Handheld personal care device having a light indicator for indicating operating status

Abstract

An embodiment of the present invention provides a handheld personal care device. The handheld personal care device (1) comprises a main housing (2) arranged to be grasped by hand and an operating unit (3) connected to the main housing (2) and suitable for performing personal care operations on a body part of a user. The main housing (2) has an extended main axis (36) and accommodates a light indicator (4) for indicating the operating state of the personal care device (1). The light indicator (4) has a light emitting surface (6), which extends circumferentially around the main housing (2) to form a closed loop surface around the main extension axis (36), and the light indicator (4) also has a light guide wall (31), and at least a portion of the light guide wall (31) including the closed loop surface extends to form a closed loop wall portion (40) around the main extension axis.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a handheld personal care device. Background Art

[0002] WO 2018 / 100155 A1 discloses a shaving device having a light indicator indicating the progress of a shaving operation, the light indicator being used to visualize the progress of a shaving operation by changing the number of effective light sources when less hair cutting action is detected. Alternatively, as the progress of the shaving operation is detected, one or more first color light sources may fade out, while one or more second color light sources fade in. The light indicator may be formed, for example, as a rectangular luminous surface, or as a partial or partial, preferably C-shaped ring, which partially surrounds the upper end of the shaving device near the cutting element, so that the user will also see the light indicator when observing the cutting element to see where the shaving operation is to be performed. By using a partial ring, in particular a C-shaped ring, the light indicator may form part of one shell of the housing, in particular when the housing consists essentially of two shells of similar size, in particular two half shells.

[0003] In US 2011 / 00167721 A1 a handheld personal care device in the form of a wet shaving system is shown, wherein a light guide of a button assembly receives light from a light source and emits light in the form of an illuminated symbol.

[0004] EP 3 372 357 A1 discloses a handheld personal care device, comprising one or more light emitting elements and one or more light receiving elements, the one or more light receiving elements being arranged to receive light emitted by the light emitting elements via a mirror in the user's environment, depending on the position and / or orientation of the device relative to the user. The device also has a control unit, which is configured to estimate the position and / or orientation of the device based on a measurement of the light received by the light receiving element. The light emitting elements and / or the light receiving elements may be arranged circumferentially in a circular pattern around the housing of the device. Summary of the invention

[0005] The object of the present disclosure is to provide a handheld personal care device in which a light indicator is more easily and continuously visible during use and in which the light indicator can be accommodated in a compact device while obtaining a particularly uniform light intensity distribution in the circumferential direction over the light emitting surface by means of a limited number of light sources.

[0006] According to the present disclosure, this object is achieved by providing a handheld personal care device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0007] Because the light emitting surface extends circumferentially around the main housing as a closed loop surface around the main extension axis, the light indicator is visible from almost all sides of the device and will therefore generally remain visible (either directly or via a mirror for visually monitoring the applied operation) regardless of the orientation in which the device is held. In particular when the indicator is used to indicate rapidly changing operating conditions (such as shaving pressure, resistance encountered, drive torque applied, rotational speed, or temperature of exhaust air), it is important that indications of changes in operating conditions leaving or entering a preferred operating range are immediately noted so that the user can take immediate action to restore the condition to the preferred range.

[0008] In order to accommodate the light indicator in a compact device while obtaining a particularly uniform light intensity distribution over the circumferential extent of the entire light emitting surface using a limited number of light sources, the present disclosure proposes:

[0009] The light indicator also includes an optically transparent light guide and at least one light source;

[0010] The light emitting surface is a closed loop surface of the light guide facing in a direction having a main component in a radially outward direction relative to the main extension axis;

[0011] the light guide having a light receiving surface arranged at an average axial position with respect to the main extension axis which is farther from the operating unit than the average axial position of the light emitting surface, and the main extension axis light receiving surface faces in a direction having a main component in the axial direction with respect to the main extension axis which is farther from the operating unit;

[0012] at least one light source is arranged adjacent to the light receiving surface in the axial direction such that during operation, light generated by the light source is received by the light receiving surface;

[0013] the light guide having a light guide wall extending from the light receiving surface to the light emitting surface, wherein at least a portion of the light guide wall including the closed loop surface of the light guide extends as a closed loop wall portion around the main extension axis; and

[0014] Viewed in a section including the main extension axis, the light guiding wall is curved and gradually unfolds from an orientation having a principal component parallel to the main extension axis at a light receiving surface to an orientation having a principal component perpendicular to the main extension axis at a light emitting surface.

[0015] The present disclosure and specific embodiments as well as other optional features and effects of the present disclosure are set forth in the description and are apparent from the accompanying drawings. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0016] Figure 1 is a perspective view of an example of an apparatus according to the present invention;

[0017] Figure 2 is based on Figure 1 A cross-sectional view of a top portion of a main housing of the device;

[0018] Figure 3 is based on Figure 1 and 2 A perspective view of the light guide and shaving unit carrying portion of the device and the housing shield;

[0019] Figure 4 is based on Figure 1-3 A front view of a light guide, housing shield, and printed circuit board of the device; and

[0020] Figure 5 is based on Figure 1-4 Side view of the light guide, housing shield and printed circuit board of the device. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0021] In the accompanying drawings, an example of a handheld personal care device 1 according to the present invention is shown, which has a main housing 2 arranged to be grasped by hand and an operating unit 3 for performing personal care operations on a body part of a user. In this example, the personal care device is an electric shaving device, and the operating unit of the electric shaving device is a shaving unit 3. However, the personal care device can also be a device with an operating unit for other personal care operations, such as a depilatory head, a hot air outflow opening (e.g., for drying hair), a heated hairpin (e.g., for curling or straightening hair), or a temperature sensor (for measuring body temperature). The operating unit can be mostly arranged outside the main housing, such as in the present example, or partially, mostly or completely arranged inside the main housing, such as with an operating head, surface or opening flush with an adjacent part of the main housing.

[0022] In this example, if Figure 2 and 3 As shown, a motor 7 is arranged in the main housing 2, and a drive gear 8 is mounted to a motor output drive shaft 9 protruding from the motor 7. The drive gear 8 meshes with a driven gear 9 fixed to a central drive shaft 10. The central drive shaft 10 is rotatably suspended in the main housing 2. A drive coupler 11 is coupled to the free end of the central drive shaft 10 and is arranged for driving engagement with a driven coupler (not shown) of the shaving unit 3. The shaving unit 3 is detachably connectable to a shaving unit carrier 12. The shaving unit carrier 12 is suspended relative to the shield 13 via a pair of leaf springs 14, 15 on opposite sides of the shaving unit carrier 12 and connected to a carrier beam 16 of the shaving unit carrier 12. The shield 13 is fixed between shells 21, 22 of the main housing 2. The ends of the leaf springs 14, 15 opposite to the ends mounted to the carrier beam 16 are coupled to a base 17 on corresponding mutually opposite sides of the shaving unit carrier 12. The base 17 is fixed relative to the shield 13 .

[0023] A magnet 18 is mounted to the bottom side of the shaving unit carrier 12. Immediately below the hood 13, a printed circuit board (PCB) 19 is mounted, which carries a Hall sensor 20 close to and aligned with the magnet 18. The Hall sensor 20 is connected to a circuit section 5 also mounted to the PCB 19. Light sources 24, 25, 26 are also mounted to the PCB 19. The circuit section 5 is arranged to output a voltage for activating or deactivating the light sources 24-26 in response to a measured distance between the magnet 18 and the Hall sensor 20, which voltage is representative of the shaving pressure applied to the shaving unit 3. The light sources 24-26 are activated if an excessively high shaving pressure causes the shaving unit 3 to press the shaving unit carrier 12 further towards the hood 13 than if the shaving pressure is within a preferred range or below a given threshold. In response to such a too small measured distance between the magnet 18 and the Hall sensor 20, the above circuit section may cause, for example, a green light source to be deactivated, while, for example, a red light source to be activated. Intermediate distances are also conceivable, where for example an orange or yellow light source is activated and the other light sources are deactivated. RGB LEDs can also be used so that each light source can be controlled to emit a specific color of light, for example blue indicates that the shaving pressure is too low, green indicates that the shaving pressure is within the desirable range, and red indicates that the shaving pressure is too high.

[0024] The indication of the applied shaving pressure is performed by a light indicator 4 housed in the main housing 2 of the device 1, the light sources 24-26 being part of the light indicator 4. Thus, the light indicator 4 is connected to be activated in dependence on the applied shaving pressure.

[0025] Alternatively or additionally, the light indicator 4 may be connected to a circuit portion for monitoring other operating states of the device, such as a sensing circuit portion for indicating the progress of a shaving operation, a circuit portion for indicating the battery charge state, or a circuit portion for indicating whether cleaning of the shaving unit is desirable.

[0026] The light indicator 4 has a light emitting surface 6 in the vicinity of the shaving unit 3 , which extends circumferentially around the main housing 2 as a closed loop surface around the main extension axis 36 of the main housing 2 .

[0027] Because the light emitting surface 6 constitutes a closed loop surface extending circumferentially around the main housing 2 about the main extension axis 36, the light indicator 4 can be seen from almost all sides of the device 1, so the light indicator 4 will generally remain visible (either directly or via a mirror for visually monitoring the operation applied) regardless of the orientation in which the device 1 is held. It is particularly advantageous that (particularly) when the indicator 4 is used to indicate a rapidly changing state (such as shaving pressure, resistance encountered, drive torque applied, rotational speed, or temperature of the exhausted air), the indication of the change of the state out of the preferred range or into the preferred range is immediately noticed, so that the user can immediately take action to restore the state to the preferred range.

[0028] In order to achieve a particularly good visibility of the luminous surface 6 of the light indicator 4 during use, it is advantageous if the luminous surface 6 extends circumferentially around a first housing part connected to the shaving unit 3. The first housing part is thus an upper part of the main housing 2, which is located between the shaving unit 3 and a second housing part of the main housing 2 remote from the shaving unit 3. Preferably, the axial length of the first housing part along the main extension axis 36 is less than or equal to 50% of the total axial length of the main housing 2 along the main extension axis 36, more preferably less than or equal to 33% of this total axial length, more preferably 20% of this total axial length. Thus, the luminous surface 6 of the light indicator 4 is preferably arranged in an upper part of the main housing 2 close to the shaving unit 3, which is usually the part of the device 1 that the user pays the most attention to during use and leaves plenty of space for gripping the main housing 2 by hand without obstructing the view of the light indicator 4.

[0029] When the device 1 is in operation, the drive train formed by the central drive shaft 10 and the drive coupling member 11 coupled to the shaving unit 3 extends through the closed-loop luminous surface 6. Therefore, if the shaving device 1 is rotated with the shaving unit 3 remaining protruding from the main housing 2 in substantially the same direction, as typically occurs during shaving, the luminous surface 6 of the light indicator 4 remains visible. Similarly, during use of the device for performing other personal care operations, the operating unit typically remains pointed in substantially the same direction as the device is manipulated during use, while movement and rotation in a plane generally perpendicular to that direction typically has a much greater amplitude. Regardless of such movement, the closed-loop luminous surface of the light indicator remains visible.

[0030] like Figure 2As shown, the available space in the handheld personal care device is very small, which makes it difficult to realize the light emitting surface 6 such as to form a closed loop surface circumferentially around the main housing 2 without significantly increasing the volume of the main housing 2. In addition, preferably, the brightness of the light emitting surface 6 should be substantially constant throughout the circumference, while considering cost constraints, the number of light sources should be limited. In order to meet these requirements, the light indicator 4 also includes an optically transparent light guide 23. The light emitting surface 6 is a closed loop surface of the light guide 23, which faces a direction having a main component in the radially outward direction of the main extension axis 36. In this example, the light emitting surface 6 includes: a central portion 37 oriented obliquely relative to the main extension axis 36 around which the closed loop light emitting surface 6 extends; an outer portion 38, which faces radially outwardly relative to the main extension axis 36; and, an inner portion 39, which faces axially relative to the main extension axis 36. All of these parts form a closed loop surface extending around the main extension axis 36. The light guide 23 further has a light receiving surface including light receiving surface portions 27, 28 and 29, which are arranged in an average axial position relative to the main extension axis 36 which is farther away from the shaving unit 3 than the average axial position of the light emitting surface 6. The light receiving surface portions face in a direction having a main component in the axial direction relative to the main extension axis 36 which is farther away from the shaving unit 3. The light sources 24-26 are each located adjacent to a corresponding one of the light receiving surface portions 27-29 in the axial direction, so that during operation, light generated by the light sources 24-26 is received by the light receiving surface portions 27-29. The light guide 23 has a light guiding wall 31 extending from the light receiving surface portions 27-29 of the light receiving surface to the light emitting surface 6. A portion of the light guiding wall 31 including the closed-loop light emitting surface 6 of the light guide 23 extends as a closed-loop wall portion 40 around the main extension axis 36. When viewed in a cross section along a plane extending through the main extension axis 36 (e.g., as shown in FIG. 2 ), the light guide 23 has a light guiding wall 31 extending from the light receiving surface portions 27-29 of the light receiving surface to the light emitting surface 6. Figure 2 As shown), the light guide wall 31 is curved and gradually unfolds from an orientation having a main component parallel to the main extension axis 36 at the light receiving surface portion 27-29 of the light receiving surface to an orientation having a main component perpendicular to the main extension axis 36 at the light emitting surface 6.

[0031] Thus, the light sources 24-26 are located at a position spaced apart from the light emitting surface 6, such an arrangement leaving space in the spatial region around which the closed-loop wall portion 40 of the light-guiding wall 31 extends for components providing the personal care function of the device (in this example, in particular the shaving unit carrier 12 with the suspension structure 14-17 and the coupler 11). In addition, the curved light-guiding wall 31 guides light from the main axial direction of propagation at the light-receiving surface portion 27-29 relative to the main extension axis 36 toward a more radially outward direction of propagation at the light emitting surface 6 relative to the main extension axis 36. The curved light-guiding wall 31 also spreads the light over a considerable distance in the circumferential direction, thereby achieving a very uniform illumination of the light emitting surface 6. Because a plurality of light sources 24-26 are arranged in uniformly distributed positions adjacent to the light-receiving surface portion 27-29 of the light-receiving surface in the axial direction, the uniformity of the illumination of the light emitting surface 6 is further improved.

[0032] In order to achieve a uniform light distribution along the light emitting surface 6 while leaving space for components for providing the personal care function of the device 1, it is also advantageous that the light guide wall 31 of the light guide 23 is a barrel-shaped wall or a basin-shaped wall. According to the barrel shape of the light guide wall 31, the light emitting surface 6 extends along a first circumferential edge 41 of the barrel wall on the side of the barrel wall facing the shaving unit 3, and the light receiving surface portion 27-29 of the light receiving surface extends along a second circumferential edge 42 of the barrel wall on the side of the barrel wall 31 facing away from the shaving unit 3.

[0033] By manufacturing the first circumferential edge 41 of the light guide wall 31 including the light emitting surface 6 from an optical diffuse material, the uniformity of the illumination of the light emitting surface 6 can be further improved. The optical diffuse material diffuses or spreads the light entering the first circumferential edge 41, thereby achieving a more uniform distribution of light along the circumference of the light emitting surface 6. The rest of the light guide wall 31 can be made of an optically transparent material with relatively high optical transparency to optimize the light guiding performance of the light guide wall 31. The light guide wall 31 can be made of the two different materials mentioned above by means of a 2K injection molding process.

[0034] In some embodiments, a single light source is sufficient to achieve the desired uniformity of illumination intensity in the circumferential direction along the light emitting surface, provided that the single light source is far enough from the light emitting surface to achieve the desired uniformity of the circumferential distribution of light in the light guide by a suitable design of the light guide. However, in order to achieve a uniform illumination intensity in the circumferential direction along the light emitting surface, it is advantageous to provide a plurality of light sources, especially when the available space of the light guide wall 31 in the direction of the main extension axis 36 is small. Then, the light sources 24-26 are preferably arranged in the axial direction near the light receiving surface and spread or distributed along the light receiving surface.

[0035] In order to accommodate components that provide the personal care function of the device (shaving in this example), and in particular to allow parts of such components to extend from a position inside the light guide 23 to a position outside the light guide 23, the light guide wall 31 of the light guide 23 has recesses 32, 33 and 35. The recess 34 is provided to further improve the uniformity of the emitted light intensity in the circumferential direction of the light emitting surface 6. The recesses 32, 33, 34, 35 each form an interruption of the light receiving surface at a position between the light sources 24-26, and thereby divide the light receiving surface into light receiving surface portions 27-29. Each of the recesses 32-35 extends from the light receiving surface in a direction toward the light emitting surface 6.

[0036] As can be seen most clearly with reference to the recesses 33 and 34, the recesses 32-35 each have two opposing side walls 43-49 that gradually converge from the light receiving surface in the direction toward the light emitting surface 6. This is advantageous for achieving a uniform distribution of light in the circumferential direction toward the light emitting surface 6, particularly, as in the present example, when the positions and shapes of the recesses 32-35 and the light sources 24-26 are arranged so that each portion of the light receiving surface 6 is (also) directly illuminated by light from at least one of the light sources 24-26 guided by the light guiding wall 31.

[0037] The light sources 24-26 are arranged in a watertight or waterproof chamber 51 of the main housing 2, while the light guide 23 is arranged outside this watertight chamber 51 and is separated from the light sources 24-26 and the watertight chamber 51 by the shield 13, which forms an optically transparent sealing member of the watertight chamber 51. Therefore, the light sources 24-26 are very reliably isolated from water and other liquids and from shaving debris in a simple manner without requiring any sealing along the light guide 23. The shield 13 has an optically transparent wall 52. During use, the light generated by the light sources 24-26 is transmitted via the optically transparent wall 52 to the light receiving surface portion 27-29 of the light guide 23.

[0038] The light guide 23 is arranged so that the light receiving surface portions 27-29 are in direct contact with the optically transparent wall 52 of the shroud 13. This prevents shaving debris and other dust from entering between the light receiving surface portions 27-29 of the light guide 23 and the optically transparent wall 52 of the shroud 13, so that the light path is reliably kept open without the light guide 23 actually extending directly into the front of the light sources 24-26. Further, the direct contact between the light receiving surface portions 27-29 and the optically transparent wall 52 of the shroud 13 improves the light coupling efficiency between the light sources 24-26 and the light guide 23.

[0039] Although the present invention has been illustrated and described in detail in the drawings and the foregoing description, such illustration and description should be considered illustrative or exemplary rather than restrictive; the present invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments. Other variations of the disclosed embodiments can be understood and effected by those skilled in the art in practicing the claimed invention by studying the drawings, the disclosure, and the appended claims.

[0040] In the present disclosure, the word "comprising" does not exclude other elements or steps, and the indefinite article "a" or "an" does not exclude a plurality. A single element or other unit may fulfill the functions of several items recited in the present disclosure. The fact that certain measures are recited in mutually different dependent claims does not indicate that a combination of these measures cannot be used to advantage.

[0041] Any reference signs in the claims should not be construed as limiting the scope.

Claims

1. A handheld personal care device (1), comprising: - a main housing (2) arranged to be grasped by hand; and - an operating unit (3), connected to the main housing and suitable for performing personal care operations on a body part of a user; The main housing: - has a main axis of extension (36); and - accommodating a light indicator (4) for indicating an operating state of the personal care device, the light indicator having a light emitting surface (6) extending circumferentially around the main housing (2) as a closed loop surface around the main extension axis (36), the light indicator also comprising an optically transparent light guide (23) and at least one light source (24, 25, 26); Features: - the light emitting surface (6) of the light indicator (4) is a closed loop surface of the light guide (23) facing in a direction having a main component in a radially outward direction relative to the main extension axis (36); the light guide having a light receiving surface (27, 28, 29) which is arranged at an average axial position with respect to the main extension axis which is further away from the operating unit (3) than the average axial position of the light emitting surface and which faces in a direction which has a main component in an axial direction away from the operating unit with respect to the main extension axis; - the at least one light source (24, 25, 26) is arranged in the axial direction at a position adjacent to the light receiving surface so that during operation light generated by the light source is received by the light receiving surface; - the light guide has a light guide wall (31) extending from the light receiving surface to the light emitting surface, wherein at least a portion of the light guide wall including the closed loop surface of the light guide extends as a closed loop wall portion (40) around the main extension axis; and - viewed in a section including the main extension axis, the light guiding wall is curved and gradually unfolds from an orientation having a main component parallel to the main extension axis at the light receiving surface to an orientation having a main component perpendicular to the main extension axis at the light emitting surface.

2. The device (1) according to claim 1, wherein the main shell (2) has a total axial length along the main extension axis (36), and comprises a first shell part connected to the operating unit (3) and a second shell part arranged away from the operating unit, wherein the light emitting surface (6) extends circumferentially around the first shell part, and wherein the axial length of the first shell part along the main extension axis is less than or equal to 50% of the total axial length.

3. The device (1) according to claim 2, wherein the axial length of the first housing portion is less than or equal to 33% of the total axial length.

4. The device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the device (1) is an electric shaving device, and wherein the operating unit (3) is a shaving unit.

5. The device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein: - the light guide wall (31) of the light guide (23) is a barrel-shaped wall; The luminous surface (6) extends along a first circumferential edge (41) of the barrel-shaped wall on a side of the barrel-shaped wall facing the operating unit (3); and The light receiving surface (27, 28, 29) extends along a second circumferential edge (42) of the barrel-shaped wall on a side of the barrel-shaped wall remote from the operating unit.

6. The device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the light indicator (4) comprises a plurality of light sources (24, 25, 26) arranged in the axial direction at distributed positions adjacent to the light receiving surface (27, 28, 29).

7. A device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the light-guiding wall (31) has at least two recesses (32, 33, 34, 35) extending from the light-receiving surface in a direction toward the light-emitting surface (6), the recesses forming an interruption of the light-receiving surface that divides the light-receiving surface into at least two light-receiving surface portions (27, 28, 29).

8. A device (1) according to claim 7, wherein each of the recesses (32, 33, 34, 35) has two opposite side walls (43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49) that gradually converge from the light receiving surface (27, 28, 29) in a direction toward the light emitting surface (6).

9. A device (1) according to claim 7 or 8, wherein the light indicator (4) comprises at least two light sources (24, 25, 26), wherein each light source is arranged in the axial direction at a position adjacent to a corresponding light receiving surface portion of the at least two light receiving surface portions (27, 28, 29).

10. The device (1) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein a drive train (10, 11) connected to the operating unit (3) extends through the light-emitting surface (6).

11. A device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the at least one light source (24, 25, 26) is arranged in a watertight chamber (51) of the main housing (2), and wherein the light guide (23) is arranged outside the watertight chamber and is separated from the at least one light source and the watertight chamber by an optically transparent sealing member (13) of the watertight chamber.

12. A device (1) according to claim 11, wherein the sealing member (13) has an optically transparent wall (52), and wherein during use, light generated by the light source (24, 25, 26) is transmitted to the light receiving surface (27, 28, 29) of the light guide (23) via the optically transparent wall.

13. The device (1) according to claim 12, wherein the light guide (23) is arranged such that the light receiving surface (27, 28, 29) is in direct contact with the optically transparent wall (52) of the sealing member (13).

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