Hair cutting device equipped with a display

Abstract

The present invention relates to a hair cutting device such as an electric shaver or a trimmer, which includes a handle and a hair cutting tool. The handle includes an outer shell, a battery, a motor, an on / off button, a display for indicating the functional state of the device by at least one of an image, text, and graphic symbols, and a PCB electrically connected to a part of the display, the battery, and the motor. The on / off button is provided on the same side of the outer shell as the display, and the hair cutting tool is disposed at the upper end of the device on the side opposite to the lower end thereof.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a hair cutting device such as an electric shaver or a trimmer including a handle and a hair cutting tool. The handle includes an outer shell, a battery, a motor, an on / off button, a display for indicating the functional state of the device by at least one of an image, text, and graphic symbols, and a PCB electrically connected to a part of the display, the battery, and the motor. The on / off button is provided on the same side of the outer shell as the display, and the hair cutting tool is disposed at the upper end of the device opposite to the lower end thereof.

Background Art

[0002] Hair cutting devices such as electric shavers, wet razors, trimmers, or clippers are provided with at least one blade at the upper end and a handle connected thereto. The handle is shaped to be well grasped by the user's hand, and the on / off button provided for switching the internal motor on and off is disposed on one side of the outer shell of the handle. Further, well-known shavers and other hair cutting devices are provided with some display means for displaying, for example, the battery load state, or the on / off state, or the shaver function such as a specific shaving mode via a display. In order to avoid the display being covered by the user's hand, the display is provided under the on / off button further away from the upper part of the device. Further, finger gripping ribs may be provided on the other shell of a well-known hair cutting device having, for example, protruding elastomeric gripping ribs embedded into the outer shell. The problem associated with such a conventional design is that many openings are provided in the outer shell of the handle for the on / off button, possibly additional mode buttons, some displays, and some parts intended to enhance the gripping, which is important since an increasing number of hair cutting units are used in a wet environment and water can pass through the small gaps of those openings.

Summary of the Invention

Means for Solving the Problem

[0003] The underlying objective of the present invention is to provide an improved ergonomic design of a body hair cutting device, such as an electric shaver, that reduces the number of holes through an outer shell provided for different features of the user interface while ensuring improved grip and usability. A further objective is that the display of the body hair cutting device can be read well regardless of the current lighting conditions. Yet another objective is to improve the device so that scratches cannot damage the display.

[0004] To achieve at least one of the above objectives, a body hair cutting device having the features of claim 1 is provided. Further advantageous provisions are described together with the features of the dependent claims.

[0005] Hair clippers such as electric shavers or trimmers equipped with a handle and a hair cutting tool have been proposed. The hair cutting tool is provided inside a head, and the head is supported on the handle so as to enable a turning motion of the head. The cutting tool includes at least three separate hair cutting units. The handle includes an outer shell, a PCB, a battery, a motor, an on / off button or switch, and a display for indicating the functional state of the device by at least one of an image, text, and graphic symbol. A part of the display and the on / off button or switch are electrically connected to a first side of the same PCB. The battery and the motor are electrically connected to a second side of the same PCB on the side opposite to the first side. The on / off button is provided on the front side of the outer shell, which is the same as that of the display. The hair cutting tool is disposed at the upper end of the device opposite to the lower end of the device. The display is provided closer to the upper end of the device than the on / off button. The display also forms a thumb rest area. Alternatively, hair clippers such as electric shavers or trimmers equipped with a handle and a hair cutting tool have been proposed. The handle includes an outer shell, a battery, a motor, an on / off button, and a display for indicating the functional state of the device by at least one of an image, text, and graphic symbol, and a PCB electrically connected to a part of the display, the battery, and the motor. The on / off button is provided on the same side of the outer shell as that of the display. The hair cutting tool is disposed at the upper end opposite to the lower end of the device. The display is provided closer to the upper end of the device than the on / off button. The display also forms a thumb rest area.

[0006] Accordingly, the display may be used for the following dual functionality. It not only displays shaver information but also provides a thumb rest area that enhances the gripping of the device without requiring additional ribs or other surface structuring features that would require additional housing openings. Further, since the thumb will be positioned directly on the display adjacent and immediately above the on / off button, the operational use of the shaver can be very intuitive. Thus, with only a slight movement of the thumb, the shaver is placed on the designated thumb rest area, and then switched on or off by actuating the adjacent on / off button, and is safely handled. Since the display is then covered by the thumb and is no longer readable, placing the thumb on the display may seem counterintuitive in some cases. However, it has been found that the advantages provided by the designated thumb rest area adjacent and above the on / off button are greater, and that the user only needs to lift the thumb to read the display. Further, by arranging the display and the on / off button switch on one side of the PCB and the motor and the battery on the other side of the PCB, it becomes easier to connect the electrical components to the PCB. Preferably, the battery is positioned further away from the upper end than the motor so that the PCB also extends to the side of the battery to ensure an electrical connection between the battery and the PCB with short connecting means.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0007] The present disclosure will be made more apparent by a detailed description of exemplary embodiments and reference to the drawings.

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DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0008] There is provided a hair cutting device such as an electric shaver or a trimmer, which includes a handle and a hair cutting tool. Preferably, the hair cutting tool, which includes one, two, three, four, five, or six separate hair cutting units, is disposed at the upper end of the device, on the side opposite to the lower end of the device. The handle is provided with an outer shell, a battery, a motor, an on / off button, a display for indicating the functional state of the device by at least one of an image, characters, and graphic symbols, and a PCB electrically connected to a part of the display, the battery, and the motor. The on / off button is provided on the same (front) side of the outer shell as the display, the display is provided closer to the upper end of the device than the on / off button, and the display also forms a thumb rest area. The thumb rest area is an area distinguished / separated from the surrounding outer shell and provides an area that substantially conforms to the shape of the thumb placed on the thumb rest. It may be provided with additional features to ensure finger stopping.

[0009] More specifically, the body hair cutting tool is provided in a shaver head supported on the handle so as to enable the turning movement of the head, and / or the cutting tool includes at least three separate body hair cutting units. Such a larger shaver head having at least three body hair cutting units (each having an upper blade and a lower blade) that are movably supported needs to generate momentum during use with respect to the handle so that safe handling by the above-described ergonomic features is ensured.

[0010] More specifically, a display opening is provided in the outer shell, the display includes an outer window portion fitted to the display opening, and the portion of the display connected to the PCB includes an electronic display element. Accordingly, it is facilitated that the display includes several parts and the outer window portion can be specially formed so as to enable good thumb rest characteristics different from those on the outer shell. The outer window portion includes a central main portion and an edge portion. The sunken central main portion of the outer window portion provides good thumb rest characteristics because the remaining portion of the outer shell bulges outward or is convexly rounded when viewed in a horizontal cross section.

[0011] More specifically, the outer window portion is an integral part made of plastic and is formed with a depression, and / or the edge portion is attached substantially flush with the adjacent outer shell, and the central main portion is recessed or sunken with respect to the edge portion. Accordingly, the outer window portion is formed like a tab having a sunken central portion and a finger-stopping characteristic toward the edge portion. Thereby, the user intuitively knows that the tab is shaped for placing the thumb therein.

[0012] More specifically, the window portion is a two-component injection molded part having a transparent central main portion and an opaque edge portion.

[0013] More specifically, the on / off button is part of the window portion.

[0014] More specifically, the edge portion includes an upper portion with a width of at least 0.5 mm. This upper portion is substantially flush-mounted with the outer shell adjacent to the outside, and includes an inclined portion adjacent to the inside. The inclined portion connects the central main portion to the upper portion. More preferably, the edge portion has a width of 1 to 3 mm. Thereby, the thumb rest portion is framed by the edge portion, and the edge portion also ensures good mechanical connectivity and overall stability with the outer shell, despite the fairly thin main portion of the outer window. The transition portion between the outermost upper portion and the main portion of the edge portion is inclined at an angle of 25 to 75 degrees. Such an inclined transition portion not only ensures comfortable finger-stopping characteristics but also ensures good cleanliness of the outer window portion.

[0015] More specifically, the PCB, the display, and the motor are positioned adjacent to each other and side by side with the PCB located between the display and the motor. This makes it easy to connect both the motor and the electronic display to the PCB. Preferably, the battery is arranged further away from the upper end than the motor so that the PCB also extends to the side portion of the battery in order to ensure an electrical connection between the battery and the PCB with short connection means.

[0016] More specifically, the thumb rest area is recessed or indented with respect to the outer shell. This indentation or tab shape of the thumb rest area provides a different outer shape for accommodating the thumb thereon, as opposed to the outwardly bulging shape or other shapes of the outer shell adjacent to the display.

[0017] More specifically, the display or the electronic display element is provided as one of the LCD, TFT, touch display, QLED, OLED, LED, AMOLED or super AMOLED types. Therefore, it is preferable that the display can visualize symbols, texts, and numbers. Alternatively, the visualization may be performed by LEDs. Further, the display may be a so-called touch display that reacts to finger contact in at least some of its areas. The on / off button may be part of the display.

[0018] More specifically, the display includes a sensing area for activating and / or deactivating the body hair cutting device function. Examples of such body hair cutting functions may include starting the device, operating in different modes (such as changing the motor speed), or different display settings.

[0019] More specifically, the display enables gesture control or finger swipe control of the body hair cutting device function. Therefore, the handling by the user of the body hair cutting device may be similar to the user handling of the gesture control of a smartphone. Since most users are accustomed to controlling a smartphone by finger gestures operating on the display on the one hand, an intuitive handling in a similar way to a shaver can be ensured. As functions, for example, different operating modes may be selected by placing a fingertip on the surface of the touch sensor type display.

[0020] More specifically, the outer shell is made of metal. The manufacturing of openings through the metal housing is an extra process, and since more openings may reduce the stability of the outer shell, the above display concept enables reducing the number of openings and enables easy manufacturing. As the metal, aluminum or steel or their alloys may be used.

[0021] More specifically, a watertight inner shell is provided to house the PCB, the electronic display element, the battery, and the motor. Thus, two housing shells, namely an outer shell and an inner shell, are provided. This makes it possible to concentrate the inner shell on only the functional aspects. The electronic display is arranged within the inner shell so as to be located immediately adjacent to the outer window. Thus, the image of the electronic display can be read through the translucent or transparent inner shell wall and the outer window portion.

[0022] More specifically, the outer window portion is translucent and dark-colored (e.g., dyed black). This enables, on one hand, the illuminated portion of the electronic display to be seen through the window portion, and on the other hand, the non-displayed or non-illuminated portion not to be seen through the window portion.

[0023] More specifically, the user interface includes the display and the on / off button and / or at least one mode button, and a single display opening is provided in the outer shell for housing all parts of the user interface, and / or the user interface is provided in the outer window portion. Thus, the total number of openings required in the outer shell for housing the operation buttons and the display inside is one.

[0024] As shown in FIG. 1, the electric shaver is shown as an example of a body hair cutting device. The shaver includes a handle 1 and a head 2. The head is supported via a support arm 3 so as to be able to pivot along the arrow 4 in FIG. 2. The head further includes at least three body hair cutters 5, 6, which are provided here, by way of example, as two short hair cutting units 5 and two long hair center-trimmers 6.

[0025] The handle 1 is provided with an outer shell 7 made of a metal such as steel, for example. The upper plastic closure 9 and the lower plastic closure 8 basically close the cylindrical outer shell at the upper and lower ends. The outer shell 7 may have different shapes, having a narrower cross-section at the lower end and a wider cross-section at the upper end. The horizontal cross-section of the outer shell 7 is rounded, preferably a rounded ellipse having a bulging portion on the outside (see also FIGS. 3 to 6). The outer shell is part of the display 11 and has a cutout display opening 28 for receiving therein an outer window portion 10 that can receive the on / off button 12 inside it.

[0026] As shown in the cross-sectional view of FIG. 2, the handle 1 is also provided with an inner shell 13 that is substantially in the shape of a pot and is closed at the end with a seal for watertight closure. The inner shell 13 is made of a translucent or transparent thermoplastic material. The inner shell 13 is capsule housed inside the chassis portion that holds the battery 15 at the lower end and the motor 16 at the upper end. The motor 16 is connected to a drive train 17 for driving the cutting tools 5, 6. The printed circuit board (PCB) 18 extends from the lower end to the upper end inside the inner shell 13 on the sides of the battery 15 and the motor 16. With this configuration, the battery 15 and the motor 16 are electrically connected to the PCB 18 without a longer electrical connection. On the other side of the PCB 18, that is, on the opposite side of the battery and the motor, an electrical switch and an electronic display element 19 are arranged and electrically connected to the PCB 18. Therefore, the electronic display element 19 and the motor 16 are arranged adjacent to each other and are separated only by the PCB 18 (and in some cases a part of the chassis 14) arranged between both the motor and the electronic display element. The electronic display element 19 may be a TFT or an LCD or other types of displays described above. The electronic display 19 faces directly inside the inner shell 13, and the image visualized by the electronic display 19 can be seen through the inner shell 13. Alternatively, the electronic display element may consist of several LED lamps.

[0027] Figures 3 and 5 show different alternatives of the front side of the handle 1 as part of the shaver of Figures 1 and 2. Figure 4 substantially shows the handle 1 of Figures 1 and 2. The outer contour line of the outer shell 7 in Figures 2 to 6 is more curved than in Figures 1 and 2 and may have a different shape. Figures 3 to 5 visualize different arrangements of the user interface of the shaver having a display 11 with an active display area "W", an on / off button 12 here denoted as "B1", and at least one mode button 20, denoted as "B2" in the figures, for changing the shaver function, such as the mobility of the head / cutting unit of the shaver speed. It should be noted that for all variants, the positions of the mode button and the on / off button may be exchanged. Figures 3 and 5 show the mode button 20 (alternatively the on / off button) as part of the active display area W, whereby the mode button 20 may be a touch sensor type screen enabling the button to be actuated without the need for further conventional switching means. Alternatively, this button in Figures 3 and 5 may not be part of the display area and may be provided as a designated button separate from the display. In all embodiments, the display is provided below, closest to the upper end of the shaver, and the button is closer to the lower end of the shaver, further away from the cutting tool. However, in the case of buttons actuated directly via the display, for example via a touch screen, or via gestures or similar display operations, such buttons may be located at the lower end, middle region, or upper end (closest to the cutting tool), or the entire display extension. Advantageously, the embodiments of Figures 2 and 3 require only one display opening in the outer shell 7 to accommodate the display 11 and the on / off button with or without the additional mode button 20. The shape / contour line of this display opening 28, 29, 31 may be such as a racetrack shape, an ellipse, or other longitudinally extending shapes. In all figures, the display openings 28, 29, 31 for the display and the button are shown with contour lines corresponding to the racetrack shape. Only with respect to the embodiment of Figure 5, an additional circular opening 30 is provided in the outer shell 7 for a button or another button.Therefore, in particular, when the outer shell, which is a non-injection molded plastic part, is instead made of metal, the manufacturing is easier and fewer extra steps for cutting out the openings are required. The "racetrack" shape means having two semi-circular ends and two parallel extensions connecting the semi-circular ends.

[0028] FIG. 3 is an embodiment having a racetrack-shaped contour of an interface module including all the displays and buttons. Here, the display 11 is of a touch sensor type, and by lightly tapping or touching the "button" 20 on the display 11, it is possible to change the operation mode or function. An on / off button 12 movably supported within the interface module is provided under the display 11.

[0029] FIG. 4 also shows the racetrack-shaped contour of an interface module having a display 11 in the upper region and an on / off button 12 thereunder.

[0030] FIG. 5 is an embodiment similar to that of FIG. 3, but the designated portion for the on / off button 12 is preferably a separate circle from the outer window portion 10 of the racetrack shape. The display 11 is again of a touch sensor type, and by pressing the display button B2, it is possible to change the operation mode or function of the shaver.

[0031] Figure 6 shows the ergonomic advantages of the display and button arrangement described on the shaver handle 1. During use of the shaver, the user's thumb can intuitively find the location within the display 11 of the racetrack shape or other shape. The shape of the display 11 substantially corresponds to the shape required as a thumb rest. With a slight vertical movement downward, the thumb 22 may move from the illustrated rest position on the display 11 towards the on / off button and / or mode button 20. The display 11 may then have an outer shape different from the adjacent shape of the outer shell 7, or in other words, the display does not continue the shape of the outer shell 7 at the location of the display 11. Preferably, the outer window portion of the display is flat or planar in its central region. More preferably, the display having the outer window portion 10 is recessed or indented. Thus, the thumb can intuitively find its direction for this purpose without requiring attention by the user.

[0032] Figures 7a, 8a, and 9a show a part of the front of the handle 1 having different alternative shapes of the outer window portion 10 for the display 11. Figure 7b is a cross-sectional view of Figure 7a along line B-B of Figure 7a. Figure 8b is a cross-sectional view of Figure 8a along line C-C of Figure 8a. Figure 9b is a cross-sectional view of Figure 9a along line D-D of Figure 9a.

[0033] The outer window portion 10 includes all parts of the user interface for displaying the functions of the shaver, including the on / off button and optionally additional mode buttons within the single display opening 28 of the outer shell 7 of the shaver handle 1, and for activating the shaver functions. It comprises an upper region closer to the upper end of the shaver having a cutout for housing the display 11 therein, and a lower region for the on / off button 12.

[0034] The shape of the on / off button is the same in all the embodiments shown in Figures 7a, 8a, and 9a, and the contour of the display 11 is also the same. However, these embodiments are differently configured in that a thumb rest area is established on the display.

[0035] In the embodiments of FIGS. 7a and 7b, an outer window portion 10 is provided that circumscribes a central main portion 23 by an edge portion 24. The edge portion 24 includes an outer upper portion 25 that is substantially flush with the outer shell 7, thereby forming no height step. The edge portion 24 also includes an inclined portion 26 between the upper portion 25 and the main portion 23. The inclined portion 26 is inclined by an angle of about 45 degrees, or alternatively by an angle in the range of 10 to 80 degrees or 25 to 60 degrees. The main portion 23 is flat or planar or level or of the same height, i.e., not curved convexly or concavely. This flatness reduces reflection of ambient light, defines a well-recognizable thumb rest, and enables a touch screen function. The inclined portion 26 provides a finger stop function. With this configuration, the main portion 23 is recessed or indented with respect to the frame upper portion of the outer window portion 10 of the display. This recess protects the main portion from scratches and provides ergonomic thumb rest characteristics. The electronic display element 19 is provided directly adjacent to the inside of the main portion 23 of the outer window portion 10.

[0036] In the outer window portion 10 of the embodiments of FIGS. 8a and 8b, a flat or planar main portion 23 is still provided, but no inclined portion or low-angle inclined portion is provided.

[0037] The outer window portion 10 of the embodiments of FIGS. 9a and 9b also includes a main portion 32 that is not planar or flat but is recessed or concave or curved. It is curved outwardly following the outer shape of the outer shell 7. Alternatively, it is curved inwardly. The thumb rest characteristics are provided by a surface texture different from that of the outer shell 7. For example, the thumb rest surface of the main portion 32 may be coated to enhance grip against the less enhanced gripping characteristics of the adjacent outer shell surface.

[0038] The dimensions and values disclosed in this specification should not be understood as being strictly limited to the exact numerical values recited. Instead, unless otherwise specified, each such dimension is intended to mean both the recited value and a functionally equivalent range surrounding that value. For example, a dimension disclosed as "40 mm" is intended to mean "about 40 mm".

Claims

**Claim 1** A hair cutting device, such as an electric shaver or trimmer, comprising a handle (1) and hair cutting tools (5, 6), wherein the hair cutting tools (5, 6) are provided within a head (2), the head (2) is supported on the handle (1) to enable a swiveling movement of the head (2), the cutting tools (5, 6) comprise at least three separate hair cutting units, the handle comprises an outer shell (7), a PCB (Printed Circuit Board) (18), a battery (15), a motor (16), an on / off button (12) or switch, and a display (11) for indicating a functional state of the device by at least one of an image, text, and graphic symbol, a part of the display (11) and the on / off button or switch (12) are electrically connected to a first side of the same PCB (18), the battery (15) and the motor (16) are electrically connected to a second side of the same PCB (18) opposite to the first side, the on / off button (12) is provided on a front side of the same outer shell (7) as the display (11), the hair cutting tools (5, 6) are arranged at an upper end of the device opposite to a lower end of the device, the display (11) is provided closer to the upper end of the device than the on / off button (12), and the display (11) also forms a thumb rest area, the hair cutting device. **Claim 2** The outer shell (7) is provided with display openings (28, 29, 31), the display (11) comprises an outer window portion (10) fitted to the display openings (28, 29, 31), the part of the display connected to the PCB (18) includes an electronic display element (19), and the outer window portion (10) includes a central main portion (23) and an edge portion (24), the hair cutting device according to claim 1. **Claim 3** The outer window portion (10) is an integral part made of plastic and is formed with a depression, and / or the edge portion (24) is substantially flush-mounted with the adjacent outer shell (7), and the central main portion (23) is recessed or indented with respect to the edge portion (24), the hair cutting device according to claim 2. **Claim 4** The outer window portion (10) is translucent and dark-colored, the hair cutting device according to any one of claims 2 or 3.

5. The outer window portion (10) is a two-component injection molded part having a transparent central main portion and an opaque edge portion, the hair cutting device according to claim 2 or 3.

6. The on / off button (12) is part of the outer window portion (10), the hair cutting device according to any one of claims 2 to 5.

7. The edge portion (24) is provided with an upper portion (25) having a width of at least 0.5 mm, the upper portion (25) is flush-mounted with the adjacent outer shell (7) facing outward, and an inclined portion (26) adjacent inward is provided, the inclined portion (26) connecting the central main portion (23) to the upper portion (25), the hair cutting device according to any one of claims 2 to 6.

8. The display (11), the PCB (18), and the motor (16) are positioned adjacent to each other in a state where the PCB is located between the display and the motor, the hair cutting device according to any one of claims 1 to 7.

9. The thumb rest area is recessed or indented with respect to the outer shell (7), the hair cutting device according to any one of claims 1 to 8.

10. The display (11) or the electronic display element (19) is provided as one of the LCD, TFT, touch display, QLED, OLED, LED, AMOLED, or super AMOLED types, the hair cutting device according to any one of claims 1 to 9.

11. The display (11) includes a perception area for activating and / or deactivating the hair cutting device function, preferably the hair cutting device according to any one of claims 1 to 10.

12. The display (11) enables gesture control or finger swipe control of the hair cutting device function, preferably the hair cutting device according to any one of claims 1 to 11.

13. The outer shell (7) is made of metal, the hair cutting device according to any one of claims 1 to 12.

14. The hair cutting device according to any one of claims 1 to 13, wherein a water-tightly sealed inner shell (13) is provided, and the PCB (18), the electronic display element (19), the battery (15), and the motor (16) are accommodated therein.

15. The hair cutting device according to any one of claims 1 to 14, wherein the user interface includes the display (11), the on / off button (12), and / or at least one mode button, a single display opening (28, 31) is provided in the outer shell (7), and all parts of the user interface are accommodated therein, and / or the user interface is provided in the outer window portion (10).

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