Electric personal care device

Abstract

The present invention relates to an electric personal care device having a skin-contacting portion configured for contact with a user's skin, the skin-contacting portion comprising a porous compressible material configured to retain a fluid by capillary forces, the porous compressible material configured to compress due to contact of the skin-contacting portion with the user's skin, and configured to release the fluid onto the user's skin when the porous compressible material retains and is compressed.

Description

Technical Field

[0003]

[0001] The present invention relates to an electric personal care device and a personal care system.

Background Art

[0002] Electric personal care devices such as electric shavers, hair removal devices, and intense pulsed light (IPL) devices need to be moved over the skin, and a stick-slip phenomenon may occur as a result of the frictional force between the device and the skin, which is uncomfortable for many users. To reduce the frictional force and mitigate its effects, a lubricating fluid can be applied to the skin. However, the fluid may be applied too much or too little, and for many users, it is inconvenient that they have to use the device after applying the fluid.

[0003] There is a need to address these problems.

[0004] US3,656,234 discloses an electric shaving device having two cutting heads. The shaving device further comprises a skin lubricating member having a sponge material and an integrally attached band member for attaching the skin lubricating member onto an elastic band by an adhesive. The sponge material surrounds the two cutting heads and is filled with a desired skin softening agent. During use, the skin softening agent is released from the sponge material by the pressure of the shaver and further by the sponge material hitting the user's skin. Thus, the skin is moistened and softened.

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] It would be beneficial to have an improved technique for applying a lubricating fluid when using an electric personal care device as described above.

[0006] The object of the present invention is achieved using the subject matter of the independent claim, and further embodiments are incorporated into the dependent claims.

[0007] It should be noted that the embodiments and examples described below of the present invention are applicable to both electric personal care devices and personal care systems. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] In a first aspect of the present invention, an electric personal care device is provided having a skin contact portion configured for contact with a user's skin. The skin contact portion comprises a porous compressible material. The porous compressible material is configured to hold a fluid by capillary action. The porous compressible material is further configured to be compressed due to pressure contact of the skin contact portion with the user's skin. When the porous compressible material is compressed holding a fluid, the porous compressible material is configured to release the fluid onto the user's skin. The skin contact portion comprises a layer attached to a support member of the electric personal care device, the layer comprising a porous compressible material. The layer comprises at least two components, the at least two components comprising a carrier material and a plurality of particles embedded in the carrier material. The carrier material is different from the porous compressible material, the plurality of particles comprising the porous compressible material.

[0009] In this way, a lubrication system is provided for electric personal care devices such as electric shavers and trimmers that come into sliding contact with the skin during use, thereby reducing the frictional force between the device and the skin due to the release of lubricating fluid when the device comes into contact with the skin. Lubrication is provided in the right place as needed in a convenient and efficient manner.

[0010] Since the skin contact area includes a layer added to the support member of the electric personal care device, and this layer is made of a porous compressible material, an efficient fluid supply system is provided, and the manufacture of an electric personal care device with a lubrication system is facilitated.

[0011] The layer comprises at least two components, the at least two of which comprise a carrier material and a plurality of particles embedded in the carrier material, wherein the carrier material is different from a porous compressible material, and the plurality of particles are made of a porous compressible material, thus allowing control over fluid retention and fluid release properties. In particular, the particles retain fluid through capillary action and release fluid as needed when compressed. The carrier material of the layer acts as a support structure for the fluid-retaining particles, enabling the provision of an optimal fluid release system.

[0012] In a further embodiment of the electric personal care device according to the present invention, the layer is covered on a support member.

[0013] In this way, a strong and elastic bond is achieved between the layer and the apparatus, providing a convenient manufacturing method.

[0014] In a further embodiment of the electric personal care device according to the present invention, the layer is attached to a support member.

[0015] In this way, the layer can be mass-produced for numerous devices and then installed in the equipment as needed.

[0016] In a further embodiment of the electric personal care device according to the present invention, a carrier material forms the outer surface of a layer configured to come into contact with the user's skin. At least some of the particles protrude from the outer surface.

[0017] In this way, by selecting a carrier material with relatively high rigidity, the rigidity of the outer surface of the layer becomes relatively high, which is beneficial in certain types of electric personal care devices such as electric shavers. Despite the high rigidity of the carrier material, the protruding particles with porous compressible materials can still be compressed and release lubricating fluid.

[0018] In the embodiments of the electric personal care device mentioned in the above paragraph, it is preferable that the thickness of the carrier material is less than the average outer diameter of the multiple particles.

[0019] In other words, all or almost all of the particles protrude from the outer surface of the layer containing the carrier material, enabling efficient and effective supply of the lubricating fluid.

[0020] In this way, when the electric personal care device is in contact with the skin, it can be ensured that the particles come into contact with the user's skin and become compressible, thereby releasing the fluid precisely where and when needed.

[0021] In a further embodiment of the electric personal care device according to the present invention, the carrier material is compressible.

[0022] This allows the layer to have a carrier material that partially acts as a compressible support structure for porous compressible particles embedded in the carrier material. The compressibility of the carrier material improves the compressibility of the embedded particles. In the above embodiment, it is preferable that the carrier material acts as a fluid supply. Being compressible makes the entire skin contact area very comfortable for the user.

[0023] In the embodiment of the electric personal care device mentioned in the paragraph above, the thickness of the carrier material is preferably greater than or equal to the average outer diameter of the multiple particles, and the carrier material is configured to allow fluid to pass through.

[0024] That is, the support portion of the layer is compressible and can permeate the fluid held by particles comprising a porous and compressible fluid retention material. In this embodiment, most of the particles are completely embedded within the carrier material. Thereby, the layer comprises a relatively large number of porous particles and can contain a relatively large amount of fluid. Additionally, the possibility of compressing the particles due to unintended contact of the layer leading to unintended fluid release is reduced. However, when the user intentionally uses the electric personal care device, the layer is compressed and the particles are also compressed. Due to the compression of the particles, the particles release fluid, and subsequently, this fluid can permeate through the carrier material to the user's skin.

[0025] In a further embodiment of the electric personal care device according to the present invention, the carrier material has a fluid permeable structure comprising conduits having dimensions perpendicular to the direction of fluid flow in the range of 30 - 50 μm.

[0026] Thereby, the dimensions of the conduits of the fluid permeable structure of the carrier material portion of the layer are wide enough to allow fluid flow through the conduits so as not to suppress or limit the fluid flow by capillary forces.

[0027] In a further embodiment of the electric personal care device according to the present invention, the porous compressible material comprises a plurality of pores and / or channels configured to hold fluid by capillary forces.

[0028] Thereby, when those channels can be formed by the connection of pores, the pores and / or channels provide a means for efficiently and naturally holding fluid by capillary forces.

[0029] In a further embodiment of the electric personal care device according to the present invention, the plurality of pores and / or channels are configured to release fluid by compression of the porous compressible material.

[0030] In other words, the size of the holes and / or channels is appropriately determined not only to retain the fluid, but also to allow the fluid to flow out when compressed without being significantly restricted or inhibited due to capillary forces.

[0031] In a further embodiment of the electric personal care device according to the present invention, the pores and / or channels have dimensions perpendicular to the direction of fluid flow in the range of 150 to 500 nm.

[0032] This determines the size of the pores and / or channels so as to allow for capillary forces to retain fluid while enabling fluid release due to compression of the porous compressible material.

[0033] In a second embodiment of the present invention, An electric personal care device according to a first aspect of the present invention, docking station and A personal care system equipped with these features is provided.

[0034] The electric personal care device is configured to dock with a docking station. The docking station is configured to fill a porous, compressible material with fluid.

[0035] As described above, the embodiments of the electric personal care device according to the present invention and the advantages realized thereby are equally applicable to personal care systems according to the present invention, and vice versa.

[0036] The above aspects and embodiments of the present invention will become apparent from the figures described below and will be described in detail with reference thereto.

[0037] In the following, an exemplary embodiment will be described with reference to the following drawings. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0038] [Figure 1]The left side shows a dried and hardened layer comprising a porous, compressible material in the form of particles or microbeads, and the right side shows a magnified image of such particles or microbeads, where porosity exists in the particles to retain a lubricant. [Figure 2] This diagram shows a shaving unit, with a layer added to the skin support ring surrounding the hair cutting unit of the shaving unit, as shown in Figure 1. [Figure 3] This is a schematic diagram of a sol-gel layer and porous compressible particles. [Figure 4] This figure shows unfilled porous compressible particles. [Figure 5] This figure shows porous, compressible particles being filled. [Figure 6] This figure shows a cross-section of a skin support ring, an alternative to a shaver, as shown in Figure 2, to which a sol-gel layer having porous compressible particles is added. [Figure 7] Figure 6 is a schematic diagram showing the uncompressed porous particles and compressed porous particles in the layer. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0039] A novel and simple method for retaining a lubricating fluid within the skin contact area of ​​an electric personal care device has been developed. The fluid can be effectively applied to the skin through contact with the skin at the skin contact area of ​​the electric personal care device.

[0040] According to the present invention, an electric personal care device comprises a skin contact portion configured for contact with the user's skin. The skin contact portion comprises a porous compressible material. The porous compressible material is configured to hold a fluid by capillary action. The fluid may be a lubricating fluid or, if necessary, another fluid. The porous compressible material is configured to be compressed due to the pressure contact of the skin contact portion with the user's skin. The porous compressible material is configured to hold a fluid and release the fluid onto the user's skin when compressed by the pressure contact of the skin contact portion of the device with the user's skin.

[0041] According to the present invention, the skin contact portion comprises a layer added to the support member of the electric personal care device. The layer comprises a porous compressible material.

[0042] In one example, the layer is covered onto the support member.

[0043] In one example, the coating is a sol-gel coating.

[0044] For example, the layers are attached to a support member.

[0045] In one example, the layers are cast / extruded and then attached to a support member of an electric personal care device.

[0046] According to the present invention, the layer comprises at least two components. The at least two components comprise a carrier material and a plurality of particles embedded in the carrier material. The carrier material is different from a porous compressible material, and the plurality of particles comprises a porous compressible material.

[0047] In one example, a carrier material forms the outer surface of a layer configured to come into contact with the user's skin, with at least some of the particles protruding from the outer surface.

[0048] In one example, the carrier material has a degree of compressibility less than that of the particles. That is, the carrier material has a stiffness or hardness greater than that of the particles. In this example, the particles can be compressed to a greater degree than the supporting carrier material. This also means that when the skin contact portion of the electric personal care device comes into contact with or is pressed against the skin, the particles are compressed, thereby releasing the lubricating fluid.

[0049] In other words, a portion of the layer acts as a strong, relatively rigid support structure for porous, compressible particles that hold fluid and protrude from the support structure. When the skin contact portion of the device comes into contact with the skin and releases fluid as needed, the particles become compressed.

[0050] In this way, not only is it easier to retain and release fluids, but it also becomes possible to refill the particles with fluid.

[0051] In one example, the layer is cast / extruded with particles incorporated into it, and then attached to a support member of an electric personal care device.

[0052] In one example, the layer is added as a coating containing particles.

[0053] For example, the thickness of the carrier material is less than the average outer diameter of multiple particles.

[0054] For example, the carrier material is compressible.

[0055] In one example, the thickness of the carrier material is greater than or equal to the average outer diameter of the multiple particles. In this example, the carrier material is configured to allow fluid to permeate it.

[0056] For example, the carrier material comprises a fluid permeable structure having conduits with dimensions perpendicular to the direction of fluid flow in the range of 30 to 50 μm.

[0057] For example, a porous compressible material comprises a plurality of pores and / or channels configured to hold fluid by capillary action.

[0058] For example, multiple pores and / or channels are configured to release fluid upon compression of a porous, compressible material.

[0059] For example, the pores and / or channels have dimensions perpendicular to the direction of fluid flow in the range of 150 to 500 nm.

[0060] Porous compressible materials need to be periodically refilled with fluid and / or cleaned. Therefore, the docking station is configured to allow the electric personal care device to dock with it, as described above. Together, the docking station and the electric personal care device form a personal care system. Once the electric personal care device is docked with the docking station, the docking station can fill the porous compressible material with fluid.

[0061] In one example, the docking station is configured to wash the porous compressible material before filling it with fluid.

[0062] In one example, a docking station is used to clean porous compressible material. It is configured to heat a porous, compressible material.

[0063] As described above, in one embodiment, a coating is provided on the skin-contacting surface of the electric personal care device, and compressible porous particles are embedded within it. The coating can be, for example, a sol-gel coating applied to a support member, or it can be separated as a layer and added to the support member of the electric personal care device. After drying and curing of the coating / layer, the compressible porous particles are fixed within the coating, and the porosity of the particles is maintained.

[0064] Porous particles can be formed, for example, from a microsponge. Before use of the electric personal care device, the porous particles are filled with a lubricating fluid, under the influence of capillary action in the pores of the porous material. In particular, the particles protrude beyond the surface of the coating. Thereafter, when the surface of the coating is pressed against the skin, the porous particles are compressed, thereby releasing the lubricating fluid from the porous particles and supplying it to the skin. The lubricating fluid can be, for example, crodamol, fombrin, or other suitable skin lubricating fluid.

[0065] Figure 1 shows SEM images of an example of a layer / coating, which has been dried and cured and is shown with incorporated porous particles. The image on the left is an overall view of the coating with particles. The image on the right is a magnified view of the left-hand image, where the porosity of the particles is visible. The left-hand SEM image shows a sol-gel matrix where the porous particles are seen as a continuous layer with protrusions. The magnified SEM image on the right shows individual particles with their pores visible.

[0066] During manufacturing, the filler material is washed away to allow it to escape through the pores and the channels formed by them. The support layer has lower compressibility than the porous compressible material itself and can be thinner than the average particle size. Thus, when the skin contact portion of the electric personal care device comes into contact with the skin and is pressed against it, the porous compressible material compresses, thereby releasing the lubricating fluid.

[0067] However, the support layer may be fluid-permeable but configured not to retain fluid due to capillary action. Thus, the support layer may be thicker than the particles. However, when such a coated device is placed on the skin with slight pressure, the entire layer containing the porous particles is compressed. The lubricating fluid can then flow through the support layer onto the skin.

[0068] Therefore, in either embodiment, the lubricant is extruded out of the porous compressible material to form a thin lubricating fluid layer between the skin contact portion of the device and the skin, reducing both sticking and friction between the device and the skin.

[0069] Figure 2 shows an example of an electric personal care device according to the present invention, which is a shaving unit in which a new layer is added to a skin support ring (CR) surrounding a hair cutting unit (HU). Here, the layer in the form of a coating is added on the skin support ring. When the shaving unit is pressed against the skin, the skin support ring, together with the hair cutting unit, comes into contact with the skin. In this coating, porous particles are embedded to hold the lubricating fluid.

[0070] Figure 3 is a schematic diagram of a sol-gel layer and porous compressible particles partially embedded within it. The sol-gel layer (SGL) is micro / fine and porous, acting as a support for transporting the lubricating fluid. In the image, the pores of the sol-gel layer are highlighted as larger pores. Typical compressible porous particles (PT) of the sol-gel layer are shown. Also shown is a tube (T) filled with lubricating fluid and connected to a fluid container (not shown) used to fill the sol-gel layer with lubricating fluid.

[0071] Figures 4 and 5 show porous compressible particles that are not filled with fluid and porous compressible particles that are filled with fluid, respectively. Figure 4 shows particles with open pores that are not filled with fluid, and Figure 5 shows particles with pores that are filled with fluid. These schematic diagrams showing cross-sections of the particles reveal the capillary structure in porous particles that can contain fluid. This capillary structure includes conduits (CONs) that are not filled with fluid in Figure 4 and are filled with fluid in Figure 5.

[0072] Figure 6 is a schematic cross-section of a skin support ring (CR) that replaces the shaving unit in Figure 2, with an added sol-gel layer (L) having compressible porous particles (PTS) protruding from the layer.

[0073] Figure 7 is a schematic diagram of the uncompressed and compressed particles of the layer (L+PTS) in Figure 6, with the uncompressed particles shown in the left-hand image and the compressed particles shown in the right-hand image. The images show cross-sections of porous particles filled with fluid and partially embedded in the sol-gel matrix layer. When the layer is in pressure with the skin, the particles are compressed, and as a result, the pores of the particles are compressed. As a result of this compression, the particles decrease in size and volume. However, the fluid is incompressible, and consequently, the fluid exits through the compressed pores and is applied to the skin surface. This situation is schematically shown in the right-hand image of Figure 7.

[0074] Although the present invention has been illustrated and described in detail in the drawings and the above description, such illustrations and descriptions should be considered descriptive or illustrative and not limiting. The present invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments. Other variations of the disclosed embodiments can be understood and realized by those skilled in the art in practicing the invention described in the claims by careful consideration of the drawings, this disclosure and the dependent claims.

[0075] In the claims, the words “equipped with” and “having” do not exclude other elements or steps, and the singular form does not exclude the plural. A single processor or other unit performs the functions of several elements described in the claims. The mere fact that certain means are described in different dependent claims does not indicate that a combination of those means cannot be used effectively. Any reference numeral in the claims should not be construed as limiting the scope.

Claims

1. An electric personal care device equipped with a skin contact part for contact with the user's skin, The skin contact portion comprises a porous compressible material, The porous compressible material holds fluid by capillary action, In an electric personal care device, the porous compressible material is compressed due to pressure contact at the skin contact portion with the user's skin, and when the porous compressible material is compressed while holding the fluid, the device releases the fluid onto the user's skin. The skin contact portion comprises a layer attached to the support member of the electric personal care device, and the layer comprises the porous compressible material. The layer comprises at least two components, the at least two components comprising a carrier material and a plurality of particles embedded in the carrier material, wherein the carrier material has higher rigidity than the porous compressible material, and the plurality of particles comprises the porous compressible material. An electric personal care device characterized by the following features.

2. The electric personal care device according to claim 1, wherein the layer is covered on the support member.

3. The electric personal care device according to claim 1, wherein the layer is attached to the support member.

4. The electric personal care device according to claim 1, wherein the carrier material forms the outer surface of the layer that comes into contact with the user's skin, and at least some of the plurality of particles protrude from the outer surface.

5. The electric personal care device according to claim 4, wherein the thickness of the carrier material is less than the average outer diameter of the plurality of particles.

6. The electric personal care device according to claim 1, wherein the carrier material is compressible.

7. The electric personal care device according to claim 6, wherein the thickness of the carrier material is greater than or equal to the average outer diameter of the plurality of particles, and the carrier material is permeable to the fluid.

8. The electric personal care device according to claim 7, wherein the carrier material comprises a fluid permeable structure having a conduit, and the conduit has dimensions in the range of 30 to 50 μm in a direction perpendicular to the direction of fluid flow.

9. The electric personal care device according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the porous compressible material comprises a plurality of pores and / or channels that hold the fluid by capillary action.

10. The electric personal care device according to claim 9, wherein the plurality of pores and / or channels release the fluid by compression of the porous compressible material.

11. The electric personal care device according to any one of claims 9 and 10, wherein the pores and / or channels have dimensions perpendicular to the direction of fluid flow in the range of 150 to 500 nm.

12. An electric personal care device according to any one of claims 1 to 11, docking station and Equipped with, The aforementioned electric personal care device docks with the docking station, The docking station fills the porous compressible material with the fluid. Personal care system.

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