Personal care device and related system

Abstract

A personal care system is disclosed, where the personal care system includes a personal care device including a head having a central axis extending therethrough; a plurality of scrubbing elements arranged on an outer side of a pliant surface at a front portion of the head; and a handle extending from a rear portion of the head between a first end and an opposing second end, a central axis of the handle being at an angle of about 20 degrees to about 40 degrees relative to the central axis of the head; and a support arranged to receive the personal care device.

1 . A personal care device comprising:
 a head having a central axis extending therethrough;   a plurality of scrubbing elements arranged on an outer side of a pliant surface at a front portion of the head; and   a handle extending from a rear portion of the head between a first end and an opposing second end, a central axis of the handle being at an angle of about 20 degrees to about 40 degrees relative to the central axis of the head.   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the angle is about 26 degrees to about 30 degrees. 
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 2 , wherein the angle is about 28 degrees. 
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of scrubbing elements are arranged on the outer side of the pliant surface of at front portion of the head in a radial swirl pattern. 
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the pliant surface at the front portion of the head is a substantially convex surface. 
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the pliant surface at the front portion of the head is a substantially flat surface. 
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein a material of at least one of the handle, the head, the pliant surface, and the plurality of scrubbing elements is silicone. 
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the pliant surface at the front portion of the head comprises a flexible membrane. 
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising a motor housed within an internal cavity of the handle or an internal cavity of the head, the internal cavities of the handle and the head being interconnected. 
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 9 , further comprising a power source in electrical communication with the motor, and a switch in electrical communication with the power source, wherein actuation of the switch causes the power source to transmit an electrical current to the motor. 
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 10 , wherein the power source comprises a rechargeable battery. 
     
     
         12 . The device of  claim 11 , wherein the second end of the handle comprises a charging mechanism in electrical communication with the rechargeable battery. 
     
     
         13 . The device of  claim 12 , wherein the charging mechanism of the personal care device is arranged to be in electrical communication with a corresponding charging mechanism on a support when the personal care device is engaged with the support. 
     
     
         14 . The device of  claim 13 , wherein the charging mechanism of the personal care device and the charging mechanism of the support each comprise charging contacts, a charging port arranged to receive a charging plug, an induction coil, or any combination thereof. 
     
     
         15 . The device of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 a first gear defining a first central axis and a second gear defining a second central axis housed within the internal cavities of the head or the handle and that mesh with one another and each rotate about the respective first and second central axes upon actuation of the motor;   a first rotor and a second rotor being respectively coupled to or integrally-formed with the first gear and the second gear and each defining a diameter, when rotated, larger than a diameter of each of the first gear and the second gear, the first rotor and the second rotor being rotated by the respective ones of the first gear and the second gear so as to rotate in two separate, but overlapping regions under the surface of the front portion of the head; and   at least one node extending from surfaces of each of the first and second rotors and exerting an upward force on an opposing inner side of the pliant surface at the front portion of the head,   wherein as the first and second gears rotate about the respective first and second central axes, the first and second rotors rotate with the at least one node in the two separate, but overlapping regions under the surface of the front portion of the head so that the at least one node exerts the upward force and sequentially displaces the plurality of scrubbing elements arranged on a corresponding region on the outer side of the pliant surface at the front portion of the head.   
     
     
         16 . The device of  claim 15 , wherein the first gear is rotatably mounted on a first spindle defining the first central axis and the second gear is rotatably mounted on a second spindle defining the second central axis, the first spindle or the second spindle being coupled to a drive shaft of the motor so that the first gear is rotated in a first direction about the first central axis and the second gear is rotated in a second, opposite direction about the second central axis when the motor is actuated. 
     
     
         17 . The device of  claim 15 , wherein the first gear is rotatably mounted on a first spindle defining the first central axis and the second gear is rotatably mounted on a second spindle defining the second central axis, and further comprising a third gear rotatably mounted on a third spindle defining a third central axis and arranged between the first gear and the second gear so that the first and second gears each mesh with the third gear, the third spindle being coupled to a drive shaft of the motor so that the third gear is rotated in a first direction about the third central axis and the first and second gears are rotated in a second opposite direction about the respective first and second central axes when the motor is actuated. 
     
     
         18 . The device of  claim 15 , wherein the first rotor and the second rotor have a lemniscate shape, a rectangular shape, or an elliptical shape. 
     
     
         19 . The device of  claim 15 , wherein the first gear and the second gear are angled relative to one another at an acute angle, an obtuse angle, or are parallel to one another in the same plane. 
     
     
         20 . The device of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 a rotatably-mounted inner gear defining a central axis and having teeth extending radially outward from the central axis of the inner gear;   a stationary outer gear defining a central axis and having teeth extending radially inward toward the central axis of the outer gear;   a moving gear defining a central axis and having teeth extending radially outward from the central axis of the moving gear, wherein the moving gear is situated between the inner gear and the outer gear such that the teeth of the moving gear simultaneously engage the respective teeth of the inner gear and the outer gear, and wherein rotation of the inner gear causes the moving gear to orbit around the inner gear; and   at least one node extending from a surface of the moving gear and exerting an upward force on an opposing inner side of the pliant surface at the front portion of the head,   wherein the moving gear rotates with the at least one node under the surface of the front portion of the head so that the at least one node exerts the upward force and sequentially displaces the plurality of scrubbing elements arranged on a corresponding region on the outer side of the pliant surface at the front portion of the head.   
     
     
         21 . The device of  claim 20 , further comprising:
 at least one additional moving gear defining a central axis and having teeth extending radially outward from the central axis of the additional moving gear; and   at least one node extending from a surface of the at least one additional moving gear and exerting an upward force on the opposing inner side of the pliant surface at the front portion of the head,   wherein the moving gear and the at least one additional moving gear are arranged between the inner gear and the outer gear such that the teeth of the moving gear and the teeth of the at least one additional moving gear each simultaneously engage the respective teeth of the inner gear and the outer gear, and wherein rotation of the inner gear causes the moving gear and the at least one additional moving gear to orbit around the inner gear so that the at least one node on the moving gear and the at least one additional moving gear exerts the upward force and sequentially displaces the plurality of scrubbing elements arranged on a corresponding region on the outer side of the pliant surface at the front portion of the head.   
     
     
         22 . A personal care system comprising:
 a personal care device comprising:
 a head having a central axis extending therethrough; 
 a plurality of scrubbing elements arranged on an outer side of a pliant surface at a front portion of the head; and 
 a handle extending from a rear portion of the head between a first end and an opposing second end, a central axis of the handle being at an angle of about 20 degrees to about 40 degrees relative to the central axis of the head; and 
   a support arranged to receive the personal care device.   
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 22 , wherein the angle is about 26 degrees to about 30 degrees. 
     
     
         24 . The system of  claim 23 , wherein the angle is about 28 degrees. 
     
     
         25 . The system of  claim 22 , wherein the plurality of scrubbing elements are arranged on the outer side of the pliant surface of the front portion of the head in a radial swirl pattern. 
     
     
         26 . The system of  claim 22 , wherein the pliant surface at the front portion of the head is a substantially convex surface. 
     
     
         27 . The system of  claim 22 , wherein the pliant surface at the front portion of the head is a substantially flat surface. 
     
     
         28 . The system of  claim 22 , wherein a material of at least one of the handle, the head, the pliant surface, and the plurality of scrubbing elements is silicone. 
     
     
         29 . The system of  claim 22 , further comprising a motor housed within an internal cavity of the handle or an internal cavity of the head, the internal cavities of the handle and the head being interconnected. 
     
     
         30 . The system of  claim 29 , further comprising a power source in electrical communication with the motor, and a switch in electrical communication with the power source, wherein actuation of the switch causes the power source to transmit an electrical current to the motor. 
     
     
         31 . The system of  claim 30 , wherein the power source comprises a rechargeable battery. 
     
     
         32 . The system of  claim 31 , wherein the first end of the handle comprises a charging mechanism in electrical communication with the rechargeable battery. 
     
     
         33 . The system of  claim 32 , wherein the charging mechanism of the personal care device is arranged to be in electrical communication with a corresponding charging mechanism on the support when the personal care device is engaged with the support. 
     
     
         34 . The system of  claim 33 , wherein the charging mechanism of the personal care device and the charging mechanism of the support each comprise charging contacts, a charging port arranged to receive a charging plug, an induction coil, or any combination thereof. 
     
     
         35 . The system of  claim 22 , wherein the support comprises a cavity having a shape contoured to correspond to an outer contour of the handle and the head, such that when the handle and the head are received by the support, the outer contours of the handle and the head are aligned within the cavity. 
     
     
         36 . The system of  claim 35 , wherein the first end of the handle comprises a magnet and the support comprises a corresponding magnet such that when the handle is received by the support, the magnets attract one another and magnetically align the outer contour of the handle in the cavity. 
     
     
         37 . The system of  claim 29 , wherein the personal care device further comprises:
 a first gear defining a first central axis and a second gear defining a second central axis housed within the internal cavities of the head or the handle and that mesh with one another and each rotate about the respective first and second central axes upon actuation of the motor;   a first rotor and a second rotor being respectively coupled to or integrally-formed with the first gear and the second gear and each defining a diameter, when rotated, larger than a diameter of each of the first gear and the second gear, the first rotor and the second rotor being rotated by the respective ones of the first gear and the second gear so as to rotate in two separate, but overlapping regions under the surface of the front portion of the head; and   at least one node extending from surfaces of each of the first and second rotors and exerting an upward force on an opposing inner side of the pliant surface at the front portion of the head,   wherein as the first and second gears rotate about the respective first and second central axes, the first and second rotors rotate with the at least one node in the two separate, but overlapping regions under the surface of the front portion of the head so that the at least one node exerts the upward force and sequentially displaces the plurality of scrubbing elements arranged on a corresponding region on the outer side of the pliant surface at the front portion of the head.   
     
     
         38 . The system of  claim 37 , wherein the first gear is rotatably mounted on a first spindle defining the first central axis and the second gear is rotatably mounted on a second spindle defining the second central axis, the first spindle or the second spindle being coupled to a drive shaft of the motor so that the first gear is rotated in a first direction about the first central axis and the second gear is rotated in a second, opposite direction about the second central axis when the motor is actuated. 
     
     
         39 . The system of  claim 37 , wherein the first gear is rotatably mounted on a first spindle defining the first central axis and the second gear is rotatably mounted on a second spindle defining the second central axis, and further comprising a third gear rotatably mounted on a third spindle defining a third central axis and arranged between the first gear and the second gear so that the first and second gears each mesh with the third gear, the third spindle being coupled to a drive shaft of the motor so that the third gear is rotated in a first direction about the third central axis and the first and second gears are rotated in a second opposite direction about the respective first and second central axes when the motor is actuated. 
     
     
         40 . The system of  claim 37 , wherein the first rotor and the second rotor have a lemniscate shape, a rectangular shape, or an elliptical shape. 
     
     
         41 . The system of  claim 37 , wherein the first gear and the second gear are angled relative to one another at an acute angle, an obtuse angle, or are parallel to one another in the same plane. 
     
     
         42 . The system of  claim 29 , wherein the personal care device further comprises:
 a rotatably-mounted inner gear defining a central axis and having teeth extending radially outward from the central axis of the inner gear;   a stationary outer gear defining a central axis and having teeth extending radially inward toward the central axis of the outer gear;   a moving gear defining a central axis and having teeth extending radially outward from the central axis of the moving gear, wherein the moving gear is situated between the inner gear and the outer gear such that the teeth of the moving gear simultaneously engage the respective teeth of the inner gear and the outer gear, and wherein rotation of the inner gear causes the moving gear to orbit around the inner gear; and   at least one node extending from a surface of the moving gear and exerting an upward force on an opposing inner side of the pliant surface at the front portion of the head,   wherein the moving gear rotates with the at least one node under the surface of the front portion of the head so that the at least one node exerts the upward force and sequentially displaces the plurality of scrubbing elements arranged on a corresponding region on the outer side of the pliant surface at the front portion of the head.   
     
     
         43 . The system of  claim 42 , wherein the personal care device further comprises:
 at least one additional moving gear defining a central axis and having teeth extending radially outward from the central axis of the additional moving gear; and   at least one node extending from a surface of the at least one additional moving gear and exerting an upward force on the opposing inner side of the pliant surface at the front portion of the head,   wherein the moving gear and the at least one additional moving gear are arranged between the inner gear and the outer gear such that the teeth of the moving gear and the teeth of the at least one additional moving gear each simultaneously engage the respective teeth of the inner gear and the outer gear, and wherein rotation of the inner gear causes the moving gear and the at least one additional moving gear to orbit around the inner gear so that the at least one node on the moving gear and the at least one additional moving gear exerts the upward force and sequentially displaces the plurality of scrubbing elements arranged on a corresponding region on the outer side of the pliant surface at the front portion of the head.