Patent US5846252A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5846252A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Method of removing hair from the body and inhibiting future growth
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1995-11-15
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Granted: 1998-12-08
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Expires: 2015-11-15
Abstract
Abstract Method for the very rapid removal of hair through the use of electromagnetic (e.g., AC, DC, blend, and laser) energy by treatment of the hair prior to the application of such electromagnetic energy to reduce the electromagnetic energy resistance of the hair. Such hair treatment may include applying conductive solutions, pre-treating the hair to yield an alkaline environment (i.e., hair is made more alkaline), and adding graphite, metal, conductive non-metal solids, viscous materials, and liquids, for example.
Inventors
- 👤 Thomas L. Mehl, Sr.
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 15:05
CPC Classifications
A; A45; A45D; A45D26/00; A61; A61B; A61B18/00; A61B18/04; A61B18/12; A61B18/14; B; B26; B26B; B26B21/00; B26B21/40; B26B21/44; B26B21/443; B26B21/446; B26B21/48; A61B18/18; A61B18/20; A61B18/203; A61B2018/00053; A61B2018/00059; A61B2018/00071; A61B2018/00083; A61B2018/00089; A61B2018/00095; A61B2018/00315; A61B2018/00452; A61B2018/00476; A61F; A61F7/00; A61F2007/0059; A61F2007/006; A61N; A61N5/00; A61N5/06; A61N5/0613; A61N5/0616; A61N5/0617
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 26
Claim 1
Independent Claim
251 words
The method of removing a hair from a skin surface of an individual and inhibiting future growth by causing the hair to be sufficiently damaged at its root so as to be more readily releasable at its roots and removable by a very gentle force rather than by the normal force required to pluck a non-treated hair from the skin surface, comprising steps of: a) treating the hair to reduce electromagnetic energy resistance of the hair to permit more electromagnetic energy outside the RF spectrum during an entire treatment time to travel along the hair to reach the hair root; b) firmly grasping the hair between a pair of opposed electromagnetic energy conducting hair engaging surfaces carried by a pair of electromagnetic energy insulated members at a point relatively close to but clear of and above the skin surface of the grasped hair; c) applying electromagnetic outside the RF spectrum energy to at least said one of said hair engaging surfaces; d) holding said hair engaging surfaces in firm engagement with said hair while applying focussed electromagnetic energy outside the RF spectrum to travel along the hair and to damage the hair root sufficiently to permit the hair to be removed by a very gentle upward lift; and, e) applying an upward lifting force to the hair by the hair engaging surfaces during application of said electromagnetic energy outside the RF spectrum, said upward lifting force being less than the force of a tug ordinarily required for removal of non-treated hair.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
251 words
The method of removing a hair from a skin surface of an individual and inhibiting future growth by causing the hair to be sufficiently damaged at its root so as to be more readily releasable at its roots and removable by a very gentle force rather than by the normal force required to pluck a non-treated hair from the skin surface, comprising steps of: a) treating the hair to reduce electromagnetic energy resistance of the hair to permit more electromagnetic energy outside the RF spectrum during an entire treatment time to travel along the hair to reach the hair root; b) firmly grasping the hair between a pair of opposed electromagnetic energy conducting hair engaging surfaces carried by a pair of electromagnetic energy insulated members at a point relatively close to but clear of and above the skin surface of the grasped hair; c) applying electromagnetic outside the RF spectrum energy to at least said one of said hair engaging surfaces; d) holding said hair engaging surfaces in firm engagement with said hair while applying focussed electromagnetic energy outside the RF spectrum to travel along the hair and to damage the hair root sufficiently to permit the hair to be removed by a very gentle upward lift; and, e) applying an upward lifting force to the hair by the hair engaging surfaces during application of said electromagnetic energy outside the RF spectrum, said upward lifting force being less than the force of a tug ordinarily required for removal of non-treated hair.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 1 and wherein: the step of treating the hair includes impregnating the outer surface of the hair with an electromagnetic energy conductive material.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 1 and including the step of: using electromagnetic energy conductive material in the form of a liquid.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 1, wherein: in said step of applying electromagnetic energy outside the RF spectrum, said energy is in the form of laser energy.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 1, wherein: in said step of applying electromagnetic energy outside the RF spectrum, said energy is in the form of DC energy.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 1, wherein: in said step of applying electromagnetic energy outside the RF spectrum, said energy is in the form of AC energy.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 1, wherein: in said step of firmly grasping the hair, said pair of electromagnetically insulated members includes a pair of tweezers.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 1, wherein: said at least one electromagnetic energy conducting surface includes a pad; and said pair of energy insulated members includes a pair of tweezers.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
183 words
The method of removing a hair from a skin surface of an individual and inhibiting future growth by causing the hair to be sufficiently damaged at its root so to be more readily releasable at its roots and removable by a very gentle force rather than by the normal force required to pluck a non-treated hair from the skin surface, comprising the steps of: a) treating the hair with a liquid crystal to reduce eletromagnetic wave energy resistance of the hair to permit more eletromagnetic wave energy outside the RF spectrum during an entire treatment time to be absorbed by the hair, and to be converted to heat energy which travels along the hair to reach the hair root; b) applying focussed electromagnetic wave energy outside the RF spectrum to strike the hair and to generate heat energy to damage the hair root sufficiently to permit the hair to be removed; and, c) applying an upward lifting force to the hair for removal thereof, said upward lifting force being less than the force of the tug ordinarily required for removal of non-treated hair.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
183 words
The method of removing a hair from a skin surface of an individual and inhibiting future growth by causing the hair to be sufficiently damaged at its root so to be more readily releasable at its roots and removable by a very gentle force rather than by the normal force required to pluck a non-treated hair from the skin surface, comprising the steps of: a) treating the hair with a liquid crystal to reduce eletromagnetic wave energy resistance of the hair to permit more eletromagnetic wave energy outside the RF spectrum during an entire treatment time to be absorbed by the hair, and to be converted to heat energy which travels along the hair to reach the hair root; b) applying focussed electromagnetic wave energy outside the RF spectrum to strike the hair and to generate heat energy to damage the hair root sufficiently to permit the hair to be removed; and, c) applying an upward lifting force to the hair for removal thereof, said upward lifting force being less than the force of the tug ordinarily required for removal of non-treated hair.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 9, wherein: in said step of applying electromagnetic wave energy outside the RF spectrum, said wave energy is in the form of laser energy.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 9, wherein: the step of treating the hair includes impregnating the outer surface of the hair with an electromagnetic energy conductive material.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 9, and including the step of: using electromagnetic energy conductive material in the form of a liquid.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 8, wherein: in said step of applying electromagnetic energy outside the RF spectrum, said energy is in the form of laser energy.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 9, wherein: in said step of applying electromagnetic energy outside the RF spectrum, said energy is in the form of AC energy.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
179 words
The method of removing a hair from a skin surface of an individual and inhibiting future growth by causing the hair to be sufficiently damaged at its root so to be more readily releasable at its roots and removable by a force less than the force required to pluck a non-treated hair from the skin surface, comprising the steps of: a) treating the hair with a liquid crystal to reduce electromagnetic wave energy resistance of the hair to permit more electromagnetic wave energy outside the RF spectrum during an entire treatment time to be absorbed by the hair, and to be converted to heat energy which travels along the hair to reach the hair root; b) applying focussed electromagnetic wave energy outside the RF spectrum to strike the hair and to generate heat energy to damage the hair root sufficiently to permit the hair to be removed; and c) applying an upward lifting force to the hair for removal hereof, said upward lifting force being less than the force of the tug ordinarily required for removal of non-treated hair.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
179 words
The method of removing a hair from a skin surface of an individual and inhibiting future growth by causing the hair to be sufficiently damaged at its root so to be more readily releasable at its roots and removable by a force less than the force required to pluck a non-treated hair from the skin surface, comprising the steps of: a) treating the hair with a liquid crystal to reduce electromagnetic wave energy resistance of the hair to permit more electromagnetic wave energy outside the RF spectrum during an entire treatment time to be absorbed by the hair, and to be converted to heat energy which travels along the hair to reach the hair root; b) applying focussed electromagnetic wave energy outside the RF spectrum to strike the hair and to generate heat energy to damage the hair root sufficiently to permit the hair to be removed; and c) applying an upward lifting force to the hair for removal hereof, said upward lifting force being less than the force of the tug ordinarily required for removal of non-treated hair.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 15, wherein: the step of treating the hair includes impregnating the outer surface of the hair with an electromagnetic energy conductive material.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 15, including the step of: using electromagnetic energy conductive material in the form of a liquid.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 15, wherein: in said step of applying electromagnetic energy outside the RF spectrum, said energy is in the form of laser energy.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 15, wherein: in said step of applying electromagnetic energy outside the RF spectrum, said energy is in the form of AC energy.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
159 words
The method of removing a hair from a skin surface of an individual and inhibiting future growth by causing the hair to be sufficiently damaged at its root so as to be more readily releasable at its roots and removable by a force less than the normal force required to pluck a non-treated hair from the skin surface, comprising steps of: a) treating the hair to reduce electromagnetic energy resistance of the hair to permit more electromagnetic energy outside the RF spectrum during an entire treatment time to travel along the hair to reach the hair root; b) applying focussed electromagnetic energy outside the RF spectrum to travel along the hair and to damage the hair root sufficiently to permit the hair to be removed by a force less than the normal force required to remove non-treated hair; and, c) removing the hair by applying force to the hair less than the force required for removal of non-treated hair.
Claim 24
Independent Claim
159 words
The method of removing a hair from a skin surface of an individual and inhibiting future growth by causing the hair to be sufficiently damaged at its root so as to be more readily releasable at its roots and removable by a force less than the normal force required to pluck a non-treated hair from the skin surface, comprising steps of: a) treating the hair to reduce electromagnetic energy resistance of the hair to permit more electromagnetic energy outside the RF spectrum during an entire treatment time to travel along the hair to reach the hair root; b) applying focussed electromagnetic energy outside the RF spectrum to travel along the hair and to damage the hair root sufficiently to permit the hair to be removed by a force less than the normal force required to remove non-treated hair; and, c) removing the hair by applying force to the hair less than the force required for removal of non-treated hair.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 20, wherein: a) the step of treating the hair includes impregnating the outer surface of the hair with an electromagnetic energy conductive material.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 20, wherein: the step of removing the hair is performed substantially at the same time as the step of applying focussed electromagnetic energy outside the RF spectrum.
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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) | 2001-12-07 | 2002-06-08 | 2002-12-08 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2005-12-07 | 2006-06-08 | 2006-12-08 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2009-12-07 | 2010-06-08 | 2010-12-08 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |