US20110224692A1

US20110224692A1 - Device for applying high-frequency vibrations to hair for removing same

Info

Publication number: US20110224692A1
Application number: US12/996,775
Authority: US
Inventors: Alon Goren; Uri Amir; Assaf Guterman; Benjamin Geller; Valentina Melnikov; Ephraim Carleback; Abraham Dayan; Nir Berzak; Yuri Lechtzien; Nir Rotem
Original assignee: Applisonix Ltd
Current assignee: Applisonix Ltd
Priority date: 2008-06-09
Filing date: 2009-06-09
Publication date: 2011-09-15
Also published as: EP2328436A2; WO2009150645A3; JP5511801B2; WO2009150645A9; JP2011523581A; HK1158906A1; CN102098941B; CN102098941A; WO2009150645A2

Abstract

A device for applying vibrations to hair rooted in a body, includes: a pair of tongs having hair-gripping ends capable of being driven into high-frequency vibrations with respect to each other; and a transducer coupled to at least one of the tongs for converting an AC voltage to mechanical vibrations for driving the hair-gripping end into vibrations with respect to generate sufficient heat within the body to facilitate removal of the unwanted hair. The transducer is preferably a piezoelectric element which vibrates the hair at a frequency of 100-500 KHz, preferably 100-350 KHz, and produces a displacement of 5-20 microns.

Description

FIELD AND BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a device for applying high-frequency vibrations to objects, which device is particularly useful for removing hair.
A hair is composed of a protein named keratin arranged in three layers, termed the outer cuticle, the middle cortex and the central medulla. Hair grows from a follicle, which is a small cup-shaped pit buried under the skin. The walls of the follicle form the outer root sheath of the hair. The base of the hair follicle called the dermal papilla, is fed by the bloodstream which carries nourishment (e.g., nutrients and oxygen) to produce new hair and removes waste materials formed in the process (e.g., CO₂). The lower part of the follicle widens out to form a hair bulb containing a germinal matrix, which is the source of hair growth. Hair growth is initiated in the hair bulge, which is a small swell of the hair follicle that forms the attachment site of a small smooth muscle, called the arrector pili muscle. During the anagen phase (the growing phase of the hair), the dermal papilla sends signals to the stem cells in the hair bulge to migrate downwards along the follicle. Triggered by the dermal papilla, the stem cells begin to proliferate and, following cell differentiation, a new hair shaft is formed.
Various methods and devices exist for removal of undesired hair. Known devices generally pluck hair affixed to a tissue using various types of gripping, pulling and/or cutting means. The existing techniques can be classified into two major categories: short-term and long-term hair removal techniques.
In short-term hair removal techniques, the hair is removed without significantly damaging the biological regeneration and/or re-growth mechanisms found at the base of each hair. Such technique affects only that part of the hair shaft which is located outside the skin, while the living part of the hair (the hair follicle attached to dermal papilla) continues to grow. The most common short-term hair removals techniques include: shaving, rotary mechanical epilation, waxing and chemical depilation.
Long-term hair removal techniques affect the biological re-growth mechanisms of the removed hair, and thus have the potential of inhibiting re-growth of unwanted hair from the treated organ. The most common long-term hair removal techniques include: electrolysis, laser and intense pulsed (non-laser) light.
A companion application Ser. No. 10/590,477 filed Feb. 20, 2005, and assigned to the same assignee discloses methods and devices for removing hair based on the transmission of acoustic waves through the hair shaft to generate sufficient heat to destroy the hair root. This is done by gripping a segment of the hair and transmitting acoustic waves through the hair. That application describes many embodiments which include a wave condenser for condensing the acoustic waves before transmitting them through the hair. Further details of the prior art in this field, as well as the construction of the device described in the above-cited patent application, are available from the description in that patent application, which description is incorporated herein by reference.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides other devices for the efficient coupling of acoustic energy into the hair at a location outside the skin in order to generate heat in the hair root for removing the hair.
According to a broad aspect of the present invention, there is provided a device for applying vibrations to hair rooted in a body, comprising: a pair of tongs having hair-gripping ends biased towards each other, with one tong serving as a hammer being capable of being driven into high-frequency vibrations with respect to the other tong; and a transducer coupled only to said one tong for converting an AC voltage to mechanical vibrations for driving the hair-gripping end of said one tong into vibrations with respect to the other tong; the hair-gripping ends of the pair of tongs including, or being coupled to, gripping surfaces for gripping the hair between them and for vibrating the hair to generate sufficient heat within the hair root to facilitate removal of the hair.
The invention of the present application is to be distinguished from the previous application Ser. No. 10/590,477, cited above. Thus, whereas the previous patent application also removes the hair by acoustical waves, in that case the hair is used as a wave guide for the acoustical energy and is preferably coupled to the acoustical driver by using a wave condenser for the acoustic waves prior to transmitting them through the hair. FIGS. 4 a and 4 b of that application illustrate an arrangement when the hair is gripped by a wave condenser carried at the ends of a pair of tongs, each driven by a piezoelectric device.
This is to be distinguished from the invention of the present application, wherein vibrations are applied to the hair by a pair of tongs having hair-gripping ends biased towards each other, wherein only one tong, serving as a hammer, is driven into high frequency vibrations with respect to the other by a transducer, and with the hair-gripping ends of the tongs including, or being coupled to, gripping surfaces for gripping the hair between them for inducing vibrations in the hair to generate sufficient heat within the hair root to facilitate removal of the hair.
In the described preferred embodiments, the transducer is a piezoelectric element. In addition at least one of the gripping surfaces includes a layer of a compliant material, such as a film of an epoxy resin, permitting small displacements of the hair, increasing the contact surface between the tongs and the hair, and allowing different diameter hairs to be gripped and vibrated.
Preferably, the AC voltage is from 100-500 KHz, more preferably 100-350 KHz, and the transducer converts the AC voltage to displacements of 5-20 microns in the hair gripping surfaces. The hair gripping surfaces may grip the hair so that the hair is vibrated along any one or combination of the three orthogonal axes.
In one described preferred embodiment, the piezoelectric element is fixed to the hair-gripping end of one of the tongs and defines a gripping surface coupled with the hair-gripping end of the other tong for gripping the hair between them. The one tong is mounted so that the hair-gripping end is vibrated, and the other tong serves as a relatively stationary anvil. The tips of one or both of the tongs may be disposable.
A second embodiment is described wherein the piezoelectric element is coupled to the hair-gripping end of the one tong via one end of a horn to increase the displacement of the hair-gripping end of the one tong. The end of the horn opposite to that coupled to the piezoelectric element is shaped to define one of the gripping surfaces cooperable with the hair-gripping end of the other tong to grip the hair between them. In addition, the opposite end of the horn, and the hair-gripping end of the other tong, are turned inwardly towards each other to define the gripping surfaces for gripping the hair between them. In this described preferred embodiment, the other tong is fixed and serves as a relatively stationary anvil.
A further embodiment is described wherein the device further includes a clamping member for applying a pre-loaded force to the piezoelectric element to increase the displacement of the piezoelectric element in the direction of the applied force.
Yet another embodiment is described wherein the at least one tong is mounted such that its hair-gripping end is vibrated, and the other tong is also vibrated.
In this embodiment the piezoelectric element is coupled to the hair-gripping end of the other tong via one end of a second horn to cause the hair-gripping end of the other tong to vibrate synchronously with the hair-gripping end of the one tong. The opposite ends of the two tongs are turned inwardly towards each other to define the gripping surfaces for gripping the hair to be vibrated.
Still another embodiment is described, wherein the piezoelectric element is coupled to one side of the hair-gripping end of one of the tongs, its opposite side carrying a horn to increase its displacement. The horn is of conical shape having a large diameter end coupled to the hair-gripping end of the one tong, and a small diameter end defining a gripping surface with the hair-gripping end of the other tong for gripping the hair to be vibrated. In addition, the other tong is fixed and serves as a stationary anvil.
Two still further embodiments are described. In one embodiment, the horn is in the shape of a truncated cone wherein the truncated end of the cone is flattened to define one of the hair gripping surfaces. In the other, the horn includes a small-diameter end bent towards the free end of the other tong to define a gripping surface for gripping the hair to be vibrated. In this embodiment, as well as in the others, at least one of the gripping surfaces is roughened to securely grip the hair.
The device may include a plurality of pairs of such tongs to grip and vibrate a plurality of hairs at one time.
As will be described more particularly below, such devices are particularly useful for applying vibrations to hair in order to weaken or destroy their roots by heat and to facilitate the removal of such hair such as by plucking.
Further features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the description below.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention is herein described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIGS. 1-7 schematically illustrate several embodiments of the invention for purposes of example;

FIG. 8 illustrates the invention embodied in a line of pairs of tongs for gripping and vibrating a plurality of hair at one time, one tong of each pair being a vibrating hammer and the other tong of each pair being a stationary anvil;

FIG. 9 is a side view illustrating the line of vibrating hammers in the device of FIG. 8, without their respective stationary anvils;

FIG. 10 illustrates a rectangular matrix of a plurality of vibrating hammers, arranged in a plurality of horizontal lines and vertical columns, according to FIG. 9, but without the stationary anvils between each vertical line of vibrating hammers;

and FIG. 11 diagrammatically illustrates a device including a plurality of pairs of vibrating hammers arrayed in a staggered relationship, but without the stationary anvils cooperable with each vibrating hammer.

It is to be understood that the foregoing drawings, and the description below, are provided primarily for purposes of facilitating understanding the conceptual aspects of the invention and possible embodiments thereof, including what is presently considered to be a preferred embodiment. In the interest of clarity and brevity, no attempt is made to provide more details than necessary to enable one skilled in the art, using routine skill and design, to understand and practice the described invention. It is to be further understood that the embodiments described are for purposes of example only, and that the invention is capable of being embodied in other forms and applications than described herein.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIGS. 1-7, as to be more particularly described below, relate to several preferred embodiments of devices constructed in accordance with the present invention for applying vibrations to unwanted hair rooted in a body, in order to destroy their roots and remove the hair. Generally speaking, the device grips the hair between a pair of tongs with a predetermined contact force. At the point of contact between the hair and the respective tongs, the hair is subject to mechanical displacements, preferably at a frequency of 100-500 KHz, more preferably 100-350 KHz, and an amplitude of 5-20 microns. The vibrations may be in a direction along the hair shaft, perpendicular to the hair shaft, or a combination of both.
In cases where only one of the tongs is vibrated, the vibrating tong is referred to as a hammer, and the stationary tong is referred to as an anvil. One part of the hammer is a transducer, e.g., a piezoelectric element, for converting a high-frequency AC voltage to mechanical vibrations for driving the hair-gripping end of at least one tong into vibrations with respect to the hair-gripping end of the other tong. The piezoelectric element can vibrate freely, or may be pre-loaded by a clamping device. A horn or other mechanical amplification mechanism can be used to amplify the displacements of the hair during its vibrations by the piezoelectric element. The free ends of the pair of tongs include, or are coupled to, gripping surfaces for gripping the hair between them and for inducing vibrations in the gripped hair to generate sufficient heat within the root of the hair to damage or destroy the root and thereby to facilitate removal of the hair.
Following is a more complete description of the various devices illustrated in the drawings.
The device illustrated in FIG. 1 is generally designated 10. It includes a pair of tongs 11, 12 having hair-gripping ends 11 a, 12 a inturned to face each other, and a transducer, in the form of a piezoelectric element 13 interposed between the two inturned ends of the pair of tongs. The upper surface of hair-gripping end 11 a is preferably rounded to engage the lower surface of piezoelectric element 13 along a line extending transversely of tong 11. Preferably, the lower surface of tong end 12 a is flattened.
The upper surface of hair-gripping end 11 a is covered by a film 11 b of a compliant or yielding plastic material, such as epoxy resin, to permit displacements of the gripped hair, and to accommodate hairs of different diameters. One or both gripping surfaces can also be roughened to firmly grip the hair.
The hair-gripping ends 11 a, 12 a of the two tongs are urged towards each other by a force, as shown by arrow F, so that a hair H to be removed from the person's body, is gripped along a line contact surface between the upper surface of end 11 a of tong 11, and the lower surface of piezoelectric element 13.
Piezoelectric element 13 may be constructed to as to apply vibratory forces to the gripped hair H along any one, or any combination of, the three orthogonal axes. Thus, by applying the electrodes to the opposed surfaces of piezoelectric element 13, the gripped hair will be subjected to vibratory displacements in the longitudinal direction (x-axis) of the hair, as shown by arrow 14 a, or in both directions. On the other hand, by applying the electrodes to surface 13 b and its opposed surface on the opposite side of the piezoelectric element, the gripped hair will be subjected to vibratory displacements in the transverse direction (y-axis), as shown by arrow 14 b. In any case, the vibrations are applied to the hairs sufficiently to weaken or destroy their roots by heat generated within the roots to facilitate removal of the hair by plucking.
In the device illustrated in FIG. 1, the lower tong 11 is fixed, and therefore may be referred to as an anvil, whereas the upper tong 12 is mounted in a cantilever fashion so as to be vibrated, and therefore may be referred to as a hammer.
The device of FIG. 2, generally designated 20, also includes a pair of tongs 21, 22 having inturned hair-gripping ends 21 a, 22 a. Also here, the lower tong 21 is stationary, to serve as an anvil, whereas the upper tong 22 is mounted in a cantilever fashion, so as to serve as a hammer. In addition, the upper surface of tong end 21 a is provided with a film 21 b of a compliant or resilient plastic material, permitting small displacements of the gripped hair and also accommodating hairs of different diameters. The two tongs 21, 22 are loaded by a force, shown by arrow F, biasing the two inturned ends of the tongs towards each other to grip the hair between them.
In this case, however, the piezoelectric element 23 engages the end of the upper tong 22 opposite to its inturned end 22 a so as to apply its vibrations to that end. In addition, the upper tong 22 includes, or is configured to serve as, a horn for multiplying the amplitude of the vibrations produced by the piezoelectric element 23.
As in the FIG. 1 embodiment, piezoelectric element 23 may be constructed so as to induce vibratory displacements along any one, or any combination of, the three orthogonal axes in FIG. 1; that is the vibratory displacements may be along the longitudinal axis (x-axis) of the hair, as shown by arrow 24 a, perpendicularly to the hair, as shown by arrow 24 b, or both. In this case, the perpendicular displacement is up and down (z-axis), rather than transversely of the hair (y-axis).
In all other respects, the device illustrated in FIG. 2 can be constructed and used as described above to include the compliant film 21 b and/or a roughened surface.
FIG. 3 illustrates a device, generally designated 30, similar to device 20 of FIG. 2 except that device 30 of FIG. 3 further includes a clamping member, generally designated 35, for applying a pre-load force to the piezoelectric element 33 to increase the displacement of the piezoelectric element in the direction of the applied force 34 a or 34 b. The construction of device 30 illustrated in FIG. 3 is otherwise the same as described above with respect to FIG. 2, including a relatively stationary tong 31, and a vibratory tong 32 each having inturned ends 31 a, 32 a facing each other to serve as contact surfaces for gripping the hair between them. Surface 31 a may include the complaint film 31 b and/or a roughened surface, as in FIGS. 1 and 2.
FIG. 4 illustrates a device, generally designated 40, of similar construction as FIG. 3, including two tongs 41, 42 having inturned ends 41 a, 42 a, respectively, to grip the hair between them, with a piezoelectric device 43 located at the opposite end of the upper tong 42. In this case, however, both tongs are mounted in a cantilever fashion, and piezoelectric element 43 is interposed between end 42 b of the upper tong 42 and an inturned end 41 c of the lower tong 41, so as to vibrate both tongs synchronously.
As in the previously describe embodiments, the piezoelectric element 43 may be designed so as to produce a vibratory force along the axis of the hair, as shown by arrow 44 a, or perpendicularly to the axis of the hair, as shown by arrow 44 b. In addition, the two tongs are urged towards each other by a force shown by arrow F to grip the hair between their inturned ends 41 a, 42 a. In this case, the upper tong 42 is vibrated in both directions, as shown by arrows 44 a and 44 b. One (or both) inturned ends 41 a, 41 b may include the compliant film (41 b) and/or roughened surface.
The device illustrated in FIG. 5, and therein generally designated 50, illustrates a further construction in accordance with the present invention, also including a pair of tongs 51, 52. In this case, the lower tong 51 is stationary, to serve as an anvil, and the upper tong 52 is vibrated to serve as a hammer. The lower tong 51 has an inturned end 51 a facing the hair-gripping end 52 a of the upper tong 52, and may also include the compliant film 51 b and/or a roughened surface. However, end 52 a of tong 52 is not inturned as before, but rather is of an enlarged surface for mounting the piezoelectric element 53 which, preferably, is of a circular configuration so as to produce a vibratory force towards and away the inturned end 51 a of the lower tong 51, as shown by arrow 54.
The under surface of the enlarged end 52 a of tong 52, facing the inturned end 51 a of tong 51, carries a horn 55 of conical shape having a large diameter facing end 52 a of tong 52, and an apex of small diameter facing the inturned end 51 a of the lower tong 51. Preferably, the apex of horn 55 is blunted, flattened, or roughened, so as to define a firm contact with the hair gripped between the two tongs.
As in the previously described embodiments, the two tongs 51, 52 are normally urged towards each other by a force, shown by arrow F, so as to grip the hair between the apex of horn 55 and the upper surface of inturned end 51 a of lower tong 51 before the piezoelectric element 53 is energized to impart vibrations to the gripped hair.
FIG. 6 illustrates a further device, generally designated 60, also including a lower tong 61 and an upper tong 62 having hair-gripping ends 61 a, 62 a, serving as contact surfaces for gripping the hair to be subjected to vibrations by the piezoelectric element 63. As in FIGS. 1-5, the upper surface of inturned end 61 a may include a film 61 b of a plastic resin and/or may be roughened to accommodate and hold hairs of different diameters and to permit small displacements of the gripped hair. In this case, however, the piezoelectric element 63 is mounted to end 62 b opposite end 62 a of tong 62, such that the vibratory displacements of the hair by energization of the piezoelectric element 63 produce displacements along the axis of the gripped hair, as shown by arrow 64.
Also in this case, the upper tong 62 includes, or is shaped as, a conic horn for multiplying the amplitude of the vibrations produced by piezoelectric element 63. As in the previously described embodiments, the upper surface of the inturned end 61 a of the lower tong 61 may be rounded, whereas the lower surfaces of end 62 a of the upper tong 62 may be flattened, or vice versa (as shown) so as to define adequate contact surfaces for gripping the hair to be subjected to the vibrations by the energization of the piezoelectric element 63.
As in the previously described devices, the two tongs 61, 62 are urged towards each other by a force, represented by arrow F, in order to grip the hair before it is subjected to vibrations by the energization of the piezoelectric element 63.
The device of FIG. 7 is similar to that of FIG. 6, except that the conic horn of the upper tong is not truncated, but rather is bent at its apex, or small-diameter end, towards the inwardly-extending end of the lower tong.
Thus, the device illustrated in FIG. 7, and therein generally designated 70, includes a lower tong 71 having an inwardly-bent end 71 a, and an upper tong 72 in the form of, or including, a conical horn configuration. The piezoelectric element 73 is fixed to the large-diameter end of the upper tong 72, whereas the small-diameter end 72 a of tong 72 is bent inwardly towards the inwardly-extending end 71 a of the lower tong 71 for gripping the hair between the contacting surfaces of the two tongs. As described earlier, the upper tong 72 is urged towards the lower tong 71, by a force indicated by arrow F, such that the hair to be gripped and removed is firmly held between the two contacting surfaces of ends 71 a and 72 a of the two tongs. Surface 71 a may include a compliant film 71 b of plastic resin, and/or may be roughened to securely grip hairs of different diameters.
It will be appreciated that, in the construction of FIG. 7, the vibrations or displacements of the gripped hair by the piezoelectric element 73 will be along the axis of the hair, as shown by arrow 74.
In all other respects, the device illustrated in FIG. 7 is constructed and operates as described above particularly with respect to FIG. 6.
FIGS. 8 and 9 illustrate a construction including a plurality of pairs of tongs coupled to the transducer to enable a plurality of hairs to be gripped and vibrated at one time.
Thus, as shown in FIG. 8, the device includes a plurality of vibrating tongs, serving as hammers, arranged in a line, as shown by the first two hammers indicated at 81 a and 81 b. Each hammer 81 a, 81 b, cooperates with a fixed tong, serving as an anvil, 82 a, 82 b, arrayed in a line on one side of the hammers 81 a, 81 b, and a second group of fixed tongs or anvils 82 c, 82 d, arrayed in a line on the opposite side of the hammers 81 a, 81 b. The line of hammers 81 a, 81 b are coupled to a common piezoelectric element 83, via a common base 84, so that activating the piezoelectric device 83 will cause all the hammers 81 a, 81 b to vibrate together. On the other hand, each line of anvils 82 a-82 d is mounted on a fixed base 85 a, 85 b.
It will thus be seen that in the construction illustrated in FIG. 8, the line of hammers 81 a, 81 b is able to grip and vibrate one line of hairs between one set of the anvils 82 a, 82 b, and another line of hairs between the other set of anvils 82 c, 82 d, so as to remove a plurality of hairs at one time.
FIG. 9 more particularly illustrates the line of hammers, generally designated 81, the common piezoelectric device 83 for vibrating the hammers, and the common base 84 for coupling the hammers to the piezoelectric device 83. For the sake of clarity, the anvils 82 a-82 d, and their mounting bases 85 a, 85 b, are not shown in FIG. 9.
FIG. 10 illustrates a construction similar to that of FIGS. 8 and 9, except that the plurality of pairs of tongs are arranged according to a rectangular matrix, generally designated 101, including a plurality of horizontal lines and vertical columns, so as to enable a much larger number of hairs to be gripped and vibrated at one time, by the activation of the common piezoelectric device, generally designated 103. For the sake of clarity, the anvils are not shown in FIG. 10.
FIG. 11 illustrates another variation, including a plurality of horizontal lines and vertical columns of pairs of tongs, but in this case the lines are staggered with respect to each other. Thus, as seen in FIG. 11, one line of vibrating tongs or hammers 111 a is in a staggered relationship with respect to the next adjacent line 111 b of vibrating tongs or hammers. As shown, all the hammers are activated simultaneously by a common piezoelectric device 113. Again, for the sake of clarity, the fixed tongs or anvils on each of the opposite sides of each of the vibrating hammers are not shown.
While the invention has been described with respect to several preferred embodiments, it will be appreciated that these are set forth merely for purposes of example, and that many other variations may be made. For example, transducer devices other than piezoelectric elements, such as magnetostrictive elements, could be used for producing the vibrations. In addition, the vibratory displacements of the hair to be removed could be not only along any one orthogonal axis of the hair, but also along any combination of such axes. Also, instead of mounting the “hammer tong” (e.g. 12, FIG. 1) in cantilever fashion, it could also be pivotally mounted and include a counter-force (e.g., a spring) on the opposite side of the pivot. Further, the stationary tong (e.g., 11, FIG. 1) is “relatively” stationary with respect to the “hammer tong” since it may also involve some movement. Still further, the contacting surfaces of both tongs could be coated with a compliant or yielding film and/or be roughened to more firmly grip hairs of different diameters. Also, other mechanical amplification mechanisms, such as known in the art, could be used in place of a horn as described above.
Many other variations, modifications and applications of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

Claims

1. A device for applying vibrations to a hair rooted in a body, comprising:

a pair of tongs having hair-gripping ends biased towards each other, with one tong, serving as a hammer, being capable of being driven into high-frequency mechanical vibrations with respect to the other tong;

and a transducer coupled only to said one tong for converting an AC voltage to mechanical vibrations for driving the hair-gripping end of said one tong into mechanical vibrations with respect to the other tong;

said hair-gripping ends of the pair of tongs including, or being coupled to, gripping surfaces for gripping the hair between them and for mechanically vibrating the hair to generate sufficient heat within the hair root to facilitate removal of the hair.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein at least one of said gripping surfaces include a layer of compliant or yielding material permitting small displacements of the hair, increasing the contact surface between the tongs and the hair, and allowing differing diameter hairs to be gripped and vibrated.

3. The device according to claim 1, wherein said AC voltage is from 100-500 KHz.

4. The device according to claim 1, wherein said transducer converts the AC voltage to displacements of 5-20 microns in said gripping surfaces.

5. The device according to claim 1, wherein said gripping surfaces grip the hair to be removed such that the hair is vibrated along one or more of the three orthogonal axes.

6. The device according to claim 1, wherein said transducer is fixed to the hair-gripping end of said one tong and defines a gripping surface cooperable with the hair-gripping end of the other tong for gripping the hair between them.

7. The device according to claim 4, wherein said at least one tong is mounted such that its hair-gripping end is vibrated, and said other tong serves as a relatively stationary anvil.

8. The device according to claim 1, wherein said transducer is coupled to the hair-gripping end of said one tong via one end of a horn to increase the displacement of said hair-gripping end of said one tong.

9. The device according to claim 8, wherein the end of said horn opposite to that coupled to the transducer is shaped to define one of said gripping surfaces cooperable with the hair-gripping end of the other tong to grip the hair between them.

10. The device according to claim 9, wherein said opposite end of the horn, and said hair-gripping end of the other tong, are turned inwardly towards each other to define said gripping surfaces for gripping the hair between them.

11. The device according to claim 8, wherein the device further includes a clamping member for applying a pre-stress force to the transducer to increase the displacement of the transducer in the direction of the applied force.

12. The device according to claim 8, wherein the opposite end of said other tong is also mounted to cause its hair-gripping end also to vibrate synchronously, by and with, said hair-gripping end of the one tong.

13. The device according to claim 12, wherein the opposite ends of the two tongs are turned inwardly towards each other to define said gripping surfaces for gripping the hair to be vibrated.

14. The device according to claim 4, wherein said transducer is coupled to one side of the hair-gripping end of one of said tongs, the opposite side of the hair-gripping end of said one tong carrying a horn to increase the displacement of said hair-gripping end of said one tong.

15. The device according to claim 14, wherein said horn is of conical shape having a large diameter end coupled to said hair-gripping end of said one tong, and a small diameter end defining a gripping surface with the free of the other tong for gripping the hair to be vibrated.

16. The device according to claim 14, wherein said horn is in the shape of a truncated cone in which the truncated end of the cone defines one of said hair gripping surfaces.

17. The device according to claim 14, wherein said horn includes a small-diameter end bent towards the hair-gripping end of said other tong to define a gripping surface therewith for gripping the hair to be vibrated.

18. The device according to claim 1, wherein there is a plurality of said pairs of tongs coupled to said transducer to enable a plurality of hairs to be gripped and vibrated at one time.

19. The device according to claim 18, wherein one tong in each of said plurality of pairs is vibrated by said transducer to serve as a hammer, and the other tong in each of said plurality of pairs is relatively stationary to save as an anvil.

20. The device according to claim 18, wherein said plurality of said pairs of tongs are arrayed in one or more lines.