Hair removing apparatus

Information

  • Patent Grant
  • 6594905
  • Patent Number
    6,594,905
  • Date Filed
    Thursday, August 16, 2001
    24 years ago
  • Date Issued
    Tuesday, July 22, 2003
    22 years ago
Abstract
The invention is directed to a hair removing apparatus as, for example, a dry shaving apparatus, a hair clipping machine, an epilation appliance, with a housing and a liquid conveying arrangement comprising a liquid container, a drivable pumping device with a pump inlet and a pump outlet, and a liquid dispensing device for wetting a human skin and/or hairs with liquid, wherein the liquid dispensing device is adapted to be coupled to the pump inlet by way of a first liquid conduit and to the liquid container by way of at least one second liquid conduit.
Description




BACKGROUND




This invention relates to a hair removing apparatus of the type indicated in the prior art portion of claim 1.




A hair removing apparatus of the type referred to in the foregoing is known from FR 2 613 975 A1. Arranged in the housing of the dry shaving apparatus is a liquid container from which liquid is drawn through a pumping device and conveyed under pressure to two spray devices arranged in spaced relation to each other in the shaving zone. When this liquid conveying arrangement is set in operation, the spray device dispenses the liquid provided, regardless of whether or not the shaving apparatus is in engagement with the skin.




It is an object of the present invention to improve in an apparatus of the type initially referred to the liquid conveying arrangement with respect to the dispensing of liquid.




SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION




According to the present invention, this object is accomplished in an apparatus of the type initially referred to by the features indicated in claim 1.




The present invention which finds application in the hair removing apparatus affords a plurality of advantages. One major advantage of the invention resides in that the liquid conveying arrangement provided ensures a position-independent withdrawal of liquid from the liquid container by the liquid dispensing device. The liquids to be stored and dispensed include shaving aids such as pre-shave or after-shave lotions and/or lubricants designed to improve the gliding motions of an outer cutter on the skin and/or lubricants designed to lubricate cooperating cutter elements with or without fragrances added.




In a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, the pumping device is capable of drawing both air and liquid from the liquid dispensing device and conveying it into the liquid container, and the liquid is deliverable to the liquid dispensing device by the development of a delivery pressure in the liquid container. It is thereby ensured that a pressure is built up in the liquid container for feeding the liquid from the liquid container to the liquid dispensing device, and the pumping device returns to the liquid container the liquid which has not been dispensed from the liquid dispensing device to a user's skin to be treated. Provision is made in the liquid container for a pressure relief valve to control the liquid delivery pressure and hence the quantity supplied.




In a particularly advantageous embodiment of the invention, the liquid container includes at least two chambers. In a further aspect of this embodiment a first chamber is provided for receiving air and/or liquid returnable from the liquid dispensing device. In a still further aspect of this embodiment, the second chamber accommodates a storage material for holding the liquid. To ensure the return flow of liquid from the first chamber to the second chamber, at least one passageway is provided in the partition wall separating the first from the second chamber. The passageway is preferably of a slotted configuration.




A preferred embodiment of the invention is characterized in that a liquid conduit is routed through the passageway and a gap is formed between the liquid conduit and the partition wall. This arrangement ensures advantageously that the liquid drawn from the liquid dispensing device is able to flow through the first chamber into the second chamber for storage in the storage material provided therein, and that the air likewise drawn in by the pumping device by way of the liquid dispensing device is able to develop in the first chamber a pressure controlled by the pressure relief valve, which pressure subsequently operates to convey the stored liquid from the storage material via a second liquid conduit to the liquid dispensing device. For this purpose the second chamber is adapted to be coupled with the liquid dispensing device through a second liquid conduit.




According to an embodiment of the invention, the second liquid conduit is configured to project into the second chamber such an amount that the mouth of the conduit is arranged at a relatively small distance B to a wall of the liquid container. This arrangement ensures that the complete liquid shaving aid stored in the storage material can be withdrawn to be conveyed to the liquid dispensing device.




The second liquid conduit is preferably constructed as a riser.




In another embodiment of the invention, the pumping device is provided in the first liquid conduit leading from the liquid dispensing device to the liquid container. A particularly advantageous embodiment of the invention is characterized in that the pumping device is arranged in the liquid container and the pumping device is replaceable, together with the replaceable liquid container, for a new liquid container with pumping device. Hence the efficiency of the pumping device is designed only for the quantity of liquid to be dispensed from the liquid container. The quality requirements to be imposed on the pumping device are therefore extremely low and result accordingly in an extremely economical production of the pumping device and the liquid container.




In a further aspect of the invention a pumping element of the pumping device is adapted to be acted upon by an on-off type drive element of a drive mechanism of the hair removing apparatus. In an alternative embodiment of the invention the pumping element of the pumping device is also manually actuatable.




One embodiment of a liquid dispensing device is characterized in that the liquid dispensing device is formed of a container housing having one side open and a contact element partly protruding therefrom and adapted to dispense liquid. Preferably, the contact element is formed of an open-pore material. In a further aspect of this embodiment a rinsing chamber is provided in the liquid dispensing device. The rinsing chamber ensures in advantageous manner a supply of liquid to the open-pore material of the contact element as well as the withdrawal and hence the return of liquid supplied by way of the second liquid conduit back through the first liquid conduit and through the pumping device to the liquid container.




An advantageous embodiment of the invention is characterized in that provision is made for at least one liquid dispensing device on the housing. An alternative embodiment of the invention is characterized in that the liquid dispensing device is provided on a long hair cutter unit. Preferably this long hair cutter unit can be arranged in a floating configuration.




In a particularly advantageous embodiment of the invention provision is made for at least one liquid dispensing device on a removable frame. Preferably the frame is constructed as a shaving head frame. In another embodiment the frame is constructed as a cutter frame. The liquid dispensing device may be secured either fixedly or detachably on the housing or on the long hair cutter unit or on the removable frame.




In a further aspect of the invention the liquid container is arranged for replacement in or on the hair removing apparatus. In another aspect of this embodiment the liquid container is fixedly arranged in or on the housing. In an alternative embodiment the liquid container is arranged in or on the housing so as to be adjustable by a distance A.




In one embodiment of the invention the liquid container is equipped with a filling valve.




According to a preferred embodiment of the invention the liquid container with the pumping device is arranged to be adjustable by a distance A. A significant advantage of this embodiment resides in that the adjustability of the liquid container and the pumping device enables the pumping device to be disconnected from, and connected to, an electric drive mechanism of the hair removing apparatus. It is thereby ensured that the user is able to decide about the use and the duration of use of the liquid dispensing device. In one embodiment of the invention the liquid container with the pumping device is adapted to be coupled to the electric motor. In a further aspect of this embodiment the pumping device is adapted to be coupled to the electric motor via oscillating members.




One embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings and will be described in more detail in the following.




In the drawings,











BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS





FIG. 1

is a perspective view of a dry shaving apparatus, showing the rear of the apparatus and a liquid container attached to a narrow side;





FIG. 2

is a view of the dry shaving apparatus of

FIG. 1

, showing a liquid container spaced from a stop by a distance A;





FIG. 3

is a view of a cutter frame with a housing whose outer housing part is shown only in part to expose the interior of the housing;





FIG. 4

is a sectional view of the cutter frame


11


and the liquid dispensing device;





FIGS. 5 and 6

are perspective views of the cutter frame with a liquid dispensing device and an actuating element occupying different positions;





FIGS. 7 and 8

are schematic views of the liquid conveying arrangement comprised of a liquid container, a liquid dispensing device, a first and a second liquid conduit, and a pumping device;





FIG. 9

is schematic view of the outer contours of a dry shaving apparatus with a drive mechanism for operating a shaving arrangement and a pumping device for feeding liquid from a liquid container into the liquid dispensing device;





FIG. 10

is a view of a first and a second housing part and a membrane of a pumping device; and





FIG. 11

is a view illustrating the integration of a pumping device into the housing of a liquid container.











DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS





FIG. 1

shows a perspective representation of a dry shaving apparatus TR with a view of the rear of the housing


1


and of one of the two narrow sides


2


of the housing


1


, and of the shaving head


3


on which a liquid dispensing device


4


is provided. A liquid container


5


is adjustably arranged on the narrow side


2


of the housing


1


. In

FIG. 1

the liquid container


5


is in abutment with a stop


6


provided on the housing


1


. This liquid container


5


may also be disposed inside the housing


1


—not illustrated.





FIG. 2

shows the dry shaving apparatus of

FIG. 1

, the difference being that a distance A is produced between the upper wall


7


of the liquid container


5


and the stop


6


by sliding the liquid container


5


in the direction of the arrow P


2


. Sliding the liquid container


5


in the directions of the arrows P


1


or P


2


results in either the coupling or uncoupling of a pumping device


13


adapted to be driven by an electric drive


50


of the dry shaving apparatus—see FIG.


9


.




The shaving head


3


has at least one outer cutter and one undercutter cooperating therewith, as well as a shaving head frame


10


and a cutter frame


11


configured to be removed therefrom. One embodiment of such a cutter frame


11


is presented in

FIGS. 3

,


4


and


5


and will be explained in more detail in the following.




Inside the cutter frame


11


—see also

FIG. 4

, FIG.


5


and FIG.


6


—the outer cutters


18


,


19


, attached in arched form, of the short-hair cutter units are secured to longitudinally extending side walls


14


and


15


as well as to bars—not shown—disposed between end walls


16


and


17


. The long-hair cutter unit with a U-shaped outer cutter


20


disposed between the two outer cutters


18


and


19


of the short-hair cutter units is mounted in the end walls


16


and


17


of the cutter frame


11


so that it can move in vertical direction—in the directions of the arrows P


1


and P


2


.




A liquid dispensing device


4


is provided on one side wall


15


of the cutter frame


11


. The liquid dispensing device


4


is essentially comprised of a housing


21


made up of two housing parts


211


and


212


, an open-pore contact element


22


disposed in the housing


21


, a spacer


23


associated with the contact element


22


, and an adjusting device V by means of which the spacer


23


can be moved to and fro in the directions of the arrows R


1


and R


2


. The adjusting device V is comprised of two cooperating adjusting elements


25


and


26


having surfaces F


1


and F


2


arranged at a relative inclination, a spring element


24


, and an actuating element


27


. Movably arranged in an inner compartment


33


of the housing part


211


of the housing


21


are the adjusting element


26


fitted with the actuating element


27


, and the adjusting element


25


provided on the spacer


23


. The spring element


24


rests with one part against a wall of the inner compartment of the housing part


211


and with another part against the adjusting element


25


, its predetermined spring pressure operating to maintain the inclined surface F


1


in abutment with the inclined surface F


2


of the adjusting element


26


. The housing part


212


of the housing


21


is fastened to the housing part


211


, acting as a cover for the inner compartment


33


of the housing part


211


.




The actuating element


27


with a marking M is provided on the adjusting element


26


, which is slidably mounted inside the housing


21


and projects out of the housing


21


through an elongate opening


28


. The actuating element


27


with the marking M is slidable parallel to a scale SK provided on an outer wall of the housing part


212


. When the actuating element


27


is moved in the direction of the arrow S


1


, the inclined surface F


2


of the adjusting element


26


cooperates with the inclined surface F


1


of the adjusting element


25


to move the spacer


23


in the direction of the arrow R


1


. The spacer


23


is returned to its initial position—in the direction of the arrow R


2


—by sliding the actuating element


27


in the opposite direction—direction of the arrow S


2


.




The open-pore contact element


22


, which is equipped with a rinsing chamber


214


, is fixedly arranged in an inner compartment


213


of the housing part


211


. The housing part


211


is arranged adjacent and parallel to the longitudinal dimension of the outer cutter


18


in such a way that the contact element


22


, which is arranged in the inner compartment


213


and partly projects out of the inner compartment


213


, is in a position to dispense liquid to a zone adjacent to the outer cutter


18


. The contact surface of the contact element


22


used at any one time is variable and the liquid dispensing rate thus controllable by adjusting the spacer


23


relative to the contact element


22


—see

FIGS. 5 and 6

.




The liquid to be dispensed by the contact element


22


of the liquid dispensing device is fed to the contact element


22


via a second liquid conduit


32


. Metered application of the liquid by the contact element


22


is also controllable by drawing liquid from the liquid dispensing device


4


via a first liquid conduit


31


.





FIG. 7

shows a schematic representation of an arrangement for conveying liquid from the liquid container


5


to the liquid dispensing device


4


and from the liquid dispensing device


4


back into the liquid container


5


. A partition wall


42


is provided in the liquid container


5


to form a first chamber


40


and a second chamber


41


. An opening is provided in the partition wall


42


. A second liquid conduit


32


is passed through this opening and terminates at a predetermined distance B from the bottom


46


of the liquid container


5


. The opening in the partition wall


42


is dimensioned so that a gap


43


is formed after the second liquid conduit


32


is passed through. This gap serves the function of feeding liquid from the first chamber


40


into the second chamber


41


. A porous storage material


44


—e.g., a sintered material—is provided in the second chamber


41


to store the liquid. The first chamber


40


is connected by a liquid conduit


47


to a pumping device


13


provided outside the liquid container


5


. The necessary pressure for conveying liquid from the second chamber


41


via the second liquid conduit


32


, which acts as a riser, to the liquid dispensing device


4


is obtainable by means of a pressure relief valve


45


when the liquid conveying arrangement is working. The pressure relief valve


45


may be comprised of a tube, for example, having an orifice whose cross section is dimensioned to enable the necessary atmospheric pressure for conveying the liquid to be reached after the pumping device


13


is started and to enable any excess pressure to be discharged.




A contact element


22


is fixedly arranged in the housing


21


of the liquid dispensing device


4


. By suitably shaping the contact element


22


a rinsing chamber


214


is provided in the contact element


22


which receives liquid via the second liquid conduit


32


. The liquid under pressure penetrates the open-pore material of the contact element


22


and, when the outer contact surface


48


is touched by the skin, is dispensed onto the skin as indicated by the arrows.




The rinsing chamber


214


is coupled by a first liquid conduit


31


to the inlet side E of the pumping device


13


. The outlet side PA of the pumping device


13


is coupled by a liquid conduit


47


to the first chamber


40


of the liquid container


5


. When the pumping device


13


is set in operation it draws in air via the housing


21


—see the arrow L—as well as liquid from the rinsing chamber


214


and/or the contact element


22


, feeding it to the first chamber


40


to build up there the necessary pressure for conveying liquid from the second chamber


41


via the second liquid conduit


32


to the rinsing chamber


214


. By returning any surplus liquid from the rinsing chamber


214


and/or the contact element, which results from the suction cycle of the pumping device


13


, it is possible to control the dispensing of liquid by the contact element


22


in such a way that liquid is dispensed to a skin to be wetted only when the contact surface of the contact element


22


is touched. Hence no liquid is dispensed when the contact element


22


is not being touched.




The gap


43


between the partition wall


42


and the second liquid conduit


32


, which acts as a riser, is dimensioned so that the liquid delivered by the pumping device


13


into the first chamber


40


can penetrate the storage material


44


in the second chamber


41


. Any reverse flow of liquid stored in the storage material from the second chamber


41


through the gap


43


into the first chamber


40


is prevented by the bonding effect of the liquid to the storage material


44


.





FIG. 8

shows the liquid conveying arrangement of

FIG. 7

, the difference being that the pumping device


13


is disposed inside the liquid container


5


, i.e., in the first chamber


40


. The pumping device is part of the liquid container


5


and can be replaced together with it. The liquid container


5


can be replaced because the first liquid conduit


31


and the second liquid conduit


32


are coupled to the liquid container


5


by means of suitable coupling elements—not shown. Such coupling elements can also be provided in the first liquid conduit


31


and the second liquid conduit


32


of

FIG. 7

in order to couple the pumping device


13


and the liquid container


5


to said conduits.




A suitably shaped rubber part, which tightly closes the complete unit, including the first and second liquid conduits


31


,


32


, is used as a cover for the liquid container


5


. Metal tips of the first and second liquid conduits


31


,


32


, which are located inside the housing


1


, pierce the cover in the area of the conduits when the cleaning liquid container is inserted, thus opening the liquid circuit.




The described configuration of the liquid container


5


is preferably implementable as a disposable cartridge or in the form of a container which can be filled in or on the hair removing apparatus.





FIG. 9

shows a schematic representation of the layout of a liquid conveying arrangement of

FIG. 7

in a dry shaving apparatus TR of

FIGS. 1 and 2

. The contours of the dry shaving apparatus are represented by dotted lines by way of example.




In the housing


1


of the dry shaving apparatus TR there is arranged an electric motor


50


whose motor shaft is coupled by an eccentric to an oscillating member


52


in order to make it oscillate to and fro—see the directions of the arrows S


1


and S


2


. The oscillating bridge


52


serves the function of driving cutter elements of the dry shaving apparatus TR—not illustrated—in addition to driving the pumping device


13


of the liquid dispensing device


4


. For this purpose the oscillating member


52


—which is fastened, for example, on wall elements


51


of the housing


1


of the dry shaving apparatus TR—is coupled by way of a double-armed oscillating lever


54


, which is pivotally connected to a pivot


53


provided on the housing


1


, to a pumping element of the pumping device


13


in order to transmit a driving motion. This driving connection is interruptible by sliding the liquid container


5


in the direction of the arrow P


2


by a distance A so that no liquid is fed from the container


5


into the rinsing chamber


214


and the open-pore contact element


22


. By sliding the liquid container


5


in the direction of the arrow P


1


it is possible to re-establish the connection between the pumping element of the pumping device


13


and the double-armed lever


54


so that when the electric motor


50


is set in operation the oscillating movements of the oscillating member


52


are transmitted via the double-armed lever


54


to the pumping element of the pumping device


13


, thus re-starting the liquid conveying arrangement.




The rinsing chamber


214


is coupled to the liquid container


5


via the pumping device


13


by means of a first liquid conduit


31


—see FIG.


9


—and to the first chamber


40


by means of a second liquid conduit


32


. The first and second liquid conduits are of flexible construction in order to be able to follow the sliding movement of the liquid container


5


in the directions of the arrows P


1


and P


2


.




The components of a pumping device


13


are shown in FIG.


10


. The pumping device


13


is comprised of only three parts, including a first housing part


60


, a second housing part


61


, and a membrane


62


which is disposed between the first housing part


60


and the second housing part


61


. The membrane


62


has an elastic pumping element


63


projecting from the planar membrane wall in slightly domed form. Two flutter valves


64


and


65


, which act as non-return valves, are provided in the wall of the membrane


62


. The flutter valves


64


and


65


are elastically formed in the membrane wall and are a part of the membrane


62


. The second housing part


61


is equipped with an opening


66


through which the pumping element


63


can be actuated by a drive element, e.g., by one arm of the double-armed lever


54


of

FIG. 9. A

first liquid conduit


31


is connectable to the second housing part


61


. In the first housing part


60


is a pump chamber


67


which is connectable by way of a flow channel


70


to a first valve chamber


68


and by way of a further flow channel


71


to the second valve chamber


69


provided in the second housing part


61


. The second valve chamber


69


is adapted to be coupled by way of an outlet PA and a pump outlet conduit


75


to a liquid conduit


47


leading to the first chamber


40


of the liquid container


5


—see FIG.


7


. The flutter valve


65


provided in the membrane


62


is associated on the one hand with the first liquid conduit


31


and on the other hand with the first valve chamber


68


. The flutter valve


64


is associated with the second valve chamber


69


and with the liquid conduit


47


leading out of said chamber. Exerting a reciprocating pumping movement on the pumping element


63


causes the pumping element


63


to draw in and pump out liquid and/or air in alternation. During the pumping cycle the pumping element


63


is urged into the pump chamber


67


in the direction of the arrow P


1


. As this occurs, the liquid and/or air present in the pump chamber


67


is urged via the flow channel


71


against the flutter valve


64


, moving the elastic flutter valve


64


into the second valve chamber


69


, thereby clearing the flow path for the liquid and/or air via the second valve chamber


69


into the pump outlet conduit


75


. The liquid and/or air subsequently flows via a connectable liquid conduit


47


into the first chamber


40


of the liquid container. During this pumping cycle the air and/or liquid exposed to the pumping pressure acts via the flow channel


70


and the first valve chamber


68


against the flutter valve


65


, closing the pump inlet opening in the second housing part


61


which is adapted to be coupled with the first liquid conduit


31


.




On termination of the pumping cycle the tensioned elastic pumping element


63


moves in the direction of the arrow P


2


back to its initial position, thereby drawing in air and/or liquid from the first liquid conduit


31


. This suction cycle causes the flutter valve


65


to move into the first valve chamber


68


, thus clearing the liquid conduit


31


and enabling the air and/or liquid to flow via the first valve chamber and the flow channel


70


into the pump chamber


67


. The flutter valve


64


is constructed and arranged relative to the flow channel


71


so that during the suction cycle the flow channel


70


is covered to such an extent that no air and/or liquid is allowed to flow past the flutter valve


64


into the second valve chamber


69


nor from there into the opening, not covered by the flutter valve


64


, of the outlet PA and the pump outlet conduit


75


.




The pumping device


13


represented in

FIG. 10

may be arranged either outside or inside a liquid container


5


, as is shown in

FIGS. 7 and 8

.




According to a further embodiment the pumping device


13


may also be configured as part of the liquid container


5


, as is shown in

FIG. 11

by way of example.




The pumping device of

FIG. 11

differs from the pumping device of

FIG. 10

only inasmuch as the first housing part


60


of the pumping device


13


is part of a wall of the liquid container


5


. In

FIG. 11

part of the interior of a liquid container


5


, namely the first chamber


40


, is represented by broken lines. The chamber


40


is connectable by way of a pump outlet conduit


75


to the second liquid conduit—see FIG.


7


. In the front


80


of the liquid container


5


provision is made for a depression


81


accommodating the first valve chamber


68


, the flow channel


70


, the pump chamber


67


, the flow channel


71


, and a liquid conduit


85


connecting the second valve chamber


69


to the first chamber


40


of the liquid container


5


. The membrane


62


is embedded in the depression


81


and, using the second housing part


61


and suitable fastening elements, the previously listed components are assembled to form a complete pumping device


13


and then put into operation.




The liquid container


5


is inserted in the housing


1


of the hair removing apparatus and the sealing part pierced in the areas of the conduits, thus establishing a connection to the liquid conveying arrangement of the apparatus


1


. Inserting the liquid container


5


simultaneously positions the pumping device


13


in front of the oscillating member


54


located in the housing


1


. When the application function is activated the pumping device


13


begins to build up pressure in the liquid container


5


. The air drawn in during the starting cycle is pumped into the first chamber


40


and can pass through the outlet gap


43


between the second liquid conduit


32


and the partition wall


42


into the second chamber


41


where it exerts pressure on the liquid. At the same time the suction cycle of the pumping device


13


produces a suction effect in the second liquid conduit


32


of the liquid circuit, which draws the liquid into the liquid dispensing device


4


. The application point in the liquid dispensing device


4


is designed so that the pumping device


13


can draw in air from the outside at the same time as drawing in the non-applied liquid. Hence after the starting cycle the pumping device


13


invariably feeds a mixture of liquid and air into the liquid container


5


, where the mixture is separated into its two components. This separation occurs on the inner wall of the first chamber


40


as the result of the adhesive force of the droplets. As the drops grow bigger they flow back through the outlet gap


43


into the second chamber


41


and so are returned to the liquid circuit.




Because this arrangement permanently draws in air in addition to the non-consumed liquid, the pressure built up in the first chamber


40


is higher than that which escapes with the liquid. This overpressure in the first chamber


40


prevents the liquid flowing back from the second chamber


41


into the first chamber


40


. The pressure is stabilized by a defined opening in the air discharge throttle which acts as a pressure relief valve. Arranging the air discharge throttle in the upper area of the first partitioned chamber


40


prevents the inflowing droplets being blown out unintentionally when the hair removing apparatus is in an inclined position. Operation of the arrangement is thus guaranteed even with the hair removing apparatus turned through 180° compared to the position illustrated in FIG.


1


.




The porous storage material ensures operational reliability also in cases when the liquid container


5


is not full. In this case the liquid reaches the suction zone of the second liquid conduit


32


through the capillary action of the storage material. Liquid movements and attendant noise are also minimized.




On account of the described structural design it is possible to store and dispense liquids independently of position and movement, with the arrangement simultaneously providing for regulation of the quantity of liquid to be dispensed.



Claims
  • 1. A hair removing apparatus comprising a housing and a liquid conveying arrangement, the liquid conveying arrangement comprising a liquid container arranged in or on the housing, a drivable pumping device with a pump inlet and a pump outlet, and a liquid dispensing device for wetting a human skin and hairs with a liquid, wherein the liquid dispensing device is coupled to the pump inlet by way of a first liquid conduit and to the liquid container by way of a second liquid conduit.
  • 2. The hair removing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the second liquid conduit is arranged so that during operation the pumping device draws both air and liquid from the liquid dispensing device and conveys it into the liquid container, and wherein the liquid container is constructed so that during operation the air and liquid conveyed to it by the pumping device creates a delivery pressure within the container that delivers the liquid from the container to the liquid dispensing device.
  • 3. The hair removing apparatus of claim 1, wherein a pressure relief valve is provided in the liquid container.
  • 4. The hair removing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the liquid container includes first and second chambers.
  • 5. The hair removing apparatus of claim 4, wherein the first chamber is provided for receiving at least one of air and liquid returnable from the liquid dispensing device.
  • 6. The hair removing apparatus of claim 4, wherein the second chamber accommodates a storage material for holding the liquid.
  • 7. The hair removing apparatus of claim 4, wherein at least one passageway provided in a partition wall separating the first chamber from the second chamber for a return flow of the liquid from the first chamber to the second chamber.
  • 8. The hair removing apparatus of claim 7, wherein the passageway is of a slotted configuration.
  • 9. The hair removing apparatus of claim 8, wherein a liquid conduit is routed through the passageway and a gap is formed between the second liquid conduit and the partition wall.
  • 10. The hair removing apparatus of claim 9, wherein the second chamber is adapted to be coupled with the liquid dispensing device through the second liquid conduit.
  • 11. The hair removing apparatus of claim 8, wherein the second liquid conduit is configured to project into the second chamber such an amount that a mouth of the second liquid conduit is arranged at a relatively small distance to a wall of the liquid container.
  • 12. The hair removing apparatus of claim 9, wherein the second liquid conduit is constructed as a riser.
  • 13. The hair removing apparatus of claim 12, wherein the pumping device is provided in the first liquid conduit, the first liquid conduit leading from the liquid dispensing device to the liquid container.
  • 14. The hair removing apparatus of claim 12, wherein the pumping device is arranged in the liquid container.
  • 15. The hair removing apparatus of claim 12, wherein a pumping element of the pumping device is adapted to be acted upon by a drive element of a drive mechanism of the hair removing apparatus.
  • 16. The hair removing apparatus of claim 12, wherein a pumping element of the pumping device is manually actuatable.
  • 17. The hair removing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the liquid dispensing device is formed of a container housing having one side open and a contact element partly protruding therefrom and adapted to dispense liquid.
  • 18. The hair removing apparatus of claim 15, wherein the contact element is formed of an open-pore material.
  • 19. The hair removing apparatus of claim 18, wherein a rinsing chamber is provided in the liquid dispensing device.
  • 20. The hair removing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the liquid dispensing device is provided on a long hair cutter unit.
  • 21. The hair removing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the liquid dispensing device is provided on a removable frame.
  • 22. The hair removing apparatus of claim 21, wherein the removable frame is constructed as a shaving head frame.
  • 23. The hair removing apparatus of claim 21, wherein the removable frame is constructed as a cutter frame.
  • 24. The hair removing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the liquid container is arranged for replacement in or on the hair removing apparatus.
  • 25. The hair removing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the liquid container is adjustable from a distance.
  • 26. The hair removing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the liquid container is equipped with a filling valve.
  • 27. The hair removing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the liquid container and pumping device are arranged to be adjustable from a distance.
  • 28. The hair removing of claim 1, wherein the liquid container with the pumping device is adapted to be coupled to the electric motor.
  • 29. The hair removing apparatus of claim 28, wherein the pumping device is adapted to be coupled to the electric motor via oscillating members.
  • 30. A hair removing apparatus comprising a housing and a liquid conveying arrangement, the liquid conveying arrangement comprising a liquid container, a drivable pumping device with a pump inlet and a pump outlet, and a liquid dispensing device for wetting a human skin and hairs with a liquid, wherein the liquid dispensing device is coupled to the pump inlet by way of a first liquid conduit and to the liquid container by way of a second liquid conduit, and wherein the liquid container includes a first chamber and a second chamber.
  • 31. The hair removing apparatus of claim 30, wherein the first chamber is provided for receiving at least one of air and liquid returnable from the liquid dispensing device.
  • 32. The hair removing apparatus of claim 30, wherein the second chamber accommodates a storage material for holding the liquid.
  • 33. The hair removing apparatus of claim 30, wherein at least one passageway is provided in a partition wall separating the first chamber from the second chamber for a return flow of the liquid from the first chamber to the second chamber.
  • 34. The hair removing apparatus of claim 33, wherein the passageway is of a slotted configuration.
  • 35. The hair removing apparatus of claim 34, wherein a liquid conduit is routed through the passageway and a gap is formed between the second liquid conduit and the partition wall.
  • 36. The hair removing apparatus of claim 35, wherein the second chamber is adapted to be coupled with the liquid dispensing device through the second liquid conduit.
  • 37. The hair removing apparatus of claim 34, wherein the second liquid conduit is configured to project into the second chamber such an amount that a mouth of the second liquid conduit is arranged at a relatively small distance to a wall of the liquid container.
  • 38. The hair removing apparatus of claim 35, wherein the second liquid conduit is constructed as a riser.
  • 39. The hair removing apparatus of claim 38, wherein the pumping device is provided in the first liquid conduit, the first liquid conduit leading from the liquid dispensing device to the liquid container.
  • 40. The hair removing apparatus of claim 38, wherein the pumping device is arranged in the liquid container.
  • 41. The hair removing apparatus of claim 38, wherein a pumping element of the pumping device is adapted to be acted upon by a drive element of a drive mechanism of the hair removing apparatus.
  • 42. The hair removing apparatus of claim 38, wherein a pumping element of the pumping device is manually actuatable.
Priority Claims (1)
Number Date Country Kind
199 07 025 Feb 1999 DE
Parent Case Info

This is a continuation of PCT application serial no. PCT/EP99/08523, filed Nov. 6, 1999, which claims priority from German application serial number 19907025.3, filed Feb. 19, 1999, (pending).

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2754228 Bede Jul 1956 A
3176392 Gwinn Apr 1965 A
3359634 Beck Dec 1967 A
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5133130 Podolsky Jul 1992 A
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5673485 Hill Oct 1997 A
5993180 Westerhof et al. Nov 1999 A
6131288 Westerhof et al. Oct 2000 A
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94 90 268 Nov 1995 DE
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WO 9808659 Mar 1998 WO
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WO 9808661 Mar 1998 WO
WO 9855274 Dec 1998 WO
Continuations (1)
Number Date Country
Parent PCT/EP99/08523 Nov 1999 US
Child 09/931559 US