Electrical epilation

• US 4,784,136 A
• Filed: 01/12/1987
• Issued: 11/15/1988
• Est. Priority Date: 01/12/1987
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Patricia Oberle-Hummell
• Original Assignee: Patricia Oberle-Hummell
• Inventors: Klein, Peter
• Primary Examiner(s): Cohen, Lee S.
• Application Number:
  US07/002,421
• Time in Patent Office: 673 Days
• Field of Search: 128/303.13, 128/303.18, 128/303.19, 128/355
• US Class Current: 606/36
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/14 Probes or electrodes therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00452 Skin
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00476 Hair follicles

Abstract

In electrical epilation equipment useful to permanently remove unwanted body hair it is known to have a needle electrode to affect the immediate surroundings of the papilla. In this invention the needle electrode has been adapted to fit into the first arm of a pair of tweezers where its position can be adjusted so that the needle protrudes more or less from the tip of the tweezers first arm. This feature facilitates a consistent insertion depth of the needle into the follicles. Switches adapted to fit into the tweezers control electricity flow to the needle electrode when the tweezers is being closed to grip a hair. An indicator light adapted to fit into the tweezers monitors the presence of electrical energy at the needle electrode.

Claims

1. An electrical epilation apparatus for permanently removing unwanted body hair, comprising:

an electrically isolated pair of tweezers having opposed first and second arms;

a needle electrode bonded to an electrically conductive support plate slidably received in said first arm of said tweezers, said support plate having means to adjust the length of the needle electrode protruding from the tip of said first arm;

switching means between said first and second arms of said tweezers adapted to control electricity flow to said needle electrode when said tweezer arms are closed and opened;

an indicator light fitted into one of the tweezer arms and electrically connected to said switching means to indicate that said needle electrode is being energized; and

electrical generator means adapted to supply electrical energy to said needle electrode when said tweezer arms are closed.

2. An apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said electrical generator means is connected between said switching means and said indicator light.

3. An apparatus as defined in claim 2 wherein said electrical generator means comprises an RF type power source.

4. An apparatus as defined in claim 2 wherein said electrical generator means comprises a DC type power source.

5. An apparatus as defined in claim 2 wherein said adjusting means comprises a screw stud affixed to said support plate, an electrically isolated knob, a lock nut attached to said knob to receive said screw stud, a slot extending longitudinally along said first arm, said screw stud being received in said slot so as to permit the distance said needle electrode protrudes from the tip of said first arm to be adjusted to a predetermined length.

6. An apparatus as defined in claim 5 wherein said adjusting means further comprises an interior groove extending longitudinally of said first arm, said support plate being slidably received in said interior groove.

7. An apparatus as defined in claim 6 wherein said switching means comprises first and second contact pins disposed on said second arm and adapted make contact with said support plate to energize said needle electrode when said tweezer arms approach one another.

8. An apparatus as defined in claim 7 wherein said electrical generator means comprises an RF generator connected between said first contact pin, a relay switch and said indicator light, and a DC power source connected between said first contact pin, a relay and said second contact pin.