Personal care system and apparatus

Abstract

A personal care system includes a personal care device and a cleaning device. The personal care device has a motion sensor and the cleaning device has a support structure for supporting the personal care device in a cleaning position for cleaning the personal care unit and which uses a cleaning device motor. The cleaning device performs a cleaning device cleaning procedure in response to a user action, and the personal care device performs a corresponding personal care device cleaning procedure in response to detecting the cleaning device cleaning procedure from the motion sensor signal.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a personal care system, comprising a personal care device (such as a shaver) and a cleaning device for the personal care device. The present invention also relates to a personal care device and a cleaning method for use in such a system. Background Art

[0002] There are many personal care devices that require regular cleaning, both for hygiene and to maintain device functionality. For example, a hair cutting or hair removal device may become clogged with hair, skin oils, or applied makeup. To simplify the cleaning process for the user, some systems combine a personal care device with a cleaning device.

[0003] For example, WO 2004 / 086901 discloses a shaving system, comprising a shaver and a cleaning device. The shaver comprises a main housing and a shaving unit coupled to the main housing, wherein the main housing accommodates an electric motor for driving the shaving unit. The cleaning device comprises a support structure for supporting the shaver and a receiving space for receiving the shaving unit when the shaver is arranged in a cleaning position supported by the support structure.

[0004] The cleaning device comprises a reservoir for containing a cleaning fluid and a pump for conveying the cleaning liquid from the reservoir to the receiving space.

[0005] In known shaving systems, the shaver can be supported upside down in a support of a cleaning device, which can be manually moved downwards so that the shaving unit enters a reservoir, from which a cleaning fluid can be pumped into the reservoir using an external manually operated pumping system. The cleaning function, for example, involves a specific sequence of pumping operations to achieve a cleaning cycle, and also a series of operations of the shaver.

[0006] The cleaning maintenance provided by the shaving system helps maintain a properly functioning and sanitary shaver.

[0007] The use of the dedicated cleaning device according to WO 2004 / 086901 is inconvenient for the user, since the pumping unit of the cleaning device has to be driven manually.

[0008] EP 3 771 528 A1 discloses a personal care system, comprising a shaving device and a cleaning device for a shaving unit of the shaving device. The shaving device has an orientation sensor, which is used to generate an output signal representing the orientation of the shaving device. The cleaning device supports the shaving device in a cleaning position with a predefined cleaning orientation. The cleaning device is controlled to operate according to a predefined cleaning program for cleaning the shaving unit when the orientation of the shaving device sensed by the orientation sensor corresponds to the predefined cleaning orientation. Therefore, the known personal care system utilizes the orientation sensor to identify when the shaving device is in the cleaning position in the cleaning device. In one embodiment, a mechanical drive coupling is provided between the shaving device and the cleaning device so that the motor of the shaving device can drive the pump of the cleaning device when the shaving device is placed in the cleaning device. This can make the cleaning device completely mechanical, thereby reducing the total cost of the cleaning device while maintaining ease of use for the user. However, this makes the interface between the shaving device and the cleaning device complicated.

[0009] There remains a need for a cleaning system that is simple to use, has low complexity, and is low cost. Summary of the invention

[0010] The invention is defined by the claims.

[0011] According to an example of one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a personal care system, comprising a personal care device and a cleaning device, wherein:

[0012] Personal care equipment includes:

[0013] Nursing equipment motors;

[0014] Personal care units driven by care equipment motors;

[0015] Motion sensors; and

[0016] Nursing equipment controllers; and

[0017] Cleaning equipment includes:

[0018] A support structure for supporting a personal care device in a cleaning position

[0019] Centrally located for cleaning of personal care units;

[0020] cleaning unit; and

[0021] A cleaning equipment controller, wherein:

[0022] There is no electrical communication and no mechanical drive coupling between the personal care device and the cleaning device.

[0023] The cleaning device controller is configured to implement a cleaning device cleaning program in response to a user action; and

[0024] The personal care device controller is configured to implement a corresponding personal care device cleaning program in response to detecting a cleaning device cleaning program from the motion sensor signal.

[0025] When the user indicates the start of a cleaning process by actuating the cleaning device, the system implements the cleaning process in the cleaning device and the personal care device.

[0026] Such actuation (user action) may, for example, involve pressing a button on the cleaning device, but may also simply involve appropriately placing the personal care device on a support structure.

[0027] In order to simplify the communication required for coordinating and synchronizing the corresponding cleaning procedures between the cleaning equipment and the personal care equipment, the personal care equipment detects the movement of the personal care equipment given by the cleaning procedure, for example, the vibration of the sound generating cleaning unit (such as an ultrasonic cleaning unit). This avoids the need for electrical communication or mechanical drive coupling between the cleaning equipment and the personal care equipment. More generally, it avoids the need for any form of signal (e.g., electrical or optical signal) dedicated to the communication between the personal care equipment and the cleaning equipment, and avoids the need for a complex mechanical interface between the cleaning equipment and the personal care equipment. The cleaning equipment and the personal care equipment are actually kept independent, and the personal care equipment uses motion sensing to sense the cleaning operation of the cleaning equipment.

[0028] For example, mounting of the personal care device to the support structure provides clamping in such a way that vibrations caused by a cleaning procedure of the cleaning device are transferred to the personal care device itself.

[0029] Optionally, the personal care device may also sense its position, for example because a cleaning program is only applicable when the personal care device is turned upside down.

[0030] The system avoids the need for the user to perform any activation on the personal care device itself to implement a synchronized cleaning program in the cleaning device and the personal care device.

[0031] The system can have a universal cleaning device for different personal care devices, since no special interface between the personal care device and the cleaning device is required. Another advantage is that the user cannot mistakenly start a cleaning program for the personal care device when operating the device. This can only occur in a controlled manner by having to detect a well-defined vibration pattern.

[0032] Motion sensors include, for example, accelerometers, which can be used to detect orientation and vibration, or a separate sensor can be used to detect orientation.

[0033] For example, the cleaning unit comprises a sound generating unit. The sound generating unit generates characteristic vibrations which can be transferred from the cleaning device to the personal care device.

[0034] For example, the cleaning unit includes an ultrasonic vibration generator, wherein the care device controller is configured to detect and identify vibrations of the ultrasonic vibration generator.

[0035] Cleaning Devices A cleaning program may include a series of vibration phases and waiting phases. The vibration phases perform the cleaning and the waiting phases allow adjustments to be made to the personal care device.

[0036] For example, a personal care device cleaning program may include rotation of the personal care unit between vibration phases such that different portions of the personal care unit are subjected to ultrasonic cleaning.

[0037] The personal care unit may remain stationary during the vibration phase.

[0038] For example, a personal care system comprises a hair treatment system, a personal care appliance comprises a hair treatment appliance, and a personal care unit comprises a hair treatment unit.

[0039] The hair treatment device may comprise a shaver or a trimmer and the hair treatment unit comprises the shaver head or the trimmer head, or the hair treatment device may comprise an epilator and the hair treatment unit comprises the epilator head.

[0040] The present invention also provides a personal care device, comprising:

[0041] motor;

[0042] motor-driven personal care units;

[0043] Motion sensors; and

[0044] Nursing equipment controller,

[0045] wherein the personal care device controller is configured to implement the personal care device cleaning program in response to detecting initiation of a cleaning program of a remote cleaning device that supports the personal care device in a cleaning position for cleaning the personal care unit, and

[0046] Wherein a personal care device cleaning program is initiated based on a motion sensor signal, there is no electrical communication and no mechanical drive coupling between the personal care device and the cleaning device.

[0047] This defines a personal care device that activates a cleaning program by recognizing the characteristic vibrations of a connected cleaning device.

[0048] For example, motion sensors include accelerometers.

[0049] As explained above, the personal care device may comprise a hair treatment device and the personal care unit comprises a hair treatment unit and the hair treatment device may comprise a shaver or a trimmer and the hair treatment unit comprises a shaver head or a trimmer head, or the hair treatment device may comprise an epilator and the hair treatment unit comprises an epilator head.

[0050] The present invention also provides a method for controlling a personal care system including a personal care device and a cleaning device, the method comprising:

[0051] implementing a cleaning program of the cleaning device in response to the user action, thereby driving a cleaning unit of the cleaning device; and

[0052] detecting, using a motion sensor of the personal care appliance and in response to implementing a corresponding personal care appliance cleaning routine, movement of the personal care appliance caused by movement generated by the cleaning appliance cleaning routine,

[0053] This enables a personal care device cleaning routine to be performed without electrical communication and without mechanical drive coupling between the personal care device and the cleaning device.

[0054] The invention also provides a computer program comprising computer program code means adapted to implement the above method when said program is run on a cleaning device and a controller of a personal care device of a personal care system.

[0055] The present invention also provides a method for controlling a personal care device, the personal care device comprising a motor, a personal care unit driven by the motor, and a motion sensor, wherein the method comprises:

[0056] detecting movement of the personal care device caused by movement generated by the cleaning program of the cleaning device using a motion sensor of the personal care device and in response to implementing a corresponding personal care device cleaning program, the remote cleaning device supporting the personal care device in a cleaning position for cleaning the personal care unit,

[0057] This enables a personal care device cleaning routine to be performed without electrical communication and without mechanical drive coupling between the personal care device and the cleaning device.

[0058] The invention also provides a computer program comprising computer program code means adapted to implement the above method when said program is run on a controller of a personal care device of a personal care system.

[0059] These and other aspects of the invention will be apparent from and elucidated with reference to the embodiment(s) described hereinafter. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0060] For a better understanding of the invention, and to show more clearly how it may be put into practice, reference will now be made, by way of example only, to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0061] Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a shaving system according to the invention, wherein a shaver with an orientation sensor is placed on a supporting structure of a corresponding cleaning device;

[0062] Figure 2 Shows Figure 1 An enlarged perspective view of a cleaning device of a shaving system without a shaver; and

[0063] Figure 3 An example of a synchronized cleaning routine between a shaver and a cleaning device is shown. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0064] The present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0065] It should be understood that although the detailed description and specific examples illustrate exemplary embodiments of the device, system and method, these descriptions and specific examples are for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. These and other features, aspects and advantages of the device, system and method of the present invention will be better understood from the following description, the attached claims and the accompanying drawings. It should be understood that these figures are merely schematic and are not drawn to scale. It should also be understood that the same reference numerals are used throughout the figures to represent the same or similar parts.

[0066] The present invention provides a personal care system, including a personal care device and a cleaning device. The personal care device has a motion sensor, and the cleaning device has a support structure, which is used to support the personal care device in a cleaning position for cleaning a personal care unit, and it uses a cleaning device motor. The cleaning device implements a cleaning device cleaning program in response to a user action, and the personal care device implements a corresponding personal care device cleaning program in response to detecting the cleaning device cleaning program from a motion sensor signal. The present invention also provides a personal care device of the system.

[0067] The present invention may be applied to any powered handheld personal care device that may benefit from cleaning by an external cleaning device.

[0068] For example, Figure 1A personal care system in the form of a shaving system 10 is shown. The shaving system 10 includes a shaver 12 (i.e., an example of a personal care device) having a main housing 11 and a cleaning device 14 including a support structure 15. The shaver 12 can be placed in a cleaning position on the cleaning device. In the cleaning position, the shaver 12 has a predefined cleaning orientation. As shown, the cleaning orientation is substantially vertical, with the shaving unit facing downward. The cleaning device 14 includes a pot-shaped housing, and a bracket 16 protrudes from the top of the housing. As shown in FIG. Figure 1 As shown, the bracket 16 is used to support the main housing of the shaver 12 when the shaver 12 is placed on the support structure 15.

[0069] The shaver has a motor 13 and a shaving head driven by the motor (ie, an example of a personal care unit). Figure 1 Also schematically shown is a motion sensor 21 and an optional orientation sensor 20, which is arranged in the main housing of the shaver 12. The optional orientation sensing may be performed by the motion sensor itself.

[0070] The motion sensor 21 detects motion, in particular vibrations, of the shaver, while the orientation sensor 20 provides an output signal representative of the orientation of the shaver. The sensor output is provided to a shaver controller 22 (ie an example of a care device controller).

[0071] The controller unit uses the motion sensor signal (and optional orientation sensor information) to implement the cleaning program of the shaver. Specifically, motion sensing is used to sense when the cleaning program is activated in the cleaning device 14 without the user inputting to the shaver and without any electrical communication between the cleaning device and the shaver. Orientation sensing is used to detect when the shaver is in a cleaning orientation (i.e., within a predefined angular orientation range relative to a default cleaning orientation), for example, within a predefined range relative to the vertical direction. For example, if the PCB carrying the orientation sensor is vertical when the shaver is supported by the cleaning device, the cleaning orientation is vertical. However, the cleaning orientation can deviate from the vertical direction, or more generally, the sensing orientation corresponding to the cleaning orientation can deviate from the vertical direction.

[0072] The cleaning device 14 comprises a cleaning unit, for example comprising an ultrasonic vibration generator 30, typically in the form of a piezoelectric ultrasonic transducer. The cleaning device also comprises a cleaning device controller 34. The cleaning program is started by the user by actuating the cleaning device. This may require pressing a start button, or the cleaning program may be started automatically when the shaver is mounted on the cleaning device.

[0073] The cleaning unit causes vibration of the cleaning device and transmits the vibration to the shaver through the connection between the shaver and the cleaning device. Then, in response to detecting a cleaning program of the cleaning device from the motion sensor signal, the shaver controller implements a corresponding cleaning program for the shaver.

[0074] Figure 2 1 is an enlarged perspective view of the cleaning device 14. It comprises a can-shaped fluid container having a lower housing portion 40 on which an upper housing portion 42 is placed. The upper housing portion 42 has a top wall 44 in which a generally triangular opening is formed, which provides an entrance to a receiving space 46 extending into the housing interior. The shape of the receiving space 46 corresponds to the shape of a corresponding shaving unit (e.g., a three-head shaving unit in this example) provided on the shaver 12. When the shaving unit of the shaver 12 is as shown in FIG. Figure 1 When placed in the receiving space 46 as shown, the main housing (in the shape of a handle) of the shaver 12 is supported by the bracket 16.

[0075] The fluid container is attached to the ultrasonic actuator. The cleaning device includes a power source for driving the ultrasonic actuator. The shaver is not electrically connected to the cleaning device, but is only mechanically connected to the cleaning device through a clamp that holds the shaver in place. There is also no coupling of any rotation of the shaver to the mechanical drive system of the cleaning device. Therefore, the cleaning unit is mechanically independent of the shaver.

[0076] The shaver's controller runs an algorithm that detects characteristic vibrations, specifically the motor rpm pattern of the sonotrode.

[0077] The start of the vibration is detected to activate the cleaning program of the shaver. Therefore, the cleaning program in the cleaning device is guiding the entire cleaning process.

[0078] Figure 3 An example of a cleaning routine performed by the cleaning device 14 and the shaver 12 is shown.

[0079] As shown, the cleaning program in the cleaning device is manually started by the user, as shown by arrow 50, by pressing a start button, or simply by mounting the shaver on the cleaning device. The ultrasonic cleaning phase 52 then begins. This causes the motor to vibrate, which is transmitted to the shaver and detected by the shaver's motion sensor.

[0080] In response, the shaver starts a synchronous cleaning program. Thus, the shaver cleaning program starts automatically, as shown by arrow 54. During the cleaning phase 52, the shaver tool does not rotate, i.e. during phase 60. When the ultrasonic cleaning phase 52 ends, the cleaning device enters a waiting phase 53 and the shaver detects the end of the vibration. The shaver motor then runs in phase 62 at a reduced rpm compared to its normal operating rpm. The purpose is to expose different parts of the shaver tool to the cleaning process.

[0081] The cleaning procedure continues with a series of cleaning phases 52 of the cleaning device, a rest phase 60 of the shaver, and a waiting phase 53 of the cleaning device and a slow rotation phase 62 of the shaver. Thus, the shaver responds to the end of the first cleaning phase 52 by starting to rotate at a reduced rpm (compared to the shaving rpm), but when the next vibration segment begins, the application responds by stopping the rotation. The low speed will prevent the cleaning medium from splashing too much and avoid washing away grease in key components such as gears, levers or cutting elements. The slow rotation also ensures that all areas of the functional components are exposed to the liquid. This is particularly important for depilatory systems, because for depilatory systems, the stop position may have some pliers open and some pliers closed.

[0082] The cleaning program ends automatically. If the shaver is lifted from the cleaning device so that the orientation sensor detects that the shaver is not in the cleaning orientation, the cleaning program ends automatically. Alternatively, the cleaning program may end after a predetermined number of ultrasonic cleaning cycles (in the cleaning device and the shaver). There may also be a manual shut-off function.

[0083] The present invention can be applied to many different types of existing personal care devices, which already have a cleaning station, rather than just a shaver. For example, it can be applied to beauty devices such as epilators, as well as general hair removal devices.

[0084] Different personal care devices may be designed to fit the same cleaning device and may be programmed to respond to the cleaning cycle of the cleaning device in different ways.

[0085] The present invention has been described with reference to ultrasonic cleaning, for example in the range of 20kHz to 1MHz. The vibrations may also be at the high frequency end of the audible spectrum, for example in the range of 10kHz to 20kHz. However, the concepts of the present invention may be applied to any cleaning system that produces characteristic vibrations or other motions, such as vibrations produced by the motor of a pump in a pump cleaning system. As long as the cleaning function of the cleaning device causes characteristic motions that can be detected by the personal care device, motion sensing may be used to control the cleaning routine in the personal care device without requiring any driving mechanical coupling or electrical or optical coupling or communication between the personal care device and the cleaning device.

[0086] Those skilled in the art can understand and implement various modifications to the disclosed embodiments when practicing the claimed invention by studying the drawings, the disclosure and the appended claims. In the claims, the word "comprising" does not exclude other elements or steps, and the indefinite article "a" or "an" does not exclude a plurality.

[0087] The functions implemented by a processor may be implemented by a single processor or by multiple separate processing units, which may be collectively considered to constitute a “processor.” In some cases, these processing units may be remote from each other and communicate with each other by wire or wirelessly.

[0088] The mere 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.

[0089] The computer program may be stored / distributed on a suitable medium, such as an optical storage medium or solid-state medium provided together with or as part of other hardware, but may also be distributed in other forms, such as via the Internet or other wired or wireless telecommunications systems.

[0090] If the term "suitable for" is used in the claims or the specification, it should be noted that the term "suitable for" should be equivalent to the term "configured to". If the term "arranged" is used in the claims or the specification, it should be noted that the term "arranged" should be equivalent to the term "system", and vice versa.

[0091] Any reference signs in the claims should not be construed as limiting the scope.

Claims

1. A personal care system (10), comprising a personal care device (12) and a cleaning device (14), wherein: The personal care device comprises: Nursing equipment motors (13); a personal care unit driven by the care device motor; A motion sensor (21); and Nursing equipment controller (22); and The cleaning device (14) comprises: a support structure (15) for supporting the personal care device in a cleaning position for cleaning the personal care unit; a cleaning unit (30); and A cleaning device controller (34), wherein: There is no electrical communication and no mechanical drive coupling between the personal care device (12) and the cleaning device (14), The cleaning device controller (34) is configured to implement a cleaning device cleaning program in response to a user action; and The personal care device controller (22) is configured to implement a corresponding personal care device cleaning program in response to detecting the cleaning device cleaning program from the motion sensor signal.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the motion sensor (21) comprises an accelerometer.

3. The system of claim 1 or 2, wherein the cleaning unit comprises a sound generating unit.

4. The system according to claim 3, wherein the cleaning unit comprises an ultrasonic vibration generator (30), wherein the care device controller is configured to detect and identify vibrations of the ultrasonic vibration generator.

5. System according to claim 4, wherein the cleaning device cleaning program comprises a series of vibration phases (52) and waiting phases (53).

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the personal care appliance cleaning program includes rotation (62) of the personal care unit between the vibration phases (52), and stationary holding (60) of the personal care unit during the vibration phases (52).

7. A system according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the personal care system comprises a hair treatment system, the personal care appliance comprises a hair treatment appliance and the personal care unit comprises a hair treatment unit.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein: The hair treatment device comprises a shaver or a trimmer and the hair treatment unit comprises a shaver head or a trimmer head; or The hair treatment device comprises an epilator, and the hair treatment unit comprises an epilator head.

9. A personal care device comprising: Motor (13); a personal care unit driven by said motor; Motion sensor (21); as well as Nursing equipment controller (22), wherein the personal care device controller (22) is configured to implement a personal care device cleaning program in response to detecting initiation of a cleaning program of a remote cleaning device that supports the personal care device in a cleaning position for cleaning the personal care unit, and Wherein the personal care device cleaning program is initiated based on a motion sensor signal, there is no electrical communication between the personal care device and the cleaning device, and there is no mechanical drive coupling.

10. The device according to claim 9, wherein the motion sensor (21) comprises an accelerometer.

11. The device of claim 9 or 10, wherein the personal care device cleaning program comprises: rotation (62) of the personal care unit between vibration phases (52) of the cleaning program of the remote cleaning device; as well as The personal care unit remains stationary (60) during the vibration phase (52).

12. The apparatus according to any one of claims 9 to 11, wherein: The personal care appliance comprises a shaver or a trimmer and the personal care unit comprises a shaver head or a trimmer head; or The personal care appliance comprises an epilator and the personal care unit comprises an epilator head.

13. A method of controlling a personal care system comprising a personal care device and a cleaning device, the method comprising: In response to a user action, a cleaning program of the cleaning device is implemented, thereby driving a cleaning unit of the cleaning device; as well as detecting, using a motion sensor of the personal care appliance and in response to implementing a corresponding personal care appliance cleaning routine, movement of the personal care appliance caused by movement generated by the cleaning appliance cleaning routine, The personal care device cleaning routine is performed without electrical communication and without mechanical drive coupling between the personal care device and the cleaning device.

14. A method of controlling a personal care appliance, the personal care appliance comprising a motor, a personal care unit driven by the motor, and a motion sensor, wherein the method comprises: detecting, using the motion sensor of the personal care device and in response to implementing a corresponding personal care device cleaning routine, movement of the personal care device caused by movement generated by a cleaning device cleaning routine of a remote cleaning device that supports the personal care device in a cleaning position for cleaning the personal care unit, The personal care device cleaning routine is performed without electrical communication and without mechanical drive coupling between the personal care device and the cleaning device.

15. A computer program comprising computer program code means adapted to implement the method according to claim 13 or 14 when said program is run on one or more controllers of a personal care system or a personal care appliance.

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