EP2413742A1

EP2413742A1 - Workstation for aesthetic, cosmetic, trichological treatments and the like

Info

Publication number: EP2413742A1
Application number: EP09798946A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Rodolfo Pomar
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2009-03-31
Filing date: 2009-12-29
Publication date: 2012-02-08
Also published as: IT1393891B1; WO2010112096A1; ITBO20090206A1

Abstract

A workstation (1) for aesthetic, cosmetic, trichological treatments and the like comprising a footing (2) for resting on the floor, a supporting surface (3) for the user that is optionally articulated with respect to the footing (2) for its adjustment and orientation. The station (1) comprises at least one control and management unit and at least one connector (4), connected to the unit, for the controlled and actuated connection to a device (5) for aesthetic, cosmetic and trichological treatments.

Description

WORKSTATION FOR AESTHETIC, COSMETIC, TRICHOLOGICAL TREATMENTS AND THE LIKE Technical field

The present invention relates to a workstation for aesthetic, cosmetic, trichological treatments and the like. Background Art

In recent years the sector for devices that perform aesthetic treatments, such as massages, depilation, photo-treatments, radio-treatments, electro-stimulation and the like, has undergone serious development: the types of cosmetic and aesthetic activities have increased along with the development of increasingly complex and sophisticated devices.

The elevated specificity of each device and the necessary preparation, and specific background, of the operators, have made it necessary for aesthetic centers and hair salons to have a rather high level of specialization. Every single device, therefore, generally is used by its own specialized operator, who takes care of the patient/client and prepares him/her for the treatment in the best way.

In a single it could be necessary to arrange for several different devices, each of which is dedicated to a specific treatment: this choice has elevated costs in terms of purchasing (and maintaining) every single device and also in terms of preparation of specialized personnel (each operator must learn the characteristics of every single device).

Secondly, the place where the devices are installed must be rather large, in order to comfortably accommodate all the devices allowing each one to be used.

Normally, the patient/client that wants to undergo this type of treatment has a bed or armchair available to be on during the treatment: this accessory also needs to be comfortably accommodated within the environment. The great specialization necessary for these types of devices prevents them from being used in small centers that only marginally perform aesthetic treatments. Disclosure of the Invention

The aim of the present invention is to solve the drawbacks described above, by providing a workstation for aesthetic, cosmetic, trichological treatments and the like through which it is possible to put the patient/client in the ideal position to undergo at least one treatment that is applied by the workstation itself.

Within this aim, an object of the invention is to provide a workstation for aesthetic, cosmetic, trichological treatments and the like suitable for applying multiple different treatments.

Another object of the invention is to provide a workstation for aesthetic, cosmetic, trichological treatments and the like, that can be integrated, with the same shapes and dimensions, in already existing workstations which are used in other sectors.

Another object of the invention is to provide a workstation for aesthetic, cosmetic, trichological treatments and the like that has low costs, is relatively simple to provide in practice and safe in application.

This aim and these and other objects which will become better apparent hereinafter are achieved by a workstation for aesthetic, cosmetic, trichological treatments and the like of the type comprising a footing for resting on the floor, a supporting surface for the user that is optionally articulated with respect to said footing for its adjustment and orientation, characterized in that it comprises at least one control and management unit and at least one connector, which is connected to said unit, for the controlled and actuated connection of a device for aesthetic, cosmetic and trichological treatments.

Brief description of the drawings

Further characteristics and advantages of the present invention will become better apparent from the following detailed description of a preferred but not exclusive embodiment of a workstation for aesthetic, cosmetic, trichological treatments and the like, illustrated by way of a non- limitative example in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a rear perspective view of a possible embodiment of a workstation for aesthetic, cosmetic and trichological treatments and the like according to the invention;

Figure 2 is a front perspective view of the embodiment shown in Figure 1 of the workstation for aesthetic, cosmetic and trichological treatments and the like according to the invention; Figure 3 is a side view of another embodiment of the workstation for aesthetic, cosmetic and trichological treatments and the like according to the invention;

Figure 4 is a top view of the embodiment shown in Figure 3 of the workstation for aesthetic, cosmetic and trichological treatments and the like according to the invention.

Ways of carrying out the Invention

With reference to the figures, the reference numeral 1 generally designates a workstation for aesthetic, cosmetic and trichological treatments and the like. The workstation 1 comprises a footing 2 for resting on the floor and a supporting surface 3 for the user that is optionally articulated with respect to the footing 2 for its adjustment and orientation.

It could be necessary to orient and arrange the entire surface 3, or some of its parts, in order to more easily allow the user to be submitted to a particular treatment or, more simply, to make him rest more comfortable on the surface 3.

The workstation 1 comprises at least one control and management unit (that is not shown in the figure since it is completely accommodated within the body of the station 1) and at least one connector 4, which is connected to said unit, for the connection of a device 5 for aesthetic treatments.

In order to optimize the operation of the workstation 1 and to make it more interesting in terms of its application for aesthetic centers and/or hair salons that are interested in offering many diversified treatments, the connectors 4 are a plurality, for the connection of respective devices 5.

With reference to the device 5 for aesthetic treatments it is important to mention that it can be chosen among all the devices normally used and among those that will eventually become more popular as the cosmetic and aesthetic sector evolves. In particular, reference is made to devices for the treatment of the skin, scalp, hair that function according to the principle of pulsed light (submission to a band of light emitted from a light source, preferably a xenon lamp and the like); devices for photoepilation; devices for depilation based on mechanical, chemical, electrical and/or heat principles; devices for the treatment of the skin, scalp, hair that function according to the LED principle (submission to a band of light emitted from light-emitting diodes); devices for mechanical massage; skin suction devices (aspiration by an aspirating pump resulting in the attraction of an elevated quantity of blood towards the external layers of the skin for an optimal circulation and oxygenization of the tissues); electro-stimulation devices; radio frequency treatment devices; ultrasound treatment devices; devices for treatment with infrared radiation, ultraviolet radiation and radiation of the visible spectrum; devices for treatment with electrical fields; devices for treatment with magnetic fields; devices for treatment with heat energy. Treatments with laser sources and sources of radiation (emission of radiation of any type) of another type are not to be excluded.

The workstation 1 according to the invention can be positively associated simultaneously (or one after another) to a plurality of devices 5 (the devices cited above), even optionally of a mutually different type. Each device 5 will be managed by the control and management unit through the connection to a respective connector 4: in this way the user can be submitted to several treatments simultaneously or not, of a mutually analogous or different type.

According to one embodiment of particular interest in practice and application, the supporting surface 3 is substantially shaped like an armchair.

In particular the possibility is not excluded to use an adapted armchair or to insert in an armchair of the type normally used in dentist's surgeries, in other medical laboratories, in hair dressing laboratories, in aesthetic and cosmetic laboratories, the control and management unit, the connectors and other components necessary for the correct operation of the workstation 1.

In all of those cases in which the treatments cannot be followed by specialized personnel, it is important that the control and management unit comprises appropriate management software through which it is possible to completely guide the operation of the device 5. The software should be designed to eliminate any potential danger source for the user and the personnel in charge.

According to another embodiment, the supporting surface 3 is substantially shaped like a bed: in this case too, it can be an adapted bed or a "modification" applied to a bed normally used for the application of different treatments and/or services for the final user.

It is important to note that the workstation 1 can comprise at least one respective seat 6 for accommodating the respective device 5 for aesthetic treatments and any cables and pipes for power supply and operation. Thus the personnel need not search for the device 5 of interest to apply a particular treatment in a specific storage area, because it is the workstation 1 that stores the accessories with which it interacts.

According to an embodiment that is applicable to any kind of workstation 1 without prejudice for any other characteristic, the supporting surface 3 is associated with respective elements that can move with respect to it, in order to massage the user who rests on the surface 3. In particular it is possible to install mechanical movable parts (such as pneumatic or hydraulic pistons or other electric actuators) that provide the movement of the appropriate portions provided below the external layer on which the user rests, the movement of such portions messaging the body resting above.

The workstation 1 , in an embodiment designed specifically to guarantee easy usage, comprises an adapted control panel 7, which is controlled by the control and management unit, for interfacing between the operator and the control software of the entire station 1 and the devices 5 that are functionally associated therewith.

To optimize the correlation between the on-going activities and the operator working on the station 1, the station comprises a screen 8 for displaying the state of operation and the parameters of the aesthetic treatments. The invention thus conceived is susceptible of numerous modifications and variations, all of which are within the scope of the appended claims; further, all the details may be replaced with other technically equivalent elements.

In the exemplary embodiments shown, individual characteristics, given to specific examples, may actually be interchanged with other different characteristics that exist in other exemplary embodiments.

Moreover, it is noted that anything found to be already known during the patenting process is understood not to be claimed and to be the subject of a disclaimer. In practice, the materials employed, as well as the dimensions, may be any according to requirements and to the state of the art.

The disclosures in Italian Patent Application No. BO2009A000206 from which this application claims priority are incorporated herein by reference. Where technical features mentioned in any claim are followed by reference signs, those reference signs have been included for the sole purpose of increasing the intelligibility of the claims and accordingly, such reference signs do not have any limiting effect on the interpretation of each element identified by way of example by such reference signs.

Claims

1. A workstation for aesthetic, cosmetic, trichological treatments and the like, of the type that comprises a footing (2) for resting on the floor and a supporting surface (3) for the user that is optionally articulated with respect to said footing (2) for its adjustment and orientation, characterized in that it comprises at least one control and management unit and at least one connector (4), which is connected to said unit, for the controlled and actuated connection of a device (5) for aesthetic, cosmetic and trichological treatments.

2. The workstation according to claim 1, characterized in that said connectors (4) are a plurality, for the connection of respective devices (5).

3. The workstation according to claim 1, characterized in that said device (5) for aesthetic, cosmetic and trichological treatments is chosen among devices for treating the skin, scalp, hair with pulsed light, devices for photoepilation and depilation; LED-based devices for treating the skin, scalp, hair; devices for mechanical massage; skin suction devices; electrical stimulation devices; radio frequency treatment devices; ultrasound treatment devices; devices for treatment with electrical fields; devices for treatment with magnetic fields; devices for treatment with heat energy; devices for treatment with infrared radiation, radiation of the visible spectrum, and ultraviolet radiation.

4. The workstation according to claim 1, characterized in that a plurality of devices (5), optionally also of a mutually different type, is associated with said unit, each device (5) being connected thereto by means of a respective connector (4) to submit the user to a set of simultaneous treatments.

5. The workstation according to claim 1, characterized in that said supporting surface (3) is substantially shaped like an armchair.

6. The workstation according to claim 1, characterized in that said supporting surface (3) is substantially shaped like a bed.

7. The workstation according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises at least one respective seat (6) for accommodating said device (5) for aesthetic, cosmetic and trichological treatments and any cables and pipes for power supply and operation.

8. The workstation according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said supporting surface (3) is associated with respective elements that can move with respect to it, in order to massage the user who rests on said surface (3).

9. The workstation according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises an adapted control panel (7), which is controlled by said control and management unit, for interfacing between the operator and the control software of the entire station (1) and of the devices (5) that are functionally associated therewith.

10. The workstation according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a screen (8) for displaying the state of operation and the parameters of the aesthetic treatments.

AMENDED CLAIMS received by the International Bureau on 30 July 2010 (30.07.2010)

1. A workstation for aesthetic, cosmetic, trichological treatments and the like, of the type that comprises a footing (2) for resting on the floor and a supporting surface (3) for the user that is optionally articulated with respect to said footing (2) for its adjustment and orientation, a control panel (7), a plurality of devices (5) for aesthetic, cosmetic and trichological treatments that are functionally associatable with said control panel (7), and at least one connector (4) for the controlled and actuated connection of said devices (5), characterized in that it further comprises at least one control and management unit comprising control and management software suitable to completely guide operation of the entire station (1) and of said devices (5) that are functionally associated therewith trough said at least one connector (4), said control panel (7) being controlled by said control and management unit for interfacing between the operator and the control and management software of the entire station and of the devices (5), and in that said supporting surface (3) is constituted by an armchair or a bed, said at least one control and management unit being completely accommodated within the body of the armchair or bed.

3. The workstation according to claim 1, characterized in that said devices (5) for aesthetic, cosmetic and trichological treatments are chosen among devices for treating the skin, scalp, hair with pulsed light, devices for photoepilation and depilation; LED-based devices for treating the skin, scalp, hair; devices for mechanical massage; skin suction devices; electrical stimulation devices; radio frequency treatment devices; ultrasound treatment devices; devices for treatment with electrical fields; devices for treatment with magnetic fields; devices for treatment with heat energy; devices for treatment with infrared radiation, radiation of the visible spectrum, and ultraviolet radiation.

4. The workstation according to claim 1, characterized in that said plurality of devices (5), optionally also of a mutually different type, is associated with said unit, each device (5) being connected thereto by means of a respective connector (4) to submit the user to a set of simultaneous treatments.

5. The workstation according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises at least one respective seat (6) for accommodating said device (5) for aesthetic, cosmetic and trichological treatments and any cables and pipes for power supply and operation.

6. The workstation according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said supporting surface (3) is associated with respective elements that can move with respect to it, in order to massage the user who rests on said surface (3).

7. The workstation according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a screen (8) for displaying the state of operation and the parameters of the aesthetic treatments.