throbber
fé
`
`ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER FOR PATENTS
`Washington, D.C. 20231
`———-ul.
`Sit in
`Ss
`Transmiteiaewith for filing under 37 C.F.R. §1.53(b) is the patent applicationof:
`Inventorblidekazu SUEYOSHI; Jyuzaemon IWASAKI; Toshihiro TAKEUCHI:
`== Tetsuro HASHIGUCHI; Hitoshi OGAWA
`|
`=== OC
`For: EPILATING DEVICE FOR REMOVAL OF BODYHAIRS
`
`Case Docket No.
`Date
`
`L
`P813-9014
`April 13, 1999
`—a
`2.
`aA
`oe Be
`Re a~
`“oye
`Aare
`3 ee
`se
`a
`
`Specification (31 pages)
`_14_ sheets of drawings
`
`Deciaration and Powerof Attorney
`
`Return Receipt Postcard
`
`An Assignmentof the invention to__ MATSUSHITA ELECTRIC WORKS, LTD.__with PTO-1595
`
`
`A certified copy of_Japanese_application(s) No.(s) __10-105157, 04/15/98: 10-144860, 05/26/98:
`
`40-304008, 10/26/98
`
`ie!
`
`AnInformation Disclosure Statement with PTO-1449 and __2__ references
`
`A filing fee, calculated as shown below:
`
` BeBeBEBEBeBE
`m
`Small Enti
`
`(Col. 1)
`
`(Col. 2)
`
`Other Than A
`
`or
`
`« fxw=[ol
`* Tres[oy
`* Fass[ol
`
`*|f the difference in Col. 1 is less than zero,
`enter "0" in Col. 2
`
`_$ 800.00_ is enclosed to coverthefiling fee and XX assignment recordation. The
`A check in the amount of
`Commissioneris hereby authorized to charge paymentfor any additionalfiling fees associated with this
`gommunication or credit any overpayment to Deposit Account No. 14-1060.
`Respectfully submitted,
`
`NIKAIDO, MARMELSTEIN, MURRAY & ORAM LLP
`
`Metropolitan Square
`
`Suite 330 - G Street Lobby
`Washington, D. C. 20005-5701
`
`65515thStreet,N.W.
`Tel: (202) 638-5000
`
`Fax: (202) 638-4810
`GEO/hk
`Enclosures:|Check #19248/Specification and Claims/Declaration/Priority Document(3)
`Drawings (14 sheets)/Assignment/PTO-1595 Form/Return Receipt Postcard
`Information Disclosure Statement/PTO-1449 Form/References(2)
`
`Reg. No. 27,931
`
`ee
`—~ By: beE. Oram,Jr.
`
`A ltrn
`
`

`

`-1-
`
`SPECIFICATION
`
`EPILATING DEVICE FOR REMOVAL OF BODY HAIRS
`
`BACKGROUNDOF THE INVENTION
`
`1. Field of the Invention
`The present invention is directed to an epilating device for removal
`of body hairs, and more particularly to such epilating device for
`removing the hairs on different skin portions.
`2. Description of the Prior Art
`As disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 4,923, 463 and 5,084, 056 which
`propose epilating devices of various head configurations, attempts have
`been made to improve hair plucking efficiency.
`In view of the fact that
`the body hairs to be removedare distributed on different skin portions
`including a relatively wide area such as arms andlegs, and a relatively
`small restricted area such as armpits, however, the prior art devices are
`not yet satisfactory in removing the hairs effectively with the use of a
`single epilation head because of its limited accessibility to the particular
`
`area.
`
`SUMMARYOF THE INVENTION
`The present invention has been accomplished in view of the above
`problem to provide an improved epilating device which is capable of
`effectively removing thehairs at different skin portions ofthe human
`body.
`The epilating device of the present invention includes a single
`housing which is shaped to be grasped by the hand of a user and which
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`includes a drive source. The housing carriesa first epilation module
`providedatits top with a first plucking head which is driven by the drive
`source to effect the plucking of the body hairs.
`Thefirst plucking head
`has a length defining therealongafirst epilation zone. Also carried on
`the housing is a second epilation module which is providedatits top
`with a second plucking head which is driven commonly by the drive
`source to effect plucking of the body hairs.
`The second plucking head
`has a length defining therealong a secondepilation zone.
`The first and
`second epilation modules are shaped respectively to have individual top
`ends of different external dimensions along the lengths ofthe first and
`second plucking heads andto havethe first and second epilation zones
`of different lengths. Thus, the first and second epilation modules can
`be selected depending upon an intended skin portion for optimum hair
`plucking at that portion.
`Accordingly, it is a primary object of the present invention to
`provide an epilating device which is capable of effective hair plucking
`for any particular skin portions including therelatively wide portion
`such as the legs and the arms, and a small restricted area such asthe
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`armpits.
`Preferably, the first and second epilation modules are detachable to
`the common housingso asto be selectively mounted thereto.
`In this
`regard, the housing includes a drive gear connected to the drive source,
`while the first and second epilation modules includefirst and second
`driven gears, respectively which are engageable with the common drive
`gear so as to actuate the first and second plucking heads.
`Each ofthe first and second plucking heads includes a series of
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`-3-
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`blades arranged to have a gap between the adjacent blades for pinching
`the hairs in the gap.
`It is preferred that the gap ofthe first plucking
`head is made smaller than that of the second plucking headin orderto
`have the increased numberofthe blades or gaps within a limited length
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`for effective hair plucking at the restricted skin portion.
`Thefirst epilation module may includeapair ofthe first plucking
`heads which are disposed to be capable of simultaneous contact with the
`skin, while the second epilation module includes only one the second
`plucking head.
`In this case, the first plucking head is designed to have
`the first epilation zone of which length is smaller than that of the second
`epilation zone of the second plucking head. Despite of the smaller
`length givento the first epilation zone ofthe first epilation module for
`optimum use in the restricted skin portions, the combination of the two
`first plucking heads can improve an overall plucking efficiency of the
`two first epilation modules.
`It is also preferred that the two first plucking heads are arranged to
`effect the hair plucking at different timings.
`Thus, the hair plucking
`can be madealternately at the two plucking headsat a less load to a
`driving source or motor than in the case whenthe hair plucking is made
`simultaneously at the two plucking heads, reducing a power requirement
`for the epilating device.
`In a preferred embodiment, each ofthe first plucking headsis
`defined by a plucking cylinder having a longitudinal axis and being
`provided with at least two rowsof blades arranged along the longitudinal
`axis for pinching the hairs between the adjacent blades of each row.
`The plucking cylinder is driven to move about the longitudinal axis for
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`plucking from the skin the hairs pinched betweentheblades. The
`plucking cylinder further includes a skin stretcher whichis disposed
`between the two rowsofthe blades around the circumference ofthe
`plucking cylinder in order to smooth the skin immediately prior to
`plucking the hair therefrom and therefore effect the hair plucking
`effectively with less pains.
`In the plucking system wherethe twofirst plucking heads are
`arranged in parallel with each other,it is preferred to move the plucking
`cylinder about the individual longitudinal axes in such a manneras to
`effect the pinching of the hairs by one of the plucking cylinders while
`bringing the skin stretcher of the other plucking cylinder into contact
`with the skin at the same time. Thus, the hair plucking can be made
`alternately at the two plucking cylindersat a less load required for the
`motor than in the case when the hair plucking is made simultaneously at
`the two plucking cylinders, reducing a power requirementfor the
`
`epilating device.
`Also in the above system, the second epilation module is preferred
`to include the only one second plucking head having a second
`longitudinal axis to be movable thereabout for plucking the hairs. The
`two first plucking heads ofparallel arrangement are driven to move
`respectively about a first longitudinal axes in opposite directions at the
`time of plucking the hairs, while the second plucking head being are
`driven to move about a second longitudinal axis only in one directionat
`the time of plucking the hairs. Thus, the twofirst plucking heads can
`be cooperative to effect successful plucking of hairs oriented in different
`directions as seen on the armpits, while the second plucking head is
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`(wo
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`effective for plucking the hairs oriented in generally one direction as
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`seen on the legs or arms.
`
`The first plucking heads are driven to move by a single drive
`source, i.e., motor and respectively through separate transmission gear
`trains which are disposed on opposite longitudinal ends ofthe first
`plucking heads. With this dispersion of the transmission geartrains on
`both longitudinal ends of the plucking cylinders, it is possible to
`minimize a spacing or wall thickness measured from the longitudinal
`ends of the first plucking head to an adjacent exterior surface of an
`enclosure, facilitating to place the plucking cylinders in well conformity
`with an armpit or the like restricted portion of the human body, and
`therefore increasing the hair epilating efficiency at that portion. Also,
`
`the above dispersion of the transmission geartrains is effective to
`
`mitigate associated noises perceived to the user.
`Preferably, a skin smootheris disposed between the twofirst
`plucking heads to come into contact with the user's skin for pressing a
`portion of the skin confined between the two first plucking heads.
`Thus, the skin smoother can avoid an excessive elongation of the skin
`portion confined betweenthe twofirst plucking heads while plucking the
`hairs therefrom, thereby alleviating pains of plucking the hairs.
`An overload clutch may be provided in a drive transmission path
`leading from the motorto the first plucking heads for protecting the
`motor and a transmission mechanism against possible entanglement of
`
`foreign matters in or aroundthe first plucking heads.
`In the preferred embodiment wherethe first plucking head is
`defined by the plucking cylinder, the cylinder includes a holder which
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`carries a series of blades arranged side-by-side along an axis parallel to
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`the longitudinal axis of the cylinder. The blades includingat least one
`movable blade which is cooperative with the adjacent one of said blades
`
`to form a gap therebetween.
`
`The holder is provided with at least one
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`fulcrum for pivotally supporting the movable blade so that the movable
`
`blade pivots about a pivot axis perpendicular to the longitudinal axis to
`close and open the gap for pinching the hairs between the gap. The
`movable blade is connected to an actuator reciprocating along the
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`longitudinal axis so as to be caused thereby to pivot for closing and
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`10
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`opening said gap.
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`The holder and the actuator are integrated into a
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`hair-pinching unit which is subsequently mounted to the plucking
`cylinder.
`Thus, almostall of the parts responsible for closing and
`opening the gaps to effect the hair pinching operation can be integrated
`into the separate hair-pinching unit for easy assembly into the plucking
`cylinder. With this consequence, the parts of the hair-pinching unit can
`be designed rather independently of the first plucking cylinder and vice
`
`versa, thereby enabling to make a small-sized epilation head composed
`
`of the plucking cylinder and the hair-pinching unit.
`The plucking cylinder is preferred to carry at least two hair-
`pinching units which are circumferentially spaced about the longitudinal
`axis in parallel relation to each other.
`In this instance, the blades in
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`each of the hair-pinching units are composedofat least two pairs of
`movable blades andat least two fixed blades with anyone of the fixed
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`blades being interposed between the two movable bladesin each pair to
`form the gap between each of the movable blades and the fixed blade.
`The fixed blades in one of the hair-pinching units are staggered along the
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`longitudinal axis with respect to the fixed blades in the other hair-
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`pinching unit. Thus, the gaps of the two units responsible for
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`entrapping the hairs can cover an intended area of the skin in such a
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`manneras to minimize or eliminate a dead-zone not available for
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`entrapping the hairs along the length of the intended area, thus
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`increasing hair epilation efficiency.
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`Further, in the plucking cylinder having at least two hair-pinching
`
`units, a toggle element is provided to interlock the actuators of the hair-
`pinching units such that the actuator's movementof closing said gap in
`one hair-pinching unit is transmitted the actuator's movement of opening
`said gap in the other hair-pinching unit. Thus, the system can eliminate
`the use of a return spring for opening the gap subsequentto closing the
`gap by the actuator, thereby simplifying the structure of the epilating
`
`device and enabling easy miniaturization of the device.
`In the preferred embodiment where the movable blade is driven by
`the reciprocating actuator to pivot for pinching the hairs, the actuator
`engages with a cam wheel and is caused by the cam wheelto reciprocate
`for pivoting the movable blade in response to the movementof the
`plucking cylinder about the longitudinal axis.
`The actuator is biased by
`a spring into pressed contact with the cam wheel.
`The bias of the
`spring is restricted bya restricting mechanism for limiting a contacting
`pressure at which the cam wheelis pressed against the actuator. Thus,
`the actuator can be kept in constant contact with the cam wheel at an
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`optimum pressure, assuring a smooth andreliable operation of
`translating the rotary motion of the plucking cylinderto the pivotal
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`movement of the movable blades.
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`1178 US version
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`

`

`These andstill other objects and advantageous features of the
`
`present invention will become more apparent from the following
`
`description of the embodiments when taken in conjunction with the
`
`attached drawings.
`
`
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`“s
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`sui
`feafeudes
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`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`FIG. 1 is a vertical section of an epilating device in accordance with a
`
`preferred embodiment of the present invention;
`FIG. 2 is another vertical section of a portion of the epilating device;
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`10
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`FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the epilating device;
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`FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a plucking head of the epilating device;
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`FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of the plucking head;
`FIG.6 is a perspective view of a hair-pinching unit of the plucking head;
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`FIG.7 is a front view of the hair-pinching unit;
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`15
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`FIG.8 is a sectional view ofthe hair-pinching unit assembled into the
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`plucking head;
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`FIG. 9 is a vertical section of the plucking head;
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`FIG. 10 is a sectional view of a top end of the epilating device;
`FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a portion of an internal structure of the
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`20
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`epilating device;
`FIG. 12 is an exploded perspective view of an over-load clutch utilized
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`in a transmission path of driving the plucking head;
`FIG. 13 is a vertical section illustrating an epilation module with another
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`plucking head attached to a common baseshell;
`FIG. 14 is an exploded perspective view of the plucking head of FIG. 13;
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`25
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`FIG. 15 is a vertical section of an epilating device in accordance with
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`another preferred embodimentof the present invention.
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`DETAIL DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
`
`Referring now to FIGS. 1 to 3, there is shownan epilating device in
`accordance with a preferred embodimentof the present invention.
`The
`epilating device has an epilation module 100 composedof a head frame
`20 mounting a pair of plucking heads 30 of the identical configuration.
`The epilation module or the frame 20 is detachable to a base shell 10 or
`housing incorporating therein a motor 12 as a drive source and provided
`with a power switch. The plucking heads 30 are mounted on top of the
`frame 20 in parallel with each other and driven to rotate about individual
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`longitudinal axes thereof by the motor 12 and through a transmission
`line.
`The transmission line includes a drive gear 14 which meshes with
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`an output gear 13 of the motor 12 and which is exposed on top of the
`base shell 10 for detachable engagement with a driven gear 120 held in
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`the head frame 20.
`The driven gear 120 is connected through a set of
`gears 121 to 126 to individual gear 32 on one longitudinal end of each
`plucking head 30 to rotate the plucking heads 30 in the opposite
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`20
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`directions.
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`Asbest shown in FIG.3, the head frame 20 includes a bottom plate
`21 on which a pair of brackets 22 and 23 are fixed. A pair of parallel
`pins 25 bridges between the top ends of the brackets to support the
`plucking heads 30 respectively in such a mannerthat the plucking heads
`are freely rotatable about the pins. The gears 121 to 126 are supported
`by corresponding pins also bridging between the brackets.
`The driven
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`gear 120 is supported by a pin at one end of the bottom plate 21. The
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`bottom plate 21 is formed in its lower surface with a catch recess 28 for
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`detachable mechanical engagement with a pair of latches 18 which
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`project on top of the base shell 10 and are biased by a spring 19 ina
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`direction of keeping the engagementof the latches 18 with the catch
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`recess 28.
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`The head frame 20 or the epilation module 100 is detached
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`from the base shell 10 by pushing buttons 11 projecting on the upper
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`sides of the base shell. When pushed, the buttons 11 move the latches
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`18 against the spring 19 inwardly to disengage the latches 18 from the
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`10
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`catch recess 28.
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`As shownin FIGS. 4 to 6, each of the plucking head 30 is
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`composedof a plucking cylinder 31 and a pair of hair pinching units 50.
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`The cylinder 31, which is a one-piece molded part formed with the gear
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`32 at one longitudinal end thereof, has a center bore 33 for receiving
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`therein the pin 25 as well as a pair of diametrically opposed axial slots
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`34 running parallel to the longitudinal axis of the cylinder for receiving
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`therein each one of the hair-pinching units 50. Each axial slot 34 opens
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`in the circumference of the cylinder 31 to define thereat an axially
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`elongated window 35, and also opens in one longitudinal end of the
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`20
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`cylinder.
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`The cylinder 31 is also formed with a combination of a skin
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`stretcher 37 and a comb 38 on each circumferential portion between the
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`windows35.
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`The hair-pinching unit 50 carries a series of fixed blades 52 and
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`movable blades 62 for pinching body hairs in gaps between the movable
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`25
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`blades 62 and the adjacent fixed blades 52.
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`The unit 50 includes a base
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`51, a frame 60, and an actuator composed of two sliders 70. The base
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`51 is molded from a plastic material to integrally have the fixed blades
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`52 spaced uniformly and held betweena pair of parallel beams 53 also
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`integral with the base.
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`The frame 60, which is provided for pivotally
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`supporting the movable blades 62, is shaped from a thin metal sheet to
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`have a generally U-shaped section with a pair of legs 68 depending from
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`atop plate 65. The top plate 65 has an array of parallel slits 66 through
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`which the fixed blades 52 and the movable blades 62 project. On
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`opposite edges of each slit 66 there are formed raised pivot edges 67
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`which, as best shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, give fulcrumsto the associated
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`10
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`movable blades 62, so that the movable blades 62 can pivot about an axis
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`perpendicular to the length of the hair-pinching unit, i.e., perpendicular
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`to the longitudinal axis of the plucking cylinder31, as the sliders 70
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`oscillates to move the lower ends of the movable blades along the length
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`of the unit.
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`15
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`As seen in FIG. 9, each slit 66 is responsible for passing
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`therethrougha set of the one fixed blade 52 and the two movable blade
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`62 on opposite of the fixed blade 52 so that each of the two movable
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`blades 62 defines a gap with the commonfixed blade 52 for receiving
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`the body hairs and pinching the same as the movable blade 62 pivots
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`20
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`about the pivot axis defined by the pivot edge 67.
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`The frame 60 is
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`secured to the base 51 with the beams 53 of the base tightly fitted in the
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`upper portions of openings 69 in the legs of the frame 60. A set of
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`alternate ones of the movable blades 62 are connected to one of the
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`sliders 70, while the other set of the remaining alternate ones of the
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`25
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`movable blades 62 are connected to the other slider 70.
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`The connection
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`of the movable blade 62 to the slider 70 is made by engaging a bottom
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`tab 63 of the blade into a corresponding notch 73 in the slider 70.
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`The
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`sliders 70 are supported by the frame 60 with guide projections 71 being
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`slidably fitted in the lower portion of the opening 69 in the frame 60.
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`Thus, the base 51 with the fixed blades 52, the movable blades, the
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`frame 60 andthe sliders 70 can be integrated into the hair pinching unit
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`50 which is assembled into each of the axial slots 34 of the plucking
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`cylinder 31 to obtain the plucking head 30.
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`Formed onthe lateral edges
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`of each window 35 of the plucking cylinder 31 are radial stoppers 36
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`which project inwardly to engage with the lateral ends of the frame 60 to
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`retain the hair-pinching unit 50 in a fixed position with respect to the
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`radial direction of the plucking cylinder 31, as best shown in FIG.8.
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`Also, the radial stoppers 36 engage with side tabs 64 of the movable
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`blades 62 to retain the movable blades in the plucking cylinder 31.
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`It is
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`noted in this connection that the fulcrum, i.e., the pivot edge 67 is offset
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`radially outwardly from a point of engagement betweenthe radial
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`stopper 36 and the frame 60.
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`This is effective to give a sufficient
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`distance between the pivot edge 67 and a driving connection of the
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`actuator to the bottom tab 63 of the movable blade, within a limited
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`height of the movable blade and therefore give an increased mechanical
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`20
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`advantage in a pivot system for effectively gripping the hairs with less
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`power requirement. As shown in FIG. 5, an axial stopper 39 in the
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`form of a ring is secured to one longitudinal end of the cylinder 31 to
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`retain both of the hair pinching units 50 in the cylinder due to abutment
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`of the stopper 39 against the longitudinal end of each frame 60.
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`Each of the sliders 70 is formedat its one longitudinal end with a
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`lever 72 which projects axially outwardly through the axial stopper 39 or
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`-13-
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`through an end wall of the cylinder 31, where the gear 32 are formed, to
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`be capable of coming into contact with each corresponding one of cam
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`wheels 80 disposed on opposite sides of the plucking head 30, as shown
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`in FIG.9.
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`The cam wheels 80 are supported respectively to the
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`brackets 22 and 23 to be freely rotatable about respective pins 81. As
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`the plucking head 30 rotates about its longitudinal axis, the levers 72 of
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`the two sliders 70 in the one hair-pinching unit 50 come into contact
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`with the respective cam wheels 80 so that the sliders 70 are displaced
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`axially inwardly of the plucking head 30, thereby pivoting the movable
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`10
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`blades 62 to close the gap, as seen in the upper part of FIG. 9, for
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`pinching the hairs between the fixed blades 52 and the two adjacent
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`movable blades 62. The sliders 70 of the one hair-pinching unit 50 are
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`interlocked to the sliders of the other hair-pinching unit 50 respectively
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`by means of toggle elements 75, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 9. Each of
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`15
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`the toggle elements 75 engagesat its one end with the lever 72 of cach
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`slider 70 in the one hair-pinching unit and engagesat the other end with
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`the lever 72 of each slider 70 in the other hair-pinching unit 50 such that
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`the axially inward movementof the sliders 70 given by contact with the
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`cam wheels for the one hair-pinching unit 50 is converted into the
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`20
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`axially outwardly movement of the sliders in the other hair-pinching unit
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`50, thereby pivoting the movable blades 62 in the other hair-pinching
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`unit to open the gaps, as seen in the lowerpart of FIG. 9.
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`In order to provide a positive contact between the sliders 70 and the
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`cam wheels 80, spring attachments 90 are utilized to urge the cam
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`25
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`wheels 80 towards the levers 72 of the sliders 70, as shown in FIG. 3.
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`The spring attachment 90 includes a pair of spring legs 91 giving the
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`spring bias to the cam wheels 80 and a center leg 92 to be secured to the
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`outer face of the bracket 22, 23. The spring leg 91 is formed with a
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`mouth 93 within which the cam wheel 80 fits loosely. Also as shown
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`in FIG. 11, the cam wheel 80 fits loosely in a socket hole 95 formed in
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`the bracket 22, 23 with the associated pin 81 resting on flanges 97 at
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`opposite ends of a bearing hole 96 crossing the socket hole 95. The
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`spring leg 91 engages at the circumference of the mouth 93 with the pin
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`81 so as to urge the cam wheel 80 towards the slider 70. However, this
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`inwardly biased movement of the cam wheel 80 is restricted by
`
`engagement of the pin 81 with the flanges 97, thereby limiting a
`
`contacting pressure at which the cam wheel is pressed against the slider
`
`70 and therefore giving an optimum contacting pressure between the
`
`cam wheel and the actuator for giving reliable oscillating movementto
`
`the actuator, while absorbing dimensional variations of the associated
`
`parts.
`
`As shownin FIG.9, the fixed blades 52 in the one hair-pinching
`
`unit 50 are staggered with respect to the fixed blades 52 in the other
`
`hair-pinching unit 50 along the longitudinal axis of the plucking head 30.
`
`That is, the gaps formed between each ofthe fixed blades and the two
`
` 10
`
`15
`
`20
`
`adjacent movable blades 62 in the one hair-pinching unit 50 are
`
`staggered to the gaps in the other hair-pinching unit 50. Thus, during
`
`one complete cycle of the plucking head 30, the gaps formed by the
`
`whole plucking head 30 can cover an intended area of the skin without
`
`leaving a substantial dead-zone not available for entrapping the hairs.
`
`25
`
`The above staggered arrangementis realized only by the use of the hair-
`
`pinching unit 50 of the identical but specific configuration.
`
`Thatis, the
`
`1178 US version
`
`

`

`-15-
`
`frame 60, which determines the overall length of the unit 50, has
`
`different margins on opposite longitudinal ends, i.e., portions of different
`
`lengths respectively defined by the one outermostslit 66 and by the
`
`other outermost slit 66. Thus, the above staggered arrangement can be
`
`made by simply inserting the individual hair-pinching units 50 into the
`
`plucking cylinder 31 in opposite orientations.
`
`As shownin FIGS. 2 and 10, the two plucking heads 30 are
`
`mounted in the head frame 20 in parallel with each other but at an
`
`
`
`nie
`
`angular displacement of 90° from each other such that, when the blades
`
`10
`
`62 of the one plucking head 30 comeinto the plucking position, the skin
`
`stretcher 37 of the other plucking head 30 comesin contact with the skin
`
`for stretching the skin prior to the subsequent hair plucking by the same
`
`head.
`
`Thus, the hair plucking is made alternately by the two plucking
`
`heads 30 at different timings. The two plucking heads 30 are driven to
`
`15
`
`rotate in the opposite directions so that the hairs of different orientations
`
`as frequently seen in the armpit can be successfully entrapped and
`
`plucked by the two heads.
`
`The one plucking head 30 is drivingly
`
`connected to driven gear 120 throughafirst gear train composed of
`
`gears 124, 123, 122 and 121 while the other plucking head 30 is
`
`20
`
`connected to the driven gear through a second geartrain composed of
`
`gears 126, 125, 123, 122, and 121. Gears 32 and 124 ofthe first gear
`
`train leading to the one plucking head 30 and gears 32 and 126 ofthe
`
`second geartrain leading to the other plucking head 30 are located on
`
`opposite ends of the head frame 20 so that noise and mechanical
`
`25
`
`vibrations of the rotating gears can be distributed on opposite of the
`
`frame 20, and that frame 20 can have a substantially equal dimension on
`
`1178 US version
`
`

`

`-16-
`
`opposite of the heads 30.
`
`A skin smoother 110 is located between the two plucking heads 30
`
`for pressed contact with the skin confined between the two plucking
`
`heads 30.
`
`Thus, the skin smoother can avoid excessive elongation of
`
`the skin portion confined between the two heads and being pulled by the
`oppositely rotating heads, thereby alleviating pains of plucking the hairs.
`
`An overload clutch 130 is provided across the gears 121 and 122 as
`
`a safeguard for protecting the motor and the transmission mechanism
`
`against possible entanglement of foreign matters in or around the
`
`10
`
`plucking heads 30. As shown in FIG.12, the clutch 130 is composed
`of the wheel gear 121 and a clutch plate 131 secured to a disk 136 at the
`
`one axial end of the gear 122.
`
`The clutch plate 131 includesa plurality
`
`of circumferentially spaced spring legs 132 each havingat its free end a
`
`pawl 133.
`
`The pawl 133 are spring-biased into corresponding dents
`
`15
`
`134 in the bottom of the gear wheel 121 to establish the driving
`
`connection between the gears 121 and 122. When an excessive torque
`
`is required at the junction between the gears 121 and 122, the pawls 133
`
`are caused to escape from the dents 134 against the bias of the spring
`
`legs, disengaging the driving connection between the gears 121 and 122.
`
`20
`
`FIG. 13 shows another epilation module 200 which is also
`
`detachable to the commonbase shell 10.
`
`For the sake of clarity, the
`
`epilation module 100 shown in FIG.1 is referred to as a first epilation
`
`module, and that of FIG. 13 is as a second epilation module 200. The
`
`second epilation module 200 is designed to be well adapted for removal
`
`25
`
`of the body hairs on relatively large skin portions such as legs and arms,
`
`while the first epilation module 100 is for removal of the body hairs on
`
`
`
`
`
`1178 US version
`
`

`

`-17-
`
`the small restricted skin portion such as the armpits. A second head
`frame 220 mounts on its top a second plucking head 230 alone which has
`an effective plucking length (P2) greater than that (P1) of the plucking
`head 30 of the first epilation module 100.
`In this consequence, the
`
`second head frame 220 is shaped to have an enlarged top of which length
`(L2) is greater than that (L1) of the head frame 20 ofthe first epilation
`module 100.
`The second head frame 220 hasa like bottom plate 221
`
`with a catch recess 228 for detachable connection to the latches 18 on
`
`top of the base shell 10 and with a driven gear 320 for detachable driving
`
`10
`
`connection to the drive gear 14.
`
`The second plucking head 230 includes a plucking cylinder 231
`
`which is supported by a center pin 225 and is driven to oscillate aboutits
`
`longitudinal axis. The cylinder 231 is molded to have a series of
`
`integrally formed fixed blades 252 arranged along a longitudinal axis of
`the cylinder, as shown in FIG. 14, and carries a series of movable blades
`
`15
`
`262.
`
`The movable blades 262 are also supported to the center pin 225
`
`in such a manneras to be pivotable about an axis perpendicular to the
`
`length of the center pin. A pair of sliders 270 are supported also to the
`cylinder 231 by meansof guide pins 274to be slidable in the lengthwise
`
`20
`
`direction of the cylinder 231.
`
`The lower ends of the movable blades
`
`262 are anchored to notches 273 of the sliders 270 so that the movable
`
`blades 262 are caused to pivot for closing and opening the gaps between
`
`the movable and fixed blades as the sliders 270 are driven to oscillate in
`
`For this purpose, the sliders 270
`opposite directions from each other.
`are drivingly connectedto a pair of eccentric cam rollers 330 which
`
`25
`
`translate the eccentric motion of the cam roller into the reciprocatory
`
`
`
`
`
`1178 US version
`
`

`

`-18-
`
`motion of the sliders.
`
`The cam rollers 330 are coupled though a gear
`
`mechanism to the driven gear 320 so as to be driven by the motor 12 to
`
`effect the above eccentric motion.
`
`The center pin 225, the cam rollers
`
`330, and the associated gear mechanism are supported to a bracket 222
`
`fixed to the bottom plate 221 of the head frame 220.
`
`The gap formed
`
`between the movable blade 262 and the fixed blade 252 of the second
`
`epilation module is set to be greater than the gap of thefirst epilation
`
`module.
`
` 15
`
`Formed at one longitudinal end of the plucking cylinder 231 is a
`
`pin 340 which is linked through a crank lever 341 to the driven gear 320
`
`so as to translate the rotary motion of the driven gear 320 into the
`
`oscillatory motion of the plucking cylinder 231 about its longitudinal
`
`axis or pin 225.
`
`The oscillatory motion of the plucking cylinderis
`
`synchronized with the reciprocatory motion of the sliders 270 suchthat,
`
`as the cylinder 231 moves in one dire

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