Skin beauty device

Abstract

To provide a skin beauty device capable of enhancing beauty effects of weak current stimulation, while reducing stimulation felt by a user as much as possible.SOLUTION: A skin beauty device including electrode groups, each consisting of three electrodes formed adjacent to each other among a plurality of electrodes 41 to 49, can be so controlled as to: energize between two electrodes (between first electrodes) in a specific electrode group among the electrode groups; then energize between second electrodes different from the first electrodes in the specific electrode group; after the energization between the plurality of electrodes has been sequentially performed in the specific electrode group, sequentially energize between the plurality of electrodes in an electrode group adjacent to the specific electrode group in the same manner as energization in the specific electrode group; and likewise, energize other adjacent electrode groups.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a skin beauty device that is placed in close contact with the skin of a user and passes a weak electric current through the skin to provide a massage effect and other beauty effects. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, skin beauty devices have been known that are in close contact with the skin of a user to pass a weak current through the skin and provide a massage effect and other beauty effects. In recent years, devices that pass a weak current have been attracting attention, particularly for use in iontophoresis. In conventional skin beauty devices such as those described above, the impedance at the contact point between the electrode and the skin generally increases with a low-frequency current, and the time period during which the electric signal is felt tends to be longer, resulting in greater stimulation to the skin. On the other hand, at high frequencies, the thermal effect becomes more dominant than the stimulation to the skin. For this reason, by using high frequencies of an appropriate frequency, it has been possible to simultaneously achieve a certain level of stimulation to the skin that is not too strong and a certain level of thermal effect (see, for example, Patent Document 1). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2005-253501 A (Fig. 1, etc.) Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] As mentioned above, conventional skin beauty devices are designed to limit the stimulation to the skin to a certain range. On the other hand, improvements have been made, such as setting the voltage higher in order to achieve beauty effects such as the penetration effect of beauty essence. For this reason, there has been a demand for further improvements to achieve the contradictory effects of increasing the beauty effect of the stimulation by weak current while reducing the stimulation felt by the user as much as possible.

[0005] The object of the present invention is to solve the problems of the conventional skin beauty devices described above, and to provide a skin beauty device which can enhance the beauty effect achieved by stimulating with a weak electric current while minimizing the stimulation felt by the user. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The above objectives are achieved by the following: (1) A skin beauty device that has four or more electrodes distributed on a surface and can pass a high-frequency current through the electrodes to the skin of a user, In an electrode group consisting of three or four adjacent electrodes among the plurality of electrodes, a current is passed between two electrodes (first electrodes) in a specific electrode group among the plurality of electrodes, and then a current is passed between second electrodes different from the first electrodes in the specific electrode group; after the current has been passed between the plurality of electrodes in the specific electrode group in sequence, a current is passed between the plurality of electrodes in an electrode group adjacent to the specific electrode group in sequence in the same manner as in the specific electrode group, and similarly, a current can be passed between other adjacent electrode groups.

[0007] "Applying current between second electrodes different from the first electrodes" includes passing current between a specific first electrode and a second electrode of a specific electrode group, and then passing current between a second electrode and a third electrode of a specific electrode group, as well as passing current between a first electrode and a third electrode and passing current between a second electrode and a fourth electrode.

[0008] The electrode group adjacent to the specific electrode group includes an electrode group consisting of three or four electrodes adjacent to each other and not overlapping with electrodes included in the specific electrode group consisting of three or four electrodes formed adjacent to each other, as well as an adjacent electrode group including some electrodes of the specific electrode group and electrodes that are not included in the specific electrode group.

[0009] (2) The adjacent electrode group is an electrode group adjacent to the specific electrode group, including some of the electrodes in the specific electrode group and including electrodes not included in the specific electrode group. (3) The skin beauty device according to (1), wherein each electrode group is composed of three electrodes.

[0010] (4) The skin beauty device according to any one of (1) to (3), wherein the number of electrodes is nine or more. (5) A skin beauty device according to any one of (1) to (4), characterized in that the electrodes are arranged in a total of nine locations: four locations on the corners of the rectangular shape, four locations near the center of each side of the rectangular shape, and one location at the center of the rectangular shape.

[0011] (6) A skin beauty device according to any one of (1) to (3), in which the high-frequency current is in the range of 80 kHz to 100 kHz, and the time it takes for the high-frequency current to rise to half the maximum voltage of one cycle and the time it takes for the high-frequency current to fall from half the maximum voltage are each 20% to 30% of the current flow time of one cycle. (7) A skin beauty device according to (4), in which the high-frequency current is in the range of 80 kHz to 100 kHz, and the time it takes for the high-frequency current to rise to half the maximum voltage of one cycle and the time it takes for the high-frequency current to fall from half the maximum voltage are each 20% to 30% of the current flow time of one cycle. (8) A skin beauty device according to (5), wherein the high-frequency current is in the range of 80 kHz to 100 kHz, and the time it takes for the high-frequency current to rise to half the maximum voltage of one cycle and the time it takes for the high-frequency current to fall from half the maximum voltage are each 20% to 30% of the current flow time of one cycle.

[0012] (9) A skin beauty device according to any one of (1) to (3), wherein the time for passing current between the electrodes is 0.01 seconds to 0.1 seconds. (10) A skin beauty device according to (4), wherein the time for passing current between the electrodes is 0.01 to 0.1 seconds. (11) A skin beauty device according to (5), wherein the time for passing current between the electrodes is 0.01 to 0.1 seconds. (12) A skin beauty device according to (6), wherein the time for passing current between the electrodes is 0.01 to 0.1 seconds.

[0013] (13) A skin beauty device according to any one of (1) to (3), which is controllable so as to provide a current stop time during which no current is passed between any of the electrodes during a current passing state between the electrodes. (14) A skin beauty device according to (4), which is controllable so that a current stop time during which no current is passed between any of the electrodes is provided between the electrodes during a current passing state between the electrodes. (15) A skin beauty device according to (5), which is controllable so that a current stop time during which no current is passed between any of the electrodes is provided between the electrodes during a current passing state between the electrodes. (16) A skin beauty device according to (6), which is controllable so that a current stop time during which no current is passed between any of the electrodes is provided between the electrodes during a current passing state between the electrodes. (17) The skin beauty device according to (13), wherein the current rest time between the electrodes is 0.01 seconds to 0.1 seconds. (18) A skin beauty device according to any one of (14) to (16), wherein the current rest time between the electrodes is 0.01 seconds to 0.1 seconds. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0014] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a top front view of a skin cosmetic device according to the present invention. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a voltage waveform of the skin cosmetic device of the present invention. [Diagram 3] FIG. 3 is a diagram showing another voltage waveform of the skin cosmetic device of the present invention. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a top front view of the skin cosmetic device of the present invention, showing the sequence of energization. [Diagram 5] FIG. 5 is a top front view of the skin cosmetic device of the present invention, showing the energizing sequence. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a plan view of the head portion of the skin beauty device in which the electrodes are arranged in a different manner. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a plan view of the head portion of the skin beauty device in which the electrodes are arranged in yet another manner. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0015] The skin cosmetic device according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the embodiment shown in the drawings. As shown in FIG. 1, the skin cosmetic device 10 according to the embodiment of the present invention has an overall shape that is elongated and has a front-to-back thickness slightly smaller than the left-to-right width so that the user can hold it in his / her hand, and has an overall shape of an oval cylinder when viewed from the front. A head unit 30 is fixed to the upper end of the main body 15, and is provided so as to be able to swing slightly forward, backward, left, and right relative to the main body 11. Since the head unit 30 is fixed to the main body 11 so as to be able to swing, the head unit 30 can be configured to be in closer contact with each part of the body in accordance with the position and angle of each part of the body with which the head unit 30 is in contact. A plurality of electrodes 41 to 49 are provided on the upper surface of the head unit 30. The skin cosmetic device 10 passes a weak current through these electrodes 41 to 49 to enhance the massage effect on the user's skin and the penetration effect of lotion, etc.

[0016] The body 11 of the skin cosmetic device 10 is provided with a gripping part 20 below the head 30, which is a part that the user grips when using the skin cosmetic device 10. In addition, a group of operation buttons (not shown) is provided on the back side of the gripping part 20 of the skin cosmetic device 10. Each operation button includes an LED button, a power button, or an operation mode button. The LED button is an operation button for operating the lighting operation of the LED provided on the skin cosmetic device 1. In addition, the power button is an operation button for turning on and off the power of the skin cosmetic device 10 and operating the output level of each electrode 41 to 49. And the operation mode button is an operation button for changing the mode of current supply from each electrode 41 to 49 provided on the head 30. In addition, the skin cosmetic device 10 can be connected to an AC power source via an AC adapter.

[0017] The head unit 30 is formed in a thin plate shape that is almost a perfect square in a plan view. The head unit 30 is fixed to the main body unit 11 so that its vertices in a plan view are located at four positions, front, back, left and right, as seen from the front side of the skin cosmetic device 10, as shown in Fig. 1. As described above, the head unit 30 is fixed to the upper end of the main body unit 11 so that it can be tilted at an appropriate angle back, forth, left and right. In this way, the head unit 30 is configured to be able to come into closer contact with each part of the body in accordance with the position and angle of each part of the body with which the head unit 30 comes into contact.

[0018] Although not shown, the skin cosmetic device 10 includes an electronic circuit built therein, which is composed of a power supply board, a converter, a microcomputer, an LED driver, a power booster, an RF power controller, etc., for controlling the operation of the electrodes 41 to 49. Also, a rechargeable battery is built in, and the skin cosmetic device 10 can be used by itself after being charged from an AC power source by removing the AC adapter.

[0019] Next, the details of the head part 30 will be described. As described above, a plurality of electrodes 41 to 49 are arranged on the upper surface side of the head part 30. In this example, nine electrodes 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, and 49 are arranged. As shown in FIG. 1, the electrodes 41 to 49 are nine in total, including the electrodes 42, 44, 46, and 48 arranged near the four corners (vertices) of the head part 30, which is rectangular in plan view, the electrodes 43, 45, 47, and 49 arranged near the center of each side, and the electrode 41 arranged at the center of the head part 30 in plan view. Note that the electrodes 43, 45, 47, and 49 arranged near the center of each side are shown divided into two as shown in FIG. 1, but this is merely because the shape of the terminal tip is divided on the head 30, and each of them constitutes a single electrode. In the present skin cosmetic device 10, a weak current of 90 kHz is applied from each of these electrodes 41 to 49 to enhance the cosmetic effect on the user's skin. The weak current can be changed within the range of 80 kHz to 100 kHz.

[0020] Next, the weak current passed through each electrode 41-49 of the skin cosmetic device 10 thus constructed will be described. As described above, it is possible to pass a current of 90 kHz from each electrode 41-49. When passing current through the user's skin, generally, the lower the frequency, the higher the impedance at the contact point between the electrode and the skin, and the longer the time period during which the electric signal is felt, which tends to result in greater skin irritation. However, in the present skin cosmetic device 10, the high frequency of 90 kHz is used in this way to reduce skin irritation. As described above, the weak current can be changed within the range of 80 kHz to 100 kHz, and within this range, a certain level of effect can be achieved.

[0021] As shown in Fig. 2, the current is applied to each of the electrodes 41-49 of the skin cosmetic device 10 in one cycle of 0.1 seconds. The time required for the voltage to rise to half of the maximum voltage (80Vp-p in the skin cosmetic device of this example) in one cycle and the time required for the voltage to fall from half of the maximum voltage are each set to 0.03 seconds, which is 30% of the current application time (0.1 seconds) in one cycle. In other words, the time required for the voltage to rise to half of the maximum voltage in one cycle is 0.03 seconds, the time required for the voltage to rise to the maximum voltage and then fall to half of the maximum voltage is 0.04 seconds, and the time required for the voltage to reach from half of the maximum voltage to the end of one cycle is 0.03 seconds.

[0022] In this way, by making the voltage rise and fall gradually at the beginning and end of one cycle, that is, in this example, the time for the voltage to rise to half the maximum voltage of one cycle and the time for the voltage to fall from half the maximum voltage are each set to 0.03 seconds, respectively, it is possible to avoid abrupt rise and fall of the voltage at the beginning and end of the current supply. Therefore, it is possible to suppress the irritation of the current supply to the user's skin. Therefore, even if the voltage of the skin beauty device 10 is increased to enhance the massage effect or the penetration effect of the beauty essence, the irritation caused by the current can be suppressed, so that the discomfort of the user can be reduced while enhancing the massage effect or the penetration effect of the beauty essence.

[0023] In this example, one cycle is set to 0.1 seconds, but is not limited thereto, and can be appropriately selected within the range of 0.01 to 0.1 seconds in the skin beauty device of this example, and is preferable within this range. Also, the time taken for the voltage to rise to half of the maximum voltage in one cycle and the time taken for the voltage to fall from half of the maximum voltage are each set to 30%, but is not limited thereto, and can be appropriately selected within the range of 20% to 30% of the current flow time in one cycle, and is preferable within this range.

[0024] Also, after one cycle of the above-mentioned current supply to each of the electrodes 41 to 49, a certain current supply pause time may be provided. For example, as shown in FIG. 3, in this example, current supply is performed with one cycle of 0.05 seconds, and the time to rise to half the maximum voltage in one cycle and the time to fall from half the maximum voltage are each set to 0.015 seconds, which is 30% of the current supply time of one cycle (0.05 seconds). That is, the time to rise to half the maximum voltage in one cycle is 0.015 seconds, the time to rise to the maximum voltage and then fall to half the maximum voltage is 0.02 seconds, and the time to reach from half the maximum voltage to the end of one cycle is 0.015 seconds. And, between each cycle of current supply, a current supply pause time of 0.05 seconds is provided in the electrode. Note that this current supply pause time is not limited to this, and can be appropriately selected in the range of 0.01 seconds to 0.1 seconds in the skin beauty device of this example, and is preferable within this range. By providing such a power interruption period, a rhythmic stimulation can be imparted to the skin, providing the user with a refreshing feeling.

[0025] The manner in which electricity is passed through each of the electrodes 41 to 49 is as described above, and now we will explain the order in which electricity is passed through all of the electrodes 41 to 49. Electricity is passed through each of the electrodes 41 to 49 of the skin cosmetic device 10 in the order shown in Fig. 4, and the order is determined by the numbers (circled numbers) shown on the head unit 30 in Fig. 4.

[0026] As shown in FIG. 4, the current is passed between the electrodes in the order of circled numbers 1→2→3 (the above are electrode groups surrounded by dotted lines)→2→4→5→4→6→7 (the above are electrode groups surrounded by two-dot chain lines. The illustration of the subsequent electrode groups is omitted.)→6→8→9→8→10→11→10→12→13→12→14→15→14→1→16 (and so on). That is, as shown in FIG. 5, the current is passed through the first electrode group (electrode group surrounded by dotted lines), then the second electrode group (electrode group surrounded by one-dot chain lines), and then the third electrode group (electrode group surrounded by two-dot chain lines. The illustration of the subsequent electrode groups is omitted.) and so on, so that the current is passed through the adjacent electrode groups consisting of three electrodes in sequence. In this example, the current is controlled to move in a clockwise direction in these electrode groups. Therefore, on the head part 30 where the electrodes 41-49 are arranged, the next current is not applied to a position far away, but the current is applied sequentially to each adjacent electrode group. Therefore, for the user, the next current is applied to a part close to the part to which current was previously applied, so that the feeling of new current being applied to a different part can be suppressed. And while suppressing the sense of irritation in this way, it is possible to apply current to the entire range of the part where the electrodes 41-49 are arranged, so that the massage effect and the penetration effect of beauty essence, etc. can be obtained over the entire range where the electrodes 41-49 are arranged. Also, instead of applying current sequentially to each electrode 41-49, the current is applied sequentially to each group of areas called "electrode groups", so that the current is applied to a certain area over a predetermined time, so that the action of a massage treatment can be performed in a circular manner in the predetermined area. Therefore, the massage effect and the penetration effect of beauty essence, etc. can be further improved.

[0027] In the present invention, the order of energization between the electrodes is not limited to the above, and may be, for example, the order of circled numbers indicating the electrodes, 1→2→3→2→4→5→4→6→7→6→8→9→8→10→11→10→12→13→12→14→15→14→1→16 (repeated thereafter), or the order of 1→2→3→4→5→7→6→8→9→10→11→13→12→14→15→16 (repeated thereafter). Any order may be used as long as the electrode group consisting of three or four adjacent electrodes is energized in sequence. These are embodiments corresponding to the above invention (2).

[0028] Also, different from these current supply sequences, a mode of sequentially supplying current to "electrode groups each composed of three or four adjacent electrodes that do not overlap with electrodes included in a specific electrode group each composed of three or four adjacent electrodes" may be in the order of circled numbers 1→3→2→4→7→6→8→11→10→12→15→14 (and repeat thereafter). These are also included in the order of sequentially supplying current to electrode groups each composed of three or four adjacent electrodes.

[0029] In the above example, the number of electrodes on the head unit 30 is nine, but the number of electrodes may be any other number, as long as it is four or more. In the multiple electrode groups each consisting of four or more electrodes, it is also possible to control the flow of electricity sequentially between adjacent electrode groups. For example, the skin beauty device 11 in FIG. 6 has four electrodes 51-54, but the order of electricity flow between the electrodes may be, for example, circled numbers 1→2→3 (all the electrodes surrounded by dotted lines)→4→5→6 (all the electrodes surrounded by dashed lines)→7→8→9 (all the electrodes surrounded by dashed lines) (repeated thereafter), etc. In addition, although the number of electrodes 61 to 76 of the skin cosmetic device 12 in FIG. 7 is 16, the order of energization between the electrodes may be, for example, circled numbers 1→2→3→4→5 (the above are the electrode groups surrounded by dotted lines)→6→7→8→9→10 (the above are the electrode groups surrounded by dashed lines)→11→12→13→14→15→... (the above are the electrode groups surrounded by dashed lines. The subsequent electrode groups are not shown.) (the energization order from number 16 onwards is omitted) (repeated thereafter). The energization order described so far has been described as a mode in which the same energization order is repeated, but is not limited to this, and includes combinations of the above energization orders, such as changing to another energization order as described above after energizing all the electrodes. In addition, the start position of each of the specific energization orders described above may be changed, and the energization order may be reversed. [Industrial Applicability]

[0030] The present invention can be widely used in skin beauty devices for beautifying the skin of a user on the hands, arms, legs, face, and other areas. [Explanation of symbols]

[0031] 10, 11, 12: Skin beauty device, 15: Main body, 20: Grip, 30: Head, 41~49, 51~54, 61~76: Electrode.

Claims

1. A skin beauty device comprising four or more electrodes arranged in a distributed manner on a surface, and capable of passing a high-frequency current through the electrodes to a user's skin, A skin beauty device that can be controlled so that, in an electrode group consisting of three or four electrodes formed adjacent to each other among the plurality of electrodes, a current is passed between two electrodes (first electrodes) in a specific electrode group among the plurality of electrodes, and then a current is passed between second electrodes different from the first electrodes in the specific electrode group, and after a current is passed between the plurality of electrodes in the specific electrode group in sequence, a current is passed between the plurality of electrodes in an electrode group adjacent to the specific electrode group in sequence in the same manner as in the specific electrode group, and similarly, a current is passed between other adjacent electrode groups.

2. The skin cosmetic device according to claim 1 , wherein the adjacent electrode group is an electrode group adjacent to the specific electrode group, the electrode group including some of the electrodes of the specific electrode group and including electrodes not included in the specific electrode group.

3. 2. The skin cosmetic device according to claim 1, wherein each of the electrode groups is composed of three electrodes.

4. The skin cosmetic device according to claim 1 , wherein the number of electrodes is nine or more.

5. The skin beauty device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the electrodes are arranged at a total of nine locations: four locations on the corners of the rectangular shape, four locations near the center of each side of the rectangular shape, and one location at the center of the rectangular shape.

6. The skin beauty device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the high frequency current is in the range of 80 kHz to 100 kHz, and the time for the high frequency current to rise to half of the maximum voltage in one cycle and the time for the high frequency current to fall from half of the maximum voltage are each 20% to 30% of the current flow time in one cycle.

7. 5. The skin beauty device according to claim 4, wherein the high frequency current is in the range of 80 kHz to 100 kHz, and the time for the high frequency current to rise to half of the maximum voltage in one cycle and the time for the high frequency current to fall from half of the maximum voltage are each 20% to 30% of the current flow time in one cycle.

8. 6. The skin beauty device according to claim 5, wherein the high frequency current is in the range of 80 kHz to 100 kHz, and the time for the high frequency current to rise to half of the maximum voltage in one cycle and the time for the high frequency current to fall from half of the maximum voltage are each 20% to 30% of the current flow time in one cycle.

9. 4. The skin cosmetic device according to claim 1, wherein the time for which current is passed between said electrodes is 0.01 to 0.1 seconds.

10. 5. The skin cosmetic device according to claim 4, wherein the time for which current is passed between said electrodes is 0.01 to 0.1 seconds.

11. 6. The skin cosmetic device according to claim 5, wherein the time for which current is passed between said electrodes is 0.01 to 0.1 seconds.

12. 7. The skin cosmetic device according to claim 6, wherein the time for which current is passed between said electrodes is 0.01 to 0.1 seconds.

13. 4. The skin cosmetic device according to claim 1, wherein the device is capable of controlling a current stop time during which no current is passed between any of the electrodes, during a period during which current is passed between the electrodes.

14. 5. The skin cosmetic device according to claim 4, wherein the device is capable of controlling a current-flow stop time during which no current is passed between any of the electrodes, between the states of current-flow between the electrodes.

15. 6. The skin cosmetic device according to claim 5, wherein the device is capable of controlling a current stop time during which no current is passed between any of the electrodes, during a period during which current is passed between the electrodes.

16. 7. The skin cosmetic device according to claim 6, wherein the device is capable of controlling a current-flow pause time during which no current is passed between any of the electrodes, between the states of current-flow between the electrodes.

17. 14. The skin cosmetic device according to claim 13, wherein the current interruption time between the electrodes is 0.01 to 0.1 seconds.

18. 17. The skin cosmetic device according to claim 14, wherein the current stop time between the electrodes is 0.01 to 0.1 seconds.

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