GB2375709A - Depilatory wax applicator with a flared spreader and integrated funnel mouth - Google Patents

Abstract

A depilatory wax applicator 10 has a elongate handle 11 with an inlet 17 for a wax supply 21, an outlet 15 with an integrated funnel mouth and flared spreader plate 14. The depilatory might be disposable with a cartridge 21 for the wax with the handle and spreader being on opposite sides of the inlet for the cartridge. The spreader might be flared or sectored with an elongate circumferential discharge outlet nozzle at an outboard end. Also the handle could be profiled to fit between the forefinger and thumb.

Description

Depilatory Wax Applicator 5 This invention relates to depilatory (ie

cutaneous surface hair removal) wax application, to the (human) skin surface, and is particularly, but not exclusively concerned with an applicator, dispenser or discharge nozzle configuration.

1 0 Essentially, (unwanted) skin hair is removed by immersing it in a coating of a special wax, which, when set (hardened), can be peeled from the skin, with entrained or captured hairs 1 5 Such hair removal is a longer term palliative than, say, mere shaving, which can promote regrowth.

Thus sub-cutaneous hair source follicles can be 20 removed along with the hair stem.

A certain skill, knowledge and (manual) dexterity - is required, upon wax application and removal - not least to minimise patient discomfort and skin abrasion 25 or damage.

Moreover, dermatological and hygiene considerations dictate apparatus and methodology using clean, even sterilized, utensils.

For economy and efficacy of usage, the applied wax layer depth can prove critical.

Thus, too thin a layer will disintegrate upon removal, 35 and too thick a layer will resist flexing for removal.

A common, two-handed, technique requires wax application - with one hand spreading an initial localised wax deposit into a desired layer thickness 40 and coverage, with a spatula or the like blade, held in the other hand.

Wax may be temperature setting and/or (ambient) air drying or curing.

Thus, with air drying or curing, a (relatively) soft wax (which may have the consistency of putty or gel) is stored in a reservoir, such as a flexible walled tube.

50 Upon discharge and spreading - ie re-distribution over a larger surface area - a soft applied wax coating layer is exposed to ambient air, which triggers a

(chemical) setting reaction.

Discharge is triggered and output flow rate controlled casually', by squeezing the reservoir tube wall from 5 opposite sides.

Rather than direct application from a tube, it is known to employ a bespoke hand-held applicator, dispenser or spreader nozzle 1 0 Such an applicator is fitted to the tube outlet - such as a (screw threaded) neck - in place of a (screw) closure cap.

15 The tube is then effectively carried by the applicator to the local site for application.

This imposes a practical limitation upon tube size for weight and manoeuvrablity considerations.

With temperature-setting, an (initially solid-state) wax (bulk) reservoir - such as a solid wax cartridge - is first heated, say, locally, sufficiently for at least a portion to become molten and flowing.

The heated molten wax is then admitted to a discharge flow path - possibly through some form of flow control or regulator valve - to an outlet nozzle.

30 Given a supply of melted depilatory wax, application to the skin in a even layer is required, before the melted wax has an opportunity to cool and harden.

Premature setting or hardening not only creates an 35 uneven skin surface layer, with irregular coverage and even surface voids, but clogs the applicator nozzle and internal feed pathways - necessitating timeconsuming cleaning.

40 Thus dispenser apparatus temperature-conditioning is critical.

Moreover, hygiene considerations dictate use of a fresh, sterilized, applicator nozzle for each patient.

Prior Art

A diversity of wax applicators and attendant wax application methodology or techniques have been 50 devised, from simple nozzles and spreader blades to attempts at regulatory throughput flow control.

For successful operation, these are variously reliant upon the knowledge, skill - in particular manual dexterity - of an individual operator.

5 Thus an applicator which places fewer demands upon an operator, for consistent rapid operation, would prove less stressful and allow higher workload throughput, output or capacity 10 One such proposal, for air curing wax, is the subject of WO 96/00021 (PCT/NZ95/00057 - Bourke), with nozzle outlet control through an internal movable shutter gate.

15 The nozzle is fitted directly upon a deformable-walled tube (cartridge) reservoir.

Outlet nozzle flow restriction can promote the risk of clogging, upon premature wax curing and setting.

Gun (Pistol Grip) Applicator For thermo-setting wax, reliance upon premelting, absent localised nozzle heating, requires a short flow 25 path and modest temperature gradient between (heated) wax reservoir and discharge nozzle.

In addressing this, the Applicant has devised a hand held, 'gun' applicator, with localised reservoir to 30 receive wax cartridges, inbuilt heater and adjacent nozzle - the subject of UK2 334 014.

This is a sophisticated, single-handed, trigger operated device, eminently suited to continuous use 35 by a trained professional.

Such a single-handed gun combines portability and sophisticated flow control - an important consideration for mobile beauticians.

However, it is not envisaged as a low-cost domestic appliance for occasional (ad-hoc) personal use.

Statement of Invention

According to one aspect of the invention a (hand held) depilatory wax applicator, or dispenser, comprises a handle portion, 50 with a profiled grip, to fit between (fore) finger and thumb, of an operator's hand,

an inlet for a wax supply, an outlet for wax discharge, an integrated 'funnel mouth', for output profiling, 5 and spreader edge, for skin contact.

Desirably, the inlet is adapted to receive a (soft) wax cartridge, such as a wax tube.

10 A screw-threaded fitting is conveniently provided in the mouth of the inlet, for complementary interfit with a screw-threaded neck of a wax tube, upon removal of a similarly screw-threaded closure cap.

15 Alternatively, the inlet is adapted to receive a supply hose from a pressurized, heated-wax, reservoir.

Embodiments 20 There now follows a description of some particular

embodiments of the invention, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic and schematic drawings, in which: 25 Figure l A shows a perspective view of an applicator with a straight spreader edge incorporating an elongate discharge outlet nozzle configuration; Figure 1 B shows a plan view of Figure 1 A; Figure 1 C shows a (translucent) side elevation of Figure 1A; Figure 1 D shows an underside view of Figure 1 A; Figure 1 E shows a (translucent) rear (handle) end elevation of Figure 1A; Figure 1 F shows a (translucent) front (spreader) end 40 elevation of Figure 1A; Figures 2A and 2B show the applicator of Figures 1A through 1 F. fitted to a deformable-walled, tubular wax reservoir; Thus, more specifically: Figure 2A shows a perspective view of interfitted applicator and reservoir tube; Figure 2B shows a partsectional, part cut-away view of Figure 2A;

Figures 3A through 3G show variant applicator configurations of Figures 1 A through 1 F; 5 Thus, more specifically: Figure 3A shows an applicator with an upper and lower spreader plate lip; 10 Figure 3B shows an applicator with a concave curved spreader plate profile; Figure 3C shows an applicator with a convex curved spreader plate profile; 1 5 Figure 3D shows an applicator handle with a profiled finger grip; Figure BE shows an applicator with a flared outlet 20 nozzle profile; Figure OF shows an applicator with a multiple-

toothed, or serrated, nozzle profile; 25 Figures 3G shows an applicator with a straight spreader edge with lip and disc profiled handle; Figure 3G1 shows a (translucent) plan view of Figure 3G; Figure 3G2 shows a (translucent) underside view of Figure 3G; Figure 3G3 shows a (translucent) rear (handle) end 35 elevation of Figure 3G; Figure 3G4 shows a (translucent) side elevation of Figure 3G; 40 Figure 3G5 shows a (translucent) front (spreader) end elevation of Figure 3G; Figure 4 shows an applicator with an integrated (ON OFF) flow control valve, disposed in the head, 45 between finger grip and diametrically-opposed spreader; and Figure 5 shows an applicator with a flexible finger grip and swivel spreader head.

Referring to the drawings, a hand-held applicator 10 has a central mounting head 17, for removable installation upon a wax reservoir.

5 A convenient configuration of wax reservoir is a disposable cartridge such as a deformable-walled tube 21, as shown in Figures 2A and 2B.

Thus, the mounting head 17 is fitted upon a tube 10 neck (stem) 23.

The mounting head 17 is configured as a hollow cylindrical barrel chamber, with an internal screw threaded mounting collar 19, for complementary 15 interfit with a screw-threaded tube neck 23.

Installation is effected upon removal of a similarly screw-threaded closure cap (not shown) - and rupturing of any tube nozzle outlet seal.

An (optional) internal seal puncture nose (not shown) is conveniently fitted in the inlet 18, for automatic seal puncture and contents access, upon installation of the mounting head 17.

Set at diametrically opposed sides of the mounting head 17 are an elongate handle 11 and a fan (ie sector)-shaped spreader 12.

30 The handle 11 is configured with a raised side boundary edge wall serving as a finger grip.

The spreader 12 has a skin contact plate 14, with an integral wax discharge outlet nozzle 15.

Figure 1 C shows an internal flow passage 13 communicating between the inlet 18 in the mounting head 17 and the discharge nozzle 15 in the spreader plate 14.

Single-Handed Overall, the applicator 10 is configured for single handed operation.

This leaves the other hand free to support and guide the limb, or other body parts, of a patient whose skin is being treated.

50 Similarly, a hand remains free to squeeze the tube body opposed walls 21, to preserve and replenish wax discharge flow into the applicator 10.

The mounting head 17 axis is inclined to the top plane of the opposed handle 11 and spreader 12, but lies generally parallel to the plane of the spreader 5 plate 14.

This configuration, or relative orientation of constituent elements, allows a comfortable finger grip and hand/wrist orientation.

1 0 Disposable The applicator 10 admits of variation in shape and size, and in elaboration of detail features - given that 15 it is primarily envisaged as a disposable item.

Thus, rather than (laboriously) unclog (ie set or hardened wax) clean and sterilise the applicator 10 between patient sessions, it is simply discarded.

Figures 3A through 3G (including 3G1 through 3G5) explore - albeit by no means exhaustively - a certain handle, spreader and discharge nozzle 'variability'.

25 Generally, the intention is to facilitate usability, and deposition of an effective wax layer for skin hair entrainment and removal.

Thus, whilst a thin even layer remains tenable, 30 options included locaiised deeper ribs, to help preserve layer integrity upon setting and removal in a single-shot operation.

Figures 4 and 5 introduce somewhat more elaborate 35 features, which may not prove economic for a disposable applicator, but would rather better suit fitment to, say, an umbilical feed line from a larger static bulk wax reservoir.

40 Component List 1 0 applicator/dispenser 11 handle/finger grip 1 2 spreader 45 13 (internal) flow passage 14 spreader plate 15 discharge (outlet) nozzle 1 7 mounting head 1 3 inlet 50 19 internally screwthreaded stem 21 wax reservoir tube 23 tube neck

Claims (4)

1. Claims

   5 1. A (hand held) depilatory wax applicator, or dispenser (10), comprising an elongate handle ( 1 1), 1 0 a (flared) spreader (12) at one end of the handle (a mounting head (17) between handle and spreader) an inlet (18) for a wax supply (21), 1 5 an outlet (15) for wax discharge, and a profiled spreader plate (14), for wax distribution upon skin contact.

   20
2. 2. A (disposable) depilatory wax applicator, for a wax cartridge supply reservoir, the applicator having a mounting head, 25 for detachable mounting upon the reservoir, with (diametrically-opposed) handle and spreader, the spreader being configured as flared, or sectored, element, with an elongate circumferential discharge outlet nozzle at an outboard end.
3. 3. An applicator, 35 as claimed in either of the preceding claims, with a handle grip, profiled to fit between (fore) finger and thumb.

   4Q
4. 4. An applicator, substantially as hereinbefore described, with reference to, and as shown, 45 in the accompanying drawings.