Mask for treating a facial area

Abstract

Mask (15) for treating a user's facial area with a fluid, the mask (15) comprising the following: a housing wall (1) to which a sealing lip (1b) is molded in such a way that when the mask is worn the housing wall (1), the sealing lip (1b) and the face area form a fluid-tight cavity (1c); a jet-forming element (3) for delivering the fluid via at least one jet outlet opening into the cavity (1c) in the direction of the facial area; a pumping device (2) configured to pump the fluid from the cavity to the jet-forming element (3); and a fastening device (8) which holds the mask (15) on the face when worn and provides at least a contact force necessary for the fluid tightness of the cavity (1c).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a device for facial massage. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Facial massage for relaxation and wrinkle prevention has been known since antiquity. It typically involves massaging essential oils and invigorating essences into the facial skin with gentle pressure.

[0003] A user can do this themselves, but it's tiring in the long run.

[0004] Therefore, many massage devices were developed that were intended to achieve this through mechanical vibration and tapping, but also through stimulating currents and pulsating currents of cooled steam. STATE OF THE ART

[0005] Various patents have been published in this area; for example, many massage devices are known that feature spheres, surfaces with different textures, or other shapes that are moved over the body to massage it. This helps, for example, with muscle regeneration or provides relaxation.

[0006] For facial massage, several solutions have already been proposed, including in EP 0 092 449 B1, which describes a device for head massage. This device has several balls attached to the head of a rod, which are moved across the face to promote relaxation.

[0007] German patent DE 20 2019 105 636 U1 describes a device for dry massage using water jets. A tub has a lying surface beneath which several jets are arranged, pumping water to the underside of the lying surface. A foil material prevents the user from getting wet, allowing them to use the massage without undressing. The use of water pressure through a waterproof foil is therefore a known invention.

[0008] Here, massage with pulsating water jets appears promising, but they might need to be stronger than according to RU 2 777 210 C1, which only uses a standard shower head in an enlarged form.

[0009] This could easily be achieved with increased water pressure or a pulsator. However, it is difficult to spare the more sensitive eye area from the radiation, or to adequately dampen it for this area.

[0010] The alternative, guiding a concentrated jet of water over the face with manually controlled pressure, requires even more effort and would hardly have the relaxing effect of a manual facial massage.

[0011] In addition, there is also the problem – albeit to a lesser extent – ​​that considerable amounts of water are lost or have to be pumped out, and the treatment has to be carried out while standing over a sink, whereby the flow of the jet of water is often unpleasant for the user. TASK OF INVENTION

[0012] The object of the present invention is therefore to achieve a gentle yet effective facial massage by means of a device using a fluid or a medium - relaxing and while lying down, but in particular without constantly flowing water in and out. SOLUTION

[0013] The inventive step is a mask that adapts to the shape of the face, while leaving at least the airway openings—ideally the nostrils and mouth—unobstructed, and in particular, also the eyes and bridge of the nose. The areas to be treated that are not exposed are then irradiated, for example, with a showerhead.

[0014] The problem is solved in particular by a mask for treating a facial area according to claim 1.

[0015] The massage can therefore be achieved using a much smaller, but circulating amount of the massage medium - and thus with lower energy consumption and battery operation instead of mains operation.

[0016] By reducing the volumes, various oils and fluids can be used as a medium in addition to water.

[0017] This can be further supported by shaping the massage jet through the outlet openings, especially nozzles, and by controlling the pressure through pump pressure and dimensioning of the supply lines.

[0018] The mask is preferably designed as a hydrotherapy mask for treating the facial area.

[0019] Preferably, the mask consists of at least one of the following elements: - a housing which is at least partially made of elastic material and is designed to flexibly adapt to the individual shape of a user's face and to enclose a cavity with the face which is fluid-tight to the environment, - at least one jet-forming element, hereinafter also referred to as a shower element, which is arranged at a distance from the face in the housing, preferably on the side opposite the face, and has at least one jet outlet opening facing the face, preferably several jet outlet openings, - at least one pumping device designed to pump liquid located on the underside of the housing towards the jet outlet openings, wherein in the process, preferably also by the pumping device, a fluid pressure is built up, by which the working medium is conveyed at an effective velocity over the total number of jet outlet openings towards the face of a user in order to achieve the desired effect there, - a control unit designed to start and / or stop the device operation without line of sight and - an electrical control unit and a clamping element which is located externally on the housing and provides the contact force necessary for fluid tightness.

[0020] According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the housing has a recessed zone (hereinafter also referred to as sump) which is arranged below the lowest point of the facial area to be treated and is preferably separated from the rest of the cavity by a preferably removable filter element.

[0021] According to a further preferred embodiment of the invention, the shower element is shaped like a bowl, preferably extends over a large part or over the entire width of the housing, is further preferably removable and / or replaceable, and delimits a part of the cavity with the housing or within itself.

[0022] According to a further preferred embodiment of the invention, the pump device is characterized by variably adjustable pressure build-up, is suitable for pulsating operation and is furthermore preferably arranged with a vibration-damping intermediate piece on the housing.

[0023] According to a further preferred embodiment of the invention, it is provided that at least one heating element and / or at least one cooling element and / or at least one temperature sensor is arranged on the underside of the housing, preferably in the sump.

[0024] According to a further preferred embodiment of the invention, the jet outlet openings of the shower element are not arranged uniformly across the treatment zone, but rather at specific points or according to a pattern.

[0025] According to a further preferred embodiment of the invention, the jet outlet openings of the shower element are not arranged perpendicular to the surface on which the openings are positioned, but are at least partially aligned at an angle, in order to, for example, simulate a massage direction or to bundle several jets at one point (e.g., acupuncture point) or in a line in order to selectively enhance the effect there.

[0026] According to a further particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, it is provided that the shower element is at least partially made of elastic material and that the jet outlet openings widen with increasing fluid pressure.

[0027] According to a further particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, the shower element is provided to define a space within the cavity, is preferably designed in the form of a tube, and can be rotated manually via a control wheel or electrically via the control unit, wherein the adjustment range is preferably limited in angle according to the area of ​​the face to be treated.

[0028] According to a further particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, it is provided that the shower element is at least partially constructed with at least double walls and that the further element can be adjusted in angle together with the first element or independently, by means of an additional adjusting wheel or additional electric drive, wherein the adjustment range is also preferably limited for the further element.

[0029] According to a further particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, it is provided that the treatment beams for indirect treatment can be directed onto the upper housing wall and / or an impact element, wherein the impact element is preferably designed to be foldable.

[0030] According to a further particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, a monitoring unit is provided, such as a camera or a sensor, which monitors the closed position of the eyelids and with which the operation of the device can be prevented / stopped if at least one eye of the user is open in order to prevent irritation and / or injury to the eyes.

[0031] According to a further particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, it is provided that headphones are permanently connected to the device or can be adapted via a corresponding jack and are furthermore capable of transmitting the process noises and / or audio files located on an internal or external storage medium to the user's ears.

[0032] Alternatively, the headphones can also be connected wirelessly to the device, for example via Bluetooth.

[0033] Instead of audio files located on an internal or external storage medium, various streaming services can also be used.

[0034] According to a further particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, the clamping element is designed to consist of two side connecting bands and an upper connecting band, wherein the first ends of the side connecting bands are symmetrically connected to two sides of the housing and the first end of the upper connecting band is connected to the upper center of the housing, while the second ends of each are connected to each other at a common point on the back of the user's head.

[0035] According to a further particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, the operating unit is characterized by at least one, preferably several, function keys which are perceptible on the outside of the housing due to their geometric shape and / or their surface finish and / or differ from each other, and by means of which all electrical setting options provided for the user can be used without visual contact.

[0036] According to a further particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, the control unit is capable of controlling all electrical components in such a way that the intended device functions can be performed, signals can be received and evaluated in order to initiate intended actions and to ensure the operation and safety of the device.

[0037] In particular, it is provided that different treatment programs in the form of different software algorithms can be stored in an electronic memory of the control unit, whereby the control unit controls the electric drive - or, in the case of a double-walled, tubular shower element, also two electric drives - of the single- or double-walled, tubular shower element according to a selected treatment program, whereby the spray pattern and / or the spray angle vary during the treatment according to the selected treatment program. DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION BASED ON THE DRAWING Fig. Figure 1 shows a lateral cross-sectional view of the hydrotherapy mask 15, which, partly made of elastic material 1b, is flexibly adapted to the shape of the face and encloses a fluid-tight cavity 1c at the sides of the face. A pump device 2 delivers the fluid via a line 4 into the space 3a delimited by the shower element, whereby the fluid flows under pressure through the jet outlet openings 3 over the entire face. Fig. Figure 2 shows a sump 1d in which the liquid flows away from the face, with a heating element 10 and a heat sensor preventing the liquid from cooling down. Fig. Figure 3 shows the hydrotherapy mask 15, with headbands 8a, 8b, 8c on the two sides and above the mask, which prevent the mask from shifting or tipping over. Fig. Figure 4 shows the hydrotherapy mask 15 in a top view with a filter element 9, with the control element 6 and the function keys 7 and the adjustment wheels 12 arranged on the side. Fig. Figure 5 shows the housing of the shower element 3, in a delimited space 3b, wherein the water is moved under pressure through the two tubular elements 3c, 3d to produce a jet intensity. Fig. Figure 6 shows a deflector element 13 which captures and collects the hard fluid jets of the shower and directs them at a reduced speed via a passage along the upper housing wall to the user's face. QUOTES INCLUDED IN THE DESCRIPTION

[0000] This list of documents cited by the applicant was automatically generated and is included solely for the reader's convenience. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA accepts no liability for any errors or omissions. Cited patent literature

[0000] EP 0 092 449 B1

[0006] DE 20 2019 105 636 U1

[0007] RU 2 777 210 C1

[0008]

Claims

[1] Mask (15) for treating a user’s facial area with a fluid, the mask (15) comprising: a housing wall (1) to which a sealing lip (1b) is molded in such a way that when the mask is worn the housing wall (1), the sealing lip (1b) and the face area form a fluid-tight cavity (1c); a jet-forming element (3) for delivering the fluid via at least one jet outlet opening into the cavity (1c) in the direction of the facial area; a pumping device (2) configured to pump the fluid from the cavity to the jet-forming element (3); and a fastening device (8) which holds the mask (15) on the face when worn and provides at least a contact force necessary for the fluid tightness of the cavity (1c). [2] Mask (15) according to claim 1, wherein the pump device (2) is further configured to apply a fluid pressure to the fluid such that a massage effect is achieved on the facial area when the fluid is released, wherein the fluid pressure is preferably variably adjustable. [3] Mask (15) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein a sump (1d) for collecting the fluid is formed on the housing wall (1), wherein the pump device (2) conveys the fluid from the sump (1d) to the jet-forming element (3), wherein preferably the sump (1d) is separated from the remaining cavity (1c) at the top by a filter element (9), preferably removable and / or replaceable. [4] Mask (15) according to one of the preceding claims, which further comprises a heating device (10) and / or a cooling device (10) for tempering the fluid and more preferably a temperature sensor (11) for detecting a fluid temperature, wherein the heating device (10), the cooling device (10) and the temperature sensor (11) are preferably arranged in the sump (1d). [5] Mask (15) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the beam-forming element (3) has several beam outlet openings and is shell-shaped, wherein preferably the beam-forming element (3) extends over a large part or the entire width of the housing wall (1), and is further preferably removable and / or replaceable. [6] Mask (15) according to claim 5, wherein the beam exit openings on the beam-forming element (3) are arranged regularly or according to a pattern in accordance with a desired treatment zone in the facial area. [7] Mask (15) according to one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the beam-forming element (3) is tubular and can be rotated manually, preferably via an adjusting wheel (12), or electrically, preferably via an actuator, within an angular range, wherein the angular range is preferably limited according to the area of ​​the face to be treated. [8] Mask (15) according to claim 7, wherein the beam-forming element (3) comprises a first beam-forming element (3c) and a second beam-forming element (3d), wherein the second beam-forming element (3d) can be rotated together with the first beam-forming element (3c) or independently, manually, preferably via an additional control wheel (12a), or electrically, preferably via an additional electric drive, within an angular range, wherein preferably the angular range is also limited for the second beam-forming element (3d) according to the area of ​​the face to be treated. [9] Mask (15) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein a delivery angle of the fluid is individually predefined and / or adjustable for each jet outlet aperture. [10] Mask (15) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the beam-forming element (3) or the at least one beam outlet opening can be aligned so that the area of ​​the face to be treated is indirectly irradiated with the fluid via the housing wall (1) and / or via a baffle element (13) arranged in the cavity (1c), wherein the baffle element is preferably foldable. [11] Mask (15) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the beam-forming element (3) is at least partially made of an elastic material and the beam exit openings widen with increasing fluid pressure. [12] Mask (15) according to one of the preceding claims, further comprising a control unit (5), and preferably an operating unit (6).

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