EP1959787B1 - Hair-removal appliance with different tool attachments - Google Patents

Abstract

A hair removal appliance includes a hand-held part and interchangeable tool attachments. The hand-held part includes a housing on which various tool attachments are mountable, as well as a drive mechanism which is arranged in the housing and includes a driving element to which a respective tool attachment is adapted to be coupled with its attachment-side driving element. The tool attachments each have a coupling portion of identical construction and are connectable to a complementary coupling portion on the hand-held part of the hair removal appliance. Each of the tool attachments includes a driving element adapted to be coupled to a driving element on the side of the hand-held part.

Description

The present invention relates to a hair removal device, in particular epilation and / or depilation. The invention relates to the hand part of such a hair removal device with a housing to which various tool attachments are fastened, and a drive device which is arranged in the housing and a drive element, in particular -rad, to which a respective tool attachment with its attachment-side drive element can be coupled is. A tool attachment set for such a hair removal device comprises at least two mutually interchangeable tool attachments, each having a coupling portion which are identical to each other and connectable to a complementary coupling portion on the handle of the hair removal device, wherein the tool attachments each having a drive element which can be coupled with a handpiece side drive element is.

In hair removal devices, it is known to put on the handpiece of the device various tool attachments in exchange for each other to accomplish the body hair removal in various ways. On the one hand, an epilation head is used, by means of which the hair to be removed is grasped, clamped and pulled out of the skin with the root by means of periodically opening and closing forceps-like clamping members. The latter process is realized in that the tweezer-like clamping elements are quickly moved away from the skin after pinching the hair or hair. Regularly include such Epilierköpfe doing a rotatably driven cylinder, distributed over the circumference clamping elements are arranged, which open and close periodically in dependence on the rotational position, so that is carried out by the rotating cylinder epilation.

On the other hand hair cutting heads can be placed on the hand part of such hair removal devices, which work like the long-hair trimmer of a razor and cause a so-called depilation of body hair. In this case, the Haarschneideaufsatz may comprise a translationally reciprocable cutter bar, which is moved over a shear plate or a shear bar, so that between them pinched body hairs are sheared.

Instead of working on different principles of action tool attachments, it is also possible to use different tool attachments, which in itself after the same Hair removal principle work. Thus, it is known, for example, to use different embodiments of the abovementioned epilation heads, which may differ, for example, by the number of clamping members or the rotational speed of the pinch roller in order to carry out the tearing of the hair with different intensity.

One problem that arises is the diversity of the drive movements to be realized. On the one hand, this can only be a different rotational speed of the pinch roller. On the other hand, however, completely different drive movements may be required, such as the translationally oscillating drive movement of the hair cutting attachment on the one hand and the rotational drive movement of the epilating attachment on the other.

To solve this problem has already been proposed to install different gear stages in the respective tool attachments in order to allow them to be coupled to the same drive in the handle. For example, shows the EP 0 630 596 B1 a hair removal device of the type mentioned, in which the tool attachments are each coupled to a front side on the hand drive gear arranged. In order nevertheless to be able to achieve different drive movements for the hair cutting head and the epilation head, an oscillation gear stage is installed in the hair cutting head, which converts the rotary rotational movement of the handpiece side drive pinion into a reciprocating translatory movement of the cutting bar. However, this solution is relatively expensive, since a separate gear stage is necessary for each tool attachment when a different drive movement is to be realized. Even if, however, the same motion principle is to be implemented at different speeds per se, as is the case, for example, with two epilation heads to be driven at different speeds, corresponding gear stages are to be installed in the tool attachments. This is particularly disadvantageous if the tool attachments are to be replaced over time because of wear.

EP 1 212 960 A1 discloses a hair removal device with an tribology unit on which various heads can be placed.

The present invention is therefore an object of the invention to provide an improved hair removal device of the type mentioned above, which avoids the disadvantages of the prior art and the latter further develops in an advantageous manner. In particular, a realization of various drive movements should be achieved in an economical manner.

This object is achieved by a handpiece according to claim 1. Preferred embodiments of the invention are the subject of the dependent claims.

According to the invention, it is therefore proposed to provide several drive options on the handpiece. As a result, each tool attachment can be coupled to the appropriate drive for him. On the other hand, one and the same tool attachment can also be coupled, for example by converting, to different drives in order, for example, to realize different drive speeds for one and the same tool attachment. According to the invention, the handpiece-side drive device has at least two drive elements, which can alternatively be coupled with a respective tool attachment. As a result, either the one or the other drive element can be used to drive the attachment-side drive train. Both drive elements are arranged accessible from the outside, preferably in the region of the coupling portion of the handle on which the tool attachments are attached. The respectively not required drive element transmits no drive movement to the currently coupled tool attachment, wherein the drive element not required in this case run empty or can be turned off. As intended, each drive element alone can drive the respective attached tool attachment.

In order to achieve that the respective tool attachment is coupled with the correct one of the two drive elements, the at least two tool attachments of the tool attachment set according to the invention are distinguished by the fact that their drive components which can be coupled to the handpiece-side drive with respect to the mutually identically designed coupling sections, with which they on the complementary Coupling portion of the hand part are attached, are arranged at different locations and / or are aligned differently. For example, in one tool attachment, the drive element can be arranged on the left and on the other tool attachment on the right. The different arrangement and / or alignment ensures that the attachment-side drive element can be brought into engagement with only one of the two drive elements on the handpiece.

In a further development of the invention, the two handpiece-side drive elements are formed differently from each other and / or arranged differently and / or provided for the transmission of various drive movements. If, for example, only different drive speeds, in particular rotational speeds, should be realized, can basically identically designed and also with respect to their axis of movement arranged in parallel drive elements are used. To realize the various drive speeds, two separate drive motors and / or two separate, differently designed gear stages can be provided in the handset.

Preferably, however, the two handpiece-side drive elements are at least differently oriented, in particular they may have movement axes pointing in different directions. In addition, they themselves can also be designed differently. In particular, when trained as gears, they may have a different number of teeth, a different diameter or a different toothing education, for example, on the one hand form a bevel gear and on the other hand, a spur gear.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the two drive elements are each designed as wheels, in particular gears, wherein they are drivable in different directions of rotation and at different speeds.

In order to achieve the simplest possible training with regard to the handpiece-side drive device, preferably the multiple drive elements of the handset are driven by a common drive motor. The drive movement provided by the drive motor is divided, so to speak, into a plurality of drive trains, at whose handpiece-side ends said drive elements are seated.

In particular, the drive elements can be driven via a respective gear stage by an output element, in particular pinion forth, sitting on the motor shaft of the drive motor.

According to the invention, it is provided that the respectively not required drive element or even in the case of more than two drive elements switch off the drive units that are not required and only set the required drive element in operation. For this purpose, a coupling device is provided on the handpiece, by means of which a non-required drive element can be uncoupled from the respective drive train provided in the handpiece or can be coupled again.

According to the invention, an automatic coupling is provided which engages the drive element required for the respective attached tool attachment when the corresponding attachment is mounted on the handle. The coupling device can in this case advantageously comprise a mechanical actuator in the invention, which is actuated when placing a suitable tool attachment by a side-mounted actuator and engages the clutch. If another tool attachment does not have the appropriate actuator, the coupling device remains disengaged.

The concrete design of the coupling can of course be different. A preferred embodiment may be that the respective drive train has a gear that is movably mounted beyond its rotation, so that it can be brought into and out of engagement with a preceding or downstream gear. Here, a Stirnradpaarung be provided, wherein the engagement and disengagement causing gear frontally on the cooperating gear to and can be moved away in the opposite direction. The clutch engagement is effected by a relative movement perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the wheel or perpendicular to the toothing. This also lends itself to a friction wheel. Alternatively, however, it may be provided in particular that the gear wheel which can be engaged and disengaged is displaceably mounted in the direction of its axis of rotation, so that it can be brought into engagement and disengage with the gearwheel cooperating with the gearwheel cooperating with the toothed gear when formed as a gear. This may be particularly advantageous if the axis of rotation of said gear extends parallel to the Aufsteck- or -setzrichtung, the tool attachment. In this way, the gear can be easily pressed by the tool attachment itself directly into its engaged position when the tool attachment is placed translationally on the handle.

According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the displaceably mounted gear can be directly engageable with and disengaged from the drive wheel, which sits on the motor shaft of the drive motor of the handpiece side drive device.

In a further development of the invention, the coupling device comprises a spring device by which the movably mounted gear element is biased in its non-engaged position. As a result, the coupling device always automatically disengages when a corresponding tool attachment is not attached. If such, however, put on, this forces the coupling device against the spring preload in its engaged position.

Fig. 1:

eine schematische Teilschnittansicht eines Haarentfernungsgeräts, auf dessen Handteil ein Epilieraufsatz mit einer rotierenden, bewegliche Klemmorgane aufweisenden Klemmwalze angeordnet ist,

Fig. 2:

eine schematische Darstellung der handteilseitigen Antriebsvorrichtung des Geräts aus Fig. 1, wobei der Antriebsstrang für einen Haarschneideaufsatz im ausgekuppelten Zustand gezeigt ist,

Fig. 3:

eine schematische Darstellung der Antriebsvorrichtung ähnlich Fig. 2, wobei der Antriebsstrang für den Haarschneideaufsatz im eingekuppelten Zustand gezeigt ist,

Fig. 4:

eine schematische Seitenansicht der Antriebsvorrichtung aus Fig. 3 mit Blick auf den ein- und auskuppelbaren Antriebsstrang,

Fig. 5:

eine schematische Seitenansicht der Antriebsvorrichtung aus Fig. 3 und Fig. 4 mit Blick auf den permanent gekuppelten Antriebsstrang, und

Fig. 6:

eine schematische Teilschnittansicht eines Haarschneideaufsatzes mit oszillierendem Messerbalken.

The invention will be explained in more detail below with reference to a preferred embodiment and associated drawings. In the drawings show:

Fig. 1:

a schematic partial sectional view of a hair removal device, on the handle part of an epilator with a rotating, movable clamping members having pinch roller is arranged,

Fig. 2:

a schematic representation of the handpiece-side drive device of the device Fig. 1 wherein the power train is shown for a hair cutting attachment in the disengaged state,

3:

a schematic representation of the drive device similar Fig. 2 wherein the power train for the hair cutting attachment is shown in the engaged state,

4:

a schematic side view of the drive device Fig. 3 with a view to the drivetrain that can be engaged and disengaged,

Fig. 5:

a schematic side view of the drive device Fig. 3 and Fig. 4 looking at the permanently coupled powertrain, and

Fig. 6:

a schematic partial sectional view of a Haarschneideaufsatzes with oscillating cutter bar.

At the in FIG. 1 shown hair removal device 1 is placed on the handle part 2 an epilator for the removal of hair on the human body according to the epilation principle, which has in the illustrated embodiment a rotating transverse to a transverse axis depilating roller 5, which rotates about its longitudinal axis, possibly also oscillates. The epilating roller 5 has fixedly arranged on the roller body clamping discs 8, which extend approximately radially on the circumference of the depilation 5. Between the clamping discs 8 distributed about the circumference about tweezer-shaped clamping elements 9 are arranged, the comb-like each sitting on a clamping bar 11 which is mounted parallel to the axis of rotation of the depilation 5 at this longitudinally displaceable. The clamping bar 11 stand with a plunger 12 on the front side over the body of the depilation 5 and slide on a cam-shaped cam control surface 14 on the attachment housing, which extends annularly around the axis of rotation of the depilation 5. As a result, each clamping bar 11 and thus the clamping elements 9 is cyclically pressed according to the rotation of the depilation 5 against the clamping plates 8 and pushed away by a on the opposite side of the plunger 12 spring 17 again, and in particular at defined locations above the orbit.

To drive the depilation 5, this includes a drive wheel 7, which is formed in the illustrated embodiment as a spur gear and sits directly on the axis of rotation of the depilation 5 or is formed by a peripheral portion of the depilation 5. This tower-side drive wheel 7 is driven by a handpiece-side drive wheel 4, which is also formed in the illustrated embodiment as a spur gear and is rotatably mounted about a rotational axis of the depilation 5 parallel axis of rotation on the housing 6 of the handle 2. As FIG. 1 shows, the drive wheel 4 is the front side of the attachment 3 facing the end of the handpiece 2 out of the housing 6, so that it comes with the tower-side drive wheel 7 into engagement when the attachment 3 is placed on the handle 2. For the connection of handpiece 2 and attachment 3, these each comprise mutually complementary coupling portions 10, which may in principle be designed differently and preferably form a plug-in connection, so that the attachment 3 can be placed on the end face substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the handpiece 2.

As in FIG. 1 indicated and in the other FIGS. 2 to 5 shown, the handpiece 2 comprises in addition to said drive wheel 4, a further drive wheel 13 which is provided for the realization of a different drive movement for a further tool attachment.

The handpiece-side drive device 15, the hand part side ends in the two aforementioned drive wheels 4 and 13, comprises the in the FIGS. 2 to 5 Drive motor 16 shown in more detail, which may be aligned with its motor shaft parallel to the longitudinal axis of the handle 2 and has a seated on the motor shaft output gear 18, which is formed in the illustrated embodiment as a spur gear. The drive movement of the output gear 18 is tapped by two gear stages 19 and 20, each forming a drive train and drive the aforementioned drive wheels 4 and 13, via which the respective drive train with the respective attached attachment can be coupled.

As the FIGS. 2 to 5 clarify, the first gear stage 19, via which the drive wheel 4 is driven, permanently coupled to the output gear 18 of the drive motor 16. The gear stage 19 comprises two gear stages which drive the drive wheel 4 on the output side, the gear stages reducing the rotational speed of the drive motor 16 to the desired rotational speed of the drive wheel 4.

The second transmission stage 20 includes only one spur gear. A spur gear 21 meshes with the seated on the motor shaft output gear 18 and drives the aforementioned drive wheel 13, which is rigidly connected to the spur gear 21. Like a comparison of FIGS. 2 and 3 clarifies the gear 20 is disengaged trained. The corresponding coupling device 22 is formed by said spur gear 21 and its movable mounting. In the illustrated embodiment, the spur gear 21 is slidably mounted parallel to its axis of rotation 23, so that it is disengaged from the seated on the motor shaft output gear 18, and that substantially parallel to the spur gear teeth. The coupling device 22 in this case comprises a spring device 24, which presses the spur gear 21 with the drive wheel 13 seated thereon in the disengaged position. Advantageously, the coupling movement is substantially perpendicular to the end face of the handle 2, to which the respective attachment 3 is placed. In other words, the coupling movement thus takes place in the aforementioned embodiment of the coupling portions 10 between attachment and handpiece 2 parallel to the mounting direction of the attachment 3, so that upon placement of a matching tool attachment, the gear 20 is depressed against the bias of the spring means 24 and engaged, ie in engagement is brought to the output gear 18.

As FIG. 3 shows, the two output gears 4 and 13, which provides the handpiece 2, both differently designed and aligned. While the drive wheel 4 about a lying, ie perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the handle 2 aligned axis rotate In addition, the gear stage 20 is formed with respect to the gear stage 19 less underdeposit, so that the rotational speed of the driven gear 13 is considerably higher than the rotational speed of the drive wheel 4. This can be driven with the drive wheel 13 in particular a hair cutting attachment with shear bar with a considerably higher frequency of oscillation, as he, for example, in FIG. 6 is shown. This Haarschneideaufsatz 28 includes a cutting or knife bar 25 which is mounted parallel to its longitudinal translational reciprocating and sitting on a shear bar 26 and reciprocates over this, so that between them trapped hairs are cut off. Said cutter bar 22 is reciprocally driven by an eccentric wheel 27, which can be brought into engagement with the previously described drive wheel 13 of the handpiece 2 when the hair cutting attachment is placed on the handpiece.

It is understood that the attachment set for the hair removal device described is not limited to the two exemplary embodiments of the tool attachments shown. It can also find exfoliating attachments, massage attachments and the like.

Claims (12)

1. A hand piece of a hair removal device (1), in particular an epilator, comprising a housing (6), to which various tool attachments (3, 28) can be fastened, and a drive apparatus (15), which is disposed in the housing (6) and comprises a drive element (4, 13), in particular a drive wheel, to which a respective tool attachment (3, 28) having a drive element (7, 27) on the attachment portion can be coupled, wherein the drive apparatus (15) comprises at least two drive elements (4, 13), which as an alternative can be coupled to a respective tool attachment (3, 28), and wherein a coupling unit (22) is provided for coupling and decoupling at least one of the drive elements (4, 13) to or from the drive train driving the drive element and is characterized in that the coupling unit (22) can be automatically actuated by attaching a tool attachment (28), which can be driven by the couplable drive element (13) according to its intended use.
2. The hand piece according to the preceding claim, wherein the two drive elements (4, 13) are designed and/or disposed differently from one another and/or provided for transmitting various driving motions.
3. The hand piece according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein each of the two drive elements (4, 13) is designed as a wheel, in particular a toothed wheel, and can be driven in differing rotational directions and/or at differing rotational speeds.
4. The hand piece according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the drive apparatus (15) comprises a common drive motor (16) for the drive elements (4, 13).
5. The hand piece according to the preceding claim, wherein the two drive elements (4, 13) are drivable by a drive element (18) connected to a drive motor, in particular a motor shaft driven wheel, via a respective gear stage (19, 20) .
6. The hand piece according to one of the two preceding claims, wherein the coupling unit (22) comprises a displaceably mounted gear wheel (21), which can be engaged with a gear wheel (18) connected upstream or downstream in the drive train and disengaged therefrom.
7. The hand piece according to the preceding claim, wherein the displaceably mounted gear wheel (21) is movably mounted in the slide-on direction of the related tool attachment (28) and/or can be slid parallel to the rotational direction thereof onto the upstream or downstream gear wheel (18).
8. The hand piece according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the coupling unit (22) is pre-tensioned in the uncoupled position thereof by a spring unit (24).
9. The hand piece according to claim 6 or 7, wherein the upstream gear wheel (18) is a drive pinion provided on the motor shaft.
10. The hand piece according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein each of the two drive elements (4, 13) has a rotational axis, the axes being oriented in perpendicular directions in relation to one another.
11. The hand piece according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, on the housing (6), a plug-in coupling section is provided to which various tool attachments can be fastened by sliding on and/or inserting them, wherein the plug-in coupling section has a slide-on direction, which is parallel to the axis of movement of aforementioned coupling unit.
12. A hair removal device comprising a hand piece according to any one of claims 1 to 11.

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