EP0766937B1 - Wax epilation device - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to the technical field general devices for applying hot-melt products, such as depilatory wax, in which the product is stored in solid form at room temperature and must be heated to change state, and pass at least in a pasty state, so that it can be applied.

The present invention relates more particularly to a waxing device comprising, a reservoir of the product to apply intended to be heated by heating means and, a dispensing instrument for applying this product.

Whatever type of depilatory wax applicator is considered, the hair removal technique by applying a depilatory wax consists in making melt a certain amount of wax and then apply it in the molten state on the area to be epilated in a thin layer. After at least partial hardening, the wax film is then removed. The hairs in the area to be epilated are then extracts from the skin due to their attachment to the wax.

To implement this widely used technique, waxing devices therefore generally include a tank intended to contain a volume of depilatory wax. This tank is related with these heating means making it possible to melt said wax. The more often, when all of the wax, contained inside the tank, is melted, the user introduces a spatula into the melted wax in order to remove a part of it, which it quickly applies to the area to depilate.

These devices have the advantage of being simple and allowing the use of any kind of wax, however their handling remains particularly delicate since wax can easily fall and soil the floors when traveling with the spatula. In addition, the this device takes a long time to start up because it has to melt a large amount of wax before you can use the spatula.

In order to improve these traditional devices, applicators from hot-melt product, in particular depilatory wax, have been developed. They are described in particular in European patent applications EP-A-0.629.366 and EP-A-0.592.340.

These devices generally include a housing, in which are located means of heating and a reservoir of the product to   apply. The tank has an upper opening connected to a distribution roller allowing, after the fusion of the contained product in the tank, the application of it.

These particularly compact devices allow good maneuverability, limit the risk of soiling and facilitate implementation of the waxing technique. Despite their convenience, these devices require a waiting time before their implementation, so that the wax contained in the tank is fully melted and reaches the roller of distribution. On the other hand, the homogeneity of a wax deposit requires uniform melting of the wax across the width of the tank. Furthermore, these monobloc devices are small, which limits the wax reserve and leads to having to refill the tank during hair removal, which leads to new waiting times.

Although these devices are recognized as very practical for individual use of a small amount of wax, it appeared useful to develop different devices, in particular for hair removal from relatively large areas.

In addition, French patent application FR-A-2,517,940 presents a device separating the melting of the wax and its distribution. In this device, the dispenser is portable and is connected to the reservoir containing depilatory wax by a flexible hose. A pump allows the wax to circulate from the reservoir to the pipe, then to the distribution organ.

This device can have a great autonomy. However one of its drawbacks is that it is necessary to wait for the merger of all the wax contained in the tank before putting it in work, which leads to a relatively long waiting time. Moreover, like standalone applicators, it requires the use of a wax adjusted according to the characteristics of the application roller and different conduits through which the wax travels, which limits the choice of type of wax that can be used.  

Document FR-A-2.502.917 discloses an apparatus for fusion wax. This appliance comprises a tank provided with a heating element cylindrical and surmounting a recovery container. The tank has a tap for sampling the molten wax to be filtered, which allows the flow of wax into the container.

Document FR-A-1.459.825 which shows the characteristics of the preamble of the claim 1, describes a hair removal device consisting of a cylindrical body provided with heating means, internally comprising a piston subjected to a constant thrust by a spring. The piston is intended to push the product in front of it depilatory brought to a pasty state by the means of heating. A sterilizer consisting of a conical container with a heating system and whose bottom consists of a sieve, is intended to receive strips of depilatory product which are heated by the heating system. The depilatory product flows through the sieve in a catcher. In a particular embodiment, the hair removal device is placed directly below the sterilizer to the place of the recuperator.  

The object of the invention is a device making it possible to use any sort of depilatory wax, ensuring a clean implementation of the process waxing, thus limiting the risk of soiling as well as untimely spreading, and having a great autonomy.  

Another object of the invention is to have a device whose preparation time before implementation can be particularly limit.

Another object of the invention is still to allow its user of easy handling, allowing to control the thickness of the strip to be produced, as well as facilitating in particular the tearing of the band cooled.

To achieve these goals, the invention relates to a device waxing as defined in claim 1.

This device allows its user to manipulate the wax to epilate melted inside the internal volume of the removable instrument, this which limits the risks of loss of wax and, soil stains or the environment during the journey from the reservoir to the area to be depilated. Else hand, the container with variable geometry allows its user to apply the wax on the area to be depilated, forming a regular strip. After his cooling, this regularity and a particular use of the container facilitate the lifting operation.

• le récipient est un récipient souple. Il est de préférence constitué dans une matière élastomère,
• le volume intérieur du récipient débouche sur une ouverture, unique, circulaire,
• le volume intérieur du récipient débouche sur une ouverture munie d'un bourrelet,
• le récipient déformable au repos a approximativement une forme de sphère ouverte,
• des moyens de chauffage sont disposés à proximité des moyens de transfert,
• les moyens de transfert comprennent une soupape, ou clapet de distribution, maintenue en position fermée par l'action d'un ressort,
• ils comportent une plate-forme de refusion destinée au recyclage des bandes,
• la plate-forme est munie d'une zone de filtration,
• le réservoir, destiné à contenir un volume de cire à épiler, est constitué d'un plateau tournant muni d'alvéoles.

In different particular embodiments, the invention comprises the following characteristics, taken in isolation or in all their technically possible combinations:

• the container is a flexible container. It is preferably made of an elastomeric material,
• the interior volume of the container opens onto a single, circular opening,
• the interior volume of the container opens onto an opening provided with a bead,
• the deformable container at rest has approximately the shape of an open sphere,
• heating means are arranged near the transfer means,
• the transfer means comprise a valve, or distribution valve, held in the closed position by the action of a spring,
• they include a reflow platform intended for recycling bands,
• the platform is equipped with a filtration zone,
• the reservoir, intended to contain a volume of depilatory wax, consists of a turntable provided with cells.

Various other characteristics and advantages of the invention, will emerge from the description which follows, given by way of example and without limiting character, with reference to the appended drawings in which:

Figure 1 shows a cross section of a production of a deformable container constituting the removable instrument.

Figures 2A, 2B and 2C show the different stages of making a band using the removable instrument.

Figure 3 shows a schematic section of a first embodiment of the waxing device in accordance with the invention.

Figure 4 shows a schematic section of a second embodiment of a waxing device in accordance with the invention.

The removable container 1 shown more particularly in the Figure 1 includes an opening 2 allowing the introduction of the wax to depilating, intended for making a band, in the interior volume 3 of container 1. It is also through this opening 2 that the depilatory wax during the application of the liquid wax for the production Of the band. This opening 2 is provided with a bead 5 allowing on the one hand to strengthen or consolidate the opening 2, and on the other hand serving as lips facilitating the spreading of the depilatory wax during the realization of the tape. The rounded shape of this bead 5 allows also to avoid any aggressiveness, or risk of injury, towards the user skin, when using container 1.  

This bead 5 is in continuity with the walls 4 enveloping the internal volume 3. Advantageously, the walls 4 are made up of a elastomeric, flexible material, for example rubber or latex.

These flexible walls 4 thus give a variable geometry for varying the interior volume 3 of the container 1. A pressure exerted on the walls 4 thus makes it possible to remove the molten wax contained inside the container 1 during the production of the strip.

The container 1 has a substantially spherical shape. More precisely, this shape of the container, at rest, is a truncated sphere since compared to a complete sphere, it lacks a cap spherical. This truncation constitutes the opening of the container. The capacity of the interior volume 3 must be sufficient to contain a quantity of wax necessary for the execution of a strip of depilation. Advantageously, this sphere has a diameter between 25 and 45 mm, for example about 35 mm.

The opening 2 is substantially circular, and of a diameter interior between 15 and 35 mm, for example about 25 mm.

Figures 2A, 2B and 2C show the different stages of use of the container 1 when forming a band 7 intended for epilation of an area to be epilated 8.

In a first step, shown in Figure 2A, is introduced into the container 1 a quantity of melted wax, sufficient for making a strip 7. The user grasps container 1 by hand 6, the opening 2 being located upwards. The fact that the wax fondue is contained within a volume facilitates handling in avoiding dirtying the environment. The truncated sphere shape given to container, at rest is particularly advantageous.

In a second step, after traveling to the epilating area, as shown in Figure 2b, the container 1 is oriented so that its opening comes into contact with zone 8 to depilate from the user's skin. Simultaneously, container 1 is subjected to a displacement D along the epilating zone 8, and its walls 4 are subjected to a slight compression so that the wax is extracted from container 1 and applied regularly to the skin to make a hair removal strip 7.  

During the third stage, the solidification and / or wax cooling, which is usually brief, container 1 can be left in place at the end of the strip 7 produced.

The strip 7 of wax can then be torn off by an action exerted on the container 1, as shown in Figure 2C. Indeed the container 1 having been left in place on the strip 7 during the solidification, it remained, through the wax contained in the interior volume 3, integral with one of the ends of the strip 7. The extraction of the strip 7 is therefore made particularly easy. Thanks to the device of the invention, it is therefore not necessary to lift the start of the tape to pull it. The tearing of the strip 7 causes the hairs and duvets trapped in wax and ensures hair removal. The lifting of one end of the strip which is generally done with great difficulty is therefore very easy.

The container 1 can then easily be detached from the strip 7 of solid wax, on the one hand due to the sufficient size of its opening 2, and on the other hand the flexible structure of its walls 4. These facilitate the detachment of the wax contained inside the container. AT this effect, it is possibly possible to return the walls 4 of the container 1 on itself, so that the interior walls are found on the outside of the container 1, which further facilitates the operation of the emptying and cleaning the container 1.

The solid wax strip can then either be recycled immediately, either stored for later recycling, or pier.

A first embodiment of a hair removal device wax according to the invention is shown more particularly in the Figure 3. This device comprises a reservoir 9, or tank intended for contain a volume of depilatory wax 10. This reservoir 9 is in contact with heating means 11. Advantageously the tank 9 is made up of a good heat conducting material, for example metal and more precisely aluminum. The heating means 11 make it possible to melt the depilatory wax 10 contained in the reservoir 9.

Advantageously, this hair removal device comprises temperature regulation means comprising in particular a   sensor to stabilize the temperature of the depilatory wax bath 10. These regulating means make it possible to maintain the wax bath 10 at the temperature of use of the wax or at a temperature slightly superior. This temperature can for example be around 80 ° C. in the case of usual wax. The hair removal device can also include means for adjusting this temperature. The adjustment that can be carried out by the user to take account on the one hand the nature of the wax used, the desired application temperature, and low temperature drop during transfer.

Transfer means 12 allow the transfer of a amount of melted depilatory wax from reservoir 9 to removable container 1. These transfer means 12 are partially integrated into the body of the tank 9. They include a valve 13, or valve intended for close, in the closed position, an opening 40 for discharging the wax provided in the bottom of the tank 9. This valve 13 can be maintained in the closed position by means of a spring 16. The valve 13 is connected to a push button 15 via a stem 14, or valve stem. During the transfer operation, or loading of container 1, the operator presses the push button 15, this action compresses the spring 16 and releases the valve 13 from its seat 41 arranged in the body of the tank 9. This action has the effect to open an opening 40 allowing the wax 10 contained in inside the tank 9 to flow freely from inside the tank inward of container 1. When container 1 contains a quantity sufficient melted depilatory wax, the user releases the push button 15, the valve 13 returns to the closed position by the action of the spring 16 and closes opening 40 again. The wax stops flowing and the transfer operation is thus completed.

Advantageously heating means 11 are positioned near the transfer means. This provision allows to quickly melt a quantity of depilatory wax sufficient to perform the transfer operation, and allowing the user making a tape. The transfer operation, or filling of container 1 can thus be carried out quickly without wait until the entire volume of wax 10 contained inside the   tank 9 is in the molten state. This arrangement thus allows a setting work of the device in a very short time. The whole wax depilate 10 contained inside the tank going to the molten state by the following during the hair removal operation.

Advantageously during the transfer operation, the container 1 is held in place by a receiving member 21. This receiving member reception 21 now the container 1 below the means of transfer 12. The depilatory wax can flow directly into the container 1 without it being maintained by the user.

This receiving member 21 can be of various shapes. he can in particular hold the container 1 by means of two branches coming to bear under the flange 5. The container 1 can be maintained only by the action exerted on the collar 5 but also be rested on its bottom.

Advantageously, the waxing device comprises also a platform 17 for fusion or remelting. This includes a receptacle 18, also made of a good conductive material heat, and in connection with heating means 19.

This platform 17 advantageously allows the reflow of the strips of wax recently torn off. These wax strips are placed in the receptacle 18 so as to be remelted therein for recycling. A zone filter 20 disposed in a low point of the receptacle 18 allows the filtration of recycled tapes. By construction, the temperature of setpoint of platform 17 is set at 140 ° C maximum, which allows the melted wax to be very fluid and to flow quickly into the tank 9 through the filtration zone 20 while the hairs, torn from the area to be epilated with the strip of wax, are retained inside the receptacle 18.

The entire waxing device can therefore use any kind of wax. The presence of the recycling platform 17 strips allows continuous use of depilatory wax, and thus confers to the device a very great autonomy. Use of the platform 17 reflow, provided with a filtration zone 20, allows reuse of depilatory wax in good conditions, and thus limits the consumption or loss of wax.  

A second embodiment of the invention is shown more particularly in Figure 4.

In this embodiment, the reservoir, intended to contain a volume of depilatory wax, essentially consists of a tray 22 rotating around an axis 23. This plate is provided with several cells 24 whose internal volume corresponds substantially to the volume of filling of removable receptacles 1. The plate 22 is brought into contact with heating means 25, allowing the wax to melt depilate 20 contained in the alveoli 24 or bowls. Each bowl 24 is provided with openings 26 through which the depilatory wax 10 can to flow. Under each bowl 24 can be placed a container 1 maintained by a receiving device 27. Melted wax can therefore flow directly from the bowls 24 into the container 1.

The entire device is located inside an enclosure 42, which prevents at least the wax from cooling in the containers 1. This enclosure is provided with an opening allowing the user to hand, grab a container 1, containing a quantity of melted wax sufficient for making a strip. This opening allows other The user has to refill the bowls 24 with depilatory wax. Strips torn off during hair removal are replaced by the user in a bowl 24. The wax melts and flows gently towards the container 1. The hairs pulled out with the strip are retained inside the bowl 24, the openings 26 also constituting an area of filtration. In order to compensate for the loss of wax, the user can supplement from time to time load the cuvettes 24, or renew it, with new wax preferably in grains.

During the hair removal operation, and after recharging the bowl, the user rotates the plate 22 in order to place the container 1 next containing melted wax in front of the opening. The user take container 1, make a strip of wax and pull it out of this strip after cooling. After tearing off the tape, the container 1 is replaced on the receiving member 27 and the strip of wax is replaced in the bowl 24. The user turns again the plate 22 and continues the hair removal operation.  

When the hair removal is finished, the appliance is disconnected, and the wax solidifies inside the containers 1. When re-placing road, the shape of the containers 1 as well as their constituent material allows to empty them very easily because they can be turned over, of a sock, their relatively large opening, and the walls in elastomer facilitating this operation.

In this embodiment, the quantities of wax 10 to be melted contained in each bowl 24 are small enough to allow a particularly short implementation time.

The turntable 22 can be of a diameter between 14 and 20 cm, for example about 16 cm, and have several cells 24 or cuvettes the number of which can be between 4 and 10, for example 6.

In this device, merging and using any type wax is possible, and the small quantities used reduce the implementation time.

Claims (10)

1. A hair removal wax device comprising :

   at least one tank (9) provided for containing a volume of hair removal wax (10),

   heating means (11) enabling to melt the said hair removal wax (10) contained in the tank (9),

   a removable instrument, independent from the tank (9), designed for sampling from the tank (9) a quantity of molten wax, said removable instrument being a vessel (1) liable to be modified whose inside volume (3) is variable and comprising an outlet opening (2) to remove the wax inside said vessel (1),

   transfer means (12) of the quantity of hair removal wax from the tank (9) to the removable instrument, characterised in that the transfer means (12) and the outlet opening (2) of the vessel (1) are such that transfer of wax (10) from the tank (9) to the removable instrument is made by said opening (2) of the vessel (1).
2. A hair removal wax device according to claim 1, characterised in that the vessel (1) is a flexible vessel.
3. A hair removal wax device according to one of claims 1 and 2, characterised in that said opening (2) is single and circular and in that the inside volume (3) of the vessel (1) leads to said opening (2).
4. A hair removal wax device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterised in that said opening (2) is provided with a rim (5) and in that the inside volume (3) of the vessel (1) leads to said opening (2).
5. A hair removal wax device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterised in that the vessel (1) liable to be modified in shape has, at rest, substantially the shape of an open sphere.
6. A hair removal wax device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterised in that the heating means (11) are arranged close to the transfer means (12).
7. A hair removal wax device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterised in that the transfer means (12) comprise a distribution valve (13) or flap, maintained in closed position by the action of a spring (16).
8. A hair removal wax device according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterised in that it comprises a remelting platform (17) provided for the recycling of the strips (7).
9. A hair removal wax device according to claim 8, characterised in that the platform (17) is provided with a filtering zone (20).
10. A hair removal wax device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterised in that the tank, provided for containing a volume of hair removal wax, is made of a rotary plate (22) provided with cells (24).