Epilating device

Abstract

An epilating device ( 1 ) removes hair from a user by pinching, pulling and releasing the hairs. The epilating device ( 1 ) has a tweezer portion ( 20 ) having an axis and being mounted to rotate about its axis during use, the tweezer portion ( 20 ) defining at least one pinching region ( 18 ) at its circumference in which hairs may be grasped by tweezer elements( 22 ). A mounting element supports the axis of the tweezer portion such that the tweezer portion can rotate with respect to the mounting element and a spring element ( 30 ) is arranged to induce a pinching force in the tweezer elements at the pinching region ( 18 ). The pinching force induces pinching of the hairs at the pinching region ( 18 ). A bearing element ( 23 ) is arranged to transmit the pinching force to the rotating tweezer portion ( 20 ) and a drive element is arranged to apply rotational motion to rotate the tweezer portion about its axis with respect to the mounting element. The mounting element ( 20 ), spring element ( 30 ) and bearing element are formed as a single unitary support element.

1 . An epilating device for removing hairs from skin by pinching, pulling and releasing the hairs, comprising:
 a tweezer portion having an axis, first and second ends, and at least one pair of tweezer elements, the tweezer portion being mounted to rotate about the axis during use and defining at least one pinching region at its circumference in which hairs may be pinched;   a drive element, arranged to apply rotational motion to rotate the tweezer portion about the axis;   first and second support elements for supporting the tweezer portion at its respective ends such that the tweezer portion can rotate with respect to the support elements and for applying a pinching force to the pair of tweezer elements in the pinching region, to induce pinching of the hairs at the pinching region, wherein at least the first support element comprises:   a mounting element, for supporting the first end of the tweezer portion, wherein the mounting element comprises a metal plate provided with a locating structure for supporting the first end of the tweezer portion;   a spring element, arranged to generate the pinching force; and   a bearing element, arranged to transmit the pinching force to the rotating tweezer portion;   wherein the mounting element, spring element and bearing element are integrally formed as a single unitary support element from a single plate-shaped member having at least one bent portion.   
     
     
         2 . (canceled) 
     
     
         3 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the bearing element comprises a washer, mounted concentrically with respect to the locating structure, and the spring element comprises an arm connecting the washer to the mounting element. 
     
     
         4 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the drive element comprises a gear wheel mounted between the mounting element and the bearing element at the first end of the tweezer portion. 
     
     
         5 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the second support element is symmetrical to the first support element and comprises an integral bearing element, spring element and mounting element. 
     
     
         6 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the second support element comprises a flat plate having a locating structure for supporting the second end of the tweezer portion and having a bearing surface. 
     
     
         7 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the tweezer portion is carried on a non-rotating shaft supported from the support elements. 
     
     
         8 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the axis is curved. 
     
     
         9 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the tweezer portion comprises a plurality of disks with tweezer elements formed between adjacent disks. 
     
     
         10 . The device according to  claim 9 , wherein a first disk of the tweezer portion is provided with a bearing plate. 
     
     
         11 . The device according to  claim 1 , comprising substantially planar bearing surfaces at either side of the tweezer portion and the planar bearing surfaces are angled towards each other at an angle of between 5 degrees and 30 degrees. 
     
     
         12 . The device according to  claim 1 , further comprising a head portion surrounding the support elements and tweezer portion and defining an access opening to the pinching region. 
     
     
         13 . (canceled) 
     
     
         14 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the second support element is integrally formed from the single plate-shaped member. 
     
     
         15 . The device according to  claim 14 , wherein the first and second support elements —  are mutually connected by a base plate, which is integrally formed from the single plate-shaped member and connected to the first and second support elements by respective bent portions of the plate-shaped member. 
     
     
         16 . (canceled)