Hair removal device

Abstract

The epilation device 1 comprises an epilation body 10 rotatable about a rotation axis R extending in a longitudinal direction L relative to the epilation body 10 and comprising at least one hair collection space 11. The epilation device 1 further comprises an actuation mechanism 30 configured to act on the epilation body 10 to compress and elongate the epilation body 10 in the longitudinal direction L during a rotational movement of the epilation body 10 about the rotation axis R, in order to vary the size of the hair collection space 11 of the epilation body 10 in the longitudinal direction L, the actuation mechanism 30 comprising a force-inducing member 31 compressible and extensible in the longitudinal direction L and having the function of determining the level of hair fixation force on the epilation body 10.

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a hair removal device comprising an epilation body rotatable about a rotation axis extending longitudinally relative to the epilation body and having at least one hair collection space, the size of the at least one hair collection space in the longitudinal direction being variable by compression and elongation of the epilation body in the longitudinal direction, and an actuation mechanism configured to act on the epilation body to cause compression and elongation of the epilation body in the longitudinal direction during a rotational movement of the epilation body about the rotation axis. [Background technology]

[0002] No. 4,079,741 relates to a device for epilating the skin, comprising a portable housing and a functional member having a plurality of closed helical windings mounted on the housing such that the outer surface is at least partially exposed for slidable engagement with the skin and defining a substantially smooth outer surface. The device further comprises motor-driven reciprocating means for alternately extending the functional member so that the windings move apart and then reclose one against the other, and motor-driven means for rotating the functional member. In an embodiment, the functional member is constituted by a normally closed coil spring, the reciprocating means comprising a bar extending within the spring and coupled to one end of the spring, the other end of the spring being coupled to a sleeve rotatably mounted in the housing, and rotatable cam means provided within the housing for reciprocating the bar. This arrangement is such that when the spring and bar assembly is actuated, during reclosure of the spring, hairs secured between adjacent windings are instantly extracted by the rotation of the spring on the treated skin.

[0003] WO94 / 14355 relates to a rotary hair plucker epilation device comprising a hair plucker head fitted with a cylindrical helicoid coiled strip protruding from a hand-held housing and attached to a rotating shaft, configured to open and close a plurality of annular gaps to capture and pluck skin hairs during rotation. In an embodiment, the rotary hair plucker epilation device is fitted with three main functional groups, namely a small electric motor, a hair plucker head and a reciprocating mechanism body. The motor serves to provide motion to the reciprocating mechanism body and the rotating shaft which rotates the hair plucker head at high speed. The reciprocating mechanism body generates a linear alternating output motion which is applied to alternately stretch and compress the hair plucker head so that opening and closing of a plurality of annular gaps on the outer surface of the hair plucker head is obtained. In this way, during operation, skin hairs are captured in the gaps when they open, and then plucking is achieved when the gaps close and the hair plucker head rotates. In particular, the reciprocating mechanism body comprises cam means configured to convert the rotation into a linear alternating output motion synchronous with the rotation of the hair plucker body. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] A drawback of known epilation devices is that the design of the epilation body is a compromise resulting from the need to adapt the design so that the epilation body can on the one hand effectively capture the hair, and on the other hand to apply sufficient force to the hair to fix it.The object of the present invention is to provide a new type of epilation device that can optimize both functions: capturing the hair with sufficient force and fixing the hair.

[0005] The present invention provides a hair removal device comprising: an epilation body rotatable about a rotation axis extending longitudinally relative to the epilation body and having at least one hair collection space, the size of the at least one hair collection space in the longitudinal direction being variable by compression and elongation of the epilation body in the longitudinal direction; and an actuation mechanism configured to act on the epilation body to cause compression and elongation of the epilation body in the longitudinal direction during a rotational movement of the epilation body about the rotation axis of the epilation body, the actuation mechanism including a force-inducing member that is compressible and extensible in the longitudinal direction, the actuation mechanism being configured to determine a level of force exerted longitudinally on the epilation body by the actuation mechanism when the longitudinal size of the force-inducing member changes while the at least one hair collection space of the epilation body is in a closed state.

[0006] From the above definitions, it can be seen that the actuation mechanism of the epilation device according to the invention comprises a force-inducing member that is compressible and extensible in the longitudinal direction, as well as the epilation body. As a result of the presence of the force-inducing member in the actuation mechanism, the hair fixation force is no longer determined only by the force-displacement characteristics of compression and extension of the epilation body, but also by the force-displacement characteristics of compression and extension of the force-inducing member. This means that an arrangement is obtained in which not only the design of the epilation body can be adapted to have an optimal hair collection function of the epilation body, but also the design of the force-inducing member can be adapted to have an optimal hair fixation function of the epilation body.

[0007] The present invention provides the possibility that the hair fixing force is determined mainly by the force-inducing member of the actuation mechanism, so that the hair fixing force in the epilation body is not actually influenced by the amount of hairs captured in the epilation body. In the conventional case, the hair fixing force is determined by the configuration of the epilation body itself, and the hair fixing force increases according to the number of hairs in the epilation body. This effect is countered when implementing the present invention, since it is no longer necessary to directly determine the hair fixing force at the position where the hair is present in the epilation body. Instead, it is possible to use the force-inducing member to determine the level of the force exerted on the epilation body in the longitudinal direction by the actuation mechanism when the size of the force-inducing member in the longitudinal direction changes while at least one hair-collecting space of the epilation body is in a closed state, which force produces the hair fixing force under the aforementioned conditions. Furthermore, if the force-inducing member of the actuation mechanism is relied upon to set the level of the hair fixing force in the epilation body, in fact, the variation in the size of the epilation body due to tolerances is compensated, so that the predetermined level of hair fixing force is actually always realized. Therefore, when epilation devices are mass-produced based on the present invention, the consistency of performance is improved.

[0008] It is noted that in the context of the present description, the force-displacement characteristics of compression and extension should be understood as characteristics of the epilated body that indicate the relationship between the level of force generated in the epilated body and the level of displacement of the epilated body in the form of extension or compression of the epilated body, or conversely, as characteristics of the epilated body that indicate the level of force that must be applied to the epilated body to generate a certain displacement of the epilated body in the form of extension or compression of the epilated body. The force-displacement characteristics of compression and extension of the epilated body are also referred to as the stiffness of the epilated body, if the epilated body is of a type having elastic / resilient / flexible properties.

[0009] The advantageous effect of the hair fixing force, which is determined mainly by the force-displacement characteristics of the force-inducing member, rather than the force-displacement characteristics of the compression and extension of the epilation body, is obtained in particular if the force-displacement characteristics of the force-inducing member are significantly stronger than the force-displacement characteristics of the compression and extension of the epilation body. The truth is that in such a case, when the operating mechanism acts to compress the epilation body, this is done practically forcelessly until at least one hair-collecting space of the epilation body is closed. From that moment on, the level of force acting on the position of the epilation body in the longitudinal direction is determined by the force-inducing member based on its force-displacement characteristics of compression and extension, and the force-displacement characteristics of the compression and extension of the epilation body have only a negligible influence on the level of force. It should be noted that a stronger force-displacement characteristic means a force-displacement characteristic that associates a higher force with the same displacement.

[0010] Another notable advantage of applying a force-inducing member to the actuation mechanism of the epilation device is that it entails the possibility of adapting the operation of the epilation device to the actual situation. For example, in the presence of oil on the skin, it is desirable to increase the hair fixation force in order to compensate for the reduction in frictional force that accompanies such a case. In the framework of the present invention, this can be done if the force-inducing member is of a type having adjustable force-displacement characteristics of compression and extension in the longitudinal direction. It is therefore very practical to equip the actuation mechanism with such a type of force-inducing member. Referring to the example where the hair fixation force needs to be increased, this involves adjusting the force-displacement characteristics of compression and extension so that a certain displacement is accompanied by a higher level of force.

[0011] The force-inducing member is of any suitable type. First, the force-inducing member is a passive force-inducing member, of a type generally indicated as resilient, elastic and / or flexible, it being noted that the force-inducing member comprises a piece of elastic / resilient material, such as, for example, rubber or a spring. With regard to the option of the force-inducing member comprising a spring, the spring is of any suitable type, such as a coil spring, which is normally closed or normally open, and the option of adjusting the force-displacement characteristics of the compression and extension of the force-inducing member comprises the epilation device comprising an adjustment mechanism configured to adjust the spring constant of the spring. According to a further advantageous option, the epilation device comprises an adjustment mechanism configured to adjust the pretension of the spring. Second, the force-inducing member is an active force-inducing member, designed to perform a force-inducing function in an activated energy state, and comprises, for example, a solenoid.

[0012] The epilation body in the epilation device is configured 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, and the actuation mechanism is configured to act on the epilation body at the movable end. When at least one hair-collection space of the epilation body is closed and the actuation mechanism acts on the epilation body to apply a force in a direction related to the compression of the epilation body, the epilation body is fixed in a predetermined position and a hair fixing force is effectively accumulated. Furthermore, having a fixed portion of the epilation body makes it easy to position the epilation body against the skin to be subjected to the epilation action.

[0013] In a practical embodiment, the epilation device according to the invention further comprises a drive mechanism configured to drive the epilation body to perform a rotational movement about the rotation axis. A compact design of the epilation device is achieved if the drive mechanism is configured to also drive the actuation mechanism to compress and expand the epilation body in the longitudinal direction. Furthermore, in such a case, it is possible to have a drive arrangement in which the function of compressing and expanding the epilation body in the longitudinal direction is linked to the function of rotating the epilation body, so that a predefined relationship between the two functions can be realized in a mechanical manner, in particular the relationship between the number of compressions and expansions of the epilation body per rotation of the epilation body. Within the framework of the present invention, measures are taken to allow the relationship between the two functions to be adjusted as desired.

[0014] In a practical embodiment of the epilation device according to the invention, the actuation mechanism comprises two actuation members, both of which are longitudinally movable, the first of the actuation members being located closer to the epilation body in the longitudinal direction than the second of the actuation members, and the force-inducing member being located to couple the actuation members together. In such a configuration, the first of the actuation members is arranged to be in direct contact with the epilation body. It is also preferred that the actuation member is rigid compared to the force-inducing member, in which case the force-displacement characteristics of compression and extension of the combination of the actuation member and the force-inducing member are determined by the force-displacement characteristics of compression and extension of the force-inducing member. Furthermore, when the actuation mechanism comprises two actuation members as described above, it is practical if the drive mechanism comprises a rotatable drive shaft coupled to the epilation body in order to impose a rotational movement on the epilation body, each of the actuation members being bush-shaped and located to surround a part of the drive shaft. Inducing two different movements of the epilation body, namely a rotational movement and a longitudinal compression / extension movement, by separate components contributes to the overall precision of the epilation device.

[0015] As mentioned above, it is possible to realize a link between the function of compressing and expanding the epilation body in the longitudinal direction and the function of mechanically rotating the epilation body. For example, when the drive mechanism comprises a rotatable drive shaft coupled to the epilation body, and each of the actuating members is bush-shaped and located in a position surrounding a part of the drive shaft, it is beneficial if the epilation device comprises a motion forcing arrangement including a cam and a cam follower, one of which has a fixed position on the epilation device, and the other of which is attached to a second of the actuating members. In such an arrangement, the motion of at least the second actuating member in the longitudinal direction is automatically induced when the drive shaft rotates in a predetermined manner according to the design of the cam and the cam follower. The design of the movement forcing arrangement is selected to achieve a speed of closing at least one epilation space of the epilation body that is fast enough to achieve a good hair collection result and thus a good epilation result, and is low enough to avoid high (peak) forces on the epilation device.

[0016] Within the framework of the invention, it is possible to make the link between the function causing compression and elongation of the epilation body in the longitudinal direction and the function rotating the epilation body adjustable, in which case the motion forcing arrangement comprises a suitable actuator and a mechanism allowing the user of the epilation device to adjust the moment of opening and closing at least one hair-collection space of the epilation body during rotation of the epilation body.

[0017] The epilation body may be of any suitable design. Practical examples are a linear coil spring and a linear arrangement of disks. The size of the epilation body in the longitudinal direction may be freely selected, the same applies to the number of hair collection spaces. In the exemplary case of a coil spring, the number of windings is selected to be in any case only two or a suitable number greater. If the epilation device is intended to be used as a facial epilation device, a small number of windings is practical, since in such a case it is desirable to prevent as much as possible the blocking of vision by the epilation body, and it is appropriate that the epilation device can only epilate one hair at a time, or no more. Furthermore, 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, in order to increase the range of hair lengths captured by the epilation body. As mentioned above, the present invention covers both the option in which the coil spring is normally open and the actuation mechanism acts to actively compress the coil spring, and the option in which the coil spring is normally closed and the actuation mechanism acts to actively extend the coil spring.

[0018] These and other aspects of the invention will be apparent from and elucidated with reference to the following detailed description of embodiments of an actuation mechanism including a longitudinally compressible and extensible force-inducing member, i.e. a hair removal device with a longitudinally variable-sized force-inducing member. [Means for solving the problem]

[0019] The present invention will now be described in more detail with reference to FIG. 1, which is a schematic cross-sectional view of an assembly of components of a hair removal device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0020] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 shows a design of a hair removal device 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0021] The particular hair removal device 1 shown in Fig. 1 and described below is only one example of many types of hair removal devices that can be implemented within the framework of the present invention. The hair removal device 1 is practically a handheld device that includes a housing 2 for housing the device's many components. The housing 2 is depicted diagrammatically as a dashed rectangle in Fig. 1. The hair removal device 1 is intended for use, for example, as a facial hair removal device 1.

[0022] The epilation device 1 is configured to be used for the purpose of performing an epilation operation on the skin. With that in mind, the epilation device 1 comprises an epilation body 10 that is intended to actually interact with the hairs to be plucked from the skin. For the purpose of collecting and fixing the hairs, the epilation body 10 comprises at least one hair-collecting space 11. The epilation body 10 is designed to be compressible and extensible in a longitudinal direction L, for example comprising a coil spring. The longitudinal direction L is indicated by a double-headed arrow in Fig. 1. Furthermore, the epilation body 10 is rotatable within the epilation device 1 around a rotation axis R that extends in the longitudinal direction L.

[0023] In addition to the epilating body 10, the epilating device 1 comprises a drive mechanism 20 configured to drive the epilating body to perform an actual rotational movement about a rotation axis R during operation of the epilating device 1. In the illustrated example, the drive mechanism 20 comprises a drive shaft 21 rotatable about the rotation axis R and an electric motor 22 for driving the drive shaft 21, the epilating body 10 being arranged on the drive shaft 21 at the location of its end such that the epilating body 20 rotates together with the drive shaft 21 when the drive shaft 21 is driven by the electric motor 22.

[0024] Furthermore, the epilation device 1 comprises an actuation mechanism 30 configured to act on the epilation body 10 so as to vary the size of the epilation body 10 in the longitudinal direction L during a rotational movement of the epilation body 10 about the rotation axis R. In the illustrated example, one end of the epilation body 10 is fixedly connected to the drive shaft 21 and, as a result, has a fixed position in the longitudinal direction L. In this configuration, the actuation mechanism 30 is arranged to interact with the other end of the epilation body 10 with a view to displacing the other end of the epilation body 10 relative to the drive shaft 21 in the longitudinal direction L. In the following, the first end of the epilation body 10 is referred to as the fixed end of the epilation body 10 and the other end of the epilation body 10 is referred to as the movable end of the epilation body 10.

[0025] The actuating mechanism 30 comprises a first actuating member 31, which is in the shape of a bush extending in the longitudinal direction L and is arranged to surround a part of the drive shaft 21 adjacent to the end supporting the epilation body 10, the first actuating member 31 being slidable on the drive shaft 21 in the longitudinal direction L and positioned to contact the movable end of the epilation body 10. Furthermore, the actuating mechanism 30 comprises a second actuating member 32, which is in the shape of a bush extending in the longitudinal direction L and is arranged to surround a part of the drive shaft 21 that is further away from the epilation body 10 in the longitudinal direction L than the part of the drive shaft 21 surrounded by the first actuating member 31, the second actuating member 32 also being slidably arranged on the drive shaft 21 in the longitudinal direction L. Furthermore, the actuating mechanism 30 comprises a force-inducing member 33, which is located at a position that couples the actuating members 31, 32 to each other, i.e., at a position between the actuating members 31, 32 in the longitudinal direction L. In the illustrated example, the force inducing member 33 comprises a coil spring, which may be a normally closed or 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 overlaps the ends of the actuating members 31, 32, and which is connected to the second actuating member 32.

[0026] The present description is equally applicable if the force-inducing member 33 does not comprise a coil spring but comprises another component or a combination of components designed to be compressible and extensible in the longitudinal direction L. The actuating members 31, 32 and the force-inducing member 33 are provided as three separate components joined together, this does not change the fact that other options are also possible, such as the actuating members 31, 32 and the force-inducing member 33 being part of a single whole having different zones, the middle zone having different compression and extension force displacement characteristics than the other two zones on each side of the middle zone.

[0027] At the position of the other end of the second actuating member 32, not the end associated with the force-inducing member 33, there is present in the epilation device 1 a motion forcing arrangement 40 comprising a cam 41 and a cam follower 42. The motion forcing arrangement 40 is configured to force a motion of the second actuating member 32 in the longitudinal direction L when the drive shaft 21 rotates. To that end, one of the cam 41 and the cam follower 42 has a fixed position on the epilation device 1, and the other of the cam 41 and the cam follower 42 is attached to the second actuating member 32. In the illustrated example, the cam follower 42 has a fixed position on the epilation device 1, and the cam 41 is attached to the second actuating member 32. Figure 1 also shows the application of stops 23, 24 on the drive shaft 21 for delimiting the positions of the first actuating member 31 and the second actuating member 32, respectively, in the longitudinal direction L.

[0028] The length of the epilation body 10 is freely selected within the framework of the present invention depending on the intended use of the epilation device 1. If the epilation body 10 is equipped with a coil spring, the number of turns of the coil spring is freely selected, as is the shape of the cross section of the wire of the spring. Furthermore, the material of the epilation body 10 can be a treated material (material that has undergone a treatment such as a mechanical, chemical or thermal treatment) so as to define / improve the grip of the epilation body 10 on the hair. The epilation body 10 is rotationally symmetric, so that the epilation device 1 is effective at any position relative to the skin that is to undergo the epilation action. The drive shaft 21 is connected, for example, directly or via a suitable gearbox system, to an electric motor 22.

[0029] With reference to the above description of the design aspects of the epilation device 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention, it will be described how the various components of the epilation device 1 function to enable the epilation device 1 to perform a hair removal action during its operation. The operation of the epilation device 1 includes the operation of the electric motor 22, so that the drive shaft 21 is driven to rotate about the rotation axis R. The rotational movement of the drive shaft 21 causes both a rotational movement of the epilation body 10 about the rotation axis R and a periodic variation of the size of the epilation body 10 in the longitudinal direction L. The rotational movement of the epilation body 10 about the rotation axis R follows directly from the arrangement of the epilation body 10 on the drive shaft 21. The process of alternately causing compression and elongation of the epilation body 10 in the longitudinal direction L results from the movement forcing arrangement 40, which indicates the position of the second actuation member 32 in the longitudinal direction L. The truth is that when the drive shaft 21 rotates about the axis of rotation R, the position of the cam 41 of the motion forcing device 40 in the longitudinal direction L changes due to contact with the cam follower 42, and the position of the second actuating member 32 in the longitudinal direction L also changes.

[0030] As long as at least one hair-collection space 11 of the epilation body 10 is not in a closed state, a change in the position of the second actuating member 32 will result in a similar change in the position of the first actuating member 31 via the force-inducing member 33. Based on the fact that the first actuating member 31 acts on the epilation body 10, the rotation of the drive shaft 21 about the rotation axis R will ultimately change the position of the movable end of the epilation body 10 in the longitudinal direction L in addition to the rotation of the epilation body 10 about the rotation axis R. The displacement path followed by the movable end of the epilation body 10 in the process is determined by the design of the motion forcing arrangement 40, as is the relationship between the number of times the epilation body 10 is compressed and the number of times it is extended per rotation. When at least one hair-collection space 11 of the epilation body 10 is closed, changes in the position of the movable end of the epilation body 10 and the position of the first actuating member 31 are no longer permitted, and the second actuating member 32 performs a movement in the longitudinal direction L relative to the first actuating member 31, the relative movement being permitted by the presence of a force-inducing member 33 in the actuating mechanism 30. In this process, the force applied by the actuating mechanism 30 to the epilation body 10 in the longitudinal direction L is determined by the configuration of the force-inducing member 33, in particular the force displacements characteristic of the compression and extension of the force-inducing member 33, which force determines the hair fixation force at the position of the hair-collection space 11.

[0031] As a result of the cycles of compressing and expanding the epilation body 10 in the longitudinal direction L, the size of at least one hair collection space 11 in the epilation body 10 alternately decreases and increases in the longitudinal direction L, so that the hair collection space 11 alternates between the above-mentioned closed and open states. When the epilation body 10 is held in a position close to the skin from which the hair grows, the hair is trapped in the hair collection space 11 during the period when the state of the hair collection space 11 changes from the open state to the closed position. When the hair collection space 11 is in the closed position, the hair is fixed in a predetermined position in the hair collection space 11 under the effect of a fixing force acting on the hair in the longitudinal direction L. Assuming that the hair fixing force is higher than the holding force exerted on the hair at the skin level, the hair is pulled out from the skin as a result of the rotational movement of the epilation body 10. Based on the presence of a force-inducing member 33 in the actuation mechanism 30 of the epilation device 1, the present invention makes it possible to have a precisely defined hair fixing force under all circumstances and also to compensate for manufacturing tolerances of the epilation body 10, while the design of the epilation body 10 is selected to achieve optimal hair collection.

[0032] The aspect of compensating for manufacturing tolerances of the epilation body 10 is advantageous, since if the force-inducing member 33 were not present in the epilation device 1, it would occur that the action forcing arrangement 40 would still act to bring at least one hair-collection space 11 into the closed position while the hair-collection space 11 has already reached the closed position, and the force acting on the epilation device 1 would increase to an unexpectedly high level, or that the action forcing arrangement 40 would already be in a maximum position for compressing the epilation body 10 while the hair-collection space 11 is not yet fully closed, and the epilation body 10 would be useless in performing the epilation function.

[0033] The aspect of enabling a precisely defined hair fastening force under all circumstances is obtained in particular when the force-displacement characteristics of compression and extension of the force-inducing member 33 are significantly stronger than the force-displacement characteristics of compression and extension of the epilation body 10. Indeed, in the illustrated example, it is sufficient if the force-displacement characteristics of compression and extension of the epilation body 10 are such that the epilation body 10 can push back the components of the actuation mechanism 30 when the movement forcing arrangement 40 provides a space for pushing back the components of the actuation mechanism 30.

[0034] An advantageous option present within the framework of the present invention is that of adjusting the force-inducing member 33, i.e. adjusting the force-displacement characteristics of compression and extension of the force-inducing member 33, which makes it possible to have a hair removal device 1 with different modes, where an appropriate one of the modes is set depending on environmental conditions such as soiling of the skin with oil. The present invention also provides the possibility to set the pre-tension of the force-inducing member 33 to an appropriate value.

[0035] The scope of the present invention is not limited to the above examples, but it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that some amendments and modifications thereof are possible without departing from the scope of the present invention as defined in the appended claims. It is intended that the present invention be construed as including all such amendments and modifications insofar as they are within the scope of the claims or their equivalents. Although the present invention has been illustrated and described in detail in the drawings and description, such illustration and description should be considered merely illustrative or typical and not restrictive. The present invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments. The drawings are schematic, and details not necessary for understanding the present invention may be omitted, and are not necessarily drawn to scale.

[0036] Variations to the disclosed embodiments can be understood and effected by those skilled in the art in practicing the claimed invention, from a study of the drawings, the description, and the appended claims. In the claims, the term "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.

[0037] Elements and features discussed with or in connection with a particular embodiment can be combined with elements and features of other embodiments as appropriate, unless otherwise stated, Thus, the mere 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.

[0038] The terms "comprise" and "include" as used in this text will be understood by those skilled in the art as covering the term "consisting of." Thus, the terms "comprise" or "include" mean "consisting of" in the context of an embodiment, but in another embodiment mean "including / having / equipped with at least the defined species and optionally one or more other species."

[0039] Notable aspects of the present invention are summarized as follows: The epilation device 1 comprises an epilation body 10 rotatable about a rotation axis R extending in a longitudinal direction L with respect to the epilation body 10 and equipped with at least one hair-collection space 11. The epilation device 1 further comprises an actuation mechanism 30 configured to act on the epilation body 10 to compress and elongate the epilation body 10 in the longitudinal direction L during a rotational movement of the epilation body 10 about the rotation axis R, in order to vary the size of the at least one hair-collection space 11 of the epilation body 10 in the longitudinal direction L, the actuation mechanism 30 comprising a force-inducing member 31 compressible and extensible in the longitudinal direction L, the force-inducing member 31 having the function of determining a level of hair fixing force in the epilation body 10.

Claims

1. an epilation body rotatable about a rotation axis extending in a longitudinal direction relative to the epilation body and having at least one hair collection space, the size of the at least one hair collection space in the longitudinal direction being variable by compression and expansion of the epilation body in the longitudinal direction; an actuation mechanism acting on the epilation body to cause compression and elongation of the epilation body in the longitudinal direction during a rotational movement of the epilation body about the rotation axis, the actuation mechanism including a force-inducing member that is compressible and extensible in the longitudinal direction, the actuation mechanism determining a level of force exerted in the longitudinal direction by the actuation mechanism on the epilation body when the size of the force-inducing member in the longitudinal direction changes while at least one hair-collection space of the epilation body is in a closed state; The force-displacement characteristics of the compression and extension of the force-inducing member in the longitudinal direction are stronger than the force-displacement characteristics of the compression and extension of the epilation body in the longitudinal direction; A hair removal device, wherein the force-displacement characteristic is a characteristic in which the higher the force associated with the same displacement, the stronger the force.

2. The epilation device of claim 1 , wherein the force-displacement characteristics of compression and extension of the force-inducing member in the longitudinal direction are adjustable.

3. The hair removal device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the force-inducing member is a passive force-inducing member.

4. The epilation device of claim 3 , wherein the force-inducing member comprises a spring.

5. 5. The hair removal device of claim 4, comprising at least one of an adjustment mechanism for adjusting a spring constant of the spring and an adjustment mechanism for adjusting a pretension of the spring.

6. 3. The hair removal device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the force-inducing member is an active force-inducing member designed to perform a force-inducing function in an activated energy state.

7. The hair removal device of claim 6 , wherein the force-inducing member comprises a solenoid.

8. The hair removal device according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein one end of the hair removal body is a fixed end having a fixed position in the longitudinal direction, and the other end of the hair removal body is a movable end having a variable position in the longitudinal direction, and the actuating mechanism acts on the hair removal body on the side of the movable end.

9. The epilation device according to claim 1 , further comprising a drive mechanism for driving the epilation body to perform a rotational movement around the rotation axis.

10. The epilation device of claim 9 , wherein the drive mechanism also drives the actuation mechanism to compress and expand the epilation body in the longitudinal direction.

11. 11. The hair removal device according to claim 1, wherein the actuating mechanism comprises two actuating members, both of which are movable in the longitudinal direction, a first of the actuating members being positioned closer to the epilation body in the longitudinal direction than a second of the actuating members, and the force-inducing member being positioned to couple the actuating members to each other.

12. 12. The hair removal device according to claim 11, dependent on claim 10, wherein the drive mechanism comprises a rotatable drive shaft coupled to the hair removal body for forcing a rotational movement in the hair removal body, and each of the actuating members is bush-shaped and positioned to surround a portion of the drive shaft.

13. 13. The hair removal device of claim 12, comprising an operating forcing arrangement including a cam and a cam follower, one of the cam and the cam follower having a fixed position on the hair removal device and the other of the cam and the cam follower attached to a second of the operating members.

14. The epilation device of claim 1 , wherein the epilation body comprises a linear coil spring.

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