Epilating apparatus

The present invention relates to an epilating apparatus comprising a first disc assembly arranged in a first row and at least a second disc assembly arranged in a second row, wherein during operation of the apparatus the first disc assembly and the second disc assembly rotate (substantially) in a same direction.

An epilating apparatus of the type mentioned above is known from US 6,824,546 Bl. In general, the epilating process can be divided into the steps of catching the hair, clamping the hair, and finally plucking the hair out. The favorite direction to catch the hair is the direction opposite to the natural growth direction of the hair. As even efficient epilating apparatuses are not able to catch all hairs with one stroke, it is known, for example from US 6,824,546 Bl, to arrange two disc assemblies behind each other, which rotate in the same direction. A further possibility, also known from US 6,824,546 Bl, is to rotate the two disc assemblies arranged behind each other in opposite directions such that the skin between the two disc assemblies is stretched. This is shown in Figures Ia and Ib, wherein Figure Ia shows a schematic sectional view of a prior art epilating apparatus 10' during operation on skin 24 and Figure Ib shows a schematic top view on the active surface of the prior art epilating apparatus 10'. The epilating apparatus 10' comprises a first disc assembly 12' arranged in a first row 14' and a second disc assembly 16' arranged in a second row 18'. The first disc assembly 12' and the second disc assembly 16' are rotated in opposite directions, as shown by the arrows. As a result, the skin 24' between the disc assemblies 12', 16' is stretched, and this leads to an advantageous tension distribution in the skin 24', with a minimized stimulation of the free nerve ends which are responsible for the pain sensation. However, rotating the disc assemblies 12', 16' in opposite directions leads to a lower efficiency of the epilating process, because one of the disc assemblies, namely the disc assembly 12', is rotated in an inconvenient direction to catch hairs 26', 28', 30', and thereby hairs can be pressed down as illustrated for the hair 26'. Furthermore, rotating the disc assemblies 12', 16' in opposite directions leads to a bad maneuverability of the epilating apparatus 10' on the skin of the user.

It is an object of the present invention to provide epilating apparatuses of the type mentioned in the opening paragraph, which offer a skin-stretching function but nevertheless have both a good maneuverability and a high efficiency.

This object is achieved by the features of the independent claims. Further developments and preferred embodiments of the invention are outlined in the dependent claims.

In accordance with a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an epilating apparatus comprising a first disc assembly arranged in a first row and at least a second disc assembly arranged in a second row, wherein during operation of the apparatus the first disc assembly and the second disc assembly rotate in a same direction, and wherein a circumferential speed of the first disc assembly is different from a circumferential speed of the second disc assembly. The different circumferential speeds of the disc assemblies also provide a skin stretching effect, but both disc assemblies can be rotated in the favorite direction to catch the hairs, i.e. in the direction opposite to the natural growth direction of the hairs. Furthermore, rotating the disc assemblies in the same direction leads to a good maneuverability of the epilating apparatus.

In accordance with a first embodiment of the invention, a rotation speed of the first disc assembly is different from a rotation speed of the second disc assembly to generate the different circumferential speeds.

In such a case it is preferred that a diameter of the first disc assembly is equal to a diameter of the second disc assembly. With such a solution the disc assemblies can be identical, and this leads to lower production costs. In accordance with a second embodiment of the invention, a diameter of the first disc assembly is different from a diameter of the second disc assembly to generate the different circumferential speeds.

In such a case it is preferred that a rotation speed of the first disc assembly is equal to a rotation speed of the second disc assembly. It is clear to the person skilled in the art that the above first and second embodiments can be combined, if this is regarded as useful.

In accordance with a further development of the invention, the epilating apparatus further comprises a third disc assembly arranged in a third row and intended to rotate in the same direction as the first disc assembly and the second disc assembly, wherein the first disc assembly is arranged in front of the second disc assembly and the third disc

assembly is arranged alongside the second disc assembly. In such a case it is, for example, possible that the three disc assemblies have the same width and that only the skin in a middle area is treated by two disc assemblies, while skin in the outer areas is treated by only one disc assembly. In accordance with a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided an epilating apparatus comprising a first disc assembly and at least a second disc assembly, wherein during operation of the apparatus the first disc assembly and the second disc assembly rotate substantially in a same direction, and wherein the first disc assembly and the second disc assembly are arranged angularly relative to each other. If the angle between the first and the second disc assembly is suitably selected, such an arrangement of the disc assemblies also provides a skin stretching effect, but both disc assemblies can be rotated substantially in the favorite direction to catch the hairs, i.e. in the direction opposite to the natural growth direction of the hairs. Furthermore, rotating the disc assemblies in substantially the same direction leads to a good maneuverability of the epilating apparatus. In this context it is preferred that the first disc assembly is arranged in a first row and that the second disc assembly is arranged in a second row, wherein the first row and the second row include a first angle between 175° and 135°, preferably between 170° and 140°, and most preferably between 160° and 150°.

Also, in connection with the second aspect of the invention, it is possible that the epilating apparatus comprises a third disc assembly, wherein the first disc assembly and the third disc assembly are arranged angularly relative to each other. With such an arrangement it is, for example, possible that the disc assembly in the middle is rotated in the favorite direction to catch the hairs, while the two outer disc assemblies are rotated only substantially in the favorite direction to provide the skin stretching function. As regards a suitable choice of the further angle, it is preferred that the first disc assembly is arranged in a first row and that the third disc assembly is arranged in a third row, wherein the first row and the third row include a second angle between 175° and 135°, preferably between 170° and 140°, and most preferably between 160° and 150°.

The above and further aspects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from and elucidated with reference to the embodiments described hereinafter and shown in the drawings, wherein

Fig. Ia shows a schematic sectional view of a prior art epilating apparatus during operation on skin, as discussed above;

Fig. Ib shows a schematic top view on the active surface of the prior art epilating apparatus of Figure Ia; Fig. 2a shows a schematic sectional view of a first embodiment of the epilating apparatus in accordance with the invention;

Fig. 2b shows a schematic top view on the active surface of the epilating apparatus of Figure 2a;

Fig. 3 a shows a schematic sectional view of a second embodiment of the epilating apparatus in accordance with the invention;

Fig. 3b shows a schematic top view on the active surface of the epilating apparatus of Figure 3 a;

Fig. 4a shows a schematic sectional view of a third embodiment of the epilating apparatus in accordance with the invention; and Fig. 4b shows a schematic top view on the active surface of the epilating apparatus of Figure 4a.

Throughout the drawings, equal or similar reference numerals are used to denote equal or similar components, and at least some of these components are explained only once to avoid repetitions.

Figures 2a and 2b show a first embodiment of the epilating apparatus 10 in accordance with the invention. The epilating apparatus 10 comprises a first disc assembly 12 arranged in a first row 14 and a second disc assembly 16 arranged in a second row 18. As may be best seen in Figure 2b, the two rows 14, 18 are arranged in parallel with this first embodiment. The structure of the disc assemblies 12, 16, or rolls of tweezers, as such is well known to the person skilled in the art and is therefore not discussed herein. In accordance with the first embodiment shown in Figures 2a and 2b, the disc assemblies 12, 16 are rotated in the same direction, as indicated by the arrows in Figure 2a, but at different rotational speeds. Since the disc assemblies 12, 16 have the same diameter, the different rotational speeds lead to different circumferential speeds. If the second disc assembly 16 is rotated at a higher speed than the first disc assembly 12, the skin 24 between the disc assemblies 12, 16 is stretched, and this leads to an advantageous tension distribution in the skin 24, with a minimized stimulation of the free nerve ends which are responsible for the pain sensation.

Furthermore, both disc assemblies 12, 16 are rotated in the favorite direction to catch the hairs 26, 28, 30, i.e. in the direction opposite to the natural growth direction of the hairs 26, 28, 30. Thereby a high efficiency is achieved and the maneuverability of the epilating apparatus 10 is excellent. Figures 3 a and 3b show a second embodiment of the epilating apparatus 10 in accordance with the invention. The epilating apparatus 10 comprises a first disc assembly 12 arranged in a first row 14, a second disc assembly 16 arranged in a second row 18, and a third disc assembly 20 arranged in a third row 22. As may be best seen in Figure 3b, the third disc assembly 20 is arranged alongside the second disc assembly 16, and the first disc assembly 12 is arranged in front of the second and third disc assemblies 16, 20, in respect of the preferred direction of movement of the epilating apparatus 10. The diameter of the first disc assembly 12 is about 1.5 times the diameter of the second and third disc assemblies 16, 20. Therefore, if all disc assemblies 12, 16, 20 are rotated in the indicated directions, for example, at the same rotation speeds, the circumferential speed of the first disc assembly 12 is higher than the circumferential speeds of the other disc assemblies 16, 20. This also leads to the desired stretching of the skin 24 between the disc assemblies 12, 16, 20. With the second embodiment, illustrated in Figures 3 a and 3b, only the skin 24 in the middle area is treated by two disc assemblies 12 and 16 or 12 and 20. The skin 24 in the outer areas is treated by only one disc assembly 16 or 20. Also in this case all disc assemblies 12, 16, 20 are rotated in the favorite direction to catch the hairs 26, 28, 30, i.e. in the direction opposite to the natural growth direction of the hairs 26, 28, 30, providing a high efficiency and an excellent maneuverability of the epilating apparatus 10.

Figures 4a and 4b show a third embodiment of the epilating apparatus 10 in accordance with the invention. The illustrated epilating apparatus 10 comprises a first disc assembly 12 arranged in a first row 14, a second disc assembly 16 arranged in a second row 18, and a third disc assembly 20 arranged in a third row 22. During operation of the apparatus 10, the first disc assembly 12, the second disc assembly 16, and the third disc assembly 20 are rotated substantially in the same direction, as indicated by the arrows. The disc assemblies 12, 16, 20 may have, without being limited thereto, the same diameter. Furthermore, the circumferential speeds of all disc assemblies 12, 16, 20 can be the same, since, in this embodiment, the skin-stretching effect is achieved by the fact that the disc assemblies 12, 16, 20 shown in Figures 4a and 4b are rotated only "substantially" in the same direction. This is due to the fact that, to achieve the skin-stretching effect, the first row 14 includes an angle of, for example, about 155° with both the second row 18 and the third row

22, as illustrated. Such an arrangement does not really affect the maneuverability of the epilating device 10, but leads to a high efficiency of the epilating process with reduced pain.

Finally, it is to be noted that equivalents and modifications not described above may also be employed without departing from the scope of the invention, which is defined in the accompanying claims. Particularly, it is clear to the person skilled in the art that the above solutions in accordance with the first and second aspects can be combined without problem, if this is regarded as advantageous, and also such embodiments shall be regarded as being disclosed herein.