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`EP 1 103 20381 ‘
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`EUROPEAN PATENT SPECIFICATION '
`
`,
`
`i
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`’
`
`(45) Date of publication and mention
`of the grant‘of the patent:
`25.01.2006 Bulletin 2006/04
`
`,
`
`M
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`(51) Int Cl.:
`A450 26/00 m” .
`
`A450 20/00'm'"!
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`(21) Application number: 001257963
`
`(22) Date of filing: 24.11.2000
`
`(54) Hair removing device and method
`
`Gerat und Methode zur Haarentfernung
`
`Appareil et procédé d’épilation
`
`"
`
`I I.
`
`(84) Designated Contracting States:
`AT BE CH CY DE DK ES FI FR GB GR IE IT LI LU
`MC NL PT SE TR
`
`(30) Priority: 25.11.1999 JP 33356299
`
`(43) Date of publication of application:
`30.05.2001 Bulletln 2001/22
`
`-
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`IWASAKI, Jyuzaemon
`Osaka, 571-8686 (JP)
`0 YAMAGUCHI, Naokl
`
`Osaka, 571-8686 (JP)
`0 TAKEUCHI, Toshlhlro
`
`Osaka, 571-8686 (JP)
`- INOUE, Tomoyuki
`
`Osaka, 571-8686 (JP)
`
`
`
`
`
`
`(73) Proprietor: MATSUSHITA ELECTRIC WORKS,
`LTD.
`
`(74) Representative: Hiltl, Elmar et al
`Dlehl 8: Partner
`
`Osaka 571-8686 (JP)
`
`(72) Inventors:
`9 SUEYOSHI, Hidekazu
`Osaka, 571 -8686 (JP)
`0 TANIGUCHI, Naokl
`Osaka, 571-8686 (J P)
`
`Augustenstrasse 46
`80333 Mfinchen (DE)
`
`(56) References cited:
`EP-A- 0 622 033
`US—A- 5 976 157
`
`US-A- 5 797 925
`
`
`
`Note: Within nine months from the publication of the mention of the grant of the European patent, any person may give
`notice to the European Patent Office of opposition to the European patent granted. Notice of opposition shall be filed in
`a written reasoned statement. It shall not be deemed to have been filed until the opposition fee has been paid. (Art.
`99(1) European Patent Convention).
`
`EP1103203B1
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`BNSDOCID: <EP
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`1 10320381_l_>
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`Printed by Jouve, 75001 PARIS (FR)
`
`

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`1
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`EP 1 103 203 B1
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`2,
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`Description
`
`[0001] The present invention is related to a hair remov-
`ing device for removing unwanted body hair forthe'per-
`sonal grooming and the like.
`
`Background and Material lnfonnation-
`
`[0002] A known hair removing device is disclosed in
`the Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. HEi
`9-308521 , shown in Figs. 19 and 20. in this known device,
`a motor 3 is rotated to rotate a roller unit 51 via a belt 56,
`the roller unit having a plurality of disks. Unwanted body
`hairis caught and pulled out bythe disk duetothe rotation
`ofthe roller unit 51. Acleaningelement53 having abristle
`brush is provided in a casing 52. Body hair accumulated
`in the disk for catching and pulling out the body hair is
`removed by the cleaning element 53 and falls into a par-
`tition. The body hair from the partition may be emptied
`by removing a cover 54.
`[0003] While the body hair accumulated in the disks is
`removed through the cleaning element 53,
`in the
`above-described known device, body haircannot be suf-
`ficiently emptied from this device. Moreover, hairfollicles,
`sebum and other fatty or sebaceous secretions pulled
`out by this device along with body hair have the tendency
`to adhere to the inside of the device, thereby making it
`difficult to empty and clean the device.
`[0004]
`In addition, rotational driving force ofthe motor
`3 is transmitted to the roller unit 51 via a belt 56, as shown
`in Fig. 19. In the area where the belt 56 is provided, a
`gap 55 exists between the roller unit 51 and the motor 3.
`Such an arrangement is often problematic in that body
`hair, sebum and other unwanted organic matter enter
`through the gap 55 into the portion of the device housing
`the motor 3, thereby reducing the life of the device. Fur-
`ther, the rollerunit 51 portion having the body hair, sebum
`and other organic matterstuck thereto cannot be washed
`with water without destroying the device,’as this device
`is not water resistant.
`
`EP-A-00622033 discloses a depilation device that has a
`housing with a top opening and a plucking head which
`is disposed to expose pinching elements in the top open-
`ing. The plucking head is floatingiy supported to the hous-
`ing such that it is capable of being depressed into the
`housing. The housing incorporates a chassis mounting
`a motor, a cam, and a drive mechanism for the plucking
`head. A seal ring is disposed around the chassis and
`held between a flange on the chassis and a flange on
`the interior of the housing for tight sealing between the
`chassis and the upper end of the housing. The seal ring
`can deform elastically to keep the tight sealing during the
`floating movement of the chassis relative to the housing.
`The plucking head can be detached from the housing for
`cleaning of the plucking head. While the seal ring may
`prevent water from entering through a gap between the
`housing and the chassis, the motor is not safely protected
`from water entering the head portion through the top
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`opening, e.9., through pinching plates of the plucking——
`head. The depilatory device of EP-A-00125796maythus
`be exposed to water entering the housing and damaging .1
`the device, in particular the electric components therein;
`renderlng the device unsafe. It is an object of the present
`invention to provide a hair removing device whose oper-
`ation is particularly save.
`_
`The invention solves the problem with the hair removing
`device according to claim 1. The dependentciaims com—
`prise advantageous embodiments of the present inven-
`tion.
`
`W '
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`“
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`[0005] The present invention provides a hair-removing
`device and method capable of preventing body hair, se-
`bum and other unwanted organic matter andthe like from
`entering the area of the driving source which would oth-
`enNise cause failure of the driving source. The present
`invention may be washed with water, thereby providing
`for the easy removal of body hair, sebum and other or-
`ganic matter wound or stuck onto a rotary cylinder or a
`detent.
`
`[0006] With the present invention. hair, sebum and the
`like do not enter a portion of the device that houses a
`driving source, thereby preventing possible failure of the
`driving source. Body hair, sebum and the like that is
`- wound orstuck onto arotary cylinder, or body hair, sebum
`and the like that is stuck onto a detent can easily be re-
`moved by washing the device with water.
`[0007] The hair removing device of the present inven-
`tion provides a rotatable cylinder having a hair removing
`unit provided with a plurality of detents configured to en-
`gage and disengage each other; the hair removing unit
`configured to pull out hairthrough rotation of the rotatable
`cylinder. Also provided is a driving source configured to
`rotate the rotatable cylinder, andla drive transmission
`configured to transmit driving force from the driving
`source to the rotatable cylinder. The present invention
`also includes a housing having a handheld configuration
`and configured to house at least the driving source and
`at least a portion of the drive transmission, and a first
`water-resistant member affixed to the housing at sub-
`stantially a middle portion of the drive transmission and
`configured to substantially water—resistantly seal the driv-
`ing source. WIth such a stmcture, the water-resistant
`membercan prevent body hair, sebum and other unwant-
`ed material from entering the housing. By washing the
`rotatable cylinder and the detents with water, moreover,
`hair (e.g., pulled out body hair, hairtom into pieces during
`removal orthe like) and sebum which are wound orstuck
`onto the rotatable cylinder or hair and sebum which are
`stuck to the detents can be easily removed. Also, the
`water-resistant member prevents waterfrom entering the
`housing which would otherwise damage the driving
`source housed therein, so that washing can be easily
`and safely performed.
`[0008] Moreover, the present invention may furtherin-
`
`lSDOClD: <EP
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`clude a rotatable cylinder gear operably connected to the
`rotatable cylinder, wherein the drive transmission in-
`cludes a geartrain configuredto transmit the drivingforce
`fromthe driving source to the rotatable cylinder gear, and
`wherein the gear train is provided with the first water-re-~
`sistant member. With such a stmcture, the water-resist—
`ant member is provided for water-resistantly sealing the
`gear train portion to transmit driving force to the gear
`provided on the rotatable cylinder in a manner different
`from a prior art structure in which driving force is trans-
`mitted through a belt in order to rotate the rotatable cyl-
`inder. Consequently, water-resistant sealing can be eas-
`ily achieved with the simple structure of the present in-
`vention.
`
`Furthermore, the present invention may further
`[0009]
`include a base housed within the housing and having a
`plu rality of base portions, at least one of the base portions
`configured to rotatably support a shaft of a gear of the
`gear train. The first water-resistant member may include
`a first water-resistant portion configured to substantially
`water-resistantly seal a region of the gear of the gear
`train, and a second water- resistant portion configured to
`substantially water-resistantly seal a region between the
`base portion that is configured to rotatably support the
`shaft of the gear of the gear train and another base por-
`tion. With such a structure. it is possible to water seal
`regions between the bases for rotatably supporting the
`shaft of the gear, in addition to the reduction gear portion,
`through the water-resistant member,
`in order to water
`seal the housing against entry of waterfrom the rotatable
`cylinder, at the middle of the gear train.
`[0010] Moreover, the first and second water-resistant
`portions may be integrally formed with the base portion
`that is configured to rotatably support the shaft of the
`gear of the gear train. By such integral formation of the
`water~resistant member with one of the bases,
`the
`number of parts can be reduced.
`invention may be
`[0011] The base of the present
`housed within the housing and include a plurality of base
`portions, at least one of the base portions being config-
`ured to rotatably support a shaft, and the invention may
`further include a pair of gears of the gear train coaxially
`positioned about the shaft, wherein at least a portion the
`first water-resistant member is positioned between the
`pair of gears. Since water-sealing is carried out by the
`water-resistant member on the shaft portion between the
`gears fixed to both sides of the shaft of the reduction
`gear. the driving source side can be sealed against entry
`of water from the rotatable cylinder.
`[0012]
`Further, the first water-resistant member may
`be further configured to substantially water~resistantly
`seal a portion of the gear train provided in the housing,
`and the rotatable cylinder may be readily removable from
`and attachable to the housing. With such a structure, the
`rotatable cylinder can be easily removed from and reat-
`tachedto the housing for cleaning. Consequently, a part
`of the gear train in the housing can be cleaned. In addi-
`tion, the rotatable cylinder can be removed, so that the
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`rotatable cylinder alone can be washed with water.
`'_
`[0013] Also, the first water-resistant member may' be .
`further configured to substantially water-resistantly‘sealj “f.
`a shaft portion of a gear of'the geartrain directly rotatably ‘
`engaging the rotatable cylinder gear. ’Wrth such a struc-
`ture, hair and sebum may be prevented from entering
`the part of the housing where the gear train is provided.
`It is thus preferable that only the part of the invention
`housing the rotatable cylinder should be cleaned. Hair,
`sebum and the like can easily be removed by washing
`with water.
`
`'
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`'
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`[0014] The invention may further include a hair remov-
`ing head that houses the rotatable cylinder, the head be: V. '
`ing readily removablefrom and attachable to the housing,
`~
`and may also include a rotary shaft protruding from the
`housing and driveably connected to the driving source,
`wherein the rotatable cylinder is driveably connected to
`the rotary shaft when the head is attached to the housing,
`and wherein the first water-resistant member is further
`
`the
`configured to substantially water-resistantly seal
`housing at a region of the rotary shaft With such a simple
`structure wherein the water-resistant memberis attached
`
`to the rotary’shaft on the on the same side of the housing
`as the driving source, to effect water sealing, the driving
`source side can be water sealed against the entry of wa-
`ter from the rotatable cylinder. In addition, it is sufficient
`to remove the hair removing head so that only the hair
`removing head portion of the invention is cleaned. Be—
`sides, the hair removing head can be removed and the
`hair removing head can be easily washed with water or
`other cleaning substance.
`[0015] Also, in the present invention at least a portion
`of the gear train may be housed in the hair removlng
`head. With such a structure. the hairwound onto the gear
`train (an easily be removed by washing with water.
`[0016] The driving source of the present invention may
`include a motor operably connected to the geartrain, and
`the device of the present invention may further have a
`second water-resistant member positioned between the
`housing and an upper outer periphery of the base. With
`such astructure, the second water-resistant membercan'
`prevent hair, sebum and other unwanted material from
`entering the housing‘ from a region between the housing '
`and the base, and water can be prevented from entering
`the housing from the region between the housing and
`the base into an inner portion during washing. As a result,
`it is sufficientthat the base having the motor and the gear
`train provided therein has a structure in which only an
`upper part need be water sealed in the housing, and the
`structure of the second water-resistant member and the
`
`structure of a portion other then the upper part of the
`base is simplified.
`[0017] The base may further include an aperture for
`accepting at least a portion of a gear of the gear train,
`and the hair removing device may further include a drive
`transmission passage extending between the motor and
`the aperture, wherein the first water-resistant member is
`provided at a substantially middle portion of the drive
`
`BNSDOCID: <EP
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`110320381_l_>
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`transmission passage. With such a structure, the wa—
`ter-resistant membercan prevent hair, sebum, water and
`the like from entering the portion of the housing between
`the motor and the aperture of the base.
`I
`[0018] The base may further have a motor Installing
`base portion configured to accept the motor therein, and "
`the hair removing device may further-have a gear train
`installing portion configured to accept at least another
`portion of the gear of the gear train, and a partition con-
`figured to separate the motor installing base portion and
`the gear train installing portion. With such a structure,
`the partition can prevent hair, sebum, water and the like
`from entering the housing from the gear train.
`[0019]
`Further, the driving source may further include
`a motor operably connected to the gear train. Also, a
`number of the plurality of base portions may be config—
`ured to house the motor and at least a portion of the gear
`train. With such a structure, itis possible more simply
`incorporate the driving source into the base andto incor-
`porate the gear train therein.
`[0020] The present invention may additionally include
`a boss provided on one of the gear and shaft of the gear
`train, whereinthe first water-resistant portion includes an
`annular memberfrtted in the boss. The second water-re—
`sistant portion includes a band—shaped frame member
`configured to continuously substantially water—resistantly
`seal the region between the base portion configured to
`rotatably support the shaft of the gear of the gear train
`andthe anotherbase portion.th such a structure, when
`the annular member is fitted in the boss provided on the
`gear orthe shaft of the gear, watersealing can be carried
`out in the middle of the gear train. Moreover, water seal-
`ing can be carried out at the border between the bases
`divided by the band-shaped frame member. The water
`sealing can continuously be can’ied out in the middle of
`the gear train and in the border between the bases
`through one water-resistant member.
`[0021] The base may further have an upper base por-
`tion having an aperture therein, and the gear train may
`include a first reduction gear having a small gear and a
`large gear coaxial to one another, a second reduction
`gear having a small gear and a large gear coaxial to one
`another, the large gear of the second reduction gear op-
`erably mated to the small gear of the first reduction gear.
`A boss portion may be positioned between the small gear
`and the large gear of the second reduction gear, the an-
`nular member being fitted in the boss portion, an output
`shaft operably connected to the motor and protruding
`into the gear train installing portion, and an output gear
`operably mated to the small gear of the second reduction
`gear. Thus, at least a portion of the output gearis housed
`within the aperture of the upper base portion. Also, a
`pinion may be affixed to the output shaft, wherein the
`large gear of the first reduétion gear is operably mated
`to the pinion. The first water-resistant member may be
`configured to substantially water-resistantly sealthe driv—
`ing source at at least a portion of at least one of the first
`and second reduction gears. With such a structure, the
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`water-resistant member can be attached to the reduction :-
`gear portion of the reduction gears which are closer to .
`the rotatable cylinder, thereby carryingout the watersea]- 1
`ing. Consequently, hair, sebum and water do not enter‘
`the portion of the housing that houses the reduction gears
`proximate the motor. Also, the gear train provided at the
`base can be positioned at the opening portion of the up-
`per base with the outer peripheral portion thereof water
`sealed by the second water—resistant member against
`the housing.
`[0022]
`Furthermore, the gear train may include a driv-
`ing gear operably connected to the rotatable cylinder
`gear, and the hair removing head that houses the rotat-m
`able cylinder may also house the driving gear. The output
`gear may be operably connected to the driving source,
`wherein the driving gear is driveably connected to the
`output gear when the head is attached to the housing.
`With such a sthture, the rotation of the motor can be
`transmitted to the rotatable cylinderto rotate the rotatable
`cylinder in order to attach or remove the hair removing
`head from the housing. In addition, the hair removing
`head can be removed and replaced to facilitate the clean-
`ing thereof. in addition, the hair removing head can be
`removed, so that only the hair removing head is cleaned
`with water or other liquids.
`[0023] The housing of the device of the present inven-
`tion may be longitudinally divided into two half-housings
`’ affixed to one another, and a third water-resistant mem-
`ber may be positioned between at least a portion of the
`two half-housings. Thus, the housing is formed by bond-
`ing the half-housings so that the base and the like can
`easily be incorporated in the inner portion thereof. irre-
`spective of the structure being divided in half, the second
`water-resistant member can easily prevent hair, sebum
`and water from entering the housing from the area of
`attachment of the half-housings.
`[0024] The base of the present invention may house
`the motor and may further have an aperture therein,
`wherein the device of the present invention may have a
`second water—resistant member positioned between the
`housing and an upper outer periphery of the base, and
`a rotary shaft driveably connected to the motor and the
`gear train, the rotary shaft protruding through the aper-
`ture. The first water-resistant member is positioned be-
`tween an inner peripheral portion of the aperture and an
`outer peripheral portion of the rotary shaft With such a
`structure, water-resistance may be provided by the sec-
`ond water-resistant member at an area between the
`housing and the upper outer periphery of the base. In
`addition, the water-resistant member can water-resist—
`
`antly seal the rotary shaft extending from the aperture of
`the base. Consequently, the motor provided in the base
`can water sealed against water entering from the area
`of the rotatable cylinder. Since the second water—resist-
`ant member is provided, it is not necessary to consider
`watersealing atthe region ofthe base housing the motor.
`Consequently, the structure forincorporation ofthe motor
`into the base is simplified.
`
`SDOCID: <EP
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`1 10320331_l_>
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`EP1 103 203 B1
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`[0025] Also, the rotary shaft of the device of the present
`invention may further include an engaging portion on an
`end thereof, and the gear train may include a gear dis-
`posed within the hair removing head and operably con-
`nected to the rotatable cylinder gear, and the gear may”
`have a fitting aperture configured to accept the rotary
`shaft. The fitting aperture may have an engaged portion
`for removably engaging the engaging portion. With such
`a structure, the hair removing head can be easily at—
`tached and removed. When the hair removing head is
`attached to the housing, the engaging portion is engaged
`with the engaged portion so thatthe rotation of the rotary
`shaft can be transmitted to the gear on a starting end of
`the gear train provided in the hair removing head.
`[0026] The hair removing method of the present inven-
`tion includes housing at least a driving source and at least
`a portion of a drive transmission, rotating a rotatable cyl-
`inder via the'driving source, opening and closing at least
`one of the plurality of detents, and substantially water—re-
`sistantly sealing the driving source with a first water-re-
`sistant member affixed to the housing at substantially a
`middle portion of the drive transmission.
`[0027] The method may further include operably con-
`necting a rotatable cylinder gearto the rotatable cylinder,
`transmitting driving force from the driving source to a ro-
`tatable cylinder gear, and providing a gear train with the
`first water-resistant member.
`
`[0028] Additionally, the method may include rotatably
`supporting, on at least one of a plurality of base portions,
`a shaft of a gear of the gear train, substantially water—re-
`sistantly sealing. using a first water—resistant portion of
`the first water-resistant member, a region of the gear of
`the geartraln, and substantially water-resistantiysealing,
`using a second water-resistant portion of the first wa-
`ter-resistant member, a region between the base portion
`supporting the shaft of the gear of the gear train and
`another base portion. The method also include integrally
`forming the first and second water-resistant portions with
`the base portion rotatably supporting the shaft of the gear
`of the gear train.
`[0029]
`‘The method may additionally include rotatably
`supporting a shaft using at least one of the base portions,
`coaxially positioning a pair of gears of the geartrain about
`the shaft, and positioning at least a portion the first wa-
`ter-resista‘nt member between the pair of gears.
`[0030]
`Further, the hair removing method may include
`substantially water-resistantly sealing a portion of the
`geartrain provided in the housing, usingthe first water-re-
`sistant member, and configuring the rotatable cylinder
`sothat it is removable from and attachable to the housing.
`[0031] The hair removing method may also include
`substantially water-resistantly sealing, using the first wa-
`ter-resistant member, a shaft portion of a gear of the gear
`train directly rotatably engaging the rotatable cylinder
`gean
`[0032] The method may also include housing the ro-
`tatable cylinder in a hair removing head that is removable
`from and attachable to the housing, driveabiy connecting
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`a rotary shaft protmding from the housing to the driving :-
`source, driveabiy connecting the rotatable cylinderto'thev 3"
`rotary shaft when the head is attached to the housing,,'i
`_ and substantially water-resistantiy sealing, using the first
`water—resistant member, the housing" at a region of the
`rotary shaft.
`[0033] The method may further include operably con-
`necting a rotatable cylinder gearto the rotatable cylinder,
`transmitting the driving force from the driving source to
`the rotatable cylinder gear using a gear train, when the
`hair removing head is attached to the housing, and hous-
`ing at least a portion of the geartrain in the hair removing ...
`head.
`
`’
`
`[0034] Additionally,the hair removing method may fur- -
`ther include operably connecting the motor to the gear
`train, housing a base housed within the housing, housing
`the motor within the base, and providing a second wa~
`ter-resistant member between the housing and an upper
`outer periphery of the base.
`[0035] The method may further include providing an
`aperture on the base, the aperture accepting at least a
`portion of a gear ofthe geartrain, providing a drive trans-
`mission passage extending between the motor and the
`aperture, and providing the first water-resistant member
`at a substantially middle portion of the drive transmission
`passage.
`[0036] Also, the method may include housing the mo--
`tor in a motor installing base portion, accepting, in a gear
`train installing portion, at least anotherportion of the gear
`of the gear train, and separating, using a partition, the
`motor installing base portion and the gear train installing
`portion.
`Further, the hair removing method may include.
`[0037]
`operably connecting the motor to the gear train, and
`housing, in a number of the plurality of the base portions,
`the motor and at least a portion of the gear train.
`[0038] Additionally,
`the first water-resistant portion
`may include an annular memberfittedin a boss provided
`on one of the gear of the gear train and the shaft of the
`gear train, and the second water-resistant portion may
`include a band-shaped frame member. The method may
`include continuously substantially water-resistantly seal-
`ing. with the band-shaped frame member, the region be-
`tween the base portion rotatably supporting the shaft of
`the gear of the gear train and the another base portion.
`[0039] The method may further include operably con-
`necting the motorto the gear train, accepting the motor
`in the motor installing base portion, providing an aperture
`in the base portion, accepting, in a gear train installing
`portion, at least a portion of a gear of the gear train, op-
`erably connecting the large gear of the second reduction
`gear to the small gear of the first reduction gear, posi-
`tioning a boss portion between the small gear and the
`large gear of the second reduction gear, fittingthe annular
`member in the boss portion, operably connecting an out-
`put shaft to the motor, protruding the output shaft into the
`geartrain installing portion, operably connecting an out-
`put gear to the small gear of the second reduction gear,
`
`BNSDOCID: <EP
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`housing at least a portion of the output gear in the aper—
`ture of the upper base portion, affixing a pinion to the
`output shaft, operably connecting the large gear of the
`first reduction gear to the pinion, and substantially. wa-
`ter-resistantly sealing, with the first water-resistant mem—
`ber, the driving source at at least a portion of at least one ..
`of the first and second reduction gears.
`[0040] The hair removing method may additionally in-
`clude operably connecting a driving gear to the rotatable
`cylinder gear. housing the rotatable cylinder in a hair re-
`moving head that is removable from and attachable to
`the housing, operably connecting an output gear to the
`driving source, and driveably connecting the driving gear
`to the output gear when the head is attached to the hous-
`mg.
`
`[0041] The method may further include longitudinally
`dividing the housing into two half-housings, affixing the
`half-housings to one another, and positioning a third wa-
`ter-resistant member between at least a portion of the
`two half-housings.
`[0042] The method may yet further include housing a
`base within the housing; housing the motor in the base;
`providing an aperture in the base; positioning a second
`water-resistant member between the housing and an up
`perouter periphery of the base, and driveably connecting
`a rotary shaft to the motor and the gear train, protruding
`the rotary shaft through the aperture, and positioning the
`first water~resistant member between an lnnerperipheral
`portion of the aperture and an outer peripheral portion of
`the rotary shaft.
`,
`'
`-
`[0043] The method may yet still further include provid—
`ing an engaging portion on an end of the rotary shaft,
`providing a gearwlthln the hair removing head, operably
`connecting the gear to the rotatable cylinder gear, pro-
`viding a fitting aperture in the gear, accepting the rotary
`shaft in the fitting aperture, providing an engaged portion
`in the fitting aperture, and configuring the engaged por-
`tion for removably engaging the engaging portion.
`[0044] Other exemplary embodiments and advantag-
`es of the present invention may be ascertained by re-
`viewing the present disclosure and the accompanying
`drawings.
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`[0045] The present invention is further described in the
`detailed description which follows, in reference to the not-
`ed plurality of drawings by way of non-limiting examples
`of preferred embodiments of the present invention,
`in
`which like numerals represent like elements throughout
`the several views of the drawings, and wherein:
`[0046]
`Fig. 1 is a sectional front view showing a hair
`removing device of the present invention;
`
`Fig. 2 is aplan view showingthe hair removing device
`of the present invention;
`Fig. 3 is a sectional side view showing the hair re-
`moving device of the present invention, taken along
`
`10
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`15
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`25
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`40
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`45
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`55
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`a central portion;
`Fig. 4 is a sectional side view showing thelhair. re-_ ,
`moving device of the present invention, taken along 3 .,..
`an edge portion;
`Fig. 5 is an exploded perspective view showing a
`housing portion of the hair removing device of the
`present invention;
`».
`Fig. 6 is a perspective view showing the water-re-
`sistant member attached to a edge portion of a gear
`cover base portion, a motor cover base portion and
`an upper base portion of the present invention;
`Fig. 7 is an exploded perspective view showing the
`water-resistant member and the gear cover base”
`portion of the hair removing device of the present
`invention;
`
`Fig. 8 is an exploded perspective view showing a
`hair removing head of the hair removing device of
`the present invention;
`Fig. 9 is an exploded perspective view showing a
`rotatable cylinder portion ofthe hair removing device
`of the present invention;
`Fig. 10 is a sectional front view showing the hair re-
`moving head removed from a housing of the hair
`removing device of the present invention;
`Fig. 11 is a perspective view showing an embodi-
`ment of the water—resistant member integrated with
`the gear cover base portion of the hair removing de-
`vice of the present invention;
`,
`Fig. 12 is a sectional front view showing a second
`preferred embodiment of the present invention;
`Fig. 13 is an exploded perspective view showing a
`water-resistant member and a gear cover base of
`the second embodiment of the present Invention;
`Fig. 14 is a sectional front view according to a third
`preferred embodiment of the present invention;
`Fig. 15 is a plan view showingthe third embodiment
`of the present invention;
`.
`Fig. 16 is a sectional front view according to afourth
`preferred embodiment of the present invention;
`Fig. 17 is a sectional front view showing the hair re-
`moving head removed trom a housing according to
`the fourth embodiment of the present invention;
`Fig. 18 is an exploded perspective view showing an
`engaging portion provided on a rotary shaft and an
`engaged portion provided on a gear according to the
`fourth embodiment of the present invention;
`Fig. 19 is a sectional front view showing a related art
`hair removing device; and
`Fig. 20 is a sectional side view showing the related
`art hair removing device.
`
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION OFTHE PREFERRED EM-
`BODIMENTS
`
`[0047] The particulars shown herein are by way of ex-
`ample and for purposes of illustrative discussion of the
`embodiments of the present invention only and are pre-
`sented in the cause of providing what is believed to be
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