Handheld, personal skin care systems with detachable skin care elements

• US 8,500,754 B2
• Filed: 04/30/2010
• Issued: 08/06/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 04/30/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Johnson & Johnson Consumer Inc. (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Johnson & Johnson Consumer Companies Incorporated (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Hull, Raymond J. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): MCEVOY, THOMAS M
• Application Number:
  US12/770,994
• Publication Number:
  US 20110270274A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,194 Days
• Field of Search: 606/131, 601 69- 73, 132/73.5, 132/75, 132/73.6, 132/75.8, 132/76.4
• US Class Current: 606/131
• CPC Class Codes: A45D 2200/1054 Abrasive cosmetic skin peeling or scrubbing
• CPC Class Codes: A45D 2200/207 Vibration, e.g. ultrasound
• CPC Class Codes: A45D 34/04 Appliances specially adapted for applying liquid, e.g. using roller or ball
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/3205 Excision instruments
• 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 17/54 Chiropodists' instruments , e.g. pedicure chiropractic devices A61H1/008
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00398 using powered actuators, e.g. stepper motors, solenoids
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00473 Distal part, e.g. tip or head A61B2017/00464 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00477 Coupling A61B2017/0046 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00734 battery operated
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00761 Removing layer of skin tissue, e.g. wrinkles, scars or cancerous tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320004 abrasive
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320012 Brushes

Abstract

A skin care element holder for use with a handheld body having a receptacle includes a substantially circular plate having a diameter between about 20 and about 60 mm. The substantially circular plate has a first surface for coupling to the skin care element; a second surface; and an outer peripheral edge. The second surface of the substantially circular plate has at least one spacer leg; a plurality of engagement arms; and at least one key. Each of the at least one spacer leg, engagement arms and key extend from the second surface in a direction away from the first surface. The at least one spacer leg supports the plate in the receptacle. At least one of said engagement arms includes a snap-fit projection for engagement with a recess in the receptacle. The key is arranged and configured to fit into a notch in the receptacle.

Claims

1. A skin care system comprising:

a. a handheld body having a generally circular receptacle having a diameter between about 20 and about 60 mm disposed thereon, wherein;

i. the generally circular receptacle comprises;

A) a generally circular floor;

B) a generally circular rim extending away from the handheld body,

wherein the floor and rim define a generally cylindrical void volume, and

wherein the rim has a notch disposed therein;

b. a skin care element holder comprising a substantially circular plate having a diameter corresponding to the diameter of the receptacle, wherein;

i. the substantially circular plate has;

A) a first surface arranged and configured for coupling to a skin care element;

B) a second surface, opposite the first surface; and

C) an outer peripheral edge; and

ii. the second surface of the substantially circular plate has;

A) at least one spacer leg extending from the second surface in a direction away from the first surface to support the plate in the receptacle;

B) a plurality of engagement arms extending from the second surface in a direction away from the first surface, at least one of said engagement arms comprising a snap-fit projection for engagement with recesses in the receptacle;

C) at least one key extending from the second surface in a direction away from the first surface, and not radially outward from the substantially circular plate, that is arranged and configured to fit into the notch in the rim of the receptacle, wherein said key comprises at least one raised portion extending radially inward from the outer peripheral edge of said plate; and

c) a skin care element coupled to the skin care element holder.

2. The skin care system of claim 1, wherein the notch in the generally circular rim provides finger lift access for removal of the skin care element holder from the receptacle.

3. The skin care system of claim 1, wherein the skin care element is a disposable element and is removably coupled to the first surface of the substantially circular plate.

4. The skin care system of claim 1, wherein the skin care element is a durable element and is permanently coupled to the first surface of the substantially circular plate.

5. The skin care system of claim 1, wherein the handheld body contains a motor operatively connected to the receptacle to impart motion thereto.

6. The skin care system of claim 5, wherein the receptacle rotates about an axis located at the center of and oriented perpendicular to the plate.

7. The skin care system of claim 5, wherein the receptacle oscillates about an axis located at the center of and oriented perpendicular to the plate.

8. The skin care system of claim 1, wherein the outer peripheral edge of the substantially circular plate is the outer circumference of a circle.

9. The skin care system of claim 1, wherein the outer peripheral edge of the substantially circular plate comprises a resilient material.

10. A skin care system comprising:

a. a handheld body having a generally circular receptacle having an inner diameter between about 20 and about 60 mm disposed thereon, wherein;

i. the generally circular receptacle comprises;

A) a generally circular floor;

B) a rim extending about the generally circular floor and away from the handheld body, wherein the floor and rim define a generally cylindrical void volume, wherein the rim has at least one recess therein, and wherein the rim has a notch disposed therein;

b. a skin care element holder comprising a substantially circular plate having a diameter at least equal to the inner diameter of the receptacle, wherein;

i. the substantially circular plate has;

A) a first surface arranged and configured for coupling to a skin care element;

B) a second surface, opposite the first surface; and

C) an outer peripheral edge; and

ii. the second surface of the substantially circular plate has;

A) at least one spacer leg extending from the second surface in a direction away from the first surface to support the plate in the receptacle;

B) three engagement arms extending from the second surface proximate the outer peripheral edge in a direction away from the first surface, the three engagement arms disposed inward from the peripheral edge and located to engage the at least one recess in the rim of the receptacle, at least one of said engagement arms comprising a snap-fit projection for engagement with a corresponding recess in the rim of the receptacle;

C) at least one key extending from the second surface in a direction away from the first surface, and not radially outward from the substantially circular plate, that is arranged and configured to fit into the notch in the rim of the receptacle, wherein said key comprises at least one raised portion extending radially inward from the outer peripheral edge of said plate.

11. The skin care system of claim 10, wherein the rim has three recesses evenly spaced therein and wherein the three engagement arms are located to engage the three recesses in the rim of the receptacle.

12. The skin care system of claim 10, further comprising a skin care element that is disposable and, wherein the skin care element is a disposable element and is removably coupled to the first surface of the substantially circular plate.

13. The skin care system of claim 10, wherein the handheld body contains a motor operatively connected to the receptacle to impart motion thereto.

14. The skin care system of claim 10, wherein the receptacle rotates about an axis located at the center of and oriented perpendicular to the plate.