Photostatic disinfection device for personal care devices with drying function

Abstract

The present invention provides a disinfection device 5 for disinfecting a personal care device 3 with germicidal light. The disinfection device has a housing 17 in which a light source 25 and a light module 23 having a first main surface 27 that emits germicidal light generated by the light source and a second main surface 29 opposite the first main surface are arranged. The housing 17 further houses a receiving chamber 49 located on the first main surface of the light module and holding at least a portion of the personal care device in a disinfection position, and an air chamber 51 located on the second main surface of the light module. At least one first air passage 59a, 59b connects the receiving space and the air chamber, and at least one second air passage 61 connects the air chamber and the surrounding space. Each first air passage is exclusively located outside the light module, and the disinfection device is configured to provide at least one third air passage 63 connecting the receiving chamber and the surrounding space at the disinfection position of the portion of the personal care device. During use, the light source heats the air in the air chamber and receiving chamber, thereby creating a natural convection airflow that passes through the disinfection device. This, in addition to the disinfection function, enables efficient drying of the relevant parts of the personal care device.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a personal care system having a personal care device and a disinfection device. The personal care device includes a personal care treatment unit configured to provide a personal care treatment to a target body part. The disinfection device is configured to disinfect the personal care treatment unit using germicidal light. The disinfection device includes a housing, at least one light source disposed within the housing and configured to generate germicidal light, and a light module including a first main surface from which the germicidal light generated by the at least one light source is emitted during use, and a second main surface facing the first main surface, a receiving space disposed on the first main surface of the light module and configured to receive at least a part of the personal care treatment unit, an air chamber disposed within the housing at the second main surface of the light module, at least one first air passage connecting the receiving space and the air chamber, and at least one second air passage connecting the air chamber and the ambient space around the housing.

[0002] The present invention further relates to a disinfection device configured to disinfect a personal care treatment unit of a personal care device using germicidal light. The personal care treatment unit is configured to provide a personal care treatment to a target body part. The disinfection device includes a housing, at least one light source disposed within the housing and configured to generate germicidal light, and a light module including a first main surface from which the germicidal light generated by the at least one light source is emitted during use, and a second main surface facing the first main surface, a receiving space disposed on the first main surface of the light module and configured to receive at least a part of the personal care treatment unit, an air chamber disposed within the housing at the second main surface of the light module, at least one first air passage connecting the receiving space and the air chamber, It has at least one second air passage connecting the air chamber and the surrounding space around the housing. [Background technology]

[0003] Personal care systems and devices configured to provide personal care treatments to a target body part are widely known. Examples include electric shavers for shaving facial hair, hair trimming devices for cutting facial hair or hair on other body parts, high-intensity pulsed light (IPL) devices for removing hair from legs or other body parts, facial brushing devices for washing a person's face using rotating and / or vibrating brushes, and skin rejuvenation devices for rejuvenating the skin of a person's body part using electromagnetic or high-frequency energy. Such personal care devices typically consist of a main unit and a personal care treatment unit coupled to the main unit that actually provides the personal care treatment to the body part. After one or more treatment sessions with the personal care device, the personal care treatment unit of the personal care device may need to be cleaned and / or disinfected. In this regard, it is known that personal care devices are used with disinfection devices that generate ultraviolet UV germicidal light to disinfect the personal care treatment unit.

[0004] KR20110126002A discloses an electric shaver having a body and a shaving head positioned on the body. The shaver further has a shaving head cap that can be detachably attached to the top of the body to cover and protect the shaving head, for example, when the shaver is not in use. The shaving head cap comprises a sterilization module, which includes multiple UV LEDs configured to irradiate the shaving head with UV light when the shaving head cap is connected to the body and covers the shaving head. The UV LEDs are driven by a power supply located on the body, and as a result, the UV LEDs can only be activated when the shaving head cap is properly attached to the body. This prevents the leakage of UV light into the environment, which may be harmful to the user. The UV LEDs are operated for a predetermined time to thoroughly sterilize the shaving head with UV light irradiation. [Overview of the project] [Problems that the invention aims to solve]

[0005] A known drawback of this disinfection device is that if the shaving head is wet, it will not dry during the sterilization process because it is completely covered by the shaving head cap during the process. This can result in an unpleasant odor.

[0006] KR20200111078A discloses a charging device for an electric shaver, comprising a UV light module configured to irradiate the shaving unit of the shaver with UV light when the shaver is placed in the charging device for charging. Thus, during charging of the shaver, the shaving unit of the shaver can be sterilized by the UV light emitted by the UV light module. The charging device has a base portion on which the shaver can be placed in an upright position. The base portion is equipped with charging contacts, which can be connected to charging contacts provided on the underside of the body of the shaver when the shaver is properly placed in the charging device. The UV light module is located in the upper housing portion of the charging device, which is connected to the base portion via a vertically extending support and is positioned vertically above the base portion. The shaver can be placed in an open receiving space between the base portion and the upper housing portion of the charging device, so that the shaving unit of the shaver can be irradiated with UV light emitted by the UV light module in the upper housing portion. The UV light module comprises a circuit board, multiple UV LEDs mounted on the underside of the circuit board facing the receiving space, and a diffusive transparent cover positioned between the circuit board and the receiving space. The upper housing further includes an air chamber positioned above the circuit board. The air chamber is connected to the receiving space via multiple vents provided in the circuit board and multiple vents provided in the diffusive transparent cover. The air chamber is connected to the environment via multiple air supply holes provided in the upper wall of the upper housing. A blower fan is positioned in the air chamber. During the sterilization process, the UV LEDs emit UV light, the blower fan is activated, and ambient air is drawn into the air chamber through the air supply holes and blown towards the shaving unit in the receiving space via the vents provided in the circuit board and the diffusive transparent cover. Since the UV LEDs are heated as a result of their limited efficiency in converting electrical energy to light energy, the air blown towards the shaving unit is heated as it passes through the air chamber and the vents on the circuit board. As a result, a warm airflow is generated towards the shaving unit, which increases the temperature of the shaving unit.The temperature rise of the shaving unit is intended to enhance the shaving comfort the user experiences during the next shaving session. A known drawback of this disinfection device is that the blower fan complicates the structure of the disinfection device. Furthermore, the airflow through the vents of the circuit board may contaminate electrical elements placed on the circuit board, and the vents of the diffusive transparent cover may reduce the uniformity of the light intensity provided by the diffusive transparent cover. In addition, the airflow path through the UV light module is relatively short, and as a result, the temperature rise of the air is limited.

[0007] KR0134068Y1 discloses a toothbrush sterilizer. The sterilizer has a receiving space that receives multiple toothbrushes in a vertical position suspended from a holder. An elongated germicidal lamp is positioned vertically within the receiving space to irradiate the toothbrushes. The sterilizer has a mechanism for opening and closing a pair of revolving doors that provide access to the receiving space. The sterilizer further has a motor-driven fan, which is located in a chamber above the receiving space and the germicidal lamp. When the doors are closed, the fan can generate airflow that circulates through the sterilizer via the receiving space, a filter located below the germicidal lamp, a recirculation channel located behind the germicidal lamp, and the chamber housing the fan.

[0008] The object of the present invention is to provide a personal care system and a disinfection device having the features described in the "Technical Field" section above, which can at least mitigate the drawbacks associated with the known disinfection devices described in the "Background Art" section. In particular, the object of the present invention is to provide a personal care system and a disinfection device in which, if the personal care treatment unit is wet when it is placed inside the disinfection device, sufficient airflow to dry the unit in a reasonable time is generated along the personal care treatment unit without using a fan or other type of mechanical air supply system. A further object of the present invention is to more efficiently heat the air flowing through the disinfection device by utilizing the heat generated by the light source of the optical module. [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] According to a first aspect of the present invention, in order to achieve the above objective, a personal care system having the features described in the "Technical Field" section above is characterized in that the receiving space is provided in a receiving chamber located in the housing of a disinfection device and is configured to hold the above portion of the personal care treatment unit in a disinfection position within the receiving chamber, each first air passage is exclusively located outside the optical module, and at the disinfection position of the personal care treatment unit, at least one third air passage is provided connecting the receiving chamber and the surrounding space around the housing, and at least one second air passage is located separately from the receiving space and at least one third air passage.

[0010] According to a second aspect of the present invention, in order to achieve the above objective, a disinfection device having the features described in the preceding "Technical Field" section is characterized in that the receiving space is provided in a receiving chamber located in the housing of the disinfection device and is configured to hold the above portion of the personal care treatment unit in a disinfection position within the receiving chamber; each first air passage is exclusively located outside the optical module; and the disinfection device is configured to provide at least one third air passage connecting the receiving chamber and the surrounding space surrounding the housing at the disinfection position of the personal care treatment unit, and at least one second air passage is located separately from the receiving space and at least one third air passage.

[0011] According to the present invention, the fact that at least one second air passage is positioned separately from the receiving space and separately from at least one third air passage means that at least one second air passage is configured to connect the air chamber and the surrounding space surrounding the housing independently of at least one third air passage and the receiving space. That is, at least one second air passage does not include any part of at least one third air passage and does not include any part of the receiving space.

[0012] In the disinfection apparatus according to the present invention, and in a personal care system having the disinfection apparatus according to the present invention, during use of the disinfection apparatus, the personal care treatment unit of the personal care apparatus is positioned at a disinfection location within the receiving chamber of the disinfection apparatus, and both the air in the air chamber of the second main surface of the optical module and the air in the receiving chamber of the first main surface of the optical module are heated by the heat generated by at least one light source of the optical module as a result of the limited efficiency of the conversion of electricity to light of the light source. The heated air in the air chamber and the receiving chamber generates an airflow from the air chamber to the receiving chamber, or vice versa, based on the orientation of the disinfection apparatus with respect to Earth's gravity.

[0013] In a first orientation where the air chamber is positioned above the receiving chamber, heated air in the air chamber flows into the surrounding space through at least one second air passage connecting the air chamber to the surrounding space, and heated air in the receiving chamber flows into the air chamber through at least one first air passage connecting the receiving chamber to the air chamber. As a result, fresh ambient air is drawn into the receiving chamber through at least one third air passage connecting the receiving chamber to the surrounding space. This results in an overall airflow through the disinfection device, returning from the surrounding space to the surrounding space via the third air passage, the receiving chamber, the first air passage, the air chamber, and the second air passage, respectively.

[0014] In a second orientation where the air chamber is positioned below the receiving chamber, heated air in the receiving chamber flows into the surrounding space through at least one third air passage connecting the receiving chamber to the surrounding space, and heated air in the air chamber flows into the receiving chamber through at least one first air passage connecting the air chamber to the receiving chamber. As a result, fresh ambient air is drawn into the air chamber through at least one second air passage connecting the air chamber to the surrounding space. This results in an overall airflow through the disinfection device, returning from the surrounding space to the surrounding space via the second air passage, the air chamber, the first air passage, the receiving chamber, and the third air passage, respectively.

[0015] According to the present invention, since each first air passage connecting the air chamber and the receiving chamber is exclusively located outside the optical module, relatively long flow paths can be created along the first and second main surfaces of the optical module for airflow from the receiving chamber to the air chamber, i.e., airflow in the first orientation of the disinfection device, and airflow from the air chamber to the receiving chamber, i.e., airflow in the second orientation of the disinfection device. These relatively long flow paths result in effective heating of the air in the air chamber and the receiving chamber, i.e., relatively high air temperatures. As a result, in the first and second orientations, a strong airflow can be generated within the disinfection device based solely on natural convection, i.e., without using forced convection by fans, pumps, suction systems or similar means. In both the first and second orientations, the natural convection airflow is sufficient to dry the personal care treatment unit in the receiving chamber within a reasonable time if the unit is wet when it is placed in the receiving chamber.

[0016] It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the airflow path within the air chamber depends on the positions of the first and second air passages relative to the air chamber, and that these positions can be selected in a simple and straightforward manner to produce a desired flow path length within the air chamber. Similarly, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the airflow path within the receiving chamber depends on the positions of the first and third air passages relative to the receiving chamber, and that these positions can be selected in a simple and straightforward manner to produce a desired flow path length within the receiving chamber.

[0017] Furthermore, it should be noted that in the second orientation of the disinfection apparatus, the temperature of the airflow along the personal care treatment unit in the receiving chamber is higher than in the first orientation of the disinfection apparatus, and as a result, the required drying time may generally be shorter in the second orientation than in the first orientation. In both the first and second orientations, the airflow by natural convection along the first and second main surfaces of the optical module provides efficient cooling of the optical module.

[0018] In embodiments of the personal care system and disinfection apparatus according to the present invention, the optical module has a carrier, and at least one light source is mounted on the first principal surface of the carrier facing the first principal surface of the optical module, and the optical module has a heat sink connected to the second principal surface of the carrier opposite to the first principal surface of the carrier. The carrier can be a plate-shaped carrier such as a printed circuit board (PCB). In these embodiments, the heat sink absorbs most of the heat generated by at least one light source on the carrier. Since the heat sink is connected to the second principal surface of the carrier facing the second principal surface of the optical module, the air in the air chamber on the second principal surface of the optical module becomes hotter than the air in the receiving chamber on the first principal surface of the optical module. The temperature difference between the air in the air chamber and the air in the receiving chamber increases the airflow by natural convection within the disinfection apparatus.

[0019] In a further embodiment of the personal care system and disinfection apparatus according to the present invention, the optical module has a light-diffusing member disposed on a first principal surface of the optical module. The light-diffusing member may be a plate-like member extending parallel to the first principal surface of the optical module. The light-diffusing member may be made of an optically transparent diffusing material. The principal surface of the plate-like member, preferably the principal surface facing at least one light source, may have an optical structure having a plurality of facets. The principal surface of the plate-like member facing the receiving chamber may form the first principal surface of the optical module. The angular distribution of germicidal light generated by at least one light source is amplified by the light-diffusing member, resulting in a more uniform distribution of germicidal light over the personal care treatment unit and a limiting of the peak illuminance of germicidal light emitted on the first principal surface of the optical module.

[0020] In preferred embodiments of the personal care system and disinfection apparatus according to the present invention, the germicidal light generated by at least one light source has a peak wavelength in the range of 400 to 425 nm, preferably in the range of 405 to 410 nm. In these preferred embodiments, the peak wavelength of the germicidal light generated by at least one light source is in the violet region of the visible light spectrum. Ultraviolet light with a peak wavelength in the range of 400 to 425 nm is highly effective in reducing bacteria such as E. coli and Staphylococcus aureus, and ultraviolet light is significantly less harmful to users compared to UV light. As a result, in these preferred embodiments, the safety measures provided in the disinfection apparatus to prevent unintentional exposure of the user to germicidal light may be less stringent compared to disinfection apparatuses that utilize UV ​​light. In particular, it is sufficient to provide a light-diffusing member in the light module to sufficiently reduce the peak illuminance of the germicidal light emitted by the light module, and it is not necessary to take any special measures to prevent the leakage of scattered germicidal light through openings or gaps in the housing of the disinfection apparatus, such as air passages connecting the air chamber and receiving chamber to the surrounding space. However, it should be noted that the present invention also covers embodiments in which germicidal light generated by at least one light source has a peak wavelength in a range different from the 400 to 425 nm range, such as UV light, light in the blue region of the visible light spectrum, or light with a wavelength longer than that of blue light.

[0021] In embodiments of the personal care system and disinfection apparatus according to the present invention, the optical module has an outer peripheral surface extending between a first main surface and a second main surface of the optical module, and each first air passage is formed between a part of the outer peripheral surface of the optical module and a part of the inner surface of the housing of the disinfection apparatus. In these embodiments, the first air passages are formed in a simple and practical manner. The outer peripheral surface of the optical module may be configured to fit the inner surface of the housing of the disinfection apparatus, and may have recesses at each position where the first air passages are provided. Alternatively, the inner surface of the housing of the disinfection apparatus may have recesses at each position where the first air passages are provided.

[0022] In an embodiment of the personal care system and the disinfection device according to the present invention, the housing of the disinfection device has a central axis along which an accommodation chamber, an optical module, and an air chamber are sequentially arranged, a first wall portion having a main extension direction parallel to the central axis, and a second wall portion having a main extension direction perpendicular to the central axis. The air chamber is surrounded by the first wall portion, the second wall portion, and the second main surface of the optical module, and at least one second air passage is provided in the first wall portion. By providing the second air passage in the first wall portion, the air flow due to natural convection in the air chamber can occur along a relatively wide range of the second main surface of the optical module. As a result, the heating of the air flow on the second main surface of the optical module becomes very effective. Preferably, the second air passage is provided in a region of the first wall portion where the first wall portion is connected to the second wall portion.

[0023] In a further embodiment of the personal care system and the disinfection device according to the present invention, the accommodation chamber of the disinfection device has an accommodation opening for receiving the above-mentioned portion of the personal care treatment unit by the accommodation chamber. The accommodation opening is surrounded by an edge portion of the housing of the disinfection device. At the disinfection position of the personal care treatment unit, at least one third air passage is formed between a part of the edge portion of the housing and a part of the outer surface of the personal care treatment unit. In these embodiments, the third air passage is formed in a simple and practical manner. The outer surface of the personal care treatment unit can be configured, for example, to fit the above-mentioned edge portion of the housing of the disinfection device, and the edge portion can have recesses at each position where the third air passage is provided. However, it should be noted that the present invention also covers embodiments in which the third air passage is formed in different manners, for example, embodiments in which it is formed as a passage provided at a distance from the accommodation opening in the wall portion of the housing of the disinfection device surrounding the accommodation chamber.

[0024] In preferred embodiments of the personal care system and disinfection device according to the present invention, the housing of the disinfection device is configured as a protective cover member that is removablely attachable to the personal care device and is configured to cover at least the above-mentioned portion of the personal care treatment unit. In these preferred embodiments, the disinfection device is configured as a protective cover for the personal care treatment unit, which can be easily attached to the personal care device by the user. The disinfection device may include a timer that automatically deactivates at least one light source of the optical module after a predetermined time has elapsed, thereby maintaining the disinfection device attached to the personal care device after the disinfection process and protecting the personal care treatment unit. It should be noted that the present invention also covers embodiments in which the disinfection device is configured or integrated in different ways. For example, the disinfection device may be integrated with or part of a charging device for the personal care device, or integrated with or part of a storage box or case configured to completely house and enclose the personal care device.

[0025] In an embodiment of a personal care system and a disinfection device according to the present invention, the personal care device is an electric shaver, and the personal care treatment unit is a shaving unit having at least one hair cutting unit. The electric shaver is generally intended to shave the beard on a human face. The electric shaver can be of a rotary type, in which case each hair cutting unit has an external cutting member provided with a hair entry opening, and an internal cutting member covered by the external cutting member and having a cutting element rotatable therein. The electric shaver can be of a linear reciprocating type, in which case each hair cutting unit has an external cutting member provided with a hair entry opening, and an internal cutting member covered by the external cutting member and having a cutting element linearly reciprocating therein. The present invention also encompasses embodiments in which the personal care device is of different types, such as, for example, a hair trimming device for cutting the beard on a human face or hair on a body part other than the face, a high-intensity pulsed light (IPL) device for removing hair on a human leg or other body part using light pulses, a face brushing device for washing a human face using a rotating and / or vibrating brush, a toothbrush for cleaning human teeth, and a skin rejuvenation device for rejuvenating the skin of a human body part using electromagnetic energy or high-frequency energy.

[0026] The above and other aspects of the present invention will become apparent and will be described by reference to the following detailed description of embodiments of a personal care system and a disinfection device according to the present invention.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0027] [Figure 1] It is a diagram showing a personal care system according to the present invention. [Figure 2a] It is a diagram showing a partial cross-section of the personal care system along the line II-II of FIG. 1 in the first orientation of the personal care system. [Figure 2b] It is a diagram showing a cross-section of FIG. 2a in the second orientation of the personal care system. [Figure 3]This figure shows a disinfection device according to the present invention, which is part of the personal care system shown in Figure 1. [Figure 4] Figure 3 shows a cross-section of the disinfection device along the line IV-IV. [Figure 5] Figures 1 and 3 show a cross-section of the disinfection device along the VV line. [Figure 6] This figure shows a cross-section of the personal care system along the line VI-VI in Figure 1. [Figure 7a] This figure shows a partial cross-section of the personal care system along the line VII-VII in Figure 2a, in the first orientation of the personal care system. [Figure 7b] This figure shows a cross-section of Figure 7a in a second orientation of the personal care system. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0028] The present invention will be described in more detail with reference to the figures. In the figures, equivalent or similar features are indicated by the same reference numerals.

[0029] Figure 1 shows a personal care system 1 according to the present invention. The personal care system 1 according to the present invention comprises a personal care device 3 and a disinfection device 5. The personal care device 3 comprises a main body 7 and a personal care treatment unit 9 positioned on the main body 7. The main body 7 is intended to be held in the user's hand when the personal care device 3 is in use. The personal care treatment unit 9 is configured to provide personal care treatment to a part of the user's body. Figure 1 shows the personal care system 1 with the disinfection device 5 positioned on the personal care device 3 to disinfect the personal care treatment unit 9.

[0030] In the embodiment shown in Figure 1, the personal care device 3 is an electric shaver 11, and the personal care treatment unit 9 is a shaving unit 13 having three rotary hair cutting units 15. Figure 2a shows a partial view of the hair cutting units 15. Electric shavers with rotary hair cutting units are known to those skilled in the art. Therefore, further detailed descriptions of the electric shaver 11, the shaving unit 13, and the hair cutting units 15 are omitted. It should be noted that the present invention also covers embodiments in which the personal care device is a linear reciprocating electric shaver. The present invention also covers embodiments in which the personal care device is of a different type than an electric shaver, such as hair trimming devices, non-electric hair cutting devices such as blade razors, high-intensity pulsed light (IPL) devices, facial brushing devices, toothbrushes, or light-based or high-frequency energy-based skin rejuvenation devices. All of these types of personal care devices are known to those skilled in the art.

[0031] The disinfection device 5 is configured to disinfect the shaving unit 13, particularly its three hair cutting units 15, using germicidal light. In embodiments of the present invention, when the personal care device is of a different type from the electric shaver 11 described above, the disinfection device is configured to disinfect at least a portion of the personal care treatment unit of the personal care device. In the embodiment shown in Figure 1, the disinfection device 5 has a housing 17 configured as a protective cover member 19 that is detachably attached to the electric shaver 11 and covers at least a portion of the shaving unit 13, which includes the three hair cutting units 15. As shown in Figure 3, which shows the disinfection device 5 separated from the electric shaver 11, the cover member 19 has a snap connection element 21 for detachably connecting the disinfection device 5 to the shaving unit 13. Thus, when the electric shaver 11 is not in use, the user can easily attach and connect the disinfection device 5 to the shaving unit 13 and use the disinfection device 5 as a protective cover member 19 of the shaving unit 13. To remove the disinfection device 5, the user can easily pull the disinfection device 5 out of the shaving unit 13, thereby releasing the snap connection element 21.

[0032] As shown in Figure 4, the disinfection device 5 has a light module 23 located within the housing 17 of the disinfection device 5. The light module 23 has a plurality of LEDs 25 configured to generate germicidal light. Instead of the LEDs 25, the light module 23 may have at least one different type of light source suitable for generating germicidal light. The light module 23 has a first main surface 27 from which germicidal light generated by the LEDs 25 is emitted when in use, and a second main surface 29 facing the first main surface 27. In the embodiment shown in Figure 4, the LEDs 25 are mounted on the first main surface 31 of a plate-shaped carrier 33, and the first main surface 31 faces the first main surface 27 of the light module 23. In the embodiment shown in Figure 4, the plate-shaped carrier 33 is a printed circuit board (PCB). However, any suitable carrier for the LEDs 25 can be used instead of a PCB. The light module 23 further has a metal heat sink 35 connected to the second main surface 37 of the carrier 33, which faces the first main surface 31 of the carrier 33.

[0033] As shown in Figure 4, the optical module 23 further has a plate-shaped light-diffusing member 39 positioned on the first main surface 27 of the optical module 23. The plate-shaped light-diffusing member 39 is made of an optically transparent diffusing material and extends parallel to the first main surface 27 of the optical module 23. In the embodiment shown in Figure 4, the first main surface 27 of the optical module 23 is formed by the main surface 41 of the plate-shaped light-diffusing member 39 facing away from the carrier 33. Although not shown, the main surface 41 of the plate-shaped light-diffusing member 39 may comprise an optical structure having multiple facets. Alternatively, and rather preferably, such an optical structure may be provided on the main surface of the plate-shaped light-diffusing member 39 facing the LED 25, on the opposite side of the main surface 41.

[0034] As shown in Figure 3, the optical module 23 further has an electrical connector 43, which can be used to connect the optical module 23 to an external power supply (not shown). The electrical connector 43 can be any suitable type, such as a so-called pig nose connector or a USB connector. As shown in Figure 3, the optical module 23 is attached to the housing 17 of the disinfection device 5 mainly by support members 45 of the housing 17.

[0035] In the illustrated embodiment of the personal care system 1 and disinfection device 5, the germicidal light generated by the LED 25 has a peak wavelength in the range of 400 to 425 nm, more preferably in the range of 405 to 410 nm. That is, the peak wavelength of the germicidal light generated by the LED 25 is in the violet region of the visible light spectrum. Although the germicidal effect of violet light is inferior to that of UV light, the effectiveness of violet light was found to be sufficiently high for the disinfection purpose of the disinfection device 5. In particular, when using violet light with a peak wavelength in the range of 405 to 410 nm as used in this embodiment, a 99.9% reduction of E. coli and Staphylococcus aureus can be achieved within 2 hours after irradiating the shaving unit 13 with germicidal light.

[0036] The advantage of using violet light is that violet light is far less harmful to the user than UV light. In particular, when combined with the light diffusing member 39, the peak illuminance and peak radiance of the violet germicidal light emitted from the first main surface 27 of the light module 23 are reduced to a degree sufficient to prevent damage to the user's eyes and skin, even in the case of unintentional exposure to the violet germicidal light emitted from the first main surface 27 of the light module 23. In this regard, the light diffusing member 39 expands the angular distribution of the germicidal light generated by the LED 25 as the germicidal light passes through the light diffusing member 39. As a result, the light distribution member 39 distributes the germicidal light to the shaving unit 13 and its hair cutting unit 15 to a greater extent, thereby improving the uniformity of the irradiation dose. Furthermore, the increased angular distribution of germicidal light means that the peak radiance is reduced, and therefore helps to prevent eye damage. Consequently, any safety measures provided in the disinfection device 5 to prevent unintentional exposure of the user to germicidal light are less stringent compared to disinfection devices that utilize UV ​​light. In particular, the disinfection device 5 only needs to have a user-operable switch (not shown) to turn on the LED 25, and a timer configured to automatically turn off the LED 25 after a predetermined time, for example, 2 hours, when the disinfection process is considered complete. If the disinfection device 5 is removed from the shaving unit 13 and the LED 25 is still operating, an additional safety system to automatically disable the LED 25 is not necessarily required.

[0037] As shown in Figure 4, the disinfection device 5 further has a receiving space 47 located on the first main surface 27 of the optical module 23 and configured to receive at least a portion of the shaving unit 13, which includes three hair cutting units 15. The receiving space 47 is provided within a receiving chamber 49 located in the housing 17 of the disinfection device 5. The receiving chamber 49 is configured to hold the shaving unit 13 in a disinfection position within the receiving chamber 49, as shown in Figure 2a.

[0038] As shown in Figure 4, the disinfection device 5 further has an air chamber 51 located within the housing 17 of the disinfection device 5 on the second main surface 29 of the optical module 23. The receiving chamber 49, the optical module 23, and the air chamber 51 are arranged sequentially along the central axis 53 of the housing 17 of the disinfection device 5. The air chamber 51 is surrounded by the second main surface 29 of the optical module 23, the first wall portion 55 of the housing 17 has a main extension direction parallel to the central axis 53, and the second wall portion 57 of the housing 17 has a main extension direction perpendicular to the central axis 53.

[0039] According to the present invention, the disinfection device 5 has at least one first air passage 59a, 59b connecting the receiving space 47 of the receiving chamber 49 and the air chamber 51, and at least one second air passage 61 connecting the air chamber 51 and the surrounding space surrounding the housing 17. The disinfection device 5 is further configured to provide at least one third air passage 63 (see Figures 6 and 7a) connecting the receiving chamber 49 and the surrounding space surrounding the housing 17 when the shaving unit 13 is in the disinfection position within the receiving chamber 49, as shown in Figure 2a.

[0040] As shown in Figures 4 and 5, the optical module 23 has an outer peripheral surface 65 extending between a first main surface 27 and a second main surface 29 of the optical module 23. In the illustrated embodiment, two first air passages 59a and 59b are provided on opposite sides of the optical module 23. As shown in Figure 5, the first air passages 59a and 59b are each formed between one of two portions 67a and 67b of the outer peripheral surface 65 of the optical module 23 and one of two recesses 69a and 69b on the inner surface of the housing 17 of the disinfection device 5. Therefore, according to the present invention, the first air passages 59a and 59b are each exclusively located outside the optical module 23.

[0041] As shown in the illustrated embodiment, particularly in Figures 3 and 7a, the second air passage 61 is provided as an opening in the first wall portion 55 of the housing 17. This opening also serves to make the electrical connector 43 accessible to the user.

[0042] As shown in Figure 4, the receiving chamber 49 of the disinfection device 5 has a receiving opening 71 through which the shaving unit 13 is received into the receiving chamber 49. The receiving opening 71 is positioned opposite the first main surface 27 of the optical module 23 and is surrounded by the edge 73 of the housing 17 of the disinfection device 5. As shown in Figure 6, when the shaving unit 13 is in the disinfection position within the receiving chamber 49 (see Figure 2a), the third air passage 63 is formed as a gap between a portion 75 of the edge 73 of the housing 17 and a portion 77 of the outer surface of the shaving unit 13.

[0043] During use of the disinfection device 5, i.e., as shown in Figure 2a, when the shaving unit 13 is positioned in the disinfection location within the receiving chamber 49 and the LED 25 of the light module 23 is activated, the violet germicidal light generated by the LED 25 is radiated toward the shaving unit 13 via the first main surface 27 of the light module 23 to disinfect the shaving unit 13 and, in particular, its hair cutting unit 15. At the same time, the LED 25 generates heat as a result of the limited efficiency of the LED 25 in converting electrical energy to light energy. Most of the heat generated by the LED 25 is absorbed by the heat sink 35, which is located on the second main surface 29 of the light module 23 and connected to the second main surface 37 of the carrier 33. A portion of the heat generated by the LED 25 is absorbed by the light diffusing member 39 located on the first main surface 27 of the light module 23. As a result, both the air present in the air chamber 51 and the air present in the receiving chamber 49 are heated by the heat generated by the LED 25, i.e., via the heat sink 35 and the light diffusing member 39, respectively. However, the air in the air chamber 51 becomes hotter than the air in the receiving chamber 49. Below, the heating results of the air in the air chamber 51 and the receiving chamber 49 will be described for two different orientations of the personal care system 1. Specifically, the first orientation shown in Figure 7a, in which the electric shaver 11 is in an upright vertical position (see Figure 1), and therefore the air chamber 51 is located above the receiving chamber 49, and the second orientation shown in Figure 7b, in which the electric shaver 11 is in an upside-down vertical position, and therefore the air chamber 51 is located below the receiving chamber 49.

[0044] In the first orientation shown in Figure 7a, the heated air in both the air chamber 51 and the receiving chamber 49 expands. As shown in Figure 7a, this expansion of the air in the air chamber 51 creates an airflow F1 from the air chamber 51 to the surrounding space via the second air passage 61. As shown in Figure 2a, the resulting pressure drop in the air chamber 51 creates an airflow F2 from the receiving chamber 49 to the air chamber 51 via the first air passages 59a and 59b. As a result, as shown in Figure 7a, a flow F3 of fresh ambient air is generated from the surrounding space to the receiving chamber 49 via the third air passage 63. Thus, the heating of the air in the air chamber 51 results in an overall airflow through the disinfection device 5, returning from the surrounding space to the surrounding space via the third air passage 63, the receiving chamber 49, the first air passages 59a and 59b, the air chamber 51, and the second air passage 61, respectively. The portions of the overall airflow within the air chamber 51 and the receiving chamber 49 are indicated by F4 and F5 in Figures 2a and 7a, respectively.

[0045] As shown in Figure 7b, the heated air in the air chamber 51 and the receiving chamber 49 also expands in the second direction described above. This expansion of the air in the receiving chamber 49 generates an airflow F1 from the receiving chamber 49 to the surrounding space via the third air passage 63, as shown in Figure 7b. The resulting pressure drop in the receiving chamber 49 brings about an airflow F2 from the air chamber 51 to the receiving chamber 49 via the first air passages 59a and 59b, as shown in Figure 2b. This airflow F2 from the air chamber 51 to the receiving chamber 49 is further increased by the expansion of the air in the air chamber 51. As a result, as shown in Figure 7b, a flow of fresh ambient air F3 is generated from the surrounding space to the air chamber 51 via the second air passage 61. Therefore, the heating of the air in the air chamber 51 and the receiving chamber 49 results in an overall airflow through the disinfection device 5 that returns from the surrounding space to the surrounding space via the second air passage 61, the air chamber 51, the first air passages 59a and 59b, the receiving chamber 49, and the third air passage 63, respectively. The portions of the overall airflow within the receiving chamber 49 and the air chamber 51 are indicated by F4 and F5 in Figures 2b and 7b, respectively.

[0046] Accordingly, in both the first orientation of the personal care system 1 shown in Figures 1, 2a, and 7a, and the second orientation of the personal care system 1 shown in Figures 2b and 7b, an airflow comprising airflow components F1, F2, F3, F4, and F5 is generated within the disinfection device 5 based solely on natural convection, i.e., without the use of forced convection by fans, pumps, suction systems, or similar means. According to the present invention, since the first air passages 59a and 59b connecting the air chamber 51 and the receiving chamber 49 are located outside the optical module 23, a relatively long flow path for the natural convection airflow is created along the first main surface 27 and the second main surface 29 of the optical module 23 in both the first and second orientations of the personal care system 1, which results in effective heating of the airflows F4 and F5 within the air chamber 51 and the receiving chamber 49, and consequently, a relatively strong overall natural convection airflow passing through the disinfection device 5, particularly along the shaving unit 13. When the shaving unit 13 is placed in the receiving chamber 49 in a wet state, such as after being washed with tap water, it has been confirmed that the airflow due to natural convection along the shaving unit 13 is strong enough to dry the shaving unit 13 in a reasonable amount of time, for example, within one hour. As shown in Figure 7a, in the first orientation of the personal care system 1, the drying of the shaving unit 13 is achieved by relatively cool ambient air flowing into the receiving chamber 49 via the airflow F3 through the third air passage 63. As shown in Figure 2b, in the second orientation of the personal care system 1, the drying of the shaving unit 13 is achieved even more efficiently by relatively warm air flowing into the receiving chamber 49 via the airflow F2 through the first air passages 59a and 59b.

[0047] The airflow due to natural convection, accompanied by airflow components F1, F2, F3, F4, and F5 passing through the disinfection device 5, also efficiently cools the optical module 23. Furthermore, the air chamber 51 thermally insulates the first wall 55 and the second wall 57 of the housing 17 from the optical module 23, thereby significantly reducing the risk of the user being exposed to high temperatures when touching the housing 17 of the disinfection device 5.

[0048] The airflow path within the air chamber 51 (F4 in the first orientation and F5 in the second orientation of the personal care system 1) depends on the number and position of the first air passages 59a, 59b and the second air passage 61 relative to the air chamber 51. The airflow path within the receiving chamber 49 (F5 in the first orientation and F4 in the second orientation of the personal care system 1) depends on the number and position of the first air passages 59a, 59b and the third air passage 63 relative to the receiving chamber 49. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the number and position of the first, second, and third air passages can be selected in an easily understandable manner to produce desired flow lengths within the air chamber 51 and the receiving chamber 49. For example, in the illustrated embodiment of the disinfection device 5, the second air passage 61 is provided in the first wall 55 of the housing 17, and as a result, airflows F4 and F5 due to natural convection in the air chamber 51 are generated along a relatively wide portion of the second main surface 29 of the optical module 23, and consequently, heating of the airflows F4 and F5 on the second main surface 29 of the optical module 23 becomes very effective. In another embodiment, one or more second air passages may be provided in the second wall 57 of the housing 17, but heating of the air in the air chamber 51 may not be very efficient in the alternative locations of these second air passages. Similarly, in other embodiments, the number and location of the first and third air passages may differ from the number and location of the illustrated first air passages 59a, 59b and third air passages 63. For example, one or more third air passages may be provided in the wall of the housing 17 of the disinfection device 5 surrounding the receiving chamber 49, at a location spaced apart from the receiving opening 71.

[0049] In the personal care system and disinfection device according to the present invention, the first, second, and third air passages can also be used as cleaning passages for a cleaning solution to clean the personal care treatment unit of the personal care device. For example, in the illustrated embodiment, when the disinfection device 5 is placed on the shaving unit 13, the user can hold the electric shaver 11 so that the disinfection device 5 is immersed in running tap water. In this way, a flow of tap water is created through the first, second, and third air passages through the receiving chamber 49 and the air chamber 51, and the shaving unit 13 is cleaned by the tap water.

[0050] Modifications to the disclosed embodiments can be understood and implemented by those skilled in the art who practice the principles and techniques described herein, based on a review of the figures, disclosures, and appended claims. In the claims, the word “has” does not exclude other elements or steps, and the indefinite article “a” or “an” does not exclude plurality. The mere fact that certain means are described in different dependent claims does not imply that combinations of these means cannot be used advantageously. Any reference numerals in the claims should not be construed as limiting the scope of the claims.

Claims

1. A personal care system comprising a personal care device and a disinfection device, The personal care device has a personal care treatment unit that provides personal care treatment to a target body part, The disinfection device disinfects the personal care treatment unit using germicidal light. The aforementioned disinfection device The casing and An optical module disposed within the housing, comprising: at least one light source that generates germicidal light; a first main surface from which germicidal light generated by the at least one light source is emitted during use; and a second main surface facing the first main surface; The first main surface of the optical module is provided with a receiving space for receiving at least a portion of the personal care treatment unit, On the second main surface of the optical module, an air chamber is provided within the housing, At least one first air passage connecting the receiving space and the air chamber, It has at least one second air passage connecting the air chamber and the surrounding space around the housing, The receiving space is provided in the receiving room, the receiving room is arranged in the housing of the disinfection device, and the portion of the personal care treatment unit is held in a disinfection position within the receiving room. Each first air passage is exclusively located outside the optical module. A personal care system in which, at the disinfection position of the personal care treatment unit, at least one third air passage is provided connecting the receiving room and the surrounding space around the housing, and the at least one second air passage is separated from the receiving space and separated from the at least one third air passage.

2. A disinfection device that disinfects a personal care treatment unit of a personal care device using germicidal light, wherein the personal care treatment unit provides personal care treatment to a target body part, The aforementioned disinfection device The casing and An optical module disposed within the housing, comprising: at least one light source that generates germicidal light; a first main surface from which germicidal light generated by the at least one light source is emitted during use; and a second main surface facing the first main surface; The first main surface of the optical module is provided with a receiving space for receiving at least a portion of the personal care treatment unit, On the second main surface of the optical module, an air chamber is provided within the housing, At least one first air passage connecting the receiving space and the air chamber, It has at least one second air passage connecting the air chamber and the surrounding space around the housing, The receiving space is provided in the receiving room, the receiving room is arranged in the housing of the disinfection device, and the portion of the personal care treatment unit is held in a disinfection position within the receiving room. Each first air passage is exclusively located outside the optical module. The disinfection device provides at least one third air passage connecting the receiving chamber and the surrounding space surrounding the housing at the disinfection location of the personal care treatment unit. A personal care system wherein the at least one second air passage is separated from the receiving space and separated from the at least one third air passage.

3. The optical module has a carrier, The at least one light source is mounted on the first main surface of the carrier facing the first main surface of the optical module. The personal care system according to claim 1, or the disinfection apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the optical module has a heat sink connected to a second main surface of the carrier opposite to the first main surface of the carrier.

4. The personal care system according to claim 1 or 3, or the disinfection device according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the optical module has a light diffusing member disposed on the first main surface of the optical module.

5. A personal care system according to any one of claims 1, 3, or 4, or a disinfection apparatus according to any one of claims 2 to 4, wherein the germicidal light generated by the at least one light source has a peak wavelength in the range of 400 to 425 nm, preferably in the range of 405 to 410 nm.

6. The optical module has an outer peripheral surface extending between the first main surface and the second main surface of the optical module, Each first air passage is formed between a part of the outer surface of the optical module and a part of the inner surface of the housing of the disinfection device, as described in claim 1 or any of claims 3 to 5, for the personal care system or the disinfection device as described in any of claims 2 to 5.

7. The housing of the disinfection device is A central axis along which the receiving chamber, the optical module, and the air chamber are sequentially arranged, A first wall portion having a main extension direction parallel to the central axis, It has a second wall portion having a main direction extending laterally with respect to the central axis, The air chamber is surrounded by the first wall, the second wall, and the second main surface of the optical module. A personal care system according to any one of claims 1 or 3 to 6, or a disinfection device according to any one of claims 2 to 6, wherein at least one of the second air passages is provided in the first wall.

8. The receiving chamber of the disinfection device has a receiving opening, and the portion of the personal care treatment unit can be received by the receiving chamber through the receiving opening. The receiving opening is surrounded by the edge of the housing of the disinfection device, A personal care system according to claim 1 or 3 to 7, or a disinfection device according to any one of claims 2 to 7, wherein at the disinfection position of the personal care treatment unit, at least one of the third air passages is formed between a part of the edge of the housing and a part of the outer surface of the personal care treatment unit.

9. The personal care system according to claim 1 or 3 to 8, or the disinfection device according to any one of claims 2 to 8, wherein the housing of the disinfection device is configured as a protective cover member that can be detachably attached to the personal care device, and covers at least the portion of the personal care treatment unit.

10. The personal care system according to any one of claims 1 or 3 to 9, wherein the personal care device is an electric shaver, and the personal care treatment unit is a shaving unit having at least one hair cutting unit, or the disinfection device according to any one of claims 2 to 9.

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