CA2142814A1

CA2142814A1 - Hand held, portable steam razor

Info

Publication number: CA2142814A1
Application number: CA 2142814
Authority: CA
Inventors: Anton H. Clemens
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1992-08-17
Filing date: 1993-08-17
Publication date: 1994-03-03
Also published as: WO1994004106A1; EP0654983A1; AU5008193A; EP0654983A4; TW231990B

Abstract

A hand-held, portable steam shaving device (10) for shaving the skin includes a housing (20), and a liquid reservoir (50) in the housing (20). A steam generator is provided in the housing for converting a liquid to a vapor and for supplying the steam or vapor to the skin surfaces to be shaved.

Description

21~2814 1~
~.~,WO 941fO4106 PCT/US93/075g4 ,;~`; i , ~D'.~ELD PQRTA8~E 8T~:AM RAZo~

D OF ~B I~N~rIoN
^ 5Thi~ inventiorl relates to a new shaYing apparatus for using th~ physiGal and therapeutic properties of :~
team and vapor.

BA~ O~ OF ~E:: INV~NTIO~
;~ ; Steam has long been used îor traating the ~ody owing ~; 10to the therapeutic ef~ec:ts of moisture-laden vapor for t~eatirlg skin and hair.
The us~ of steam in shaving allows the hair f ibers to ~ moistened 2In~ f acilitates removal of the hair .
:
: ~The use: of ~;team in skin treatm~nt is generally 15 known, such a~; applied at team baths for causing perspiration and opening of the pores~ The use of steam : : as a ~ody treatment aids in relaxing muscles, and helps to cl~n~e the skin through heating o~ the natural body oils ~o a more liqui~i~d state in which removal c:f the 2Q oils is fa ~ tated a~ by wiping or washing away the o i l ~
:: Tt is also known that many people find it.easier to shav~ afl:er having showered or bathed, as the hair to be ~:: remsved h~s swelled and softened owîng ~o the absorption

2 5 ~x adsorption of water by the hair .
:: U.S, }?atent No. 4,3g~,3d~9 to l)eming et al, discloses an elec:trically heated ~acial sawla appliancP having a heater sucb as a ceramic resistance or positive i W094/04106 ~ 1 4 2 8 1 ~ P~T/US93/07594 ~ .

temperature coefficient (PTC) heater enclosed in an aluminum case. A thermostat calibrated to about 100 -110C is attached to the Deming heater. A fan is used to propel the steam toward the face. No shavers or razors are dicclosed, although Deming et al. generally describe putting watsr or a~ueous solutions or emulsions containing medicaments, colognes or perfumes, moisturizers, and the like, into a water ta~k steam generating chamber.
U.S~ Patent No. 3,800,&10 to Mercer discloses an ; appliance construction for use as a hair dressing tool and a steam iron that schematically shows a tool or implement which may be a brush, comb, or the like, advantageously formed with pa~sageways (not shown); 15 through the comb baok or brush back for passing fluid rom t~e interior :of a work head exteriorly thereof.
Mercer describes th~ application of steam to hair for shaping hair in ~hair-dressing and hair-styling operations;:however, no disclosure is made of applying 20 ~ steam to:~reat facial hair or other unwanted hair to be removad by shaving :U.S~. Paten~ No. 4,596,565 to Ruderian discloses a salve applicator having a vibrating element independently operable ~or~ ~ heing operated ind~pendently of a blower :; 2S motor. The vibrating;element essen~ially vibrates the casing and~ thereby facilitates thP absorption of a : -medicant into the pores of a body portion when the salve applicator is in use as a massager. No disclosure is made ~of shaving attachments. j i The use of ~he term "steam" is for convenience only, L
as all vaporized liquids and medicated solutions that may b2 vaporized are:intended to:be within the scope of the invention. :

: OBJE~T8 ~ND ~NN~RY OF_T~E INV~TION
. It is a first object of the invention to provide a -compact, hand-held shaving device which has a steam :; .-2~ 12814 -W094/04l~6 ~ , PCT/US93/07594

- 3 -~enerating chamber and which directs steam at the skin surf ace .
Another obj~c~ o~ the invention is to provide a hand-held, porta~le shaving device which can be used as a facial sha~er as well as ~ whole body shaver.
Yet another object of the invention is to provide a hand-held, portable device which produces steam, yet which requires no fan for directing steam at the user.
; ~nother object of the invention is to provide a ~ 10 hand-held, portable shaving d~vice which avoids the ;~ drawbacks of prior art shavers.
:A still ~urther object is to avoid the presence of electrical components, including wires, in direct contact : with a liquid reservoir.
15A fur~her object of the invention is to eliminate : the ne~d for loc~ting an electrical heating element in a ~luid reservo~rO :
: ~nother object of the invention is to provide a shaving device which ~an be used regardless of its Qrien~ation4 Y~t:anothar object of the inv~n~ion is to provid~ a sha~ing device including ~ st~amer with which the steam generat~d close to the surfaces of the skin to be treated so as~to :avoid the temp rature drop of s~eam present in existing devices.
: It is yet another object of the invention to provide t a shaviny device u~ing steam and:h~ving an improved flow `~ path~confi ~ ration for both cooling parts of the device ., ; which require cooling and for conveying steam to the : ~ 30 user's skin for ~hanced shaving~
A yet further object o~the inventisn is to provide shaving d~vice which use steam and thereby supplies moisture-laden air directly to the skin for providing .
natural moisturizing of the skin. .
35It is a yet further ob3ect of the in~ention to provide a sha~ing device which makes unnecessary the use : of pre-shave solu~ions.

WO94~04106 21 4 ~ ~ I 4 PCT/US93/07594 :~ - 4 ~
Still another ~eature of the invention is to provide a hand-held steam shaving device having a self-contained liquid reservoir.
Another object of the invention is to provlde a hand-held, portable steam shaving device having a liquid reservoir whioh does not leak liquid when the device is in an inverted position while steam shaving.
Another object :of the invention is to provide a portable steam shaving device including a wick for drawing a liquid from the reservoir to the heating eIement. ::
Still another object~of the invention is to provide a wick which is sufficiently hydrophilic so as to draw up liquid readily, and, at the same time, maintain a high enough flow resistance, in part due to its "wetting ;: angle"~ to prevent 9'floodingi' when the entire device is held upside down~while steam shaving.
: Yet~anothe~r object of the invention is to provide a wic~wh;ich~is mechanically stable, even after soaking in 2~0 water.
: Yet another object~of the inve~tion is to pro~ide a hand-held,:por~able, self-contained steam generation device and sha~er which can apply steam to selected areas af~the::body~while:simult:aneously directly contacting or 25~ ~belng~spaced~from those~areas.
:;Still another obj~ect o~ the invention is to provide a compact:steam~shaving~de~ice including a~motor which ; pow~rs both a fan and a razor for efficiency and for providin~ a compact construction.
30 ::~: A yet still further object of the inYention is to provide a compact const~uction of the overall device.
A~:still further~object of the invention is to provide a slngle~motor having a common shaft for powering a fan and a razor.
35~ Another object of the invention is to enhance the ef~ect of pre-shave, during have (e.g., shaving lotion : which helps hair stand up), and aftershave lotions.

A yet still f~rther object of the invention is to provide for improv~ shaving by using ambient air or vapor~laden air for enhancing the action of a powered razor and for making the process of shaving more com~ortable and efficient.
A still further object of the invention is ~o pro~ide a ~teamer:device which can produce ~apor or steam by using a low power and/or voltage level AC or DC power source.
In s~mmary, therefore, the in~ention is direc~ed to body shaving devices which operate directly in contact with the skin or spaced from the skin and usP steam to enhance the ef~ectiveness of the shaving device.
In one embodiment the shaving device includes a steam generator.
~ no~her embodiment ~f the shaving device is an apparatus which includes a razor attachment which may be s~ationary or motorized to shave and or remove hair from th~ skin surface as steam is being applied.
The invention will be further described wikh re~erence to the following drawing~.

~IEF DE~C~IPTION OF T~ _Ra~I~G8 :FIGURE 1 i~ a cross~sectional view of a f irst pr4~erred e~ odiment of a portablel hand-h~ld steam shaving deviGe according to the in~ention;
FIGURE 2 is a cross-sectional view of a portion of the preferred embodiment of FIG. 1;
FIGURE 2A is an enlarged view of a portion~of FIG.
l;
FIGURE 2B is a ~iew ~imilar to FIG. 2A, of a further preferred embodlment of a valve according to the invention;
FIGURE 2C is a schematic view of the manner in which the val~e o~ FIG. 2B is partially open;
FIGUR~ 2D is a schematic view similar to FI~. 2~, showing the valve of FIG. 2B in a further open position;

WO94/041~6 PCT/US93/07594 ~.
21~281'~

FIGURE 2E is a schematic view similar to FI~. 2C, showing the valve o* FIG. 2B in a still ~urther open position; -^
FIGURE 3 is a cross-sectional view of another pre~erred embodiment;
FIGURE 3A is a perspective ~-iew o~ a modular bottle adaptor according to a preferred embodiment of the invention;
FIG~RE 3B is a cross sectional view of the modular bottle adaptor o~ FIG.~3A;
FIGURE 3C is a top plan view of the modular model bottl of FIG. 3A,~
FIGURE 3D is a cross-~ectional view taken along line ~ 3d-3d o~ FIG. 3C;
: 15 FIGURE 4 is a front, elevational ~iew of a p~wered : shaver head aecording to the invention;
FIGURE 5 is a partial sectional view of the powered shaver head o~ FIG. 4, taken along line 5-5;
FIG~RE 6 is a side elevational view of certain comp~nen~s of the powered shaver head of FI-. 4;
FIG~RE 7 is a perspectiYe view bf a blade assembly .
: shown in FIGS, 4-6;
~: : FIGURE 8 is a schamatic view of further preferred : embadiment o~ a~steam shaver according to the invention;
;
and ~ :
FIGURE 9 is an elevational view of a still further preferred ~mbodiment o~ the inve~tion.
: ,:
~ j ; B~AI~D D~8CRIPTION OF ~ INVEN~ON
: FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate one of the preferred -30 embodiments o~ a steam razor l0 according to the t invention.
Steam razor l0 includes a housing 20 having a razor blade head 30 attached ~o an upper end thereof. A .
heating element 40 heats and ~aporizes a liquid supplied 35 by a li~uid rei-ervoir 50 defined in housing 20~ A !:
battery or other power source 60 energizes heating ¦ ~

~ .

f~W094/04106 21~ ~ 814 PCT/US93/07594 element 40, as will be explained in detail below.
A recharqing base 70 functions to both store steam razor lO at rest and to recharge battery 60. An electric cord 80 extends from r2charging base 70 and is 5 connectable to a conv~ntional 115 volt ~C electrical outlet, for example.
More particularly, steam razor 10 includes a push-button 100 connected to a rod 102. A spring 104, preferably encircling and retained by rod 102, normally : ~0 biases push-button 100 outwardly.
A valve 106 regulates the discharge of a liquid from li~uid reservoir 50. Valve 106 includes ~pper and lower sealing slements 108, 109, respectively, and an orifice 110 defined in a wall 112 of r~servoir 50. Sealing 15element 10~ blocks orifice llO when push-button 100 and, hence, rod 102, are in their noxmal, upwardly biased positions.
Heating element 40, which is preferably configur~d with sloped upper walls 42, is electrically connected to a ~hermostat 120, which, in urn, is electrically connected to a male adaptor prong ~24 recei~able in a f~mal~ r~ceptacle 126. :Upper walls ~2 are sloped for atGhing all drops of liguid which are released by Yalve ~: ~ : 106 from r~ser~oir 50 ~ ~ 25A conventional AC/DC convertor 128 electrically `::connects female recaptacle 126 and AC electric cord 80, for con~erting standard hou~ehold alternating current to direct current of the appropriate voltage to recharge :battery ~0, a~ wi~l be rea~ily understood by a person ha~ing ordlnary~skill in the art.
A refill cap 132 is removably received in housing 20 for adding li~uid to reservoir 50.
A conventional DC motor is provided in housing ~0 and is preferably powered by battery 60 . A driven shaft ~ 35 134 pow~red by DC motor 130 rotates an offset weight or ;- ~ccentric 136~ Eccentric 136 induces Yibrations which ~ vibrate housing 20 and, hence, razor blade 30, thereby , :
~ ' ~
", ", " , , " , . , , , , . , .-WO94/041~6 2 1 ~ 2 8 1 ll PCT/US93/07594 ~

enhancing the shaving effect.
Preferably, heating element 40 is heated up by supplying electricity directly from standard 115V
household current through male adaptor prong 124 and , thermcstat 120.
Alternatively, both motor 130 and heating element 40 a~e powered by battery 60.
A vapor p~ssage 140 directs vapor or steam ~
produced by heating element 40. The steam exits housing 20 along vapor passage 140 and through outlet 144 defined in ra~or blade head 30. Outlet 144 is prefer~bly provided adjacent a fixed razor blade 148.
A first baffle 149 cooperates with a second baffle 150 for de~lecting steam ~low and for preventing '5 inserting of obiects into vapor passage 140 and into contact with heating element 40, for example.
As best ~een in FIG. 2, a protective cover 152 Pncloses razor blade head 30 when not in ~lse. One or more detents 156 provided on razor blade head 3~ engage 20 ~ lips 160 defined on housing 20r 50 that razor blade head 30 can be readily replaced, as nece~saryO
Pre~erably0 an elongated nack 1~0 i~ provided o~ ~:
housing 20 so that the effective length of steam razor 10 iS increased~ ..
FIG. 2A is a partial view of FIG. 1, on an enlarged ~: scale, showing details of valve 106. ~;
: FIG. 2B is a view similar to FIÇ. 2A, showing a still further preferred embodiment of a valYe 170 according to the invention. Valve 170 includes a spring- ' .
loaded/ movable rod 172 having a first, elongated, semi~
circular actuating element or actuator 174 disposed : ~ubstantially lengthwise thereon. A second elongated .
actuatDr element 176 is disposed substantially parallel to and spaced from ~irst actuator element 174, and is .
: 35 preferably somewhat longer than first element 174.
third, elongated actuating element 178 is likewise disposed substantially parallel to and spaced from ' ~ WO94/04106 2 1 4 2 8 1 ~ PCT/US93/07594 .

_ g elongated elements 174 and 176, and is longer than each of those two elements.
An ~-ring 1~2 surrounds rod 172 and pre~ents the discharge of liquid from liquid reservoir 50 when in its normally closed position.
FIGS. 2C-2E, schematically show how the O-ring i5 distorted at one or more places, depending on how many of actuating elements 174, 176, and 178 are contacting O-ring 1~2, when rod 172 is pushed downwardly during use.
: 10Specifically, FIG. 2C schematically shows the : confisuration of O-ring 182 when rod 172 has been moved partially downwardly and only the lower portion of third element ~78 c~ntacts the inner wall of O-ring 182. A
: deflected area 181, caused by contact of element 178 with 15O-ring 182 defines elongated passages 182 and 183 directly adjacent thereto and through which a liquid passes. As will readily apparent, it is li~uid from reservoir 50, when steam ra20r 10 is in use in its upright position which will pass ~hrough passages 182 and O; 183 for~contacting heating element 40.
~; FIG. 2D schematically illustrat~s the deformation of ~: Q-ring 182 when rod 172 h s been pu~hed further downwardly, than as shown in FIG. 2C, and both second : element: 176 and third element 178 contact respective 25inside wall portions of O-ring 182. Second elem~nt 1~6 :~ causes a portion of O-ring 182 to deflect and de~ine a d~flected portion 185 and adjacent passages 186 and 187 ~: through which a li~Uid passes, in a manner analogous to ~ the deflection of O-ring 182 illustrated in FIG. 2C.
':1 ' 30Third elément 1~8 still contacts O-ring 182.
.
Accordingly, more liquid:will be allowed to pass from .
reservsir SO through passages 182, 183, 185 and }86, than in the case where :pa sages 182 and 183 are the two openings through which:fluid passes ~see FIG~ 2C).
~:~ 35FIG. 2E schematically shows the manner in which all three eIements ~74, 176 and 17B are deflecting O-ring 182 .
simultaneously, in the case where rod 172 is in its ~: ' .
:~:

W094J04106 2 ~ ~ 2 8 1 ~ . PCT/US93/07594 ~

furth~st, downward position, whPreby fluid passes through passages defined adjacent deflected portion 189, and designated 190 and 191 respectively.
It is noted that the spacing of the d~flected 5 portions 181, 185, and 1~9 is shown as being about 120 which is a suitable spacing. It is contemplated that di~ferent spacings depending on the d~sired flow rates and size of the actuating element.
Turning to FIG. 3 and FIGS. 4-7, a second preferred embodiment o~ a shaving device and a particularly suited shaving head will be described~
FIG. 3 shows a portable, hand-hPld or steam shaving device 220 having a housing 222 made of plastic or of another suitable material. Steamer device 220 includes a lower portion 224 and an upper portion 226. Lower portion 224 is configured for being held in the hand of : a us~r~
.
; FIGS~ 3A-3D show details of a modular bottle adapter M.
~: 20 A liquid r~ervoir 228 is disposed in low~r portion 224 of housing 222 thanks to its~being retainsd by ;: modular bottle adapter M. Liquid reservoir 228 is formed .
of a s~itable material~ for re~aining liquids such ~s ~: wat~r and medi~ations.
- Threads 230 are disposed at a top par~ of reser~oir 228 for releasably attaching reservoir 228 to mating ~; . thr~ads 231 of modular bottle adaptor M. As re~uired, an O-ring or gasket can be disposed b~tween the upper part of reservoir 228 and hou~ing 222 for ensuring that undesi able 1QSS ~f liquid from reservoir 228 is :: ~ prevented.
~ne or more irflow openings 232 is defined in modular bottle adaptor M.
, A wick 234 is secured by wick holder 235 of housing ~22. Wick 234 may be ma~e of natural fibers suitable for :operation at eleYated temperature sr an appropriately selected synthetic material such as a dimensionally .
.

21~28:14 ~. WO9~/04106 ` ;-~ : PCT~US93/07~94 . .. ;,, ,. .
-- , stable fibrous material (e.g., PRYOPEL~ supplied by A L
International L.P., Ma~sfield, Massachusetts) which has desired wicking and temperature prop~rties.
It is preferred ~hat wick 234 is made of a material having sufficient wicking action to draw a liquid from uid reservoir 228, while having sufficient flow : : resi~tance for preventing excessive flow of liquid from wick 234 when Iiquid reserYoir 228 has been at least partially inverted; e~g., when reservoir 228 is in an orientation in which liquid reservoir 228 is disposed partially ~bo~e one or both of a condensation collector 238 and a h~ating element 240 while in use. A fluid passage 239 (FIG. 3D~ returns condensate to reservoir f~O
: 15~eatlng e~lement 240 is electrically ~.onnected by one or more conductors 24l via a resilient conductor element 243 to a pDwer source (not shown) such as rechargeable : nickel-cadmium batteri~s, or to a standard AC or D~ power : source. ~s best s~en in FIGS. 3A and 3C, it is preferred that electrical connection posts 242 be provided for re~leasably attaching and elecbrically connecting :oonductors ~41. Heating element 240 can b~ plugged into or:sold~red on~o posts 242 by means of conductors 241~
For: cvnnection to an external power sourcP, or ~or cQnnection to a standard recharger, an adapter 244 is provi~ed ~ which is inserted into and electrically connect~d with re~epta~le 246. All electrical ~ conn~ctions can be~soldexed or confi ~red as male/female ;~ connectors, as requir~d.
~` ~ 30Known ! electrical wires 248 electrically connect rece~ta~1e 246 (or:the battery power source) wlth a fir t printed circuit (PC~ board 249. A motor ~50, which is ,~ , pr~ferably:a DC motor, is electrically connected to a .
: : second printed circui~ ~PC) ~oard 25l via connector 252. ~
35 Second PC ~oard 251 is electriGally conn~cted by wires -. 253 to first PC board 249. First PC board 249 is .
connected, in turn, to a standard multi-position switch :
~: : ~

W~94/04106 2 1 ~ 2 8 1 4 PCT/~S93tO7594f~
._ 254, the positions of which are selected by, for example, lateral sliding of a ~lide element 256 relative to housing 222 and, hence, relative to the body of switch : 254.
Motor 250 is pro~ided with a rear drive shaft 258 : and a front drive shaft 260 ~or powering a dri~e shaft socket or modular coupling 251. Rear drive shaft 25~
drives a fan 2~2 while concurrently driving the razor attachment shown in FIGS. -4-7 b~ means of front driv~
; ` ~ 10shaft 260 and associated drive shaft coupling 261.
~ Multi~position switch 254 includes an off position :~ in which both motor 250 and heater 240 are off; a fan-only position in which heater 240 is off and motor 250 is on for powering fan 262 and front drive shaft 260; and a ;15 motor--plus-vaporizer position in which both motor 250 and :::heater 240 are on for supplyin~ steam or other vapor to a sur~ace to be:treated.
The powered razor 300 of FIGS. 4-7, described in gr ater d~tail b~low, is detachably attached to housing 20222. :A detent 271 i defined in upper portion 226 o~
housing 222 f~r detachably holding ~ri~en razor 300, as will be described ~ore fully below. Razor 3~0 is mated : with a drive shaft coupling 261 by its driven shaft, described below.
25Power razor 300 fu~ther includes a plurality of steam ~rent holes or primary vapor passages through which ~ .
moisturized air and/or steam passes from the inside of housing 222 to the skin ~ur~ces to be treated when razor 300~is~in place on device 220.
30An ambient air inlet 280 is provided in lower portion 22~ of housing ~22 for introducing air into device 220. Air than passes through air passage 282, follow~ ambient air flow arrow 283 generally through an : air passage 284, after ~which fan 2Ç2 forces the air ;35 thr~ugh both a cooling air inlet 286 and drives air past wick 234 and heating element 240. Air passage 282 is :~ ~preferably aligned with airflow opening 232. The cooling , WO94/04106 2 14 2 ~ 1 4 PCT~US93/07~94 l-- 13 ~
air continues on through cooling air outlet 288 and cooling air outlet 290, the cooling air ~inally exiting device 220.
The other portion of the ambient air drawn in through air passage 284 follows a path generally shown by ambient air flow arrow 285 thereby becoming moisturized air designated by an arrow 291 after passing wick 234 and heating element 240. Moisturized air 291 continues out through steam vent holes ln razor 300 to moisturize the lQ user'~ face, for example.
FIGS a 4~7 ~illustrate the powered shaver 300 which : includes a removable head 302 which is removably retained by a head release actuator 304 outwardly biased by a spring 306.~
~: ~ I5 . A plurality of blades 308 is provided on an upper part of removable head 302 behind a screen or foil 310 having ~ap~Etures appropriately sized for hair, such as beard~s~ubble to be shaved,:to pa~s therethrough. Blades 308 ara fixedly held~by;a plastic encasement member 312, the movement o~ ~hich relative to foil 310 proYides for : the shearing off o~ hair1 i~e., shavi~g. A retaining pin 314 is~attached to blade pedestal 316. A blade assembly 318:includes blades 308:, plastic encasement member 312, : pin 3l4, and; blade pedestal 316. Foil 310 can be Z5 saparately attached t~ head 3~2 by means of foil hooks 319. ~ :
A cammed slider 320 includes a blade ~upport 322 and a~s~ap-in groove 24 defined in blade support 322 for receiving pin 314~ A slider 326 i reciprocally movable within a slider groove 328. A~driven shaft 340 confi~ured~to mate with drive shaft socket 261 of FIG. 3 is~ro~atably received in bearing 342. A cam 344 is provided for con~erting the rotational movement of drive shaft 340 into rPciprocal, linear mo~ement of slider 326 for reciprocating blade pedestal 316 and, hence, blades 308 relative to foil:310 for shaving, as will be readily appreciated by person having ordinary skill in the art.

'; . ~ :

WO94/04106 PCT/US93/07594f~
21~281 'I

Primary vapor passages 350 are defined in the lower portion of power shaver 3~0. Primary vapor passages 350 are fluidly connected with a plurality of secondary vapor passages 352, likewise formed in the lower portion of power shaver 300. Tertiary vapor passages 354 are defined between the plurality of blades 30~ by which ~apor, such as steam, i5 exhausted directly adjacent a user's skin surface to be shaved. Projections 362 are configured to engage with detents 271 of the steam shaver embodiment o~ FIG. 3~ as will readily apprecia~ed.
Turning to the ~mbodiment of FIG. 8, another preferred embodiment of the invention is shown in which a steam generator 460 provides a steady flow of steam through a hose 462 to which a non-moving raz~r 464 is attached.
Razor 464 include~ an elongated handle 468 having a base 466 configured for mating with hose 46~. Vapor or st~a~ 8 escap~s through a vent 470 located, preferably, near the point~ of skin contact of one or more razor blades 472. In a two blade 472 ~ype razor, the vapor steam ~ is preferably vented between~the two blades 472 :~ ~ so that the vapor R is directly applied to the skin as the shaving occur~. An electric cord 480 is attached to conventional household curr2nt, as will he re~dily - 25 appre~iated by:a person having ordinary skill in the art.
Tt is also contemplated that a conventional butane heater known in ~he art be substituted for the heating el~ments in thi~ e~ odim~nt or any o4 the other preferred embodiments~
'~ 1` 1 ' i ! ; , ~ ' , Furthermore9 a driven raæor may be sub~tituted for non-moving razor 464, with the addition o~ appropriate :: electrical connections, as will be understood by a person having ordinary skilI in the art.
FIG. 9 shows a further preferred embodiment o~ a steam razor 500 ha~ing a handle 502 connected at a modular Gonn~ction 504. The operation is substantially the same as the operation cf the embodiment of FIG. 3.
I

2~49gl~1 !~` ' 9 3 ~ a 7 5 9 4 - 15 ~ IP~A/US 1 1 JIJL 1994 Handle 502 provides for razor 500 to be used as a "whole body" shaver, where the user may easily shave the legs and the small of the back.
OPERATION
The hand-held portable steam raæor lO of FIGS. 1 and 2 is used as follows.
The user unscrews filler cap 132 and pours the desired liquid into liquid reservoir 50. After replacing filler cap 132, steam razor 10 is placed in recharging base 70.
In the: case where heating elem~nt 40 is pawered directly from household current, the device i5 switched on and : heating elemen~ 40~is allowed to heat up su~ficiently ho~
to vaporize a liquid released from liguid reservoir 50.
15 ; The dequate temperature can be indicated ~y an LED ~light-emitting diode)~, for example, or can be determined by the-user s.imply depressing push-button 100, thereby releasing a drop:o~ liquid~from liquid reservoir 50, and checking to : s~e if;the li~uid has been:vaporized by heating element 40, 20~ as wil:l:be clearly indicated by escaping steam or vapor ~l Once ~heati~g elem~n~ 40 is at th appropriate ; temperatur2 for vaporization of l~quid, the user removes steam razor lO from base 70. Heating element 40 will comprise~ a sufficiently large heat sink so that the 25:~ require~ heat is ma~intained for the typical amount of time required to shave. If a large amount of time is required for shaving ~a partic~lar user, such a~ when th~ user desir~s:~o shave large:parts of his or her body; i.e., shaving ~he legs,:the user will replace steam razor 10 in : recharging base 70, as required.
In thé case where rechargeable battery 60 provides power for one~or both:of heating element 40 and motor 130, the us~r simply withdraws steam raæor 10 from recharging base 70 when the user:wants to shave. A multi-position `3~5~ switch allows the user to either select both ~am and A~'',E,IDE~ ~

~ , 21428~ P(~ri~ 3~ 594 - 15/1 - IPEA/US 1 lJUL 1994 vibration, steam alone, or vibratior :

, :

.

:

. - : ::

~142~
~",~".,W~94/0410S PCT/US93/07S94 1, alone. Vibration of housing 20 is achieved by energizing , , DC motor 130 whereby shaft 134 rotates eccentric 136 which induces the desired vibration.
The embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2 is particularly : 5 suited for shaving hard to reach parts of the body, such as the:small of a woman's back, owing to its elongated neck 180. ~ ; , To use hand-held steam shaver 220 of FIG. 3, a liquid such as water, a medication, or a combination thereof, is poured:into liquid reservoir 228. Liquid reservoir~228 is attached to msdular~bottle adapter M by en~agemen~ wi~h~threads 230. '~
If the user desires steam while shaYing, then slide ~"~:~ ,: element 256 of ;switch 254 is: moved to a "steam on"
15~ position.: The~steam~on position electrically connects : the~power:~sour to:motor 250 and to heating element 240.
Hea~ing element':~240,~whi~h is :preferably a positive tem~perature~coe~ficient (PTC3 thermistor, begins to heat imme~iat~ly~ Thé~PTC- th~rmistor is preferably a 20~,;tèmpera~re-dépendent~ semiconductor reslstor ha~ing a r,esistance~value~'which;~ises sharp~y with increasing `emperature~ after~ a~':defined temp~rature (reference temperature)~ has~ been~ :exceeded. Given this c~ar~cteri~tic~ proper~y,~no ~hermostat ~or con~rolling 25~ the~témperature~of~heating;~element 240 is:reguired. No thermostat~is~reguired~because:~the PTC the ~ is~or itself operates~ to~avoid~undesirable~excessive temperatures, :even~:if~o liguid~remains:in;liquid reservoir 22~. This :sel:~regulation:~is,~achieved by virtue of the resistanca ,~ ,~
30 value~-of the PTC:thermistor increasing with increasing : ;
temperature6. A~PTC:~thermisto~ which has been attached to~a:DC~power source~and~successfully used was~consistent s :with::the'German~Industrial Standard,:DIN 44080.
When:~he heating element 240:has reached the temp 35~ nece~sary to vapori~ze~water (e.g., 100~ at sea level), , . . . ~ : : . ~
then steam qeneration in the Yicinity of wick 234 occurs.
The~ambient air which has been drawn through air passages t 2 ~
~ WO9~/04106 PCT/USg3/07594 i !

~80, 23Z, 282 and 284 then picks up ~apor or steam, after which vapor~laden or moisturized air 291 continues past wick 234 and exits housing 222 through steam vent holes adjacent to and within a razor. Given that front drive ~haft 260 is being driYen by motor 250 at the same time as rear drive shaft 258 which powers fan 262, the razor ~: : is driven for shaYing the skin at the same time : ~ moisturized air or ste~m is being applied to the skin.
Standaxd DC motors in the range of 4000 to lO,000 rpm ~: 10 (revolutions per minute) have been successfully used for driving the steam razor.
To use the reciprocating blade powered razor head of FIGS. 4-7, one simply attaches powered shaver head 300 to ; the upper, right portion of the hand-held, portable ~steamer device of the preferred embodiment of FI~. 3.
Tha attachment is~ achiev~d by the engagemen~ of projections:3~2 with detents 271, whereby drive shaft 340 o~ power shaver~300 engagas drive shaft coupling 2~. As is apparent, this is best done when multi-position switch 254 is in ~ s off position~ If one likes to shave with just ambient air blowing:onto the ~kin sur~aces to be :shaved, one ~hifts slide element 256 from the off position of switch 254 into the fan-only po~ition by which heater 240 remains off and motor 250 is energiæed, so ~hat ambient air is forced by fan 262 through the air low passages shown:in FIG. 3, and through primary vapor passage 350, secondary vapor passages 352,:andl ~inally, ter~iary vapor passages 354. Some users find that the dryin~ effe~t caused by this forced ambient air being ~xhausted dire~tly adjacent the skin surfaces to be shaved enhances the shaving effect.
: : Other users whc w~nt to ha~e steam and air exhausted directly adjacent the skin will shift slide element 256 into the position in which ~witch 254 is in its motor-: 35 plus-vaporizer position whereby motor 250 and heater 240 are energized causing steam or other vapor to be produced and propelled by fan 262, through the same passages as :~
;

,- ~ 21 4 2 ~ PCT~ 3 ~ C 7 5 9 4 iPEAiUS 1 lJul. 199~ :

described immediately above, for moisturizing the skin and the hair to be shaved~ thereby enhancing the efficiency of . ~.
the powered shaver. The fan-only position and the motor-plus-~aporizer position of switch 254 each make the user's shave mo~e pleasurable and efficiQnt, as the user's particular skin and hair conditions and personal preferences dictate.
It is also contemplated to add a stopper for positively blocking leakage of fluid when the shaving device is off. : :
Suitable ~aterials for housing 222 include synthetic resins and other plastics and materials which are compatible with heat and moisture. Heating element 240 has been successfully used as a ceramic slice having dimensions ~: ~ of about 1,4 mm by 7 m~ by 14 mm~ extended above and- .: loosely touching the top ~ree end of the wickq The heating element can be imbedded in the wick.
Baffles for defl2cting the flow of steam and for ~2~0~ preventing a user from inserting elongated objects through th~ vapor passages and into contact with the heating element will be provided as necess~ry.
It has been found that the application of steam generated from water ontaining a small percentage of 25~ ~ aftershave lotions results in the aftershave being accepted .
into:th~ steamed open pores. Thus, as long as 6-10 hours later the a~ershave has been released from the pores at a rate su~fici~nt to be appreciated by another person (i.e., sm~Iled by on~ nea~ to the user). Accordingly, the use of ! 13 ~aporized~; diluted aftershavs in the form of steam has ; resulted in enhanced effect of slow releas2 of the : aftershave over time, while a }esser amount of aftershave than normally required has been used.
~; The material: of the wick may include felt, glass ~: 35 fibers, and, preferably, a polyimide structural insulation :.

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tO S~E

2142~14 PCTIl~ 93 / 07 5 9 4 IPEA/US 1 1 JUL 1~9 suc:h as Pyropel MD-18 (trademark), as described above. The wick may be of any material which will withstand the :; .

..

' ~ :, ~ ' : ' ... ...

~:.WO94/0410S PCT/US93/07 ~ 19 -maximum temperature of the heating element. Anappropriate PTC thermistor has its maximum temperature in the range of about 120-180C. The material of the wick should be hydrophilic, have suitable wicking actisn to pull the fluid upwardly sufficiently high and quickly enough to at least match the evaporation rate of the ~aporization taking place in the vicinity of the heating element; while at the same ~ime, maintaining a su~fici~ntly high flow resistan~e, in part owing to its "wetting angle" to prevent "flooding" in case the entire steamer de~ice lS held upside down.
The wick may likewise be made of porous metals or ceramics, and given the inheren~ heat limitations of th~
PCT thermistor, fibrous wicks are also possible. Th~
polyimide wicks described above are one of the preferred ~ materials be~ause the polyimide available in the form of :~ ~ PYROPEL0 is mechanically stable, av~n after soaking, is : easily cut or formed, and has a void/solid ratio in a desired range.
Suitable ~oltage ranges for a DC power ~upply to ~:: power the motor and the heatiny ele~ent have been in the range of 12-25 volts. The appropriate electrical connections ~ill be readily understood to a person having ordinary skill in the art. The use of a heating element which is a PTC thermi~tor is explained more fully in "The PTC Thermistor as Heating Element"~ Siemens Come~nents : ~ya_~a~}L, ~o~ 2, pp. 56-59, by Gunter Ott, which is incorporated herein by reference.
In order to maximize the benefits of PTC thermistor controlled heating in conjunction with the lowest possible Watt input, one mu~t minimize the ';heat resistance" of the electrical insulation around the heating element. The steam shaver device will operate preferably at a low ~oltage, yet it is beneficial to electrically insulate the electrical connections to the heating element in order to prevent any galv nic action in the aqueous/high humidity environment~ This is of ',.

C~ 2~14 ?~ P~TIIJS 9 3 / 0.7 5 9 4 ~"

IPEA/US 1 1JUL 199~ !

particular importance with ceramic type elements requiring metallization on opposite planes to make electrical contact, such metallization will rapidly degrade if exposed : S to galvanic action.
One way of avoiding galvanic action is to use the heater ~Isandwich~ described above wherein the electrical co~nectors are insulated from the heating element. The central conductor can be a copper foil bonded to the `~ 10 metallized surfaces (one each per element) of the ceramic ` heating elements either by appropriate soldering/ or by using a suitable high temperature conductive adhesive, e.g6, sil~er filled epoxy.
~ Another way to use PTC heating elements to achieve : ~15 "surface boiling" of water at the surface of the hydrophilic wick is to,use a sin~ular ceramic element,' e,g., ~iemens:Q63100-P430 R800 and coat, after connecting the electrical leads~ the entire heating element with a thermally: conduc~ive, electrically insulating substance.
20;~ order to mi:nimize ~h~ hea~ "gradient" between the PTC
elemen~ per se and the surrounding water (i.e., th~ heat load)~ such a coating should be assthin as possible and be of high th~rmal conductivity, e.g., Emerson & Cuming Ecco~oa~ 582 ~ or P~RYLENETM by Union Car~ide.
:25~: It~is also possible to electrically bond highly heat conduct~ive ceramic plates, each having one side metallized, : to the heating element such that the (insid~) metallization `~ ~ : of the outer plates provides for electrical connections to : : the heating eleme~t, while the outsides provide electrical ~ nsulatisn, yet~ provide high heat condu~tance to the surrounding w~ter.
Yet anothQr way to achiev~ the de~ired heating is to s~lk screen or print an el~ctrical conductor with suitakle PTC characteristics on an electrically insulating yet ~ -35~ thermally conductive ceramic substrate and bond a second ::
L~i'.'~G ~EE~

2~42~1'1 IPEA/US 1 1 JU~ 1994 (plain~ electrically insulating, but thermally conductive plat~ ~e.g., ceramic) on the "printed" side of the first ceramic plate.
While this invention has been described as having a preferred d~sign, it is understood that it is capable o~
further modi~ications, uses and/or adaptations of the invention following in general the principle of the in~ention and including such departures from the presPnt : 10~ disclosure as come within the known or customary practice in the art to which to invention p~rtaing and as may be : applied to the central features hereinbefore set forth, and ~:~ fall within the scop~ of the invention and of the limits o~
: the appended claims.

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: :
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F3 S~EEt

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED is:
1. A steam shaver comprising:
a) a housing;
b) a shaving blade disposed on said housing;
c) a steam source provided in said housing;
and d) a vapor passage provided in said housing for connecting said steam source with said blade for providing steam adjacent to said blade.

2. A steam shaver as defined in claim 1, wherein:
a) said steam source includes:
i) a heating element;
ii) a liquid reservoir configured for holding a quantity of liquid; and iii) an outlet provided in said reservoir-for causing a liquid to exit said reservoir and come sufficiently close to said heating element for causing said heating element to convert the liquid into a vapor.

3. A steam shaver as defined in claim 1, wherein:
a) said steam source includes:
i) a heater;
ii) a water source;
iii) a valve disposed between said water source and said heater; and iv) said valve being configured for dripping water onto said heater when said valve is actuated.

4. A steam shaver as defined in claim 1, wherein:
a) a motor is provided in said housing;
b) an eccentric weight is operatively associated with said motor; and c) said eccentric weight is configured for vibrating said housing when said motor is operated.

5. A steam shaver as defined in claim 1, wherein:

a) a detent is provided between said housing and said blade for detachably attaching said blade to said housing.
6. A shaving device, comprising:
a) a housing;
b) means disposed on said housing for cutting off human hair;
c) a moisture vaporizing assembly provided in said housing for generating steam; and, d) an assembly provided in said housing for directing steam supplied by said moisture vaporizing assembly substantially adjacent to said human hair cutting means.
8. A shaving device as defined in claim 6, wherein:
a) means is provided in said housing for vibrating said housing and said human hair cutting means.
9. A shaving device as defined in claim 6, wherein:
a) said human hair cutting means includes a stationary razor blade.
10. A shaving device as defined in claim 5, wherein:
a) said human hair cutting means includes a powered shaver for shaving hair off of human skin.

11. A shaving device as defined in claim 10, wherein:
a) said powered shaver includes a plurality of reciprocating blades.
12. A hand-held, portable razor, comprising:
a) a housing;
b) a liquid reservoir provided in said housing;
c) a vapor generator disposed in said housing for converting a liquid from said liquid reservoir into a vapor and for causing the vapor to exit said housing at a predetermined location; and d) a razor provided on said housing.
13. A hand-held, portable razor as defined in claim 12, wherein:
a) said razor is located adjacent to said predetermined location.
14. A hand-held, portable razor as defined in claim 12, wherein:
a) a fan is provided in said housing for propelling vapor from said vapor generator to said predetermined location.
15. A hand-held, portable razor as defined in claim 12, wherein:
a) said razor is a powered razor having a plurality of spaced apart blades.
16. A hand-held, portable razor as defined in claim 15, wherein:
a) a vapor passage is defined between at least two of said plurality of blades.

17. The shaving device as defined in Claim 6, wherein:
a) the moisture vaporizing assembly includes a moisture supplying element; and, b) an electrical powered heating element is disposed close to the moisture supplying element to supply sufficient heat to generate steam from the moisture supplied by the moisture supplying element.

18. The shaving device as defined in Claim 17, wherein:
a) the wick element is a fibrous material suitable for operation at an elevated temperature which is disposed in close proximity to the heating element.

19. The shaving device as defined in Claim 18 wherein:
a) the heating element is a PTC
thermistor.