Handheld electric appliances

Abstract

This utility model provides a handheld electric appliance, which includes a housing with at least one through-hole formed thereon. A waterproof and breathable membrane covering the vent hole is disposed at the end of the vent hole leading to the inner side of the housing. The characteristic feature is that the end of the vent hole leading to the inner side of the housing has a larger opening area than the end leading to the outer side of the housing. The handheld electric appliance of this utility model not only allows gas to be quickly discharged from the housing, but also makes it difficult for other objects to enter the vent hole, preventing the waterproof and breathable membrane from being punctured. Therefore, the integrity of the waterproof and breathable membrane is maintained, effectively preventing water or foreign objects such as toothpaste from entering the housing and causing malfunction of the electric toothbrush.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to handheld electric appliances. Background Technology

[0002] Handheld electric appliances such as electric toothbrushes, electric shavers, electric beauty devices, and electric hair dryers typically contain lithium batteries or other types of batteries in their handle casings to power the motors. However, these batteries pose a risk of explosion. According to the IEC-62133-2-2017 battery safety standard, handheld electric appliances such as electric toothbrushes require specific testing. For example, during testing, a certain amount of pressurized gas is injected into the handle casing, and the gas must be rapidly expelled within a certain time to reduce the pressure inside the casing to below a specified value. This simulates extreme situations such as a rechargeable battery rapidly expanding due to thermal runaway, ensuring that the handle casing will not explode due to excessive internal pressure, and the resulting fragments or brush head could not injure people nearby. Based on this requirement, electric toothbrushes usually have a vent on the end cap attached to the handle casing, and this vent is fitted with a waterproof and breathable membrane that prevents moisture from passing through but allows gas to permeate. To ensure electric toothbrushes equipped with brush heads can quickly expel air during testing to prevent the brush heads or other parts from popping out and injuring people or objects nearby, the vent holes are typically designed to be relatively large. While larger vent holes do ensure safety during testing and use, they also pose a risk of allowing other objects to pass through and puncture the waterproof and breathable membrane. Electric toothbrushes are known to come into contact with water and toothpaste during use, and damage to the waterproof and breathable membrane can allow water or foreign objects such as toothpaste to enter the handle housing, causing the electric toothbrush to malfunction.

[0003] Therefore, existing handheld power appliances need to be improved. Utility Model Content

[0004] The purpose of this invention is to overcome at least one of the defects in the prior art and provide a handheld electric appliance that allows gas to be quickly discharged from the handle housing while preventing other objects from entering the exhaust port and puncturing the waterproof and breathable membrane.

[0005] According to one aspect of the present invention, a handheld electric appliance is provided, the handheld electric appliance including a housing, on which at least one through vent hole is formed, and a waterproof and breathable membrane covering the vent hole is provided at one end of the vent hole leading to the inner side of the housing, characterized in that the end of the vent hole leading to the inner side of the housing has a larger opening area than the end leading to the outer side of the housing.

[0006] Preferably, the vent is formed in a funnel shape.

[0007] Preferably, the outer casing has an inner wall, and one end of the vent opening leading to the inner side of the outer casing is flush with or recessed into the inner wall. This design minimizes the length of the vent opening and reduces the resistance encountered when gas is discharged. When the vent opening is located on the tail cap, the inner wall can be the bottom wall of the tail cap.

[0008] Preferably, the vent includes a first part and a second part that are interconnected, the first part opening to the inner side of the housing and having a larger aperture, and the second part opening to the outer side of the housing and having a smaller aperture.

[0009] Preferably, at one end of the vent that leads to the inner side of the housing, a groove for placing a waterproof and breathable diaphragm is formed around the vent on the housing.

[0010] Preferably, the outer contour dimension of the groove is larger than the outer contour dimension of the waterproof and breathable diaphragm.

[0011] Preferably, the difference between the outer contour dimension of the groove and the outer contour dimension of the waterproof and breathable diaphragm is less than the distance from the edge of the end of the vent leading to the inner side to the edge of the groove. This ensures that when the waterproof and breathable diaphragm is installed in batches in the groove, the vent will be fully covered, avoiding the defect of the vent not completely covering the vent.

[0012] Preferably, the housing includes a handle housing and a tail cap attached to the end of the handle housing.

[0013] Preferably, the tail cap includes a bottom wall, and the vent is formed on the bottom wall.

[0014] Preferably, the tail cap further includes a circumferential wall protruding to one side around the edge of the bottom wall and a mounting protrusion protruding to the same side from the center of the bottom wall as the circumferential wall, wherein a through hole for a screw to pass through is formed on the mounting protrusion.

[0015] Preferably, the vent is formed on the handle housing near the tail cap.

[0016] Preferably, the handheld electric appliance is an electric toothbrush.

[0017] According to this utility model of a handheld electric appliance, when a waterproof and breathable diaphragm is disposed at the end of the vent that leads to the inner side of the outer shell, the vent has a large opening area, providing a large effective area for gas to pass through, allowing gas to be quickly discharged from the outer shell. Simultaneously, because the vent has a relatively small opening area at the outer side, it is difficult for other objects to enter the vent, preventing the waterproof and breathable diaphragm from being punctured. This ensures the integrity of the waterproof and breathable diaphragm and effectively prevents water or foreign objects such as toothpaste from entering the outer shell and causing malfunctions in the electric toothbrush. Attached Figure Description

[0018] Figure 1 An electric toothbrush with a tail cap of a handheld electric appliance according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention is schematically shown in a partial perspective view.

[0019] Figure 2 The diagram schematically shows the contents of the container. Figure 1 The tail cap on the handle housing of the electric toothbrush shown;

[0020] Figure 3 yes Figure 2 The tail cap shown is a 3D view from the other side;

[0021] Figure 4 The tail cap according to the first preferred embodiment of the present invention is shown schematically in cross-sectional view;

[0022] Figure 5 The tail cap according to the second preferred embodiment of the present invention is schematically shown in cross-sectional view; and

[0023] Figure 6 The tail cover according to the third preferred embodiment of the present invention is shown schematically in cross-sectional view. Detailed Implementation

[0024] The preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, it should be understood that the drawings are merely for illustrating the present invention and do not constitute a limitation thereof. Furthermore, in the preferred embodiments, an electric toothbrush is used as an example to describe the present invention, but it should be understood that the present invention is also applicable to other handheld electric appliances such as electric shavers, electric beauty devices, and electric hair dryers.

[0025] Figure 1 An electric toothbrush with a tail cap according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention is schematically shown in a partial perspective view. Since the present invention relates only to improvements on the tail cap of an electric toothbrush, for simplicity, [the following is omitted as the text is incomplete and requires further context]. Figure 1The image only shows the handle housing and the tail cap attached to the handle housing of the electric toothbrush, omitting other parts of the electric toothbrush. For example... Figure 1 As shown, the electric toothbrush 1 according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention has a housing, which includes a handle housing 3. The handle housing 3 houses the electric toothbrush's battery, drive components, and control components. The electric toothbrush 1's housing also includes a tail cap 5 attached to the end of the handle housing (i.e., the end opposite to the end for attaching the toothbrush head).

[0026] Figure 2 The installation is schematically shown in a 3D view. Figure 1 The tail cap on the handle shell of the electric toothbrush shown. Figure 3 yes Figure 2 The image shown is a 3D view of the tailgate from another side. Figure 2 and 3 As shown, the tail cap 5 includes a bottom wall 7, a circumferential wall 9 protruding to one side around the edge of the bottom wall, and a mounting protrusion 11 protruding from the center of the bottom wall and to the same side as the circumferential wall 9. When the tail cap 5 is installed at the end of the handle housing, the circumferential wall 9 of the tail cap 5 forms a sealing contact with the inner wall of the handle housing 3 through an O-ring, while a screw passing through a through hole 13 on the mounting protrusion 11 of the tail cap is screwed into the electric toothbrush component (e.g., the inner housing) inside the handle housing to securely hold the tail cap 5 in place relative to the handle housing 3. Of course, it should be understood that, depending on design requirements, it is also feasible for the tail cap 5 to be without a circumferential wall and a mounting protrusion. In this case, the circumferential edge of the circumferential wall 9 forms a sealing contact with the inner wall of the handle housing 3, and the tail cap 5 is secured in place relative to the handle housing through a screw passing through a through hole in the bottom wall 7. Alternatively, the tail cap can be secured to the handle housing solely through a snap-fit ​​structure between the tail cap and the inner wall of the handle housing without the need for screws. An exhaust hole 15 is formed on the bottom wall 7 of the tail cap 5, and a waterproof and breathable membrane is provided at the end of the exhaust hole 15 leading to the inner side of the handle housing to cover the exhaust hole 15.

[0027] Figure 4 The tail cap according to a first preferred embodiment of the present invention is shown schematically in cross-sectional view. For example... Figure 4As shown, in the tail cap 5 according to the first preferred embodiment of the present invention, the vent 15 is formed in a generally funnel-shaped (or conical) form, such that the end of the vent 15 leading to the inner side of the handle housing has a larger opening area than the end leading to the outer side of the handle housing. Thus, when the waterproof and breathable membrane 17 is disposed at the end of the vent 15 leading to the inner side of the handle housing and covers the vent 15, the waterproof and breathable membrane 17 has a larger effective area for gas to pass through, allowing gas to quickly escape from inside the handle housing. Simultaneously, because the end of the vent 15 leading to the outer side of the handle housing has a relatively small opening area, it is difficult for other objects to enter the vent 15, preventing the waterproof and breathable membrane 17 from being punctured. This ensures the integrity of the waterproof and breathable membrane 17, effectively preventing water or foreign objects such as toothpaste from entering the handle housing and causing malfunction of the electric toothbrush.

[0028] Figure 5 The tail cap according to the second preferred embodiment of the present invention is shown schematically in cross-sectional view. For example... Figure 5 As shown, in the tail cap 5 according to the second preferred embodiment of the present invention, the vent 15 includes a first part 15a and a second part 15b that are interconnected. The first part 15a extends to the inner side of the handle housing and has a larger aperture, while the second part 15b extends to the outer side of the handle housing and has a smaller aperture. This results in the vent 15 having a larger opening area at the end extending to the inner side of the handle housing compared to the end extending to the outer side of the handle housing. Thus, when the waterproof and breathable membrane 17 is disposed at the end of the vent 15 extending to the inner side of the handle housing (i.e., the first part 15a) and covers the vent 15, the waterproof and breathable membrane 17 has a larger effective area for gas to pass through, allowing gas to be quickly discharged from inside the handle housing, since the end of the vent 15 extending to the inner side of the handle housing has a larger opening area. Meanwhile, since the exhaust port 15 has a relatively small opening area at the end leading to the outer side of the handle housing, it is difficult for other objects to enter the exhaust port 15, which can prevent the waterproof and breathable membrane 17 from being punctured. Therefore, the integrity of the waterproof and breathable membrane 17 can be guaranteed, thereby effectively preventing water or foreign objects such as toothpaste from entering the handle housing and causing the electric toothbrush to malfunction.

[0029] Figure 6 The tail cover according to the third preferred embodiment of the present invention is shown schematically in cross-sectional view. Figure 6 The tail cap of the third preferred embodiment shown is Figure 4The tail cap of the first preferred embodiment shown is largely the same, and a detailed description of the tail cap of the third preferred embodiment is omitted. The tail cap of the third preferred embodiment differs from that of the first preferred embodiment only in that a groove 19 for receiving the waterproof and breathable diaphragm 17 is provided on the bottom wall 7 of the tail cap 5 at the location where the waterproof and breathable diaphragm 17 is installed. The waterproof and breathable diaphragm 17 is typically attached to the bottom wall 7 of the tail cap 5 by means of adhesive bonding or hot-melt welding. By forming a groove 19 around the vent 15 on the bottom wall 7 at the end of the vent 15 that leads to the inner side of the handle housing, the waterproof and breathable diaphragm 17 can be precisely positioned and placed on the vent 15, thereby facilitating the installation of the waterproof and breathable diaphragm 17. It should be understood that, in Figure 5 In the tail cap of the second preferred embodiment shown, a groove for accommodating a waterproof and breathable diaphragm can also be formed on the bottom wall around the vent hole at the end where the vent hole leads to the inner side of the handle housing. The outer contour dimension of the groove 19 can be slightly larger than the outer contour dimension of the waterproof and breathable diaphragm 17 to further facilitate the installation of the waterproof and breathable diaphragm 17.

[0030] Although the present invention has been described in detail with an electric toothbrush as an example, it should be understood that such detailed description is only for explaining the present invention and does not constitute a limitation thereof. Those skilled in the art will understand that the tail cap of the handheld electric appliance according to the present invention can be used in other handheld electric appliances such as electric shavers, electric beauty devices, and electric hair dryers. Furthermore, in the preferred embodiment, only one vent is provided on the bottom wall of the tail cap, but it is understood that providing two or more vents on the bottom wall of the tail cap is also feasible. It should also be understood that instead of vents formed on the tail cap, vents can also be formed on the handle housing, especially on the part of the handle housing near the tail cap. The scope of the present invention is determined by the technical solutions defined in the claims.

Claims

1. A handheld electric appliance, the handheld electric appliance comprising a housing, wherein at least one through vent (15) is formed on the housing, and a waterproof and breathable diaphragm (17) covering the vent (15) is provided at one end of the vent (15) leading to the inner side of the housing, characterized in that, The end of the vent (15) leading to the inside of the housing has a larger opening area than the end leading to the outside of the housing.

2. The handheld electric appliance as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The vent (15) is formed in the shape of a funnel.

3. The handheld electric appliance as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The outer casing has an inner wall, and one end of the vent (15) leading to the inner side of the outer casing is flush with or recessed into the inner wall.

4. The handheld electric appliance as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The vent (15) includes a first part (15a) and a second part (15b) that are interconnected. The first part (15a) leads to the inside of the housing and has a larger aperture, while the second part (15b) leads to the outside of the housing and has a smaller aperture.

5. The handheld electric appliance as described in claim 1, characterized in that, At one end of the vent (15) leading to the inner side of the housing, a groove (19) for receiving a waterproof and breathable diaphragm (17) is formed around the vent (15) on the housing.

6. The handheld electric appliance as described in claim 5, characterized in that, The outer contour dimension of the groove (19) is larger than the outer contour dimension of the waterproof and breathable membrane (17).

7. The handheld electric appliance as described in claim 6, characterized in that, The difference between the outer contour dimension of the groove (19) and the outer contour dimension of the waterproof and breathable membrane (17) is less than the distance from the edge of the end of the vent (15) leading to the inner side to the edge of the groove (19).

8. The handheld electric appliance as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The housing includes a handle housing (3) and a tail cap (5) attached to the end of the handle housing (3).

9. The handheld electric appliance as described in claim 8, characterized in that, The tail cap (5) includes a bottom wall (7), and the vent (15) is formed on the bottom wall (7).

10. The handheld electric appliance as described in claim 9, characterized in that, The tail cap (5) also includes a circumferential wall (9) that protrudes to one side around the edge of the bottom wall (7) and a mounting protrusion (11) that protrudes to one side from the center of the bottom wall, with a through hole (13) formed on the mounting protrusion (11) for a screw to pass through.

11. The handheld electric appliance as described in claim 8, characterized in that, The vent (15) is formed on the handle housing (3) near the tail cap (5).

12. The handheld electric appliance as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The handheld electric appliance is an electric toothbrush.

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