US4498474A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Epilation method
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1982-03-25
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Granted: 1985-02-12
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Expires: 2002-03-25
Abstract
Abstract An epilator system for removing hair, employing a wetting fluid with ionic properties. The ionic wetting fluid is applied to the hair down into the follicle to the papilla and preferably a high-frequency voltage lower than used in conventional epilators is then applied in the region of a wetted hair. The hair is drawn easily from the follicle, generally without regrowth. In preferred embodiments, two or more fluids are applied sequentially, the last having lower ionic activity, but preferably having activity equivalent to at least about 25 ppm sodium chloride in water solution. The ratio of ionic activity of the preceding fluid to the ionic activity of the final fluid is in the range of about 10:1 to 1:1, preferably about 5:1. Preferably the preceding fluid is applied to the skin, wiped leaving a deposit in the pore, and the last fluid is applied. An epilator fluid and epilator kit are also claimed.
Inventors
- 👤 Edward Chalmers
- 👤 William H. Huggins
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 05:59
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B18/00; A61B18/04; A61B18/12; A61B18/14; A61B2018/00315; A61B2018/00452; A61B2018/00476
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
84 words
A method of removing a hair from a living being comprising the steps of: applying a fluid having ionic activity and wetting characteristics for hair and surrounding skin, to the hair and surrounding skin, said fluid having an ionic activity equivalent to at least about 25 ppm sodium chloride in water solution, allowing said ionic, wetting fluid to penetrate into the follicle containing said hair, applying a regulated voltage to the vicinity of said wetted hair, and drawing said hair out of said follicle.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
84 words
A method of removing a hair from a living being comprising the steps of: applying a fluid having ionic activity and wetting characteristics for hair and surrounding skin, to the hair and surrounding skin, said fluid having an ionic activity equivalent to at least about 25 ppm sodium chloride in water solution, allowing said ionic, wetting fluid to penetrate into the follicle containing said hair, applying a regulated voltage to the vicinity of said wetted hair, and drawing said hair out of said follicle.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 1 wherein two or more ionic, wetting fluids are applied to said hair and surrounding skin sequentially, the last having lower ionic activity than the preceding fluid.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
78 words
The method of claim 2 including the step of applying said preceding fluid to said hair and surrounding skin, allowing said preceding ionic, wetting fluid to penetrate into the pore containing the hair to be removed, wiping said preceding fluid from the surface of said surrounding skin in a manner to leave a deposit of said fluid in said pore, applying a final ionic, wetting fluid to said hair and surrounding skin and thereafter applying said regulated voltage.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
80 words
The method of claim 3 wherein a preceding fluid has high detergent properties for removal of oils and the like from the skin and hair, the application and subsequent removal thereof serving to remove said oils and the like from the vicinity of the hair to be removed, whereby persons of different skin characteristics can be brought to substantially the same conditions enabling a final fluid of predetermined properties to be used across a wide population having different skin characteristics.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 2 wherein the ratio of ionic activity of said preceding fluid to the ionic activity of said final fluid is in the range of about 10:1 to 1:1.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
11 words
The method of claim 5 wherein said ratio is about 5:1.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
45 words
The method of claim 5 wherein said preceding fluid has an ionic activity equivalent to about 100 to 500 ppm sodium chloride in water solution and said final fluid has an ionic activity equivalent to about 25 to 150 ppm sodium chloride in water solution.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the ionic activity is provided by including compounds with ion content to mass ratio higher than the ion content to mass ratio of lauryl sulfate compounds.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 8 wherein the ion content to mass ratio of said compounds is at least three times that of said lauryl sulfate compounds.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
15 words
The fluid of claim 8 wherein said compounds providing said ionic activity include sodium chloride.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said ionic, wetting fluid further comprises a buffering compound.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 11 wherein said buffering compound comprises a quatenary nitrogen compound.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
47 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the wettability of said fluid is of the order of that necessary for a drop of said fluid having volume of about 1/20 ml. to spread over about 5 square centimeters of skin with a film thickness of approximately 0.1 mm.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 13 wherein wettability characteristics of said fluid are provided by one or more long chain organic substances with ionizable end groups.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 14 wherein said substance is selected from the following: lauryl sulfates, diethanol amines, compounds of diethanol amines, long chain organic acids, and their derivatives.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
46 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said method includes the further steps of applying said voltage to said hair through the tips of tweezers gripping said hair close to the surface of said skin, and drawing said hair from said follicle by means of said tweezers.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said voltage is of the order of 35 to 65 VAC.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said voltage is applied at a frequency of 27.120 megahertz.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the application of said voltage to said wetted hair promotes penetration of said ionic, wetting fluid into said follicle to the region of the papilla connective tissue.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said method includes the further step of causing the arrector muscle surrounding said hair to relax whereby movement of said fluid downwardly in the pore is facillitated.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 20 wherein the application of said voltage to said wetted hair generates a field along said hair affecting said arrector muscle to facilitate said movement of fluid.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the fluid and the regulated voltage are cooperatively related to alter papilla connective tissue to deter regrowth of papilla and hair.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1988-02-12 | 1988-08-13 | 1989-02-12 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1992-02-12 | 1992-08-13 | 1993-02-12 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1996-02-12 | 1996-08-13 | 1997-02-12 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |