Personal care device

Abstract

The invention relates to a personal care device such as a hair cutter or electric shaver comprising a handle, a working head pivotably attached to the handle, a slider provided with an auxiliary working tool such as a long hair trimmer and slidably attached to the handle to slide between an inactive parked position and an active working position to work with the auxiliary working tool, and a slide controller for retaining the slider in the inactive parked position and / or the active working position and / or at least one intermediate position. The slide controller is configured to retain the slider in the at least one intermediate position only when approached from a first side and / or in a first slide direction, and not to retain the slider in the at least one intermediate position when approached from a second side opposite the first side and / or in a second slide direction opposite the first slide direction.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a personal care device such as a hair clipper or an electric razor, the personal care device comprising: a handle; a working head pivotally attached to the handle; a slider provided with an auxiliary working tool such as a long hair trimmer and slidably attached to the handle to slide between a non-active parking position and an active working position to work with the auxiliary working tool; and a sliding controller for holding the slider in the non-active parking position and / or the active working position and / or at least one intermediate position. Background Technology

[0002] Hair removal tools (such as electric razors or epilators) typically include working heads that rotate relative to the handle to allow the tool to adapt to the skin surface and avoid angular misalignment. Such tools can include: short hair cutters, such as perforated cutting foils that engage with cutter blades that can move below the cutting foil; medium or long hair trimmers, such as a pair of comb-like cutting blades that reciprocate relative to each other; or hair pulling tools for clamping and pulling hair from the skin. To achieve the cutting, pulling, and / or removal actions, the removal tool can be driven by a motor via a transmission system to move the tool in a desired manner, which may depend on the type of removal tool. For example, the cutter blades of a slender cutting foil cutter may reciprocate along a linear axis parallel to the skin contact surface and the longitudinal axis of the slender cutting blade, while a rotary cutting foil cutter may rotate continuously or oscillate rotaryly about an axis of rotation substantially perpendicular to the skin surface. Medium or long hair trimmers, including comb-like cutters, can be similar to slender foil cutters, reciprocating along a longitudinal comb axis parallel to the skin surface, and epilators for pulling out hair can rotate about a rotation axis substantially perpendicular to the skin contact surface.

[0003] The axis of rotation can be arranged substantially parallel to the skin-contact surface of the working head, and thus transverse to the main extension axis of the drivetrain, and more specifically transverse to the longitudinal axis of the shank portion of the drivetrain. When the removal tool includes an elongated foil cutter and / or an elongated trimmer, the axis of rotation can extend substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of such elongated removal tools, and thus substantially parallel to the linear oscillation of the removal tool to be generated by the drivetrain.

[0004] In other examples, the working head may pivot about a pivot axis that is also parallel to the skin-contact surface of the working head and transverse to the longitudinal axis of the shank, but substantially transverse to the aforementioned longitudinal axis of the elongated removal tool and / or substantially parallel to the linear oscillation of the removal tool, wherein in some other examples, the working head may pivot and rotate relative to the shank.

[0005] While this pivotable support of the working head improves profile adaptation, some users still prefer the working head to remain in a specific orientation relative to the shank and for rotational movement to be locked. To allow the working head to be locked, blocked, or held in a specific rotational / pivot position relative to the shank, a retaining brake can be provided, which can switch from an active retaining configuration to an inactive release configuration and vice versa, providing the user with both options. When the retaining brake is inactive or released, the working head can pivot freely relative to the shank, or can pivot relative to the shank with relatively low resistance, while in the active configuration of the retaining brake, the working head is held in one of several rotational / pivot positions relative to the shank.

[0006] Depending on the configuration of the holding brake, the working head can be completely locked relative to the shank, making rotation / pivot impossible, or it can be held in a specific angular position only when normal operating loads and / or operating torques are applied to the working head, but rotation / pivot is possible when abnormal loads and / or torques are applied to the working head. Some users prefer this type of working head holding with limited braking torque and / or braking force, and these users prefer to lock the working head before adjusting it to the desired angular orientation relative to the shank, i.e., they prefer to activate the holding brake before such adjustment.

[0007] For example, EP 2591889 A1 discloses an electric razor having a working head pivotally supported relative to the handle about a rotation axis, wherein rotation of the working head can be locked or braked by means of a retaining brake comprising a U-shaped spring forming an engagement element to engage with the working head, wherein the U-shaped spring is biased toward the engagement / braking position and can be released by means of a slider slidably supported on the side of the handle opposite to another slider supporting a long hair trimmer of the electric razor. Since the slider for activating the retaining brake is located on the front side of the handle, and the slider with the long hair trimmer is located on the rear side of the handle, the thumb typically grips the front slider while the other fingers are positioned on the rear slider. However, when gripping one side of the handle with the thumb and the other fingers with the other fingers, the sliding action of one of these sliders may unintentionally cause the opposing slider to slide. Furthermore, when the thumb is placed on one slider and the other fingers on the other slider, the entire handle may move unintentionally relative to the hand gripping the handle.

[0008] More specifically, the slider supporting accessories or auxiliary tools (such as long hair trimmers) typically has a considerable sliding distance between its inactive parking position and its active working position. In the parking position of the auxiliary tool, the working head of the main working tool should be unobstructed and freely accessible to allow work to be performed using the working head without interference from the auxiliary tool. Therefore, in the parking position, the auxiliary tool is retracted below the working head and / or does not protrude beyond the handle towards the working head, so only the working head protrudes from the longitudinal end portion of the handle. On the other hand, when using the auxiliary tool, it is desirable for the auxiliary tool to be in a position protruding beyond the working head, thus requiring the slider supporting the auxiliary tool to have a considerable sliding distance between the inactive parking position and the active working position.

[0009] EP 0649711 A1 shows another example of an electric shaver, which shows a slider that supports a long hair trimmer and can slide from an inactive parking position to an active working position and vice versa. Summary of the Invention

[0010] The object of the present invention is to provide an improved personal care device, such as an electric hair trimmer, that avoids at least one of the disadvantages of the prior art and / or further develops existing solutions.

[0011] A more specific object of the present invention is to provide an improved grip on a personal care device, thereby avoiding unintentional switching between configurations of the personal care device and providing a better grip on the handle.

[0012] Another object of the present invention is to provide a personal care device with an improved holding brake for holding the working head in a desired angular position with a well-defined holding resistance without sacrificing the ease of switching the holding brake.

[0013] To achieve at least one of the aforementioned objectives, it is proposed to control the sliding movement of a slider in a support aid, such as a long hair trimmer, using a sliding controller that operates or functions differently depending on the sliding direction of the slider. More specifically, the sliding controller may be configured to hold the slider in at least one intermediate position only when approached from a first side and / or in a first sliding direction at at least one intermediate position between the slider's resting position and its working position, but not when approached from a second side opposite to the first side and / or in a second sliding direction opposite to the first sliding direction at that intermediate position.

[0014] More specifically, the slider controller may be configured to hold the slider in the at least one intermediate position when it starts from the parking position and approaches the intermediate position while sliding from the parking position toward the active working position, while on the other hand, the slider is not held or captured in the intermediate position when it starts from the active working position and / or when it slides from the active working position toward the parking position.

[0015] In other words, the slider controller may have a directional configuration to operate in different ways depending on the direction of the slide, and / or may be activated in or around the middle position of the slider depending on the direction of the slide.

[0016] More specifically, the slide controller may include a latching mechanism for latching the slideer in the intermediate position, wherein the latching mechanism includes a movable latching element supported for engaging with a mating latch profile in a latching direction transverse to the sliding direction of the slideer. Thus, the latching element is movable transversely in the sliding direction to engage with the mating latch profile, wherein one of the latching element and the latch profile follows the sliding movement of the slideer and / or is attached to the slideer, so that it moves in the sliding direction as the slideer moves. The other of the latching element and the latch profile is restricted in such sliding movement, i.e., prevented from sliding and / or only allowed to move to a limited extent in the sliding direction. Therefore, the intermediate position is defined and maintained when the latching element and the latch profile engage with each other due to the transverse movement of the latching element.

[0017] To achieve different directional behaviors of the latching mechanism, a limiter can be provided to restrict the movement of the latching element in the lateral direction. Specifically, such a limiter can hold the latching element back to the non-latched position and / or prevent the latching element from laterally moving into engagement with the mating latch profile. This limiter can be configured to become active only when the slider moves along its sliding path in one direction, and to be prevented from becoming active when the slider moves along the sliding path in the opposite direction.

[0018] This sliding controller can accompany the dual function of a slider supporting an auxiliary tool such as a long hair trimmer. This dual function can include, on the one hand, moving the auxiliary tool from its inactive parking position to its active working position and vice versa; and on the other hand, activating and deactivating a holding brake for maintaining the rotating / pivotable working head at a desired angular position relative to the handle. More specifically, the slider supporting the auxiliary tool such as a long hair trimmer can be configured to activate and deactivate the holding brake as it slides along its sliding path relative to the handle. The holding brake is activated or deactivated depending on the position of the slider supporting the auxiliary tool. Specifically, the slider can be provided with an actuation profile for actuating the holding brake when the slider is in an intermediate position between the parking position and the working position, and for releasing the holding brake when the slider is in the parking position. In this intermediate position of the slider, the auxiliary tool can still be inactive and / or in a position that does not obstruct access to the working head, so as to allow the working head to be used in a manner similar to that of the slider in its parking position without interference from the auxiliary tool. In other words, the middle position of the slider can be close to the parking position or at least closer to the parking position than close to the working position, so that the working head can be locked or held in the desired angular position, but can still be used without being unduly obstructed by the auxiliary tool supported by the slider.

[0019] These and other advantages become more apparent from the following description with reference to the accompanying drawings and possible examples. Attached Figure Description

[0020] Figure 1 a) Figure 1 b) and Figure 1 c): A perspective view of a personal care device in the form of an electric razor is shown, the device having a working head pivotally supported about a rotation axis relative to the handle and a slider supporting an auxiliary tool in the form of a long hair trimmer and slidable relative to the handle along a sliding axis, wherein Figure 1 a) A partial view shows the slider in its inactive parking position. Figure 1 b) A partial view shows the slider in its intermediate position, where the working head is locked in an angular position relative to the handle, and Figure 1 c) shows the slider in the active working position for use with an auxiliary tool in the form of a long hair trimmer, with the working head locked in the middle position.

[0021] Figure 2 a) Figure 2 b) and Figure 2 c): Shows something similar to Figure 1 a) Figure 1 b) and Figure 1c) A perspective view of a personal care device, wherein the slider has been removed to show a retaining brake including its engaging element and a sliding controller for controlling the sliding of the slider and holding the slider in an intermediate position, wherein Figure 2 The partial view of a) shows the holding brake in its released configuration and the sliding controller in the parked position. Figure 2 b) Partial view shows the holding brake in its braking / locking configuration and the sliding controller in its holding intermediate position to hold the slider in the intermediate position, and Figure 2 c) shows a partial view of the holding brake in its braking / holding configuration and a sliding controller in its active working position to hold the slider in its active working position.

[0022] Figure 3 a) and Figure 3 b): Shown Figure 1 a) Figure 1 b) and Figure 1 c) An enlarged partial perspective view of the personal care device, showing the retaining brake between the handle and the working head, wherein Figure 3 The partial view of a) shows the engagement element of the retaining brake in the released position disengaged from the working head, and Figure 3 b) A partial view shows the engagement element of the holding brake in the braking position engaged with the working head.

[0023] Figure 4 a) Figure 4 b) Figure 4 c) Figure 4d ): Shows a front view of a personal care device, in which Figure 4 a) Figure 4 b) Figure 4 c) and Figure 4d The partial view shows the slider in different positions to illustrate when moving from... Figure 4 The parking position shown in the partial view of a) is moved to... Figure 4 When the slider is locked or braked in the working position shown in the partial view of c), Figure 4 b) shows its central position in a partial view, while when viewed from... Figure 4 c) The working position shown in the partial view is moved to Figure 4d When the partial view shows the parking position, the slider is not locked / braked in its middle position.

[0024] Figure 5 a) and Figure 5 b): A perspective view of a slider controller is shown, which includes a spring element having an engagement portion that engages on one side with a slider support and on the other side with the slider, wherein... Figure 5 b) is Figure 5 a) is a magnified view of a portion of the image.

[0025] Figure 6 a) Figure 6 b) and Figure 6 c): A perspective view of the sliding controller of a personal care device is shown, illustrating the mating of the sliding controller's engaging elements with the contour of the sliding controller's sliding mechanism, wherein... Figure 6 The partial view of a) shows the outline of the slider controller when the slider is in its parked position, and Figure 6 b) A partial view shows the outline of the slide controller that engages with the engagement element for braking / locking when the slider has been moved from its parked position to its intermediate position, and in which Figure 6 c) is a partial view Figure 6 b) is a partial enlarged view showing the engaging element locked within a recess in the slider's sliding controller profile to hold the slider in its intermediate position.

[0026] Figure 7 a) Figure 7 b) and Figure 7 c): A perspective view of a personal care device is shown, illustrating the sliding controller when the slider is in its operating position, wherein... Figure 7 b) and Figure 7 c) (where relative to Figure 7 b) Some parts were removed. Figure 7 a) is a magnified view of a portion of the image.

[0027] Figure 8 a) and Figure 8 b): A perspective view of a personal care device is shown, illustrating a sliding controller in an unlock / release configuration when the slider from the working position has reached its intermediate position. Figure 8 b) is Figure 8 a) is a magnified view of a portion of the image.

[0028] Figure 9 a and Figure 9 b: A perspective view of the personal care device is shown, illustrating the slide controller (without the slide housing portion) when the slide from the intermediate position has reached its resting position. Figure 9 b) is Figure 9 a) A magnified view of a portion of the image, and

[0029] Figure 10 a and Figure 10 b: A perspective view of a personal care device is shown, illustrating a sliding controller that holds the slider in its resting position, wherein... Figure 10 b) is Figure 10 a) A magnified view of a portion of the image. Detailed Implementation

[0030] As illustrated in the accompanying drawings, a personal care device may include a slider that supports an auxiliary work tool such as a long hair trimmer, wherein the slider's sliding movement can be controlled by a slider controller configured to hold the slider in at least one intermediate position only when approaching at least one intermediate position between the slider's resting position and its working position from one side and / or in one sliding direction. More specifically, the slider controller may be configured to hold the slider in the at least one intermediate position when moving from the resting position and approaching the intermediate position while sliding from the resting position toward the active working position, while on the other hand, the slider is not held or captured in the intermediate position when moving from the active working position and / or when sliding from the active working position toward the resting position.

[0031] In other words, the slider controller may have a directional configuration to operate in different ways depending on the direction of the slide, and / or may be activated in or around the middle position of the slider depending on the direction of the slide.

[0032] More specifically, the slide controller may include a latching mechanism for latching the slideer in the intermediate position, wherein the latching mechanism includes a movable latching element supported for engaging and disengaging with a mating latch profile along a latching direction transverse to the sliding direction of the slideer. Thus, the latching element is movable transversely to the sliding direction to engage and disengage with the mating latch profile, wherein one of the latching element and the latch profile follows the sliding movement of the slideer and / or is attached to the slideer, so that it moves in the sliding direction as the slideer moves.

[0033] The other of the latching element and the latching profile is restricted in such sliding movement, i.e., prevented from sliding and / or allowed to move only to a limited extent in the sliding direction. Therefore, when the latching element and the latching profile engage each other due to the lateral movement of the latching element, the intermediate position is defined and maintained.

[0034] To achieve different directional behaviors of the latching mechanism, a limiter can be provided to restrict the movement of the latching element in the lateral direction. Specifically, such a limiter can hold the latching element back to the non-latched position and / or prevent the latching element from laterally moving into engagement with the mating latch profile. This limiter can be configured to become active only when the slider moves along its sliding path in one direction, and to be prevented from becoming active when the slider moves along the sliding path in the opposite direction.

[0035] More specifically, the limiter may include a pawl that opens in one sliding direction and closes in the opposite sliding direction to engage the movable latching element when entering from one side, and not engage and / or release the latching element when entering in the opposite direction. More specifically, the pawl may open in the sliding direction as the slider enters the active working position and close in the opposite sliding direction as the slider enters its inactive parking position. Thus, as the slider moves toward its parking position, the pawl may engage the movable latching element to confine the latching element within the pawl, preventing latching movement laterally in the sliding direction and retaining it back to the non-latched position. On the other hand, when the slider moves in the opposite sliding direction, i.e., from the inactive parking position to the active working position, the latching element may disengage from the pawl and thereby gain additional freedom in the lateral direction, allowing the latching element to move laterally to engage with a mating latch profile.

[0036] According to one aspect, a movable latching element may be guided in or by a capture recess, the capture recess providing limited mobility of the latching element in the sliding direction and providing limited movement of the latching element in the lateral direction, the capture recess having two portions that are adjacent to or spaced apart from each other in the sliding direction, wherein the two portions provide different mobility of the latching element in the lateral direction.

[0037] The movable latching element can be biased toward its latched position, in which the movable latching element engages with a mating latching element to lock the slider in an intermediate position, wherein this biasing can be achieved by means of a spring element. More specifically, the spring element and the latching element can be integrated with each other and / or the latching element can be formed from a portion of the spring element.

[0038] More specifically, the spring element may include: a first end portion attached to the slider to follow the slider when sliding along the slider's sliding path; and a second end portion attached to the handle or a carrier attached to the handle. Because one end portion is attached to the handle and the other end portion is attached to the slider, the spring element undergoes deformation when the slider moves relative to the handle.

[0039] The aforementioned end portion attached to the handle may form a movable latching element, and / or the movable latching element may be mounted to the end portion attached to the handle, wherein, on the other hand, it may be attached to the slider to follow the sliding movement of the slider, and thus move relative to the latching element in the sliding direction when the slider moves relative to the handle.

[0040] More specifically, the latch profile attached to the slider may include a cam surface over which a biased latching element may ride as the slider moves relative to the handle. This cam surface may include a latch recess and / or a latch protrusion that may latch into a movable latching element that is movable in a lateral direction. The movable latching element may have a latch protrusion and / or a latch recess to mate with the latch profile.

[0041] The latching element and the latching engagement with a mating latching profile can either completely lock the slider in the intermediate position or provide a stable rest position for the slider, which can be disengaged when a sufficiently large driving force is applied to the slider in the sliding direction. For example, the latching element and latching profile can provide a stop ball lock, allowing the latching element to snap into, for example, a recessed latching profile, which may have beveled or angled entry and exit surfaces to allow the latching engagement to be released by a sufficiently strong driving action in the sliding direction.

[0042] On the other hand, the slider supporting an auxiliary working tool, such as a long hair trimmer, can have a dual function. In addition to its basic function of moving the auxiliary tool from its inactive resting position to its active working position and vice versa as it slides along its sliding path relative to the handle, the slider also has the function of activating and deactivating a holding brake for holding the rotating / pivotable working head relative to the handle at a desired angular position among a number of possible angular positions. This activation / deactivation of the holding brake can be achieved without altering the working state of the auxiliary tool mounted to the slider.

[0043] More specifically, the slider of a support aid (such as a long hair trimmer) is configured to activate and deactivate a retaining brake when slid along its sliding path relative to the handle. The retaining brake is activated or deactivated depending on the position of the slider of the support aid.

[0044] Specifically, the slider may be provided with an actuation profile for actuating a holding brake when the slider is in an intermediate position between the rest position and the working position, and for releasing the holding brake when the slider is in the rest position. In this intermediate position of the slider, the auxiliary tool can still be inactive and / or in a position that does not obstruct access to the working head, so as to allow the working head to be used in a manner similar to that of the slider in its rest position without interference from the auxiliary tool. In other words, the intermediate position of the slider can be close to the rest position or at least closer to the rest position than close to the working position, so that the working head can be locked or held in a desired angular position, but still usable without being unduly obstructed by the auxiliary tool supported by the slider.

[0045] The actuation profile can be configured to keep the retaining brake active as the slider moves further along its sliding path from the intermediate position to the active position, so that when the auxiliary tool is in its working position, the working head is held in the adjusted angular position and is prevented from undesirable rotation.

[0046] However, depending on the type of auxiliary tool, the actuation profile can be configured to release the retaining brake again when the slider moves further along its sliding path from the intermediate position to the active position, so that the working head can rotate when the auxiliary tool is in its active working position. For example, this configuration may be desirable when the auxiliary tool is an applicator tool used to apply agents such as lubricants to the skin or to spray cooling fluids onto the skin.

[0047] The aforementioned actuation profile of the slider may include a cam surface that engages with a cam follower attached to a retaining brake to advance the cam follower and thus the retaining brake to different positions depending on the sliding position of the slider. More specifically, such a cam surface may include portions having extensions that differ from each other in a direction transverse to the sliding direction of the slider, such that the cam follower moves transversely to the sliding direction of the slider when it contacts said different portions of the cam surface with different transverse extensions.

[0048] More specifically, the cam surface may include at least one inclined portion that is angled at an acute angle relative to the sliding direction of the slider and / or at least one protrusion and / or recess that protrude / recess relative to an adjacent cam surface portion in a direction transverse to the sliding direction of the slider. When the slider moves between its parked position and intermediate position, the cam follower may ride over such inclined portion or protrusion or recess to allow the retaining brake to change its operating state from active to inactive, and vice versa.

[0049] The cam surface, including inclined portions and / or protrusions and / or recesses, may define a continuous shape, such as a continuous curve along which the cam follower may slide or roll, wherein such a continuous curve may include straight portions, and the transition from, for example, a straight portion to a curved portion or between two straight portions having different slopes relative to the sliding direction may be smooth and rounded. Alternatively, a curved or angled transition may also be provided between two straight portions with different slopes.

[0050] To allow controlled movement of the cam follower in a direction transverse to the sliding direction, the cam surface can be a slot in which the cam follower is received. This cam follower may include, for example, a pin or protrusion received in the slot, or a roller received in the slot. This slot and its opposing longitudinal surface effectively form two cam surfaces, one of which advances the cam follower in a first direction transverse to the sliding direction of the slider, and the other cam surface advances the cam follower in a second direction opposite to the first direction. Due to this forced or forward control of the cam follower of the braking mechanism in both directions, the activation and deactivation of the holding brake can precisely follow the sliding movement of the slider. Specifically, the actuating element of the holding brake is forward-advanced to release and to brake.

[0051] The aforementioned elongated slot can be formed in the slider and can have a longitudinal extension in the sliding direction of the slider, the longitudinal extension being at least as long as the sliding path of the slider from its rest position to its working position, so that the cam follower can ride on the cam surface or in the cam slot over the entire sliding path of the slider.

[0052] In alternatives to the aforementioned configuration, it should also be considered to provide the slider with a pin or other protrusion or roller to engage with an elongated cam surface formed at or attached to the actuating element of the braking mechanism, such that when the slider slides relative to the handle along its sliding path, the pin or roller, or the protrusion typically attached to the slider, can advance the actuating element that maintains braking in a direction transverse to the sliding direction of the slider. However, a more compact arrangement utilizing the typically significant length of the slider can be achieved when the elongated cam surface is provided on the slider side and the cam follower formed by the pin or roller is formed on the braking mechanism side.

[0053] More specifically, the retaining brake may include an actuating rod pivotally supported at a handle or on a carrier attached to the handle for pivoting about a pivot axis relative to the handle, wherein such actuating rod may engage with the aforementioned actuation profile of a slider for pivoting about the pivot axis in response to sliding of the slider.

[0054] Such an actuator may be provided with the aforementioned cam follower, which straddles the cam surface of the slider to cause the actuator to pivot in response to the sliding of the slider.

[0055] The pivot axis of the actuator rod may extend substantially perpendicular to the sliding direction of the slider. More specifically, the pivot axis may extend substantially perpendicular to the sliding direction and substantially perpendicular to the side or surface of the handle where the slider is arranged. For example, when the slider of the support tool is located on the rear side of the handle, the pivot axis may extend substantially perpendicular to the rear surface of the handle. The handle may have a substantially rounded profile and / or may have a free-form surface to allow for a natural grip and adapt to the profile of the gripper, wherein in this case, the pivot axis of the actuator rod may extend transversely to or substantially perpendicular to a virtual plane tangent to the rear surface of the handle on which the slider is located.

[0056] Alternatively, the pivot axis may extend substantially perpendicular to the gripping surface of the slider or to a virtual plane tangent to the gripping surface of the slider.

[0057] The aforementioned actuating rod may be supported at the end portion of the handle adjacent to the working head, and / or may have an actuating portion that protrudes beyond the end portion of the handle facing the working head in an active angular position that advances the retaining brake into its braking configuration, so as to advance the engaging element of the retaining brake toward the working head.

[0058] To support the large reaction force from the engagement element of the retaining brake in the locked / brake position without transmitting such a large force to the actuation profile of the slider, the actuating rod and its pivot axis can be arranged such that the actuating rod is in a fairly steep orientation in its active brake position and / or in a position where the reaction force on the actuating rod has little or no lever arm relative to the pivot axis of the actuating rod. More specifically, the virtual line passing through the pivot axis and the contact point where the actuating rod contacts the engagement element of the retaining brake can be substantially parallel to the direction of the reaction force applied to the actuating rod from the engagement rod of the retaining brake, or inclined to that direction at an angle of less than 25°, 15°, or 5°. For example, the support arm of the actuating rod supporting the engagement element of the retaining brake in the active brake position can be substantially perpendicular to the arm of the engagement element of the retaining brake supported by said actuating rod.

[0059] The engagement element of the retaining brake's engaged working head to maintain its angular position may include a spring. This spring may be configured to provide a bias towards the retaining brake toward a non-active release configuration. Therefore, it is necessary to overcome the spring's biasing force to allow the retaining brake to hold the working head and for the retaining brake's engagement element to engage the working head in a manner that prevents rotation of the working head. When the slider is not actuating the retaining brake, i.e., when the slider is, for example, in its parked position, the spring's biasing preload can be used to bring the retaining brake into its release configuration.

[0060] Using spring force or spring torque to deactivate the holding brake and advancing the holding brake's engaging element to its braking position by means of a slider to overcome the spring's bias preload allows for more precise control of the braking action and more rigidly positions the holding brake's engaging element in its active braking position. Instead of merely controlling brake engagement by the spring's bias force (as in the case of biasing the holding brake to its active braking position and releasing the brake by means of an actuator), the holding brake is held in its holding position in a substantially inelastic manner. More specifically, the holding brake's engaging element in its active braking position at the engaging head can be supported against the actuation profile of the slider, and / or the reaction force and / or torque acting on the holding brake's engaging element in the active position can be transmitted substantially inelastically to the handle and to a certain extent to the actuation profile of the slider, particularly not via the spring, but only via a substantially rigid element.

[0061] A substantially rigid drivetrain can be configured to advance the retaining brake to its active locked position and hold it therein. This drivetrain can be formed by the aforementioned actuating element, movably supported at the shank or on a bracket attached to the shank, and held in place by the actuation profile of the slider. In the active brake configuration, this drivetrain forms a rigid or stiff frame that supports and holds the engaging element of the retaining brake in place and transmits the reaction force to the shank. More specifically, this drivetrain can be formed by the aforementioned actuating rod that directly transmits the main portion of the retaining force of the engaging element of the retaining brake to the shank or a carrier attached to the shank, and a smaller portion of such retaining force to the actuation profile of the slider, particularly to the cam surface of the slider that controls the rotational position of the actuating rod.

[0062] Specifically, in its active braking position, the retaining brake's engagement element is supported on the handle via the aforementioned actuating rod, and to some extent, depending on the position of the actuating rod, on the actuation profile of the slider. This actuating rod contacts both the actuation profile of the slider and the retaining brake's engagement element. Force is transmitted to the handle via its pivot axis. This actuating rod allows the slider to be directly connected to the retaining brake's engagement element.

[0063] In the aforementioned cam surface and cam follower configuration, the actuator rod can contact the engagement element of the retaining brake and receive the reaction force from the engagement element, and can also contact the cam surface of the slider and transmit the reaction force to the cam surface.

[0064] The retaining brake's engagement element and the aforementioned spring for advancing the retaining brake to its release configuration can be integrated with each other and / or together to form a resilient engagement element. For example, the engagement element can have a substantially U-shaped configuration including a first leg attached to the handle and a second leg forming an engagement portion to engage the working head, wherein the two legs and / or the intermediate leg connecting the two legs can resiliently deform to move the engagement portion toward and away from the working head. More specifically, the resilient U-shaped element can be attached to the handle such that the leg with the engagement portion is separated from the working head in its natural or undisplaced original position, and moves to that original position without being activated by the slider. However, when the slider moves to the intermediate position, the leg with the engagement portion is specifically advanced toward the working head by means of the aforementioned actuating rod to engage the braking profile of the working head.

[0065] For example, the working head may be provided with a braking profile extending along an arched or circular portion around the pivot axis of the working head, wherein such a braking profile may have a ripped or grid-like structure including protrusions and recesses that mate with the engagement element that retains the brake. For example, the aforementioned resilient, specifically U-shaped engagement element that retains the brake may be provided with a protrusion that protrudes toward the working head and mates with the aforementioned protrusions and recesses of the braking profile of the working head.

[0066] For example, the braking profile of the working head can be formed into a toothed profile that allows latching with the engagement element of the retaining brake. More specifically, the engagement element of the retaining brake can be provided with protrusions or teeth that can engage with a recess between two adjacent teeth of the braking profile of the working head.

[0067] The teeth may extend along an arcuate or circular portion surrounding the pivot axis of the working head.

[0068] As a substitute for or supplement to this toothed profile on the working head, the engagement element of the retaining brake that moves toward and away from the working head may be provided with a toothed profile to mate with protrusions (such as teeth) provided on the working head.

[0069] As can be seen from the attached figures, the personal care device 1 can be configured as a hair cutting device or an electric razor 2, and regardless of its specific configuration, it can have an elongated handle 3 for the user's hand to grip, particularly between the user's fingers and thumb, and also has a working head 4 attached to the handle 3.

[0070] The handle 3 may form a housing in which components such as: a power unit (e.g., in the form of a battery or accumulator); a controller (e.g., in the form of a board with integrated circuits); and a drive unit (e.g., in the form of an electric motor). As can be seen from the figures, the handle 3 may have an elongated, roughly cylindrical or bone-shaped configuration, which includes rounded surfaces to allow for a comfortable grip.

[0071] The working head 4 may include a main working tool for performing the primary functions of the personal care device 1. For example, the working head 4 may include at least one hair cutting tool 5, such as a foil cutter and / or a short or long hair cutter, such as a comb-shaped cutting bar.

[0072] The working head 5 may be pivotally supported at one end portion of the shank 3 to rotate about a pivot axis 6. For example, the working head 4 may have a blocky, elongated configuration (e.g., similar to an elongated cube or box) and may have a principal axis along which it has its longest extension, wherein such a principal axis of the working head 4 may extend substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis 10 of the shank 3, see [reference]. Figure 1 In the case of the elongated box-shaped working head 4, the aforementioned pivot axis 6 can extend substantially parallel to the main axis of the elongated cubic working head 4, see [reference needed]. Figure 1 Therefore, the pivot axis 4 can extend substantially perpendicular to or transverse to the longitudinal axis 10 of the handle 3.

[0073] Regardless of the shape of the working head 4, the pivot axis 6 can extend transversely to the longitudinal axis of the handle 3 and substantially parallel to a virtual plane tangent to either the rear side 3b or the front side 3f of the handle 3, wherein the front side 3f of the handle 3 is typically gripped by the thumb, and the rear side 3b of the handle 3 is typically gripped by the fingers of the hand. For example, the front side of the handle 3 may be provided with a display for showing information to the user and / or an on / off switch for turning the personal care device 1 on and off. Furthermore, the rear side 3b of the handle 3 may have a contour suitable for gripping the fingers on the inner side of the hand.

[0074] In addition to the aforementioned working head 4, the personal care device 1 is also provided with auxiliary tools 7 to perform additional or auxiliary functions of the personal care device 1. For example, if the personal care device 1 is a hair cutter, the auxiliary tool 7 may be a long hair trimmer. Alternatively, the auxiliary tool 7 may include an applicator for applying liquid or creamy substances to the user's skin or to the working head 4. The auxiliary tool 7 may include other types of tools (such as illumination devices or ultrasonic transducers) to apply ultrasound waves to tissues.

[0075] In the figure, position 0 corresponds to the slider's resting position, and the working head can rotate freely without obstruction by the head locking mechanism. In this resting position, the auxiliary tool 7 (e.g., the slider's long hair trimmer) is not activated. Positions 1 and 2 in the figure show the head being held, locked, blocked, or in a braking position, i.e., the head can no longer rotate and remains in a neutral or specific angled rotational position. Position 1 represents the intermediate slider position, in which the auxiliary tool is still not activated, and in position 2, the slider reaches its end stop position, where the auxiliary tool is engaged / activated.

[0076] As from Figure 1 As can be seen, the auxiliary tool 7 is supported or attached to a slider 8, which is slidably supported on the handle 3, wherein the slider 8 may form part of or cover the outer surface of the handle 3. More specifically, the slider 8 may have a substantially plate-shaped body that forms a cover covering part of the outer surface of the handle 3.

[0077] Regardless of its shape, the slider 8 may have a gripping surface 9 that is gripped by the user's hand on the gripping handle 3. Specifically, the gripping surface 9 may be positioned and configured to be gripped by the user's fingers or thumb.

[0078] For example, the slider 8 can be arranged on the aforementioned rear side 3b of the handle 3, opposite the front side 3f, where a display or on / off switch can be provided. See [reference needed] Figure 1 and Figure 4 .

[0079] The slider 8 is supported to be displaced relative to the handle 3 along a sliding path that is substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis 10 of the handle 3, wherein such sliding path may be straight or slightly curved.

[0080] More specifically, the sliding path of slider 8 can be configured to allow auxiliary tool 7 to slide from... Figure 1 The parking position shown in a is moved to... Figure 1 The working position is shown in c. In the parked position, the slider 8 extends substantially on the outer surface of the handle 3 and does not substantially protrude beyond the end portion of the handle 3 facing the working head 4. More specifically, the auxiliary tool 7, which can be positioned on the end portion of the slider 8, can be retracted from the working head 4 and / or positioned adjacent to the end portion of the handle 3 and does not substantially protrude beyond the handle 3 towards the working head 4, see [reference]. Figure 1 a.

[0081] In the active working position of the slider 8, the slider 8, and specifically the auxiliary tool 7, may protrude beyond the end portion of the handle 3 facing the working head 4, such that when the personal care device 1 is viewed in a direction perpendicular to the slider side of the handle 3 and / or perpendicular to the gripping surface 9 of the slider 8, the slider 8 may overlap with and / or cover most of the working head 4. See [reference needed] Figure 4 c. For example, when considering the longitudinal axis 10 of the handle 3 to define the height direction, the auxiliary tool 7 can be positioned at a height similar to or substantially the same as the height of the tool and / or skin contact surface of the working head 4, see [reference]. Figure 1 c and Figure 4 c. In contrast, when in the parked position, when the personal care device 1 is viewed in the viewing direction perpendicular to the slider 8, the slider 8 and the auxiliary tool 7 may overlap only with the handle 3, see [reference needed]. Figure 4 a and Figure 4d .

[0082] As illustrated in the accompanying drawings, the personal care device 1 is provided with a retaining brake 11 for holding the working head 4 in one of a plurality of possible rotational positions relative to the handle 3 at a desired rotational position. In other words, the retaining brake 11 brakes the pivoting / rotational movement of the working head 4 to prevent undesirable rotation / pivot.

[0083] The retaining brake 11 includes an engagement element 12 attached to or supported by the handle 3, wherein the engagement element 12 is movable toward the working head 4 to engage with the working head, and is movable away from the working head 4 to release the retaining action of the retaining brake 11.

[0084] As from Figure 2 and Figure 3 As can be seen, the engagement element 12 may have a generally U-shaped configuration, which includes a support leg 12s that is supported on or attached to the handle 3 (specifically, the end face of the handle 3 facing the working head 4), and also has a movable engagement portion 12e that can move toward and away from the working head 4 to engage and disengage with the working head 4.

[0085] For example, the substantially U-shaped engagement element 12 may be a spring or may be formed of an elastic material (such as an elastic wire), wherein the support portion or support leg 12s may be rigidly fixed to the handle 3, and the displacement of the engagement portion or engagement leg 12e may be achieved by means of the elastic deformation of the support leg 12s and / or engagement leg 12e. However, in an alternative, the engagement element 12 may also be substantially rigid, wherein in this case, the engagement element 12 may be movably supported (specifically pivotally supported) at the handle 3 to allow the engagement portion 12e to move toward and away from the working head 3.

[0086] As from Figure 3 It can be seen that the working head 4 may be provided with a braking profile 13 to engage with the engagement element 12 of the retaining brake 11, wherein the braking profile 13 may extend along an arched or circular portion around the pivot axis 6 of the working head 4, such that when the working head 4 is rotated about the pivot axis 6, the braking profile 13 passes through the engagement portion 12e of the engagement element 12, wherein different portions of the braking profile 13 have substantially the same distance from the engagement portion 12e.

[0087] More specifically, the brake profile 13 may include a tooth profile comprising a plurality of protrusions and recesses arranged in a row along an extension of the brake profile 13, and thus providing a plurality of locking or latching positions for the working head 4.

[0088] To mate with the brake profile 13, the engagement portion 12e of the engagement element 12 may be provided with teeth or protrusions 14 that can mate with the tooth shape of the brake profile 13. Specifically, the protrusions 14 can enter into the recesses between a pair of adjacent protrusions of the brake profile 13 to achieve a latch between the working head 4 and the engagement element 12, thereby holding the working head 4 in the desired rotational position.

[0089] Depending on the profile, specifically the slope of the teeth of the braking profile 13 and the slope of the side surface of the protrusion 14 of the engagement element 12, the latch of the working head 4 at a specific angular position may or may not be overcome, or may be overcome under different actuating forces attempting to rotate the working head 4.

[0090] The engagement element 12 can be configured to have an initial position with the engagement portion 12e in which the engagement portion 12e is disengaged from the working head 4 and does not brake the rotation of the working head 4. In this initial position, the resilient engagement element 12 can be unbiased or relaxed. Alternatively, the engagement element 12 can be biased in the initial position, wherein the engagement element 12 can be configured to increase resilient deformation and / or bias as the engagement portion 12e moves toward the working head 4. In other words, the engagement element 12 is configured to provide bias of the engagement portion 12e toward its inactive, unbraked initial position, wherein in this initial position, the engagement portion can still undergo some degree of resilient deformation to ensure that the engagement element 12e actually reaches its initial position and does not exhibit undesirable wobbling or swaying in the initial position.

[0091] Although the accompanying drawings show that the resilient engagement element 12 provides the aforementioned biasing action on its own, a substantially rigid engagement element 12 may also be provided (e.g., in the form of a pivotally supported brake lever), in which case the biasing may be provided by a separate spring element that propels the engagement portion toward its original position after disengagement from the working head 4.

[0092] As from Figure 2 and Figure 3 As can be seen, the engaging element 12 of the retaining brake 11 is actuated by means of an actuating element 15, which is movably supported on the handle 3 and / or on a carrier attached to the handle 3. The actuating element 15 can be configured to actively advance the engaging element 12 into its active braking position, engaging with the working head 4, wherein the actuating element 15 can contact the engaging portion 12e of the engaging element 12 to push the engaging portion against the working head 4. On the other hand, when the actuating element 15 retracts to its inactive position, it allows the engaging element 12 to move away from the working head 4, wherein this removal of the engaging element 12 from the working head 4 can be achieved by the aforementioned bias and / or the spring force.

[0093] The actuating element 15 is supported on the handle 3 or on a carrier attached to the handle to allow the actuating element 15 to move toward and away from the working head 4. Specifically, the actuating element 15 may have a non-active position in which it does not protrude beyond the end portion of the handle 3 and / or contacts the engaging element 12 in its original portion, and may be moved to an active braking position in which the actuating element 15 protrudes from the end portion of the handle 3 and / or contacts the engaging element 12 in its active braking position.

[0094] As from Figure 3 As can be seen, the actuating element 15 may include an actuating rod 16, which may be pivotally supported on the handle 3 or on a carrier attached to the handle about a pivot axis 17, which is substantially transverse to the longitudinal axis 10 of the handle 3 and / or substantially transverse to the sliding path of the slider 8 and / or substantially transverse to the gripping surface 9 of the slider 8 and / or substantially transverse to the pivot axis 6 of the working head 4.

[0095] When comparing Figure 3 When viewing partial views a and b, it can be seen that, compared to... Figure 3 Compared to the inactive, non-braking position shown in partial view a, when in the active, braking position shown in partial view b, the actuator 16 protrudes a greater distance from the end portion of the handle 3 toward the working head 4.

[0096] The actuating element 15, specifically the actuating rod 16, is displaced or moved by means of the sliding of the slider 8.

[0097] Specifically, the slider 8 is provided with an actuation profile 18 for actuating the holding brake 11, wherein such actuation profile 18 can engage or contact the actuation element 15 to convert the sliding movement of the slider 8 into the actuation movement of the actuation element 15, and thus into the movement of the engagement element 12 of the holding brake 11.

[0098] As from Figure 1 and Figure 4As can be seen, the actuation profile 18 of the slider 8 may include a cam surface 19, on which the cam follower 20 attached to the actuation element 15 straddles as the slider 8 moves along its sliding path.

[0099] For example, the slider 8 may be provided with a cam slot 21 providing a pair of substantially parallel cam surfaces 19 between which a cam follower 20 is received. This cam slot 21 extends substantially parallel to the sliding path along the slider 8, but not perfectly parallel, and includes at least one inclined portion and / or at least one lateral protrusion and / or at least one lateral recess. Specifically, when considering the pivot axis 17 of the actuator 16, the cam surface 19, and specifically the cam slot 21, includes portions passing through the pivot axis at different distances from it, such that the cam follower 20 riding over the cam surface 21 or riding over the cam slot 21 causes the actuator 16 to rotate about the pivot axis 17. See [reference needed] Figure 1 and Figure 2 and Figure 3 The combination of .

[0100] More specifically, such as from Figure 1 and Figure 4 As can be seen, the cam surface 19 or cam slot 21 may include an inclined portion 19a inclined at an acute angle relative to the sliding direction 22 of the slider 8, wherein when the slider 8 is in its inactive resting position, the inclined portion 19a engages or cooperates with the actuating element 15, specifically the cam follower 20 attached to the actuating element, see [reference] Figure 1 a and Figure 4 a. The inclined portion 19a is configured such that when the slider 8 is fully in the position as Figure 1 a and Figure 4 When the actuator 16 is in its inactive parking position as shown in diagram a, it is either held in its inactive, non-braking position or advanced to the inactive, non-braking position, wherein the slider 8 begins to move towards Figure 1 b and Figure 4 When the slider 8 moves out of its parking position from the intermediate position shown in b, the tilting portion 19a begins to pivot the actuating rod 16. When the slider 8 is in the intermediate position, the actuating rod 16 has pivoted to its active braking position, as shown in b. Figure 2 As shown in b.

[0101] As from Figure 1 and Figure 4 It can be seen that the cam surface 19 and the cam follower 20 have a straight portion 19b adjacent to the inclined portion 19a, wherein the straight portion 19b is substantially parallel to the sliding direction 22, so that the slider 8 can move from... Figure 1 b and Figure 4 The intermediate position shown in b is further moved to... Figure 1 c and Figure 4 The active working position is shown in c. Due to the straight portion 19b, the actuator 16 no longer pivots further, but remains in the active braking position throughout the entire process of the slider 8 entering its active working position. However, as previously mentioned, when it is desired that the actuator 16 is not in its active braking position when the slider 8 is in its active working position, the cam surface 19 or the cam slot 21 can be made to have different curvatures or configurations. For example, another inclined portion can be provided toward the other end of the cam slot 21 to return the actuator 16 to its non-braking position.

[0102] The sliding movement of slider 8 along its sliding path is controlled by slider controller 30, which is configured to elastically hold slider 8 in its parking position and its operating position. More specifically, slider controller 30 may have a bistable configuration that elastically advances slider 8 to its parking position when approaching the parking position, and furthermore, elastically forces slider 8 into its operating position when approaching the operating position.

[0103] As a complement or alternative to this configuration that holds the slider 8 in its parking position and / or its working position, according to another aspect, the slider controller 30 is configured to hold the slider 8 in... Figure 1 b and Figure 4 The aforementioned intermediate position is shown in b.

[0104] More specifically, the slide controller 30 can be configured to hold the slider 8 in the intermediate position only when it is moving out of the parking position and / or when it is sliding toward the working position, and not to hold the slider 8 in the intermediate position when it is approaching the parking position in the opposite sliding direction and / or when it is moving out of the working position. This directional configuration of the slide controller 30 is determined by... Figure 4 Example, specifically Figure 4 A comparison of partial view b with partial views c and d. Specifically, when slider 8 is moved from... Figure 4 The parking position shown in a faces the direction of Figure 4 When the working position shown in c is moved, the sliding controller 30 is in the position of the slider 8. Figure 4 When the slider 8 is in the intermediate position as shown in b, it provides latching action and / or holding force. On the other hand, when the slider 8 is moved from... Figure 4 The working position shown in c is moved to Figure 4d When the parking position is shown, the sliding controller 30 does not provide any latching action and / or any holding force when passing through the intermediate position.

[0105] like Figure 2 , Figure 5 and Figure 6As illustrated, the slide controller 30 may include a movable latch element 31 and a mating latch profile 32, which may engage with each other to hold the slider 8 in an intermediate position and / or provide a blocking or restraining force attempting to stop the slider 8 in the intermediate position.

[0106] More specifically, the movable latching element 31 is movably supported in the latching direction 33 (see [reference]). Figure 5 and Figure 6 c), the latch direction is transverse to the sliding direction 22 of the slider 8 and / or toward the mating latch profile 32.

[0107] For example, the latch profile 32 may include a recess or depression that may have a shape such as a V-shape or a smooth indentation. On the other hand, the latch element 31 may include a latch protrusion and / or a latch profile that engages with the aforementioned recess of the latch profile 32 such that the latch element 31 can engage with the recess of the latch profile 32 when it moves toward the latch profile 32 in the latching direction 33.

[0108] like Figure 2 and Figure 5 to Figure 10 As illustrated, the latch profile 32 may be attached to the slider 8 and / or may be formed from a portion of the slider 8. Nevertheless, the latch profile 32 may include a cam surface 34 over which the movable latch element 31 may ride as the slider 8 moves along its sliding path. The cam surface 34 may be formed at longitudinal or lateral edge portions of the slider 8 and may include inclined portions and / or protrusions and / or recesses with different extensions in a direction transverse to the sliding direction 22, see, for example, [reference needed]. Figure 2 .

[0109] The aforementioned latch profile 32 may be part of the cam surface 34, and specifically may form a recessed, for example, V-shaped portion of the cam surface 34.

[0110] The latching element 31 may be biased toward its latching position in the lateral latching direction 33, in which the latching element engages with the latching profile 32, wherein, for example, a spring element may be connected to the latching element 31 to provide such pretension toward the latching position.

[0111] More specifically, the latching element 31 may form part of the latching spring 35 of the slide controller 30, which may include two spring arms 35a and 35b, which may be bent relative to each other, for example, by means of an elastic joint 35c connecting the two spring arms 35a and 35b to each other. Specifically, the elastic joint 35c may form an integral part of the latching spring 35 and may be integrally and uniformly connected to the spring arms 35a and 35b. For example, the latching spring 35, including the arms 35a and 35b and the elastic joint 35c, may be formed of elastic steel wire. However, other materials, such as elastic plastic, may be used. A first end of the spring arm 35b is connected, engaged, or latched to the slide. A second end of the spring arm 35a is engaged or connected to the capture recess 36.

[0112] Regardless of the material, the spring arms 35a and 35b can be made elastic, thus eliminating the need for an elastic joint, but the spring arms 35a and 35b can be bent elastically to provide the desired spring action.

[0113] like Figure 5 As illustrated, the movable latching element 31 may be formed from one end portion of the latching spring 35 and may be supported on the handle 3 or on a carrier element attached to the handle. The other end portion of the latching spring 35 may be supported on the slider 8 so as to move together with the slider 8 in the sliding direction 22.

[0114] The latching element 31, which can be formed from the aforementioned end portion of the spring arm 35a, is movably supported on the handle 3 or on the aforementioned carrier element attached to the handle, so that it can move in the latching direction 33 and to some extent also in the sliding direction 22.

[0115] More specifically, the latching element 31 can be guided in a capturing recess, which can be formed in the handle 3 and allows the latching element 31 to have a certain degree of freedom in the sliding direction 22 and the latching direction 33. However, the degree of freedom in the lateral direction varies depending on the position of the latching element 31 in the sliding direction 22.

[0116] The capturing recess 36 can form a limiter 37, which can limit the lateral movement of the latching element 31 in the latching direction 33 according to the sliding direction of the slider 8 and / or the starting point of the slider 8 as it approaches the middle position from the starting point.

[0117] As from Figure 5As can be seen, the limiter 37, and more specifically its capturing recess 36, includes a pawl 38 that opens toward the working position of the slider 8 and closes toward its resting position. The pawl 38 restricts the lateral movement of the latching element 31 away from the latch profile 32 and / or prevents the latching element 31 from engaging with the latch profile 32 when positioned in the pawl 38.

[0118] On the other hand, when the latching element 31 is in another section of the capturing recess 36 located outside the claw 38, the latching element 31 can move further toward the latching profile 32 in the latching direction 33, and more specifically, allow the latching element to snap into the latching profile 32.

[0119] Whether the latching element 31 moves into the pawl 38 depends on the direction of movement of the slider 8 and the position of the slider 8.

[0120] When from Figure 2 At the initial parking position shown in diagram a, the latching element 31 is outside the pawl 38 and contacts a portion of the cam surface 34 on the first side of the latch profile 32. As movement towards the middle position of the slider 8 begins, the end of the latching spring 35 attached to the slider 8 follows the sliding movement of the slider 8. Furthermore, the latching element 31 straddles the cam surface 34 because it is confined within the capture recess 36 and may not follow the sliding movement of the slider 8. As the slider 8 approaches its middle position, the latching element 31, straddling the cam surface 34, approaches the latch profile 32 and can snap into the recess of the latch profile 32 because the latching element 31 is not positioned in the pawl 38, but rather in an adjacent sector allowing further lateral movement in the latching direction 33, see [reference]. Figure 6 b and Figure 6 c and Figure 5 The combination of .

[0121] As the slider 8 is moved further toward the active working position, the latch spring 35 rotates further because it is attached to the slider 8 at one end and held in the capture recess 38 at the handle 3. As the cam surface 34 of the slider 8 moves with the slider 8, the latch element 31 further straddles the cam surface 34 to move away from the latch profile 32. Because the latch profile 32 can form a V-shaped recess, the slider 8 is elastically held in the intermediate position, but can move out of the intermediate position when the elastic holding force is overcome. More specifically, when the drive action in the sliding direction 22 is sufficiently large, the inclined portion of the latch profile 32 advances the latch element 31 in a lateral direction opposite to the latch direction 33.

[0122] like Figure 2 c and Figure 6As illustrated, the cam surface 34 advances the latch element 31 into a position in the lateral direction where the latch element 31 does not engage the latch profile 32. More precisely, when the slider 8 is in its working position, the latch element 31 is pushed toward the right end of the capture recess 36 so that when the slider 8 moves back from the working position toward the intermediate or parked position, the latch element 31 is allowed to enter the pawl 38, as... Figure 7 exemplified.

[0123] When the latching element 7 is elastically pushed against the cam surface 34, it follows the initial sliding movement of the slider 8 in the sliding direction 22 because the capturing recess 36 provides some degrees of freedom for the latching element 31 in the sliding direction. Therefore, when the slider 8 begins to move from the working position towards the parking position, the latching element 31 enters the chuck 38, see... Figure 7 .

[0124] Because the latching element 31 is captured in the pawl 38 when the slider 8 is moved toward the parking position, the latching element 31 may not engage with the latch profile 32 when passing through the intermediate position, as... Figure 8 As illustrated, because the pawl 38 restricts the movement of the latching element 31 in the latching direction 33, when moving in the downward direction, the slider moves directly downward to the parking position 0 without stopping at the intermediate position 1.

[0125] When you return to the parking location (see...) Figure 9 The cam surface 34 pushes the latching element 31 toward the exit portion of the pawl 38. Therefore, due to the pretension of the latching spring 35, the latching element 31 can move out of the pawl 38 again to be positioned in another sector of the capturing recess 36 due to its degree of freedom in the sliding direction. Thus, the latching spring 35 is again present. Figure 2 The configuration shown in Figure a is the starting position when the slider is in the parked position.

[0126] The dimensions and values ​​disclosed herein should not be construed as strictly limited to the precise numerical values ​​cited. Rather, unless otherwise specified, each such dimension is intended to represent the stated value and the range surrounding its functional equivalent. For example, a dimension disclosed as “40 mm” is intended to represent “approximately 40 mm”.

Claims

1. A personal care device such as a hair clipper or electric razor, the personal care device comprising a handle (3); a working head attached to the handle (3); and a slider (8) provided with an auxiliary working tool (7) such as a long hair trimmer and slidably attached to the handle (3) to slide between a non-active parking position and an active working position to work with the auxiliary working tool (7), wherein a sliding controller (30) is provided for holding the slider (8) in the non-active parking position and / or the active working position and / or at least one intermediate position, characterized in that, The slider controller (30) is configured to hold the slider in the at least one intermediate position only when approached from the first side and / or in the first sliding direction (22), and not to hold the slider in the at least one intermediate position when approached from the second side opposite to the first side and / or in the second sliding direction opposite to the first sliding direction (22).

2. The personal care device according to the preceding claim, wherein the slide controller (30) is configured to hold the slide (8) in the at least one intermediate position only when from the inactive parking position, and not to hold the slide (8) in the intermediate position when from the active working position.

3. The personal care device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the sliding controller (30) includes a movable latching element (31) supported to be able to move into and out of engagement with a latch profile (32) along a latching direction (33) transverse to the sliding direction (22) of the slider (8), wherein a limiter (37) is provided to limit the movement of the latching element (31) toward the latch profile (32) in the latching direction (33) to prevent the latching element from locking into engagement with the latch profile (32) when the slider (8) approaches the intermediate position from the second side and / or in the second sliding direction.

4. The personal care device according to the preceding claim, wherein the latching element (31) is movablely supported in the sliding direction (22) of the slider (8) in a restricted manner, wherein the limiter (37) includes a pawl (38) for engaging the latching element (31) when moving in the second sliding direction, the pawl (38) being configured to restrict the movement of the latching element (31) in the latching direction (33) to prevent the latching element (31) from engaging with the latch profile (32) when the latching element has entered the pawl (38).

5. The personal care device according to the preceding claim, wherein the claw (38) opens toward the active working position of the slider (8) and closes toward the inactive parking position of the slider (8).

6. The personal care device according to any one of the preceding two claims, wherein the limiter (37) includes a capture recess (36) capable of movably guiding the latching element (31) within the capture recess, the capture recess (36) including two sectors adjacent to and / or spaced apart from each other in a sliding direction (22), wherein the two sectors provide different lateral degrees of freedom for the latching element (31) in the latching direction (33).

7. The personal care device according to the preceding claim, wherein a first sector of the sector of the capture recess (36) is closer to the active working position of the slider (8) and allows the latching element (31) to move laterally in the latching direction (33) to engage with the latching profile (32), and a second sector of the sector of the capture recess (36) allows restricted lateral movement of the latching element (31) in the latching direction (33) to prevent the latching element (31) from engaging with the latching profile (32).

8. The personal care device according to any one of the preceding two claims, wherein the capture recess (36) is attached to the handle (3) or a carrier attached to the handle, and the latch profile (32) is attached to the slider (8) such that the latch profile (32) passes through the capture recess (36) when the slider slides relative to the handle (3).

9. The personal care device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the latching element (31) is biased toward the latching profile (32) in the latching direction (33) by a latching spring (35).

10. The personal care device according to the preceding claim, wherein the latching element (31) is part or end portion of the latching spring (35).

11. The personal care device according to any one of the preceding two claims, wherein the latch spring (35) comprises two spring arms (35a, 35b) that are resiliently bendable and / or connected to each other via a resilient joint (35c) to allow the spring arms (35a, 35b) to bend relative to each other.

12. The personal care device according to the preceding claim, wherein the latch spring (35) is positioned between the slider (8) and the handle (3), and / or is configured to bend in a plane tangent to the handle (3) and the slider (8).

13. A personal care device according to any one of the preceding three claims, wherein the latch spring (35) is supported at one end portion at the handle (3) and attached to the slider (8) at the other end portion, wherein the end portion of the latch spring (35) supported at the handle (3) is movable relative to the handle (3) in the sliding direction (22) of the slider (8) and in the latching direction (33) transverse to the sliding direction (22), wherein a stop profile is provided to limit both movements in the sliding direction (22) and in the latching direction (33).

14. The personal care device according to the preceding claim, wherein the latch spring (35) is attached to the handle (3) and the slider (8) at two attachment points or areas at its two end portions, the two attachment points or areas being spaced apart from each other in the latching direction (33) transverse to the sliding direction (22), so that the latch spring (35) rotates and / or bends when the slider (8) slides relative to the handle (3).

15. The personal care device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the sliding controller (30) includes a cam surface (34) and the latching element (31) rides along the cam surface when the slider (8) moves relative to the handle (3) in the sliding direction, the cam surface (34) including the latching profile (32).

16. The personal care device according to the preceding claim, wherein the cam surface (34) is fixed to the slider (8) such that when the slider (8) slides relative to the handle (3), the cam surface (34) passes over the latching element (31) supported at the handle (3) and advances the latching element (31) in the latching direction (33).

Images