Hair Removal Equipment

Abstract

A depilatory device (1) comprises a depilatory body (10) which is rotatable about a rotation axis (R) extending in a longitudinal direction (L) relative to the depilatory body (10) and is provided with at least one hair capturing space (11). The depilatory device (1) further comprises an actuating mechanism (30) which is configured to act on the depilatory body (10) so as to compress and stretch the depilatory body (10) in the longitudinal direction (L) during the rotational movement of the depilatory body (10) about the rotation axis (R) so as to change the size of the hair capturing space (11) of the depilatory body (10) in the longitudinal direction (L), wherein the actuating mechanism (30) comprises a force inducing member (31) which is compressible and stretchable in the longitudinal direction (L) and has the function of determining the level of hair clamping force in the depilatory body (10).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a hair removal device, which includes a hair removal body, which can rotate around a rotation axis extending in a longitudinal direction relative to the hair removal body, and is provided with at least one hair capturing space, wherein the size of the at least one hair capturing space in the longitudinal direction is variable by compression and extension of the hair removal body in the longitudinal direction; and an actuating mechanism, which is configured to act on the hair removal body so as to compress and extend the hair removal body in the longitudinal direction during the rotational movement of the hair removal body around the rotation axis. Background Art

[0002] US 4,079,741 relates to a device for plucking skin hair, the device includes a portable housing and a functional component with a plurality of closed spiral coils, the functional component defines a substantially smooth outer surface, the functional component is installed in the housing so that the outer surface is at least partially exposed to slidably engage with the skin. Further, the device is equipped with a motor-driven reciprocating device, the motor-driven reciprocating device is used to alternately stretch the functional component so that its coils become separated from each other and then reclose relative to each other; and a motor-driven device, the motor-driven device is used to rotate the functional component. In one embodiment, the functional component is composed of a normally closed spiral spring, and the reciprocating device includes a rod, which is stretched in the spring and connected to one end of the spring, wherein the other end of the spring is connected to a sleeve, which is rotatably mounted on the housing, and wherein a rotatable cam device is arranged in the housing so that the rod reciprocates. This arrangement makes it possible that when the spring and the rod assembly are driven, the hair sandwiched between adjacent coils during the reclosing of the spring will be instantly plucked due to the rotation of the spring on the treated skin.

[0003] WO 94 / 14355 relates to a rotary hair plucker hair removal device, comprising a hair plucker head extending from a handheld housing and conforming to a cylindrical spirally wound strip, the cylindrical spirally wound strip being mounted on a rotating shaft and arranged to open and close a plurality of annular gaps during rotation to capture and pluck skin hair. In one embodiment, the rotary hair plucker hair removal device consists of three main functional groups, namely, a micro motor, a hair plucker head and a reciprocating mechanism body. The motor is used to provide motion to the reciprocating mechanism body and the rotating shaft, which causes the hair plucker head to rotate at high speed. The reciprocating mechanism body produces a linear alternating output motion, which is used to alternately extend and compress the hair plucker head, thereby achieving the opening and closing of a plurality of annular gaps in the outer surface of the hair plucker head. In this way, it is achieved that during operation, skin hair is captured in the gap when it is opened, and is subsequently plucked as the gap closes and the hair plucker head rotates. In particular, the reciprocating body comprises a cam device configured to convert the rotation into a linear alternating output motion synchronized with the rotation of the epilator body.

[0004] US 5 133 722 A discloses a method and apparatus for plucking hairs by engaging hairs with a hair plucker body to clamp the hairs therein, moving the hair plucker body and the hairs clamped therein relative to the skin in a plucking direction, and successively interrupting the movement of the hair plucker body and the hairs clamped therein so that the hair plucker body applies a series of short tugs to the hairs until the hairs are pulled out from the skin.

[0005] EP 2 127 552 A1 discloses an epilation element 10 having a skin side intended to contact the skin in an operating state of the epilation device. The actuation arrangement of claim 1 actuates the epilation element 10 between two bending states having a first and a second curvature. The clamping element of the epilation element acts according to the bending action of the epilation element.

[0006] A disadvantage of known hair removal devices is that the design of the hair removal body is a compromise, since on the one hand the design needs to be adjusted so that the hair removal body can effectively grasp the hair, and on the other hand the design needs to be adjusted so that the hair removal body can exert sufficient force on the hair to clamp the hair. The object of the present invention is to provide a novel hair removal device in which the functions of grasping the hair with sufficient force and clamping the hair can be optimized. Summary of the invention

[0007] The present invention provides a hair removal device, which includes a hair removal body, which can rotate around a rotation axis extending in the longitudinal direction relative to the hair removal body and is provided with at least one hair capturing space, wherein the size of the at least one hair capturing space in the longitudinal direction can be changed by compression and extension of the hair removal body in the longitudinal direction; and an actuating mechanism, which is configured to act on the hair removal body, so as to compress and extend the hair removal body in the longitudinal direction during the rotational movement of the hair removal body around the rotation axis, wherein the actuating mechanism includes a force inducing member, which is configured to be compressible and stretchable in the longitudinal direction, and the force inducing member is configured to: when the size of the force inducing member in the longitudinal direction changes while the at least one hair capturing space of the hair removal body is in a closed condition, determine the level of force applied by the actuating mechanism to the hair removal body in the longitudinal direction.

[0008] According to the aforementioned definition, the actuation mechanism of the epilation device according to the present invention comprises a force-inducing member which is compressible and stretchable in the longitudinal direction like the epilation body. Due to the presence of the force-inducing member in the actuation mechanism, the hair clamping force is no longer determined only by the force-displacement characteristics of compression and extension of the epilation body, but by the force-displacement characteristics of compression and extension of the force-inducing member. This means that the following configuration is obtained: the design of the epilation body can be adapted to have an optimal hair capture function of the epilation body, and the design of the force-inducing member can also be adapted to have an optimal hair clamping function of the epilation body.

[0009] The invention makes it possible to make the hair clamping force in the epilation body mainly determined by the force-inducing member of the actuating mechanism, so that the hair clamping force is practically unaffected by the amount of hair captured in the epilation body. In the conventional case where the hair clamping force is determined by the constitution of the epilation body itself, the hair clamping force increases with the number of hairs in the epilation body. When the invention is implemented, this effect can be counteracted by determining the hair clamping force directly and no longer at the position where the hair is present in the epilation body. On the contrary, when the dimension of the force-inducing member in the longitudinal direction changes while at least one hair-capturing space of the epilation body is in the closed state, the force-inducing member can be used to determine the level of force applied by the actuating mechanism on the epilation body in the longitudinal direction, which force generates the hair clamping force under the conditions as mentioned. Further, when the level of the hair clamping force in the epilation body is set by means of the force-inducing member of the actuating mechanism, the dimensional variations of the epilation body due to tolerances are practically compensated, so that in practice a predetermined level of the hair clamping force can always be achieved. Therefore, based on the present invention, when the hair removal device is manufactured in large quantities, the consistency of performance is improved.

[0010] It should be noted that in the context of this specification, the force-displacement characteristics of compression and extension should be understood as representing the following characteristics of the body: the relationship between the level of force generated in the body and the level of displacement of the body in the form of extension or compression of the body, or in other words, it should be understood as representing the following characteristics of the body: the level of force applied to the body for generating a certain displacement of the body in the form of extension or compression of the body. In the case where the body is of the type with rebound / elastic / flexible properties, the force-displacement characteristics of compression and extension of the body are also called the stiffness of the body.

[0011] If the force-displacement characteristic of the compression and extension of the force-inducing member is significantly stronger than the force-displacement characteristic of the compression and extension of the epilation body, the following advantageous effect is obtained in particular: the hair clamping force is mainly determined by the force-displacement characteristic of the compression and extension of the force-inducing member, rather than by the force-displacement characteristic of the compression and extension of the epilation body. The fact is that in this case, when the actuation mechanism is used to compress the epilation body, this is actually not achieved by force until at least one hair capturing space of the epilation body is closed. From then on, the level of force acting at the position of the epilation body in the longitudinal direction is determined by the force-displacement characteristic of the force-inducing member based on its compression and extension, wherein the force-displacement characteristic of the compression and extension of the epilation body has only a minimal influence on the level of force. It should be pointed out that a stronger force-displacement characteristic means a force-displacement characteristic that associates a higher force with the same displacement.

[0012] Another significant advantage of applying a force-inducing member in the actuation mechanism of a hair removal device is that this involves being able to adapt the operation of the hair removal device to the actual situation. For example, in the presence of grease on the skin, it is desirable to increase the hair clamping force to compensate for the reduced friction involved in this case. In the framework of the present invention, this can be done if the force-inducing member is of a type with adjustable force-displacement characteristics for compression and extension in the longitudinal direction. It is therefore very practical to equip the actuation mechanism with a force-inducing member of this type. With reference to the example where an increase in the hair clamping force is desired, this involves adjusting the force-displacement characteristics of compression and extension in such a way that a certain displacement involves a higher level of force.

[0013] The force inducing member may be of any suitable type. Firstly, it should be noted that the force inducing member may be a passive force inducing member and may be of a type generally indicated as resilient, elastic and / or flexible, wherein the force inducing member may comprise a sheet of resilient / elastic material, such as, for example, rubber or a spring. With regard to the option of the force inducing member comprising elasticity, the spring may be of any suitable type, such as a normally closed or normally open helical spring, and the option of adjusting the force-displacement characteristics of compression and extension of the force inducing member may involve a depilatory device comprising an adjustment mechanism configured to adjust the spring constant of the spring. According to another advantageous option, the depilatory device may comprise an adjustment mechanism configured to adjust the pre-tension of the spring. In a second aspect, the force inducing member may be an active force inducing member, which is designed to perform a force inducing function under an activated excitation condition, and may comprise, for example, a solenoid.

[0014] The arrangement of the epilation body in the epilation device can be such that one end of the epilation body is a fixed end having a fixed position in the longitudinal direction, and the other end of the epilation body is a movable end having a variable position in the longitudinal direction, wherein the actuating mechanism is configured to act on the epilation body at one side of the movable end of the epilation body. When at least one hair capturing space of the epilation body is closed and the actuating mechanism is used to subject the epilation body to a force in a direction associated with compressing the epilation body, the epilation body is fixed in place and the hair clamping force is effectively accumulated. Further, the fixed portion of the epilation body facilitates positioning the epilation body relative to the skin to be subjected to the epilation action.

[0015] In a practical embodiment, the depilatory device according to the present invention further comprises a drive mechanism, which is configured to drive the depilatory device to perform a rotational movement around the axis of rotation. If the drive mechanism is configured to also drive the actuating mechanism so as to compress and stretch the depilatory body in the longitudinal direction, a compact design of the depilatory device can be achieved. Further, in this case, it is possible to have such a drive structure that the function of causing the depilatory body to be compressed and stretched in the longitudinal direction is linked to the function of rotating the depilatory body, so that a predetermined relationship between the two functions can be achieved mechanically, in particular the relationship between the number of times the depilatory body is compressed and stretched per rotation of the depilatory body. In the framework of the present invention, measures can be taken to allow the relationship between the two functions to be adjusted as needed.

[0016] In a practical embodiment of the depilatory device according to the present invention, the actuation mechanism comprises two actuation members, both of which are movable in the longitudinal direction, a first actuation member of the actuation members being located at a position closer to the depilatory body in the longitudinal direction than a second actuation member of the actuation members, wherein the force-inducing member is located at a position coupling the actuation members to each other. In this configuration, the first actuation member can be arranged to directly contact the depilatory body. In addition, the actuation member is preferably rigid compared to the force-inducing member, in which case the force-displacement characteristics of the compression and extension of the combination of the actuation member and the force-inducing member are determined by the force-displacement characteristics of the compression and extension of the force-inducing member. Further, when the actuation mechanism comprises two actuation members as described above, this is feasible if the drive mechanism comprises a rotatable drive shaft, which is coupled to the depilatory body for applying a rotational movement on the depilatory body, and if each of the actuation members is bush-shaped and is in a position for surrounding a portion of the drive shaft. The two different movements of the depilatory body (i.e., the rotational movement and the longitudinal compression / extension movement) caused by means of separate components contribute to the overall precision of the depilatory device.

[0017] As mentioned before, a connection between the function of compressing and stretching the epilation body in the longitudinal direction and the function of mechanically rotating the epilation body can be achieved. For example, in the case where the drive mechanism comprises a rotatable drive shaft, which is coupled to the epilation body, and each of the actuating members is bush-shaped and located in a position for surrounding a portion of the drive shaft, it may be beneficial if the epilation device comprises a movement application arrangement, which comprises a cam and a cam follower, wherein one of the cam and the cam follower has a fixed position in the epilation device, and wherein the other of the cam and the cam follower is attached to a second actuating member in the actuating members. In this configuration, when the drive shaft rotates, at least the second actuating member is automatically induced to move in the longitudinal direction in a predetermined manner that follows the design of the cam and the cam follower. The design of the movement application arrangement can be selected so as to achieve a speed at which at least one hair capture space of the epilation body is closed, which speed is high enough to achieve a good hair capture effect, and therefore a good epilation effect, and which speed is low enough not to cause a large (peak) force in the epilation device.

[0018] In the framework of the present invention, the connection between the function of compression and extension of the epilation body in the longitudinal direction and the function of rotation of the epilation body can be tunable. In this case, the movement application arrangement can include suitable actuators and mechanisms that allow the user of the epilation device to adjust the moment of opening and closing at least one hair capture space of the epilation body during the rotation of the epilation body.

[0019] The epilation body can have any suitable design. A practical example is a linear arrangement of a linear coil spring and a disc. The size of the epilation body in the longitudinal direction can be freely selected, and the same applies to the number of hair capture spaces. In the exemplary case of a coil spring, the number of coils can be selected so that there are only two or a more appropriate number, whatever the case may be. If the epilation device is intended to be used as a facial epilation device, a small number of coils may be practical, especially in this case, it may be desirable to prevent the epilation body from obstructing vision as much as possible, and for the epilation device, it may be appropriate to remove only one or more hairs at a time. Further, in the exemplary case of a coil spring, it is possible to have a conventional circular cross-section of the spring wire, but also another cross-section such as a square or rectangular cross-section, so as to expand the hair length range of the hair captured by the epilation body. As mentioned before, the present invention includes the option of a coil spring normally open and the option of a coil spring normally closed, in which the actuating mechanism is used to actively compress the coil spring; and in the case of a coil spring normally closed, the actuating mechanism is used to actively stretch the coil spring.

[0020] The above and other aspects of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of an embodiment of a hair removal device comprising an actuation mechanism comprising a force inducing member which is compressible and extendable in the longitudinal direction, i.e. a force inducing member which is variable in size in the longitudinal direction. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0021] Now, refer to Figure 1 The present invention is explained in more detail. Figure 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of an assembly of components of a hair removal device according to an embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0022] Figure 1 The design of a hair removal device 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown in the figure. Figure 1 The specific hair removal device 1 shown in and described below is only one example of many types of hair removal devices that are feasible within the framework of the present invention. In practice, the hair removal device 1 is a handheld device that includes a housing 2 for housing several components of the handheld device. The housing 2 is Figure 1 The hair removal device 1 can be used as a facial hair removal device 1, for example.

[0023] The hair removal device 1 is configured for performing a hair removal operation on the skin. In view of this, the hair removal device 1 comprises a hair removal body 10, which is intended to actually interact with the hair to be plucked from the skin. In order to capture and clamp the hair, the hair removal body 10 is provided with at least one hair capture space 11. The hair removal body 10 is designed to be compressible and stretchable in the longitudinal direction L and may include, for example, a coil spring. The longitudinal direction L is Figure 1 Furthermore, the epilation body 10 is rotatable about an axis of rotation R extending in the longitudinal direction L in the epilation device 1 .

[0024] In addition to the depilatory device body 10, the depilatory device 1 also comprises a drive mechanism 20, which is configured to drive the depilatory device body so that during operation of the depilatory device 1, a rotational movement around the rotation axis R is actually performed. In the example shown, the drive mechanism 20 comprises a drive shaft 21 that is also rotatable around the rotation axis R and a motor 22 for driving the drive shaft 21, wherein the depilatory body 10 is arranged on the drive shaft 21 at the position of the end portion of the drive shaft 21, so that when the drive shaft 21 is driven by the motor 22, the depilatory body 10 rotates together with the drive shaft 21.

[0025] Further, the depilatory device 1 comprises an actuating mechanism 30, which is configured to act on the depilatory body 10 so as to change the size of the depilatory body 10 in the longitudinal direction L during the rotational movement of the depilatory body 10 around the rotation axis R. In the example shown, one end of the depilatory body 10 is fixedly connected to the drive shaft 21 and thus has a fixed position in the longitudinal direction L. In this configuration, the actuating mechanism 30 is arranged to interact with the other end of the depilatory body 10 so that the other end of the depilatory body 10 moves relative to the drive shaft 21 in the longitudinal direction L. In the following, the above-mentioned first end of the depilatory body 10 is referred to as the fixed end of the depilatory body 10, and the other end of the depilatory body 10 is referred to as the movable end of the depilatory body 10.

[0026] The actuation mechanism 30 includes a first actuation member 31, which is shaped like a bushing extending in the longitudinal direction L and is arranged to surround a portion of the drive shaft 21 adjacent to the end portion supporting the epilation body 10, wherein the first actuation member 31 is slidable on the drive shaft 21 in the longitudinal direction L and is positioned to contact the movable end of the epilation body 10. Further, the actuation mechanism 30 includes a second actuation member 32, which is shaped like a bushing extending in the longitudinal direction L and is arranged to surround a portion of the drive shaft 21 that is farther away from the epilation body 10 in the longitudinal direction L than the portion of the drive shaft 21 surrounded by the first actuation member 31, wherein the second actuation member 32 is also slidably arranged on the drive shaft 21 in the longitudinal direction L. Still further, the actuation mechanism 30 comprises a force inducing member 33, which is located at a position where the actuation members 31, 32 are coupled to each other, i.e., between the actuation members 31, 32 in the longitudinal direction L. In the example shown, the force inducing member 33 comprises a coil spring, which may be a normally closed coil spring or a normally open coil spring, arranged to surround the drive shaft 21. The force inducing member 33 is covered by a cylindrical cover 34, which surrounds the force inducing member 33 and also overlaps the end portions of the actuation members 31, 32, wherein the cylindrical cover 34 is connected to the second actuation member 32.

[0027] The same applies when the force inducing member 33 does not comprise a coil spring but comprises another component or combination of components designed to be compressible and extendable in the longitudinal direction L. The actuation members 31, 32 and the force inducing member 33 may be provided as three separate components joined together, which does not change the fact that other options are also possible, such as the option that the actuation members 31, 32 and the force inducing member 33 are part of a single integral body with different regions, wherein the middle region may have another force-displacement characteristic of compression and extension than the two other regions at the respective sides of the middle region.

[0028] At the location of the other end of the second actuating member 32, which is not the end associated with the force inducing member 33, a movement applying arrangement 40 including a cam 41 and a cam follower 42 is present in the depilatory device 1. The movement applying arrangement 40 is configured to apply a movement in the longitudinal direction L on the second actuating member 32 when the drive shaft 21 rotates. To this end, one of the cam 41 and the cam follower 42 has a fixed position in the depilatory device 1, and the other of the cam 41 and the cam follower 42 is attached to the second actuating member 32. In the example shown, the cam follower 42 has a fixed position in the depilatory device 1, and the cam 41 is attached to the second actuating member 32. Figure 1Also shown is the application of stops 23 , 24 on the drive shaft 21 to define the position of the first actuation member 31 and the second actuation member 32 in the longitudinal direction L, respectively.

[0029] The length of the depilatory body 10 can be freely selected within the framework of the present invention, depending on the intended use of the depilatory device 1. When the depilatory body 10 includes a coil spring, the number of coils of the coil spring can be freely selected, and the shape of the cross-section of the spring wire can also be freely selected. Further, the material of the depilatory body 10 can be a treated material (a material subjected to a treatment such as a mechanical treatment, a chemical treatment or a thermal treatment) so as to limit / improve the grip of the depilatory body 10 on the hair. The depilatory body 10 may be rotationally symmetrical so that the depilatory device 1 is effective at any position relative to the skin to be subjected to the depilatory action. The drive shaft 21 can be directly connected to the motor 22, or, for example, connected to the motor 22 via a suitable gearbox system.

[0030] With reference to the above description of the design aspects of the depilatory device 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention, it is now described how the various components of the depilatory device 1 function to enable the depilatory device 1 to perform a depilatory action during its operation. The operation of the depilatory device 1 includes the actuation of the motor 22, as a result of which the drive shaft 21 is driven to rotate about the rotation axis R. The rotational movement of the drive shaft 21 causes the rotational movement of the depilatory body 10 about the rotation axis R, and the periodic variation of the size of the depilatory body 10 in the longitudinal direction L. The rotational movement of the depilatory body 10 about the rotation axis R directly follows the arrangement of the depilatory body 10 on the drive shaft 21. The process of alternately causing compression and extension of the depilatory body 10 in the longitudinal direction L follows the movement application arrangement 40, which governs the position of the second actuation member 32 in the longitudinal direction L. In fact, when the drive shaft 21 rotates about the rotation axis R, the position of the cam 41 of the movement application arrangement 40 in the longitudinal direction L changes under the influence of the contact with the cam follower 42, and the position of the second actuation member 32 in the longitudinal direction L also changes.

[0031] As long as at least one hair capturing space 11 of the epilation body 10 is not in a closed condition, the change in position of the second actuation member 32 causes a similar change in position of the first actuation member 31 through the force inducing member 33. On the basis of the first actuation member 31 acting on the epilation body 10, in addition to the rotation of the epilation body 10 around the rotation axis R, the rotation of the drive shaft 21 around the rotation axis R ultimately leads to a change in position of the movable end of the epilation body 10 in the longitudinal direction L. In this process, the displacement path followed by the movable end of the epilation body 10 is determined by the design of the movement applying arrangement 40 and is therefore the relationship between the number of times the epilation body 10 is compressed and extended per revolution. When at least one hair capturing space 11 of the epilation body 10 is closed, a change in position of the movable end of the epilation body 10 and of the first actuation member 31 is no longer allowed; and the second actuation member 32 performs a movement in the longitudinal direction L relative to the first actuation member 31, the relative movement being allowed due to the presence of the force inducing member 33 in the actuation mechanism 30. In this process, the force applied by the actuating mechanism 30 on the hair removal body 10 in the longitudinal direction L is determined by the composition of the force inducing member 33, in particular, the force-displacement characteristics of compression and extension of the force inducing member 33, and this force determines the hair clamping force at the position of the hair capturing space 11.

[0032] As a result of the cycle of compressing and stretching the epilating body 10 in the longitudinal direction L, the size of at least one hair capturing space 11 in the epilating body 10 is alternately reduced and increased in the longitudinal direction L, so that the hair capturing space 11 is alternately in the closed condition and the open condition mentioned above. When the epilating body 10 is held at a position close to the skin from which the hair protrudes, the hair is captured in the hair capturing space 11 during the period when the condition of the hair capturing space 11 changes from the open condition to the closed condition. When the hair capturing space 11 is in the closed position, the hair is fixed in place in the hair capturing space 11 under the influence of the clamping force acting on the hair in the longitudinal direction L. Assuming that the hair clamping force is higher than the holding force applied to the hair at the skin position, the hair is pulled out of the skin due to the rotational movement of the epilating body 10. Due to the presence of the force inducing member 33 in the actuation mechanism 30 of the epilation device 1 the invention allows in all cases a precisely defined hair clamping force and also allows compensating for manufacturing tolerances of the epilation body 10 while the design of the epilation body 10 can be chosen for optimal hair capture.

[0033] The aspect of compensating for manufacturing tolerances of the hair removal body 10 is advantageous because, if the force inducing member 33 is not present in the hair removal device 1, it may happen that the mobile application arrangement 40 is still used to place at least one hair capture space 11 in the closed position while the hair capture space 11 has reached the closed position, in which case the force acting in the hair removal device 1 increases to an unforeseeably high level; or it may happen that the mobile application arrangement 40 is already in the maximum position for compressing the hair removal body 10 while the hair capture space 11 is still not fully closed, in which case the hair removal body 10 cannot effectively perform its hair removal function.

[0034] It is particularly possible to have a precisely defined hair clamping force in all cases when the force-displacement characteristics of compression and extension of the force-inducing member 33 are significantly stronger than those of the epilation body 10. In fact, in the example shown, it is sufficient if the force-displacement characteristics of compression and extension of the epilation body 10 are such that the epilation body 10 is able to push components of the actuation mechanism 30 backwards when the movement application arrangement 40 provides space for pushing the actuation mechanism 30 backwards.

[0035] An advantageous option present in the framework of the present invention is the option of tuning the force inducing member 33, i.e. adjusting the force-displacement characteristics of the compression and extension of the force inducing member 33, since this option allows the hair removal device 1 to have different modes, wherein the appropriate one of the modes can be set depending on environmental conditions, such as moisturizing the skin with oils. Furthermore, the present invention provides the possibility of setting the pretension of the force inducing member 33 to an appropriate value.

[0036] It should be clear to those skilled in the art that the scope of the present invention is not limited to the examples discussed above, but that various modifications and variations may be made thereto without departing from the scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims. The present invention is intended to be interpreted as including all such modifications and variations that fall within the scope of the claims or their equivalents. Although the present invention has been described and illustrated in detail in the drawings and the specification, such description and explanation are considered to be illustrative or exemplary only and not restrictive. The present invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments. The accompanying drawings are schematic, in which details not necessary for understanding the present invention may be omitted, and are not necessarily drawn to scale.

[0037] Variations of the disclosed embodiments may be understood and effected by those skilled in the art in practicing the claimed invention by studying the drawings, the specification and the appended claims. In the claims, the word "comprising" does not exclude other steps or elements, and the indefinite article "a" or "an" does not exclude a plurality. Any reference signs in the claims should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention.

[0038] Unless explicitly stated otherwise, elements and aspects discussed for or in connection with a particular embodiment may suitably be combined with elements and aspects of other embodiments. Thus, the fact that certain measures are recited in mutually different dependent claims does not indicate that a combination of these measures cannot be used to advantage.

[0039] The terms "comprising" and "including" as used herein will be understood by those skilled in the art to encompass the term "consisting of...." Thus, the terms "comprise" or "include" may mean "consisting of" in one embodiment, but may mean "containing / having / equipped with at least the defined species and optionally one or more other species" in another embodiment.

[0040] The salient aspects of the present invention are summarized as follows. The epilation device 1 comprises an epilation body 10, which is rotatable about a rotation axis R extending in a longitudinal direction L relative to the epilation body 10 and is provided with at least one hair capturing space 11. The epilation device 1 also comprises an actuation mechanism 30, which is configured to act on the epilation body 10 so as to compress and stretch the epilation body 10 in the longitudinal direction L during the rotational movement of the epilation body 10 about the rotation axis R, for changing the size of at least one hair capturing space 11 of the epilation body 10 in the longitudinal direction L, wherein the actuation mechanism 30 comprises a force inducing member 31, which is compressible and stretchable in the longitudinal direction L and has the function of determining the level of the hair clamping force in the epilation body 10.

Claims

1. A hair removal device (1), comprising: - a hair removal body (10) which is rotatable about a rotation axis (R) extending in a longitudinal direction (L) relative to the hair removal body (10) and is provided with at least one hair capturing space (11), wherein the size of the at least one hair capturing space (11) in the longitudinal direction (L) can be changed by compression and extension of the hair removal body (10) in the longitudinal direction (L), and - an actuating mechanism (30) configured to act on the hair removal body (10) during the rotational movement of the hair removal body (10) around the rotation axis (R) so that the hair removal body (10) is compressed and stretched in the longitudinal direction (L), wherein the actuating mechanism (30) includes a force-inducing member (33) which is capable of compressing and stretching in the longitudinal direction (L) and is configured to determine the level of force applied by the actuating mechanism (30) to the hair removal body (10) in the longitudinal direction (L) when a dimension of the force-inducing member (33) in the longitudinal direction (L) changes while the at least one hair capturing space (11) of the hair removal body (10) is in a closed condition; The force-displacement characteristics of compression and extension of the force-inducing member (33) in the longitudinal direction (L) are significantly stronger than the force-displacement characteristics of compression and extension of the hair removal body (10) in the longitudinal direction (L).

2. The hair removal device (1) according to claim 1, wherein the force-displacement characteristics of the compression and extension of the force-inducing member (33) in the longitudinal direction (L) are adjustable.

3. The hair removal device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 2, wherein the force inducing member (33) is a passive force inducing member.

4. The hair removal device (1) according to claim 3, wherein the force inducing member (33) comprises a spring.

5. The hair removal device (1) according to claim 4, comprising at least one of the following: an adjustment mechanism configured to adjust the spring constant of the spring, and an adjustment mechanism configured to adjust the pretension of the spring.

6. The hair removal device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 2, wherein the force inducing member (33) is an active force inducing member, which is designed to perform a force inducing function under an activated energizing condition.

7. The hair removal device (1) according to claim 6, wherein the force inducing member (33) comprises a solenoid.

8. A hair removal device according to any one of claims 1 to 2, 4 to 5 and 7, wherein one end of the hair removal body (10) is a fixed end having a fixed position in the longitudinal direction (L), and the other end of the hair removal body (10) is a movable end having a variable position in the longitudinal direction (L), and wherein the actuating mechanism (30) is configured to act on the hair removal body (10) at one side of the movable end of the hair removal body (10).

9. The hair removal device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 2, 4 to 5 and 7, further comprising a driving mechanism (20), wherein the driving mechanism (20) is configured to drive the hair removal body (10) so as to perform a rotational movement around the rotation axis (R).

10. The hair removal device (1) according to claim 9, wherein the driving mechanism (20) is configured to also drive the actuating mechanism (30) so that the hair removal body (10) is compressed and extended in the longitudinal direction (L).

11. A hair removal device (1) according to claim 10, wherein the actuation mechanism (30) includes two actuation members (31, 32), both of which are capable of moving in the longitudinal direction (L), and the first actuation member (31) of the actuation members (31, 32) is located closer to the hair removal body (10) in the longitudinal direction (L) than the second actuation member (32) of the actuation members (31, 32), and wherein the force inducing member (33) is located at a position that connects the actuation members (31, 32) to each other.

12. A hair removal device (1) according to claim 11, wherein the drive mechanism (20) includes a rotatable drive shaft (21), which is connected to the hair removal body (10) for applying a rotational motion to the hair removal body (10), and wherein each of the actuating members (31, 32) is bushing-shaped and is located at a position for surrounding a portion of the drive shaft (21).

13. The hair removal device (1) according to claim 12, comprises a movement application arrangement (40), the movement application arrangement (40) comprising a cam (41) and a cam follower (42), wherein one of the cam (41) and the cam follower (42) has a fixed position in the hair removal device (1), and wherein the other of the cam (41) and the cam follower (42) is fixed to the second actuating member (32) of the actuating members (31, 32).

14. The epilation device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 2, 4 to 5, 7 and 10 to 13, wherein the epilation body (10) comprises a linear helical spring.

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