Method for enhancing the shaving process for humans using an oscillating skin brush

• US 7,789,092 B2
• Filed: 12/21/2005
• Issued: 09/07/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: L'Oreal SA
• Original Assignee: Pacific Bioscience Laboratories Incorporated (L'Oreal SA)
• Inventors: Pilcher, Kenneth A., Akridge, Robert E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Rodriguez; Cris L
• Assistant Examiner(s): STEITZ, RACHEL RUNNING
• Application Number:
  US11/316,055
• Publication Number:
  US 20070142845A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,721 Days
• Field of Search: 132/200, 132/289, 132/290, 132/292, 604/289, 606/131, 15/28, 15/221, 15/211, 15/971, 601/114, 601/142
• US Class Current: 132/200
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/50 Instruments, other than pincettes or toothpicks, for removing foreign bodies from the human body locating otherwise A61B5/06; locating by radiation A61B6/00; removing calculi A61B17/22; from the eyes A61F9/00709
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00734 battery operated
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320012 Brushes
• CPC Class Codes: B26B 19/38 Details of, or accessories for, hair clippers, or dry shavers, e.g. housings, casings, grips, guards cutters, cutting heads B26B19/04, B26B19/12, B26B19/14; cleaning or disinfecting devices A45D27/46; drying devices A45D27/48; casings for electric apparatus in general H05K
• CPC Class Codes: B26B 21/4081 Shaving methods; Usage or wear indication; Testing methods

Abstract

The method includes the steps of preparing a beard or other skin area to be shaved for shaving by first applying the tips of a bristle skin brush to the skin area of the beard to clean the skin area, the brush having an outer brushhead portion and an inner brushhead portion, wherein the first portion remains stationary in operation, wherein the second brushhead portion oscillates through a selected range 18-26° at a frequency within the range of 120-220 Hz. The tips of the bristles are applied to the skin area to be shaved following or simultaneous with the wetting of the skin area with water, and then following or simultaneous with, lathering the skin area with shaving cream or gel.

Claims

1. A method for improving shaving of hair from skin in humans, comprising the steps of:

preparing a skin area with hair for shaving by applying tips of a bristled power skin brush to the skin area, wherein the skin area includes a facial surface and the hairs form a facial beard or wherein the skin area includes a non-facial skin area, including legs of a human, the power skin brush having an outer brushhead portion and an inner brushhead portion, wherein the first portion remains stationary and wherein the second portion oscillates through a selected angle in the range of 18-26°

at a frequency in the range of 120-220 Hz, thereby producing a cleansing effect on the skin by exfoliation of skin cells at the base of the facial hairs and an orienting effect on said hairs so as to improve the shaving process; and

adding water to the skin area, in the absence of shaving cream, following the step of preparing, and thereafter applying the moving bristle tips of the power skin brush to the wetted skin area, wherein the movement of the bristles through said angle and at said frequency over the wetted skin area is such that it aids in the absorption of water by the hairs on the skin area, improving shaving.

2. The method of claim 1, including the further step of applying shaving cream or gel to the skin area in such a manner as to facilitate shaving with the moving bristle tips, thereby improving shaving.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein shaving is carried out with a razor.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein shaving is carried out with an electric razor.

5. The method of claim 1, including the step of wetting the skin area prior to the initial application of the tips of the bristled skin brush to the skin area.