Powered skin care device

• US 9,351,559 B2
• Filed: 04/29/2014
• Issued: 05/31/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 04/29/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ELC Management LLC (The Estee Lauder Companies Inc.)
• Original Assignee: ELC Management LLC (The Estee Lauder Companies Inc.)
• Inventors: Pardo, Janet, Cecere, Lois Ann, Owen, Thomas Edward, Wong, Jenny, Woo-Kim, Chong Won Jessica, LaPosta, Richard, Belknap, Jenny Warner, Fischer, Herbert
• Primary Examiner(s): Spisich, Mark
• Application Number:
  US14/264,853
• Publication Number:
  US 20150305486A1
• Time in Patent Office: 763 Days
• Field of Search: 15/221, 601/46, 601/67, 601/68, 601/72, 601/73, 601/80, 601/81
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 13/008 Disc-shaped brush bodies
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 13/023 with means for inducing vibration to the bristles
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 2200/1006 Brushes for cleaning the hand or the human body
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 2200/102 Brush specifically designed for massaging the skin or scalp A46B2200/1026 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 7/04 interchangeably removable bristle carriers
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 9/06 Arrangement of mixed bristles or tufts of bristles, e.g. wire, fibre, rubber
• CPC Class Codes: A47K 7/043 hand operated
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/0165 Damping, vibration related features
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/1685 interchangeable
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2205/022 Face
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2205/023 Nose
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2205/025 Forehead
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 23/0263 using rotating unbalanced masses
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 7/004 power-driven, e.g. electrical

Abstract

A powered skin care device is provided with a vibrating motor that produces vibrations in a relatively gentle frequency and has a removable brush head that includes at least two types of bristles. A first group of bristles is for more gentle cleansing and a second group of bristles is for more aggressive cleansing.

Claims

1. A powered skin care device comprising:

a housing with a hollow proximal end and a dosed distal end, a longitudinal axis defined from the proximal end to the distal end, the distal end forming a handle, the housing enclosing an electronic circuit connected to a battery, the proximal end defining an opening oriented at an oblique angle with respect to the longitudinal axis, the opening defining an inwardly directed annular surface;

a head support platform defining an outer bearing surface and an inner surface;

a skirt depending from the inner surface of the platform, the skirt defining an outwardly directed annular surface dimensioned to be received in spaced relation within the opening of the proximal end of the housing, the skirt further defining a cavity;

at least one drive support structure located on the skirt or on the inner surface of the platform within the cavity;

a vibration damper in the form of a resilient collar made from an elastically compliant material, the damper connecting the inwardly directed annular surface of the housing to the outwardly directed annular surface of the platform to resiliently secure the skirt in the opening of the hollow proximal end of the housing such that the outer bearing surface of the platform is positioned outside of the opening;

a motorized vibratory mechanism secured to the at least one drive support structure and operably connected to the electronic circuit and the battery, the mechanism capable of generating vibrations in a frequency of about 80 Hz to 250 Hz when power is supplied from the battery, the vibratory mechanism secured to the drive structure such as to cause the platform to vibrate;

a switch in the electronic circuit operable to selectively provide power to the vibratory mechanism from the battery;

a skin care head with a base having a first side supporting a face and a second side adapted to be selectively securable to the head support platform, the face adapted for contacting and cleansing skin; and

a first plurality of bristles provided in tufts secured to the first side of the base in a first bristle zone and a second plurality of bristles provided in tufts secured to the first side of the base in a second bristle zone, at least some of said first plurality of bristles having a first stiffness and at least some of said second plurality of bristles having a second stiffness greater than the first stiffness to define a stiffness differential between the first bristle zone and second bristle zone.

2. The powered skin care device of claim 1 wherein the at least some of the first plurality of bristles has a first length and the at least some of the second plurality of bristles has a second length shorter than the first length to yield the stiffness differential.

3. The powered skin care device of claim 2 wherein the at least some of the first plurality of bristles has a length in the range of 9 mm to 12 mm, and the at least some of the second plurality of bristles has a length in the range of 6 mm to 9 mm.

4. The powered skin care device of claim 1 wherein the at least some of the first plurality of bristles has a first diameter and the at least some of the second plurality of bristles has a second diameter greater than the first diameter to yield the stiffness differential.

5. The powered skin care device of claim 4 wherein the at least some of the first plurality of bristles have a diameter of about 0.75 mm, and the at least some of the second plurality of bristles have a diameter in the range of 0.10 mm to 0125 mm.

6. The powered skin care device of claim 1 wherein the stiffness differential is provided by a difference in at least one of length, diameter and material between the at least some of the first plurality of bristles and the at least some of the second plurality of bristles.