Handheld exfoliating device

• US 8,551,117 B2
• Filed: 12/13/2011
• Issued: 10/08/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 03/04/2011
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Soft Lines International, Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Soft Lines International, Ltd.
• Inventors: Yiu, Wai Wah
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Victor
• Application Number:
  US13/324,935
• Publication Number:
  US 20120226289A1
• Time in Patent Office: 665 Days
• Field of Search: 606/131, 606/133, 30/434, 30/435
• US Class Current: 606/131
• CPC Class Codes: A45D 2200/1054 Abrasive cosmetic skin peeling or scrubbing
• CPC Class Codes: A45D 44/00 Other cosmetic or toiletry articles, e.g. for hairdressers' rooms
• 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 2017/00734 battery operated
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00761 Removing layer of skin tissue, e.g. wrinkles, scars or cancerous tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00889 antimicrobial, disinfectant
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320004 abrasive

Abstract

A skin removal device includes a housing having a handle portion, a drum assembly coupled to the handle portion and including a drum, the drum having an abrasive outer surface configured to abrade skin of a user during rotation of the drum, and an electromechanical drive system disposed at least partially within the housing and configured to rotate the drum. The drum assembly is moveable in a lateral direction relative to the handle portion to enable insertion and removal of the drum assembly.

Claims

1. A skin removal device comprising:

a housing comprising a handle portion;

a drum assembly removably coupled to the handle portion and comprising;

a drum having an abrasive outer surface configured to abrade skin of a user during rotation of the drum;

a recess formed in a first end of the drum;

a hub coupled to a second end of the drum, the hub comprising an annular groove; and

an electromechanical drive system disposed at least partially within the housing and configured to rotate the drum, the electromechanical drive system comprising;

a drive shaft, at least a portion of which is received in the recess of the drum to rotatably fix the drive shaft relative to the drum such that the drum rotates with the drive shaft about an axis of the drive shaft; and

an electric motor coupled to the drum assembly via a plurality of gears and the drive shaft;

a mounting bracket extending from the housing and configured to support the drum assembly, the mounting bracket comprising at least one U-shaped support bracket configured to rotatably support the hub of the drum assembly, wherein the support bracket engages the annular groove to rotatably maintain a position of the drum assembly relative to the mounting bracket;

wherein the drum assembly is movable in a lateral direction relative to the handle portion to enable insertion and removal of the drum assembly; and

wherein when the drum assembly is removed from the housing, the drive shaft remains coupled to the housing.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein an outer surface of the drum comprises an antimicrobial agent.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the outer surface of the drum comprises an abrasive sheet of material.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the drive shaft is configured to engage the recess in a friction fit manner.

5. The device of claim 1, further comprising

a biasing member configured to provide a biasing force between the mounting bracket and the drum assembly to bias the drum toward the skin of the user during use of the device.

6. An exfoliating device comprising:

a housing comprising a handle portion and a mounting bracket extending from the handle portion;

a drum assembly removably coupled to the handle portion and comprising;

a cylindrical drum having an abrasive outer surface configured to abrade skin of a user during rotation of the drum;

a cavity formed in a first end of the drum; and

an end hub coupled to a second end of the drum, the end hub comprising an annular groove;

a drive system disposed at least partially within the housing and configured to rotate the drum via a drive shaft received in the cavity of the drum assembly;

the drive shaft being coaxial with a longitudinal axis of the drum such that during operation the drum rotates about the drive shaft, the drive system comprising an electric motor interconnected with the drive shaft via a plurality of spur gears;

a support bracket movably coupled to the mounting bracket, the support bracket comprising an arcuate surface to support the end hub of the drum assembly, wherein the support bracket engages the annular groove to rotatably maintain a position of the drum assembly relative to the mounting bracket;

wherein when the drum assembly is removed from the exfoliating device, the drive shaft remains coupled to the drive system.

7. The device of claim 6, wherein the drum assembly is insertable into and removable from the housing via a lateral side of the handle portion.

8. The device of claim 6,

wherein the drive shaft is received within the recess to rotationally fix the drum relative to the drive shaft.

9. The device of claim 6, further comprising a spring member configured to bias the drum relative to the mounting bracket and toward the skin of the user.

10. The device of claim 6, further comprising a cover configured to engage the handle portion in a snap-fit fashion and substantially cover the drum assembly.

11. The device of claim 6, further comprising a coating on an outer surface of the drum, the coating comprising an antimicrobial agent making up between 1 and 12 percent of the coating.

12. The device of claim 6, wherein when the drum is inserted into the skin removal device, the drive shaft acts as a locating feature to align the drum relative to the skin removal device.

13. The device of claim 6, further comprising a spring providing a spring force biasing the support bracket toward the drum assembly.

14. The device of claim 13, wherein when the support bracket is moved against the spring force, the support bracket disengages from the end hub and allows the drum assembly to be removed from the skin removal device.

15. The device of claim 14, wherein the support bracket comprises a post configured to extend at least partially through an aperture in one of the lateral sides of the mounting bracket, the post configured to facilitate movement of the support bracket.

16. A skin removal device, comprising:

a housing comprising a handle portion;

a mounting bracket coupled to the handle portion, having first and second lateral sides, and comprising a U-shaped support;

a drum assembly removably coupled to the mounting bracket, the drum assembly comprising;

a drum configured to rotate relative to the mounting bracket, the drum comprising an antimicrobial agent; and

an end hub coupled to a first end of the drum assembly and defining an annular groove, the annular groove engaged by the support of the mounting bracket to at least partially maintain a position of the drum assembly relative to the mounting bracket; and

a drive system configured to rotate the drum about an axis of a drive shaft received in a recess formed in a second end of the drum assembly, the drive system comprising a motor and a plurality of gears operably coupling the motor and the drive shaft;

wherein the drum assembly is insertable and removable in a lateral direction adjacent at least one of the lateral sides of the mounting bracket and wherein when the drum assembly is removed from the skin removal device, the drive shaft remains coupled to the device.

17. The device of claim 16, further comprising a spring configured to bias the drum toward the skin of a user during use.

18. The device of claim 16, wherein the drum assembly comprises a projection configured to extend at least partially through an aperture in one of the lateral sides of the mounting bracket, the projection configured to at least partially maintain the position of the drum assembly relative to the mounting bracket.