Electrical equipment

Abstract

To secure reliability of a sensing switch over a long period of time by regulating deflection of a base plate for supporting the sensing switch, in electrical equipment such as an electric toothbrush comprising the sensing switch paired with a pressing body.SOLUTION: Electrical equipment comprises a base plate 7, a sensing switch 78 that is provided on one surface of the base plate 7, and a pressing body 79 that is provided to be capable of being brought into contact with / separated from the sensing switch 78. A spacer 82 for regulating deflection of the base plate 7 when the sensing switch 78 is pressed by the pressing body 79 is arranged on the back side of the sensing switch 78 of the base plate 7.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an electric device provided with a sensing switch paired with a pressing body.

Background Art

[0002] An electric toothbrush, which is one of the electric devices targeted by the present invention, includes, for example, as shown in Patent Document 1, an elongated casing (main body case) that also serves as a grip, a brush body (toothbrush) detachably connected to the upper surface side of the casing, and a motor housed in the casing. The driving force of the motor is transmitted to the brush body through a drive shaft that runs up and down inside the casing. When the electric toothbrush is not in use, the brush body is held in an upright position by a biasing body such as a spring disposed inside the casing. When in use, when the tuft of bristles of the brush body is pressed against the teeth, a force, i.e., a reaction force, due to the reaction from the teeth acts on the brush body. Therefore, the brush body, together with the drive shaft, tilts around the fulcrum against the biasing force of the biasing body.

[0003] The greater the force with which the user presses the brush body against the teeth, the greater the reaction force received by the brush body from the teeth, and the greater the tilt of the brush body and the drive shaft around the fulcrum. To detect the tilt angle at this time, a pair of upper and lower sensing switches (microswitches) facing the drive shaft are arranged inside the casing. Specifically, when the force with which the brush body is pressed against the teeth is within an appropriate range, only the upper sensing switch far from the fulcrum is configured to be pushed by the drive shaft. Also, when the force with which the brush body is pressed against the teeth exceeds the appropriate range, the tilt angle of the drive shaft becomes larger than when within the range, and both sensing switches are configured to be pushed by the drive shaft. Conversely, when the force with which the brush body is pressed against the teeth is below the appropriate range, the tilt angle of the drive shaft becomes smaller than when within the range, and neither sensing switch is configured to be pushed. These pair of sensing switches are supported by a plate-shaped base portion protruding parallel to the drive shaft.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004] Patent Document 1 Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 5-237014 Summary of the Invention Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] When a sensing switch is supported by a plate-shaped base portion protruding parallel to the drive shaft as in the electric toothbrush of Patent Document 1, when the drive shaft tilts and presses the sensing switch, the pressing force acts on the base portion via the sensing switch. Since this pressing force acts in a direction in which the base portion bends and moves away from the drive shaft, if bending accumulates in the base portion, the sensing switch supported thereby will move farther away from the drive shaft than initially. As a result, there is a possibility that the sensing switch may not be pressed by the drive shaft even though the force with which the user presses the brush body against the teeth is within an appropriate range.

[0006] An object of the present invention is to regulate the bending of a substrate that supports a sensing switch in an electric device such as an electric toothbrush provided with a sensing switch that pairs with a pressing body, and to ensure the reliability of the sensing switch over a long period. Means for Solving the Problems

[0007] The electric device according to the present invention includes a substrate 7·112, a sensing switch 78 provided on one surface of the substrate 7·112, and a pressing body 79 provided so as to be able to come into contact with and separate from the sensing switch 78. A spacer 82·113 for regulating the bending of the substrate 7·112 when the sensing switch 78 is pressed by the pressing body 79 is disposed on the back side of the sensing switch 78 in the substrate 7·112.

[0008] The spacer 82 faces the inner surface of the casing 1 that constitutes the outer shell of the electric device, and protrudes significantly toward the inner surface of the casing 1 compared to each element on the substrate 7.

[0009] On the substrate 7, a display unit 12 including a plurality of LEDs 11 is provided, and spacers 82 are disposed between adjacent LEDs 11.

[0010] The spacers 82 are disposed over the entire length in the width direction of the substrate 7.

[0011] A recess 92 is provided on the outer surface of the spacer 82 that is received by the inner surface of the casing 1.

[0012] The spacer 82 is fixed to the substrate 7 by press-fitting fixing protrusions 84 protruding from the spacer 82 into fixing holes 85 provided in the substrate 7.

[0013] The casing 1 is formed in a polygonal cylindrical shape having a plurality of tops, and the spacer 82 is in planar contact with the inner surface of the top of the casing 1.

[0014] Each LED 11 is surrounded by spacers 82 from a plurality of directions.

[0015] A functional member 2·102·122 having an operating portion 3·103·123 provided on one end side of a shaft body 4·104·124, and a motor unit 31 including a motor 5 that is a drive source of the functional member 2·102·122 are provided, and a pressing body 79 is provided on the motor unit 31. The functional member 2·102·122 in the normal state is held in a predetermined operating posture, and when a reaction force F acting on the operating portion 3·103·123 from the object exceeds the holding force for holding the functional member 2·102·122 in the operating posture when the operating portion 3·103·123 is pressed against the object and an overload state occurs, the functional member 2·102·122 is displaced to a retracted posture integrally with the motor unit 31, and the pressing body 79 is configured to press a detection switch 78.

[0016] The electric device is an electric toothbrush, and the functional member 2 including the operating portion 3 is a brush body including a tuft of bristles.

[0017] The electric device is a handheld massager, and the functional member 102 including the acting part 103 is a treatment member including a treatment element.

[0018] The electric device is a shaver, and the functional member 122 including the acting part 123 is a shaving member including a blade part.

[0019] The electric device includes a casing 1 constituting the outer shell, an irradiation head 130 and a detector 132 provided at one end of the casing 1, and a biasing body 133 that biases the end of the detector 132 in the direction protruding from the casing 1. When the irradiation head 130 is pressed against an object, the detector 132 is pushed into the casing 1 by the object, and a pressing body 79 provided on the detector 132 is configured to press a sensing switch 78. The irradiation head 130 has a light-emitting source 131 that lights up when the sensing switch 78 is pressed.

Advantages of the Invention

[0020] As in the electric device according to the present invention, when spacers 82 and 113 are arranged on the back side of the sensing switch 78 on the substrates 7 and 112 to restrict the deflection of the substrates 7 and 112 when the sensing switch 78 is pressed by the pressing body 79, it is possible to reliably prevent the displacement of the sensing switch 78 due to the accumulation of the deflection of the substrates 7 and 112, and to keep the position when the pressing body 79 presses the sensing switch 78 constant as it was at the beginning. That is, the reliability of the sensing switch 78 can be ensured over a long period. Further, when the deflection of the substrates 7 and 112 is restricted by the spacers 82 and 113, when other elements or printed wirings are provided on the substrates 7 and 112, it is possible to prevent damage to elements and the like caused by the load due to the deflection of the substrates 7 and 112.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0021]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Figure 7

Figure 8

Figure 9

Figure 10

Figure 11

Figure 12

Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0022] (First Embodiment) FIGS. 1 to 7 show a first embodiment in which the electric device of the present invention is applied to an electric toothbrush. In the front-back, left-right, and up-down directions in this embodiment, follow the cross arrows shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 and the front-back, left-right, and up-down indications written near each arrow. The same applies to the second embodiment and subsequent embodiments.

[0023] As shown in Fig. 2, the electric toothbrush includes a vertically elongated casing 1 that also serves as a grip, and a brush body (functional member) 2 that is detachably connected to the upper surface side of the casing 1. The brush body 2 is composed of a tuft of bristles (acting part) 3 formed by innumerable brush bristles and a brush shaft (shaft body) 4 that supports the tuft of bristles 3. The lower part of the brush shaft 4 is formed in a downwardly expanding frustum shape, and the upper part of the brush shaft 4 is formed in a vertical plate shape with the front-rear direction as the plate thickness direction, and the tuft of bristles 3 is implanted on the front side thereof. When the tuft of bristles 3 deteriorates due to use, the brush body 2 can be removed from the casing 1 and replaced with a new one.

[0024] A motor 5 is housed in the upper part of the hollow casing 1, and a battery 6 composed of a secondary battery is housed in the lower part. By dispersing and arranging the relatively heavy motor 5 and battery 6 on both sides in the longitudinal direction (vertical direction) of the casing 1, the center of gravity of the electric toothbrush can be positioned at or near the central part of the casing 1, and the burden when the user grips the central part of the casing 1 can be avoided. As shown in Fig. 3, a control board (board) 7 that controls the entire electric toothbrush is housed in the front part of the casing 1, and a power receiving board 8 for charging the battery 6 is housed in the rear part. When a non-contact charger C shown by a virtual line is brought close to the power receiving board 8 and a current is passed through the power feeding coil on the power feeding board S provided in the charger C, a current flowing through the power receiving coil on the power receiving board 8 is generated by electromagnetic induction, and the current is charged to the battery 6 via the control board 7. Note that the battery 6 may be a replaceable primary battery, and in that case, the power receiving board 8 can be omitted.

[0025] A momentary power switch 10 is disposed at the upper part of the front surface of the control board 7, and a display part 12 composed of three LEDs (light emitting diodes) 11 arranged vertically is disposed below it. As shown in Fig. 4, a vertically long switch window 13 facing the power switch 10 is opened in the front wall of the casing 1, and a push button 14 and a switch packing 15 are disposed in the switch window 13 in order from the front side (outer side). The switch packing 15 seals the switch window 13 in a watertight manner from the inside to prevent water from entering the casing 1.

[0026] The user of the electric toothbrush can switch the driving state of the motor 5, etc. by pressing the power switch 10 via the push button 14 and the switch packing 15. In this embodiment, every time the power switch 10 is pressed, the output of the motor 5 switches in the order of weak → medium → strong → off, and the display content of the display unit 12 also switches accordingly. The front wall of the casing 1 has translucency to such an extent that at least the portion facing the display unit 12 transmits the light emitted by the LED 11. When the battery 6 is being charged, the display unit 12 emits light in a color different from the normal time, for example, orange.

[0027] The motor 5 is composed of an ultrasonic linear motor that vibrates its output shaft 18 in the left - right direction. The output shaft 18 protrudes upward from the upper surface of the casing 1 and also serves as a connecting shaft for connecting the brush body 2 to the casing 1. A vertically long connecting hole 19 is recessed on the lower surface of the brush shaft 4. By inserting the output shaft 18 into this connecting hole 19, the brush body 2 can be connected to the casing 1, and the left - right vibration of the output shaft 18 can be transmitted to the brush body 2. The center of gravity G of the motor 5 is located at the center of the main body portion of the motor 5 (the portion excluding the output shaft 18). Note that the vibration direction of the output shaft 18 and the brush body 2 is not limited to the left - right direction and may be, for example, the up - down direction.

[0028] A shaft through - hole 20 that permits the insertion of the output shaft 18 is provided in the upper wall of the casing 1, and the diameter of the shaft through - hole 20 is formed to be sufficiently larger than the outer diameter of the output shaft 18. To prevent water from entering the casing 1 from the shaft through - hole 20, the space between the output shaft 18 and the opening edge of the shaft through - hole 20 is sealed in a watertight manner with a shaft packing 21. The peripheral portion of the shaft packing 21 is clamped from above and below by the upper wall of the casing 1 and an annular packing ring 22 fixed to its outer surface.

[0029] Inside the casing 1, the motor 5 is supported by the motor holder 25. The motor holder 25 integrally includes a case portion 26 formed in a bottomed cylindrical shape with an open upper surface, and an arm portion 27 extending downward from the bottom surface of the case portion 26. The motor 5 is housed in the case portion 26 from above, and is held by a pressing frame 28 that presses the motor 5 from above so as not to come out of the case portion 26. The pressing frame 28 is formed in a U shape in side view, and the lower portions of its front and rear walls are engaged and fixed to the outer surface of the case portion 26 of the motor holder 25. The significance of providing the arm portion 27 will be described later.

[0030] The motor 5, the motor holder 25, and the pressing frame 28 constitute a motor unit 31. This motor unit 31 is supported by an internal frame 32 disposed inside the casing 1. As shown in FIG. 5, the internal frame 32 includes a pair of motor support walls 33 that sandwich the motor unit 31 from left and right. On the outer surface of the motor holder 25, a pair of tilting shafts 34 project in the left-right direction, and shaft holes 35 for pivotally supporting the tilting shafts 34 are formed in each motor support wall 33. That is, the motor unit 31 is supported by the internal frame 32 so as to be tiltable back and forth around the tilting shafts 34. The tilting shafts 34 are arranged near the lower end of the rear half of the case portion 26 of the motor holder 25 (see FIG. 4).

[0031] Around each tilting shaft 34, an annular washer 38 sandwiched between the outer surface of the motor holder 25 and the inner surface of the motor support wall 33 is disposed. On the outside of each tilting shaft 34, a flange body 39 having a larger diameter than the shaft hole 35 is disposed. A screw 40 is screwed into the tilting shaft 34 through a through hole formed in the flange body 39, and thereby the flange body 39 is fixed to the tilting shaft 34. The flange body 39 fixed to the tilting shaft 34 can prevent the tilting shaft 34 from coming out of the shaft hole 35. The opening edge of the shaft hole 35 in the motor support wall 33 is sandwiched from left and right by the motor holder 25 and the flange body 39. According to this, deformation in the thickness direction of the motor support wall 33 can be restricted by the motor holder 25 and the flange body 39, and the overall rigidity of the internal frame 32 can be enhanced.

[0032] The flange body 39 constitutes the left and right ends of the internal structure housed in the casing 1. The outer surface of the flange body 39 consists of a flat surface orthogonal to the axis of the tilting shaft 34, and the screw 40 is a flat head screw whose operating head does not protrude from the outer surface of the flange body 39. According to the above configuration, the left and right width of the internal structure in the casing 1 can be minimized as much as possible, contributing to the thinning of the casing 1 that houses the internal structure. The casing 1 is formed in a polygonal cylindrical shape with rounded tops, and each of the left and right flange bodies 39 faces the inner surface of the flat surface portion connecting adjacent tops of the casing 1. A U-shaped receiving groove 41 for receiving the flange body 39 is provided on the inner surface, and its bottom surface is composed of a flat surface parallel to the outer surface of the flange body 39. By providing such a receiving groove 41, it is possible to thin the casing 1 while ensuring sufficient wall thickness of the casing 1 at the portion adjacent to the receiving groove 41.

[0033] As shown in FIG. 7, the internal frame 32 is formed by connecting a main frame 43 and a sub-frame 44 made of plastic molded products in the front-rear direction, and is formed in a vertically elongated shape as a whole, similar to the casing 1. The main frame 43, which occupies most of the internal frame 32, is formed in a substantially U-shaped cross-section with a vertically long front wall and left and right walls, and the upper halves of the left and right walls constitute the motor support walls 33. The motor unit 31 is assembled to the motor support walls 33 of the main frame 43 from the rear. Specifically, the motor unit 31 with a washer 38 mounted around the tilting shaft 34 in advance is pushed in from the rear between the motor support walls 33 while elastically deforming the main frame 43 to expand the opposing interval between the motor support walls 33, so that each tilting shaft 34 can be inserted into the shaft hole 35. Then, by fixing the flange body 39 to the outside of each tilting shaft 34 with the screw 40, the motor unit 31 can be assembled to the main frame 43.

[0034] After the motor unit 31 is assembled to the main frame 43, a sub-frame 44 is fixed between the rear end portions of the pair of motor support walls 33. The sub-frame 44 has about half the vertical dimension of the main frame 43, is formed in a substantially square block shape with the front-rear direction as the thickness direction, and is fixed to the main frame 43 with a plurality of frame screws 45. The arm portion 27 of the motor holder 25 is disposed within a space surrounded on four sides by the main frame 43 and the sub-frame 44.

[0035] In addition to the motor unit 31, a control board 7, a power receiving board 8, and a battery pack 47 are assembled to the inner frame 32. The control board 7 is mounted on the outer surface side of the front wall of the main frame 43, and the power receiving board 8 is mounted on the rear surface side of the sub-frame 44. The battery pack 47 is composed of a battery 6 and a protection board 48, and a battery cover 49 that holds them, and is assembled from the rear to the lower part of the main frame 43. The protection board 48 controls the magnitude of the current for charging the battery 6 and the like.

[0036] The inner frame 32 is inserted into the casing 1 through an insertion port 52 provided on the lower surface of the casing 1. At the lower end of the main frame 43, a fixing ring 53 for fixing it within the casing 1 is integrally provided. An engaging convex portion 54 protruding from the outer peripheral surface of this fixing ring 53 engages with an engaging concave portion 55 recessed in the inner peripheral surface of the casing 1, whereby the inner frame 32 is held within the casing 1 so as not to come out.

[0037] After the inner frame 32 is inserted, the insertion port 52 of the casing 1 is closed with a bottom cover 58. This bottom cover 58 is fixed to the inner frame 32 with a bottom screw 59. At the lower end of the main frame 43, a screw boss 60 surrounded by the fixing ring 53 is integrally provided, and the bottom screw 59 is screwed into the screw boss 60 through a through hole opened at the center of the bottom cover 58. A rubber O-ring 61 is disposed on the inner surface side of the bottom cover 58. By this O-ring 61 being in close contact with the inner peripheral surface of the casing 1, the opening edge of the insertion port 52 and the bottom cover 58 are sealed in a watertight manner.

[0038] In addition to the fixed ring 53, the inner frame 32 contacts the casing 1 via a vibration isolation sheet 62 disposed on the outer surface of each motor support wall 33 (see FIG. 6). The vibration isolation sheet 62 is formed of a material such as rubber with a high vibration absorption rate, thereby suppressing the transmission of vibrations from the motor unit 31 to the inner frame 32 to the casing 1 and reducing the discomfort of the user gripping the casing 1. Further, by providing the vibration isolation sheet 62, when the casing 1 receives an external impact due to dropping or the like, it is possible to suppress the transmission of the impact to the inner frame 32 and thus to the control board 7 and the power receiving board 8 supported thereby.

[0039] As shown in FIG. 1, the brush body 2 is integrally formed with the motor unit 31 and can tilt back and forth around the tilt axis 34 with respect to the casing 1 between the operating posture indicated by the virtual line and the retracted posture indicated by the solid line. In the operating posture of the brush body 2, the brush shaft 4 stands upright and the vertical axis of the brush shaft 4 overlaps (becomes parallel to) the vertical axis of the casing 1. In the retracted posture of the brush body 2, the axis of the brush shaft 4 tilts backward with respect to the axis of the casing 1. Further, when the brush body 2 is in the operating posture, a regulated body 65 provided on the rear surface of the arm portion 27, specifically, below the tilt axis 34 in the motor holder 25, is received by a regulating body 66 provided on the front surface (inner surface) of the sub-frame 44 (inner frame 32) (see FIG. 4), thereby regulating the brush body 2 from tilting forward beyond the operating posture.

[0040] Above and below the motor unit 31, holding bodies 68 and 69 are provided which bias it in the direction in which the brush body 2 tilts forward (counterclockwise in FIG. 1). The upper holding body 68, which is located above the tilting axis 34, consists of a leaf spring provided integrally with the pressing frame 28 and slopes downward and rearward from the lower end of the rear wall of the pressing frame 28. By the upper holding body 68 elastically contacting the inner surface of the rear wall of the casing 1, the upper part of the motor unit 31 (above the tilting axis 34) is biased forward. The lower holding body 69, which is located below the tilting axis 34, consists of a coil tension spring. One end thereof is connected to the tip (lower end) of the arm portion 27 of the motor holder 25, and the other end is connected to the sub-frame 44 (inner frame 32) (see FIG. 4). By the lower holding body 69 pulling the tip of the arm portion 27 toward the sub-frame 44, the lower part of the motor unit 31 (below the tilting axis 34) is biased rearward.

[0041] The biasing forces exerted by the upper and lower holding bodies 68 and 69 act in the direction of holding the brush body 2 in the operating position. That is, a holding force that attempts to hold the brush body 2 in the operating position acts on the brush body 2. Therefore, the brush body 2 is held in the operating position when the electric toothbrush is not in use. Also, when the user properly uses the electric toothbrush, that is, when the tuft 3 is gently pressed against the teeth, the backward reaction force F received by the tuft 3 from the teeth does not exceed the above holding force. Therefore, the brush body 2 is held in the operating position. However, when the tuft 3 is pressed against the teeth with an excessive force and the reaction force F acting on the tuft 3 exceeds the above holding force, resulting in an overload state, the brush body 2 is displaced from the operating position to the retracted position integrally with the motor unit 31.

[0042] When the motor unit 31 is configured to tilt integrally with the brush body 2 as described above, it is possible to prevent the load from concentrating on the connection portion between the two, i.e., the output shaft 18 of the motor 5, during tilting. Thus, it is possible to prevent inconveniences such as the motor 5 being inadvertently locked. Further, since the tilting shaft 34 is disposed in the case portion 26 of the motor holder 25, the forward and backward movement stroke when the motor unit 31 tilts can be reduced compared to the case where the tilting center is vertically separated from the motor unit 31, and the outer shape of the casing 1 surrounding it can be made thinner (slimmed down).

[0043] Since the tilting shaft 34 is disposed below the center of gravity G of the motor 5, an inertial moment that attempts to keep the motor 5 stationary (makes it difficult to rotate) acts on the motor 5 when the brush body 2 is in the operating position, thereby increasing the holding force that attempts to hold the brush body 2 in the operating position by that much. As a result, it is possible to prevent the brush body 2 from being inadvertently displaced to the retracted position by a small reaction force F. Further, since the tilting shaft 34 is disposed behind the vertical axis of the casing 1 passing through the center of gravity G of the motor 5, a rotational moment in the forward tilting direction about the tilting shaft 34 acts on the motor 5, increasing the force required to tilt the motor 5 backward. Thereby, the holding force that attempts to hold the brush body 2 in the operating position can be increased.

[0044] Since the upper holder 68 is constituted by a leaf spring integral with the pressing frame 28, compared with the case where the upper holder 68 is constituted by a spring separate from the pressing frame 28, the number of parts of the electric toothbrush can be reduced, and the labor and cost of assembly during manufacturing can be reduced. Since one end of the lower holder 69 is connected to the tip (lower end) of the arm portion 27 of the motor holder 25, the distance from the tilting shaft 34 to the lower holder 69 can be made as long as possible, and the biasing force applied by the lower holder 69 to the motor unit 31 can be increased by the lever principle, whereby the holding force for holding the brush body 2 in the operating posture can be further increased. It can contribute to the miniaturization of the lower holder 69. Since the other end of the lower holder 69 is connected to the internal frame 32 (sub-frame 44) housed in the casing 1, when the casing 1 receives an external impact such as a fall, the impact transmitted from the casing 1 to the lower holder 69 can be reduced by the internal frame 32, and problems such as the lower holder 69 becoming detached can be prevented.

[0045] In this embodiment, the motor holder 25 is not essential, and the arm portion 27 can be directly attached to the outer surface (lower surface) of the motor 5 by omitting it. However, if the motor 5 is housed in the case portion 26 of the motor holder 25 and the arm portion 27 is provided integrally with this case portion 26, the motor 5 and the arm portion 27 can be firmly integrated without the labor of adhering the arm portion 27 to the motor 5 and the like. The base end portion (upper end portion) of the arm portion 27 is formed thicker than its tip portion (lower end portion) and intermediate portion. According to this, the connection strength of the arm portion 27 to the case portion 26 can be increased, and deformation of the arm portion 27 due to being pulled by the lower holder 69 can be prevented.

[0046] The arm portion 27 is located near the center inside the casing 1, and the motor 5 and the battery 6 (battery pack 47) are arranged above and below it, and the control board 7 and the power receiving board 8 are arranged in front of and behind it. As described above, it is desirable to arrange the motor 5 and the battery 6 dispersedly above and below. Further, since the control board 7 has the power switch 10 and the display portion 12 on the front surface, it is necessary to bring it close to the front wall of the casing 1, and the power receiving board 8 is also brought close to the rear wall of the casing 1 to shorten the distance from the non-contact charger C (see FIG. 3) facing the outer surface of the rear wall. From these backgrounds, the vicinity of the center of the casing 1 is likely to become a dead space, but in this embodiment, the arm portion 27 is arranged here to effectively utilize the space.

[0047] When the brush body 2 is in the operating posture, the front surface of the tip portion (lower end portion) of the arm portion 27 of the motor holder 25 is inclined downward rearward (see FIG. 7). When the brush body 2 is displaced to the retracted posture and the arm portion 27 is tilted forward, the front surface becomes substantially parallel to the control board 7. According to this, when the arm portion 27 tilts forward, the tip portion thereof does not protrude greatly forward, and interference of the tip portion with elements on the control board 7 can be avoided.

[0048] As shown in FIGS. 4 and 6, one end of the lower holder 69 is connected to the movable rod 71 provided on the arm portion 27, and the other end is connected to the fixed rod 72 provided on the sub-frame 44 (inner frame 32). The movable rod 71 and the fixed rod 72 are each formed in a round bar shape extending in the left-right direction, and hook portions that are hooked on the movable rod 71 or the fixed rod 72 are provided at both ends of the lower holder 69, respectively. In this way, by providing hook portions at both ends of the lower holder 69 and hooking them on the round bar-shaped movable rod 71 and fixed rod 72 provided on the arm portion 27 and the inner frame 32, the lower holder 69 can be firmly connected to each of the arm portion 27 and the inner frame 32, the spring force of the lower holder 69 can be surely exerted, and accidental detachment of the lower holder 69 can be prevented.

[0049] Specifically, the movable rod 71 is supported by a pair of left and right movable plate portions 73 provided at the tip of the arm portion 27. In the center of each movable plate portion 73, a round hole into which the end of the movable rod 71 is inserted is provided. The pair of movable plate portions 73 face each other left and right with a space therebetween, and one end of the lower holder 69 is hooked on the movable rod 71 between these pair of movable plate portions 73. Similarly, the fixed rod 72 is also supported by a pair of left and right fixed plate portions 74 provided on the sub-frame 44. In the center of each fixed plate portion 74, a round hole into which the end of the fixed rod 72 is inserted is provided respectively. The pair of fixed plate portions 74 face each other left and right with a space therebetween, and the other end of the lower holder 69 is hooked on the fixed rod 72 between these pair of fixed plate portions 74. A spring opening 75 that allows the insertion of the lower holder 69 is provided in the front wall of the sub-frame 44, and the fixed plate portion 74 projects rearward from the opening edge of the spring opening 75. According to this, compared with the case where the fixed plate portion 74 projects forward from the rear wall of the sub-frame 44, the distance between the fixed rod 72 and the movable rod 71 can be increased, and a longer and stronger lower holder 69 can be used accordingly.

[0050] As described above, it is desirable for the user of the electric toothbrush to gently press the bristle bundle 3 of the brush body 2 against the teeth. Pressing the bristle bundle 3 against the teeth with a force stronger than necessary is not preferable for both the electric toothbrush and the user's teeth. The electric toothbrush of the present embodiment is configured such that when the bristle bundle 3 is in an overload state where it is pressed against the teeth with a force stronger than necessary, the brush body 2 is displaced from the operating posture to the retracted posture. If the tilting angle at this time is sufficiently large, the user can notice that the brush body 2 is tilted, that is, it is in an overload state. However, the tilting angle of the brush body 2 in the present embodiment is as small as 1 to 2°, and the user does not easily notice that the brush body 2 has tilted. Therefore, in the present embodiment, a detection means for detecting that the brush body 2 has been displaced to the retracted posture and a notification means for notifying the user that the displacement has been detected are provided.

[0051] As shown in FIG. 1, the detection means is composed of a sensing switch 78 mounted on the inner surface (rear surface) side of the control board 7 and a pressing body 79 protruding forward from the tip (lower end) of the arm portion 27 of the motor holder 25 toward the control board 7. The sensing switch 78 is composed of a momentary tactile switch (tact switch) and is arranged on the back side of the display portion 12 composed of three LEDs 11. When the brush body 2 is in the operating posture, the pressing body 79 faces the sensing switch 78 back and forth with a slight gap therebetween. When the brush body 2 is displaced to the retracted posture and the arm portion 27 tilts forward, the pressing body 79 contacts and presses the sensing switch 78.

[0052] The notification means is composed of a display portion 12 mounted on the control board 7, a buzzer (not shown), and a motor 5 capable of controlling the vibration frequency. When the sensing switch 78 is pressed by the pressing body 79, the control board 7, that is, the control portion of the electric toothbrush, causes the display portion 12 to emit light in a color different from the normal color, for example, red, sounds the buzzer, and further reduces the output of the motor 5 to be smaller than the three levels of strong, medium, and weak, so as to notify the user that the brush body 2 is in an overload state of tilting. It should be noted that the notification means in the present invention is not limited to the above three combinations. For example, the notification means may be constituted by one or two of these three.

[0053] As described above, by providing the detection means for detecting that the brush body 2 has been displaced to the retracted posture and the notification means that operates when the displacement is detected, it is possible to surely notify the user that the brush body 2 is in an overload state of tilting and prompt the user to weaken the force pressing the tuft 3 against the teeth. When the sensing switch 78 constituting the detection means is mounted on the control board 7, the wiring between the two required when the sensing switch 78 is separated from the control board 7 can be omitted, and the internal structure of the electric toothbrush can be simplified.

[0054] According to the configuration in which the motor unit 31 tilts integrally with the brush body 2 and the pressing body 79 provided on the motor unit 31 presses the detection switch 78, a load is prevented from concentrating on the connecting portion of the two, i.e., the output shaft 18 of the motor 5, during tilting, thereby avoiding inconveniences such as an unintended lock of the motor 5. Further, when the pressing body 79 is provided on the arm portion 27 of the motor holder 25 in the motor unit 31, the moving distance of the pressing body 79 in the front-rear direction when the motor unit 31 tilts can be made longer than when the pressing body 79 is provided in the vicinity of the case portion 26 or the tilting shaft 34 of the motor 5. Thereby, when the brush body 2 is in the operating position, the pressing body 79 is isolated from the detection switch 78, or the pressing body 79 lightly touches the surface of the detection switch 78, and the pressing body 79 can be reliably pressed against the detection switch 78 only when the brush body 2 is displaced to the retracted position. That is, the reliability of the detection means including the detection switch 78 and the pressing body 79 can be enhanced.

[0055] The pressing body 79 that presses the detection switch 78 is provided on the front surface of the arm portion 27, i.e., on the side of the control board 7, whereas the lower holding body 69 that biases the arm portion 27 extends in a direction away from the control board 7, i.e., rearward, starting from the movable rod 71. According to this, interference of the lower holding body 69 with the elements on the control board 7 can be avoided. Further, the movable rod 71 is disposed below the pressing body 79. According to this, the distance from the tilting shaft 34 to the lower holding body 69 can be made as long as possible, and the biasing force exerted by the lower holding body 69 on the motor unit 31 can be increased by the lever principle. When the biasing force of the lower holding body 69 is increased in this way, when the brush body 2 is displaced from the operating position to the retracted position and then the force with which the user presses the tuft 3 against the teeth weakens, the brush body 2 can be quickly returned to the operating position by the biasing force of the lower holding body 69.

[0056] The detection switch 78 is disposed forward of the tilting shaft 34 provided in the case portion 26 of the motor holder 25. According to this, when the brush body 2 is displaced from the operating position to the retracted position, the movement locus until the pressing body 79 contacts the detection switch 78 can be inclined obliquely upward rather than horizontally. In this way, when the pressing body 79 presses the detection switch 78 obliquely upward, a part of the pressing force acting on the control board 7 from the pressing body 79 via the detection switch 78 is directed in a direction parallel to the control board 7 (upward), and accordingly, the pressing force in the direction of deflecting the control board 7 orthogonally thereto can be reduced. Further, when the tilting shaft 34 is disposed rearward of the vertical axis of the casing 1 and the detection switch 78 is disposed forward of the axis, the distance in the front-rear direction between the tilting shaft 34 and the detection switch 78 can be made longer, and the inclination angle of the movement locus of the pressing body 79 with respect to the horizontal plane can be made larger, whereby the pressing force in the direction of deflecting the control board 7 orthogonally thereto can be further reduced.

[0057] A spacer 82 is disposed on the back side of the detection switch 78 on the outer surface (front surface) of the control board 7. As shown in FIG. 6, the front surface of the spacer 82 abuts on the inner surface of the casing 1, and the rear surface of the spacer 82 abuts on the outer surface of the control board 7. While the rear surface of the spacer 82 is flat, the front surface of the spacer 82 is curved in a convex shape and is in surface contact with the inner surface of the top portion of the casing 1 formed in a polygonal tube shape. By providing such a spacer 82, when the detection switch 78 is pressed by the pressing body 79, the pressing force acting on the control board 7 can be received by the spacer 82, and the deflection of the control board 7 can be prevented, whereby a load can be prevented from being applied to the elements on the control board 7.

[0058] When the front surface of the spacer 82 is curved outwardly and brought into planar contact with the inner surface of the top of the casing 1 formed in a polygonal tube shape, the contact area between the spacer 82 and the casing 1 can be increased, and the function of the spacer 82 to prevent the control board 7 from flexing can be surely exerted. Also, the space inside the top of the casing 1 that is likely to become a dead space can be effectively utilized. Each element on the control board 7 is located inward (rearward) of the front surface of the spacer 82 that contacts the inner surface of the casing 1. According to this, contact of each element with the inner surface of the casing 1 can be surely prevented. Further, the spacer 82 has the same left-right width as the control board 7, and the outer surface of the control board 7 is received by the spacer 82 over the entire length in the left-right direction. According to this, flexure of the control board 7 can be surely prevented also at the left and right ends of the control board 7. Note that the spacer 82 may be formed wider than the control board 7.

[0059] The spacer 82 is made of a plastic molded product formed in a substantially "eye" shape in a front view, and as shown enlarged in FIG. 1, it includes three upper and lower window holes 83 corresponding to the three LEDs 11 that constitute the display unit 12. One LED 11 is accommodated in each window hole 83, and each LED 11 is surrounded by the spacer 82 in the up, down, left, and right directions. That is, the spacer 82 functions as a light-shielding wall that surrounds each LED 11 and prevents light diffusion. According to this spacer 82, the straightness of the light emission of each LED 11 can be enhanced, and the light emission of the display unit 12 on the outer surface of the casing 1 can be made clear. Also, the spacer 82 functions as a partition between the vertically adjacent LEDs 11. According to this spacer 82, the light emissions of the adjacent LEDs 11 on the wall surface of the casing 1 can be prevented from mixing, and the display content of the display unit 12 can be accurately transmitted to the user.

[0060] As described above, when the spacer 82 functions as a light-shielding wall and a partition wall for the LED 11, compared with the case where these are separate components from the spacer 82, the number of parts of the electric toothbrush can be reduced, and the labor and cost of assembly during manufacturing can be reduced. Further, the spacer 82 is fixed to the control board 7 by press-fitting fixing protrusions 84 protruding upward and downward on the rear surface thereof into fixing holes 85 provided in the control board 7. According to the fixing structure including the fixing protrusions 84 and the fixing holes 85, inadvertent detachment of the spacer 82 from the control board 7 is prevented, and when the spacer 82 is attached to the control board 7 during manufacturing of the electric toothbrush, the relative position of the spacer 82 with respect to each LED 11 on the control board 7 is made precise, and problems such as the LED 11 being blocked by the spacer 82 due to misalignment of the spacer 82 can be avoided.

[0061] (Second Embodiment) FIG. 8 shows a second embodiment in which the electric device of the present invention is applied to an electric toothbrush. In this second embodiment, the form of the spacer 82 disposed on the outer surface of the control board 7 is different from that of the first embodiment. Specifically, two recesses 92 arranged vertically are provided on the front surface of the spacer 82 that curves in a convex shape, and each recess 92 is formed by a groove having a flat bottom running in the left-right direction on the front surface of the spacer 82. By providing such recesses 92 on the front surface of the spacer 82, it is possible to reduce the weight of the spacer 82 and the material constituting the same, and to prevent the occurrence of so-called sink marks on the front surface of the spacer 82.

[0062] The spacer 82 of the present embodiment is formed smaller than that of the first embodiment and is disposed between adjacent LEDs 11. Further, in addition to the original function of the spacer 82 for preventing the control board 7 from flexing, the spacer 82 also functions as a partition wall for preventing the light emission of adjacent LEDs 11 from being mixed. Since the rest is the same as in the first embodiment, the same members are denoted by the same reference numerals and the description thereof is omitted.

[0063] (Third Embodiment) FIG. 9 shows a third embodiment in which the electric device of the present invention is applied to a handheld massager. This massager includes a vertically elongated casing 1 that also serves as a grip, and a treatment member (functional member) 102 that protrudes from the upper surface of the casing 1. The treatment member 102 is composed of a rod-shaped treatment shaft (shaft body) 104 that vertically penetrates the upper wall of the casing 1, and a spherical treatment element (acting portion) 103 provided at the upper end of the treatment shaft 104. Inside the casing 1, the lower end of the treatment shaft 104 is connected to the motor unit 31. When the motor 5 is driven, its vibration is transmitted to the treatment element 103 via the treatment shaft 104. By pressing the vibrating treatment element 103 against the human body surface such as the shoulder, a massage stimulus can be applied to the human body surface.

[0064] The treatment member 102 can tilt forward and backward around the tilt axis 34 integrally with the motor unit 31 with respect to the casing 1. While the brush body 2 of the first embodiment could only tilt backward, the treatment member 102 of this embodiment can tilt forward in addition to tilting backward. Further, the shaft hole 35 that pivotally supports the tilt axis 34 is formed as a vertically long hole. Therefore, the treatment member 102 can move up and down integrally with the motor unit 31 with respect to the casing 1. That is, the treatment member 102 starts from an operating posture where it stands upright at the upper end of the vertical stroke and the vertical axis of the treatment shaft 104 overlaps the vertical axis of the casing 1, and has a first retracted posture in which the axis of the treatment shaft 104 tilts backward with respect to the axis of the casing 1, a second retracted posture in which the axis of the treatment shaft 104 tilts forward with respect to the axis of the casing 1, and a third retracted posture at the lower end of the vertical stroke, and can be displaced between them.

[0065] Between the inner surface of the casing 1 and the treatment axis 104, a pair of front and rear upper holders 68 are arranged. Each upper holder 68 is composed of a coil-type compression spring. One end thereof is joined to the outer surface of the treatment axis 104, and the other end is elastically in contact with the inner surface of the casing 1. In the operating posture where the treatment axis 104 stands upright, the spring forces of the front and rear upper holders 68 are balanced. When the treatment axis 104 is in the first retracted posture of tilting backward, the rear upper holder 68 is compressed and exerts a biasing force to return the treatment axis 104 forward, that is, to the operating posture. When the treatment axis 104 is in the second retracted posture of tilting forward, the front upper holder 68 is compressed and exerts a biasing force to return the treatment axis 104 backward, that is, to the operating posture.

[0066] To the arm portion 27 constituting the lower part of the motor unit 31, a pair of front and rear lower holders 69 extending from the inner surface of the casing 1 are connected. Each lower holder 69 is composed of a coil-type tension spring. The front lower holder 69 biases the arm portion 27 obliquely upward in the front direction, and the rear lower holder 69 biases the arm portion 27 obliquely upward in the rear direction. The resultant force of the biasing forces exerted by the pair of lower holders 69 acts straight upward on the treatment member 102, that is, in the direction of holding the treatment member 102 in the operating posture.

[0067] That is, a holding force that attempts to hold the treatment member 102 in the operating posture acts on the treatment member 102. Therefore, the treatment member 102 when the massager is not in use is biased to the operating posture. Also, when the user presses the treatment head 103 against the human body surface with an appropriate force, the reaction force F received from the human body surface does not exceed the above holding force. Therefore, the treatment member 102 is held in the operating posture. However, when the treatment head 103 is pressed with a force stronger than necessary and the reaction force F acting on the treatment head 103 exceeds the above holding force and enters an overload state, the treatment member 102 is displaced integrally with the motor unit 31 to one of the retracted postures according to the direction of the reaction force F.

[0068] The fact that the treatment member 102 has become overloaded and displaced to any of the retracted postures is detected by a detection means including three detection switches 78 and a pressing body 79. Specifically, the pressing bodies 79 are respectively protruded on the front and rear surfaces and the lower surface of the lower end portion of the arm portion 27, and one detection switch 78 faces each pressing body 79. The front detection switch 78 is mounted on the control board 7 and is pressed by the pressing body 79 when the treatment member 102 is displaced to the first retracted posture. The rear detection switch 78 is mounted on a switch board (substrate) 112 separate from the control board 7 and is pressed by the pressing body 79 when the treatment member 102 is displaced to the second retracted posture. The lower detection switch 78 is also mounted on a switch board (substrate) 112 separate from the control board 7 and is pressed by the pressing body 79 when the treatment member 102 is displaced to the third retracted posture.

[0069] Similar to the spacer 82 for preventing the bending of the control board 7 being disposed on the back side of the detection switch 78 in the control board 7, a spacer 113 for preventing the bending of the switch board 112 is also disposed on the back side of the detection switch 78 in the switch board 112. The rear spacer 113 is disposed between the switch board 112 and the inner surface of the casing 1, and the lower spacer 113 is disposed between the switch board 112 and the upper surface of the battery 6. The spacer 82 for preventing the bending of the control board 7 is arranged so as to surround the LED 11 and also functions as a light shielding wall for preventing the diffusion of the light of the LED 11. Since the rest is the same as that of the first embodiment, the same members are denoted by the same reference numerals and their descriptions are omitted.

[0070] (Embodiment 4) Fig. 10 shows Embodiment 4 in which the electric device of the present invention is applied to a stick-type shaver. This shaver includes a vertically elongated casing 1 that also serves as a grip, and a shaving member (functional member) 122 that protrudes from the upper surface of the casing 1. The shaving member 122 is composed of a rod-shaped shaving shaft (shaft body) 124 that vertically penetrates the upper wall of the casing 1, and a blade portion (acting portion) 123 provided on the front side of the upper end portion of the shaving shaft 124. The blade portion 123 is composed of a fixed blade 125 fixed to the upper portion of the shaving shaft 124, and a movable blade 126 supported by the shaving shaft 124 so as to be vertically movable with respect to the fixed blade 125.

[0071] Inside the casing 1, a motor unit 31 is connected to the lower end portion of the shaving shaft 124. The output shaft 18 of the motor 5 that constitutes the motor unit 31 is connected to the movable blade 126 of the blade portion 123 via a transmission mechanism (not shown) built into the shaving shaft 124. The transmission mechanism converts the rotational power of the output shaft 18 into reciprocating power and transmits it to the movable blade 126. That is, when the motor 5 is driven, the movable blade 126 is configured to reciprocate with respect to the fixed blade 125. By pressing the blade portion 123 in this state against the human body surface such as the face, the hair growing therefrom can be shaved.

[0072] The shaving member 122 can tilt forward and backward about the tilting axis 34 integrally with the motor unit 31 with respect to the casing 1. Specifically, the shaving member 122 can tilt forward and backward between an operating position where the axial center of the shaving shaft 124 coincides with the vertical axial center of the casing 1 and a retracted position where the axial center of the shaving shaft 124 tilts backward with respect to the axial center of the casing 1. The forward tilting of the shaving member 122 beyond the operating position is regulated by a regulating structure (not shown). An upper holder 68 extending from the inner surface of the casing 1 is connected to the rear surface of the lower part of the shaving shaft 124. The upper holder 68 is composed of a coil-type compression spring and biases the shaving shaft 124 forward above the tilting axis 34, whereby the shaving member 122 is biased in the forward tilting direction. Further, a lower holder 69 extending from the inner surface of the casing 1 is connected to the rear surface of the arm portion 27 constituting the lower part of the motor unit 31. The lower holder 69 is composed of a coil-type tension spring and biases the arm portion 27 backward below the tilting axis 34, whereby the shaving member 122 is biased in the forward tilting direction.

[0073] The biasing forces exerted by the upper holder 68 and the lower holder 69 act in the direction of holding the shaving member 122 in the operating position. That is, a holding force that attempts to hold the shaving member 122 in the operating position acts on the shaving member 122. Therefore, the shaving member 122 is biased in the operating position when the shaver is not in use. Also, when the user presses the blade portion 123 against the human body surface with an appropriate force, the backward reaction force F received from the human body surface does not exceed the above-mentioned holding force. Therefore, the shaving member 122 is held in the operating position. However, when the blade portion 123 is pressed with a force stronger than necessary and the reaction force F acting on the blade portion 123 exceeds the above-mentioned holding force and enters an overload state, the shaving member 122 is displaced from the operating position to the retracted position integrally with the motor unit 31.

[0074] The detection means for detecting that the shaving member 122 has become overloaded and displaced to the retracted position is composed of a sensing switch 78 mounted on the inner surface (rear surface) side of the control board 7 and a pressing body 79 projecting forward from the tip (lower end) of the arm portion 27 of the motor holder 25 toward the control board 7. When the shaving member 122 is in the operating position, the pressing body 79 faces the sensing switch 78 with a slight gap therebetween in the front-rear direction. When the shaving member 122 is displaced to the retracted position and the arm portion 27 tilts forward, the pressing body 79 contacts and presses the sensing switch 78. A spacer 82 for preventing the control board 7 from flexing is disposed on the back side of the sensing switch 78 on the control board 7. The spacer 82 is arranged so as to surround the LED 11 and also functions as a light-shielding wall for preventing the diffusion of the light of the LED 11. Since the rest is the same as in the first embodiment, the same members are denoted by the same reference numerals and their description is omitted.

[0075] (Fifth Embodiment) FIG. 11 shows a fifth embodiment in which the electric device of the present invention is applied to a rotary shaver. This shaver includes a hollow block-shaped casing 1 that also serves as a grip, and a shaving member (functional member) 122 that projects from the upper surface of the casing 1. A blade portion (working portion) 123 is provided at the upper end portion of the shaving member 122. The blade portion 123 is composed of a fixed blade 125 that is shaped in an arch in a side view, and a movable blade 126 that is rotatably supported along the inner surface of the fixed blade 125 around a horizontal axis.

[0076] Inside the casing 1, a motor unit 31 is connected to the lower end portion of the shaving member 122. The motor 5 that constitutes the motor unit 31 is disposed in a horizontal posture in which its output shaft 18 is parallel to the rotation axis of the movable blade 126, and the rotational power of the output shaft 18 is transmitted to the movable blade 126 via a transmission mechanism (not shown). By pressing the blade portion 123 in the driving state where the movable blade 126 rotates against the human body surface such as the face, the hair growing therefrom can be shaved.

[0077] The shaving member 122 is vertically movable between an operating position at the upper end of the vertical stroke and a retracted position at the lower end of the vertical stroke, integrally with the motor unit 31 with respect to the casing 1. The upward protrusion of the shaving member 122 from the casing 1 beyond the operating position is restricted by a restricting structure (not shown). The case portion 26 of the motor holder 25 is pushed up by a pair of holding members 110 each formed of a coil-type compression spring, whereby the shaving member 122 is biased upward.

[0078] The biasing force exerted by the holding member 110 acts in a direction to hold the shaving member 122 in the operating position. That is, a holding force that attempts to hold the shaving member 122 in the operating position acts on the shaving member 122. Therefore, the shaving member 122 is biased to the operating position when the shaver is not in use. Also, when the user presses the blade portion 123 against the human body surface with an appropriate force, the downward reaction force F received from the human body surface does not exceed the above-described holding force. Therefore, the shaving member 122 is held in the operating position. However, when the blade portion 123 is pressed with an excessively strong force and the reaction force F acting on the blade portion 123 exceeds the above-described holding force, resulting in an overload state, the shaving member 122 is displaced integrally with the motor unit 31 from the operating position to the retracted position.

[0079] The detecting means for detecting that the shaving member 122 has been displaced to the retracted position in an overload state includes a pressing body 79 protruding downward from the lower surface of the arm portion 27 and a sensing switch 78 facing the lower surface of the pressing body 79. The sensing switch 78 is mounted on the upper surface of a horizontally disposed control board 7. A spacer 82 for preventing the control board 7 from being deflected is disposed between the lower surface of the control board 7 and the battery 6. An LED 11 serving as a display portion 12 is disposed on the lower surface of the control board 7. The LED 11 irradiates light in one direction parallel to the lower surface of the control board 7, for example, forward, and the wall surface of the casing 1 irradiated with the light has translucency. The spacer 82 is disposed so as to surround the LED 11 from three sides (for example, left, right, and rear), and also functions as a light-shielding wall for preventing the diffusion of the light of the LED 11. Since the rest is the same as in the first embodiment, the same members are denoted by the same reference numerals and their description is omitted.

[0080] (Sixth Embodiment) FIG. 12 shows a sixth embodiment in which the electric device of the present invention is applied to a light irradiation type hair remover (beauty device). This beauty device includes a hollow block-shaped casing 1 that also serves as a grip, a battery 6 housed in the upper part of the casing 1, an irradiation head 130 housed in the lower part of the casing 1, and the like. Inside the irradiation head 130, a light source 131 composed of a xenon flash lamp capable of irradiating high-intensity pulsed light is housed. A user of the beauty device can cause the light source 131 to emit light by pressing the irradiation head 130 against the human body surface such as a leg, and thereby apply thermal damage to the hair root portion of the unwanted hair growing therefrom. In other words, the unwanted hair on the human body surface can be treated.

[0081] The fact that the irradiation head 130 is pressed against the human body surface is detected by a detection means composed of a detection switch 78 and a pressing body 79. The detection switch 78 is mounted on the lower surface of a control board 7 horizontally arranged below the battery 6. The pressing body 79 protrudes from the upper surface of a gate-shaped detector 132 provided so as to be vertically movable with respect to the casing 1 and faces the lower surface of the detection switch 78. When the beauty device is not in use, the detector 132 is biased downward by a pair of biasing bodies 133 so that the pressing body 79 is separated from the detection switch 78, and the lower end portion of the detector 132 protrudes downward from both sides of the irradiation head 130 and below the irradiation head 130. When the irradiation head 130 is pressed against the human body surface, the detector 132 is pushed upward into the casing 1 by the human body surface, and the pressing body 79 presses the detection switch 78.

[0082] Between the upper surface of the control board 7 and the battery 6, a spacer 82 is disposed to prevent the control board 7 from flexing when the sensing switch 78 is pressed by the pressing body 79. Further, an LED 11 as a display unit 12 is disposed on the upper surface of the control board 7. The LED 11 irradiates light in one direction parallel to the upper surface of the control board 7, for example, forward, and the wall surface of the casing 1 irradiated with the light has translucency. The spacer 82 is arranged so as to surround the LED 11 from three sides (for example, left, right, and rear), and also functions as a light-shielding wall that prevents the diffusion of the light of the LED 11. Since the rest is the same as that of the first embodiment, the same members are denoted by the same reference numerals and the description thereof is omitted.

[0083] As described above, in the electric devices (electric toothbrush, massager, shaver, hair remover) according to the embodiments of the present invention, spacers 82 and 113 are disposed on the back side of the sensing switch 78 on the substrates 7 and 112 to regulate the flexure of the substrates 7 and 112 when the sensing switch 78 is pressed by the pressing body 79. Therefore, the displacement of the sensing switch 78 due to the accumulation of the flexure of the substrates 7 and 112 can be reliably prevented, and the position when the pressing body 79 presses the sensing switch 78 can be maintained constant as it was at the beginning. That is, the reliability of the sensing switch 78 can be ensured over a long period. Further, since the flexure of the substrates 7 and 112 is regulated by the spacers 82 and 113, damage to other elements and printed wiring on the substrates 7 and 112 due to the load caused by the flexure of the substrates 7 and 112 can be prevented.

[0084] The substrates 7 and 112 according to the present invention are not limited to those provided with elements such as the LED 11 and printed wiring, and may be plate-like bodies provided with only the sensing switch 78. The electric devices according to the present invention can contribute to Goal 9 (Build the infrastructure for industry and technological innovation) of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) proposed by the United Nations.

[0085] If the spacer 82 protrudes significantly toward the inner surface of the casing 1 more than each element on the substrate 7, it is possible to reliably prevent each element from coming into contact with the inner surface of the casing 1.

[0086] When the spacer 82 is disposed between adjacent LEDs 11, the light emissions of the LEDs 11 can be prevented from being mixed, and the display content of the display unit 12 can be accurately transmitted to the user. That is, the spacer 82 also functions as a partition between the LEDs 11, and compared with the case where a partition is provided separately from the spacer 82, the number of parts of the electrical device can be reduced, and the assembly labor and cost during manufacturing can be reduced.

[0087] When the spacer 82 is disposed over the entire length in the width direction of the substrate 7, the deflection at both ends in the width direction of the substrate 7 can be reliably prevented.

[0088] When the recess 92 is provided on the outer surface of the spacer 82, it is possible to reduce the weight of the spacer 82 and the material constituting the same, and to prevent the occurrence of so-called sink marks on the outer surface of the spacer 82.

[0089] According to the fixing structure in which the fixing protrusion 84 protruding from the spacer 82 is press-fitted into the fixing hole 85 provided in the substrate 7 to fix the spacer 82 to the substrate 7, inadvertent detachment of the spacer 82 from the substrate 7 can be prevented, and when the spacer 82 is attached to the substrate 7 during the manufacture of the electrical device, the relative position of the spacer 82 with respect to each element on the substrate 7 can be made precise, and for example, it is possible to avoid problems such as the LED 11 being blocked by the spacer 82 due to misalignment of the spacer 82.

[0090] When the casing 1 is formed in a polygonal cylindrical shape and the spacer 82 is in surface contact with the inner surface of the top of the casing 1, compared with the case where the spacer 82 is in contact with the flat surface portion of the casing 1, the contact area between the spacer 82 and the casing 1 can be increased, and the function of the spacer 82 to prevent the deflection of the substrate 7 can be surely exhibited, and also, the space inside the top of the casing 1, which is likely to become a dead space, can be effectively utilized.

[0091] When each LED 11 is surrounded from a plurality of directions by the spacers 82, the directivity of the light emission of each LED 11 can be enhanced, and the light emission of the display unit 12 can be made clear on the outer surface of the casing 1. That is, the spacer 82 also functions as a light-shielding wall for the LED 11, and compared with the case where a light-shielding wall is provided separately from the spacer 82, the number of parts of the electric device can be reduced, and the labor and cost of assembly during manufacturing can be reduced.

[0092] Specifically, the electric device includes a functional member 2·102·122 provided with an acting portion 3·103·123 on one end side of a shaft body 4·104·124, and a motor unit 31 including a motor 5 that is a drive source of the functional member 2·102·122, and a pressing body 79 is provided on the motor unit 31. The functional member 2·102·122 in the normal state is held in a predetermined operating posture. When a reaction force F acting on the acting portion 3·103·123 from the object exceeds the holding force that tries to hold the functional member 2·102·122 in the operating posture when the acting portion 3·103·123 is pressed against the object, the functional member 2·102·122 is displaced to a retracted posture integrally with the motor unit 31, and the pressing body 79 is configured to press the detection switch 78. According to this electric device, the detection switch 78 and the pressing body 79 can function as detection means for detecting that the functional member 2·102·122 is in an overload state. The electric device can take appropriate measures such as prompting the user to eliminate the overload state based on the detection state of the detection switch 78.

[0093] When the present invention is applied to an electric toothbrush including a functional member 2 made of a brush body, when an overload state occurs in which the acting portion 3 made of a tuft of bristles is pressed against the teeth with a force stronger than necessary, this can be detected by the detection switch 78 and the pressing body 79, and the user can be prompted to weaken the force pressing the acting portion 3 so as not to damage the surface of the user's teeth.

[0094] When the present invention is applied to a handheld massager having a functional member 102 composed of a treatment member, when the acting portion 103 composed of treatment elements is in an overload state where it is pressed against the human body surface such as the shoulder with a force stronger than necessary, this is detected by the detection switch 78 and the pressing body 79, and the user is prompted to weaken the force pressing the acting portion 103, so as not to damage the surface of the user's human body surface.

[0095] When the present invention is applied to a shaver having a functional member 122 composed of a hair removal member, when the acting portion 123 composed of the blade portion is in an overload state where it is pressed against the human body surface such as the face with a force stronger than necessary, this is detected by the detection switch 78 and the pressing body 79, and the user is prompted to weaken the force pressing the acting portion 123, so as not to damage the surface of the user's human body surface.

[0096] Another electric device includes a casing 1 that constitutes the outer shell of the electric device, an irradiation head 130 and a detection body 132 provided at one end of the casing 1, and a biasing body 133 that biases the end of the detection body 132 in a direction protruding from the casing 1. When the irradiation head 130 is pressed against an object, the detection body 132 is pushed into the casing 1 by the object, and the pressing body 79 provided on the detection body 132 is configured to press the detection switch 78. The irradiation head 130 has a light emitting source 131 that lights up when the detection switch 78 is pressed. According to this electric device, the detection switch 78 and the pressing body 79 can be made to function as detection means for detecting that the irradiation head 130 has been pressed against an object, and the lighting of the light emitting source 131 can be made to be linked to the state of the detection means. The user can quickly light up the light emitting source 131 and irradiate the object with the light by simply pressing the irradiation head 130 against an object such as the human body surface without requiring an operation for lighting the light emitting source 131.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0097] 1 Casing 2 Functional member (brush body) 3 Acting portion (hair bundle) 4 Shaft body (brush shaft) 5 Motors 7 Substrate (Control Substrate) 11 LEDs 12 Display Unit 31 Motor Unit 78 Sensing Switch 79 Pressing Body 82 Spacer 84 Fixed Protrusion 85 Fixed Hole 92 Recess 102 Functional Member (Treatment Member) 103 Acting Portion (Treatment Needle) 104 Shaft Body (Treatment Shaft) 112 Substrate (Switch Substrate) 113 Spacer 122 Functional Member (Hair Removal Member) 123 Acting Portion (Blade Portion) 124 Shaft Body (Hair Removal Shaft) 130 Irradiation Head 131 Light Emitting Source 132 Detection Body 133 Biasing Body

Claims

1. A substrate (7, 112), a sensing switch (78) provided on one surface of the substrate (7, 112), and a pressing body (79) provided so as to be able to approach and separate from the sensing switch (78), An electrical device, characterized in that a spacer (82, 113) for restricting the bending of the substrate (7, 112) when the sensing switch (78) is pressed by the pressing body (79) is disposed on the back side of the sensing switch (78) on the substrate (7, 112).

2. The electrical device according to claim 1, wherein the spacer (82) faces the inner surface of the casing (1) constituting the outer shell of the electrical device and protrudes significantly toward the inner surface of the casing (1) compared to each element on the substrate (7).

3. A display portion (12) including a plurality of LEDs (11) is provided on the substrate (7), The electrical device according to claim 1, wherein a spacer (82) is disposed between adjacent LEDs (11).

4. The electrical device according to claim 1, wherein the spacer (82) is disposed over the entire length in the width direction of the substrate (7).

5. The electrical device according to claim 2, wherein a recess (92) is provided on the outer surface of the spacer (82) received by the inner surface of the casing (1).

6. The electrical device according to claim 1, wherein the spacer (82) is fixed to the substrate (7) by press-fitting a fixing protrusion (84) protruding from the spacer (82) into a fixing hole (85) provided in the substrate (7).

7. The casing (1) is formed in a polygonal cylindrical shape having a plurality of tops, The electrical device according to claim 2, wherein the spacer (82) is in planar contact with the inner surface of the top of the casing (1).

8. The electrical device according to claim 3, wherein each LED (11) is surrounded by the spacer (82) from a plurality of directions.

9. A functional member (2, 102, 122) having an operating portion (3, 103, 123) provided on one end side of a shaft body (4, 104, 124), and a motor unit (31) including a motor (5) serving as a drive source for the functional member (2, 102, 122), The pressing body (79) is provided on the motor unit (31), In a normal state, the functional member (2, 102, 122) is held in a predetermined operating posture, When the reaction force (F) acting on the acting part (3, 103, 123) from the object when the acting part (3, 103, 123) is pressed against the object exceeds the holding force that attempts to hold the functional member (2, 102, 122) in the operating position and enters an overload state, the functional member (2, 102, 122) is displaced integrally with the motor unit (31) to the retracted position, and the pressing body (79) is configured to press the detection switch (78). The electric device according to any one of claims 1 to 8.

10. The electric device is an electric toothbrush, The functional member (2) including the acting part (3) is a brush body including tufts of bristles. The electric device according to claim 9.

11. The electric device is a handheld massager, The functional member (102) including the acting part (103) is a treatment member including a treatment head. The electric device according to claim 9.

12. The electric device is a shaver, The functional member (122) including the acting part (123) is a shaving member including a blade part. The electric device according to claim 9.

13. It includes a casing (1) constituting the outer shell of the electric device, an irradiation head (130) and a detection body (132) provided at one end of the casing (1), and a biasing body (133) that biases the end of the detection body (132) in the direction protruding from the casing (1). When the irradiation head (130) is pressed against the object, the detection body (132) is pushed into the casing (1) by the object, and the pressing body (79) provided on the detection body (132) is configured to press the detection switch (78). The irradiation head (130) has a light-emitting source (131) that lights up when the detection switch (78) is pressed. The electric device according to any one of claims 1 to 8.

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