Skin treatment system

• US 5,494,674 A
• Filed: 07/09/1992
• Issued: 02/27/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 07/15/1991
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: FD Management, Inc. (Elizabeth Arden (Financing), Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Elizabeth Arden Company Division of Conopco Incorporated
• Inventors: Barnett, Philip J., Lowry, Michael R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Page, Thurman K.
• Assistant Examiner(s): LEVY, NEIL S
• Application Number:
  US07/910,943
• Time in Patent Office: 1,328 Days
• Field of Search: 424/401, 424/405, 514/947, 514/629
• US Class Current: 424/401
• CPC Class Codes: A45D 2200/057 Spray nozzles; Generating atomised liquid
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 35/00 Devices for applying media, e.g. remedies, on the human body devices for handling toiletry or cosmetic substances A45D; absorbent pads, e.g. swabs, A61F13/15
• CPC Class Codes: B05D 1/045 on non-conductive substrates

Abstract

Skin treatment agents, such as those conventionally found in lotions or creams which are applied by gentle massage or rubbing-in with fingers, are delivered for example in substantially neat form by means of electrostatic spraying.

Claims

1. A method for delivering a liquid skin treatment agent in a cosmetic composition directly to human skin to provide evenness of coverage on surfaces of the skin, comprising electrostatically spraying the agent directly thereon, the agent being electrostatically sprayable and being a silicone oil, said method further comprising:

(a) providing an apparatus suitable for small-scale personal use which includes

(i) a reservoir containing the skin treatment agent to be delivered which is in an electrostatically sprayable form;

(ii) at least one delivery means which is a nozzle in communication with the reservoir;

(iii) a high voltage generator generating voltage in the range 2 to 20 kilovolts powered from an electricity source; and

(iv) control means for selectively applying the high voltage from the generator to the at least one delivery means; and

(b) actuating the said control means to electrostatically spray the skin treatment agent from the at least one delivery means directly onto the skin at an intended site.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the skin treatment agent is provided in the form of a composition comprising one or more solvents or diluents.

3. A method according to claim 1, wherein the skin treatment agent is provided in the form of a composition which has a resistivity in the range 10⁴ and 10¹² ohm cm.

4. A method according to claim 1, wherein the skin treatment agent is in the form of a composition which is sprayed at a flow rate in the range 0.00001 to 0.5 ml/sec.