Personal Care Systems and Devices

Abstract

The personal care system includes a personal care device and a cleaning device, the personal care device having a motion sensor, the cleaning device having a support structure for supporting the personal care device in a cleaning position for cleaning the personal care unit, which uses a cleaning device motor, the cleaning device executes a cleaning device cleaning program based on user action, and the personal care device executes a corresponding personal care device cleaning program based on detecting the cleaning device cleaning program from the motion sensor signal.

Description

[Technical Field]

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

[0002] There are various personal care devices that require periodic cleaning for hygiene reasons and to maintain the functionality of the device. For example, hair cutting or removal devices can become clogged with hair, skin oils, and applied cosmetics. To simplify the cleaning process for users, systems exist that combine the personal care device with a cleaning device.

[0003] For example, WO2004 / 086901 discloses a shaving system including a shaver and a cleaning device. The shaver has a main housing and a shaving unit coupled to the main housing, the main housing accommodating an electric motor for driving the shaving unit. The cleaning device has a support structure for supporting the shaver and a receiving space for receiving the shaving unit when the shaver is placed in a cleaning position supported by the support structure.

[0004] The cleaning device has a reservoir containing a cleaning liquid and a pump for transporting the cleaning liquid from the reservoir to the receiving space.

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

[0006] The cleaning maintenance provided by such a shaving system is advantageous in maintaining a properly functioning and hygienic shaver. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0007] The use of a dedicated cleaning device according to WO2004 / 086901 is inconvenient for the user, since the pump unit of the cleaning device must be driven manually.

[0008] EP3771528A1 discloses a personal care system including a shaving device and a cleaning device for a shaving unit of the shaving device. The shaving device has a direction sensor that generates an output signal representing the orientation of the shaving device. The cleaning device supports the shaving device in a cleaning position with a predetermined cleaning direction. When the orientation of the shaving device sensed by the direction sensor corresponds to the predetermined cleaning direction, the cleaning device is controlled to operate based on a predetermined cleaning program for cleaning the shaving unit. Thus, this known personal care system utilizes the direction sensor to identify when the shaving device is in the cleaning position within the cleaning device. In one embodiment, a mechanical drive coupling is provided between the shaving device and the cleaning device, allowing the motor of the shaving device to drive the pump of the cleaning device when the shaving device is placed within the cleaning device. This allows the cleaning device to be entirely mechanical, thereby reducing the overall cost of the cleaning device while maintaining user ease of use. However, this complicates the interface between the shaving device and the cleaning device.

[0009] There remains a need for an easy-to-use cleaning system that is less complex and therefore less costly. [Means for solving the problem]

[0010] The invention is defined by the claims.

[0011] According to an example embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a personal care system having a personal care device and a cleaning device, wherein: Personal care devices a care device motor; a personal care unit driven by the care device motor; A motion sensor; a care device controller; The cleaning device is a support structure for supporting the personal care device in a cleaning position for cleaning the personal care unit; A cleaning unit; a cleaning device controller; There is no electrical communication and no mechanical drive coupling between the personal care device and the cleaning device; the cleaning device controller is configured to execute a cleaning program for the cleaning device based on user actions; The care device controller is configured to execute the cleaning program of the corresponding personal care device based on detecting the cleaning program of the cleaning device from the motion sensor signal.

[0012] The system executes a cleaning program in the cleaning appliance and personal care appliance when a user indicates the start of a cleaning program by operating the appliance.

[0013] This actuation (user action) may include, for example, pressing a button on the cleaning device, but it may also simply involve properly placing the personal care device on a support structure.

[0014] To simplify the communication required between the cleaning device and the personal care device to coordinate and synchronize the individual cleaning programs, the personal care device detects the motion imparted to the personal care device by the cleaning program, such as the vibration of a sound-producing cleaning unit, such as an ultrasonic cleaning unit. This avoids the need for electrical communication or a mechanical drive coupling between the cleaning device and the personal care device. More generally, it avoids the need for any form of signal generation, such as electrical or optical signal generation, dedicated to communication between the personal care device and the cleaning device, and also avoids the need for a complex mechanical interface between the cleaning device and the personal care device. The cleaning device and the personal care device remain substantially independent, and the personal care device uses motion sensing to sense the cleaning action of the cleaning device.

[0015] The attachment of the personal care device to the support structure provides, for example, a clamp in such a way that vibrations caused by the cleaning program of the cleaning device are transmitted to the personal care device itself.

[0016] For example, the personal care device may optionally be position sensitive, since a cleaning program is only appropriate when the personal care device is upside down.

[0017] This system avoids the need for the user to perform any activation of the personal care device itself in order to run a synchronized cleaning program on both the cleaning device and the personal care device.

[0018] This system allows for a universal cleaning device for a variety of personal care devices, since the need for a special interface between the personal care device and the cleaning device is avoided. Another advantage is that the cleaning program of the personal care device cannot be accidentally started by the user while handling the device. This can only happen in a controlled manner via a clearly defined vibration pattern that must be detected.

[0019] The motion sensor may for example comprise an acceleration sensor, which may be used to detect not only vibration but also direction, or another sensor may be used to detect direction.

[0020] The cleaning unit may for example comprise a sound generating unit, which generates characteristic vibrations that can be transmitted from the cleaning device to the personal care device.

[0021] For example, the cleaning device has an ultrasonic vibration generator, and the care device controller is configured to detect and recognize vibrations of the ultrasonic vibration generator.

[0022] The cleaning program of the cleaning device may have a sequence of vibration phases and standby phases, the vibration phase performing the cleaning and the standby phase allowing adjustments to be made to the personal care device.

[0023] For example, a personal care device cleaning program may include rotating the personal care unit between vibration phases so that different parts of the personal care unit are subjected to ultrasonic cleaning.

[0024] During the vibration phase, the personal care unit may be held stationary.

[0025] For example, a personal care system comprises a hair treatment system, a personal care device comprises a hair treatment device, and a personal care unit comprises a hair treatment unit.

[0026] The hair treatment device comprises a shaver or a trimmer and the hair treatment unit comprises a shaver or trimmer head, or the hair treatment device comprises an epilator and the hair treatment unit comprises an epilator head.

[0027] The present invention also provides a personal care device comprising: A motor; a personal care unit driven by the motor; A motion sensor; a care device controller; the care device controller is configured to execute the personal care device cleaning program upon detecting initiation of a cleaning program of a remote cleaning device supporting the personal care device in a cleaning position for cleaning the personal care unit; A cleaning program of the personal care device is initiated based on a motion sensor signal, and there is no electrical communication and no mechanical drive coupling between the personal care device and the cleaning device.

[0028] This provides for a personal care device that activates a cleaning program by recognizing the characteristic vibrations of a coupled cleaning device.

[0029] The motion sensor may include, for example, an accelerometer.

[0030] As explained above, the personal care device may comprise a hair treatment device, the personal care unit may comprise a hair treatment unit, the hair treatment device may comprise a shaver or trimmer, the hair treatment unit may comprise a shaver or trimmer head, or the hair treatment device may comprise an epilator, and the hair treatment unit may comprise an epilator head.

[0031] The present invention also provides a method of controlling a personal care system having a personal care device and a cleaning device, comprising: Executing a cleaning program of the cleaning device based on a user's operation, thereby driving a cleaning unit of the cleaning device; using a motion sensor in the personal care device to detect motion of the personal care device resulting from motion generated by a cleaning program of the cleaning device, and based thereon, executing a corresponding cleaning program of the personal care device; As a result, the cleaning program of the personal care device is executed without electrical communication and mechanical drive coupling between the personal care device and the cleaning device.

[0032] The present invention also provides a computer program comprising computer program code means adapted to implement the above method when said program is executed on a cleaning device and a controller of a personal care device of a personal care system.

[0033] The present invention provides a method of controlling a personal care device including a motor, a personal care unit driven by the motor, and a motion sensor, the method comprising: using a motion sensor on the personal care device to detect motion of the personal care device resulting from operation generated by a cleaning device cleaning program of a remote cleaning device supporting the personal care device in a cleaning position for cleaning the personal care unit, and based thereon, executing a corresponding cleaning program of the personal care device; As a result, the cleaning program of the personal care device is executed without electrical communication and mechanical drive coupling between the personal care device and the cleaning device.

[0034] The present invention also provides a computer program comprising computer program code means adapted to implement the above method when executed on a controller of a personal care device of a personal care system.

[0035] These and other aspects of the invention will be apparent from and elucidated with reference to the embodiments described hereinafter. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0036] [Figure 1] 1 shows a perspective view of a shaving system according to the invention, in which a shaver equipped with a direction sensor is placed on a support structure of a separate cleaning device. [Figure 2] 2 shows an enlarged perspective view of the cleaning device of the shaving system of FIG. 1, excluding the shaver. [Figure 3] FIG. 10 shows an example of a cleaning program synchronized between a shaver and a cleaning device. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0037] For a better understanding of the present invention, and in order to show more clearly how it may be carried into effect, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings, which are given by way of example only, in which:

[0038] The present invention will now be described with reference to the figures.

[0039] It should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating exemplary embodiments of the devices, systems, and methods, are for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the devices, systems, and methods of the present invention will be better understood from the following description, appended claims, and accompanying drawings. It should be understood that the figures are schematic only and are not drawn to scale. It should also be understood that the same reference numerals are used throughout the figures to indicate the same or similar parts.

[0040] The present invention provides a personal care system having a personal care device and a cleaning device. The personal care device has a motion sensor, and the cleaning device has a support structure for supporting the personal care device in a cleaning position for cleaning the personal care unit, which uses a cleaning device motor. The cleaning device executes a cleaning device cleaning program based on user action, and the personal care device executes a corresponding personal care device cleaning program based on detecting the cleaning device cleaning program from the motion sensor signal. The present invention also provides a personal care device of the system.

[0041] The present invention can be applied to any electric handheld personal care device that may benefit from cleaning by an external cleaning device.

[0042] By way of example, FIG. 1 shows a personal care system in the form of a shaving system 10. The shaving system 10 comprises a shaver 12 (i.e., an example of a personal care device) having a main housing 11, and a cleaning device 14 including a support structure 15. The shaver 12 can be placed on the cleaning device in a cleaning position. In the cleaning position, the shaver 12 has a predetermined cleaning direction. As shown, the cleaning direction is essentially vertical, with the shaving unit facing downwards. The cleaning device 14 has a pot-shaped housing with a rest 16 protruding from the top of the housing. The rest 16 serves to support the main housing of the shaver 12 when the shaver 12 is placed on the support structure 15, as shown in FIG. 1.

[0043] The shaver has a motor 13 and a shaving head (i.e., an example of a personal care unit) driven by the motor. Figure 1 also shows schematically a motion sensor 21 and an optional direction sensor 20 provided on the main housing of the shaver 12. The optional direction sensing may be performed by the motion sensor itself.

[0044] The motion sensor 21 detects movement of the shaver, in particular vibrations, and the orientation sensor 20 provides an output signal representative of the orientation of the shaver. The sensor outputs are provided to a shaver controller 22 (i.e., an example of a care device controller).

[0045] The controller unit uses the motion sensor signals (and optionally the orientation sensor information) to execute a cleaning program for the shaver. In particular, motion sensing is used to sense when a cleaning program has been started in the cleaning device 14, without requiring any user input to the shaver and without requiring any electrical communication between the cleaning device and the shaver. Orientation sensing is used to detect when the shaver is in the cleaning direction (i.e., within a predetermined range of angular orientation relative to a predetermined cleaning direction), for example, within a predetermined range relative to the vertical direction. The cleaning direction is, for example, vertical if the PCB carrying the orientation sensor is vertical when the shaver is supported by the cleaning device. However, the cleaning direction may be offset from vertical, or more generally, the sensed orientation corresponding to the cleaning direction may be offset from vertical.

[0046] The cleaning device 14, for example, comprises a cleaning unit including an ultrasonic vibration generator 30, typically in the form of a piezoelectric ultrasonic transducer. The cleaning device also comprises a cleaning device controller 34. A cleaning program is initiated by the user by activating the cleaning device. This may involve pressing a start button, or the cleaning program may be started automatically when the shaver is attached to the cleaning device.

[0047] The cleaning unit provides vibrations to the cleaning device, which are transmitted to the shaver by the shaver-cleaning device coupling. The shaver controller executes a corresponding cleaning program for the shaver based on detecting the cleaning program of the cleaning device from the motion sensor signal.

[0048] 2 is an enlarged perspective view of the cleaning device 14. It has a pot-shaped fluid container with a lower housing part 40, on which an upper housing part 42 is disposed. The upper housing part 26 has an upper wall 44 in which a substantially triangular opening is formed, which provides access to a receiving space 46 extending into the interior of the housing. The shape of the receiving space 46 corresponds to the shape of the individual shaving units (e.g., a three-head shaving unit in this example) provided on the shaver 12. When the shaver 12 together with its shaving units is placed in the receiving space 46, as shown in FIG. 1, the main housing of the shaver 12, which is in the shape of a handle, is supported by the rest 16.

[0049] The fluid container is attached to an ultrasonic actuator. The cleaning device has a power source that drives the ultrasonic actuator. The shaver is not electronically connected to the cleaning device, but is only mechanically connected via a clamp that holds the shaver in place. There is no mechanical drive system that couples any rotation of the shaver to the cleaning device. Thus, the cleaning unit is mechanically independent from the shaver.

[0050] The shaver's controller runs an algorithm that detects characteristic vibrations, particularly the ultrasonic generator motor speed pattern.

[0051] The detected onset of vibration is used to activate the cleaning program of the shaver, so that the cleaning program in the cleaning device drives the entire cleaning process.

[0052] FIG. 3 shows an example of a cleaning program executed by the cleaning device 14 and the shaver 12.

[0053] As shown, the cleaning program in the cleaning device is started manually by a user by pressing a start button, or simply by attaching the shaver to the cleaning device, as indicated by arrow 50. An ultrasonic cleaning phase 52 is then initiated. This causes the motor to vibrate, which is transmitted to the shaver and detected by a motion sensor in the shaver.

[0054] Based on this, the shaver starts a synchronized cleaning program. Thus, the shaver cleaning program is started automatically, as indicated by arrow 54. During the cleaning phase 52, there is no rotation of the shaver cutter during phase 60. When the ultrasonic cleaning phase 52 ends, there is a waiting phase 53 of the cleaning device, and the shaver detects this end of the vibrations. The shaver motor then operates at a lower speed than its normal operating speed in phase 62. The purpose of this is to expose different parts of the shaver cutter to the cleaning process.

[0055] The cleaning program continues in a sequence of a cleaning phase 52 of the cleaning device and a rest phase 60 of the shaver, followed by a waiting phase 53 of the cleaning device and a slow rotation phase 62 of the shaver. Thus, the shaver responds to the end of the first cleaning phase 52 by starting to rotate at a reduced rotation speed (compared to the shaving rotation speed), but when the next vibration session begins, the device responds by stopping rotation. The low speed prevents the cleaning medium from splashing violently and prevents grease from being washed off important elements such as gears, levers, or cutting elements. The low speed also ensures that all areas of the functional parts are exposed to the fluid. This is particularly important for epilation systems, where the stop positions have some open tweezers and some closed tweezers.

[0056] The cleaning program will automatically end. This occurs if the shaver is lifted from the cleaning device and the direction sensor detects that the shaver is not in the cleaning direction. Alternatively, the cleaning program can end (on both the cleaning device and the shaver) after a predetermined number of ultrasonic cleaning cycles. There may also be a manual off function.

[0057] The present invention is applicable not only to shavers but also to many different types of existing personal care devices that already have a cleaning station, for example it is applicable to cosmetic devices such as epilators, and general hair removal devices.

[0058] Different personal care devices can be designed to fit into the same cleaning device and programmed to respond differently to the cleaning cycle of the cleaning device.

[0059] The present invention has been described with reference to ultrasonic cleaning, e.g., 20 kHz to 1 MHz. The vibrations may alternatively be at the higher frequency end of the audible spectrum, e.g., in the range of 10 kHz to 20 kHz. However, the concepts of the present invention can be applied to any cleaning system that generates a characteristic vibration or other motion, such as vibrations generated by a pump motor in a pump-type cleaning system. As long as the cleaning function of the cleaning device results in a characteristic motion that can be detected by the personal care device, motion sensing can be used to control the cleaning program in the personal care device without requiring any passive mechanical coupling, or electrical or optical coupling or communication, between the personal care device and the cleaning device.

[0060] Variations to the disclosed embodiments can be understood and effected by those skilled in the art in practicing the claimed invention, from a study of the figures, the disclosure and the appended claims. In the claims, the word "comprising" does not exclude other elements or steps, and the indefinite article "a" or "an" does not exclude a plurality.

[0061] The functions performed by a processor may be performed by a single processor or by multiple individual processing units which together may constitute a “processor.” Such processing units may, in some cases, be remote from each other and in wired or wireless communication with each other.

[0062] The mere fact that certain measures are recited in mutually different dependent claims does not indicate that a combination of these measures cannot be used to advantage.

[0063] The computer program may be stored / distributed on a suitable medium, such as an optical storage medium or a solid-state medium, supplied together with or as part of other hardware, but may also be distributed in other forms, such as via the Internet or other wired or wireless communication systems.

[0064] It should be noted that when the term "adapted to" is used in the claims or the specification, it is intended to be equivalent to the term "configured to." It should be noted that when the term "arrangement" is used in the claims or the specification, it is intended to be equivalent to the term "system," and vice versa.

[0065] Any reference signs in the claims should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention.

Claims

1. 1. A personal care system having a personal care device and a cleaning device, the personal care device comprising: a care device motor; a personal care unit driven by the care device motor; A motion sensor; a care device controller; The cleaning device is a support structure for supporting the personal care device in a cleaning position for cleaning the personal care unit; A cleaning unit; a cleaning device controller; there is no electrical communication and no mechanical drive coupling between the personal care device and the cleaning device; the cleaning device controller executes a cleaning program for the cleaning device based on a user operation; The personal care system, wherein the care device controller executes a cleaning program for a corresponding personal care device based on detecting a cleaning program for the cleaning device from the motion sensor signal.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the motion sensor comprises an accelerometer.

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

4. The system of claim 3 , wherein the cleaning unit includes an ultrasonic vibration generator, and the care device controller detects and recognizes vibrations of the ultrasonic vibration generator.

5. The system of claim 4 , wherein the cleaning program of the cleaning device comprises a sequence of vibration and standby phases.

6. 6. The system of claim 5, wherein the cleaning program for the personal care device comprises rotating the personal care unit during the vibration phase and holding the personal care unit stationary during the vibration phase.

7. 7. The system of claim 1, wherein the personal care system comprises a hair treatment system, the personal care device comprises a hair treatment device, and the personal care unit comprises a hair treatment unit.

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

9. 1. A personal care device comprising: A motor; a personal care unit driven by the motor; A motion sensor; a care device controller; the care device controller executes a cleaning program for the personal care device upon detecting the start of a cleaning program for a remote cleaning device supporting the personal care device in a cleaning position for cleaning the personal care unit; A personal care device, wherein a cleaning program of the personal care device is initiated based on a motion sensor signal, and there is no electrical communication and no mechanical drive coupling between the personal care device and the cleaning device.

10. The device of claim 9 , wherein the motion sensor comprises an accelerometer.

11. a cleaning program for the personal care device, rotation of the personal care unit during a vibration phase of a cleaning program of the remote cleaning device; 11. The device of claim 9 or 10, further comprising: holding the personal care unit stationary during the vibration phase.

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

13. 1. A method of controlling a personal care system including a personal care device and a cleaning device, comprising: Executing a cleaning program of the cleaning device based on a user's operation, thereby driving a cleaning unit of the cleaning device; using a motion sensor on the personal care device to detect movement of the personal care device resulting from motion generated by a cleaning program of the cleaning device, and based thereon, executing a corresponding cleaning program of the personal care device; A method wherein the cleaning program of the personal care device is executed without electrical communication and without mechanical drive coupling between the personal care device and the cleaning device.

14. 1. A method of controlling a personal care device including a motor, a personal care unit driven by the motor, and a motion sensor, comprising: using a motion sensor on the personal care device to detect movement of the personal care device resulting from movement generated by a cleaning device cleaning program of a remote cleaning device supporting the personal care device in a cleaning position for cleaning the personal care unit, and based thereon, executing a corresponding cleaning program of the personal care device; A method wherein the cleaning program of the personal care device is executed without electrical communication and without mechanical drive coupling between the personal care device and the cleaning device.

15. A computer program comprising computer program code means configured to implement the method according to claim 13 or 14 when executed on one or more controllers of a personal care system or personal care device.

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