Handheld facial massage and light therapy device

• US 10,252,051 B2
• Filed: 08/22/2012
• Issued: 04/09/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 07/01/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Thomas Nichols
• Original Assignee: Thomas Nichols
• Inventors: Nichols, Thomas
• Primary Examiner(s): Yu, Justine
• Assistant Examiner(s): Stanis, Timothy
• Application Number:
  US13/592,226
• Publication Number:
  US 20130046212A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,421 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 13/008 Disc-shaped brush bodies
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 13/023 with means for inducing vibration to the bristles
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 15/0034 with a source of radiation, e.g. UV, IR, LASER, X-ray for irradiating the teeth and associated surfaces
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 2200/102 Brush specifically designed for massaging the skin or scalp A46B2200/1026 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 7/04 interchangeably removable bristle carriers
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/10 with further special therapeutic means, e.g. electrotherapy, magneto therapy or radiation therapy, chromo therapy, infrared or ultraviolet therapy
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/1685 interchangeable modular devices, A61H2201/0107
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2205/022 Face
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 23/0263 using rotating unbalanced masses
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 7/005 hand-held
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/00 Electrotherapy; Circuits therefor A61N2/00 takes precedence; irradiation apparatus A61N5/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0404 for external use A61N1/06 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/322 Electromedical brushes, combs, massage devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/328 for improving the appearance of the skin, e.g. facial toning or wrinkle treatment
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36014 External stimulators, e.g. with patch electrodes external pacemakers A61N1/3625

Abstract

One form of the device is a standard handpiece having a series of interchangeable treatment heads. The handpiece can accept cooperating treatment heads for twist-locking therein or by other engagement arrangement. The treatment heads may or may not have an internal motor assembly within them to create vibratory motion in the assembled device. The groups of possible treatment heads include LED-light-emitting heads, microcurrent-emitting heads, a treatment head having an abrasive or pebbled surface, as well as a bristle brush head. In another version, the handpiece and treatment head are integrated and not exchangeable. In this second version, a combination LED-light-emitting outer ring surrounds a central dual-lobe massage surface. The dual-lobe massage surface may be made from an inert material such as silicone, or it may be metallic in order to provide emission of therapeutic microcurrents.

Claims

1. A facial treatment assembly combination, comprising:

a handpiece defined by a handle section and a head section extending therefrom, said head section further defined by a head receptacle formed therein and two or more electrical contact pads dispersed within the walls comprising said head receptacle;

a group of head modules, wherein one of said group of head modules is at least partially insertible into said head receptacle at a time, the group of head modules comprising at least;

a first light-emitting head module comprising a head module housing having one or more lamp elements contained therein, said first light-emitting module having a lens at a head module face such that said lamp elements are visible therethrough, the light emittable from said first light-emitting head module being of a first wavelength; and

a dual-lobed head module comprising a head module housing having a face from which extend a pair of face sections separated by a groove formed therebetween, said face sections further comprising an emitter element extending directly from said head module housing whereby said emitter face is defined by a pair of metallic elements each terminating in a metallic face, said metallic faces separated by a non-metallic insulation element, wherein said insulation element defines a groove that is recessed relative to said metallic faces; and

wherein each said head module further comprises two or more electrical contact pads dispersed on the wall defined by an inner housing portion of each said head module, said head module electrical contact pads cooperating with said handpiece electrical contact pads such that each said head module contact pads is aligned with a said handpiece contact pad when said head module is inserted into said head receptacle.

2. The assembly combination of claim 1, wherein each said face section is coated with an electrically-conductive material and said groove comprises an insulation element.

3. The assembly combination of claim 2, wherein said dual-lobed head module further comprises a peripheral portion substantially surrounding said pair of face sections, said peripheral portion further comprising one or more lamp elements visible through a lens attached thereto.

4. The assembly combination of claim 1, wherein said dual-lobed head module further comprises a peripheral portion substantially surrounding said pair of face sections, said peripheral portion further comprising one or more lamp elements attached thereto.

5. The assembly combination of claim 1, wherein said dual-lobed head module further comprises an internal motor subassembly, said internal motor subassembly configured to selectively generate mechanical vibration responsive to activating electrical power through said contact pads from said handpiece.

6. The assembly combination of claim 5, wherein said internal motor subassembly comprises:

an electric motor connectable to said electrical power;

a shaft extending from said motor, said shaft driven to rotate by said electric motor; and

;

an offset weight element attached to a distal end of said shaft at a shaft bore, said shaft bore in spaced relation to a center axis of geometry of said offset weight element.

7. The assembly combination of claim 1 wherein said dual-lobed head module further comprises a peripheral portion substantially surrounding said pair of face sections, said peripheral portion further comprising a skin treatment surface section defined by a base attachable to said head module housing and a central aperture through which said pair of face sections protrude therethrough such that said emitter face is in spaced relation to said peripheral base, and said emitter element sidewall is adjacent to said skin treatment surface section.

8. The assembly combination of claim 7 wherein said peripheral portion skin treatment section comprises a plurality of brush bristles extending from said skin treatment surface section.

9. The assembly combination of claim 7, wherein:

said face sections define a first surface texture; and

said peripheral portion skin treatment section defines a second surface texture, said second surface texture being less smooth than said first surface texture.

10. The assembly combination of claim 9, wherein said second surface comprises a plurality of protrusions extending upwardly from said skin treatment section.

11. A facial treatment device, comprising:

a handpiece defined by a handle section and a head section;

a facial massage treatment assembly defined by a face protruding from said head section, said facial massage face comprising;

a first housing that detachably attaches to said head section;

a central current emitter section comprising a pair of metallic lobes in relative spaced relation and separated by an insulation element further comprising an emitter element extending directly from said first housing whereby said emitter face is defined by a pair of metallic elements each terminating in a metallic face, said metallic faces separated by a non-metallic insulation element, wherein said insulation element defines a groove that is recessed relative to said metallic faces;

a light emitting ring encompassing said central current emitter section; and

a mode control switch for activating said current emitter section to emit electrical current through said metallic lobes and further to activate said light emitting ring to emit colored light therefrom; and

said facial treatment device further comprising a second facial massage treatment assembly defined by a second housing detachably attachable to said head section, and a vibration-generating mechanism contained within said second housing, with electrical current for said vibration-generating mechanism provided from said handle section.

12. The device of claim 11, wherein said handpiece further comprises an internal motor subassembly located in said first housing, said internal motor subassembly configured to selectively generate mechanical vibration responsive to activating electrical power through said mode control switch.

13. The device of claim 12, wherein said internal motor subassembly comprises:

an electric motor connectable to said electrical power;

a shaft extending from said motor, said shaft driven to rotate by said electric motor; and

;

an offset weight element attached to a distal end of said shaft at a shaft bore, said shaft bore in spaced relation to a center axis of geometry of said offset weight element.

14. A facial treatment assembly comprising:

a handpiece defined by a handle section and a head section extending therefrom, said head section further defined by a head receptacle formed therein; and

a group of head modules, wherein one of said group of head modules is at least partially insertible into said head receptacle at a time, the group of head modules comprising at least;

a dual-lobed head module comprising a head module housing having a face from which extend a pair of face sections separated by a groove formed therebetween, said face sections further comprising an emitter element extending directly from said head module housing whereby said emitter face is defined by a pair of metallic elements each terminating in a metallic face, said metallic faces separated by a non-metallic insulation element, wherein said insulation element defines a groove that is recessed relative to said metallic faces;

a vibrating head module comprising a head module housing defined by a massage face and an internal motor subassembly, said internal motor subassembly activatable from said handpiece to generate vibrations in said head module; and

a light-emitting head module comprising a head module housing having one or more lamp elements contained therein, said module further comprising a lens attached to said head module housing such that said lamp elements are visible therethrough.

15. The facial treatment assembly of claim 14, wherein:

said head receptacle is defined by a head opening in said head section, said head receptacle comprises a peripheral sidewall encircling said head opening and terminating at a rim, said rim defining a rim diameter; and

each said head module is defined by an inner housing portion and an outer housing portion, said inner housing portion configured to be insertible through said head opening whereby sidewalls defined by said head module are in close proximity with said head receptacle peripheral sidewall.

16. The facial treatment assembly of claim 15, wherein said head receptacle further comprises a plurality of contact pads dispersed on said sidewall or a rear face of said head receptacle;

and

each said head module further comprises a plurality of contact pads dispersed on said head module sidewall or an internal face defined by said head module.

17. The facial treatment assembly of claim 16, wherein said head receptacle further comprises one or more interlock grooves formed in said sidewall and each said head module comprises a corresponding number of ridges extending from said head module sidewall, said ridges interlocking with said grooves to secure each said head module within said head receptacle.