Device for treating skin

• US 10,143,615 B2
• Filed: 06/28/2013
• Issued: 12/04/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 07/10/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Koninklijke Philips N.V.
• Original Assignee: Koninklijke Philips N.V.
• Inventors: Pardoel, Michel Gerardus, Skeats, Anthony James, Caprihan, Arjun, Mark, Rob, Yeap, Chin Eng
• Primary Examiner(s): Tsai, Michael
• Assistant Examiner(s): MILLER, CHRISTOPHER E
• Application Number:
  US14/413,031
• Publication Number:
  US 20150202114A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,985 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2023/0209 powered with frequencies not related to mains frequency
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/0153 hand-held
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/0157 portable
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/0169 Noise reduction
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/1215 Rotary drive
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/123 Linear drive
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/1463 Special speed variation means, i.e. speed reducer
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/1664 linear
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/1671 rotational
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/1685 interchangeable modular devices, A61H2201/0107
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/5007 computer controlled
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/5035 Several programs selectable
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 23/0218 with alternating magnetic fields producing a translating or oscillating movement
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 7/005 hand-held

Abstract

The present application relates to a device for treating skin (1) comprising a housing (2), a shaft (14) located in the housing (2) having a longitudinal axis (‘A’) and an end for receiving a skin treating part (3). The device (1) further comprises a drive means configured to cause the shaft to rotate about its longitudinal axis, and to oscillate in a direction along the longitudinal axis, wherein the drive means comprise a rotational drive unit for rotating the shaft (14) and an oscillation generator (26) for oscillating the shaft. The oscillation generator (26) is located about the shaft (14) such that the shaft is rotatable relative to the oscillation generator. Furthermore, the oscillation generator (26) comprises a solenoid (39) and a flux assembly (25), and the flux assembly (25) is moveable along the shaft (14) relative to the solenoid (39).

Claims

1. A device for treating skin comprising:

a housing;

a shaft located in the housing having a longitudinal axis ‘

A’ and

an end for receiving a skin treating part; and

a drive means coupled to the shaft for (i) rotating the shaft about its longitudinal axis, and (ii) oscillating the shaft in a direction along the longitudinal axis, wherein the drive means comprises (i) a rotational drive unit that includes a motor having a motor shaft rotatably coupled to a gear that is mounted to a cut-out portion of the shaft and configured to rotate the shaft about the longitudinal axis and (ii) an oscillation generator configured to oscillate the shaft, via a transfer of axial force through at least one support member to the shaft, along the longitudinal axis, wherein the oscillation generator is located about the shaft and configured to enable the shaft to rotate relative to the oscillation generator, further wherein the oscillation generator comprises (i) a solenoid and (ii) a flux assembly that includes at least a flux concentrator and magnet, wherein the flux assembly is moveable along the longitudinal axis of the shaft, via a bushing about the shaft, relative to the solenoid.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the rotational drive unit and the oscillation generator are configured such that the speed of the rotation and the frequency of the oscillation of the shaft can be independently changed of one another in response to a user input.

3. The device according to claim 1, wherein the flux concentrator comprises an inner flux concentrator and an outer flux concentrator, and said magnet is located therebetween.

4. The device according to claim 3, wherein the outer flux concentrator comprises a base panel having a peripheral side panel, and wherein the inner flux concentrator is received within an inner region defined by the peripheral side panel, wherein the magnet is located between the inner flux concentrator and the base panel, and wherein a gap is formed between the inner flux concentrator and the peripheral side panel for receiving the solenoid.

5. The device according to claim 1, wherein the at least one support member further comprises a first support and a second support, wherein the first and second supports are configured to hold the shaft, wherein the flux assembly is located about the shaft between the first and second supports, and wherein the solenoid is attached to one of the first support or the second support.

6. The device according to claim 5, wherein the first and second supports are configured to hold the shaft such that the shaft is (i) rotatable, via the rotational drive unit, relative to the first and second supports about the longitudinal axis and (ii) prevented from moving along the longitudinal axis relative to at least one of the first support or the second support.

7. The device according to claim 6, wherein the shaft includes a circumferential groove adapted to locate one of the first or second supports with respect to the shaft so as to prevent the shaft from moving along the longitudinal axis relative to the support that is located via the circumferential groove, and wherein the support that is located via the circumferential groove is flexibly connected to a frame of the device.

8. The device according to claim 7, wherein the support that is located via the circumferential groove includes an e-clip that is located in the circumferential groove.

9. The device according to claim 5, wherein one of the first support or the second support includes a stop, wherein the flux assembly impacts the stop as the flux assembly oscillates between a forward position and a rearward position along the direction of the longitudinal axis.

10. The device according to claim 5, further comprising a spring located between (i) one of the first support or the second support and (ii) the flux assembly, wherein the spring is configured to reduce an impact between (i) the first support or second support and (ii) the flux assembly as the flux assembly oscillates between a forward position and a rearward position along the direction of the longitudinal axis.

11. The device according to claim 1, further comprising a power source configured to power the drive means.

12. The device according to claim 11, further comprising an inverter configured to change a direct current supplied by the power source to an alternating current.

13. The device according to claim 12, further comprising a frequency converter configured to change a frequency of the alternating current.