Device for applying high-frequency vibrations to hair for removing same

Abstract

A device for applying vibrations to hair rooted in a body, includes: a pair of tongs having hair-gripping ends capable of being driven into high-frequency vibrations with respect to each other; and a transducer coupled to at least one of the tongs for converting an AC voltage to mechanical vibrations for driving the hair-gripping end into vibrations with respect to generate sufficient heat within the body to facilitate removal of the unwanted hair. The transducer is preferably a piezoelectric element which vibrates the hair at a frequency of 100-500 KHz, preferably 100-350 KHz, and produces a displacement of 5-20 microns.

1 . A device for applying vibrations to a hair rooted in a body, comprising:
 a pair of tongs having hair-gripping ends biased towards each other, with one tong, serving as a hammer, being capable of being driven into high-frequency mechanical vibrations with respect to the other tong;   and a transducer coupled only to said one tong for converting an AC voltage to mechanical vibrations for driving the hair-gripping end of said one tong into mechanical vibrations with respect to the other tong;   said hair-gripping ends of the pair of tongs including, or being coupled to, gripping surfaces for gripping the hair between them and for mechanically vibrating the hair to generate sufficient heat within the hair root to facilitate removal of the hair.   
     
     
         2 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one of said gripping surfaces include a layer of compliant or yielding material permitting small displacements of the hair, increasing the contact surface between the tongs and the hair, and allowing differing diameter hairs to be gripped and vibrated. 
     
     
         3 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein said AC voltage is from 100-500 KHz. 
     
     
         4 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein said transducer converts the AC voltage to displacements of 5-20 microns in said gripping surfaces. 
     
     
         5 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein said gripping surfaces grip the hair to be removed such that the hair is vibrated along one or more of the three orthogonal axes. 
     
     
         6 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein said transducer is fixed to the hair-gripping end of said one tong and defines a gripping surface cooperable with the hair-gripping end of the other tong for gripping the hair between them. 
     
     
         7 . The device according to  claim 4 , wherein said at least one tong is mounted such that its hair-gripping end is vibrated, and said other tong serves as a relatively stationary anvil. 
     
     
         8 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein said transducer is coupled to the hair-gripping end of said one tong via one end of a horn to increase the displacement of said hair-gripping end of said one tong. 
     
     
         9 . The device according to  claim 8 , wherein the end of said horn opposite to that coupled to the transducer is shaped to define one of said gripping surfaces cooperable with the hair-gripping end of the other tong to grip the hair between them. 
     
     
         10 . The device according to  claim 9 , wherein said opposite end of the horn, and said hair-gripping end of the other tong, are turned inwardly towards each other to define said gripping surfaces for gripping the hair between them. 
     
     
         11 . The device according to  claim 8 , wherein the device further includes a clamping member for applying a pre-stress force to the transducer to increase the displacement of the transducer in the direction of the applied force. 
     
     
         12 . The device according to  claim 8 , wherein the opposite end of said other tong is also mounted to cause its hair-gripping end also to vibrate synchronously, by and with, said hair-gripping end of the one tong. 
     
     
         13 . The device according to  claim 12 , wherein the opposite ends of the two tongs are turned inwardly towards each other to define said gripping surfaces for gripping the hair to be vibrated. 
     
     
         14 . The device according to  claim 4 , wherein said transducer is coupled to one side of the hair-gripping end of one of said tongs, the opposite side of the hair-gripping end of said one tong carrying a horn to increase the displacement of said hair-gripping end of said one tong. 
     
     
         15 . The device according to  claim 14 , wherein said horn is of conical shape having a large diameter end coupled to said hair-gripping end of said one tong, and a small diameter end defining a gripping surface with the free of the other tong for gripping the hair to be vibrated. 
     
     
         16 . The device according to  claim 14 , wherein said horn is in the shape of a truncated cone in which the truncated end of the cone defines one of said hair gripping surfaces. 
     
     
         17 . The device according to  claim 14 , wherein said horn includes a small-diameter end bent towards the hair-gripping end of said other tong to define a gripping surface therewith for gripping the hair to be vibrated. 
     
     
         18 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein there is a plurality of said pairs of tongs coupled to said transducer to enable a plurality of hairs to be gripped and vibrated at one time. 
     
     
         19 . The device according to  claim 18 , wherein one tong in each of said plurality of pairs is vibrated by said transducer to serve as a hammer, and the other tong in each of said plurality of pairs is relatively stationary to save as an anvil. 
     
     
         20 . The device according to  claim 18 , wherein said plurality of said pairs of tongs are arrayed in one or more lines.