U.S. patent application number 10/873584 was filed with the patent office on 2005-12-22 for brush configuration for a powered skin cleansing brush appliance.
Invention is credited to Akridge, Robert E., Pilcher, Kenneth A., Schumaker, David B..
Application Number | 20050278877 10/873584 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 35479016 |
Filed Date | 2005-12-22 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050278877 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Akridge, Robert E. ; et
al. |
December 22, 2005 |
Brush configuration for a powered skin cleansing brush
appliance
Abstract
The bristle arrangement includes a first brush portion which has
a first set of bristles, the first brush portion being arranged in
an annular configuration, and remains stationary in operation of
the appliance. The bristle arrangement also includes a second brush
portion which has a second set of bristles, wherein the second
brush portion oscillates at a selected frequency. The second set of
bristles has a circular arrangement, fitting within the opening of
the annular arrangement of the first set of bristles. The first and
second sets of bristles have a diameter within the range of 3 mils
to 5 mils, and a length in the range of 0.3 to 0.425 inches. The
first bristle set includes 40 to 100 bristle tufts and the second
bristle set includes 40 to 120 bristle tufts, which are
substantially evenly spread, respectively.
Inventors: |
Akridge, Robert E.;
(Seattle, WA) ; Pilcher, Kenneth A.; (Seattle,
WA) ; Schumaker, David B.; (Morristown, TN) |
Correspondence
Address: |
JENSEN + PUNTIGAM, P.S.
SUITE 1020
2033 6TH AVE
SEATTLE
WA
98121
US
|
Family ID: |
35479016 |
Appl. No.: |
10/873584 |
Filed: |
June 22, 2004 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
15/28 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A46B 2200/1006 20130101;
A46B 13/008 20130101; A46B 13/02 20130101; A47K 7/04 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
015/028 |
International
Class: |
A46B 013/02 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A bristle arrangement for a powered skin cleaning appliance,
comprising: a first brush portion which includes a first set of
bristles with the first brush portion remaining stationary in
operation; a second brush portion which includes a second set of
bristles, the second brush portion oscillating when the appliance
is in operation, wherein the first and second sets of bristles are
within the range of 3 to 5 mils in diameter and 0.3 to 0.5 inches
in length, and wherein the first brush portion includes
approximately 40 to 100 bristle tufts and the second set of
bristles includes 40 to 120 bristle tufts, spaced over the area of
the brushhead.
2. The bristle arrangement of claim 1, including a space between
the first set of bristles and the second set of bristles, within
the range of 0.050-0.125 inches.
3. The bristle arrangement of claim 1, wherein the preferred range
for the number of bristle tufts is 60 to 90 in the first brush
portion and 70 to 110 in the second brush portion.
4. The bristle arrangement of claim 1, wherein the preferred number
of bristle tufts in the first and second sets of bristles is 80 and
96, respectively.
5. The bristle arrangement of claim 1, wherein the first brush
portion is annular in configuration and includes a plurality of
rings of bristle tufts, and wherein the second brush portion is
circular and fits within the annular opening of the first brush
portion, wherein the first and second sets of bristles,
respectively, are substantially evenly spaced.
6. The bristle arrangement of claim 1, wherein the diameter of the
bristles is approximately in the range of 3-4 mils.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] This invention relates generally to powered skin cleansing
brushes and more specifically to bristle arrangements for use in
such a skin cleansing brush.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] In a skin cleansing brush, particularly a powered brush
which is constructed such that a portion of the brushhead and the
bristles thereon remain stationary while another portion thereof
oscillates, a number of factors are important for good cleansing
action. The ability of the powered skin cleansing brush to
effectively and safely function, including in addition to
cleansing, exfoliation and increasing the absorption of various
skin formulations, is significantly affected by the bristle
morphology and bristle arrangement of the brush.
[0003] In some existing arrangements, the skin will be
ineffectively cleansed, with little or no sense of cleansing by the
user, while in other cases, the skin may be overly cleansed with a
mild sensation of abrasion, which is undesirable.
[0004] Many design considerations contribute to overall
effectiveness of a skin cleansing brush, including bristle length
and diameter, and bristle material, as well as the overall bristle
arrangement, including the number of bristle tufts in a given area
and the number of bristles per tuft. It is important to select and
arrange these various bristle considerations to provide the desired
result of effective cleansing, accompanied by an actual sensation
or feeling of cleanliness, but without discomfort. In certain
applications, this will also include an increased ability of the
skin to absorb selected skin formulations; while in another
application, the effectiveness of shaving cream is enhanced.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] Accordingly, the present invention is a bristle arrangement
for a powered skin cleaning brush, comprising: a first brush
portion which includes a first set of bristles with the first brush
portion remaining stationary in operation; a second brush portion
which includes a second set of bristles, the second brush portion
oscillating when the device is in operation, wherein the first and
second sets of bristles are within the range of 3 to 5 mils in
diameter and 0.3 to 0.5 inches in length, and wherein the first
brush portion includes approximately 40 to 100 bristle tufts and
the second set of bristles includes 40 to 120 bristle tufts, spaced
over the area of the brushhead.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0006] FIG. 1 is a top view of skin care appliance with a brushhead
having bristles of selected characteristics.
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
[0007] FIG. 1 shows an example of a hand held power skin care
appliance 10 which is useful in facial skin care applications. The
appliance includes a large brushhead 12, which in one embodiment is
approximately 1.6 inches in diameter and a driving system 15. The
brushhead includes two portions, an outer annular-shaped portion 14
comprising two concentric rings of bristle tufts and a circular
inner portion 16 comprising a significant number of spaced bristle
tufts, sufficient to cover the annular opening defined by the outer
bristle portion. In the embodiment shown, there is a gap or space
between the inner and outer brushhead portions, in the range of
0.125-0.050 inches, preferably 0.084 inches. In operation of the
appliance, outer bristle portion 14 remains stationary, while inner
bristle portion 16 oscillates through a specified angle. In one
embodiment the angle is within the range of 8.degree. to
26.degree., although this can be varied, depending upon the
particular application.
[0008] The structure of such a brushhead, apart from the bristles,
is shown and described in co-pending application titled
"Oscillating Brushhead Attachment System for Personal Care
Appliance". An example of an appliance, including a drive system
for such a brushhead, is shown and described in co-pending
application titled "Motor Providing Oscillating Action for a
Personal Care Appliance". Both of the above applications are owned
by the same assignee as the present invention, and are hereby
incorporated by reference.
[0009] The brushhead bristle arrangement shown and described
herein, used in the appliance/brushhead disclosed in the above
applications is effective for skin cleaning applications,
particularly facial skin. The present brushhead bristle arrangement
can also be used in other skin care applications, however, as
discussed in the above applications, including acne and black head
treatment, athlete's foot treatment, callused skin and psoriasis,
razor bumps and related skin applications, wound cleansing and
treatment of slow or non-healing wounds, scalp cleaning, chemical
peel procedures and shaving cream applications. Preferred bristle
configurations and arrangements will differ somewhat depending upon
the particular application.
[0010] The following description concerns a brushhead/bristle
arrangement for facial skin cleansing. It includes desired ranges
of selected bristle characteristics and tufting, including the
diameter of the bristles, the length of the bristles and the
bristle material. The brushhead/bristle arrangement also takes into
account the necessary time for the brush to dry, which must be fast
enough to reduce microbial growth. The rate of drying is dependent
upon both the number of bristles per tuft and the number of tufts
in a given area. A brush may dry efficiently, but not have the
ability to cleanse effectively, as well as cleanse effectively but
not dry fast enough.
[0011] The optimum ranges for the important bristle characteristics
and tufting requirements in order to provide the best performance
and cleansing feel/impression depend to an extent upon the energy
generated by the appliance which depends in turn upon both
frequency and amplitude of bristle movement. In the embodiment
shown, the frequency of brushhead movement will be within the range
of 120-220 Hz. For a facial brush, the length of the bristles using
a Tynex (DuPont) type bristle will be between 0.3 inches and 0.425
inches with a desired diameter of approximately 3 mils. For
applications other than facial cleansing, such as those mentioned
above, the diameter of the nylon bristles can be increased up to 5
mils, with the length remaining the same or slightly longer.
[0012] It has been discovered that generally, bristles with
diameters less than 3 mils are difficult to connect reliably into a
bristle base element. Further, bristles with a diameter greater
than 5 mils produced discomfort in most users, although in some
applications, a bristle diameter of greater than 5 mils, for
particular applications such as aggressive foot cleansing, are
appropriate.
[0013] With SuperSoft (DuPont) bristles, the ranges are slightly
different, with the length of the bristles again being
approximately 0.3 to 0.425 inches, while the diameter of the
bristles can vary between 3 and 4 mils. For brush applications
other than a facial cleansing application, the length of the
bristles is approximately the same, in some cases slightly shorter
for more aggressive applications and slightly longer for gentler
applications, while the diameter of the bristles can be between 3
and 5 mils.
[0014] Relative to effective drying, the general range for the
number of tufts is 40-100 in the outer brushhead portion and 40-120
in the inner brushhead portion. The preferred range is 60-90 for
the outer brushhead portion and 70-110 for the inner brushhead
portion, with 80 and 96 being optimal. The tufts should be evenly
spaced.
[0015] Hence, particular characteristics of bristles are important
(diameter and length) relative to effective skin cleansing, such as
facial cleansing. Further, by maintaining the number of bristles in
a particular tuft and the number of tufts in the movable brushhead
portion within selected ranges, the overall brush can dry
sufficiently fast to reduce microbial growth while at the same time
cleansing effectively without harm or discomfort to the user.
[0016] Although a preferred embodiment of the invention has been
disclosed here for purposes of illustration, it should be
understood that various changes, modifications and substitutions
may be incorporated in the embodiment without departing from the
spirit of the invention, which is defined by the claims which
follow.
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