Powered skin care device

• US 9,596,928 B2
• Filed: 04/29/2014
• Issued: 03/21/2017
• 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:
  US14/264,899
• Publication Number:
  US 20150305487A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,057 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 2200/102 Brush specifically designed for massaging the skin or scalp A46B2200/1026 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 9/028 Bristle profile, the end of the bristle defining a surface other than a single plane or deviating from a simple geometric form, e.g. cylinder, sphere or cone
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 9/06 Arrangement of mixed bristles or tufts of bristles, e.g. wire, fibre, rubber
• CPC Class Codes: A47K 7/04 Mechanical washing or cleaning devices, hand or mechanically, i.e. power operated
• CPC Class Codes: A47K 7/043 hand operated
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 23/0263 using rotating unbalanced masses
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 7/005 hand-held

Abstract

A powered skin care device is provided with a vibration damper between a vibrating motor and a handle of the device. The vibrating motor provides vibrations in a relatively gentle frequency and the brush head is provided with relatively soft bristles.

Claims

1. A powered skin care device comprising:

a housing with a hollow proximal end and a closed 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 support structure such as to cause the platform to vibrate; and

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

2. The powered skin care device of claim 1 further comprising 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.

3. The powered skin care device of claim 2 wherein the head further comprises a plurality bristles provided in tufts, each tuft secured to the first side of the base, and free ends of the bristles define the face.

4. The powered skin care device of claim 3 wherein the bristles have a length in the range of 3 mm to 30 mm.

5. The powered skin care device of claim 3 wherein the bristles have a length in the range of 6 mm to 12 mm.

6. The powered skin care device of claim 3 wherein the bristles have a diameter in the range of 0.01 mm to 1.0 mm.

7. The powered skin care device of claim 3 wherein the bristles have a diameter of 0.12 mm.

8. The powered skin care device of claim 2 wherein the face comprises at least two portions, a first portion lying in a first plane parallel to the first side of the base, and a second portion lying in a second plane forming an obtuse angle with the first plane.

9. The powered skin care device of claim 8 wherein the head further comprises a plurality bristles provided in tufts, each tuft secured to the first side of the base, and free ends of the bristles in the first portion define the face in the first plane, the bristles of the first portion being of equal length to define the first plane, and the bristles in the second portion define the second plane, the bristles in the second portion decreasing incrementally in length over a distance to define the second plane at an obtuse angle to the first plane.

10. The powered skin care device of claim 9 wherein the bristles of the first portion have a length in the range of 9 mm to 12 mm.

11. The powered skin care device of claim 10 wherein the bristles of the second portion have a length in the range of 9 mm to 12 mm decreasing incrementally to a length in the range of 6 mm to 9 mm.

12. The powered skin care device of claim 9 wherein the bristles of the first portion have a diameter of 0.075 mm and a length of 12 mm, and the bristles of the second portion have a diameter of 0.125 mm and a length decreasing incrementally from 12 mm to 9 mm.

13. The powered skin care device of claim 12 wherein at least some of the bristles are made of a nylon material.

14. The powered skin care device of claim 9 wherein the bristles of the first portion have a diameter of 0.075 mm and a length of 9 mm and the bristles of the second portion have a diameter of 0.10 mm and a length decreasing incrementally from 9 mm to 6 mm.

15. The powered skin care device of claim 14 wherein at least some of the bristles are made of a polyester material.