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`DEPILA'I'ING DEVICE
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`CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
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`This application is based upon and claims the benefit of
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`priorityfrompriorJapanesePatentApplicationP2006—O89576,filed
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`on March 28, 2006;
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`the entire contents of which are incorporated
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`by reference herein.
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`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
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`1. Field of the Invention
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`The present invention relates to a depilating device capable
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`of removing hair using soap.
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`2. Description of the Related Art
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`Conventionally, there has been proposed a depilating device
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`configured so that a depilating unit is attached to a main body
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`casing including a<driving source. As a<depilating device of this
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`type, there has been known a depilating device in which a depilating
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`unit includes a rotary cylinder rotated by a driving source and
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`a depilation head having a plurality of depilating claws driven
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`to be opened/closed by rotation of the rotary cylinder and used
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`tocatchandremovehair(forexample,seeJapanesePatentApplication
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`Laid—open No. 2001—149135).
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`Meanwhile, to reduce friction between skin surface and the
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`rotary cylinder when depilating, depilation is often made using
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`soap.
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`In this case, the use of the soap can ensure safe depilation
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`with respect to the skin surface; however,
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`the main body casing
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`needstohaveavmterproofstructure. Accordingtotheconventional
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`technique disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No.
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`2001—149135,awaterproofnemberisprovidedhalfwaythrou¢3adrive
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`transmitter that transmits driving to the rotary cylinder from the
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`driving source within the main body casing,
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`thereby constituting
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`the waterproof structure between the driving source and the rotary
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`cylinder.
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`However,
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`the depilation using sOap has the following
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`disadvantages . When the hair is removed using the soap, soap bubbles
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`spread by the rotation of the rotary cylinder and the skin surface
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`after the depilation becomes invisible by the bubbles . This makes
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`it difficult to discriminate whether unremoved hairs remain. Due
`to this, a user is forced to wipe off the bubbles by himself or
`herself whenever the skin surface becomes invisible, which takes
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`lots of trouble and deteriorates user—friendliness of the depilating
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`device,
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`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
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`It is an object of the present invention to provide a depilating
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`device capable of preventing unremoved hairs from becoming invisible
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`by soap bubbles adhering to a skin surface of a user at the time
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`of depilation using soap, capable of saving time and labor for wiping
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`off the bubbles, and capable of improving its user—friendliness.
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`According to one aspect of the present invention, there is
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`provided a depilating device comprising: amain body casing including
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`a manually grippable grip and having a waterproof structure; a
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`depilation head including a depilating portion for removing hair
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`and a head frame surrounding the depilating portion, the depilation
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`head attached to the main body casing; and a wiper provided on the
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`head frame, and wiping off a soap bubble adhering to a skin surface
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`after depilation by the depilating portion.
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`By so configuring, when the depilation head is moved to make
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`depilation using soap, the wiper is moved to follow the depilating
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`portion. Due to this, even if soap bubbles spread when depilating,
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`the wiper wipes off the bubbles adhering to the skin surface after
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`depilating. This can prevent the skin surface in a depilation region
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`from becoming invisible by the bubbles, thereby making is possible
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`to instantly recognize unremoved hairs.
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`Furthermore, it is preferable that the wiper is plate—shaped
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`to extend almost in parallel to the skin surface while the depilation
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`head is pressed against the skin surface.
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`In this case,
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`the
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`plate—shaped wiper can completely wipe off the soap bubbles present
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`in the depilation region .
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`It is, therefore, possible to more clearly
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`recognize unremoved hairs and further improve the user—friendliness
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`of the depilating device.
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`Moreover, it is preferable that the wiper is deformable in
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`a direction almost perpendicular to the skin surface .
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`In this case,
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`the follow—up performance of the wiper even with respect to irregular
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`parts of the skin surface can be improved.
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`It is thereby possible
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`to ensure wiping off soap bubbles on whichever part of the skin
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`surface.
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`It is further preferable that the wiper is floatable on the
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`skin surface.
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`In this case, the floatable wiper makes it possible
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`to eliminate the stimulus on the skin, and the follow—up performance
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`of the wiper even with respect to such a convex part as a bony part
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`of the skin surface can be improved.
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`It is also preferable that the wiper is provided on one of
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`a front side and a back side of the main body casing.
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`In this case,
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`by arranging the front side (or back side) of the main body casing,
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`on which side the wiper is provided, in rear of the depilation head
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`while a front surface and a back surface of the main body casing
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`are being gripped by user’s fingers,
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`the wiper can ensure wiping
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`off the bubbles adhering to the skin surface after depilating using
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`the depilation head.
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`Furthermore, it is preferable that the wiper and the head
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`frame are detachable from.the main body casing.
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`In this case, by
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`detaching the wiper as well as the head frame from the main body
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`casing, it is possible to easily remove flocks adhering to the wiper
`and the head frame or those entering into the depilation head, thus
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`facilitating cleaning operation.
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`Moreover, it is preferable that the wiper is detachable from
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`the head frame.
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`In this case, if dry depilation is made in a dry
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`state where soap is not used,
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`the wiper can be detached from the
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`head frame. This can facilitate switching depilation operation
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`between depilation using soap and dry depilation and thereby
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`improving the user—friendliness of the depilating device. This
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`can also facilitate replacement operation when the wiper
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`deteriorates.
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`Further,itisgmeferablethatthewiperisheight-adjustable
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`with respect to the head frame in.a direction almost perpendicular
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`to the skin surface.
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`In this case,
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`the height of the wiper can
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`be Switched with respect to a direction almost perpendicular to
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`the skin surface. Therefore, if the depilation is made using soap,
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`the wiper is lifted and held at a position at which the wiper touches
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`theskinsurface. Atthistime,byverticallyadjustingthewiper,
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`it is possible to easily adjust pressing load of the wiper on the
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`skin surface, whereby the stimulus can be made weaker. Besides,
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`it is possible to remove hair while stretching the skin using the
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`wiper by the appropriate pressing load of the wiper on the skin
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`surface. Ontheotherhand,ifthedepilatingdeviceisusedwithout
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`soap, the wiper can be lowered.and held at a position at which the
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`wiper does not touch the skin.
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`It is, therefore, possible to easily
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`deal with dry depilation.
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`Furthermore, it is preferable that the wiper is made of
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`~ elastomer.
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`In this case, it is possible to eliminate stimulus on
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`the skin by using the elastomer' wiper and prevent damage on the
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`skin surface. Besides, it is possible to sufficiently improve the
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`follow—up performance of the wiper even with respect to such a convex
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`part as a bony part of the skin surface.
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`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
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`Fig. l is a perspective view of a depilating device including
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`a wiper according to a first embodiment of the present invention;
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`Fig. 2 is a cross—sectional front view of the depilating device
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`according to the first embodiment;
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`Fig. 3 is a cross—sectional side view of the depilating device
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`according to the first embodiment;
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`Fig. 4 is a side view of the depilating device for explaining
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`operation for making depilation using the depilating device
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`according to the first embodiment;
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`Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a head frame including the
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`wiper according to the first embodiment;
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`Fig.
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`6 is an exploded perspective View of the head frame
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`according to the first embodiment;
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`Fig. 7 is a cross—sectional view of a depilating unit including
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`a button for attaching or detaching a depilation head according
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`to the first embodiment;
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`Fig. 8 is an exploded perspective view of a depilating device
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`according to a second embodiment of the present invention;
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`Fig. 9 is an exploded perspective view of a depilating device
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`according to a third embodiment of the present invention; and
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`Fig. 10 is a perspective view of a depilating device according
`to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.
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`DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
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`Embodiments of the present invention will be explained below
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`with reference to the accompanying drawings.
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`A depilating device according to a first embodiment of the
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`present invention is a depilating device employed to remove hair
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`from the body of a user for cosmetic purposes. As shown in Figs.
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`1 and 2, the depilating device includes a main body casing 41 that
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`includes a grip 41a which the user can grip by the hand and that
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`includes therein a motor (driving unit) 42, and a depilating unit
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`1 that includes a depilation head 1H and that is detachably provided
`on'thelnain body casing 41. The depilation.head.lH includes rotary
`cylinders 4 and a depilating portion 9 having a plurality of
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`depilating claws (e.g., a movable claw and a fixed claw) driven
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`to be opened or closed by the rotary cylinders 4 and holding the
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`hair between the depilating claws. The depilation head 1H is
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`configured so that the hair is put between the depilating claws
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`toremovethehairaccordingtoaxialrotationoftherotarycylinders
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`4. The well-known technique disclosed in, for example, Japanese
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`Patent Application Laid—Open No. 2001-149135 is applicable to a
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`structure for driving the depilating claws to be open or closed
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`by the rotation of the rotary cylinders 4. The structure is not,
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`therefore, described in detail.
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`The main body casing 41 has a waterproof structure. As shown
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`in Fig. 2, thexnair1body casing 41 is configured.so that two casings
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`divided by half back and forth are cohered together, and an upper
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`end of the main body casing 41 is opened” A motor 42, a base 43
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`including therein.a gear train serving as a drive transmitter, and
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`the like are incorporated in the main body casing 41. Furthermore,
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`batterycellsorchargers44fordrivingthemotor42areincorporated
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`in the main body casing 41. An upper end 43a of the base 43 closes
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`an upper—end opening of the main body casing 41, hook attachments
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`45 are provided on an upper surface of the base 43, and a pair of
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`hooks 19 is provided on a lower surface of the depilating unit 1.
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`By detachably attaching the hooks 19 to the hook attachments 45,
`the depilating unit 1 can be engaged with the main body casing 41
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`and the depilating unit 1 can be disengaged from the main body casing
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`41 using an attachment/detachment unit 36. An outer shape of the
`upper end 43a of the base 43 is almost identical to that of the
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`upper—end opening of the main body casing 41, and a first waterproof
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`member 46, which is ring-shaped and elastic, is fitted into an outer
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`circumference of the base 43. Moreover, an opening 47 into which
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`an output shaft 42a of the motor 42 is penetrated is provided at
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`the center of the upper end 43a of the base 43, and a second waterproof
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`member 48, which has an M—shaped cross section, is fitted into the
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`opening 47,
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`thereby preventing entry of water into motor 42—side
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`from outside.
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`In Fig. 2, reference symbol 49 denotes a plug terminal
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`pin, 50 denotes a plug base, and 51 denotes a battery-terminal O—ring .
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`In Figs. 3 and 4, reference symbol 52 denotes a waterproof-screw
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`O~ring, 53 denotes a filter, 54 denotes a switch O—ring, and 55
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`denotes a lamp cover.
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`The depilating unit 1 is constituted by the depilation head
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`1H that integrally includes the two cylindrical rotary cylinders
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`4 for driving the depilating portion 9 to remove hear, a gear train
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`8a to 8g serving as a drive transmitter for transmitting rotation
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`output of the motor 42 to the rotary cylinders 4, and a main body—side
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`attachment 7 detachably attached to the main body casing 41.
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`As shown in Fig. 4, one rotating fulcrum 3 is provided to
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`correspond to the two rotary cylinders 4 in the depilation head
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`1H, whereby the depilation head 11-1 is held rotatable around the
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`rotating fulcrun13.
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`In the first embodiment, the rotating fulcrum
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`3 of the depilation.head lH is arranged at an intermediate position
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`between.the two rotary cylinders 4, thus structuring the two rotary
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`cylinders 4 to always closely touch a skin surface 6 (see Fig. 4).
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`Furthermore,
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`in the first embodiment,
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`the rotation of the rotary
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`cylinders 4 is driven by rotation of the motor 42 within the main
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`body casing 41. That is, a rotational movement generated by the
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`motor 42 is transmitted to the two respective rotary cylinders 4
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`via the gear train 8a to 8g shown in Fig. 2.
`As shown in Fig. 4, a lower end surface of the depilation
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`head lH is a convex curve 13 protruding arcuately toward the main
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`body-sideattachment7,andanupperendsurfaceofthemainbody—side
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`attachment 7 is a concave curve 14 into which the convex curve 13
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`is fitted. While the convex curve 13 and the concave curve 14 are
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`slidably'abutted.against each other, the rotating fulcrun13 of the
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`depilation head 1H is axially supported with respect to a pair of
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`left and right holding pieces 60 of the main body—side attachment
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`7. The depilation head lH is thereby slidably held with respect
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`to the main body—side attachment 7 around the rotating fulcrum 3
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`in a direction indicated by an arrow A shown in Fig. 4 . Furthermore,
`a coil spring ll (see Fig. 2) for biasing the depilation head 1H
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`toward a predetermined position (which is a central position in
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`the first embodiment)
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`in a rotating direction-A is arranged on
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`surfaces of the convex curve 13 and the concave curve 14 on which
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`surfaces the concave curve 13 is opposed to the concave curve 14.
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`Byarrangingthecoilspringll,asshowninFig.4,whenthedepilation
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`head 1H is pushed against the skin surface 6 while the two rotary
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`cylinders 4 are rotating, the depilation.head 1H can rotate around
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`onerotatingfulcrmnBaccordingtoirregularitiesoftheskinsurface
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`6, and the depilating claws rotate together with the depilation
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`It is thereby possible to efficiently remove many hairs
`head 1H.
`using the two rotary cylinders 4; Moreover, even if the<depilation
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`head 1H entirely rotates according to the irregularities of the
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`skin surface 6, depilation positions of the rotary cylinders 4 do
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`not change.
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`It is,
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`therefore, possible to remove the hair less
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`stimulativelytotherebypreventtheuser’sskinfrombeingdamaged.
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`At the same time, a position at which the hair is put between the
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`depilating claws is made closer to the skin surface 6. Therefore,
`each of the depilating claws can catch the root of the hair and
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`continuously remove the hair, and the depilation operation can
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`facilitateputtingparticularbyashorthairbetweenthedepilating
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`claws and removing it and can weaken depilation—caused stimulus.
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`According to the first embodiment of the present invention,
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`the depilation head 1H includes a head frame 5 provided to surround
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`the depilating portion 9. The head frame 5, which is formed into
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`a generally tubular shape, is constituted.by an inner frame 5A for
`exposing an upper side of each of the rotary cylinders 4 from its
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`upper opening and an outer frame 5B including a wiper 2 as shown
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`in Figs.
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`5 and 6.
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`A plurality of wires 22 is provided.to stride over the upper
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`opening of the inner frame 5A. The plural wires 22 are arranged
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`along a horizontal direction (which is a direction of rotational
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`axes of the rotary cylinders 4) so as not to obstruct rotational
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`movements of the rotary cylinders 4. Each of the wires 22 is made
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`of an elastic material. When the rotary cylinders 4 are pushed
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`against the skin surface 6 to remove hair,
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`the elastic wires 22
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`are bent and put between the skin surface 6 and the rotary cylinders
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`4. This makes the skin surface 6 separated from external exposed
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`surfaces of the rotary cylinders 4 by as much as a diameter of each
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`wire 22 in a portion in which the wires 22 are present between the
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`skin surface 6 and the rotary cylinders 4. Accordingly, the skin
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`surfaxe6isnotindirectcontactwiththeexternalexposedsurfaces
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`of the rotary cylinders 4,
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`thereby preventing damage on the skin.
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`A comb 10 is provided in central recessed portions of the wires
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`22. By causing the comb 10 to strike against the skin, the rotary
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`cylinders 4 can more smoothly slide on the skin.
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`Fitting slits 28 are provided on left and right sides of an
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`upper portion of the inner frame 5A, respectively, and a1olurality
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`of frame attachment/detachment convex portions 23 is provided on
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`each of front and.back sides of a lower portion of the inner frame
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`5A. Fitting bridges 24 are provided on left and right sides of
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`anupperportionoftheouterframeSB,respectively,amdaplurality
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`attachment/detachment convex:portions 23 of the outer fraHEeSB are
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`fitted into the respective frame attachment/detachment concave'
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`portions 25 of the inner frame 5A as shown in Fig. 5. The inner
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`frame 5A is thereby detachably attached to the outer frame 5B.
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`The wiper 2 for wiping off soap bubbles adhering to the skin
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`surface 6 after depilating is provided on a front side F (which
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`can be replaced.by a back side D) of the outer frame 5B. The wiper
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`2 according to the first embodiment is formed into a plate shape
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`extending almost in.parallel to the skin surface 6 in a state where
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`the depilation head 1H is pushed against the skin surface 6.
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`Furthermore, as shown in Fig. 1, an upper end edge of the wiper
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`2isarrangadtobealmostequalinwidthandheighttothedepilation
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`heale. Thewiper2isnadeof,forexample,elastomer. Preferable
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`examples of the elastomer include styrene elastomer and olefin
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`elastomer. Needless to say,
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`the material of the wiper 2 is not
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`limited to the elastomer but can be, for example, natural rubber
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`or soft foaming material.
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`When the depilation head lH is moved in a direction indicated
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`by an arrow C shown in Fig. 4 to remove hair using soap, the wiper
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`2 is moved to follow the depilation head 1H. Due to this, even
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`if soap bubbles spread by the rotation of the rotary cylinders 4,
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`the wiper 2 wipes off the bubbles adhering to the skin surface 6
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`simultaneously with removal of hair. This can prevent the skin
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`surface 6 after depilating from becoming invisible by the bubbles,
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`thereby making it possible to instantly recognize unremoved hairs .
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`Moreover, the use of the soap can weaken the friction between the
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`skin surface 6 and the rotary cylinders 4 , thereby making it possible
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`to ensure safe and smooth depilation with respect to the skin surface
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`6. Besides, because of its plate shape, the wiper 2 according to
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`the first embodiment can completely wipe off the soap bubbles present
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`in a depilation region, thereby making it possible to more clearly
`recognize the unremoved hairs. Further, because the wiper 2 is
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`made of elastomer, it is possible to eliminate stimulus of the wiper
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`2 against the skin to prevent damage on the skin surface 6, and
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`to sufficiently enhance follow~up performance of the wiper 2 even
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`with respect to a convex part such as a bony part of the skin surface.
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`Moreover,
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`the wiper 2 according to the first embodiment is
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`provided on the back side D (which can be replaced by the front
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`side F) of the main body casing 41. Therefore, by moving the
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`depilation head lH with the front side F of the main body casing
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`41 put forward while a front surface and a back surface of the main
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`body casing 41 are being gripped by user’ 3 fingers as shown in Fig.
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`4, the wiper 2 can ensure wiping away the bubbles adhering to the
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`skin surface 6 after depilating using the depilation head 1H.
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`It
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`is thereby possible to further enhance the user—friendliness of
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`the depilating device according to the first embodiment.
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`Furthermore, according to the first embodiment, as shown in
`Fig. 6, the outer frame 5B including the wiper2 is detachably attached
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`to the inner frame 5A,
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`thereby making it possible to facilitate
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`replacement operation when the wiper 2 deteriorates.
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`Moreover,
`the wiper 2 and the head frame 5 are detachably
`attached to the main body casing 41.
`In the first embodiment, a
`button 70 is provided on a left side surface of the depilating unit
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`1 as shown in Fig. 7 . By pressing this button 70, a hook (not shown)
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`of the depilating unit 1 is detached from the head frame 5 to make
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`it possible to detach the head frame 5 as well as the wiper 2 from
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`the main body casing 41.
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`It is thereby possible to easily remove
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`flocks adhering to the wiper 2 or the head frame 5 or those entering
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`into the rotary cylinders 4 in the depilation head 1H,
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`thus
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`facilitating cleaning operation.
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`Fig. 8 shows an instance where the height of the wiper 2 can
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`be adjusted relative to the head frame 5 in a direction almost
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`perpendicular to the skin surface in a depilating device according
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`to a second embodiment of the present invention. Other constituent
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`elements of the depilating device according to the second embodiment
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`shown in Fig . 8 are similar to those according to the first embodiment
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`shown in Figs . 5 and 6.
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`In Fig. 8, like or corresponding constituent
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`elements are denoted by the same reference symbols as those according
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`to the first embodiment.
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`In the second embodiment, a lifting plate
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`33 including the wiper 2 is slidable on the outer frame 5B in the
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`vertical direction G. A pair of elastic hooks 32 is provided on
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`lower left and right ends of the lifting plate 33, respectively.
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`30 Aplurality of vertical steps of engagement protrusions 31 is provided
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`symmetrically on left and right ends of the outer frame 5B,
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`respectively. Each of the hooks 32 is designed.to be engaged.with
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`one of the vertical steps of engagement protrusions 31.
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`A.height switching button.29 is provided on an outer surface
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`of the lifting plate 33. A hook 29a is provided on a rear surface
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`oftheheightswitchingbutton29133protrudetherefrmn. Thishook
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`29a is engaged with a lateral bore 34 formed in the lifting plate
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`33, whereby the height switching button 29 is fixed to the lifting
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`plate 33. A lateral hole 30 is formed in the outer frame 5B. The
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`height switching button 29 protrudes from the lateral hole 30 toward
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`outside of the outer frame 5B. When the user slides the height
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`switching button 29 upward by the fingers, each of the hooks 32
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`is sequentially engaged with the vertical steps of engagement
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`protrusions 31 from bottom up, whereby the height of the wiper 2
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`can be adjusted. Fig. 8 shows an instance (corresponding to Fig.
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`10 explained later) where two wipers 2 are provided on front and
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`back sides of the outer frame 5B, respectively. Needless to say,
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`the number of wipers 2 is not limited to two but the wiper 2 can
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`be provided on only one of the front and back sides of the outer
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`frame 5B (which case corresponds to Figs.
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`1 to 7).
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`With the depilating device thus configured,
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`the height of
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`the wiper 2 can be switched only by operating the height switching
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`button 29. Due to this, if soap is used to remove hair, the wiper
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`2 can be held at a position at which the wiper 2 strikes against
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`theskinsurface6byliftingthewiper2. Atthistime,byvertically
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`adjusting the wiper 2, it is possible to easily adjust pressing
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`load of the wiper 2 on the skin surface 6, whereby the stimulus
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`can be made weaker. Besides, it is possible to remove hair while
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`stretching the skin using the wiper 2 by the appropriate pressing
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`load of the wiper 2 on the skin surface 6. On the other hand, if
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`the depilating device is used without soap, the wiper 2 can be lowered
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`and held at a position at which the wiper 2 does not touch the skin.
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`It is, therefore, possible to easily deal with depilation in a dry
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`state,
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`thereby further improving the user—friendliness of the
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`depilating device.
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`Fig.
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`9 shows an instance where the wiper 2 is floatable on
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`the skin in a depilating device according to a third embodiment
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`of the present invention. Other constituent elements of the
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`depilating device according to the third embodiment are similar
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`to those according to the first embodiment shown in Figs.
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`5 and
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`6.
`In Fig. 9, like or corresponding constituent elements are denoted
`by the same reference symbols as those according to the first
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`embodiment .
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`In the third embodiment, the lifting plate 33 including
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`the wiper 2 is vertically slidably supported along an inner surface
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`of the frame 5B by a retaining hook 35 provided on the inner surface
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`of the outer frame SE to protrude therefrom while the wiper 2 is
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`being retained by the retaining hook 35. The retaining hook 35
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`is. engaged with the lateral bore 34 formed in the lifting plate
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`33.
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`In the third embodiment,
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`the lateral bore 34 of the lifting
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`plate 33 is formed to have a size enough to be able to move the
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`retaining hook 35 upward and downward. Legs 33a are provided on
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`lower left and right ends of the lifting plate 33, respectively.
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`Spring bearings 37 each having a protrusion 37a are provided on
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`the inner surface of the outer frame 5B to protrude therefrom.
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`'Each
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`of the legs 33a of the lifting plate 33 is supported by each spring
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`bearing 37 having the protrusion 37a via a floating spring 39. By
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`so configuring, the lifting plate 33 including the wiper 2 is made
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`floatable by the floating springs 39 in a direction in which the
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`wiper 2 is close to or apart from the skin.
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`It is, therefore, possible
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`to prevent the wiper 2 from striking against the skin strongly and
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`eliminate the stimulus of the wiper 2 on the skin. Furthermore,
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`according to the third embodiment, the wiper 2 is made deformable
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`by the floating springs 39 in a direction almost perpendicular to
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`the skin surface 6.
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`It is,
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`therefore, possible to considerably
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`improve the follow—up performance of the wiper 2 even with respect
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`to irregular parts of the skin surface or such a convex part as
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`a bony part of the skin surface.
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`It is thereby possible to ensure
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`wiping off soap bubbles on whichever part of the skin surface 6.
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`Fig. 10 shows an instance where wipers 2 are provided on both
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`the front side F and the back side D of the main body casing 41,
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`respectivelyijladepilatingdeviceaccordingtx>afourthembodiment
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`of the present invention.
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`In this case, it is possible to attain
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`the wiping effect produced by the wipers 2 whether the main body
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`casing 41 is moved in either direction of the front side F or the
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`back side D.
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`In the fourth embodiment,
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`the depilating device is
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`preferably structured to include a tank for storing soapy water
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`in the main body casing 41 so as to supply the soapy water to the
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`depilation head 1H.
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`By providing the wiper for wiping off soap bubbles adhering
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`to the skin surface after depilating on the head frame surrounding
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`the depilating portion, the wiper wipes off the bubbles adhering
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`to the skin surface after depilating when the depilation is made
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`using soap. Therefore, it is possible to attain the depilating
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`device that makes it possible to easily recognize unremoved.hairs,
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`that saves time and labor for wiping off the bubbles, and.that can
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`ensure quite high user—friendliness while making safe and smooth
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`depilation using the soap.
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`While the embodiment of the present
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`invention has been
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`describedabove,theinventionisnotlimitedtotheaboveembodiment
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`and changes and modifications can be made within the scope of the
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`gist of the present invention.
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