Background of the Invention

This application claims benefit of provisional application Serial No. 63/070,130, filed August 25, 2020.

This invention concerns brushes, more particularly a motor-driven body brush.

There exist in the marketplace devices known as powered facial brushes. While they vary in appearance, the general configuration is a handle (as shown in Figure 1, prior art) containing a motor and either a power source such as a battery or a cord to attach the handle to a remote power source. This handle imparts a motion to a brush head (Figure 1) . This motion can take several different forms but a very popular form is a simple rotation about a longitudinal axis (item 100, Figure 1) . The user holds onto the handle and the working end is the surface of the brush head distal from the handle.

When the brush head is investigated in more depth, it often has a main body (item 30, Figure 1) and a field of working elements (item 78, Figure 1) . These working elements are often pumice stone, sponge, elastomer field, elastomer bristles or nylon bristles, among others. When nylon bristles are used, they are often comprised of tufts (item 73, Figure 1) . There are often one hundred or more tufts on one brush head. Each tuft may contain hundreds of individual nylon (or other material) fibers (item 76, Figure 1) . When the tufts are removed, and the main body of the facial brush remains, it often looks like Figure 2 which shows a prior art field of tuft holes (shown typically and without specificity of location as item 70 throughout the figures) . Much of the following description and figures will eliminate these tufts for clarity, relative to the invention . Other figures will show fields of uniform working material or bristles . The fields of uniform working material can be interpreted as pumice , a sponge or such single piece elements . But , in all figures the working elements are interchangeable and are independent of the novelty of the design of this invention .

A brush head like that described above and shown in Figure 1 is useful for cleaning the intricacies of one ' s face if the brush is fabricated in the proper scale . The brush head needs to reach into crevasses and recesses such as the recess between the side of the nose and the cheek and in and around the eyes and ears . Other parts of the body can also benefit from the cleaning power of the powered facial brush but often the scale of the brush head itself makes that impractical or at least less than ideal . Body parts such as the arms , legs and chest could benefit from a powered brush and these area don' t possess much of the same intricacies as the face . Because of that , some devices also come with different heads specifically for these body parts and the brushes are known as body brushes . However, this reguires the user to purchase extra components — multiple heads for specific body parts . In addition, some systems take advantage of the small scale of the facial brush head and are diminutive systems as a whole . Because of this they are easy to store and easy to travel with . Those systems that have multiple heads and especially have large heads lose this advantage . Thus , there is an opportunity in the market for a small scale powered facial brush system that can also effectively double as a powered body brush while still maintaining a small si ze .

Summary of the Invention

This invention breaks up the traditional single working element field into several different fields . At least one , and preferably at least two , of these fields articulate from a closed to an open position whereby in the open position the largest distance between the central longitudinal rotation axis and the working element is greater than in the closed position, that is , the diameter of the rotatable head is increased . And, as mentioned, a larger working element is able to clean large expanses of skin faster . Because this head is configurable , it can transform from one that is used on intricate body parts (e . g . the face ) to one that is used on larger, less intricate body parts (e . g . legs ) .

In a preferred embodiment at least two symetrically- arranged working element sections are swingable outwardly from closed to open position when a larger brush head is desired . When closed they tuck together and form an essentially circular perimeter .

Description of the Drawings

Figures 1 and 2 show rotatable brushes in accordance with prior art .

In Figures 3A through 7 the brush head of the invention is shown without tufts or bristles or other working elements .

Figure 3A shows the brush head in perspective , from the proximal side , with articulated sectors swung outwardly .

Figure 3B is a similar view but showing the sectors inward, in a closed position .

Figures 4A and 4B are plan views showing the distal side of the brush head, with working sectors swung outwardly in an open position, and inwardly in a closed position, respectively .

Figures 5A and 5B are perspective views again showing the distal side of the brush head, with sectors open and with sectors closed, respectively .

Figure 6 is a perspective view similar to Figure 3A, with the sectors in open position, exploded as to a central sector which is displaced outwardly to reveal an optional mechanism of the brush head .

Figure 7A is a side elevation view showing the brush head, with articulating sectors in the closed position .

Figure 7B is an elevation view but showing the brush head in cross section .

Figure 7C is another side elevation view of the brush head, indicating bristles and with a portion of the brush head removed .

Figure 8 is a perspective view showing the brush head from a proximal side , with solid working elements .

Figure 9 is a plan view showing the brush head from the distal side , the sectors being in closed position .

Figure 10 is a cross section view of the brush head of Figure 9 , the working elements being continuous rather than bristles .

Figure 11 is detail view, a partial plan view showing an example of a mechanism for detenting of the swingable segments , here shown in the open position .

Figure 12 is another detail view, showing the components of Figure 11 with the segments in the closed position .

Figures 13A and 13B are plan views schematically indicating the distal side of an articulating brush according to the invention, with another form of mechanism for articulation of the movable sectors .

Figures 14 - 16 are schematic views showing inner portions of segments and a mechanism for holding the segments in open or in closed position .

Description of Preferred Embodiments

A brush head according to the invention is illustrated in Figures 3 through 13B .

When viewed from the proximal side ( Figure 8 ) , the brush head of the invention has a handle interface ( item 34 , Figure 8 ) . This handle interface is the manner in which the brush head is connected, preferably removably, to the handle . It is also often the manner in which power and motion is transmitted from the handle to the brush head . The handle 35 , indicated only in dashed lines , preferably includes the electric motor that drives the rotatable brush head .

When viewed from above ( Figure 9 ) the brush head is comprised of several working element segments for contacting the skin ( items 52 , 54 , 56 and 58 , Figure 9 ) attached to several working element holders ( items 42 , 44 , 46 and 48 respectively, Figure 9 ) . The holders 42 , 44 and 46 articulate relative to the main body 30 , as opposed to the center holder 48 , which does not . The articulating working element holders allow for articulation of the working elements ( 52 , 54 , 56 ) that was not possible previously when the working element was affixed directly to the main body essentially as a single body . In Figures 9 and 10 the working element segments are shown as uniform material as opposed to tufts of bristles as mentioned above . "Segments" herein refers to holders and/or working elements .

In this design the sectors 42 , 44 and 46 articulate outwardly and inwardly while the center sector 48 remains fixed to the main body 30 . This articulation is accomplished by means of rotation of the working element holders about a shaft from the main body ( one such pivot shaft is shown in crossection as item 32 , Figure 10 ) . The sectors pivotally attach to these shafts and allow pivoting from the closed position of Figures 9 and 10 to an open, outwardly swung position as indicated in Figures 3 - 6 . Alternative designs that accomplish the same motion would have positive shaft features emerging from the working element holders and a pivoting hole in the body 30 . As another alternative a positive shaft feature could emerge from the center sector 48 and extend all the way to 30 allowing 42 , 44 and 46 to pivot about it .

Figures 3 to 6 show the open and closed positions for this embodiment , showing the sectors without working elements . It is obvious from these views that the effective diameter of the brush is larger in the open position . This can be seen further in the distal end views of Figures 4A and Figure 4B where a radius between the center of rotation and the most radially distant tuft hole ( radii designated as R and R' ) is considerably greater in the open condition than in the closed position . As this brush head ( Figure 4A) rotates in the counterclockwise direction (as seen from the distal end) , R' sweeps out a larger circumference than R in the closed position ( Figure 4B) . Therefore , the field of working elements sweep out a larger diameter and area in Figure 4A than in Figure 4B . Thus , the brush head can be kept in the closed position for small intricate areas and be opened for larger, less intricate areas . As designed in this embodiment , the amount of rotational articulation of 42 , 44 and 46 to achieve maximum R' is approximately 150 ° about each of the respective pivots ( 32 in Figure 10 ) . As an example , R' can be maximi zed when the most distant tuft 72 is in line with the center of the rotation of working element holder 32 and the center of the facial brush rotation 100 .

When viewed from the side and in the closed position, the articulating support members 42 , 44 and 46 sit below the non-articulating member 48 . See Figures 5A, 5B and 6 . When viewed from the side and in cross section ( Figures 7A and 7B) , it is apparent than the lengths of the tufts need to be different in the center 48 because of the elevation protrusion of the bristle tuft holes 70 compared to the bristle tuft holes in 42 , 44 and 46 (also shown as items 70 in Figure 7B) . The center protrudes distally . This tuft length difference is easily accomplished as can be seen in Figure 7B . Here , bristle tufts 73 in the center sector 48 can be much shorter than bristle tufts 73 in one of the articulating working element holders ( item 44 , Figure 7B) . This can result in the top surface of the working elements ( item 74 , Figure 7B) being cohesive as essentially one surface , including as a simple cohesive shape such as a dome , Figure 7B . Another view of the same facet of the invention can be seen in Figure 70, which is a view from the same direction as Figure 7B . However, Figure 70 is not in cross section and elements 42 and 52 ( one sector) are removed for clarity . Here it can be seen that the bristle tufts 73 in item 48 are shorter than the bristle tufts 73 in Item 44 .

The center working element segment 48 does not offer much in the way of cleaning power . It is small , close to and surrounding the center of rotation and there would be very few locations on the body where the center working element 58 could be used as the primary working element . While the sector 48 and 58 can be minimi zed or even eliminated, it does offer some advantages . First , with its presence , it does show the user essentially a continuous field of working element . This can be perceived as more cleaning power and is more similar to the existing state of the art of brush heads than if there were a void of working element in the center of the brush head . Most importantly, it can be used to stabili ze and strengthen the articulating working element segments ( 42 , 44 and 46 ) by receiving the ends of the pivot posts 32 , and is preferred . It can also cover and enclose some additional mechanism . One such mechanism would be a detent spring ( item 10 in exploded view Figure 6 where 48 is exploded upward off of posts 32 in order to expose item 10 - see description of Figure 11 and 12 , below) .

A detent spring in this embodiment is used to hold sectors 42 , 44 and 46 in the closed and/or open position . This will aid the user in keeping the device in one position or the other and prevent drifting from one to the other . Or, if the user prefers one use mode over the other for all uses , this detent operates as a set-it-and-f orget-it element . Figure 11 shows the sectors / working element holders ( 42 , 44 and 46 ) in the open position . Items 48 , 52 , 54 , 56 , 58 , 30 , 70 and 72 are not shown in this fragmented detail view for clarity . As mentioned previously, each of the working element holders pivot about an axis or pivot post 32 . This rotation occurs about holes 2 , 4 and 6 . The center portion of the spring 10 is fixed so that part is unable to rotate or translate in the plane shown . When a portion of working element holder 42 ( item 8 , Figure 11 ) , moving clockwise in Figure 11 , contacts the neighboring working element holder 46 , that stops 42 in the fully open position and prevents 42 from rotating further clockwise . At this point , the end 12 of one of the arms 13 of the detent spring 10 resides in a recess 20 of item 42 . When the sector 42 pivots about the axis hole 2 in a counterclockwise direction, the spring top 12 eventually resides in a recess 18 ( see Figure 12 ) . The sector 42 is now contacting item 44 which prevents sector 42 from rotating further in a counterclockwise direction and the sector 42 is in a fully closed position ( Figure 12 ) . When the spring tip 12 is in the position 20 or 18 , the spring arm 13 is in a less strained state than when the spring tip 12 is between 20 and 18 . This creates the detent feature as the spring tip 12 preferentially wants to reside in position 18 or 20 . A similar result happens with sectors 44 and 46 and their corresponding detent spring arms 15 and 17 .

An alternative mechanism to keep the working element segments or sectors 42 , 44 and 46 stable in a fully open or fully closed position is the use of a pinion gear as shown in Figures 13A and 13B . A pinion sector is used in place of or in combination with the detent spring 10 . While the detent spring 10 was prevented from rotating, the pinion gear 82 is allowed to rotate about the center of the device . The gear engages a gear tooth segment 81 on each of the working element holders . So , when one of the segments /working element holders is rotated, that drives the pinion gear 82 which in turn drives the other working element holders in the same rotational direction and the device can be transformed from closed position ( Figure 13A) to open position ( Figure 13B) . In both Figures 13A and 13B, items 48 , 52 , 54 , 56 , 58 , 70 and 72 are not shown for clarity . As in the previous embodiment , the rotation of the segments to open position preferably is opposite the direction of rotation of the motori zed brush' s body 30 . This will tend to open the segments when the device is pressed against a surface (e . g . skin) . This may not be desired, particularly if the device is to be used in the closed, compact configuration, and a latch can be provided to retain the closed configuration, any suitable form of mechanical latch .

One form of latch that can be used is indicated schematically in Figures 14 to 16 . Figure 14 is similar to Figure 11 , showing inner portions of the three segments . The detent spring 10 has been eliminated, and the shape of the inner ends of the segments is somewhat different without the spring . Each segment is pivotal at pivot holes 2 , 4 and 6 , which receive the pivot posts 32 ( Figure 10 ) extending up from the body 30 . In the open position as shown in Figure 14 , it can be seen that further holes 102 , 104 and 106 are added to the three segments , 42 , 44 and 46 , respectively . These are for the locking function, and coordinate with the center segment 48 for this function, which is not shown in Figure 14 but its position indicated . 106a and 106b refer to protrusions on the center segment 48 for holding positions of the segment 46 .

In Figure 15 the center segment or section 48 is seen in perspective (as well as its position being indicated in plan) , and its cooperation with the three pivotal segments is indicated . When the center section 48 is put into position, it has protrusions or pegs , e . g . 106a and 106b, two adj acent to each of the pivot points . In this embodiment the segment pivot points as located on the center section can be holes 2a, 4a and 6a, whereas the segments have holes 2 , 4 and 6 through which the protrusions ( see Figure 10 ) 32 pass to engage in the holes 2a, 4a and 6a, connecting with the center section . Taking, for example , the segment 46 at left in Figure 15 , with the pivot point 6 , the protrusions 106a and 106b are provided on the bottom of the center section 48 on either side of the pivot 6 , 6a . The same occurs at each of the other pivot points 2 and 4 of the segments 42 and 44 . The center segment 48 in this case can travel somewhat along its axis , not in rotation but in/out movement , so that the locking pegs (but not the pivot points 2 , 4 and 6 ) can be engaged or disengaged . When the center segment is moved inwardly (downwardly) , pushed toward the segments 42 , 44 and 46 , the protrusion or peg 106a goes into the hole 106 and locks the segment in the open position . The same occurs on the other two segments , thus locking all three segments in the open position . In Figure 15 the peg 106a is indicated to be engaged with the hole 106 . Meanwhile the peg 106b resides between segments 42 and 46 as shown in Figure 15 .

When the center segment is pulled outwardly, this disengages the protrusions . The segments 42 , 44 and 46 can then be swung to the closed position shown in Figure 16 . Once the segments have been swung to closed, the center segment 48 can be pushed inwardly, downwardly toward the segments 42 , 44 and 46 , and this will engage the protrusion or peg 106b into the hole 106 , locking the segment in the closed position as in Figure 16 ( 106 and 106b are coincident ) . This occurs at all three segments , to lock them all in closed position . Note that the arrangement of the pegs 106a and 106b (as well as those on the other segments ) are such that the non-used protrusion 106a or 106b will not be blocked by any structure from moving down into the locking position . In Figure 16 the one peg 106a is between segments , thus residing in a clearance there , while peg 106b is in the hole 106 . Conversely, in

Figure 15 the peg 106b resides in that clearance (as noted above ) , while the peg 106a is locked in the hole 106 of the segment .

Other mechanical latch designs are possible and can easily be made by a person of skill in the art . The above described preferred embodiments are intended to illustrate the principles of the invention, but not to limit its scope . Other embodiments and variations to these preferred embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art and may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the following claims .