Facial steamer machine with detachable function units

• US 6,022,327 A
• Filed: 05/04/1998
• Issued: 02/08/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 05/04/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Henry Ping Chang
• Original Assignee: Henry Ping Chang
• Inventors: Chang, Henry Ping
• Primary Examiner(s): DeMille, Danton D.
• Application Number:
  US09/072,575
• Time in Patent Office: 645 Days
• Field of Search: 361/724, 361/725, 361/726, 361/727, 361/730-3, 248/128, 248/129, 211/70.6, 211/133.1, 312/209, 312/223.1, 312/249.8, 433/77-79, 601/7, 601/15, 601/16, 601/17, 601/46, 601/84, 601/137, 601/138
• US Class Current: 601/15
• 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 23/0245 with ultrasonic transducers, e.g. piezoelectric
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 33/12 Steam baths for the face
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 9/00 Pneumatic or hydraulic massage
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 9/005 Pneumatic massage
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/00 Electrotherapy; Circuits therefor A61N2/00 takes precedence; irradiation apparatus A61N5/00
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/1411 for securing or extracting box-type drawers

Abstract

The present invention provides a facial steamer machine with detachable function units, in which all kinds of skin care appliance are independently constructed into a plurality of function units which are adapted to incorporate with the facial steamer machine, so that the user may selectively combine several function units to detachably connect and equip with the facial steamer machine to form a single skin care system. The facial steamer machine of the present invention can also reduce the overall manufacturing cost by utilizing some common components such as the movable stand and the power wiring arrangement. Therefore, the present invention occupies less storage space and operating space. Moreover, it is easier to maintain too.

Claims

1. A facial steamer machine equipped with a plurality of detachable function units each having a predetermined skin care function, wherein said facial steamer machine comprises a facial steamer unit, a system housing, and a movable stand for supporting said facial steamer unit and said system housing, said system housing comprising a central power control unit affixed to a side of said facial steamer unit and a unit holding shelf integrally mounted on said central power control unit, said unit holding shelf providing a plurality of receiving chambers adapted to receive said plurality of function units respectively, said central power control unit comprising a plurality of power source terminals, wherein each of said power source terminals is respectively mounted on a rear wall of each of said receiving chambers of said unit holding shelf and electrically connected to a main power wire of said facial steamer machine which is downwardly extended outside from a bottom portion of said movable stand, each of said function units further comprising a unit case to encase a predetermined skin care appliance therein, an operation panel provided on said unit case, a tool connector provided on said unit case for electrically connected with an operation tool through an extensible electric wire, and a power connecting terminal disposed on a rear side of said unit case, therefore when said function unit is firmly installed to said facial steamer machine by inserting into said respective receiving chamber of said unit holding shelf, said power connecting terminal is fittedly connected with said respective power source terminal in order to achieve electrical communication, so that an electrical power of each of said function units installed to said facial steamer machine is provided from said power source terminal through said power connecting terminal, moreover each of said function unit is able to be detached from said facial steamer machine by pulling out said function unit from said respective receiving chamber of said unit holding shelf and disconnecting said power source terminal and said power connecting terminal.

2. A facial steamer machine as recited in claim 1 wherein each of said power source terminals is an electrical socket serving as a power output of said facial steamer machine and each of said power connecting terminals is an electrical plug serving as a power input of said function unit, wherein each of said electrical plugs is firmly affixed to said rear side of said respective unit case and plugged into said respective electrical socket when said function unit is fully inserted into said corresponding receiving chamber of said unit holding shelf.

3. A facial steamer machine as recited claim 2 wherein a front surface of each of said electrical sockets is preferably positioned at a same plane of said respective rear wall, so that when said function units are inserted into said receiving chambers respectively, said rear sides of said unit cases of said function units are all in the proximity of said rear wall of said unit holding shelf in order to achieve better electrical connection between said electrical plugs and said electrical sockets.

4. A facial steamer machine as recited in claim 3 wherein each of said electrical plugs has two connecting tails and each of said electrical sockets has two socket holes, and that a front end of each of said socket holes is enlarged to front a guiding end to guide said insertion of said respective connecting tail of said corresponding plug.

5. A facial steamer machine as recited in claim 1 wherein said facial steamer machine is equipped with three of said function units which are preferably arranged angularly, in which said rear wall is divided into two sidewardly positioned rear walls and a middle rear wall, wherein said two sidewardly positioned rear walls are rearwardly inclined with respect to said middle rear wall, moreover two pairs of dividers are secured to a top wall and a bottom wall of said unit holding shelf respectively, and that each of said dividers comprises a tapered wedge and two of said dividers are evenly spaced and parallelly secured to said top wall while said other two dividers are evenly spaced and parallelly secured to said bottom wall so as to define three of said receiving chambers.

6. A facial steamer machine as recited in claim 3 wherein said facial steamer machine is equipped with three of said function units which are preferably arranged angularly, in which said rear wall is divided into two sidewardly positioned rear walls and a middle rear wall, wherein said two sidewardly positioned rear walls are rearwardly inclined with respect to said middle rear wall, moreover two pairs of dividers are secured to a top wall and a bottom wall of said unit holding shelf respectively, and that each of said dividers comprises a tapered wedge and two of said dividers are evenly spaced and parallelly secured to said top wall while said other two dividers are evenly spaced and parallelly secured to said bottom wall so as to define three of said receiving chambers.

7. A facial steamer machine as recited in claim 4 wherein said facial steamer machine is equipped with three of said function units which are preferably arranged angularly, in which said rear wall is divided into two sidewardly positioned rear walls and a middle rear wall, wherein said two sidewardly positioned rear walls are rearwardly inclined with respect to said middle rear wall, moreover two pairs of dividers are secured to a top wall and a bottom wall of said unit holding shelf respectively, and that each of said dividers comprises a tapered wedge and two of said dividers are evenly spaced and parallelly secured to said top wall while said other two dividers are evenly spaced and parallelly secured to said bottom wall so as to define three of said receiving chambers.

8. A facial steamer machine as recited in claim 1 further comprising a plurality of locking means for respectively securing said function units with said unit holding shelf.

9. A facial steamer machine as recited in claim 8 wherein each of said locking means includes a transverse groove provided at a bottom surface of said unit case of said respective function unit and a resilient locking member affixed underneath a bottom wall of said unit holding shelf, wherein each of said locking member has a securing rib protruded upwardly for engaging with said groove when said respective function unit is fully inserted into said corresponding receiving chamber, thereby to unlock said locking means, simply press said locking member downwards and detach said function unit by pulling out said function unit from said unit holding shelf.

10. A facial steamer machine as recited in claim 3 further comprising a plurality of locking means for respectively securing said function units with said unit holding shelf.

11. A facial steamer machine as recited in claim 10 wherein each of said locking means includes a transverse groove provided at a bottom surface of said unit case of said respective function unit and a resilient locking member affixed underneath said bottom wall of said unit holding shelf, wherein each of said locking member has a securing rib protruded upwardly for engaging with said groove when said respective function unit is fully inserted into said corresponding receiving chamber, thereby to unlock said locking means, simply press said locking member downwards and detach said function unit by pulling out said function unit from said unit holding shelf.

12. A facial steamer machine as recited in claim 4 further comprising a plurality of locking means for respectively securing said function units with said unit holding shelf.

13. A facial steamer machine as recited in claim 12 wherein each of said locking means includes a transverse groove provided at a bottom surface of said unit case of said respective function unit and a resilient locking member affixed underneath said bottom wall of said unit holding shelf, wherein each of said locking member has a securing rib protruded upwardly for engaging with said groove when said respective function unit is fully inserted into said corresponding receiving chamber, thereby to unlock said locking means, simply press said locking member downwards and detach said function unit by pulling out said function unit from said unit holding shelf.

14. A facial steamer machine as recited in claim 5 further comprising a plurality of locking means for respectively securing said function units with said unit holding shelf, wherein each of said locking means includes a transverse groove provided at a bottom surface of said unit case of said respective function unit and a resilient locking member affixed underneath said bottom wall of said unit holding shelf, wherein each of said locking member has a securing rib protruded upwardly for engaging with said groove when said respective function unit is fully inserted into said corresponding receiving chamber, thereby to unlock said locking means, simply press said locking member downwards and detach said function unit by pulling out said function unit from said unit holding shelf.

15. A facial steamer machine as recited in claim 7 further comprising a plurality of locking means for respectively securing said function units with said unit holding shelf, wherein each of said locking means includes a transverse groove provided at a bottom surface of said unit case of said respective function unit and a resilient locking member affixed underneath said bottom wall of said unit holding shelf, wherein each of said locking member has a securing rib protruded upwardly for engaging with said groove when said respective function unit is fully inserted into said corresponding receiving chamber, thereby to unlock said locking means, simply press said locking member downwards and detach said function unit by pulling out said function unit from said unit holding shelf.

16. A facial steamer as recited in claim 1 further comprising a central switch, which is electrically connected along said main power wire, is disposed on said movable stand so that said facial steamer unit and all said function units is shut off by switching off said central switch.

17. A facial steamer as recited in claim 4 further comprising a central switch, which is electrically connected along said main power wire, is disposed on said movable stand so that said facial steamer unit and all said function units is shut off by switching off said central switch.

18. A facial steamer as recited in claim 7 further comprising a central switch, which is electrically connected along said main power wire, is disposed on said movable stand so that said facial steamer unit and all said function units is shut off by switching off said central switch.

19. A facial steamer as recited in claim 15 further comprising a central switch, which is electrically connected along said main power wire, is disposed on said movable stand so that said facial steamer unit and all said function units is shut off by switching off said central switch.

20. A facial steamer as recited in claim 1 further comprising a fuse electrically connected along said main power wire to prevent unwanted and unexpected electrical shock.

21. A facial steamer as recited in claim 19 further comprising a fuse electrically connected along said main power wire to prevent unwanted and unexpected electrical shock.

22. A facial steamer machine equipped with a plurality of detachable function units each having a predetermined skin care function, wherein said facial steamer machine comprises a facial steamer unit, a system housing, and a movable stand for supporting said facial steamer unit and said system housing, said system housing comprising a central power control unit affixed to a side of said facial steamer unit and a unit holding shelf integrally mounted on said central power control unit, said unit holding shelf providing a plurality of horizontal receiving chambers adapted to receive said plurality of function units respectively, said central power control unit comprising a plurality of power source terminals, wherein each of said power source terminals is respectively mounted on a rear wall of each of said receiving chambers of said unit holding shelf and electrically connected to a main power wire of said facial steamer machine which is downwardly extended outside from a bottom portion of said movable stand, each of said function units further comprising a unit case to encase a predetermined skin care appliance therein, an operation panel provided on said unit case, and a power connecting terminal disposed on a rear side of said unit case, therefore when said function unit is firmly installed to said facial steamer machine by inserting into said respective receiving chamber of said unit holding shelf, said power connecting terminal is fittedly connected with said respective power source terminal in order to achieve electrical communication, so that an electrical power of each of said function units installed to said facial steamer machine is provided from said power source terminal through said power connecting terminal, moreover said facial steamer machine further comprises an operation unit which is affixed under said unit holding shelf and comprises a plurality of electrical connectors all electrically extended to said rear walls of said receiving chambers respectively, and that each of said function units further provides an electrical terminal at said rear side thereof for electrically connected with said respectively electrical connector when said function unit is received in said corresponding receiving chamber, wherein said operation unit provides a plurality of tool connectors thereon to connect with a plurality of operation tools via a plurality of electric wires respectively.

23. A facial steamer machine as recited in claim 22 wherein each of said power source terminals is an electrical socket serving as a power output of said facial steamer machine and each of said power connecting terminals is an electrical plug serving as a power input of said function unit, wherein each of said electrical plugs is firmly affixed to said rear side of said respective unit case and plugged into said respective electrical socket when said function unit is fully inserted into said corresponding receiving chamber of said unit holding shelf.

24. A facial steamer machine as recited claim 23 wherein a front surface of each of said electrical sockets is preferably positioned at a same plane of said respective rear wall, so that when said function units are inserted into said receiving chambers respectively, said rear sides of said unit cases of said function units are all in the proximity of said rear wall of said unit holding shelf in order to achieve better electrical connection between said electrical plugs and said electrical sockets.

25. A facial steamer as recited in claim 22 further comprising a central switch, which is electrically connected along said main power wire, is disposed on said movable stand so that said facial steamer unit and all said function units is shut off by switching off said central switch.

26. A facial steamer as recited in claim 22 further comprising a fuse electrically connected along said main power wire to prevent unwanted and unexpected electrical shock.