System for abrading skin to remove outer portions thereof

Abstract

A system for abrading skin to remove outer portions thereof includes an apparatus having a skin abrading head with a head portion and a skin abrading brush. The outer head portion has a rim for placement in contact with the skin along with the bristles of the brush. Air flow is generated in the head to bring the skin into engagement with the rim and bristles and transport removed skin portions.

1 . Apparatus for abrading skin to remove outer portions thereof, said apparatus comprising, in combination: 
 a hand-held member defining an air-flow passageway for communication with a vacuum source; and    a skin abrading head connected to said hand-held member for engaging and abrading skin, said skin abrading head including a head portion having a rim for placement in contact with the skin, said head portion defining a head interior and an opening in communication with said head interior, a skin abrading brush having a plurality of bristles located in or adjacent to said head interior, said skin abrading brush engageable with said skin when said rim is placed in contact therewith, and said skin abrading head defining at least one orifice providing communication between said air-flow passageway and said head interior for creating a vacuum induced air flow within said head interior for selectively pulling said skin in the direction of said rim and skin abrading brush entraining skin portions removed due to abrasion of the skin by said skin abrading brush and delivering said skin portions to said air-flow passageway.    
     
     
         2 . The apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein said skin abrading head further includes a brush support disposed inwardly of and spaced from said opening, said skin abrading brush projecting outwardly from said brush support in the direction of said opening, said at least one orifice located between at least some of said-skin abrading brush and said head portion.  
     
     
         3 . The apparatus according to  claim 2  wherein said skin abrading brush comprises a plurality of spaced brush segments, each said brush segment having a plurality of bristles.  
     
     
         4 . The apparatus according to  claim 2  wherein said skin abrading head defines a plurality of spaced orifices located between said skin abrading brush and said head portion.  
     
     
         5 . The apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein said skin abrading head further includes a brush support disposed inwardly of and spaced from said opening, said skin abrading brush projecting outwardly from said brush support in the direction of said opening, said at least one orifice being substantially surrounded by said skin abrading brush, with said skin abrading brush located between said at least one orifice and said head portion.  
     
     
         6 . The apparatus according to  claim 3  wherein said spaced brush segments are staggered to provide serpentine air-flow paths for said vacuum induced air flow within said head interior.  
     
     
         7 . The apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein said head portion defines spaced air-flow recesses located at said rim.  
     
     
         8 . The apparatus according to  claim 3  wherein said spaced brush segments have flattened outer distal brush segment ends.  
     
     
         9 . The apparatus according to  claim 8  wherein said rim occupies a plane, said flattened outer ends not extending beyond said plane.  
     
     
         10 . The apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein said rim is substantially smooth and non-abrasive.  
     
     
         11 . The apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein said skin abrading head is releasably connected to said hand-held member.  
     
     
         12 . The apparatus according to  claim 11  wherein said skin abrading head is one of a plurality of selectively interchangeable skin abrading heads having differing abrading characteristics.  
     
     
         13 . The apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein said rim is circular.  
     
     
         14 . The apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein said head portion comprises an outer wall substantially surrounding said skin abrading brush.  
     
     
         15 . The apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein said head portion comprises an inner wall surrounded by said skin abrading brush.  
     
     
         16 . The apparatus according to  claim 15  wherein said skin abrading brush comprises a plurality of brush segments, at least some of said brush segments having a chamfered outer skin engaging surface.  
     
     
         17 . A method for abrading skin to remove outer portions thereof, said method comprising the steps of: 
 providing a hand-held member defining an air-flow passageway connected to a skin abrading head including a head portion having a rim and defining a head interior and a skin abrading brush having a plurality of bristles;    substantially simultaneously bring said rim and said bristles into engagement with the skin;    while maintaining said engagement utilizing said hand-held member to move said rim and bristles along said skin;    during said movement and while maintaining said engagement, creating a vacuum in said air-flow passageway and in said head interior causing air flow from the ambient atmosphere through said head interior and past said bristles and into said air-flow passageway;    selectively employing said vacuum to pull said skin in the direction of said rim and bristles ;    abrading the skin with said bristles; and    entraining in said air flow outer portions of said skin abraded by said skin abrading brush.    
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 17  wherein said skin abrading brush comprises a plurality of spaced brush segments substantially simultaneously brought into engagement with the skin, each brush segment having a plurality of bristles.  
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 18  wherein air flowing from said head interior into said air-flow passageway flows through at least one orifice adjacent to said skin abrading brush.  
     
     
         20 . The method according to  claim 19  wherein said at least one orifice is located between at least some of said skin abrasion brush and said head portion.  
     
     
         21 . The method according to  claim 19  wherein said at least one orifice is substantially surrounded by said skin abrasion brush.  
     
     
         22 . The method according to  claim 19  including the step of flowing the air through serpentine flow paths defined by said skin abrasion brush on the way to said orifice.  
     
     
         23 . The method according to  claim 17  wherein said air flow passes through air-flow recesses located at said rim.  
     
     
         24 . The method according to  claim 17  wherein said air flow is caused by creating a vacuum in said air-flow passageway and in said head interior, the method including the step of employing said vacuum in said head interior to maintain engagement between said bristles and said skin.