Apparatus for pinching hairs from the human skin

The invention relates to an apparatus for plucking hair of the human skin, comprising a housing for receiving a motor for driving at least one about an axis rotatable clamping device for plucking hair, as well as a means for reducing the pain sensation during the plucking of hair the means comprises at least one element which, when the device is placed in the plucking position on the skin of the user, can be moved toward and away from the skin. Furthermore, the invention relates to a method for plucking hair of the human skin and a method for using the device according to the invention.

Such an epilation apparatus and associated epilation method is known from the European patent application EP 493 849 A1. Thereafter, the hair of oppositely rotating rollers are continuously detected and plucked. In front of the rollers webs are arranged, which lie flat on the skin during use and together perform a vibrating reciprocating motion. The frequency of this vibration can be between 5 hertz and 1000 hertz. When using the epilator, the vibrations of the skin of the user or The user resting webs cause a pain that is superimposed on the caused by the plucking of the hair pain. At least subjectively, this should result in a reduction in the user caused by the actual hair plucking sensation of pain. However, it has been found in practice that the actual stinging pain caused by the plucking of hair, despite the use of these vibrating, resting on the skin webs continues to be perceived by the user and perceived as unpleasant.

According to the non-prepublished German patent application P 44 08 809, an epilation device on a rotary cylinder with clamping devices, which allow a cyclic detection and plucking hair. Furthermore are

AT ΟΟί 944 U2 at least two electrodes are provided, via which a stimulation current can be delivered to the skin. As a result, the underlying nerve structures can be irritated with the consequence of the at least subjective impression of a reduction in pain for the user.

The object of the invention is to provide a device or a method for plucking hair of the human skin, in which the plucking of the hair is done effectively and with the greatest possible reduction in the pain sensation of the user.

This object is achieved in a device of the type mentioned in the present invention, that the at least one element has a free end and preferably performs a substantially rectilinear movement in the longitudinal direction of the element. The formation of the free end of the at least one element is achieved with advantage that upon contact of the skin through the element, an impulse is delivered to the skin, softening the sensation of pain during plucking diminished. The substantially rectilinear movement of the element, preferably in the longitudinal direction of the element and substantially perpendicular to the skin of the user, advantageously favors this effect. In a method of the type mentioned, the object is achieved in that before the plucking of hair with the help of a free end of the at least one element, a pulse is delivered to the skin.

By the impulse, a stimulus that is otherwise generated by the plucking of hair, artificial, preferably with less strength but essentially the same pain characteristic, replicated and superimposed on the actual pain or upstream. The additional stimulus is due to the low strength of the user, however, far from as uncomfortable as the actual stabbing pain by the actual plucking. On the contrary, studies carried out in practice have shown that the

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Users of the epilating now hardly feel the actual stabbing pain due to the upstream pulse, but instead take substantially only the caused by the respective pulse, much more pleasant pain note. This may be due to the fact that the nerve cells caused by the impulse practically paralyzed in the short term and thus become insensitive to pain, so that the actual, caused by the plucking process stabbing pain essentially goes down, so the user is not perceived or only attenuated , Overall, the pulse thus has the consequence that the user does not feel the actual stinging pain when plucking hair or only barely feels it and thus the pain sensation is substantially reduced.

An optimization of the device or method is achieved in that the pulse is delivered temporally or locally or temporally and locally immediately before each individual plucking operation on or on the skin, because thus just the nerve cells that activated in the imminent plucking process are to be stunned by the temporally and / or locally upstream impulse so to speak briefly or deactivated.

In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the element is rotatably associated with the clamping device about the axis. Element is thus set directly with the clamping device in a rotary motion. Special components for the drive of the element are therefore not required.

In a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, the element is on the skin and moved away. The pulse is thereby generated mechanically in a simple manner by the reciprocation of the element. This requires little additional components and thus only a low production overhead.

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In a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, the element is zubewegbar immediately before the plucking of hair from a retracted position in a protruding position and thus to the skin. This movement generates the desired impulse and thus the artificial pain in the skin. The movement should take advantage as soon as possible before the plucking of hair, and the manner of the movement, in particular their acceleration or Speed, impulsive. By means of the impulse, an artificial, weak pain is produced, which superimposes the actual, immediately following stabbing pain, which results from the plucking of hair, and at least subjectively reduces its perception by the users.

In a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, the element is movable immediately after the delivery of the pulse to the skin in the protruding position. This ensures that the element is again in the initial position during the next plucking process and can again trigger an impulse on the skin. Thus, the impulse produces the desired artificial pain, but without any other negative consequences for the user.

According to the invention, it is particularly useful if the element can be pushed back by the skin itself. Thus, no special components or the like are required. Instead, the element automatically gives way to the skin, giving it a pulse, once it reaches the skin. Advantageously, each individual clamping device of the device is assigned in each case one element for delivering a pulse. This measure represents an independent feature of the invention.

In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, in which the clamping device can perform a rotational movement with a cyclic plucking of hair, the element is coupled to the rotational movement of the clamping device

AT 001 944 U2 and seen in the direction of rotation immediately before the clamping device. This is achieved in a simple manner that the element emits a pulse temporally and spatially immediately before each cyclic plucking of hair through the clamping device. This is thus achieved without special additional components, but only by the advantageous arrangement of the element in the direction of rotation in front of the clamping device.

In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the element can assume a retracted position, which has a diameter during a rotary movement, which is smaller than the largest diameter of the clamping device, and a protruding position, which has a diameter during a rotary movement, which is greater than that largest diameter of the clamping device. In a rotational movement, the element thus protrudes beyond the clamping device in the protruding position, whereas in the retracted position of the element this is not the case.

It is particularly expedient to use these two positions of the element for the following possibilities for pulse generation. A first possibility is to provide the protruding position as the starting position and to transfer the element when hitting the skin in the retracted position. The impact of the element on the skin represents the delivery of the pulse. Thereafter, the element is again transferred to the protruding position. A second possibility is to provide the retracted position as the starting position and to impart the element immediately before the plucking of hair impulsively in the protruding position. As a result, the desired pulse is generated in a simple manner and delivered to the skin. Thereafter, the element is returned to the retracted position. It is understood that even more common to the expert options are conceivable that can exploit the two positions of the element for pulse generation.

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In practice, it has been found to be particularly useful when the protruding position during a rotational movement has a diameter which is about 0.1 mm to about 6 mm larger than the largest diameter of the clamping device.

In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the element by centrifugal force and / or by spring force and / or by cam or cam tracks or the like is movable. Thereby, the reciprocating movement of the element between the retracted position and the protruding position is achieved in a simple manner. In particular, when using cam or cam tracks a very precise control of the reciprocation of the element is possible.

In a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, the element has a pointed and / or a toothed and / or a bristled wheel and / or a correspondingly formed roller or the like. This embodiment has proven to be particularly advantageous in practice, in particular in the first possibility of pulse generation described above. There is thus, for example, a toothed wheel by means of a cam or curved path immediately before the plucking of hair impulsively moves from the retracted to the protruding position.

In another advantageous embodiment of the invention, the element has a bump and / or a tip or the like and is coupled resiliently with the rotary cylinder. This embodiment has proven to be particularly advantageous in practice, in particular in the case of the above-described second possibility of pulse generation. Thus, for example, the hump encounters the skin and generates the desired momentum to be subsequently pushed back by the skin from the protruding position to the retracted position.

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It is particularly expedient according to the invention in this case if the bump or the tip or the like is held on a threading device for the hair to be dispensed.

In another advantageous embodiment of the invention, the element performs a substantially rectilinear motion. This ensures that the impact of the element on the skin causes a particularly good stimulation of the nerves. By the substantially rectilinear movement of the element, a pulse is generated which is particularly well suited to produce an artificial pain and thus to superimpose the subsequent pain by the plucking of hair. Another advantage of the rectilinear motion of the element is that such motion is simple and yet accurate to create and control.

In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the element is lowered in particular immediately before or during the plucking of hair on the skin and in particular lifted immediately after hitting the skin of the skin. This sequence of movements of the element has proven to be particularly useful in practice. In particular, it is ensured in this way that the pulse triggered by the element is very short and in any case takes place before or during the plucking of hair.

In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the lowering of the element on the skin and the lifting of the element from the skin is mechanically controlled. In this way, an accurate, yet simple and inexpensive control of the movement of the element is achieved.

In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the element is coupled for the purpose of its control with the clamping device. This also simplifies the control of the element. Furthermore, the drive of the element is achieved in a simple and cost-effective manner by this coupling.

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In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the element is formed plunger-like and has a tip which impinges on the skin. The element is therefore a simple, elongate component, which, however, is particularly suitable, in particular through its tip, for producing the desired impulse and thus pain when it hits the skin.

In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the element is associated with a drive shaft, by means of which the element is lowered onto the skin and lifted off again. With the help of the drive shaft, the movement of the element is generated and simultaneously controlled. The drive shaft is assigned a dual function to that extent expediently. This simplifies the entire design of the drive and the control of the element and has a positive effect on the production and the associated costs.

In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the drive shaft is formed like a crank and coupled to the element. In particular, the formation of the drive shaft as a crankshaft simplifies the drive and the control of the element substantially. It is particularly expedient if the element has a guide, in which engages the drive shaft. In this way, a simple, yet effective coupling of the element and the drive shaft is achieved.

In an advantageous embodiment of the invention gears, bevel gears, or the like for connecting the drive shaft and the clamping device are provided. These types of connection are simple, yet effective ways to couple the drive shaft with the clamping device. Via the gears or bevel gears or the like on the one hand and on the engaging in the crank-like drive shaft guide of the element on the other hand, thus the element is coupled to the clamping device. The element is driven and controlled in this way by the clamping device via the drive shaft.

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In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, a plurality of elements are arranged approximately parallel to each other. In this way, corresponding elements can be provided over the entire width of the clamping device, so that also wherever hair is plucked, corresponding pulses for pain relief can be generated.

It is especially useful if the drive shaft is arranged approximately parallel to the axis of the clamping device. This arrangement facilitates the coupling of the drive shaft with the clamping device and is also advantageous in terms of the arrangement of the or driven by the drive shaft and controlled elements.

In further advantageous developments of the invention, the element or the elements are displaceably mounted in the longitudinal direction and / or the drive shaft is rotatably mounted on the housing.

In an advantageous development of the invention, the element emits a mechanical impulse and / or an electrical impulse. The mechanical pulse has the particular advantage that the element can be produced in a simple and cost-effective manner. Furthermore, this type of pulse generation is easy for the user to understand, which is advantageous for the acceptance of the innovations by the user. The electrical pulse has the advantage that usually no moving components are required and the pulse with electronic, conventional means is easily controlled.

It is particularly useful to realize the electrical impulse that is controlled in the Epiinationsgerät the aforementioned German patent application P 44 08 809 of the stimulation current in response to the cyclic plucking of hair, in particular by each cyclic Auszupfvorgang a stimulation current pulse, especially locally and / or is sent ahead in time.

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In a further embodiment of the invention, which may also constitute an independent invention, a method for plucking hair of the human skin is proposed, wherein by means of at least one element emits a mechanical impulse to the skin of the user, which advantageously causes the User does not feel the actual pain when plucking the hair or only as pain with a lower pain amplitude. In this case, the skin is acted upon by a free end of the at least one element and the at least one element performs a substantially rectilinear movement, which preferably extends in the longitudinal direction of the element.

It is also proposed a method for applying a device according to the invention, wherein the device is placed on the skin of the user to be treated and moves over the skin, so that the means for reducing the sensation of pain, in particular the free end of the at least one element the clamping elements the rotatable clamping device for plucking the hair in the direction of movement leads. This advantageously provides a method which reduces the pain when plucking the hair as much as possible.

Other features, advantages and applications of the invention will become apparent from the following description of exemplary embodiments, which are illustrated in more detail in the drawing. All described and / or illustrated features alone or in any meaningful combination, the subject of the invention, regardless of their summary in the claims or their dependency.

Show it:

1 is a schematic perspective view of a plucking head of an embodiment of an epilating device according to the invention,

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2 is a schematic representation of a rotary cylinder for the plucking head according to the Fig. 1 with clamping devices and elements for pulse generation in a sectional view,

3 shows a pointed wheel as an element for pulse generation corresponding to FIG. 2 in a plan view and a side view,

4 shows a toothed wheel as an element for impuiser generation corresponding to FIG. 2 in a plan view and a side view, FIG.

5 shows a number of juxtaposed wheels as elements for pulse generation corresponding to the Fig. 2 in a plan view,

6 is a schematic representation of the rotary cylinder according to FIG. 2 with springs for moving the elements for pulse generation in a sectional view, FIG.

7 is a schematic representation of the rotary cylinder according to FIG. 2 with cam tracks for moving the elements for pulse generation in a sectional view, FIG.

Fig. 8 is a schematic representation of the rotary cylinder similar to FIG. 2 with a first embodiment of spring elastically held bumps in a plan view with partially sectioned side views, and

9 is a schematic representation of the rotary cylinder similar to FIG. 2 with a second embodiment of elastically held bumps in plan views with a partially sectioned side view,

10 is a schematic perspective view of a plucking head of another embodiment of an epilating device according to the invention,

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11 is a schematic representation of the plucking head of FIG. 10 in a side view from the direction D of FIG. 12,

12 is a schematic representation of the plucking head of FIG. 10 in a plan view from the direction A of FIG. 11,

13 is a schematic sectional view of the plucking head of FIG. 10 taken along the plane B-B of FIG. 11, and FIG

14 is a schematic sectional view of the plucking head of FIG. 10 along the plane C - C of FIG. 11.

The basis of FIGS. 1 to 14 features described below are suitable for operation with an epilator as disclosed in European Laid-Open Specification 596 283 A1, and as incorporated herein by express reference in the disclosure of the present application.

There is described an epilation device for plucking hair from the human skin, in which a rotary cylinder is rotatably mounted in a housing and can be driven by a particular electric motor. The rotary cylinder has a plurality of clamping devices which, in the switched-on operating state, perform a rotary movement together with the rotary cylinder and cyclically grasp and pluck the hairs facing the skin of a user.

FIG. 1 shows a plucking head 1 of such an epilating device. This has a housing 2, in which a zuwendbare the skin of the user opening 3 is present. Within the opening 3 are a plurality of clamping devices 4 through the housing 2 through to the outside. The clamping devices 4 are arranged in a row 5 next to each other. On both

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Pages of this row 5 are each a plurality of threading devices 6 are provided, which are also each arranged in a row 7, 8 and through the opening 3 to the outside. In each threading device 6, an opening 9 is included, through which a subsequently described element for pulse generation can pass outwards.

As can be seen from European Patent Application 596 283 A1 and as will be described at least in part, the plucking head 1 shown in FIG. 1 can not only have a single row 5 of clamping devices 4, but several such rows. The same applies to the rows 7, 8 of threading devices 6, wherein the number of rows of clamping devices 4 usually corresponds to the number of rows of threading devices 6.

2, a rotary cylinder 10 is shown, which is mounted rotatably about an axis 11 in the housing 2 of the plucking head 1. The Drehzyiinder 10 has three rows 5, 12, 13 of clamping devices 4, which are arranged symmetrically in the direction of rotation 14 and projecting in the radial direction of the axis 11. Furthermore, three rows 7,8, 15 are provided by threading devices 6, which are indicated between the rows 5, 12, 13 of clamping devices 4 in plan view.

Approximately between the three rows 5, 12, 13 of clamping devices 4, a single element 16 for generating pulses or a respective row 17, 18, 19 of elements 16 for generating pulses is arranged. The elements 16 are coupled to the rotary cylinder 10 and perform the rotational movement of the rotary cylinder about the axis 11 in the direction of rotation 14. The elements 16 are arranged on the inside of the threading devices 6 and can project outwardly through the openings 9 of the threading devices 6. Each element 16 is arranged in the direction of rotation 14 immediately before the next subsequent clamping device 4. Each element 16 is so coupled to the rotary cylinder 10,

AT 001 944 U2 that it is rectilinear or curved in a direction substantially radially to the axis 11 arranged direction 20 back and forth. Thus, each element 16, as soon as it is approximately facing the skin 21, approximately in the direction 20 on the skin 21 and moved away again.

This reciprocating movement of the element 16 has a retracted position 22 and a protruding position 23, wherein in the end points in each case the direction of movement reverses. During a rotational movement of the rotary cylinder 10 and thus of the elements 16, the outermost diameter 24 passed through by the elements 16 located in the retracted position 22 is less than or equal to the largest diameter 25 of the clamping devices 4. Correspondingly, the diameter 26 passed through by the elements 16 located in the protruding position 23 is greater than the largest diameter 25 of the clamping devices 4. The traversed at the protruding position 23 diameter 26 is greater by a value 27 of about 0.1 mm to about 6 mm than the largest diameter 25 of the clamping devices. 4

In the powered-on state of the epilator, the element 16 produces a mechanical impulse on the skin 21 in the form of a shock or a prick. Due to the arrangement of the element 16 in the direction of rotation 14 immediately in front of the associated clamping device 4, the pulse is delivered directly to the skin 21 temporally and spatially prior to the plucking of hair through the clamping device 4. By assigning each exactly one element 16 to a respective clamping device 4, a pulse is delivered before each individual Auszupfvorgang. With respect to each individual clamping device 4 and to each clamping operation, pulse generation by the associated element 16 is unique.

In order to generate the pulse, the element 16 strikes the skin 21 in its protruding position 23 and thus delivers the momentum to the skin 21. immediate

AT 001 944 U2 when hitting the skin 21, the element 16 is at least as long transferred to the retracted position 22 until the element 16 no longer faces the skin 21 and rests on this. This is shown in FIG. 2.

The retraction of the element 16 in the retracted position 22 may optionally be achieved in that the element 16 is pushed back by the skin 21 itself, for example against the force of a spring or against the centrifugal force or the like. This will be described below with reference to FIGS. 5 and 6 will be explained in more detail.

If the element 16 protrudes in the protruding position 23 only by a small amount or slightly beyond the largest diameter 25 of the clamping device 4, the transfer of the element 16 in the retracted position 22 in individual cases may optionally be omitted entirely.

Alternatively, it is possible for the element 16 to be moved from the retracted position 22 to the protruding position 23 just prior to the plucking of hair. This represents a movement of the element 16 in the direction 20 on the skin 21, by which a pulse from the element 16 is delivered to the skin 21. Immediately after the delivery of the pulse, the element 16 is returned to the retracted position 23 and thus moved away from the skin 21. This reciprocal movement of the element 16 can be generated, for example, by corresponding cam or cam tracks, which act on the element 16. This will be described below with reference to FIG. 7 be explained in more detail.

Various embodiments of the element 16 are shown in FIGS. 3a, b and 4a, b shown. Thus, the element 16 may be configured as a wheel 28 having a tip 29 at its periphery. Additionally and / or alternatively, the wheel 28 may be configured in the form of a plurality of teeth 30 whose free

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Ends are optionally provided with the tips 29. Further embodiments consist in appropriately designed rolls or the like. The diameter of the wheel 28 or the roller is usually much smaller than the largest diameter 25 of the clamping device. 4

Various embodiments to create the reciprocations of the element 16 are shown in FIGS. 5 to 7 shown.

Thus, according to FIGS. 5 or 6 a single element 16 or a plurality, for example in the form of a series of arranged on a shaft 31 elements 16 via springs 32, 33 may be connected to the rotary cylinder 10. This has the consequence that the elements 16 are pressed during a rotational movement of the rotary cylinder 10 about the axis 11 by the spring force in the protruding position 23. By the impact of the elements 16 on the skin 21, the elements 16 are pressed against the force of the springs 32, 33 as long as approximately parallel to the direction 20 in the retracted position 22 until the elements 16 no longer face the skin 21 due to the rotational movement.

In the embodiment of FIG. 5, the spiral springs 32 are arranged approximately parallel to the direction 20, while the leaf springs 33 are arranged approximately transversely to the direction 20 in the embodiment of FIG. In both cases, the spring force of the springs 32, 33 acts approximately parallel to the direction 20 radially outward, so that the elements 16 are pressed by the springs 32, 33 always approximately parallel to the direction 20 outwardly into the protruding position 23.

Additionally and / or alternatively, according to FIG. 7, a cam or cam track 34 may be provided, with which the element 16 is coupled and by which the reciprocating movement of the element 16 is controlled. The cam or cam track 34 has the consequence that the element 16 immediately before the plucking of hair approximately parallel to the direction 20 in the protruding position 23rd

AT 001 944 U2 is transferred. This is approximately the case when the element 16 approximately faces the skin 21. Preferably, the transfer of the element 16 in the protruding position 23 as quickly as possible or pulse-like by a corresponding configuration of the cam or cam track 34. After the delivery of the pulse, the element 16 by a corresponding configuration of the cam or cam track 34 back into the retracted Position 22 moved back.

Other embodiments of the element 16 will be apparent from FIGS. 8 and 9 show.

Thus, according to FIGS. 8a, b, c, the element 16 may be formed as a bump 35, which is arranged at the free end 36 of a threading device 6 and thus connected to the rotary cylinder 10. At least the free end 36 of the threading device 6 is designed resiliently, for example by its production from a plastic. In the normal state, the hump 35 assumes the protruding position 23. When hitting the skin 21, the hump 35 is pushed back by the skin 21 itself against the elastic force in the retracted step 22. As soon as the hump 35 no longer faces the skin 21, it is pushed back into the protruding position 23 by the spring-elastic force.

Alternatively, according to FIGS. 9a, b, c, the element 16 not as a hump 35, but as a tip 37, which are interconnected with rods 39, be formed, which is inserted through the opening 9 of the threading device 6 in the radial direction, and via a resilient arm 38th is connected to the threading device 6 or other components of the rotary cylinder 10. The arm 38 may be made of spring steel or a plastic.

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In the Fign. 10 14 shows a plucking head 40 for an epilating device, as has already been explained in the introduction with the aid of European published patent application 596 283 A1. The plucking head 40 has a housing 41 in which an opening 42 facing the user's skin is present. Within the opening 42 are a plurality of clamping devices 43 through the housing 41 therethrough to the outside. The clamping devices 43 are arranged in a row next to each other. As described in European Laid-Open Specification 596 283 A1, the embodiment shown in FIGS. 10 until plucking head 40 shown in FIG. 14 not only has a single row of clamping devices 43, but several such rows. As can be seen in particular from FIG. 14 it can be seen, in this case, the clamping devices 43 form a rotary cylinder 44 which is rotatably mounted about an axis 45 in the housing 41 of the head Kopf s 40.

On the housing 41 of the plucking head 40 two bearing blocks 46, 47 are held, in which the ends of a drive shaft 48 are rotatably mounted. The drive shaft 48 is arranged approximately parallel to the clamping devices 43, and thus also approximately parallel to the axis 45 of the rotary cylinder 44th

Immediately ar next to the two bearing blocks 46, 47 carries the drive shaft 48 each have a gear 49, 50. The gears 49, 50 are rotatably connected to the drive shaft 48 and project through openings 51, 52 in the housing 41 into the interior of the plucking head 40 inside. There, the gears mesh 49, 50 each have an associated toothed flange 53, 54, which in turn rotatably connected to the rotary cylinder 44 and thus with the clamping devices 43 are connected. This can be seen in particular from FIG. 13.

The drive shaft 48 is crank-shaped and thus has non-axial components. In particular, the drive shaft is formed by a crankshaft, at the ends thereof, as already described, the gears 49, 50 are arranged.

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At least one element 55 is associated with the drive shaft 48. In the present embodiment of FIGS. 10 to 14 are assigned a total of eight elements 55 of the drive shaft 48. Each of the elements 55 has a plunger-like, elongated appearance and has a tip 56 at a free end. Approximately centrally, each of the elements 55 has a guide 57 which is U-shaped. In each of these guides 57, the non-axial components of the drive shaft 43 engage.

The individual elements 55 are arranged approximately parallel to one another. With regard to the housing 41, the elements 55 are also arranged approximately parallel to the outside thereof. The tips 56 of the elements 55 are arranged on the same side as the opening 42 in the housing 41. The tips 56 thus point to the skin of the user when using the epilator. The arrangement and length of the elements 55 is selected such that the tips 56 of the elements 55 in use approximately even form a plane with the clamping devices of the plucking head 40 so that the tips 56 can just touch the skin of the user. This is particularly apparent from FIGS. 13 and 14 can be seen.

The drive shaft 48, the gears 49, 50 and in each case the region of the guides 57 of the elements 55 are housed under a cover 58 held on the housing 41. In the cover 58 bores 59, 60 are introduced, in which the elements 55 on both sides of the guides 57 are slidably guided.

In the switched-on operating state of the epilating device, the rotary cylinder performs a rotary movement about the axis 45. About the toothed flange 53, 54 and the associated gear 49, 50, the rotational movement is transmitted to the drive shaft 48. About the non-axial components of the drive shaft 48 and the guides 57, the elements 55 are each offset in an up and down movement.

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The movement is substantially rectilinear and extends approximately in the longitudinal direction of the elements 55. The movement is approximately aligned transversely to the skin 61 of the user. This is particularly apparent from FIGS. 13 and 14 can be seen.

By an offset arrangement of the non-axial components of the drive shaft 48, the elements 55 can be offset in mutually opposite up and down movements. This can be seen in particular from FIG. 10.

By the numbers of the teeth of the Zahnfllansches 53, 54 and the gear 49, 50, the speed of the up and down movement of the elements 55 can be adjusted. Preferably, the frequency of the up and down movement of the elements 55 is about 30 hertz. However, the frequency can be higher or lower.

Due to the arrangement of the elements 55 on the housing 41, the up and down movement has the consequence that the tips 56 of the elements 55 impinge on the skin 61 on the skin 61 Zopff straight on the skin 61. This is particularly apparent from FIGS. 13 and 14 can be seen.

The mechanical control of the elements 55 by means of the drive shaft 48 is designed such that the tips 56 of the elements 55 are lowered immediately before or during the plucking of hair through the clamping device 43 to the skin 61 and thus impinge on the skin 61. As a result, a mechanical impulse is exerted on the skin 61, which produces an artificial pain, which in turn superimposes and thereby reduces the actual pain caused by the plucking. Furthermore, the control is designed such that the tips 56 of the elements 55 are lifted off the skin 61 immediately after it has hit the skin.

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