SKIN CLEANSING AND MASSAGING SYSTEM
The present disclosure is directed to skin brush includes a drive mechanism, a bristle carrier connected to the drive mechanism, and a plurality of bristle or brush groups connected to the bristle carrier. In operation, the bristle carrier is driven by the drive mechanism so as to rotate in a first direction at a first speed and each of the bristle groups rotate in a second direction at a second speed.
The technology disclosed herein relates generally to cleansing brushes, and more specifically to skin cleansing brushes.
BACKGROUNDCleaning and exfoliating skin is a typical part of a hygiene routine for many people. Recently, skin brushes including a single rotating brush head have been introduced and have been marketed as a way to clean, stimulate, and/or exfoliate skin better than a person's hands can do alone. However, these skin brushes are typically not designed for use in a wet environment, such as a shower. For example, many current skin brushes are battery powered and may not be submerged or covered in water without malfunctioning. Other categories of skin brushes may be water-driven, but typically do not have sufficient power to rotate the brush head in a desired manner. For example, users may apply some pressure to the brush head as they apply the brush to their skin and the water-driven mechanism may not be sufficiently strong to overcome the force. Thus, the brush head may cease to rotate or stall out. Therefore, there is a need for a water-safe brush having a brush head motion that can overcome pressure against the skin, while also providing a cleansing and exfoliating function.
The information included in this Background section of the specification, including any references cited herein and any description or discussion thereof, is included for technical reference purposes only and is not to be regarded subject matter by which the scope of the invention is to be bound.
SUMMARYOne embodiment of the present disclosure includes a skin brush. The skin brush includes a drive mechanism, a bristle carrier connected to the drive mechanism, and a plurality of bristle or brush groups connected to the bristle carrier. In operation, the bristle carrier is driven by the drive mechanism so as to rotate in a first direction at a first speed and each of the bristle groups rotate in a second direction at a second speed.
This Summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the Detailed Description. This Summary is not intended to identify key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used to limit the scope of the claimed subject matter. A more extensive presentation of features, details, utilities, and advantages of the present invention as defined in the claims is provided in the following written description of various embodiments of the invention and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
This disclosure is related to a skin cleansing system including a skin brush and optionally a showerhead and bracket for connecting the skin brush to the showerhead. The skin brush includes a drive mechanism that may be water and/or electrically powered and a bristle carrier for supporting one or more bristle groups. In one embodiment, the bristle carrier and the bristle groups are driven by a planetary gear arrangement, such that as the bristle carrier is rotated by the drive mechanism, the bristle carrier rotates in a first direction at a first speed and the bristle groups are the planet gears for the gear mechanism and each rotate in a second direction at a second speed. This configuration allows the bristles to exert a sufficiently strong force on a user's skin, while also alternatingly stimulating different sections of the user's skin in a particular location. This motion exerts a sufficiently stimulating effect so that users are less likely to exert a strong force against the brush, such as to push the brush against the skin. Thus, the skin brush may be less likely to stall out during use.
The bristles groups and/or the bristle carrier may be removable to allow replacement. For example, some users may wish to share the brush with different people, but may not want to have others use the bristle groups due to hygienic reasons.
In some embodiments, the brush may include nozzles that provide water or other fluid (e.g., cleaning solutions, medicines, etc.) output to the user, such as outputting a massaging stream of water. In one example, the brush may include integrated nozzles that are formed within a handle or on the face of the brush. In this embodiment, the brush may include a releasable water connection to enhance the portability of the brush. In another example, the brush may include a releasable nozzle assembly that selectively connects and disconnects to the brush. In this embodiment, the nozzle assembly may be permanently attached to a fluid source or may include a releasable attachment to the fluid source.
Turning to the figures, a cleansing system of the present disclosure will now be discussed in more detail.
In the embodiment shown in
In some embodiments, the cleansing system 100 of
The brush 102 of the cleansing system 100 will now be discussed in more detail.
The handle 130 houses the various components of the brush 102 and provides a mechanism to allow a user to manipulate the brush 102. For example, the handle 130 includes a handle cavity 184 that receives the engine 146, brush assembly 136 and one or more fluid conduits. The handle 130 includes an elongated shaft 180 and a head 182. The shaft 180 is typically sized to allow a user to comfortably grip the outer surface to manipulate the brush 102. Additionally, the shaft 180 may be sized and shaped to allow a user's fingers to extend around, as well as to be aesthetically pleasing. The head 182 may be formed separately from the shaft 180 and connected thereto or may be integrally formed with the shaft 180 and extend therefrom. The head 182 may have a round shape and be configured to receive the various components of the brush assembly 136 and engine 146. The shape of the handle 130, including the head 182, shaft 180, and handle cavity 184 may be varied as desired based on the configurations of the brush 102, type of drive mechanisms, and so on.
The brush assembly 132 includes the brush carrier 136 and the plurality of brushes 134a, 134b, 134c. The brush carrier 136 supports the brushes 134a, 134b, 134c on the brush 102 and allows movement of the brushes 134a, 134b, 134c relative thereto. The brush carrier 136 includes an outer surface 216 that forms an outer surface of the brush 102. The outer surface 216 transitions to an outer wall 210 that extends outward and upward from around a perimeter of the outer surface 216. The outer wall 210 may include a lip 218 formed on a terminal end thereof. The outer wall 210 and the outer surface 216 define a recess 208 for receiving one or more components of the engine 146. Additionally, one or more brush compartments 212 may be defined on the outer surface 216. In the embodiment shown in
Each of the brushes 134a, 134b, 134c may be substantially similar to one another and each may include a brush base 204 and a plurality of bristles 202 extending from or otherwise connected thereto. The brush base 204 supports the bristles 202 and allows the bristles 202 to be rotated in a collective group. The bristles 202 may be glued or otherwise connected to the brush base 204. The bristles 202 may be arranged in any desired manner, but in some embodiments are arranged in concentric rows and so as to define a fastening aperture 224 through a central region of each brush 134a, 134b, 134c. The fastening aperture 224 may be defined so as to assist in the assembly of the brush 134a, 134b, 134c so that a fastener may be more easily inserted through the base 204 and bristles 202. However, in other embodiments, the bristles 202 may be otherwise configured and the fastening aperture 224 may be omitted or defined in another manner.
With reference to
The engine cap 156 forms an end cap for the engine 146 assembly and includes a top surface 188 and a base 196 extending downward from the top surface 188. An annular groove 194 is defined around an outer edge circumference of the base 196 and is configured to receive a sealing element, such as O-ring 168. A fastening protrusion 190 extends upward from the top surface 188 and includes a fastening recess 191 defined through a portion thereof, configured to receive a fastening element 174. Additionally, the cap 156 may include a plurality of fastening apertures 157 defined around an outer perimeter of the top surface 188 that are configured to receive fasteners 159 to secure the engine cap 156 to the engine housing 164. The engine cap 156 may include a beveled ledge 192 extending from a front end.
The engine 146 also includes a turbine 158 for driving the brushes 134a, 134b, 134c and brush carrier 136. The turbine 158 includes a disc shaped body 230 having a fastening protrusion 198 extending upward from a first surface of the body 230 and a plurality of fins 200 extending downward from a second surface.
The engine housing 164 houses a number of engine components, as well as defines a gearing component for the engine 146.
With reference to
With reference to
A turbine chamber 240 is defined by the chamber floor 258 and the chamber outer wall 242. A plurality of chamber inlets 244a, 244b, 244c extend between the outer wall 252 and a chamber inlet passage 254 defined therein and the turbine chamber 240. For example, the chamber outer wall 242 may include a plurality of inlet apertures that are fluidly connected to the chamber inlet passage 254 via the inlets 244a, 244b, 244c. In some embodiments, the chamber inlets 244a, 244b, 244c may be shaped to direct one or more streams of water in a desired direction with the turbine chamber 240, such as to impinge on the turbine 158 in a desired manner. The chamber floor 258 includes a plurality of chamber outlets 246a, 246b, 246c defined therethrough. The chamber outlets 246a, 246b, 246c are fluidly connected to the exhaust passage 256 and direct fluid out of the turbine chamber 240 into the exhaust passage 256. The chamber floor 258 may also include a shaft 251 having a shaft aperture 250 defined therethrough at a center of the chamber floor 258.
The planet gears 148a, 148b, 148c are configured to transmit rotation of the turbine 158 to the brushes 134a, 134b, 134c. With reference to
Assembly of the brush 102 will now be discussed. With reference to
With continued reference to
With reference to
With reference to
The engine 146 and brush assembly 136 may then be connected to the handle 130. In particular, the engine 146 is positioned within the handle cavity 184 within the head 182 of the handle 140. The brush carrier 136 may define a lip 218 or edge that sits on a corresponding ledge 139 or lip within the handle 130 to secure the components of the engine 146 and brush carrier 136 within the handle 130. The fastener 174 may then be inserted through a fastening aperture in the top surface 142 of the handle 130 and into the fastening recess 191 defined in the protrusion 190 of the engine cap 156, securing the engine 146 to the handle 130 and in desired location.
The engine 146 may then fluidly connect to the hose 118, either before or after insertion to the handle 130. For example, a dual lumen connector 290 may be connected to the inlet 236 and exhaust 238 of the engine housing 164, fluidly connecting the inlet passage 138 and outlet passage 140 of the hose 118 to the engine 146.
In operation, the brush 102 is driven such that the brush carrier 136 rotates in a first direction at a first speed and the brushes 134a, 134b, 134c rotate in a second direction in a second speed. In one embodiment, the brush 102 may be water driven and, when selected by the diverter valve 108, fluid flows from the J-pipe 106 (or other fluid source) into the inlet 138 of the hoses 118 and enters the inlet 236 of the engine 146.
With reference to
While the fluid is flowing and the turbine 158 is rotating, the rotation of the turbine 158 causes the sun gear 282 to rotate therewith. With reference to
Additionally due the gearing ratios, the brush carrier 136 may experience a large speed reduction as compared to the brushes 134a, 134b, 134c. For example, in one embodiment, the brush carrier 136 may rotate in the carrier rotation direction Rc at a 25:1 speed reduction and the brushes 134a, 134b, 134c may rotate in the planet rotation direction Rp at a speed reduction of 4:1. In these embodiments, the planetary gear arrangement of the brush 102 provides the brush 102 with two types of output motion profiles, namely, a brush carrier 136 motion profile of rotation in a first direction at a first speed and a brush 134a, 134b, 134c motion profile of rotation in a second direction at a second speed. In other words, the sun gear 282 forms a first stage of the gearing system and the upper gears 272 of the planet gears 148a, 148b, 148c form the second stage as they engage with the stationary outer ring 262. These features allow the brush 102 to feel more powerful to a user and exert a cleaning and exfoliating feeling to a user, without requiring substantial levels of power.
In the embodiment shown in
The engine 246 in this embodiment, however, may include a power source 326, a control circuit 324, a motor 322, a driving gear 332, a driven gear 328, and a sun gear shaft 328. The power source 326, which may be a battery pack, power cord, or the like, is in electronic communication with the motor 322 via the control circuit 324. The control circuit 324 selectively provides power to the motor 322 from the power source 326 to activate the brush 302. The motor 322 includes a drive shaft 334 that is rotated when the motor 322 is activated. The driving gear 332 is connected to the drive shaft 332 and rotates with the drive shaft 334. A driving gear 330 in meshed engagement with the driving gear 332 is rotated correspondingly, which causes the sun gear shaft 328 to rotate. As the sun gear shaft 328 rotates, the sun gear 282 rotates in a similar manner as described above with respect to
In the embodiment shown in
In the embodiments illustrated in
The brush 402 in this embodiment may also include a control assembly 408 for selectively providing fluid and varying the fluid flow and pressure to the brush carrier 136 and/or nozzle assembly 410. The control assembly 408 may include a user actuator button, such as a slide 416, a valve 418, an inlet 412, and an exhaust 414. Fluid from the hose 118 may enter into the engine 146 and the nozzle assembly 410 via the control assembly 408. For example, the inlet of the hose 118 may be fluidly connected to the inlet 412 of the control assembly which may be in fluid communication with both the engine 146 and the nozzle assembly 410. Similarly, the outlet of the hose 118 is fluidly connected to the exhaust 414 of the control assembly 410 which may be in fluid communication with the engine 146. The valve 418 of the control assembly 408 determines whether fluid form the hose 118 reaches the nozzle assembly 410 and/or brush engine 146 so that a user can selectively modify the speed of the brush 102, as well as the amount of fluid and pressure exiting the nozzles 404, 406. The valve 418 may be a rotary valve with a linear slide control or substantially any other type of control or mode selecting valve.
In operation, as a user slides the slide 416 from an off position to a first on position, the hose 118 is fluidly connected to the nozzles 404, 406 but not to the engine 146, such that fluid exits the nozzles 404, 406 but the brush is not activated, i.e., not spinning. As the user moves the slide 416 to a second on position, the amount of fluid reaching the nozzles 404, 406 may be reduced, but the brush 102 may become activated as fluid may be directed into the engine 146. As the user moves the slide 416 to a third on position, the fluid directed to the brush engine 146 increases, while the fluid directed to the nozzle assembly 410 decreases, such that the brush 102 speeds up and the fluid output by the nozzles 404, 406 is reduced. Then finally in a fourth on position, the valve 418 of the control assembly 408 may direct all of the fluid from the hose 118 to the brush engine 146 and the nozzles may be turned off. Moving the slide 416 in the opposite directions changes the modes in the opposite manner, i.e., moving the slide from the fourth on position to the third on position will activate the nozzles, but a lower fluid pressure while the brush remains spinning. However, the number of modes and order of selecting the modes may be varied as desired and the above description is meant as illustrative only.
In embodiments where the brush may be electrically controlled, rather than fluidly controlled, the brush may include a selectively removable fluid supply to provide fluid to the nozzle assembly.
As briefly mentioned above, the nozzle assembly 410 may be detachable from the brush. For example, with reference to
With continued reference to
As mentioned above, the brushes 134a, 134a, 134c and/or carrier 136 may be replaceable to allow different users to use the brush 102, as well as to allow users to change out the brushes for different cleansing effects, textures, and to replace brushes as they wear down.
With continued reference to
It should be noted that any of the features in the various examples and embodiments provided herein may be interchangeable and/or replaceable with any other example or embodiment. As such, the discussion of any component or element with respect to a particular example or embodiment is meant as illustrative only.
All directional references (e.g., upper, lower, upward, downward, left, right, leftward, rightward, top, bottom, above, below, vertical, horizontal, clockwise, and counterclockwise) are only used for identification purposes to aid the reader's understanding of the examples of the invention, and do not create limitations, particularly as to the position, orientation, or use of the invention unless specifically set forth in the claims. Joinder references (e.g., attached, coupled, connected, joined and the like) are to be construed broadly and may include intermediate members between the connection of elements and relative movement between elements. As such, joinder references do not necessarily infer that two elements are directly connected and in fixed relation to each other.
In some instances, components are described by reference to “ends” having a particular characteristic and/or being connected with another part. However, those skilled in the art will recognize that the present invention is not limited to components that terminate immediately beyond their point of connection with other parts. Thus the term “end” should be broadly interpreted, in a manner that includes areas adjacent rearward, forward of or otherwise near the terminus of a particular element, link, component, part, member or the like. In methodologies directly or indirectly set forth herein, various steps and operations are described in one possible order of operation but those skilled in the art will recognize the steps and operation may be rearranged, replaced or eliminated without necessarily departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. It is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative only and not limiting. Changes in detail or structure may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined in the appended claims.
Claims
1. A skin brush comprising
- a drive mechanism;
- a brush carrier connected to the drive mechanism, wherein the brush carrier rotates in a first direction at a first speed; and
- a plurality of brushes connected to the bristle carrier, wherein each of the brushes rotate in a second direction and at a second speed.
2. The skin brush of claim 1, wherein the drive mechanism is fluid powered.
3. The skin brush of claim 1, wherein the drive mechanism is electrically powered.
4. The skin brush of claim 1, further comprising a handle, wherein the brush carrier is connected to the handle and the drive mechanism is received within the handle.
5. The skin brush of claim 4, further comprising a nozzle assembly connected to the handle.
6. The skin brush of claim 5, wherein the nozzle assembly is removable from the handle.
7. The skin brush of claim 1, wherein the drive mechanism comprises
- a turbine;
- a sun gear connected to the turbine and rotatable therewith; and
- a plurality of planet gears engaged with the sun gear and connected to the plurality of brushes.
8. The skin brush of claim 7, further comprising an engine housing comprising
- a turbine compartment for receiving the turbine therein; and
- an outer gear defined on a bottom surface, wherein the outer gear engages the plurality of planet gears.
9. The skin brush of claim 8, wherein the brush carrier is positioned between the plurality of brushes and the plurality of planet gears.
10. The skin brush of claim 8, wherein the engine housing defines an inlet and an exhaust both in fluid communication with the turbine compartment and a fluid source.
11. The skin brush of claim 10, wherein the inlet directs fluid into the turbine compartment from the fluid source and the exhaust directs fluid out of the turbine compartment.
12. A cleansing system comprising
- a showerhead in fluid communication with a fluid source;
- a bracket connected to the showerhead; and
- a skin brush removable from the bracket.
13. The cleansing system of claim 12, wherein the skin brush is in fluid communication with the fluid source.
Type: Application
Filed: Apr 3, 2015
Publication Date: Oct 6, 2016
Inventors: Brian Woodard (Fort Collins, CO), Michael J. Quinn (Windsor, CO)
Application Number: 14/678,781