Prior Art From US-A-4,923,460 a device for removing hair is previously known. This device comprises a number of helical springs that are permanently curved and attached to a handle.

The helical springs are manufactured from a thread material that has been treated in such a way that a rough surface is achieved before it is shaped to a helical spring. A suitable technique to achieve said rough surface is sand blasting.

The helical springs are freely rotatable when they are attached to the handle in their curved state. This means that rolling friction brings the helicoidal springs to roll when they are pressed against the skin and are moved to-and-fro along the skin. The rough surface of the thread material thereby provides a smoother rolling action. The rolling of the helical springs against the skin provides the hair removing function. When the helical spring gets in contact with individual pieces of hair, said pieces get trapped in the openings between the coils of the helical spring and the pieces of hair is pulled out of the skin by means of rolling action. In this connection it should especially be pointed out that the rolling of the helical springs is effected solely by the contact of the helical springs against the skin.

From US-A-4,899,748 a device for removing hair is previously known. Said device comprises a casing that may be held in a hand of a person and two hair-pulling bodies that are rotatably received in the casing, said hair-pulling bodies having a curved shape. The hair-pulling bodies have slits that are opened when they are on the convex side of the hair- pulling bodies and the slits are closed when they are on the concave side of the hair-pulling bodies. This opening and

closing of the slits provides a hair-pulling function. The hair-pulling bodies are rotated by means of motors.

Objects and Features of the Invention A primary object of the present invention is to present a device for removing hair of the type defined above, said device being extremely user-friendly.

A further object of the present invention is that the device should be extremely simple from a structural point of view.

Still an object of the present invention is that the device should not require much space but it may be easily stored in for instance a toilet case.

At least the primary object of the present invention is realised by means of a device that has been given the features of the appending independent patent claim. Preferred embodiments of the invention are defined in the dependent patent claims.

Brief Description of the Drawings Below an embodiment of the device according to the present invention will be described, reference being made to the accompanying drawings, where: Fig 1 shows a top view of a device according to the present invention, said device being in an inactive position; Fig 2 shows a side view of the device according to the present invention when it is in active position; Fig 3 shows a schematic view of how a user holds the device according to the present invention; Fig 4A shows a detail of a chin having superfluous hair; and Fig 4B shows in detail how the device according to the present invention works together with a piece of hair when removing said piece.

Detailed Description of a Preferred Embodiment of the Device According to the Present Invention The device for removing hair, shown in Fig 1 and 2, comprises a part 1 that consists of a helically wound thread that is manufactured from a springing material, preferably

said part 1 constitutes a helical spring in the shape of tension spring, i. e. a helical spring 1 intended to receive tension forces. The material of the helical spring 1 preferably constitutes a thread of spring steel and especially so-called 18/8 steel that holds 18% chromium and 8% nickel.

This steel quality is extremely advantageous to persons allergic to nickel since nickel is extremely well bound in this steel quality.

Handles 3 are attached in the area of the two ends of the helical spring 1, said handles 3 being fixed to the helical spring 1 in a satisfying way and for instance said handles being threaded on the end portions of the helical spring 1, i. e. the handles having an extension in the longitudinal direction of the helical spring 1. The handles 3 are preferably cylindrical and have an external diameter that somewhat exceeds the external diameter of the helical spring 1. This is necessary, at least in such cases when the ends of the helical spring 1 are threaded in recesses in the handles 3. Apart from this it is preferable if the handles 3 are designed in such a way that they are easy to grip, i. e. they have a sufficiently rough external surface that provides a suitable friction against the fingers of the user.

In Fig 1 the device for removing hair according to the present invention is shown in inactive, rectilinear position.

In Fig 2 the device for removing air according to the present invention is shown in active position where the helical spring 1 is curved, the radius of curvature in Fig 2 being such that the handles 3 are essentially parallel to each other. As is evident from Fig 2 the convex side of the helical spring 1 will open when said helical spring 1 is brought to assume the curved position shown in Fig 2. The opening of the helical spring 1 on its convex side means that openings are created at the convex side between adjacent coils of the thread that forms the helical spring 1.

In Fig 3 it is shown how a user of the device for removing hair holds the device. From Fig 3 it is evident that the user suitably grips the handles 3 of the device for removing hair between the thumb and the forefinger of the respective hand.

In Fig 4A it is shown pieces of superfluous hair on the chin of the user. In Fig 4B it is shown how the helical spring 1 of the device for removing hair according to the present invention is applied to the chin of the user. In such a case it is suitable that the helical spring 1 is curved and that the user slowly rotates the handles 3 between her/his fingers. Then the helical spring 1 will perform a rolling motion along the skin of the user. In connection with this rolling motion along the skin of the user it will happen that pieces of hair enter between adjacent coils of the spring thread, especially on the convex side of the helical spring, see Fig 4B. The rolling motion of the helical spring 1 along the skin of the user brings about that the pieces of hair that have entered between adjacent coils of the spring thread is clamped between said adjacent coils. This clamping is so forceful that when the rolling motion of the helical spring 1 continues the clamped pieces of hair will be removed from the skin, i. e. they are preferably pulled out of the skin with its adherent root. In this connection it should be pointed out that the helical spring 1 preferably is permanently curved when it is brought to roll along the skin of the user. For reasons of clarity it is shown in Fig 4B how only one piece a hair enters between adjacent coils of the spring thread.

However, on one occasion several pieces of hair may be removed from the skin of the user. The number of pieces of hair that are removed on one occasion depends from several factors, e. g. the hair growth of the user, the type of hair growth and the technique/skill of the user when using the device for removing hair according to the present invention.

Fig 4B of the present patent application shows the removal of pieces of hair from the chin of the user. However, the device according to present invention may be used for removal of in principle all superfluous hair in the face of the user. It should be pointed out that the device according to the present invention also functions for pieces of hair that are so small that they may not be picked off with tweezers.

In order to remove the pieces of hair that are stuck in the device for removing hair according to the present

invention the user may rotate the helical spring 1 that in such a case should be curved, the removal of pieces of hair may be facilitated if the user blows at the helical spring 1.

Feasible Modifications of the Present Invention According to the embodiment described above the handles attached to the ends of the helical spring 1 are cylindrical and threaded on the ends of the helical spring 1. However, it is feasible within the scope of the invention that the handles for instance have hexagonal cross section and that they are connected to the ends of the helical spring in a different way than being threaded on the ends of the helical spring. In exemplifying and non-restricting purpose glueing or heat welding may be mentioned if the handles consist of plastic.

The handles may also be provided with a central pin that is pushed or threaded into the internal space of the spring.