GB2435687A

GB2435687A - Heater and warmer for depilatory wax

Info

Publication number: GB2435687A
Application number: GB0704082A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Francis O'hare
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2006-03-03
Filing date: 2007-03-02
Publication date: 2007-09-05
Anticipated expiration: 2027-03-02
Also published as: GB2435687B; GB2435687B8; GB0604301D0; GB0704082D0

Abstract

A depilatory wax heater (15, fig.1B) features a demountable heat exchanger 25, configured as a matrix, mesh or grid mask plate 21 or tube cluster 20 of individual chambers, for situating within a generic hollow heater chamber bowl (30, fig.6), to locate and support individual wax tubes or cartridges 19. This allows adaptation of an otherwise bulk wax pot. A temperature conditioner is disclosed, comprising a chamber bowl of heat conducting material, such as metal, a heating element (29, fig.6) in contact with the chamber, and an outer casing (28, fig.6) of insulating material, such as plastics. A dedicated tube or cartridge heater (34, fig.8B) is also disclosed, where bulk wax supply is not a prime consideration. This offers scope for a variety of overall container and/or inner chamber formats, including minimal tube capture profiles.

Description

Heater & Warmer for Depilatory Wax This invention relates to heaters,

warmers or more generally temperature conditioners -that is devices to maintain predetermined temperature conditions Such conditions may be fixed or variable (eg to a temperature regime mapped over time) -say, by thermostatic regulation or control Of particular concern are heaters for melting, and warmers for keeping molten and temperature conditioning, depilatory wax for beauty treatment Such depilatory wax generally sets, solidifies or hardens, upon exposure to air, at around room temperature Removal of set wax once spread upon the skin surface carries with it, upon peeling back and separation from the skin, surface hair strands -in addition to dead surface skin cells

Prior Art -Wax Pots

So called wax pots -generally configured as open top containers, such as chambers, bowls or troughs with integral heaters -are known for bulk wax melting. Diverse wax pot shapes and sizes are used -and some aspects of the invention are concerned with [a general purpose] adaptation for uses other than bulk wax Bulk Supply Operationally, a considerable mass of bulk melted wax supply, at uniform consistent temperature, is necessary for use on large body areas Excessive temperature could degrade wax (say by vaporisation of solvents or separation out of constituents), or damage skin surface on application, and inadequate temperature could impede collection and spreading or dispensing. Cooled wax could coagulate and clog, which is messy and undesirable particularly in the context of beauty therapy Spreader -Spatula A spreader such as a spatula is dipped into a molten wax bath and used as a scoop or ladle to gather and carry a portion of molten wax quickly to a target body area, and spread to a generally even depth layer. It is thus convenient to allow a wax contact spreader end to remain warmed, say by immersion in the wax pot, to avoid accumulation of set wax. Otherwise a spreader has to be repeatedly cleaned -or discarded Fabric Woven fabric applicator strips may also be immersed in the wax bath or tub for impregnation by soaking, preparatory to transfer

Statement of Invention

The Applicant has devised a general purpose depilatory wax heater comprising a storage chamber with a heat conductor (metal) liner and juxtaposed dedicated heater element within an insulated (plastics) outer shell housing -with an adaptation of the invention comprising a removable heat exchange element for thermal contact with the liner once installed and heat transfer to discrete individual elements, such as wax tubes or cartridges.

Egg P0tTM A particular design variant is configured as an open pot with an overall ovoid or egg shape profile -under the apposite brand name Egg P0tTM A removable dome shaped lid exposes a complementary dome shaped base container, standing upon a shallow circular plinth for stability S Tube or Cartridge Wax Warmer A heat exchanger adaptor of the invention is configured to fit within the pot and under its lid This facility allows temperature conditioning of depilatory wax stored within tubes or cartridges -to engender free-flowing dispensing.

Location, Guidance & Restraint -Heat Exchanger Tubes or cartridges might be laid informally loose or unconstrained in a heated bowl, but with a risk of inadvertent discharge or spillage over outer bowl walls and contaminating hand contact. Some form of location, guidance or restraint configuration for tubes or cartridges under heating is desirable along with a heat exchanger role.

Co-operative Tube-Cartridge Support In addition, some means to mutually isolate, but co-operatively support, multiple tubes or cartridges in relation to a common heater, say within a common heater enclosure would be convenient.

Optimised Packing Thus optimised packing profile can be dictated by the heat exchanger format.

Another aspect of the invention provides a heat exchanger adaptor, for tubes or cartridges of depilatory wax, for (removable) reception in a chamber of heat conducting material, such as metal, a heating element in (thermal) contact with chamber walls, and within an outer casing of insulating material, such as plastics Aspects of the invention also provide a (demountable) heat exchanger configured as a matrix, mesh, grid or clustered multiple individual chambers to receive items to be heated Such a heat exchanger could be configured as a (sub-)divider separator and locator for an otherwise open or free form heater chamber. A modular subdivider element could allow co-operative juxtaposition, inter-assembly or interfit -for conformity with diverse chamber shapes and sizes That is multiple individual heat exchange elements could be assembled in a collective unitary group One format of insert for location and subdivision of a heater chamber is a moulded plastics truncated dome with an upstand with apertures for individual wax tube or cartridge insertion and depending opposed pairs of spring tugs which locate the tube walls, allowing for tube profile taper, culminating in an end slot to receive a flat or pinched tube end closure.

Dedicated Tube Warmer A further aspect is dedicated wax tube warmer -without adaptation of a bulk wax heater This would still be consistent with a common outer housing, but with a profile which could be in closer conformity to clustered or nested chambers Thus, say, a clover-leaf overall housing and inner chamber configuration could be adopted Terminology Tube' The term tube embraces a deformable walled enclosure with a dispenser outlet -a typical profile being a tapered circular to ovoid to flattened end.

Conventionally, squeezing of tube walls from opposite side reduces internal capacity and displaces contents through an outlet at one end Wall deformation may be permanent (as with metal foil) or temporary (as with resilient plastics), so original shape is restored upon relaxation. In either case, rolling up of tube bottom end remote from outlet can permanently reduce capacity A heat exchanger adaptor profile can address such variations in tube profile during use -say by allowing a tube to sit differently as its capacity diminishes or by provision of different cross-sections to receive tubes at various stages of depletion Cartridge' The term cartridge' embraces preformed, generally regular slabs or slugs.

For convenience, the term tube is used herein loosely to embrace cartridges or other storage compact formats.

Heat Transfer Heat transfer is by conduction through tube walls, themselves in contact with heater chamber walls.

Heat Chamber Preferably, heat chambers are profiled for snug or intimate complementary mutual nterfit or nesting with individual tubes. This helps maximise surface contact area -and so heat transfer efficiency. It also provides separation from adjacent tubes and mutual alignment for close packing interfit within a common heater-storage chamber With heat conducting chamber walls set within a heat conducting outer containment or boundary chamber, heat transfer from a common heater element -say an electrical heater element coiled around an outer chamber -can be achieved. The greater overall thermal mass helps stabilise temperatures once brought up to a target level.

Thermostatic control of a master heater element can be used to preserve heat conditioning under variable contents heat soak loads' -ie whether only some or all chambers are charged with tubes.

Adaptor / Locator (Insert) The present case embraces general purpose conversion or adaptation of diverse or generic format wax pots to support wax tubes -whilst preserving facility for heat exchange That said, a wax pot designed from the outset to allow the option of fitment of a (heat exchanger) adaptor represents a more efficient approach.

Matrix -Grid -Mask One such adaptor configuration represents a coarse or large aperture matrix, grid or mask -such as in the manner of, say, a multiple egg poacher support.

Another configuration features a multiple sleeve or barrel insert A particular construction for converting an open chamber wax heater into a wax tube heater features a removable multiple chamber insert. The insert is desirably of heat conducting material -conveniently metal, say similar to that employed for the chamber wall.

Wax for tube dispensers already has a consistency or viscosity to allow flow by (manual) squeezing, but warming helps further soften wax contents and promote flow and spreading upon discharge This is particularly helpful for a tube with a dispenser nozzle featuring a splayed applicator spreader head nozzle -with risk of wax setting and clogging within the nozzle and impeding discharge flow. Conventionally wax heaters are intended for melting bulk solid wax, but in the present invention an appropriate temperature setting is contrived to help keep tube wax soft, flowable and malleable.

Cartridge Sheath Absent an outer containment wall or sheath such as a tube provides, a cartridge which simply comprised a slab of solid wax might deform unpredictably and uncontrollably -so even a minimal containment sheath is desirable -unless the intention is to convert the cartridge into a contribution to a bulk supply Intermediate Heat Exchange Element 1() A heat exchanger element might conceivably be immersed in a wax bath, but this is not a primary intention as insertion of tubes in the bath would contaminate a user's hands. However, immersion in a cleanser or solvent -say to clean off such contamination -might be envisaged -with an option of modest heat to improve solubility.

Applicator Nozzle In Situ The Applicant has devised a bespoke wax applicator nozzle, the subject of GB2375709 and which can remain mounted in situ upon a wax tube for use with the present invention Embodiments There follows a description of some particular embodiments, as examples, with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic and schematic drawings, in which: Figures lAthrough 1D show various assembled and part dis-assembled views of an Egg Pot TM style wax warmer according to the invention; More specifically.

Figure 1A shows a 3D perspective assembled view from one side, Figure lB shows a 3D perspective assembled view from the opposite side to Figure 1B, Figure 1C shows a 3D perspective view of Figure lB orientation, with lid removed to expose internal heater chamber (in this case a metal liner bowl), preparatory to insertion of tube or cartridge heat exchanger support, such as of subsequent examples, Figure 1 D shows a part disassembled view from the viewpoint of Figures 1 B and 1C, with inner chamber assembly removed from outer base collar stand and top closure removed, Figures 2A through 2D show various assembled and part-disassembled views of an Egg POtTM such as of Figures IA through 1D, with removable wax tube or cartridge heat exchanger adaptor, More specifically Figure 2A shows a part (dis)assembled 3D perspective view of a tube warmer with tube support cluster inserted within an open tub chamber and locating matrix juxtaposed above, to interpose between cluster and chamber; Figure 2B shows a 3D perspective view of an assembled tube warmer with lid cover removed and tube offered up for insertion, Figure 2C shows a 3D perspective view of an assembled tube warmer with lid cover fitted; Figure 2D shows a tube carrier cluster (heat exchanger) module with single cruciform tube support element ready for insertion into a Egg P0tTM warmer with locating cap removed, such as in Figure 2A, Figures 3A and 3B show a variant wax tube or cartridge (heat exchanger) adaptor -in this case configured as an internal matrix -for an Egg P0tTM heater I warmer; More specifically.

Figure 3A shows a 3D perspective view of a part assembled base and juxtaposed spacer / locator grid or matrix for wax tube or cartridges juxtaposed with an individual tube with dispenser nozzle fitted, Figure 3B shows a 3D perspective view of an assembled base with locator and individual tube installed -but top cover omitted; Figures 4A and 4B show assembled and part disassembled views of a variant wax tube or cartridge locator to that of Figures 3A and 3B; this variant is envisaged for close proximity storage preparatory to heating -albeit some modest heat transfer may arise by conduction between chamber and support matrix, More specifically Figure 4A shows a 3D perspective view of a base assembly with surmounted locator matrix for wax tube or cartridge support externally of a chamber; S Figure 4B shows a 3D perspective view of a part disassembled base assembly with tube locator matrix and individual tube separated; Figures 5A and 5B show provision for fitment of a removable information or promotional strip between outer base case platform and inner tank and heater assembly, 0 More specifically Figure 5A shows a printed strip juxtaposed with a (translucent walled) base shell, Figure 5B shows a printed strip inserted between outer shell and inner heater chamber, and viewable through a translucent wall, Figure 6 shows a part exploded view of a base unit, split to reveal an internal heater element coil about an inner heat conducting (metal) bowl within an outer insulating (plastics) housing; Figure 7 shows clustered heat exchanger modules arrange to fit a generic -in this case rectangular -heater chamber; Figures 8A and 8B show variant dedicated wax tube warmers, More specifically Figure 8A shows a dedicated tube warmer comprising a cluster of individual tube holders/heaters; Figure 8B shows a dedicated tube warmer with a profiled edge for containment and heating of multiple wax tubes; Figures 9A through 9E show a variant heat exchanger wax tube locator and separator insert for the heater chamber; More specifically Figure 9A shows a 3D perspective view of a spacer/locator plate for some three discrete individual tubes or cartridges; this is a space efficient packing configuration, but other numbers of tube clusters could be admitted, Figure 9B shows a 3D perspective underside view of an inverted spacer/locater plate with matrix detail, Figure 9C shows an upper plan view of a spacer/locator plate; Figure 9D shows a side elevation of a spacer/locator plate with matrix detail; Figure 9E shows an underside plan view of an inverted spacer/locator plate, Figures 1OA and lOB show various assembled and (dis)assembled views of the Egg P0tTM such as of Figures 9A through 9E; More specifically: Figure 1OA shows a 3D perspective view of a (dis)assembled tube warmer with spacer/locator plate juxtaposed above and lid cover removed and tube offered up for insertion, Figure lOB shows a 3D perspective view of an assembled tube warmer with lid cover fitted, Referring to the drawings Aheaterand warmer iSappliance for depilatory wax, as illustrated in Figures 1A through 1D, comprises a shell 16, mounted upon a base 17, with a heating module (insert) 18 and removable lid 13.

A lateral pod 10 features user controls, such as knobs or buttons 11, for switching the heater on or off and, optionally, regulating temperature, with temperature thermostat and electrical supply warning indicators 12 For user safety, an internal heater element may function from an isolated low voltage supply, say derived from a transformer housed within pod 10. A thermal cut-out over-ride may also be fitted to prevent contents overheat, drying out or sublimating A removable cover 13, profiled as a continuation of the ovoid form, can be fitted to conserve heat and/or inhibit ingress of dust or contaminants. Such a cover 13 could also protect, say, loose contents such as wax tubes or tools, in storage when heater 15 is not in use.

A slot 14 can be incorporated on the lower circumference of lid 13 to accommodate the handle of a stirrer or spreader spatula (not shown). A translucent lid or cover 13 -to reveal contents when in place -is an optional feature reflected in Figure 2C Heating module 18 is generally configured to accommodate and heat/melt a bowl of depilatory wax (not shown) in bulk form. Heat exchanger adaptation of the invention allows conversion of heater appliance 15 for heating and melting wax filled tubes or cartridges 19.

Figures 2A through 2D show a preferred heat exchanger adaptor configuration of a cluster of metal tubes 20, each of elliptical cross-section Metal tubes or casing 20 may be interconnected by bracing limbs (not shown) -as a unitary module Tube cluster 20 is received as multiple discrete or a unitary insert within complementary profiled apertures in location plate 21 Close juxtaposition of metal tubes 20 promotes heat transfer and exchange Each individual metal tube 20 is conveniently sized for snug inter-fit with an inserted wax tube 19 -for maximum heat transfer efficiency.

Location plate 21 is desirably profiled for ease of insertion and removal of wax tubes 19 into corresponding metal tubes 20 In addition, location plate 21 may help to retain heat within heating module 18-thus allowing an inserted wax tube 19 to be heated, whilst preventing a projecting applicator nozzle 22 from becoming too hot to handle A base support element 23 -as depicted in Figure 2D -may also be employed to support a wax tube 19 within a metal tube 20 An alternative location plate 24 is illustrated in Figures 3A and 3B This may be employed alone or in conjunction with the heat exchange metal tube cluster 25 of Figures 2A through 2D.

Wax tube 19 support element 26, shown in Figures 4A and 4B, accommodates tubes 19 outside of heating module 18-for storage or cooling purposes Figures 5A and 5B show a variant heater 15, with a translucent shell 16 to allow for insertion of an information or promotional strip 27 between shell 16 and heating module 18 As shown in Figure 6, heating module 18 may be constructed from a split shell of complementary mould half portions 28. In this embodiment, an internal heating coil 29 Is wrapped around an inner heat conducting (metal) bowl 30 within outer insulating (plastics) housing portions 28 In principle, a heat exchanger 32 of the invention may be employed in a conventional wax heater 31 -as illustrated in Figure 7 Thus, heat exchanger 32 may comprise a bespoke number of metal tube 20 elements in diverse juxtaposition or cluster arrangements. A programmable microprocessor controller -readily accommodated in a housing side pod 10 -can be used to dictate a temperature regime over time. It may be linked with a personal computer for this purpose Dedicated Tube Warmer For a dedicated tube or cartridge warmer, a heating element may be wrapped directly around a tube cluster 33 -as shown in Figure 8A -albeit still within a common outer containment chamber, but without the necessity for a bulk wax containment pot.

Figure 8B shows a further dedicated tube warmer 34 with a profiled edge for containment and heating of multiple wax tubes.

For such dedicated appliances, a more compact overall format may be adopted, with greater variation admitted in either or both internal configuration and outer housing profile. A fully enclosed or wrapped chamber profile provides maximum contact area, but less enveloping or partially closed capture forms may be used. Thus, say, a multi-lobed or clover-leaf chamber cluster with re-entrant internal wall liner might be adopted -as reflected in Figure 8B Figures 9A through 9E show another preferred spacer/locator/separator or indexing plate 41 profiled for ease of insertion and removal of three wax tubes 19 in a triangular array A preferred spacer/locator plate 41 profile or format may help with the retention of heat within heating module 18. It may also allow an inserted wax tube 19 to be heated, whilst preventing a projecting applicator nozzle 22 from becoming too hot to remove from the Egg Pot TM The plate locator 24 of Figures 3A and 3B can be supplemented or substituted altogether by a variant 41 of Figures 9A through 9E, with a more developed underpinning structure of resilient spring lugs with tapered profile to allow a snug interfit and inner wall contact with the heater chamber Figure 1OA shows the insert structure juxtaposed with the chamber read for installation. Once installed, as shown in Figure lOB, the superstructure stands somewhat prouder'of, or protrudes more from, the chamber top rim, providing better and deeper recessed pocket location for inserted wax dispenser tubes, whose walls are able to interact with the depending resilient lugs of the locator insert. A slot in opposed splayed lugs can locate the flattened end of an inserted wax tube Although emphasis has been placed upon use in conjunction with depilatory wax, the invention admits of wider application to other substances -given appropriate operational temperature setting A higher temperature operation might provide modest cleansing, contaminant separation, or even sterilisation effect Mix n Match Features described may be variously mixed and matched to suit operational requirements It is not feasible to show every such permutation or combination of features.

Claim References Phrases bracketed -vis { ... } -alongside claim numbering -are for ease of reference and as such form no part of claim interpretation or scope.

Component List 10 pod 11 knob / button 12 indicator (light) 13 cover/lid 14 slot 15 heater / warmer 16 shell 17 base 18 heating module 19 wax tube 20 metal tube 21 location plate 22 applicator nozzle 23 base support element 24 location plate 25 heat exchanger cluster 26 tube support element 27 promotional strip 28 half portion 29 heating coil 30 bowl 31 conventional heater 32 heat exchanger 33 dedicated tube cluster 34 profiled tube container/heater 41 spacer/locator plate \0

Claims

Claims 1 (Heating Appliance} A heating appliance or device (15),

comprising a hollow body (30), [to accommodate one or more items to be heated]; and an [internal] heating element (21), configured for either direct heat transfer or indirect heat transfer via an optional heat exchanger insert (25)
2. {Wax Heater} A heating appliance or device of Claim 1, configured for heating wax, such as depilatory wax 3 {Heat Exchanger} A heat exchanger adaptor or converter (25), configured as a matrix, mesh or grid (21), or cluster of individual chambers (20), with aperture section to accommodate individual tubes or cartridges (19) and for use with a heating appliance (15), such as of either preceding claim.

4 {Profiled Slots) A heat exchanger of Claim 3, comprising a metal casing, with profiled slots or apertures for receiving individual items to be heated {Tube Cluster} A heat exchanger of Claim 3, comprising a cluster of metal tubes (20), for heat transfer there-between 6 (Casing) A heat exchanger of Claim 3, further comprising an outer casing or lid (21) with location apertures for receiving individual items to be heated.

7 {Wax Tubes) A heat exchanger of Claim 3, configured for heat transfer to multiple tubes of wax (19).

8 {Wax Guns} A heat exchanger of Claim 3, configured for heat transfer to wax dispensing guns.

9 {Illustrated Embodiments) A heat exchanger, substantially as hereinbefore described, with reference to, and as shown in, the accompanying drawings 10 {Illustrated Embodiments) A heating device, substantially as hereinbefore described, with reference to, and as shown in, the accompanying drawings.

11. {Temperature Conditioner) A temperature conditioner comprising a chamber (30) of heat conducting material, such as metal, a heating element (29) in contact therewith and within an outer casing (28) of insulating material, such as plastics, a removable heat exchange subdivider (25) configured as a matrix, mesh, grid or clustered multiple individual chambers (20) to receive subsidiary elements to be heated 12 {Dedicated Tube! Cartridge Format) A dedicated tube! cartridge temperature conditioner comprising a cluster of chambers within a common housing, such as of complementary form.

13. {Locator / Separator A heat exchanger of Claim 1, with a locator or separator insert (41) for a heater chamber say, of moulded synthetic plastics material, configured as a truncated barrel with a top shroud pierced with apertures to receive tubes of product, such as depilatory wax, and an array of underslung or depending bifurcated lugs of tapered profile and disposed in opposed pairs with an end slot, to locate the side walls and flattened end of tubes of contents.