims, or if they include equivalent structural elements with insubstantial differences from the literal languages of the claims.

When introducing elements of the present invention or the embodiment(s) thereof, the articles “a,” “an,” “the,” and “said” are intended to mean that there are one or more of the elements. The terms “comprising,” “including,” and “having” are intended to be inclusive and mean that there may be additional elements other than the listed elements.

As various changes could be made in the above products and methods without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description and shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Claims

1. An epilator comprising:

a housing;

a drive mechanism; and

an epilation head mounted on the housing and comprising a barrel rotatable about a longitudinal rotation axis of the barrel, the barrel being operatively connected to the drive mechanism for driven rotation of the barrel about its rotation axis, the barrel having an outer surface spaced transversely from the barrel rotation axis, the barrel having a convex longitudinal contour across at least a portion of the barrel outer surface, the barrel further having a plurality of sets of tweezer plates accessible from the outer surface of the barrel, each set comprising a first tweezer plate and a second tweezer plate, at least one of the first and second tweezer plates being moveable relative to the other one of the first and second tweezer plates for contact with each other in response to rotation of the barrel.

2. The epilator set forth in claim 1 wherein the barrel has a convex longitudinal contour across the entire barrel outer surface.

3. The epilator set forth in claim 1 wherein the barrel comprises at least three discs including a center disc and at least one flanking disc on each side of the center disc along the barrel rotation axis, each disc having a diameter wherein the diameter of the center disc is greater than the diameter of each flanking disc, each disc carrying at least one of the first and second tweezer plates.

4. The epilator set forth in claim 3 wherein each disc has an outer edge in part defining the outer surface of the barrel, the outer edge of the center disc being generally parallel to the barrel rotation axis.

5. The epilator set forth in claim 4 wherein the outer edge of each flanking disc slopes downward away from the center disc.

6. The epilator set forth in claim 3 wherein the barrel comprises more than three discs, the barrel including at least two center discs having substantially the same diameter.

7. The epilator set forth in claim 1 wherein the barrel has longitudinally opposite ends, the epilation head further comprising a gear member longitudinally adjacent one of the longitudinal ends of the barrel in operative connection with the barrel, the gear member having an outer surface with a convex longitudinal contour generally in continuance of the contour of the barrel at said longitudinal end.

8. The epilator set forth in claim 1 wherein the epilation head comprises a pair of gear members, each gear member being longitudinally adjacent a respective longitudinal end of the barrel in operative connection with the barrel, each gear member having an outer surface with a convex longitudinal contour generally in continuance of the contour of the barrel at the respective longitudinal end of the barrel.

9. The epilator set forth in claim 1 wherein the housing has an outer surface and an opening in the outer surface through which the tweezer plates of the barrel are exposed, the outer surface of the housing having a longitudinal convex contour generally corresponding to the longitudinal convex contour of the barrel outer surface.

10. The epilator set forth in claim 9 wherein the housing is generally dome-shaped adjacent the opening therein.

11. The epilator set forth in claim 1 wherein the housing comprises at least a first housing portion and a second housing portion separable from the first housing portion, the epilation head comprising the barrel and the second housing portion such that the epilation head is separable from the first housing portion, the second housing portion having an outer surface and an opening in the outer surface through which the tweezer plates of the barrel are exposed, the outer surface of the second housing portion having a longitudinal convex contour generally corresponding to the longitudinal convex contour of the barrel outer surface.

12. An epilator comprising:

a housing;

a drive mechanism; and

an epilation head mounted on the housing and comprising a barrel rotatable about a longitudinal rotation axis of the barrel, the barrel being operatively connected to the drive mechanism for driven rotation of the barrel about its rotation axis, the barrel having longitudinally opposite ends, a longitudinal center, and a diameter, the diameter of the barrel at the longitudinal center being greater than the diameter of the barrel at least at one of the longitudinally opposite ends thereof, the barrel further having a plurality of sets of tweezer plates, each set of tweezer plates comprising a first tweezer plate and a second tweezer plate, at least one of the first and second tweezer plates being moveable relative to the other one of the first and second tweezer plates for contact with each other in response to rotation of the barrel.

13. The epilator set forth in claim 12 wherein the diameter of the barrel at the longitudinal center is greater than the diameter of the barrel at each of the longitudinally opposite ends thereof.

14. The epilator set forth in claim 13 wherein the diameter of the barrel generally gradually decreases from the longitudinal center toward the longitudinal ends of the barrel.

15. The epilator set forth in claim 12 wherein the barrel comprises at least three discs including a center disc and at least one flanking disc on each side of the center disc along the barrel rotation axis, each disc having a diameter wherein the diameter of the center disc is greater than the diameter of each flanking disc, each disc carrying at least one of the first and second tweezer plates.

16. The epilator set forth in claim 15 wherein the barrel comprises at least five discs including a plurality of center discs each having the same diameter and together defining the longitudinal center of the barrel, the flanking discs each having a diameter less than the diameter of the center discs.

17. The epilator set forth in claim 15 further comprising a gear member disposed longitudinally adjacent one of the flanking disc, the gear member having an end disc with the diameter, the diameters of the center disc and each flanking discs being greater than the diameter of the end discs.

18. The epilator set forth in claim 15 wherein the epilation head comprises a pair of gear members, each gear member being longitudinally adjacent a respective one of the flanking disc, each gear member having an end disc with a diameter, the diameters of the center disc and each flanking discs being greater than the diameters of the end discs.

19. The epilator set forth in claim 18 wherein each of the gear members includes a drive shaft extending outward from the end disc and an annular wall spaced from the drive shaft to define a channel.

20. The epilator set forth in claim 19 further comprising a plurality of pins disposed in each of the channels, each pin being operatively connected to at least one of the first and second tweezer plates.