Handheld appliance

Abstract

A hand implement having a handle (2) having a main body, the main body (4) having a first end portion (6), a second end portion (8) and a third portion (10) therebetween, wherein the first and second end portions extend radially outwardly beyond the third portion; an outer sleeve (12) is rotatably supported about the third portion by the first and second end portions.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to a handle for a handheld device, particularly a hair care device, such as a heat styling device. Background Technology

[0002] Hair styling devices are often rotated to create the desired style. To prevent the power cable from twisting, the power cable can be rotatably connected relative to the device's handle. However, rotatable connections for hair styling devices using power cables with eight wires can be fragile and prone to breakage, potentially leading to poor connections. Summary of the Invention

[0003] Therefore, the present invention provides a handle for a handheld device, the handle comprising: a body including: a first end portion connectable to or including a power source; a second end portion; and a third portion, wherein the first end portion and the second end portion extend radially outward beyond the third portion; and an outer sleeve configured to be held by a user during use of the device to support the handle, the outer sleeve being rotatably supported by the first end portion and the second end portion about the third portion. This allows the user to rotate the hand used to support the device without rotating the body of the device.

[0004] The sleeve can rotate continuously relative to the body. This provides the user with 360-degree rotatability of the device, allowing their hand to be positioned at any angle of rotation without rotating the body of the appliance.

[0005] The handle may include a power cable that is securely connected to a first end portion of the body. This ensures that the power cable is connected to the fixed portion of the body. Therefore, the cable will not be strained when the user twists their hand used to support the appliance.

[0006] The sleeve can extend axially beyond the length of the third part of the body, such that the first edge of the sleeve abuts the first end portion of the body, and the second edge of the sleeve abuts the second end portion of the body. This has the effect that the components housed in the third part are protected by the outer sleeve.

[0007] The outer surface of the sleeve may be flush with at least the adjacent portion of the outer surface of the first end portion of the body. This improves the aesthetics of the handle and provides a smooth outer surface for the appliance to avoid snagging on any protruding edges.

[0008] The third part of the main body and the sleeve can be substantially cylindrical. This allows the sleeve to rotate easily around the main body.

[0009] The handle can be configured to receive removable accessories.

[0010] The sleeve may include at least a portion of an attachment mechanism for attaching a removable accessory. This can provide an arrangement in which the accessory is also rotated to achieve a desired style of the user's hair when the user rotates the sleeve relative to the body.

[0011] The main body can accommodate the fan unit and heater.

[0012] The first end portion of the main body may also include at least one user-operated button. The user-operated button can control the temperature setting or flow rate setting of the appliance.

[0013] The second end portion of the main body may include an air outlet for the handle.

[0014] The handle may also include a switch. The switch may be at least partially located on the sleeve. The switch may be in the form of a partially annular collar extending at least partially around the sleeve. The collar may be a continuous ring, and thus may surround the outer sleeve. The switch may be configured to rotate with the sleeve around the body and slide axially relative to both the sleeve and the body. This allows the user to switch between different operating modes and / or control settings of the appliance while the sleeve rotates in any direction, and ensures that switching between different operating modes of the appliance does not inhibit the rotation of the sleeve.

[0015] The handle may also include at least one collar spacer attached to the inner surface of the collar. The at least one collar spacer may extend through a corresponding hole in the sleeve and may be axially held between support rings extending circumferentially around the body. The support rings may be configured to slide axially with the collar. This arrangement provides the functionality that the collar can rotate with the sleeve while being movable relative to the sleeve between axial positions.

[0016] The support ring can be connected to the actuator arm, so that the axial movement of the collar actuates the actuator. Thus, moving the collar between axial positions activates different modes of the device, such as a deactivated "off" mode, an activated "on" mode, and a "cold-shot" mode, in which air flows through the device without being heated.

[0017] The third portion of the body can be configured to prevent circumferential rotation of one or both of the actuator arm and the support ring. The third portion of the body may include a recess shaped to receive the actuator arm. This ensures that the actuator's engagement elements remain aligned as the sleeve rotates.

[0018] The at least one collar spacer may comprise a plurality of collar spacers circumferentially spaced around the inner surface of the collar. This ensures the distribution of axial forces applied by the user to the collar and connecting components, thereby ensuring minimal strain on the components.

[0019] At least one corresponding hole in the sleeve can be configured to circumferentially abut the side of at least one corresponding collar spacer and to allow at least one collar spacer to move axially within the sleeve. This arrangement ensures that the collar can move axially without obstruction by the outer sleeve, while also ensuring that the collar rotates synchronously with the sleeve.

[0020] The collar can have multiple axial positions. Each axial position of the collar can correspond to a different operating state of the appliance.

[0021] The size of at least one corresponding hole in the sleeve allows the collar to move axially between multiple axial positions.

[0022] The plurality of axial positions may include three axial positions corresponding to three different operating states, wherein the three different operating states are open when the heater is engaged, closed, and open when the heater is disengaged.

[0023] This device can be a hair care device. A hair care device can be a heat styling device. Attached Figure Description

[0024] Preferred features of the invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

[0025] Figure 1 This is the front perspective view of the right side of the handle;

[0026] Figure 2 This is the left rear perspective view of the handle;

[0027] Figure 3 This is a front view of the handle with the attached removable accessory;

[0028] Figure 4 This is an enlarged side view of a portion of the handle with the collar removed;

[0029] Figure 5 This is an enlarged side view of a portion of the handle, with the collar and outer sleeve removed;

[0030] Figure 6 It is along Figure 2 A cross-sectional view of the handle taken from line AA; and

[0031] Figure 7 yes Figure 6 An enlarged view of section B shows the spring ball actuator. Detailed Implementation

[0032] like Figures 1 to 5As shown, the handle 1 of the hair styling tool has a body 4 and a generally cylindrical outer sleeve 12. The body 4 has a first end portion 6, a second end portion 8 and a third portion 10, wherein the third portion 10 is substantially cylindrical.

[0033] The first end portion 6 is located at the first end 3 of the handle 1. The first end portion 6 has a larger diameter than the third portion 10, thereby providing a flange 29 between the first end portion 6 and the third portion 10. The first end portion 6 includes a user interface 31 with user operation buttons for controlling various aspects of the appliance during use. The user interface 31 has two user operation buttons: a first user operation button 32 for controlling the temperature of the airflow through the appliance, and a second user operation button 34 for controlling the flow rate of the airflow through the appliance.

[0034] The second end portion 8 of the main body 4 includes an outlet grille. The outlet grille provides an air outlet for the airflow passing through the handle 1, which enters the handle 1 through an air inlet 5 near the first end 3 of the handle 1. Figure 3 As shown, when the removable attachment 24 is attached to the handle 1, air exiting the outlet grille enters the removable attachment 24 and exits through the air outlet in the attachment 24. The outlet grille has a larger diameter than the third portion 10 of the body 4 to provide another flange 26.

[0035] The outer sleeve 12 is located between the first end portion 6 and the second end portion 8 of the main body 4, and circumferentially surrounds the third portion 10 of the main body 4. The third portion 10 of the main body is... Figure 5 As shown in the figure, Figure 5 The handle 1 without the outer sleeve 12 is shown. The sleeve 12 is supported between two flanges 29, 26 formed by the diameter difference between the first end portion 6, the second end portion 8 and the third portion 10 of the body 4.

[0036] like Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, the diameters of the first end portion 6, the second end portion 8, and the outer sleeve 12 are substantially the same, making the outer surface of the handle continuous and without protrusions. The first edge 16 of the outer sleeve 12 abuts the edge 18 of the first end portion 6 of the body 4. The second edge of the outer sleeve 12 may also abut the edge 22 of the outlet grille. The first edge 16 of the outer sleeve 12 can slide circumferentially relative to the edge 18 of the first end portion 6 of the body 4 without encountering any obstruction. Similarly, the second edge of the outer sleeve 12 can slide circumferentially relative to the edge 22 of the outlet grille without encountering any obstruction. Therefore, the outer sleeve 12 can rotate continuously relative to the body 4.

[0037] The outer sleeve 12 also includes a collar 36. The collar 36 is configured to rotate with the outer sleeve 12, but can also move axially relative to the outer sleeve 12 and the body 4. The collar 36 provides a user-operated switch, wherein the axial position of the collar 36 represents different settings of the appliance. For example, the collar 36 can be axially moved to three different positions, wherein the appliance is respectively closed in a first position, open in a second position (heater engaged), and open in a third position (heater 30 disengaged). Changing the appliance settings such that the heater is disengaged is referred to in the art as "cold shot". Preferably, the collar is made of metal for better aesthetic appearance.

[0038] In use, users can frequently rotate their hands, which they use to support the handle 1, to orient the attached accessory relative to their hair during styling, for example, to encourage hair to wrap around the accessory. The appliance can be connected to a power source via a power cable 14. The appliance's power cable 14 is an eight-wire power cable, which provides power and communication signals to the electrical box housing most of the appliance's electronics. Therefore, fewer electronic components are housed in the body 4, resulting in a smaller size of the body 4. The eight-wire power cable 14 is heavier and has a larger diameter compared to a power cable with fewer wires (e.g., a standard two-wire power cable). Therefore, the rotatable connection between the power cable 14 and the body 4 of the handle 1 would be fragile and prone to breakage, posing a risk of electrical connection failure in the appliance. Therefore, the power cable 14 is fixedly connected to the first end portion 6 of the non-rotatable body 4 of the handle 1. To ensure that the user can still rotate their hand and the attached accessory without twisting the power cable 14, an outer sleeve 12, including a collar 36, rotates relative to the body 4 to which the power cable 14 is fixedly attached. Therefore, the user can direct accessory 24 without the risk of damaging the power cable 14 connection of the eight-wire power cable 14.

[0039] Figure 3 A handle 1 and a removable attachment 24 are shown. In this example, attachment 24 is tubular and designed for styling curls; however, attachment 24 can be any other hair styling attachment configured to attach to the handle 1. The attachment's air inlet is connected to the outlet grille of the handle 1 and receives air drawn in by the action of a motor. The air then exits attachment 24 via an air outlet.

[0040] like Figure 4 As shown, sleeve 12 also includes a hole or groove 40. Groove 40 retains collar spacers 38. In a specific example of the figures, each collar spacer 38 is secured to the inner surface of collar 36 by screws 39. In alternative embodiments, collar spacers 38 may be integrally formed with collar 36, for example, by injection molding.

[0041] like Figure 4As further shown, the circumferential side of the collar spacer 38 is adjacent to the circumferential edge 40a of the groove 40, and the axial height of the groove is greater than the axial height of the collar spacer 38 to allow the collar spacer 38 to move axially within the corresponding groove 40.

[0042] Preferably, four evenly spaced, circumferentially spaced collar spacers 38 extend through four corresponding holes 40, providing four evenly spaced connection points between the collar 36 and the support ring 42. This evenly distributes the force applied to the connection points when the user applies an axial force to move the collar 36 between axial positions. This protects the collar 36, support ring 42, screw 39, and collar spacers 38, and improves the durability of these components of the handle 1.

[0043] Figure 5 The body 4 of the handle 1 is shown, with the collar 36 and outer sleeve 12 removed to reveal the support ring 42 and actuator 43. The support ring 42 concentrically surrounds the third portion 10 of the body 4 and is fixedly attached to the actuator arm 44 of the actuator 43. The support rings 42 are spaced apart by a distance equal to the axial height of the collar spacers 38 to hold the collar spacers 38 in the axial direction. This arrangement allows the flange spacers 38 to slide circumferentially between the support rings 42 while allowing axial force to be transmitted from the collar spacers 38 to the support rings 42 to move the support rings 42 axially relative to the body 4. Thus, when the user moves the collar 36 axially, the axial force is transmitted through the screw 39 to the collar spacers 38, then to the support rings 42, and finally to the actuator arm 44, which actuates the actuator 43.

[0044] The retaining ring 49 is fixedly attached to the body 4 and prevents the support ring 42 from rotating circumferentially with the rotation of the sleeve 12 or the collar 36 by providing a barrier against a portion of the support ring 42 in the circumferential direction, wherein a portion of the support ring extends axially. Furthermore, the actuator arm 44 is received within the recess 50 to prevent rotation of the actuator arm and also allows for a tight fit between the outer surfaces of the outer sleeve 12 and the third portion of the body 4. This avoids wasted volume between the two components, ensuring a minimum overall volume for the handle 1.

[0045] Figure 6 It is along Figure 2The image shows a cross-section of the handle 1 taken by line AA, and illustrates a fan unit 28 including a fan and a motor. In use, the motor drives the fan, and air is drawn in through the opening of the air inlet 5 along an airflow path that extends along the length of the handle 2 through the body 4. The fan flow rate is controlled by a flow control user operation button 34 on the user interface 31. The flow control can have several settings, for example, three settings: high, medium, and low. These settings can be indicated by the illumination of LED 11 on the first end portion of the body 4. The air is optionally heated by a heater 30 before leaving the handle 1 at the air outlet, which is composed of an outlet grille. The air temperature is controlled by a temperature control user operation button 32 on the user interface 31. The temperature control can have several settings, for example, three settings: high, medium, and low. These settings can be indicated by the illumination of LED 9 on the first end portion of the body 4.

[0046] Figure 6 Section B in Figure 7 The image is magnified and shows a cross-section of the actuator 43 located within a recess 50 of the third portion 10 of the body 4. The actuator 43 includes an actuator arm 44, a spring ball plunger 45, and opposing panels having a plurality of pawls 48a, 48b, 48c. The pawls 48a, 48b, 48c are configured to receive a ball 46 of the spring ball plunger 45 when the actuator arm 44 moves between different axial positions. The actuator arm 44 includes a housing 47 that extends radially inward to receive a spring 51 of the spring ball plunger 45. Figure 6 As shown, the recess 50 within the third portion 10 of the main body 4 extends further radially inward to accommodate the housing 47 and allow the housing 47 to move due to changes in the axial position of the collar 36. The spring 52 biases the ball 46 into one of the three pawls 48a, 48b, 48c until the collar 36 undergoes further axial movement.

[0047] Spring 51 has a certain length and elasticity to bias ball 46 outwards to the inner surfaces of contact pawls 48a, 48b, and 48c. When the user slides collar 36 axially to the next lateral position, ball 46 overcomes the elastic force of spring 51 and is pushed into housing 47, moving to the next pawl 48a, 48b, or 48c. This relaxes spring 51, allowing ball 46 to contact the inner surfaces of adjacent pawls 48a, 48b, and 48c. The three pawls 48a, 48b, and 48c operate the device in three states: closed, open with heater 30 engaged, and open with heater 30 disengaged.

Claims

1. A handle for a handheld device, the handle comprising: The main body includes: Capable of being connected to a power source or including a first end portion of the power source; The second end portion; and A third portion located between the first end portion and the second end portion, wherein the first end portion and the second end portion extend radially outward beyond the third portion; and An outer sleeve, configured to be gripped by a user to support the handle during use of the appliance, the outer sleeve being rotatably supported by a first end portion and a second end portion about a third portion. A switch in at least a partial annular collar form, the collar surrounding the sleeve. The collar is configured to rotate together with the sleeve around the body, and to slide axially relative to both the sleeve and the body. The handle further includes at least one collar spacer attached to the inner surface of the collar, wherein the at least one collar spacer extends through a corresponding hole in the sleeve and is axially held between support rings, wherein the support rings are separated by a distance equal to the axial height of the collar spacer, and the support rings extend circumferentially around the body.

2. The handle according to claim 1, wherein, The sleeve is capable of continuous rotation relative to the main body.

3. The handle according to claim 1, further comprising a power cable fixedly connected to the first end portion of the body.

4. The handle according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, The sleeve extends axially along the length of the third portion of the body, such that a first edge of the sleeve abuts the first end portion of the body, and a second edge of the sleeve abuts the second end portion of the body.

5. The handle according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein, The outer surface of the sleeve is flush with at least the adjacent portion of the outer surface of the first end portion of the body.

6. The handle according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein, The third part of the main body and the sleeve are substantially cylindrical.

7. The handle according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein, The handle is configured to receive removable accessories.

8. The handle according to claim 7, wherein, The sleeve includes at least a portion of an attachment mechanism for attaching the removable accessory to the handle.

9. The handle according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein, The main body houses the fan unit and the heater.

10. The handle according to claim 9, wherein, The first end portion of the main body also includes at least one user operation button.

11. The handle according to claim 10, wherein, The user operation buttons control the temperature setting or flow rate setting of the appliance.

12. The handle according to claim 9, wherein, The second end portion of the main body includes the air outlet of the handle.

13. The handle according to claim 1, wherein, The support ring is configured to slide axially together with the collar.

14. The handle according to claim 13, wherein, The support ring is connected to the arm of the actuator, so that the axial movement of the collar actuates the actuator.

15. The handle according to claim 14, wherein, The third part of the main body is configured to prevent circumferential rotation of one or both of the actuator arms and the support rings.

16. The handle according to claim 15, wherein, The third portion of the body includes a recess shaped to accommodate the actuator arm.

17. The handle according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein, The at least one collar spacer includes a plurality of collar spacers circumferentially spaced around the inner surface of the collar.

18. The handle according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein, At least one corresponding hole in the sleeve is configured to abut the side of the at least one corresponding collar spacer in the circumferential direction and is configured to allow the at least one collar spacer to move axially within the sleeve.

19. The handle according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein, The collar has multiple axial positions.

20. The handle according to claim 19, wherein, Each axial position of the collar corresponds to a different operating state of the device.

21. The handle according to claim 19, wherein, The size of at least one corresponding hole in the sleeve allows the collar to move axially between the plurality of axial positions.

22. The handle according to claim 19, wherein, The plurality of axial positions includes three axial positions, each corresponding to a different operating state, wherein the three different operating states are open when the heater is engaged, closed, and open when the heater is disengaged.

23. The handle according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein, The device in question is a hair care device.

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