Handle for a personal care tool and personal care tool

Abstract

The present invention relates to a handle for a personal care tool, the handle comprising: a housing including an inner cavity, the housing having a proximal end closest to the head and a distal end, the head being capable of being repeatedly attached to and detached from the handle, the distal end being opposite to the proximal end; a rotationally mounted connector-pressure sensor unit, the rotationally mounted connector-pressure sensor unit being integrally formed as one piece, the connector-pressure sensor unit including a connector and a pivot lever, the connector extending through an opening at the proximal end of the housing, the pivot lever being received within the inner cavity of the housing and extending towards the distal end of the housing, the pivot lever being attached to the housing via a pivot axis.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a handle for a personal care tool, the handle including a pressure sensor. The present disclosure also relates to a personal care tool including such a handle. Background Art

[0002] Personal care tools such as toothbrushes are well known in the art. Generally, a tuft of bristles for cleaning teeth is attached to a bristle carrier or mounting surface of a brush head intended to be inserted into a user's mouth. A handle is typically attached to the head and is held by the user during brushing.

[0003] Typically, the head of a toothbrush is permanently connected to the handle, for example by injection molding the bristle carrier, the handle, and the neck connecting the head and the handle in one injection molding step. After the normal service life of the toothbrush, i.e., after about three months of use, the toothbrush is discarded. To provide an environmentally friendly / sustainable toothbrush that produces less waste when discarded, it is known for toothbrushes to include a replaceable (i.e., repeatedly attachable to and detachable from the handle) head or head replacement. The consumer can reuse the handle and only purchase a new head replacement instead of buying an entirely new toothbrush. Such replacements are typically less expensive than conventional toothbrushes and produce less waste.

[0004] For example, it is known for a toothbrush to include a handle to which a replaceable head is connected. The handle is provided with a cavity into which the head can be inserted. To provide a sufficiently strong connection between the head and the handle, the brush head is shaped to have a neck having a coupling anchor in complementary engagement means for engaging within a liner of the handle.

[0005] In addition, it is well known that many users typically apply too much force to the brush during the brushing process. However, if the cleaning elements of the toothbrush exert too much pressure on the teeth and gums, health problems can occur. Negative health consequences include gum irritation or over time, gum recession, or enamel wear. Unfortunately, the existence of these problems can exacerbate the health condition in the oral cavity. Since some users may feel that these problems stem from poor cleaning, to correct these problems, the user may apply even more force during the brushing process, which may in turn lead to more gum irritation and / or gum recession or enamel wear.

[0006] To avoid or mitigate these problems, dental professionals may recommend using a soft-bristle toothbrush. However, using a soft-bristle toothbrush does not exclude applying a high brushing force to the oral cavity. In addition, it is very difficult for an individual to determine the optimal force required for cleaning while brushing. While the user can apply a minimum level of force to perform the cleaning, it is difficult to sense a level of force that is too high. In addition, studies have shown that if the brushing force is increased to too high a level, the cleaning ability of the toothbrush may actually decrease.

[0007] The object of the present disclosure is to provide a handle for a personal care tool (e.g., a handle for a toothbrush) that overcomes at least one of the above-mentioned drawbacks. Another object of the present disclosure is to provide a personal care tool including such a handle. Summary of the Invention

[0008] According to one aspect, there is provided a handle for a personal care tool, the handle comprising:

[0009] - a housing including a lumen, the housing having a proximal end closest to the head and a distal end, the head being repeatedly attachable to and detachable from the handle, the distal end being opposite to the proximal end,

[0010] - a rotationally mounted connector-pressure sensor unit integrally formed as one piece, the connector-pressure sensor unit including a connector and a pivot lever, the connector extending through an opening at the proximal end of the housing, the pivot lever being received within the lumen of the housing and extending towards the distal end of the housing, the pivot lever being attached to the housing via a pivot axis.

[0011] According to one aspect, there is provided a personal care tool including a head and such a handle. Brief Description of the Drawings

[0012] The present invention will be described in more detail below with reference to various embodiments and the drawings, wherein:

[0013] Figure 1 A cross-sectional view showing an exemplary embodiment of a handle for an electrically operated personal care tool according to the present disclosure, the handle including a rotationally mounted connector-pressure sensor unit;

[0014] Figure 2 Shows inserted into Figure 1 A perspective view of the infrastructure in the handle of, the infrastructure including an annular structure;

[0015] Figure 3 Shows Figure 2 A perspective view of the infrastructure of, the annular structure of the infrastructure being filled with a soft elastomeric material;

[0016] Figure 4 Shows Figure 3 A cross-sectional view of the filled annular structure of;

[0017] Figure 5 Shows Figure 1 An enlarged view of the proximal end of the handle of; and

[0018] Figure 6 ShowsFigure 5 An enlarged cross-section of the proximal end structure of the handle shown. Detailed Description

[0019] A handle adapted to be used in combination with a personal care tool (preferably in combination with an electrically operated personal care tool) includes a housing having a lumen defined by an inner surface of the housing. The handle may be made of a rigid plastic material or a metallic material such as stainless steel or aluminum. Such materials are highly durable and allow for a slender product design.

[0020] As used herein, "personal care tool" refers to any tool that can be used for personal hygiene purposes. Some suitable examples include toothbrushes, dental floss, toothpicks, razors, shavers, and trimmers. For example, the personal care tool may be battery-powered and may include a battery located within the lumen of the handle housing. A personal care tool including a head and such a handle may be an electrically operated toothbrush. The head may be repeatedly attached to and detached from the handle, for example, via a snap-fit locking mechanism, to provide a connection and stability strong enough between the head and the handle such that a user can perform, for example, a brushing action.

[0021] Although the high-quality handle of a personal care tool is adapted to be used over a longer period of time compared to a common tool such as a regular toothbrush that is discarded after about three months of use, a relatively inexpensive head / brush replacement may be replaced regularly, for example, after about three months. This provides a cost-effective and environmentally sustainable personal care tool, offering a high-quality handle solution as well as an opportunity for cost savings since only the head must be replaced / re-purchased after a certain usage period.

[0022] The housing of the handle has a proximal end and a distal end. The proximal end is defined as the end closest to the head, which can be repeatedly attached to and detached from the handle. The distal end is opposite the proximal end.

[0023] To convey to the user whether too much pressure is being applied during use of the personal care tool, the handle includes a rotatably mounted connector-pressure sensor unit that is integrally formed as one piece. In other words, the unit includes a pressure sensor and a connector for repeatedly attaching and detaching the head to and from the handle. The connector and the pressure sensor are formed as an inseparable one piece. The connector extends through an opening at the proximal end of the housing, thereby allowing the head to be repeatedly attached to and detached from the handle. The pressure sensor includes a pivot lever. The pivot lever is received within the inner cavity of the housing and extends with its distal end towards the distal end of the housing. The pivot lever of the rotatably mounted connector-pressure sensor unit is preferably attached to the housing near the proximal end via a pivot axis 36 to allow the unit to move / rotate to a certain extent. In other words, when the pivot lever is connected to the housing via the pivot axis at the proximal end of the housing, the brush head is attached to the connector geometry of the pivot lever outside the housing. Using the rotatably mounted connector-pressure sensor unit according to the present disclosure allows for a simple handle construction and simplified manufacturing.

[0024] The pivot lever and / or the connector can be integrally molded from a rigid plastic material to provide a relatively inexpensive and robust component / unit.

[0025] The pivot lever can activate a pressure sensor switch, for example, arranged on a printed circuit board assembly (PCBA). If a predetermined level of force, such as 5 N or greater, is applied to the head of the personal care tool, the pivot lever pivots within the inner cavity of the handle; the pressure sensor switch contacts the PCBA to trigger a light signal visible to the user. The PCBA mechanically supports and electrically connects electrical or electronic components using conductive traces. If the pressure sensor switch contacts the PCBA, electrical communication can be provided between an energy source and a light-emitting element (e.g., an LED) via the PCBA.

[0026] An optical waveguide can transmit light from the light-emitting element to a light-indicating element provided at the proximal end of the handle. The light-indicating element can be a light ring that extends 360° around the handle to form the outer surface of the handle. The optical waveguide can be made of glass, polymethyl methacrylate, polycarbonate, copolyester, polypropylene, polyethylene terephthalate, or a combination thereof (e.g., polyester and polycarbonate).

[0027] The optical waveguide can transmit electromagnetic energy (e.g., visible light) to the light-indicating element via internal reflection or external reflection. External reflection is defined as reflection where the light source is in a material of lower refractive index (e.g., air) and is reflected from a material of higher refractive index (e.g., aluminum or silver). A mirror acts on external reflection.

[0028] Internal reflection is defined as the reflection where the light source is from a material with a higher refractive index (such as polycarbonate) and is reflected from a material with a lower refractive index (such as air or vacuum or water). Fiber optic technology operates based on the principle of internal reflection.

[0029] Refractive index is defined as an optical property of any material that measures the tendency of light to refract or bend as it passes through the material. Even materials that do not conduct light (such as aluminum) have a refractive index. Generally, external reflection is most effective when the angle of incidence of light is close to perpendicular (i.e., the light is close to perpendicular to the surface), and external reflection decreases as the angle of incidence increases (approaching the surface at a steep angle). In contrast, internal reflection is most effective at high angles of incidence and cannot reflect at shallow angles such as perpendicular to the surface. To achieve internal reflection, the angle of incidence should be greater than the critical angle. The critical angle is the angle at which light no longer reflects between a pair of materials.

[0030] If external reflection is utilized, a foil or some other highly reflective material can be used. A highly reflective material, such as a foil, can be disposed on the inner surface of the inner cavity. If internal reflection is utilized, the light guide / light path can be made of a material with a high refractive index (e.g., greater than 1.0). For example, the material selected for the light guide can include a refractive index greater than about 1.4, greater than about 1.5, greater than about 1.6, and / or less than about 1.7, less than about 1.6, or less than about 1.5. The material selected for the light guide can have a refractive index between about 1.4 and about 1.6 to provide excellent light transmission characteristics.

[0031] The handle can also include an annular structure connected to the housing at the proximal end by two flexible hinges, leaving a circular gap between the annular structure and the housing. The annular structure can be injection molded from a rigid plastic material. For example, if the housing is made of, for example, PP, ABS, or ASA, the annular structure can also be integrally molded with the housing. Alternatively, the annular structure can be provided as a separate base structural component, for example, if the housing is made of stainless steel or aluminum, the base structure is inserted into the housing at the proximal end. The flexible hinges can be positioned near the pivot axis of the pivot lever and can provide the annular structure with the same degree of freedom as the pivot lever. The pivot lever can be connected to the annular structure by gluing, for example.

[0032] The annular structure can be integrally formed with the light guide to provide a single component, thus providing more simplicity in the manufacturing process of the handle. The light guide can be transparent.

[0033] The gap between the housing and the annular structure can be filled, for example, by overmolding with a soft elastomeric material (such as TPE). The elastomeric material can be transparent and / or translucent to emit and transmit light signals. The transparent and / or translucent soft elastomeric material can form the light indicating element as described above. The soft elastomeric material can seal the handle in a substantially watertight manner, that is, the gap between the annular structure and the housing.

[0034] If the soft elastomeric material is transparent / translucent, the elastic part can be used as a sealing and light indicating element to convey certain signals from the personal care tool to the user. The elastomeric material can be illuminated, for example, via a light guide by an LED. If the transparent / translucent soft elastomeric material surrounds the entire circumference of the handle, the signal can be seen from any direction. This is particularly advantageous for products such as oral care tools, which will assume different orientations during use. For example, the user can obtain feedback on the pressure applied during brushing, timer information, or information about the battery charge status.

[0035] In other words, during the assembly of the handle, the pivot lever can be connected to the annular structure in a watertight manner. By using a soft elastomeric material to allow the movement of the pivot lever, the soft elastomeric material defines the elastic part in the handle. A watertight connection can be achieved, for example, by gluing between the annular structure and the pivot lever. The elastomeric material allows free movement of the pivot lever while providing a watertight seal between the housing and the pivot lever.

[0036] The personal care tool of the present disclosure can be an electrically operated personal care tool, such as an electrically operated toothbrush. Such toothbrushes exhibit the following advantages: they assist the user during brushing and can promote improved cleaning of teeth and gums, particularly in areas that are difficult to reach in the oral cavity.

[0037] Toothbrushes according to the art that perform a vibrating action typically have a motor located in the handle housing near the head to allow most of the vibration to be transmitted to the head. The motor vibrates the entire handle while also vibrating the brush head attached to the handle. However, the amplitude of vibration at the brush head depends on the way the user holds the handle: with a softer grip, the handle can vibrate more extensively, so the user feels more vibration on the teeth. However, if the user holds the handle tightly, the vibration will be significantly suppressed, and the brush head will vibrate less during use. Therefore, the performance of a vibrating toothbrush, including the in-mouth sensation during use, highly depends on the user's behavior. In addition, if the user holds the toothbrush tightly during brushing and the vibration is suppressed too much, the user may apply even more pressure, resulting in damage to the gums and tooth enamel.

[0038] According to the present disclosure, a motor having an eccentric weight for operating the personal care tool can be accommodated within the inner cavity of the housing. The motor can be attached to the distal end of the pivot lever. In other words, when the brush head can be attached to the connector geometry of the pivot lever outside the housing, the vibrating motor is located at the other end of the pivot lever inside the housing to allow maximum generation of vibrations that can be transmitted via the pivot lever to the brush head without being significantly absorbed by the housing.

[0039] The inner cavity can also accommodate an energy source (such as a battery) and / or other devices for operating the personal care tool.

[0040] Since the pivot lever is attached to the proximal end of the housing via a pivot axis, the pivot lever can move independently of the housing, and the motor including the eccentric weight is attached to the distal end of the pivot lever, the vibration generated by the motor can be directly guided to the brush head. Even if the housing is tightly fixed, the pivot lever can swing freely and transmit the vibration to the brush head. Therefore, the intraoral feeling and cleaning performance during brushing are enhanced. Compared with a conventional toothbrush embodiment having a vibration function (the motor vibrates the entire handle and the head), the handle according to the present disclosure allows vibration independent of the way the user grasps the handle; since the pivot lever can move independently of the housing, the amplitude of the vibration is less inhibited.

[0041] The current structure of the handle of the personal care tool for electric operation allows constant vibration regardless of how the user holds the handle and the actual consumer use. The handle is sturdy, and the soft elastomeric material allows the pivot lever to vibrate substantially independently of the housing. In addition, the handle design according to the present disclosure does not create any dead volume where water, toothpaste, and saliva can accumulate. In the past, these problems related to internal sealing elements that require certain movement of the component parts have been observed.

[0042] In addition, the handle structure according to the present disclosure can be provided by conventional manufacturing techniques such as hard / soft overmolding.

[0043] The outer wall of the housing may include another opening (such as a cutout) provided along the longitudinal extension of the handle to accommodate a switch assembly for activating the energy source (such as switching the personal care tool for electric operation to the on / off state). The switch assembly may be attached to the inner surface of the wall, thereby sealing the opening provided in the wall.

[0044] The switch assembly for operating the tool may include a hard switch component and a soft switch component; the hard switch component includes a frame with a recess. The frame of the hard switch component may be attached to the inner surface of the metal wall and surround the opening, while the recess of the frame provides / forms an undercut portion that opens towards the opening to accommodate a part of the soft switch component. The soft switch component may be positioned in the undercut portion provided by the recess and may be arranged in a manner that at least partially covers the opening.

[0045] Typical housings for electrical hand-held devices in the art are usually made of plastic materials. While the housing itself is molded from a hard plastic material such as PP or ABS, such devices typically include a switch area molded from a soft elastomeric material such as TPE to form a membrane that allows actuation of a switch located inside the housing. By overmolding the soft component onto the hard plastic housing, a waterproof housing assembly can be achieved only if the correct material combination and geometry are selected; sufficient bonding characteristics between the hard and soft components are crucial.

[0046] However, if an elongated integral product design with a housing made of metal having small wall dimensions is to be provided, a waterproof assembly cannot be ensured by simply overmolding the soft component onto the metal housing because the bonding area is not large enough (due to the low wall thickness and reduced degrees of freedom in designing such a metal tube housing and the freely formed plastic part).

[0047] To be able to provide a waterproof switch assembly (i.e., a durable and waterproof seal / bond between the switch assembly and the metal material) in combination with a metal tube housing having small wall dimensions (e.g., between 0.4 mm and about 1.2 mm) without the need to use a separate sealing element, the present disclosure proposes a switch assembly including a hard switch component and a soft switch component as described above. The hard switch component may include a frame with a recess that, in turn, forms an undercut when attached to the inner surface of the housing. The frame surrounds an opening, and the undercut provided between the recess and the inner wall surface opens towards the opening. The soft switch component is positioned in the undercut and is thus supported by the opposing walls of the recess and the inner wall surface, respectively. The hard switch component can be fixed within the housing by gluing and / or by other means, including but not limited to substance-to-substance bonding, mechanical interlocking, or frictional connection. The soft switch component can be provided by overmolding. The hard switch component can be further supported by an infrastructure inserted into the inner cavity of the housing. The infrastructure may include carrier holding components for an electrically operated personal care tool, such as a motor, electronics, and an energy source, such as a battery.

[0048] The recess of the frame of the hard switch component forming an undercut allows for a solid anchoring of the soft switch component. As the frame provides a reaction force and holds the soft switch component in place, forces applied to the switch component from outside the housing or from inside the housing do not create significant peel stresses on the bonding area. The switch assembly according to the present disclosure can be seamlessly integrated into an opening in the housing and can seal the opening in a substantially waterproof manner. Such a design prevents water, toothpaste, and saliva from entering the housing; a hygienic electrically operated personal care tool can be provided.

[0049] Compared with the present disclosure, simply overmolding the soft-switch component onto the metal tube housing does not provide a durable waterproof handle housing because the adhesive force between the soft-switch component and the metal tube housing is not strong enough; the bonding area between the two components (soft-switch component and metal tube housing) is not large enough and does not provide a reaction force to hold the soft-switch component in place. If a force is applied to the switch component to activate the power-operated tool, peel stress occurs in the bonding area, which significantly weakens the bonded connection. The weakened bonded connection may result in fine cracks or fissures, allowing water to enter the inner cavity of the handle metal tube housing.

[0050] The hard-switch component of the present disclosure can be made of a hard plastic material, such as acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS) and / or acrylonitrile-styrene-acrylate (ASA), while the soft-switch component can be made of a soft elastomer material, such as thermoplastic elastomer (TPE).

[0051] The opening for the switch assembly in the receiving housing can be, for example, a cutout provided in the metal wall by laser cutting. The metal wall surrounding the opening can define the angle α between its outer surface and the adjacent surface / sidewall as 90° or less. If the angle α is less than 90°, the bonding area between the metal wall and the soft-switch component is slightly increased, which forms even better bonding characteristics.

[0052] The frame of the hard-switch component can include at least two protrusions for precisely positioning the hard-switch component onto the inner surface of the metal wall / centering the hard-switch component precisely during assembly. Such protrusions can help define the position of the hard-switch component relative to the metal tube housing, thus facilitating manufacturing.

[0053] The handle can include a magnetic / ferromagnetic material, which can allow for the hygienic storage of the oral care tool by magnetically attaching the handle to, for example, a magnetic holder provided at the wall. If the personal care tool is a toothbrush, residual water, toothpaste slurry, and saliva can drain from the brush. The tool can dry relatively quickly. Thus, bacterial growth can be significantly reduced, making the oral care tool more hygienic. Compared with a conventional toothbrush stored in a toothbrush cup, where the drained fluid is collected and accumulates at the bottom of the cup, the period during which the brush according to the present disclosure is exposed to humid conditions is significantly shorter.

[0054] The magnetic holder can have the form of a flat disk that can be attached to the wall. Such a flat disk can represent an easily cleanable surface. In addition, the user only needs to bring the oral care tool close to the magnetic holder, and then the oral care tool automatically attaches. No precise positioning or threaded connection like that of a conventional toothbrush holder is required. If the magnetic property is provided only in the handle rather than in the head, the head portion will not accidentally attach to the magnetic holder, thus reducing the risk of soiling the magnetic holder.

[0055] The handle or a part of the handle can be electroplated to enhance the improved appearance and comfortable feel. Thermoplastic elastomers are well-suited for electroplating because they allow the formation of both hard composite components and soft composite components to be selectively electroplated in one operation.

[0056] For example, the handle can include a thumb rest made of a thermoplastic elastomer material and / or a polypropylene material. Such a thumb rest can provide improved gripping characteristics to the handle, such as anti-slip characteristics to improve the maneuverability of the personal care tool under wet conditions, such as when the user is brushing teeth. The thumb rest can be made of a thermoplastic elastomer material having a Shore A hardness of about 30 to about 60, or about 40, so as to prevent the oral care tool from being too slippery when used under wet conditions. At least a part of the thumb rest can have a concave shape, and the concave shape has an angle α of about 20° to about 25°, or about 24°, relative to the area of the rest of the thumb rest. The thumb rest or the gripping area can be attached to the front surface of the handle in an area close to the proximal end (i.e., closest to the head). The thumb rest can include, for example, a plurality of ribs extending substantially perpendicular to, parallel to, or diagonally to the longitudinal axis of the oral care tool. Such ribs can allow the user / consumer to use the oral care tool with even more control. The user / consumer can better grip and maneuver the handle of the oral care tool during brushing. Such a handle can provide further improved controllability and greater comfort during brushing, especially under wet conditions.

[0057] The thermoplastic elastomer material can form a thumb rest on the front surface of the oral care tool and / or a palm grip on the rear surface opposite to the front surface for the fingers and thumb of the user / consumer to grip. Such a handle configuration can further resist slipping during use.

[0058] If the personal care tool is a toothbrush, the tooth cleaning elements, such as a tuft of filaments forming one or more clusters, can be attached to the toothbrush head by a thermal tufting process. A method of manufacturing a head having filament clusters embedded in the head may include the following steps: In a first step, a cluster is formed by providing a desired amount of filaments. In a second step, the cluster is placed in a mold cavity such that the ends of the filaments that are to be attached to the head extend into the cavity. The opposite ends of the filaments that do not extend into the cavity may be end-rounded or non-end-rounded. For example, in the case where the filaments are tapered filaments with sharp tips, the filaments may be non-end-rounded. In a third step, the head is formed around the ends of the filaments extending into the mold cavity by an injection molding process, thereby anchoring the cluster in the head. Alternatively, the cluster can be anchored by forming a first part (so-called "sealing plate") of the head around the ends of the filaments extending into the mold cavity using an injection molding process before forming the rest of the oral care tool. Before starting the injection molding process, the ends of the cluster extending into the mold cavity may optionally be melted or fusion-bonded to join the filaments together in a melt or melt ball such that the melt or melt ball is located within the cavity. The cluster can be held in the mold cavity by a molding rod having blind holes corresponding to the desired positions of the clusters on the finished head of the oral care tool. In other words, the clusters attached to the head by the thermal tufting process do not overlap on the middle part of their length and are not installed in the head using an anchor / nail. The clusters can be installed on the head using a tufting process without anchors.

[0059] Alternatively, the head for the oral care tool can be provided with a bristle carrier having at least one cluster hole (e.g., a blind-ended hole). The cluster including multiple filaments can be fixed / anchored in the cluster hole by a binding process / anchored tufting method. This means that the filaments of the cluster are bent / folded in a substantially U-shaped manner around an anchor, such as a cable or an anchor plate, made of, for example, metal. The filaments together with the anchor are pushed into the cluster hole such that the anchor penetrates into the opposite sidewalls of the cluster hole, thereby anchoring / fixing / securing the filaments to the bristle carrier. The anchor can be fixed in the opposite sidewalls by positive frictional engagement. In the case where the cluster hole is a blind-ended hole, the anchor holds the filaments against the bottom of the hole. In other words, the anchor can be located in a substantially vertical manner above the U-shaped bend. Since the filaments of the cluster are bent around the anchor in a substantially U-shaped configuration, the first and second branches of each filament extend from the bristle carrier in the filament direction. The type of filament that can be used / suitable for the binding process is also referred to as a "two-sided filament". The head for the oral care tool manufactured by the binding process can be provided in a relatively low-cost and time-effective manner.

[0060] The following is a non-limiting discussion of exemplary embodiments of an oral care tool and its components according to the present disclosure, with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0061] Figure 1 Shows a personal care tool 10, which in this particular embodiment is an electrically operated oral care tool, namely a toothbrush. The toothbrush includes a handle 12 and a head (not shown), the head being removably and repeatedly attachable to and detachable from the handle 12 by a connector 16. The connector 16 may include a spring-loaded ball element having a ball and a spring, the spring applying a radial force to the ball in a direction towards the outer surface of the connector. The ball may be inserted into a groove provided in a hollow portion of the head to securely fix the head to the handle.

[0062] The handle 12 includes a housing 20 defining a lumen 18. The housing 20 has a proximal end 22 closest to the head and a distal end 24. The distal end 24 is opposite the proximal end 22.

[0063] The connector 16 is integrally formed with a pressure sensor 26 including a pivot lever 28 to form a rotatably mounted connector-pressure sensor unit 100. The pivot lever 28 is received within the lumen 18 of the housing 20. When the connector 18 extends through an opening 30 provided at the proximal end 22 of the housing 20, a distal end 32 of the pivot lever 28 extends in the direction of the distal end 24 of the housing 20. The pivot lever 20 and the connector 16 may be integrally molded from a rigid plastic material.

[0064] A motor 34 including an eccentric weight for operating the personal care tool 10 is attached to the distal end 32 of the pivot lever 28. A battery for operating the personal care tool 10 is also received within the lumen 18 of the housing 20.

[0065] The pivot lever 28 can activate a pressure sensor switch 40 arranged, for example, on a printed circuit board assembly (PCBA) 42. If a predetermined level of force, such as 5 N or greater, is applied to the head of the personal care tool 10, the pivot lever 28 pivots and contacts the PCBA 42 to trigger a light signal visible to the user. Via the PCBA 42, electrical communication is provided between a battery 38, provided as an example of an energy source, and a light-emitting element such as an LED.

[0066] An optical waveguide 44 can transmit light from the light-emitting element to a light indicating element 46 provided at the proximal end 22 of the handle 12 (see Figure 3 ). The light indicating element 46 can be a light ring 46 extending 360° around the handle 12 and forming the outer surface of the handle 12.

[0067] Figure 2 Shows being inserted into the handle at the proximal end 22 via an opening 30 provided in the housing 20 (see Figure 1Perspective view of the base structure 48 in (). The base structure 48 includes an optical waveguide 44 and an annular structure 50, and the optical waveguide 44 and the annular structure 50 are integrally molded from a rigid plastic material. The pivot lever 32 is connected to the annular structure 50 to provide a certain degree of movement.

[0068] The annular structure 50 itself is connected to the housing 20 at the proximal end 22 by two flexible hinges 52, leaving a circular gap 54 between the annular structure 50 and the housing 20.

[0069] As Figure 3 shown, the gap 54 between the annular structure 50 and the housing 20 is filled with a transparent or translucent soft elastomeric material 56 (e.g., overmolded) to provide a light indicating element 56 for transmitting the optical signal received from the optical waveguide 44. The soft elastomeric material is preferably TPE. The soft elastomeric material 56 seals the housing 20 in a substantially watertight manner while still providing sufficient freedom of movement to allow the pivot lever 28, which is integrally molded with the connector 16, to bend.

[0070] Figure 4 A cross-sectional view of the annular structure 50 filled with a transparent material 56 (e.g., overmolded) is shown.

[0071] Figure 5 and Figure 6 An enlarged view of the proximal end 22 of the handle 12 is shown, including the pivot lever 28 and the pressure sensor 26 of the connector 16 inserted into the housing 20.

[0072] In other words, during the assembly of the handle 12, the pivot lever 28 can be connected to the annular structure 50 in a watertight manner. By using the soft elastomeric material 56 to allow the movement of the pivot lever 28, the soft elastomeric material defines an elastic portion 56 in the handle 12. A watertight connection 58 can be achieved, for example, by gluing between the annular structure 50 and the pivot lever 28. The elastomeric material 56 allows the free movement of the pivot lever 28 while providing a watertight seal between the housing 20 and the pivot lever 28.

[0073] As Figure 1 shown, the handle also includes a switch assembly 60 located in the housing 20 for activating the energy source / battery 38, causing the electric toothbrush to operate. The electric toothbrush can be switched between the on / off states by actuating the switch assembly 60.

[0074] The switch assembly 60 for activating the energy source / battery 38 includes a hard switch member 62 and a soft switch member 64. Both the hard switch member 62 and the soft switch member 64 are located within an opening 66 provided in the housing 20. The hard switch member 62 and the soft switch member 64 are arranged in such a way that the switch assembly 60 seals the opening 66 in a substantially waterproof manner.

[0075] While the hard switch member 62 may be molded from a hard plastic material, such as acrylonitrile - butadiene - styrene (ABS) and / or acrylonitrile - styrene - acrylate (ASA), the soft switch member 64 may be made from a soft elastomeric material, such as thermoplastic elastomer (TPE). TPE adheres well to metallic materials as well as ABS and ASA.

[0076] The hard switch member 62 includes a frame with a recess, which is attached to the inner surface of the housing 20 so as to surround / enclose the opening 66. The recess forms an undercut portion in which the soft switch member 64 is positioned and firmly fixed. The hard switch member 62 may be connected to the inner surface of the housing 20 by gluing. Alternatively, fixation of the hard switch member 62 on the inner surface may be provided by material - to - material bonding, mechanical interlocking or frictional connection.

[0077] The frame of the hard switch member 62 may include protrusions that assist in positioning the hard switch member 62 onto the inner surface of the housing 20; for this purpose, the inner surface may include corresponding recesses for receiving the protrusions.

[0078] The hard switch member 62 may further include a lever arm that includes a button element at the distal end of the lever arm. The lever arm and the button element may extend into the opening 66.

[0079] The material forming the soft switch member 64 may be overmolded on the lever arm and partially over the button element so as to keep a portion of the button element exposed to provide an indication of the location where the user should place their finger to activate the switch assembly 60. For this purpose, the color of the material of the hard switch member 62 and the color of the material of the soft switch member 64 may be different to provide a clear and easily visible indication. The material of the soft switch member 64 covers any remaining open area of the opening 66 and is fixed in an undercut portion provided between the recess and the inner surface of the housing 20. By overmolding the soft switch member 64, a substantially waterproof and durable seal may be provided, which may prevent water, toothpaste, and / or saliva from entering the inner cavity 18 of the housing 20.

[0080] In the context of the present disclosure, the term "substantially" means an arrangement of an element or feature structure which, although theoretically expected to exhibit precise conformity or behavior, may in practice render something somewhat less precise. Similarly, the term represents such a degree that a quantitative value, measurement, or other relevant representation may differ from the reference without causing a change in the basic function of the subject matter under discussion.

[0081] The dimensions and values disclosed herein should not be construed as being strictly limited to the exact numerical values recited. Instead, unless otherwise indicated, each such dimension is intended to represent that value and a functionally equivalent range around that value. For example, a dimension disclosed as "40 mm" is intended to represent "about 40 mm".

Claims

1. A handle (12) for a personal care tool (10), the handle (12) comprising: - A housing (20), the housing (20) includes an inner cavity (18), the housing (20) has a proximal end (22) closest to the head and a distal end (24), the head can be repeatedly attached to and detached from the handle (12), the distal end (24) of the housing (20) is opposite to the proximal end (22) of the housing (20), - A rotationally mounted connector - pressure sensor unit (100), the rotationally mounted connector - pressure sensor unit (100) is integrally formed as one piece, the connector - pressure sensor unit (100) includes a connector (16) and a pivot lever (28), the connector (16) extends through an opening (30) at the proximal end (22) of the housing (20), the pivot lever (28) is received in the inner cavity (18) of the housing (20) and extends towards the distal end (24) of the housing (20), the pivot lever (28) is attached to the housing (20) via a pivot axis (36), wherein the handle (12) further includes a motor (34), the motor (34) includes an eccentric weight, which is received in the housing (20), the distal end of the pivot lever (28) of the rotationally mounted connector - pressure sensor unit (100) is provided, and the motor (34) is attached to the pivot lever (28) at the distal end of the pivot lever (28).

2. The handle (12) according to claim 1, wherein, The rotationally mounted connector - pressure sensor unit (100) is molded from a rigid plastic material.

3. The handle (12) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein, The handle (12) is for an electrically operated personal care tool (10).

4. The handle (12) according to claim 3, wherein, Among the ends of the pivot lever (28) of the rotationally mounted connector - pressure sensor unit (100), the distal end of the pivot lever (28) is closest to the distal end (24) of the housing (20).

5. The handle (12) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein, The inner cavity (18) of the housing (20) includes an energy source for operating the personal care tool (10).

6. The handle (12) according to claim 5, wherein, The energy source is a battery.

7. The handle (12) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein, The housing (20) includes an annular structure (50), the annular structure (50) is connected to the housing (20) at the proximal end (22) of the housing (20) by two flexible hinges (52), leaving a circular gap (54) between the annular structure (50) and the housing (20).

8. The handle (12) according to claim 7, wherein, The annular structure (50) is integrally formed with the housing (20), or is provided as a separate base structure member, and the base structure (48) is inserted into the housing (20) at the proximal end (22) of the housing (20).

9. The handle (12) according to claim 7, wherein, The gap (54) between the annular structure (50) and the housing (20) is filled with a soft elastomeric material (56).

10. The handle (12) according to claim 9, wherein, The gap (54) between the annular structure (50) and the housing (20) is overmolded with a soft elastomeric material (56).

11. The handle (12) according to claim 9 or 10, wherein, The soft elastomeric material (56) is TPE.

12. The handle (12) according to any one of claims 8 to 10, wherein, The annular structure (50) is integrally formed with a transparent light guide member.

13. The handle (12) according to claim 9 or 10, wherein, The soft elastomeric material (56) is transparent and / or translucent to transmit optical signals.

14. The handle (12) according to claim 7, wherein, The pivot lever (28) is connected to the annular structure (50).

15. The handle (12) according to claim 14, wherein, The pivot lever (28) is connected to the annular structure (50) by gluing.

16. The handle (12) according to claim 9 or 10, wherein, The soft elastomeric material (56) seals the housing (20) in a watertight manner.

17. A personal care tool (10) comprising a head and a handle (12) according to any one of claims 1 to 16.

18. The personal care tool (10) according to claim 17, wherein, The personal care tool (10) is an electrically operated toothbrush.

19. The personal care tool (10) according to claim 17 or 18, wherein,The head can be repeatedly attached to and detached from the handle (12).

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