Ultrasonic wave cosmetic device

• US 6,090,054 A
• Filed: 06/12/1998
• Issued: 07/18/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 06/13/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Matsushita Electric Works Ltd (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Matsushia Electric Works Limited
• Inventors: Sakamoto, Toshihiro, Tagishi, Hiroyuki, Ikadai, Kazuyasu
• Primary Examiner(s): Lateef, Marvin M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): MANTIS MERCADER, ELENI M
• Application Number:
  US09/097,113
• Time in Patent Office: 767 Days
• Field of Search: 601/2, 601/19, 601/46, 601/52, 601/15, 607/98
• US Class Current: 601/2
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/0176 By stopping operation
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 23/0245 with ultrasonic transducers, e.g. piezoelectric

Abstract

An improved ultrasonic wave cosmetic device which is able to protect skin against burns. The ultrasonic wave cosmetic device for treating skin includes a probe head having a skin contact metal surface for contacting the skin to transmit an ultrasonic wave thereto, an ultrasonic wave vibration element for vibrating at an ultrasonic wave frequency in response to an output signal from an ultrasonic wave oscillation circuit, and a temperature sensor mounted in a manner directly contacting a side surface of the ultrasonic wave vibration element and a surface opposite the skin contact metal surface for detecting the temperature of the probe head. The temperature sensor feeds back signals to the oscillation circuit which terminates the oscillation output signal when the probe head gets too hot.

Claims

1. An ultrasonic wave cosmetic device for treating skin, comprising:

a probe head having a skin contact metal surface for contacting the skin to transmit an ultrasonic wave to the skin, the probe head having a cup-like opening on a side opposite to the skin contact metal surface;

an ultrasonic wave vibration element mounted in the cup-like opening in the probe head for generating the ultrasonic wave by vibrating at an ultrasonic wave frequency in response to an output signal from an ultrasonic wave oscillation circuit; and

a temperature sensor mounted in a space between the ultrasonic wave vibration element and an inner wall of the cup-like opening in a manner directly contacting both a side surface of the ultrasonic wave vibration element and a surface opposite to the skin contact metal surface for detecting a temperature of the probe head and supplying a detection signal to the ultrasonic wave oscillation circuit, for controlling the output signal of the ultrasonic wave oscillation circuit to maintain the temperature of the probe head lower than a predetermined level.

2. An ultrasonic wave cosmetic device as defined in claim 1, wherein the probe head is attached to one end of a grip at an exterior angle smaller than 90°

relative to a longitudinal direction of the grip.

3. An ultrasonic wave cosmetic device as defined in claim 2, wherein the exterior angle relative to the longitudinal direction of the grip is about 75°

.

4. An ultrasonic wave cosmetic device as defined in claim 1, wherein the probe head is attached to one end of a grip having an attachment opening where the grip is formed with an upper grip housing and a lower grip housing.

5. An ultrasonic wave cosmetic device as defined in claim 1, wherein the probe head is attached to one end of a grip and has a cup-like opening in which the ultrasonic wave vibration element is mounted, and a head attachment elastic body having a cup-like shape is inserted in the cup-like opening.

6. An ultrasonic wave cosmetic device as defined in claim 5, wherein the head attachment elastic body has a flange at an outer surface, and one surface of the flange has an annular groove to receive a rim of the cup-like opening of the probe head when the head attachment elastic body is inserted in the cup-like opening.

7. An ultrasonic wave cosmetic device as defined in claim 5, wherein the head attachment elastic body has a plurality of elastic projections which elastically contact an inner surface of the cup-like opening of the probe head when the head attachment elastic body is inserted in the cup-like opening, thereby establishing a water tight seal.

8. An ultrasonic wave cosmetic device as defined in claim 7, wherein an elastic ring is provided at the outer surface of the probe head which is inserted by the head attachment elastic body therein, and the probe head is fitted in an attachment opening provided at one end of the grip until the flange contacts a head receiving step on the attachment opening through the elastic ring.

9. An ultrasonic wave cosmetic device as defined in claim 5, wherein the head attachment elastic body is made of rubber.