U.S. patent application number 10/087038 was filed with the patent office on 2003-05-29 for electrically-driven portable dirt scrubber.
Invention is credited to Park, Chan Seok.
Application Number | 20030097724 10/087038 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 19716468 |
Filed Date | 2003-05-29 |
United States Patent
Application |
20030097724 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Park, Chan Seok |
May 29, 2003 |
Electrically-driven portable dirt scrubber
Abstract
Disclosed is an electrically-driven portable dirt scrubber which
is portable, and conveniently usable for diverse portions of the
body while effectively scrubbing off foreign matters from the skin
without any damage to the skin, thereby keeping the skin clean
while providing a massage effect. The dirt scrubber includes a main
body having a handle configured to be grasped by the user, a
connecting assembly connected at one end thereof to the handle and
configured to be longitudinally adjustable in length, and a head
pivotally coupled to the other end of the connecting assembly, a
power supply mounted in the main body and charged with electric
power supplied from an external power source, a motor configured to
be driven by electric power supplied from the power supply in
accordance with a drive signal, thereby rotating the head, and a
contact member attached to the outer surface of the head, and
adapted to remove foreign matters from the skin of the user in
accordance with rotation of the head.
Inventors: |
Park, Chan Seok; (Busan,
KR) |
Correspondence
Address: |
DARBY & DARBY P.C.
805 Third Avenue
New York
NY
10022
US
|
Family ID: |
19716468 |
Appl. No.: |
10/087038 |
Filed: |
February 28, 2002 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
15/23 ; 15/22.1;
15/28; 15/97.1; 601/114 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47K 7/04 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
15/23 ; 15/22.1;
15/28; 15/97.1; 601/114 |
International
Class: |
A47K 007/02 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Nov 27, 2001 |
KR |
2001-75131 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. An electrically-driven portable dirt scrubber for frictionally
removing foreign matters from the skin of a user, comprising: a
main body having a handle configured to be grasped by the user, a
connecting assembly connected at one end thereof to the handle and
configured to be longitudinally adjustable in length, and a head
pivotally coupled to the other end of the connecting assembly; a
power supply mounted in the main body and charged with electric
power supplied from an external power source; drive means
configured to be driven by electric power supplied from the power
supply in accordance with a drive signal, thereby rotating the
head; and a contact member attached to the outer surface of the
head, and adapted to remove foreign matters from the skin of the
user in accordance with rotation of the head.
2. The electrically-driven portable dirt scrubber according to
claim 1, further comprising: a control unit mounted in the handle
of the main body, the control unit including a switch for turning
on and off the drive means, and a controller for controlling the
drive means to control an operating state of the head between
strong and weak states, and wherein the connecting assembly
comprises a handle length adjusting member connected at one end
thereof to the handle while having a desired length, a connecting
member having an L-shaped rod structure while receiving the other
end of the handle length adjusting member at one end thereof so
that the handle length adjusting member is longitudinally movable,
and a support shaft connected at one end thereof to the other end
of the connecting member while being coupled at the other end
thereof to the head.
3. The electrically-driven portable dirt scrubber according to
claim 1, wherein: the handle, the connecting assembly, and the head
are made of a urethane material exhibiting a high water resistance,
a high heat resistance, and a high impact absorbance; the contact
member comprises a brush or a sponge pad; and the power supply is
charged with electric power in a wireless fashion.
4. An electrically-driven portable dirt scrubber for frictionally
removing foreign matters from the skin of a user while conducting a
massage function, comprising: a case including a handle configured
to be grasped by the user, and a head integral with the handle; a
power supply mounted in the case, and charged with electric power
supplied from an external power source; drive means configured to
be driven by electric power supplied from the power supply in
accordance with a drive signal; and a contact member coupled to a
rotating shaft included in the drive means, and adapted to come
into contact with the skin of the user while rotating.
5. The electrically-driven portable dirt scrubber according to
claim 4, wherein the contact member comprises: a blush including a
body having a desired area, a plurality of combs extending from an
outer surface of the body, a coupling section provided at an inner
surface of the body and coupled to the rotating shaft; or a soft
pad including a body, a sponge section arranged around the body,
and a coupling section provided at an inner surface of the body and
coupled to the rotating shaft, the blush and the soft pad being
selectively detachably attached to the rotating shaft.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to an electrically-driven
portable dirt scrubber, and more particularly to an
electrically-driven portable dirt scrubber for applying rotating
and vibrating forces to the skin of the user to rapidly scrub off
foreign matters from the skin, thereby keeping the skin clean while
providing a massage effect.
[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0004] Generally, skin consists of cuticle, cutis, and subcutis,
starting from the outermost layer thereof. A horny layer is formed
on the cuticle to protect the skin from external stimulus. The
horny layer is formed by dead cells having the form of scurf or
accumulated foreign matters having the form of dirt. Such a horny
layer may have an excessive thickness unless it is removed.
[0005] The horny layer having an excessive thickness may prevent
breathing of skin while cutting off discharge of waste matters
accumulated in the body. Accordingly, such undesirable dirt should
be removed in order to keep the skin healthy, smooth and soft.
[0006] Typically, removal of dirt is carried out by manually
scrubbing the skin using a wash cloth or towel. Since the scrubbing
operation is manually carried out, it is difficult to optimally
control the intensity and frequency of the scrubbing operation. For
this reason, where an excessive scrubbing pressure is applied to
the skin, it may damage the skin, or cause the skin to be dry. As a
result, the skin may be aged.
[0007] In order to solve such problems, an automatic back scrubbing
device has been proposed. Such an automatic back scrubbing device
is mainly installed in bathhouses. However, since the automatic
back scrubbing device is fixedly mounted to a floor so that it is
non-movable, its carriage is impossible. For this reason, the
conventional automatic back scrubbing device has an inconvenience
in use. Furthermore, this automatic back scrubbing device has a
limited applicability to the body. That is, this scrubbing device
can be used only for particular portions of the body. In addition,
there is a sanitation problem because the scrubbing device is used
by many persons.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of
the above mentioned problems, and an object of the invention is to
provide an electrically-driven portable dirt scrubber which is
portable, and usable for diverse portions of the body while
effectively scrubbing off foreign matters from the skin without any
damage to the skin, thereby keeping the skin clean while providing
a massage effect.
[0009] In accordance with one aspect, the present invention
provides An electrically-driven portable dirt scrubber for
frictionally removing foreign matters from the skin of a user,
comprising: a main body having a handle configured to be grasped by
the user, a connecting assembly connected at one end thereof to the
handle and configured to be longitudinally adjustable in length,
and a head pivotally coupled to the other end of the connecting
assembly; a power supply mounted in the main body and charged with
electric power supplied from an external power source; drive means
configured to be driven by electric power supplied from the power
supply in accordance with a drive signal, thereby rotating the
head; and a contact member attached to the outer surface of the
head, and adapted to remove foreign matters from the skin of the
user in accordance with rotation of the head.
[0010] In accordance with another aspect, the present invention
provides an electrically-driven portable dirt scrubber for
frictionally removing foreign matters from the skin of a user while
conducting a massage function, comprising: a case including a
handle configured to be grasped by the user, and a head integral
with the handle; a power supply mounted in the case, and charged
with electric power supplied from an external power source; drive
means configured to be driven by electric power supplied from the
power supply in accordance with a drive signal; and a contact
member coupled to a rotating shaft included in the drive means, and
adapted to come into contact with the skin of the user while
rotating.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0011] The above objects, and other features and advantages of the
present invention will become more apparent after a reading of the
following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the
drawings, in which:
[0012] FIG. 1 is a view schematically illustrating an
electrically-driven portable dirt scrubber according to an
embodiment of the present invention;
[0013] FIG. 2 is a view illustrating a contact member according to
the embodiment of the present invention;
[0014] FIG. 3 is a view illustrating the operation of the
electrically-driven portable dirt scrubber according to the
embodiment of the present invention;
[0015] FIG. 4 is a perspective view schematically illustrating an
electrically-driven portable dirt scrubber according to another
embodiment of the present invention;
[0016] FIG. 5 is a sectional view illustrating the configuration of
the electrically-driven portable dirt scrubber according to the
embodiment of FIG. 4; and
[0017] FIG. 6 is a perspective view illustrating a contact member
according to another embodiment of the present invention.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0018] Now, the present invention will be described in detail with
reference to the annexed drawings.
[0019] FIG. 1 is a view schematically illustrating an
electrically-driven portable dirt scrubber according to an
embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a view illustrating
a contact member according to the embodiment of the present
invention. FIG. 3 is a view illustrating the operation of the
electrically-driven portable dirt scrubber according to the
embodiment of the present invention.
[0020] As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the electrically-driven portable
dirt scrubber according to the embodiment of the present invention
includes a main body having a handle 50 configured to be grasped by
the user, a connecting assembly connected at one end thereof to the
handle 50 and configured to be longitudinally adjustable in length,
and a head 10 pivotally coupled to the other end of the connecting
assembly. The dirt scrubber also includes a power supply 41 mounted
in the main body and charged with electric power supplied from an
external power source, drive means 21 configured to be driven by
electric power supplied from the power supply 41 in accordance with
a drive signal, thereby rotating the head 10, and a contact member
11 attached to the outer surface of the head 10, and adapted to
remove foreign matters from the skin of the user in accordance with
rotation of the head 10.
[0021] A control unit 50 is also mounted in the handle 50 of the
main body. The control unit 50 includes a switch for turning on and
off the drive means 21, and a controller (not shown) for
controlling the drive means 21 to control the operating stage of
the head 10 between first and second stages. The connecting
assembly comprises a handle length adjusting member 31 connected at
one end thereof to the handle 50 while having a desired length, a
connecting member 30 having an L-shaped rod structure while
receiving the other end of the handle length adjusting member 31 at
one end thereof in such a fashion that the handle length adjusting
member 31 is longitudinally movable, and a support shaft 22
connected at one end thereof to the other end of the connecting
member 30 while being coupled at the other end thereof to the head
10. Thus, the connecting assembly has a substantially U-shaped
structure.
[0022] A length adjusting switch 40a is provided at the connecting
member 30. The length adjusting switch 40a serves to fix an
adjusted protrusion length of the handle length adjusting member
31, and to release the fixed sate of the handle length adjusting
member 31, so as to allow the handle length adjusting member 31 to
adjust its protrusion length.
[0023] The drive means 21, which rotates the head 10, is coupled to
the support shaft 22. The drive means 21 comprises a motor having a
rotating shaft coupled to the head 10, thereby causing the head 10
to rotate. The head 10 has a dome shape while having a flat contact
surface 10a at its central outer surface. The contact member 11 is
detachably attached to the head 10.
[0024] The power supply 41 includes a chargeable battery so that it
is charged with electric power from an external power source via
terminals in a wireless fashion.
[0025] As shown in FIG. 2, the contact member 11 has a double-layer
structure having an inner layer made of urethane, and an outer
layer 12 made of sponge. Since the contact member 11 has such a
structure, it can effectively receive a rotating force from the
motor 21 while coming into soft contact with the skin at its sponge
layer 12. In FIG. 2, the reference numeral 12a denotes a recess
formed at the contact member 11 so as to receive the head 10. The
contact member 11 may be manufactured to have diverse structures
using diverse materials without being limited to the above
described materials. For example, the contact member 11 may have a
towel structure or a brush structure.
[0026] Preferably, the handle 50, connecting assembly, and head 10
are made of urethane exhibiting a high water resistance, a high
heat resistance, and a high impact absorbance.
[0027] The motor of the drive means 21 may be a vibrating motor. In
this case, the contact member 11 is vibrated by the head 10
vibrating in accordance with a vibrating force generated from the
vibrating motor. Accordingly, it is possible to conduct a massage
operation for the skin, using the vibrating contact member 11.
[0028] Now, the operation of the electrically-driven dirt scrubber
according to the embodiment of the present invention will be
described.
[0029] As shown in FIG. 3, when the electric power from the power
supply 41 is applied to the motor in accordance with a switching
operation of the switch included in the control unit 40, the motor
is driven, thereby rotating the head 10. Accordingly, when the
contact member 11 coupled to the head 10 comes into contact with a
desired portion of the body, its rotating and vibrating forces are
transmitted to the skin. Accordingly, functions of removing
unnecessary horny layers and massaging the skin are carried
out.
[0030] During this operation, it is possible to adjust the
intensity of the operation conducted by the head 10 by manipulating
the controller, thereby appropriately adjusting the rotating force
and scrubbing pressure of the contact member 11 in accordance with
a desire of the user. As described above, the length of the dirt
scrubber can be adjusted by adjusting the protrusion length of the
handle length adjusting member 31. Accordingly, it is possible to
allow the head 10 to reach a body portion where the hand of the
user cannot reach, by appropriately adjusting the length of the
dirt scrubber. Since the connecting assembly has a U-shaped
structure, the head 10 can easily reach even a body portion such as
the back, where the hand of the user cannot reach. Accordingly, the
dirt scrubber of the present invention can be easily and
conveniently used.
[0031] As described above, the charge of electric power is achieved
in a wireless fashion. In addition, the dirt scrubber can be
conveniently portable and usable because it has a small size. Since
the contact member 11 is detachable, it can be used for diverse
purposes as it is replaced with another structure.
[0032] FIG. 4 is a perspective view schematically illustrating an
electrically-driven portable dirt scrubber according to another
embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a sectional view
illustrating the configuration of the electrically-driven portable
dirt scrubber according to the embodiment of FIG. 4. FIG. 6 is a
perspective view illustrating a contact member according to another
embodiment of the present invention.
[0033] As shown in FIGS. 4 to 6, the electrically-driven portable
dirt scrubber includes a case 110 including a handle 112 configured
to be grasped by the user, and a head 114 integral with the handle
112. The dirt scrubber also includes a power supply 120 mounted in
the case 110, and charged with electric power supplied from an
external power source, drive means 130 configured to be driven by
electric power supplied from the power supply 120 in accordance
with a drive signal, and a contact member 140 coupled to a rotating
shaft 132 included in the drive means 130, and adapted to come into
contact with the skin of the user while rotating.
[0034] A control unit 150 is also mounted in the handle 112 of the
case 110. The control unit 150 includes a switch for turning on and
off the drive means 130, and a controller for controlling the drive
means 130 to control the operating stage of the head 114 between
first and second stages.
[0035] The power supply 120 includes a chargeable battery so that
it is charged with electric power from an external power source via
terminals in a wireless fashion. The drive means 130 comprises a
motor. The motor is driven by electric power supplied from the
power supply 120 in accordance with a switching operation of the
switch.
[0036] As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the contact member 140 may
comprise a blush including a body 142 having a desired area, a
plurality of combs 144 extending from an outer surface of the body
142, a coupling section 148 provided at an inner surface of the
body 142 and coupled to the rotating shaft 132. Alternatively, as
shown in FIG. 6, the contact member 140 may comprise a soft pad
including a body 142 , a sponge section 146 arranged around the
body 142, and a coupling section 148 provided at an inner surface
of the body 142 and coupled to the rotating shaft 132.
[0037] When the electric power from the power supply 120 is applied
to the motor in accordance with a switching operation of the
switch, as in the afore-mentioned embodiment, the motor is driven,
thereby rotating the contact member 140 coupled to the rotating
shaft 132. Accordingly, when the contact member 140 comes into
contact with a desired portion of the body, its rotating and
vibrating forces are transmitted to the skin. Accordingly,
functions of removing unnecessary horny layers and massaging the
skin are carried out.
[0038] During this operation, it is possible to appropriately
adjust the contact pressure of the contact member 140 in accordance
with a desire of the user by manipulating the controller of the
control unit 150. Since the contact member 140 is detachable, it
can be used for diverse purposes as it is replaced with another
structure.
[0039] As apparent from the above description, the present
invention provides an electrically-driven portable dirt scrubber
which is portable, and conveniently usable for diverse portions of
the body while effectively scrubbing off foreign matters from the
skin without any damage to the skin, thereby keeping the skin clean
while providing a massage effect.
[0040] Although the preferred embodiments of the invention have
been disclosed for illustrative purposes, those skilled in the art
will appreciate that various modifications, additions and
substitutions are possible, without departing from the scope and
spirit of the invention as disclosed in the accompanying
claims.
* * * * *