Lighted epilator

Abstract

A lighted epilating device is configured in an elongated manner, such as a substantially cylindrical configuration, with an operating area of a tweezer mechanism exposed at a side and on one end thereof, with the tweezer mechanism capable of performing an epilating function to areas of a user's skin placed at the operating area. A light source is contained in the main body and is configured to illuminate the operating area and a shield which surrounds the tweezer mechanism. The shield further has an opening defining the operating area and is transparent or translucent to provide viewing and further illumination.

1 . A lighted epilating device for the removal of hair, comprising:
 a substantially cylindrical main body;   a battery holder contained within the main body;   a motor configured to be powered by a battery when contained within the battery holder to drive a main drive shaft, wherein the main drive shaft is substantially aligned with a main axis of the substantially cylindrical main body;   a switch for selectively providing power to the motor;   a tweezer mechanism coupled to the main drive shaft and configured to have a plurality of plates which are configured to open and close at predetermined locations as the tweezer mechanism spins along with the main drive shaft, wherein the plates will close at an operating area, thereby perform a plucking function, wherein the operating area is a first side of the tweezer mechanism;   a cover housing extension configured to cover a portion of the tweezers and extending from an end of the main body;   a shield cooperating with the cover housing to cover a remaining portion of the tweezer mechanism, wherein the shield has an opening therein to expose the operating area; and   a light bulb positioned within the main body at a position adjacent the shield and adjacent the operating area, wherein the light bulb is positioned to illuminate the operating area and the shield.   
     
     
         2 . The lighted epilating device of  claim 1  wherein the shield is translucent and capable of absorbing a portion of the light produced by the light bulb. 
     
     
         3 . The lighted epilating device of  claim 1  wherein the shield is transparent. 
     
     
         4 . The lighted epilating device of  claim 1  wherein the plates of the tweezer mechanism are configured in pairs and a plurality of pushing members will cause the pairs to come together at the operating area as the tweezer mechanism spins. 
     
     
         5 . The lighted epilating system of  claim 1  wherein the plates are arranged in a single row such that only one pair of converging plates will come together within the opening of the shield. 
     
     
         6 . The lighted epilating device of  claim 1  further comprising a lower housing surrounding the main body, the lower housing being rotatable and containing electrical elements to form the switch. 
     
     
         7 . The lighted epilating device of  claim 2  wherein the shield has a tab extending into the main body at a position adjacent to the light bulb to further accommodate lighting. 
     
     
         8 . A lighted epilating device configured to perform focused and precise epilating treatments on defined areas of a user's skin, comprising:
 an elongated body;   a tweezer mechanism contained within a portion of the elongated main body and having an operating area at a side of the elongated body proximate a first end, wherein epilating treatment is accomplished upon the defined areas of a user's skin when positioned adjacent the tweezer mechanism;   a drive system contained within the elongated body to drive the tweezer mechanism;   a shield partially containing the tweezer mechanism having an opening which is positioned to define the operating area thus allowing the defined areas of the user's skin to interact with the tweezer mechanism; and   a light within the elongated body and positioned adjacent the shield, the light configured to illuminate both the operating area and the shield.   
     
     
         9 . The lighted epilating device of  claim 8  wherein the shield is transparent or translucent. 
     
     
         10 . The lighted epilating device of  claim 9  wherein the edges of the shield are illuminated by causing light to be transmitted through the shield thereby further illuminating the operating area. 
     
     
         11 . The lighted epilating device of  claim 10  wherein the drive system is a battery-operated motor contained within the elongated body which is operably coupled to the tweezer mechanism via a drive shaft. 
     
     
         12 . The lighted epilating system of  claim 11  wherein the elongated body comprises a main body and a lower housing, and wherein the main body and lower housing have switch elements configured so that twisting of the lower housing relative to the main body will cause the motor and the light to receive power from a battery. 
     
     
         13 . The lighted epilating system of  claim 12  wherein the tweezer mechanism comprises a plurality of pairs of converging plates and a plurality of pushing members positioned adjacent the pairs of converging plates to cause the pairs of converging plates to come together at the operating area as the tweezer mechanism spins, wherein the pairs of converging plates are arranged in a single row such that only one pair of converging plates will come together within the opening of the shield. 
     
     
         14 . An epilating device configured to perform focused and precise epilating treatments on defined areas of a user's skin, comprising:
 a main body containing an electric motor and configured to support a battery, wherein the main body is generally elongated;   a lower housing covering a lower portion of the main body, the lower housing rotatable between a first position and a second position;   a switch mechanism with a first portion coupled to the main housing and a second portion coupled to the lower housing, the switch mechanism further operably coupled with the battery and the motor, wherein the switch mechanism causes power to be supplied from the battery to the motor when the lower housing is in the second position;   a tweezer mechanism partially contained within a portion of the main body and having an operating area at a side of the main body proximate a first end, wherein epilating treatment is accomplished upon the defined areas of a user's skin when positioned adjacent the tweezer mechanism, the tweezer mechanism driven by a drive shaft operably coupled to the motor thus causing the tweezer mechanism to rotate about an axis generally aligned with an axis of the elongated main body, the tweezer mechanism further having a plurality of pairs of converging plates and a plurality of pushing members positioned adjacent the pairs of converging plates to cause the pairs of converging plates to come together at the operating area as the tweezer mechanism spins, wherein the pairs of converging plates are arranged in a single row such that only one pair of converging plates will come together at any point in time;   a shield partially containing the tweezer mechanism and cooperating with the main body to protect areas of the tweezer mechanism, the shield having an opening which is positioned to adjacent to the operating area thus allowing the defined areas of the user's skin to interact with the tweezer mechanism through the opening; and   a light within the main body and positioned adjacent the shield, the light configured to illuminate both the operating area and the shield.   
     
     
         15 . The epilating device of  claim 14  wherein the shield is transparent or translucent thereby allowing light to be through the shield and help to illuminate the operating area. 
     
     
         16 . The epilating device of  claim 15  wherein the opening in the shield has a plurality of edges which are configured to capture light transmitted through the shield and further illuminate the operating area.