Handheld treatment apparatus for modifying keratinous surfaces

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9949552-B2
Application number	US-201514807231-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 23, 2015
Priority date	Jul 25, 2014
Publication date	Apr 24, 2018
Grant date	Apr 24, 2018

Abstract

An apparatus for treating human skin includes an outer housing including a graspable portion and an applicator portion comprising an applicator head and at least one nozzle in the applicator portion having a main axis for delivering a skin treatment composition through an opening in the applicator head onto human skin. An image capture device captures images of the human skin through the opening. A processor analyzes the images of the human skin to identify skin deviations. An optical axis of the image capture device is offset angularly from the main axis of the at least one nozzle.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus for treating human skin, comprising:
an outer housing including a graspable portion and an applicator portion comprising an applicator head and at least one nozzle in the applicator portion having a main axis for delivering a skin treatment composition through an opening in the applicator head onto human skin;
an image capture device that captures images of the human skin through the opening; and
a processor that analyzes the images of the human skin to identify skin deviations;
wherein an optical axis of the image capture device is offset angularly from the main axis of the at least one nozzle;
wherein an angle between the main axis of the at least one nozzle and the optical axis of the image processing device is between about 10 degrees and about 45 degrees.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the main axis of the at least one nozzle intersects a field of view of the image capture device.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a removeable cartridge that includes the at least one nozzle.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 , comprising a skin engagement member that is located at the opening for engaging skin.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the skin engagement member comprises a roller.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 , comprising a first roller at a first side of the opening and a second roller at a second, opposite side of the opening, the optical axis passing between the first and second rollers.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein a field of view of the image capture device includes at least one of the first and second rollers.

8. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the first and second rollers are connected to the applicator head at a pivot axis, wherein a distance between the pivot axes of the first and second rollers is between about 5 mm and about 15 mm.

9. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein a gap between the first and second rollers is no greater than about 10 mm.

10. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the first and second rollers share a tangent plane that defines an imaginary flat rolling surface.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the optical axis is between about 80 degrees and about 60 degrees from the imaginary flat rolling surface.

12. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the main axis of the at least one nozzle is less than 90 degrees from the imaginary flat rolling surface.

13. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the optical axis and the main axis of the at least one nozzle intersect at the imaginary flat rolling surface.

14. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the at least one nozzle is located at least about 8 mm from the imaginary flat rolling surface.

15. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the at least one nozzle is a fixed distance from the imaginary flat rolling surface.

16. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the opening has an area of no greater than about 100 mm 2 .

17. The apparatus of claim 1 , sized and configured to be hand held and operated manually.

18. The apparatus of claim 1 , comprising a user interface configured to provide information to a user.

19. A method of treating human skin using a handheld treatment apparatus, the method comprising:
delivering a skin treatment composition through an opening in an applicator head of a handheld treatment apparatus and onto human skin;
capturing images of the human skin using an image capture device of the handheld treatment apparatus though the opening; and
analyzing the images of the human skin to identify skin deviations using a processor;
wherein an optical axis of the image capture device is offset angularly from a main axis of the at least one nozzle;
wherein an angle between the main axis of the at least one nozzle and the optical axis of the image processing device is between about 10 degrees and about 45 degrees.

20. The method of claim 19 , wherein the main axis of the at least one nozzle intersects a field of view of the image capture device.

21. The method of claim 19 , further comprising engaging the skin using a skin engagement member that is located at the opening thereby flattening the skin.

22. The method of claim 21 , wherein the skin engagement member comprises a roller.

23. The method of claim 22 , comprising a first roller at a first side of the opening and a second roller at a second, opposite side of the opening, the optical axis passing between the first and second rollers.

24. The method of claim 23 , wherein a field of view of the image capture device includes at least one of the first and second rollers.

25. The method of claim 19 , further comprising communicating an out-of-parameter condition to a user using a user interface.

26. The method of claim 25 , wherein a speed sensor is used to communicate the out-of-parameter condition.

27. An apparatus for treating human skin, comprising:
an outer housing including a graspable portion and an applicator portion comprising an applicator head and at least one nozzle in the applicator portion having a main axis for delivering a skin treatment composition through an opening in the applicator head onto human skin;
an image capture device having an optical axis that captures images of the human skin through the opening;
a processor that analyzes the images of the human skin to identify skin deviations;
wherein an optical axis of the image capture device and the main axis of the at least one nozzle pass through the opening and between a pair of skin engagement members arranged and configured to flatten a surface of the skin;
wherein the pair of skin engagement members comprises a first and second roller.

28. The apparatus of claim 27 , wherein the optical axis and the main axis intersect.

29. The apparatus of claim 27 , wherein a field of view of the image capture device includes at least one of the first and second rollers.

30. The apparatus of claim 27 , wherein the first and second rollers are connected to the applicator head at a pivot axis, wherein a distance between the pivot axes of the first and second rollers is between about 5 mm and about 15 mm.

31. The apparatus of claim 27 , wherein a gap between the first and second rollers is no greater than about 10 mm.

32. The apparatus of claim 27 , wherein the first and second rollers share a tangent plane that defines an imaginary flat rolling surface.

33. The apparatus of claim 32 , wherein the at least one nozzle is a fixed distance from the imaginary flat rolling surface.

34. The apparatus of claim 27 , further comprising a removable cartridge including the at least one nozzle.

35. The apparatus of claim 27 , wherein the opening has an area of no more than 100 mm 2 .

36. The apparatus of claim 27 , including a battery.

37. The apparatus of claim 27 , including a light source for illuminating the treatment surface for the user.

38. The apparatus of claim 27 , where communication between devices is by wireless means.

Assignees

• Procter & Gamble

Inventors

• Rabe Thomas Elliot
• Sherman Faiz Feisal
• Bush Stephan Gary
• Meschkat Stephan James Andreas

Classifications

• A61Q1/02

  Preparations containing skin colorants, e.g. pigments (preparations in powder form A61Q1/12) · CPC title

• G06T2207/30088

  Skin; Dermal · CPC title

• A61K8/86

  Polyethers · CPC title

• A61B2560/0431

  Portable apparatus, e.g. comprising a handle or case · CPC title

• A61K8/26

  Aluminium; Compounds thereof · CPC title