Skin moisturizing and buffing device

• US 6,090,085 A
• Filed: 03/11/1997
• Issued: 07/18/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 05/30/1991
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Thomas L. Mehl Sr
• Original Assignee: Thomas L. Mehl Sr
• Inventors: Mehl, Thomas L. Sr., Clemens, Anton H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Stright, Ronald
• Assistant Examiner(s): Cho, David J.
• Application Number:
  US08/815,182
• Time in Patent Office: 1,225 Days
• Field of Search: 604/113, 604/114, 604/289, 604/290, 604/291, 219/221, 219/222, 219/227, 219/229, 219/401
• US Class Current: 604/291
• CPC Class Codes: A45D 26/00 Hair-singeing apparatus; Apparatus for removing superfluous hair, e.g. tweezers removing hair using electrosurgical instruments A61B18/04, A61B18/18
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/14 Probes or electrodes therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00083 low, i.e. electrically insulating
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00095 high, i.e. heat conducting
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00452 Skin
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00476 Hair follicles
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2007/006 of gas
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2007/0074 PTC
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 8/0208 Tissues; Wipes; Patches
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 8/14 Liposomes; Vesicles
• CPC Class Codes: A61Q 19/00 Preparations for care of the skin
• CPC Class Codes: A61Q 19/007 Preparations for dry skin
• CPC Class Codes: B26B 19/40 Lubricating
• CPC Class Codes: B26B 21/443 Lubricating strips attached to the razor head

Abstract

A compact hand-held skin treatment device has a porous, slowly movable surface mounted on its housing that applies steam vapor condensate to the skin, thereby providing a light cleansing buffing action. Steam vapor is generated within a narrow vertical boiling chamber by a small compact electric heating assembly within the housing and located close to the movable porous surface. It provides a sufficient amount of vapor to coat the rotating surface with a layer of condensate to be applied to the skin. The housing also contains a small liquid reservoir, a battery operated power supply and a small motor to provide a self-contained readily operated device.

Claims

1. A skin moisturizing and buffing device, comprising:

a) a hand-held housing;

b) an external support assembly rotatably mounted on the housing and having an external support member which is relatively movable with respect to the housing, and which has a relatively large and relatively flat support area having spaced support elements defining relatively large open spaces through which water vapor may pass;

c) a removable thin, porous relatively large area skin buffing fibrous material having a relatively rough skin engaging surface, which is mounted on and supported by the support member and through which water vapor can pass and on which it can condense so as to moisten and buff the skin surface when placed in sliding contact therewith to thereby simultaneously give a gentle exfoliating action of the skin surface;

d) a vapor generating assembly, within the housing adjacent and close to the movable support member, which generates water vapor for the skin buffing element;

e) a mechanical power assembly within the housing and connected to the movable support assembly which provides mechanical movement to the support assembly; and

f) a vapor propelling assembly disposed in the housing adjacent and close to the vapor generating assembly which moves vapor from the vapor generating assembly to the skin buffing element.

2. A skin moisturizing and buffing device as set forth in claim 1, wherein:

a) the periphery of the movable support frame is substantially circular; and

b) the support frame moves in a circular direction around a central axis.

3. The skin moisturizing and buffing device as set forth in claim 2, wherein:

a) the support frame includes a fastening element; and

b) the skin buffing element is engaged by the fastening element to hold it in position on the support frame.

4. The skin moisturizing and buffing device as set forth in claim 1, wherein:

a) the skin buffing element has a pan-shaped configuration; and

b) the movable support frame has a configuration which will receive and uniformly support the entire skin buffing element.

5. The skin moisturizing and buffing device as set forth in claim 1, wherein:

a) the mechanical power assembly includes a small electrically powered motor which provides the mechanical power for the assembly; and

b) at least one speed reduction gear stage is mechanically connected between an output shaft of the motor and the movable support assembly, for reducing the output speed delivered by the assembly, and to also provide mechanical resistance to either the stalling of the motor or undue loss speed of the frame when the skin buffing element is applied to the skin.

6. The skin moisturizing and buffing device as set forth in claim 1, wherein:

a) the vapor generating assembly includes a liquid conveying element and an electrical heating assembly disposed immediately adjacent and in very close proximity to each other so as to form a boiling chamber for producing vapor.

7. The skin moisturizing and buffing device as set forth in claim 6, wherein:

a) the liquid conveying element is a heat resistant fibrous wick with a moisture providing surface; and

b) the heating assembly has a heat transmitting surface which is directly opposed to the moisture providing surface and is in very close proximity thereto.

8. The skin moisturizing and buffing device, as set forth in claim 1, wherein:

a) the housing contains a removable liquid container for holding a water-based liquid to be supplied to the vapor generating assembly.

9. The skin moisturizing and buffing device as set forth in claim 1, wherein:

a) a hand-held housing;

b) a movable support assembly mounted on the housing having an external movable support frame relatively movable with respect to the housing, which has a relatively large and relatively flat support area through which water vapor may pass;

c) a relatively large area skin buffing element having a skin engaging surface, which is mounted on and supported by the frame and through which water vapor can pass and on which it can condense;

d) a vapor generating assembly, within the housing adjacent and close to the movable support frame, which generates water vapor for the skin buffing element;

e) a mechanical power assembly within the housing and connected to the movable support assembly which provides mechanical movement to the support assembly; and

f) a vapor propelling assembly disposed in the housing adjacent and close to the vapor generating assembly which moves vapor from the vapor generating assembly to the skin buffing element;

g) the vapor generating assembly includes a liquid conveying surface and an electrical heating assembly are disposed immediately adjacent and in very close proximity to each other so as to form a boiling chamber for producing vapor

h) the boiling chamber for producing vapor is formed between the metal heating surface of a PTC heater assembly and the adjacent liquid conveying surface positioned parallel to said metal heating surface; and

i) the boiling chamber is vertically oriented, whereby the top section of said boiling chamber is open to facilitate instant escape of the water vapor or steam, thus avoiding re-condensation of the steam in the liquid conveying element.

10. A skin moisturizing and buffing device, comprising:

a) a hand-held housing;

b) a movable support assembly mounted on the housing having an external movable support frame relatively movable with respect to the housing, which has a relatively large and relatively flat support area through which water vapor may pass;

c) a relatively large area skin buffing element having a skin engaging surface, which is mounted on and supported by the frame and through which water vapor can pass and on which it can condense;

d) a vapor generating assembly, within the housing adjacent and close to the movable support frame, which generates water vapor for the skin buffing element;

e) a mechanical power assembly within the housing and connected to the movable support assembly which provides mechanical movement to the support assembly; and

f) a vapor propelling assembly disposed in the housing adjacent and close to the vapor generating assembly which moves vapor from the vapor generating assembly to the skin buffing element;

g) the vapor generating assembly includes a liquid conveying element and an electrical heating assembly disposed immediately adjacent and in very close proximity to each other so as to form a boiling chamber for producing vapor;

h) the liquid conveying element is a heat resistant fibrous wick with a moisture providing surface; and

i) the heating assembly has a heat transmitting surface which is directly opposed to the moisture providing surface and is in very close proximity thereto.

11. The skin moisturizing and buffing device as set forth in claim 10, wherein:

a) the wick surface and the heat transmitting surface are flat surfaces extending parallel to each other and are hydrophilic; and

b) the source of the heat for the heating assembly is a PTC heating element.

12. The skin moisturizing and buffing device as set forth in claim 10, wherein:

a) the vapor generating assembly includes a common support member within the housing having a support element for both the wick, and for the heating assembly; and

b) the support member includes elements which permit precision assembling of the wick and the heating assembly with respect to each other and the support to form the boiling chamber.

13. The skin moisturizing and buffing device, as set forth in claim 10, wherein:

a) the heating assembly has a PTC heating element electrically and thermally bonded directly to the heat transmitting surface; and

b) the PTC heating element is completely sealed to preclude exposure to moisture.

14. A skin moisturizing and buffing device, comprising:

a) a hand-held housing;

b) an external skin contacting assembly rotatably mounted thereon which has a relatively large and relatively flat external support member having spaced support elements defining relatively large open spaces through which water vapor can readily pass, and on which a thin, porous relatively, rough, fibrous skin contacting material is removably mounted, the support member having spaced support elements defining relatively large open spaces for allowing water vapor to pass therethrough and condense on the material to moisten and buff the skin surface when the skin contacting material is placed in sliding contact therewith, simultaneously providing a gentle exfoliating action of the skin surface;

c) a mechanical power assembly disposed within the housing and connected to the external skin contacting assembly for moving it relative to the housing so as to provide a light sliding contact with the skin;

d) a small refillable liquid container mounted within the housing which will hold a water-type liquid to be vaporized and subsequently applied to the skin by the skin contacting surface;

e) a liquid conveying assembly within the housing and connected to the liquid container, which conveys liquid from the liquid container;

f) a compact vapor producing assembly within the housing and disposed adjacent to the liquid conveying assembly which receives the liquid supplied from the container and converts it to steam and water vapor to be supplied to the skin contacting assembly; and

g) a vapor propelling assembly disposed in the housing adjacent and close to the vapor producing assembly which moves vapor from the generating assembly to the support member and skin contacting material.

15. The skin moisturizing and buffing device as set forth in claim 14, wherein:

a) the skin contacting surface includes a skin buffing element, which is a pliable, thin, porous layer for contacting a skin surface is mounted on the movable, relatively large area movable skin contacting assembly.

16. The skin moisturizing and buffing device as set forth in claim 14, wherein:

a) the liquid conveying assembly is a heat resistant fibrous wick mounted on and extending into the liquid container; and

b) the wick has an external section extending above the container and close to and immediately adjacent to the vapor generating assembly.

17. The skin moisturizing and buffing device as set forth in claim 14, wherein:

a) the vapor producing assembly has a heat producing surface which is directly opposed to a flat surface of the wick and is in very close proximity thereto to form a boiling chamber.

18. The skin moisturizing and buffing device as set forth in claim 17, wherein:

a) the vapor producing assembly includes a heating assembly which has a positive temperature coefficient element.

19. The skin moisturizing and buffing device as set forth in claim 14, wherein:

a) a vapor propelling assembly is disposed within the housing adjacent to the vapor producing assembly and has a fan, mechanically connected to the mechanical power assembly, which propels a steady flow of the vapor to the skin contacting surface.

20. The skin moisturizing and buffing device as set forth in claim 14, wherein:

a) the liquid conveying assembly is a heat resistant fiber wick which is dimensionally stable; and

b) the liquid vapor producing assembly includes a PTC heating element which is immediately adjacent to the wick for generating water vapor.

21. The skin moisturizing and buffing device as set forth in claim 20, wherein:

a) The skin contacting surface is a fibrous skin buffing element, which provides the thin, porous surface for contacting a skin surface and which is removably mounted on the movable, relatively large area movable skin contacting assembly.

22. The skin moisturizing and buffing device as set forth in claim 14, wherein:

a) the support member and the overlying skin contacting material is configured to simultaneously engage the apex area formed by two inclined converging skin surfaces.

23. The skin moisturizing and buffing device as set forth in claim 14, wherein:

a) the support member has a fastening element thereon;

b) the skin contacting material overlies the support member and is held in position thereon by the fastening element of the support member.

24. The skin moisturizing and buffing device as set forth in claim 14, wherein:

a) the liquid vapor producing assembly includes a support element for the liquid vapor producing assembly and which also provides common support for the liquid conveying assembly to permit accurate assembly and relative alignment of the assemblies.

25. A skin moisturizing and buffing device, comprising:

a) a housing;

b) an external support assembly rotatably mounted on the housing and having an external movable open relatively large and relatively flat support member with spaced support elements defining open spaces, and, an overlying fibrous thin, porous, relatively rough skin engaging buffing material, covering the support member, through which water vapor may pass and condense such that sliding contact with the skin surface provides a light exfoliating effect on the skin;

c) a vapor generating assembly within the housing including;

1. a container for holding a water type liquid;

2. a wick disposed in the container and extending outward therefrom for moving the liquid in the container to an external section of the wick;

3. a heating assembly disposed in said housing;

4. said heater assembly including a heat producing surface which is both closely spaced and opposed to a surface on the external section of the wick, thereby defining a chamber within which water vapor is generated; and

5. said heater assembly including a positive temperature coefficient element as the heat source;

d) a mechanical power assembly within the housing and connected to the movable support assembly which provides mechanical movement to the support assembly; and

,

e) a vapor propelling assembly disposed in the housing adjacent and close to the vapor generating assembly which moves vapor from the vapor generating assembly to the skin buffing element.

26. The skin moisturizing and buffing device as set forth in claim 25, wherein:

a) the heat producing surface of the PTC element assembly is hydrophilic.

27. The skin moisturizing and buffing device as set forth in claim 26, wherein:

a) the wick and the heating assembly are mounted on a common support member having structure for precisely receiving and supporting the assemblies with respect to each other.

28. The skin moisturizing and buffing device as set forth in claim 25, wherein:

a) the support member has a retaining element thereon for fastening the skin engaging material, to permit the material to be firmly held in position on the frame and also to be readily removed after use.

29. A skin moisturizing and buffing device, comprising:

a) a hand-held housing;

b) an external support assembly rotatable mounted on the housing and having an external support frame which is relatively movable with respect to the housing, and which has a relatively large and relatively flat support area having spaced support elements defining relatively large open spaces through which water vapor may pass;

c) a removable thin, porous relatively large area skin buffing fibrous material having a relatively rough skin engaging surface, which is mounted on and supported by the frame and through which water vapor can pass and on which it can condense so as to moisten and buff the skin surface when placed in sliding contact therewith to thereby simultaneously give a gentle exfoliating action of the skin surface;

d) a vapor generating assembly, within the housing adjacent and close to the movable support frame, which generates water vapor for the skin buffing element;

e) a mechanical power assembly within the housing and connected to the movable support assembly which provides mechanical movement to the support assembly; and

f) a vapor propelling assembly disposed in the housing adjacent and close to the vapor generating assembly which moves vapor from the vapor generating assembly to the skin buffing element;

g) the vapor generating assembly includes a liquid conveying element and an electrical heating assembly disposed immediately adjacent and in very close proximity to each other so as to form a boiling chamber for producing vapor

h) the boiling chamber for producing vapor is formed between the metal heating surface of the PTC heater assembly and the adjacent liquid surface positioned parallel to said metal heating surface; and

i) the boiling chamber is vertically oriented, whereby the top section of said boiling chamber is open to facilitate instant escape of the water vapor or steam, thus avoiding re-condensation of the steam in the liquid conveying element.