Switch assembly and cleaning and nursing appliance used for cleaning and nursing appliance

Abstract

The present invention provides a switch assembly for use in a cleaning and nursing tool, and the cleaning and nursing tool, the switch assembly comprising: a switch, and a switch warp plate having a distal end and a proximal end, the switch being provided below the distal end of the switch warp plate such that the switch warp plate operably triggers the switch, the warp plate having a small arm, a large arm, and a pivot portion located between the small arm and the large arm, the length of the large arm being greater than the length of the small arm, the large arm comprising the distal end, the switch assembly further comprising a first holding portion for holding the pivot portion of the switch warp plate, and a second holding portion for holding the proximal end of the switch warp plate, the second holding portion holding one end of the small arm away from the pivot portion such that when no pressing force is applied to the switch warp plate, the small arm of the switch warp plate is bent and deformed to be in a preloaded state, and the switch warp plate generates a first moment around the pivot portion to move the large arm away from the switch. The present invention enables the location of the switch unit in the handle housing to meet ergonomic design requirements, and ensures a compact layout of the components inside the housing.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to cleaning and nursing appliances such as electric toothbrushes, and particularly to a switch assembly in cleaning and nursing appliances.

Background Art

[0002] Currently in the market, there are various electric cleaning and nursing appliances that are handheld, such as electric toothbrushes, water picks, shavers, etc. These electric cleaning and nursing appliances usually have a handle with a switch portion provided at an appropriate position on the housing surface. Generally, when a user holds the handle of an electric cleaning and nursing appliance with one hand, it becomes easier to place a finger on the switch portion, and a switch device arranged inside the handle below the switch operation portion can be actuated.

[0003] Generally, the switch portion on the housing of the handle is formed of an elastic material, such as TPE, and the operable switch device is arranged below the elastic material. In this way, the switch device can be actuated by the user pressing the switch portion to urge the elastic material to deform. Inside the handle, the switch device may be mounted on a wiring board, or the switch device may be individually arranged and connected to a power source via a lead wire. The switch assembly having the elastic material and the switch device ensures that the switch portion of the cleaning and nursing appliance can have a waterproof structure, which is particularly advantageous for electric appliances that require waterproofing, such as electric toothbrushes and water picks.

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] However, such an arrangement structure of the switch has a limitation that the switch device can only be arranged directly below the switch portion made of an elastic material. Usually, the switch portion needs to be adjusted according to the mounting position of the switch device inside the handle. There is no freedom in arranging the switch portion. To satisfy the operability, it is necessary to arrange the switch device inside the handle at a position away from the motor and the battery and electrically connect it using separate conducting wires, which may complicate the electrical structure inside the appliance.

[0005] Therefore, in order to avoid connecting the switch device using extra conducting wires and increase the freedom in arranging the position of the switch device inside the handle of the electric cleaning and nursing appliance, it is desirable to improve the switch assembly of the electric cleaning and nursing appliance.

Means for Solving the Problem

[0006] In order to solve the deficiencies in the prior art, the present invention provides a switch assembly for use in a cleaning and nursing appliance. The switch assembly includes a switch for performing an on / off operation on the cleaning and nursing appliance, and a switch deflecting plate having a distal end and a proximal end. The switch is provided below the distal end of the switch deflecting plate such that the switch deflecting plate can operably trigger the switch. The deflecting plate has a small arm, a large arm, and a pivot portion located between the small arm and the large arm. The length of the large arm is greater than the length of the small arm. The large arm has the distal end. The switch assembly further includes a first holding portion for holding the pivot portion of the switch deflecting plate and a second holding portion for holding the proximal end of the switch deflecting plate. The second holding portion holds one end of the small arm away from the pivot portion of the small arm such that when no pressing force acts on the switch deflecting plate, the small arm of the switch deflecting plate is bent and deformed into a preloaded state, and a first moment for separating the large arm from the switch is generated around the pivot portion.

[0007] According to one aspect of the present invention, the switch includes an elastic member, and the elastic force generated by the elastic member acts on the large arm of the switch deflection plate. The second moment generated by the elastic force around the pivot portion is the same as the direction of the first moment.

[0008] According to still another aspect of the present invention, the large arm of the switch deflection plate defines a pressing portion between the pivot portion and the switch, and an external force for operating the switch assembly can act on the pressing portion.

[0009] According to still another aspect of the present invention, the switch assembly includes a switch portion located in the housing of the cleaning and nursing appliance. The switch portion is made of an elastic material suitable for deformation, and the switch portion and the pressing portion are aligned.

[0010] According to still another aspect of the present invention, the first holding portion is provided on a member that is stationary with respect to the housing of the cleaning and nursing appliance. The first holding portion includes a pair of U-shaped grooves located inside the cleaning and nursing appliance, and the pivot portion includes a pair of shaft portions respectively received in the corresponding U-shaped grooves.

[0011] According to still another aspect of the present invention, the second holding portion is provided on a member that is stationary with respect to the housing of the cleaning and nursing appliance. The second holding portion includes an opening fixed inside the cleaning and nursing appliance, and the free end of the small arm is inserted and held in the opening. The opening may be a rolled hole or a through hole.

[0012] According to still another aspect of the present invention, the switch is attached to a wiring board inside the cleaning and nursing appliance.

[0013] Furthermore, the present invention provides an electric cleaning and nursing appliance, which includes a housing forming an elongated accommodation chamber in which a battery and a driving device are arranged along the longitudinal direction, and a switch assembly as described above accommodated in the housing. The switch deflecting plate of the switch assembly is arranged substantially parallel to the longitudinal direction.

[0014] In the cleaning and nursing appliance according to the present invention, the switch of the switch assembly is attached to a wiring board installed between the battery and the motor of the driving device. The wiring board is fixed to the rack, and the wiring board is respectively connected to at least one electrode of the motor and at least one electrode of the power supply.

[0015] Also, in the cleaning and nursing appliance according to the present invention, inside the housing, a gear box for accommodating at least a part of the driving device and a gear box cover attached to the gear box are provided. The first holding portion is provided on the gear box, and the second holding portion is provided on the gear box cover.

Advantages of the Invention

[0016] When the technical solution of the present invention is adopted, the installation position of the switch portion in the handle housing meets the requirements of ergonomic design, and the compactness of the layout of each component inside the housing can be ensured. The switch portion is approximately located at the proximal end of the driving device or at the position where the driving device and the transmission device are joined. The switch can be directly fixed to the wiring board arranged away from the above position without the need for a long wire for connecting the switch or the wiring board to which the switch is attached to the battery, so that the layout inside the electric toothbrush can be made more compact, and the installation process of each device component inside the electric toothbrush can be simplified.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0017] To more fully understand the present invention, reference may be made to the following description of exemplary embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0018]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0019] Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to specific embodiments and the drawings. In the following description, various details are described in order to make the present invention easier to understand fully. However, it is obvious that the present invention can be implemented in another form different from the above description, and those skilled in the art can expand and infer according to the actual application situation without departing from the gist of the present invention. Therefore, it goes without saying that the protection scope of the present invention is not limited to the above specific embodiments.

[0020] Hereinafter, taking an electric toothbrush as a typical example of personal cleaning and nursing appliances, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Hereinafter, an electric toothbrush will be taken as an example for description, but the present invention is not limited thereto. The present invention may be applied to cleaning and nursing appliances that provide a cleaning operation by a driving device, such as an electric shaver, an electric facial cleanser, an electric bath device, etc.

[0021] For the sake of clarity, in this specification, in order to briefly describe the interrelationship between one element or feature as shown in the figure and other element(s) or feature(s), vocabulary representing spatial relative positions, such as "proximal end / proximal side", "distal end / distal side", etc. are used. "Proximal end / proximal side" means an end or side close to the position where the cleaning force acts when using the cleaning and nursing appliance, and "distal end / distal side" means an end or side away from the position where the cleaning force acts when using the cleaning and nursing appliance.

[0022] Furthermore, the vocabulary "and / or" used in the present application includes any one or all combinations of one or more of the listed related vocabularies.

[0023] In this specification, vocabulary such as "first" is used to describe a plurality of elements or components, but these elements or components should not be limited by these vocabularies. These vocabularies are only used to distinguish one element or component from other elements or components and do not include "order". Therefore, even if the ordinal numbers of the elements or components described below are interchanged with each other, the concept and scope of the present invention are not exceeded.

[0024] FIG. 1 shows an external perspective view of a cleaning and nursing tool according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. The cleaning and nursing tool shown in FIG. 1 is an electric toothbrush mainly including a handle 1 suitable for being gripped with one hand and a brush head 2 detachably attached to the handle 1. The handle 1 and the brush head 2 are arranged adjacent to each other along the longitudinal direction of the entire electric toothbrush. The brush head 2 is provided with a plurality of cleaning elements 4 such as bristles. The handle 1 includes a handle housing 21 and each functional member attached to the handle housing 21.

[0025] As shown in FIG. 1, the electric toothbrush has a handle housing 21 in the shape of a substantially elongated cylinder, and a switch portion 3 is provided at the center of the handle housing 21. The switch portion 3 includes a diaphragm made of an elastic material and may be substantially circular or elliptical corresponding to the shape of a human finger. With respect to the elongated cylindrical handle housing 21 of the electric toothbrush, the switch portion 3 is preferably arranged at a position near the proximal end of the central portion suitable for the user to grip and operate the switch portion with one hand. Preferably, the switch portion 3 made of an elastic material may be formed integrally with the handle housing 21 or separately.

[0026] FIG. 2 further shows the internal configuration of the electric toothbrush according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 2, the electric toothbrush includes a battery 5 as a power source, a driving device for supplying a driving force to the brush head 2, a transmission device for transmitting the driving force to the brush head 2, a driving shaft 20 to which the brush head 2 is attached, a switch assembly, and a wiring board 30. These components and parts are basically housed in a chamber formed in the handle housing 21.

[0027] The battery 5 is disposed at a position away from the distal end of the brush head within a chamber near the handle. The drive device mainly includes a motor 9 and a rack 6. The motor 9 is fixed to the rack 6, and the output shaft of the motor 9 protrudes from the proximal end of the motor 9 near the drive device. In the longitudinal direction of the handle 1, the wiring board 30 is disposed between the motor 9 and the battery 5, and usually, the wiring board 30 is fixed to the rack 6. The wiring board 30 is electrically connected to at least one electrode of the motor 9 while being electrically connected to at least one of the positive and negative electrodes of the power supply.

[0028] Furthermore, on the proximal end side of the drive device, a transmission device mainly including a link mechanism and a gear box for accommodating the link mechanism is attached. The link mechanism is respectively connected to the output shaft of the motor 9 and the drive shaft 20, and converts the rotational movement around the longitudinal axis of the output shaft of the motor 9 into the reciprocating rotation of the drive shaft 20.

[0029] The drive shaft 20 is located on the proximal end side of the electric toothbrush 100 and extends from the opening at the proximal end of the handle housing 21. The drive shaft 20 has a longitudinal axis, and the longitudinal axis of the drive shaft 20 is basically parallel to the longitudinal axis of the output shaft of the motor 9, and more preferably, the two longitudinal axes coincide. The brush head 2 is engaged with the drive shaft 20 through an engagement structure so as to reciprocally rotate around the longitudinal axis of the drive shaft 20 together with the drive shaft 20.

[0030] In particular, the switch assembly in the electric toothbrush 100 mainly includes a switch 31 and a switch deflecting plate 10. The switch 31 is directly attached to the wiring board 30, and the switch deflecting plate 10 is disposed in the space between the drive device and the transmission device and the handle housing within the chamber of the handle 1. The longitudinal direction of the switch deflecting plate 10 is disposed substantially parallel to the longitudinal direction of the handle.

[0031] As shown in FIG. 3, the configuration of the switch assembly according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention becomes apparent. The switch deflecting plate 10 has a small arm 11, a large arm 14, and a pivot portion 13 positioned between the small arm 11 and the large arm 14. Preferably, the deflecting plate 10 is integrally formed of a resin material, and the small arm 11, the large arm 14, and the pivot portion 13 are integral parts. Generally, the longitudinal length of the large arm 14 is greater than the longitudinal length of the small arm 11. The switch 31 located on the wiring board 30 is disposed below the free end or distal end 15 of the large arm 14, whereby the switch 31 and the free end of the large arm 14 can be interlocked and engaged. By operating the switch deflecting plate 10, the switch 31 can be correspondingly operated to realize the electrical opening and closing of the switch 31. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the switch deflecting plate 10 is in the shape of a strip, but has different widths along the longitudinal direction. The proximal end 12 of the small arm 11 is narrow, and the distal end 15 of the large arm 14 is wide.

[0032] Furthermore, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 6, the pivot portion 13 of the switch flap 10 and the proximal end 12 of the arm 11 are held and their movement is restricted. Specifically, the pivot portion 13 of the switch deflecting plate 10 is held by the first holding portion, while the proximal end of the small arm 11 is held by the second holding portion. The first holding portion and the second holding portion are members that are stationary with respect to the handle housing 21. In a preferred embodiment, both the first holding portion and the second holding portion are provided in the gear box of the transmission device.

[0033] As shown in FIG. 6, in a preferred embodiment, the first holding portion for holding the pivot portion 13 includes a pair of U-shaped grooves 71 located in the housing 7 of the gear box. The pivot portion 13 includes a pair of shaft portions respectively received in one corresponding U-shaped groove 71. The U-shaped groove 71 basically restricts the movement of the shaft portion in the direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the handle, but allows the rotation of the shaft portion within the U-shaped groove 71.

[0034] At the same time, as also shown in FIG. 6, the second holding portion for holding the proximal end 12 of the switch deflecting plate 10 is provided with an opening 81 located in the lid 8 of the gear box, and the narrow proximal end 12 of the arm 11 is inserted into the opening 81 and held and fixed in the opening 81. At this time, the opening 81 of the gear box lid restricts the movement of the proximal end of the small arm 11 in any direction. Obviously, the opening 81 may be a turned hole or a through hole.

[0035] It should be understood that the first holding portion and the second holding portion may each be a part of the entire housing 7 and the lid 8 of the gear box, or may be attachments attached to the housing 7 and the lid 8. In a preferred embodiment, the pair of shaft portions of the pivot portion 13 are arranged on both sides of the deflecting plate 10. In other alternative embodiments, the pivot portion 13 may be provided on the side of the deflecting plate 10 facing the gear box.

[0036] In particular, when the switch 31 is in the off state, the opening 81 holds the proximal end 12 of the small arm 11 of the switch deflecting plate 10 so that the small arm 11 is bent and deformed into a preloaded state. At this time, as shown in FIG. 5, the switch deflecting plate 10 generates a first moment M around the pivot portion 13 that separates the large arm 14 from the switch 31.

[0037] The relative positions of the first holding portion and the second holding portion are arranged such that the switch deflecting plate 10 can achieve such a preloaded state. Specifically, with respect to the position where the proximal end 12 of the small arm 11 of the switch deflecting plate 10 is located in a freely extending state when the shaft portion is received in the U-shaped groove 71, the opening 81 of the gear box lid is offset inward on the side closer to the center of the handle chamber in the lateral direction. When the proximal end 12 of the small arm 11 is forcibly held in the opening 81, the small arm 11 is bent and deformed into a preloaded state. Correspondingly, in response to the preloading force in the small arm 11, the pivot portion 13 of the switch deflecting plate 10 generates a first moment M in the direction shown in FIG. 5 to separate the large arm 14 from the switch 31.

[0038] On the one hand, the switch 31 usually has an elastic member (not shown) that generates an elastic force F2 with respect to the movable member of the switch 31. As shown in FIG. 5, the elastic force F2 acts on the distal end 15 of the switch deflection plate 10, and the second moment generated by the elastic force F2 of the elastic member around the pivot portion 13 is the same as the direction of the first moment that generates the pre-pressure.

[0039] The second moment generated by the switch 31 itself and the first moment generated by the pre-pressure state of the small arm 11 ensure that the switch 31 below the free end of the large arm 14 does not operate when the switch portion 3 of the handle housing 21 does not operate.

[0040] As shown in FIG. 5, the large arm 14 defines a pressing portion 16 between the pivot portion 13 and the switch portion 3, and an external force for operating the switch assembly can act on the pressing portion 16 of the large arm 14 through the switch portion 3. Preferably, the pressing portion 16 is closer to the pivot portion 13 than the free end of the large arm 14. The switch portion 3 of the housing 21 substantially coincides with the pressing portion 16, and since the switch portion 3 is made of an elastic material, the pressing force acting on the switch portion 3 can be transmitted to the pressing portion 16 of the large arm 14.

[0041] When the user operates the switch 31, the pressing force is applied to the pressing portion 16 of the large arm 14. The direction of the pressing force is opposite to the elastic force of the switch 31. The pressing force generates a third moment in the direction opposite to the first moment and the second moment around the driving portion 13. When the pressing force is large enough and the third moment is greater than the sum of the first moment and the second moment, the free end of the arm 14 rotates around the pivot portion towards the switch 31 to operate the switch 31, thereby completing the necessary switch operation.

[0042] As shown in FIG. 2, when the proximal end 12 and the pivot portion 13 of the switch flap 10 are respectively fixed to the gear box, the switch flap 10 extends from the proximal end of the gear box to the position of the wiring board 30 between the drive device and the battery 5. At this time, the pressing portion 16 is close to the proximal end of the drive device. The switch portion 3 is in a part close to the proximal end of the handle housing 21. In this way, when holding the handle with one hand, the switch portion 3 can be just pressed with a finger. On the other hand, in the chamber of the housing 21, the switch 13 is disposed at a position substantially in the center in the longitudinal direction of the entire handle, and the switch 31 is disposed so as to be away from the switch portion 3 on the handle housing 21. The arrangement position of the switch portion 3 on the handle housing 21 meets the requirements of ergonomic design, and the compactness of the layout of each component inside the housing 21 can be ensured. The switch portion 3 is substantially located at the proximal end of the drive device or at the position where the drive device and the transmission device are joined. When the technical solution of the present invention is adopted, the switch can be disposed away from this position, but since a long lead wire for connecting the switch or the wiring board 30 to which the switch is attached to the battery 5 is not required, the mounting process of each device component inside the electric toothbrush is simplified.

[0043] Although the present invention has been disclosed in the preferred embodiments as described above, it is not intended to limit the present invention. Those skilled in the art can make possible changes and modifications without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Therefore, the content that does not depart from the technical solution of the present invention and any modifications, equivalent changes and modifications made to the above embodiments based on the technical essence of the present invention fall within the protection scope defined by the claims of the present invention.

Description of Reference Numerals

[0044] 1 Handle 2 Brush Head 3 Switch Portion 4 Cleaning Element 5 Battery 6 Rack 7 Housing 8 Lid 9 Motor 10 Switch deflection plate 11 Small arm 12 Proximal end 13 Pivot part 14 Large arm 15 Distal end 20 Drive shaft 21 Handle housing 30 Wiring board 31 Switch 71 U-shaped groove 81 Opening 100 Electric toothbrush

Claims

1. A switch assembly used for a cleaning and nursing appliance, a switch (31) for performing an on / off operation on the cleaning and nursing appliance, a switch deflecting plate having a distal end and a proximal end, wherein the switch is provided below the distal end of the switch deflecting plate so that the switch deflecting plate can operably trigger the switch, a switch deflecting plate (10); In a switch assembly comprising: The deflecting plate has a small arm (11), a large arm (14), and a pivot portion (13) located between the small arm and the large arm. The length of the large arm is greater than the length of the small arm, and the large arm (14) has the distal end, The switch assembly further includes a first holding portion for holding the pivot portion of the switch deflecting plate and a second holding portion for holding the proximal end of the switch deflecting plate, The second holding portion is characterized in that when no pressing force acts on the switch deflecting plate, the small arm of the switch deflecting plate is bent and deformed to be in a preloaded state, and a first moment (M) that causes the switch deflecting plate to separate the large arm from the switch is generated around the pivot portion, and one end of the small arm away from the pivot portion is held. A switch assembly characterized by this.

2. The switch (31) includes an elastic member, and the elastic force generated by the elastic member acts on the large arm of the switch deflecting plate. The second moment generated by the elastic force around the pivot portion is in the same direction as the first moment. The switch assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that.

3. The large arm defines a pressing portion between the pivot portion and the switch, and the pressing force for operating the switch assembly can act on the pressing portion. The switch assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that.

4. The switch assembly includes a switch portion located in the housing of the cleaning and nursing appliance. The switch portion is made of an elastic material suitable for deformation, and the switch portion and the pressing portion are aligned. The switch assembly according to claim 3, characterized in that.

5. The first holding portion is provided on a member that is stationary with respect to the housing of the cleaning and nursing appliance, The first holding part includes a pair of U-shaped grooves (71) located inside the cleaning and nursing appliance, and the pivot part includes a pair of shaft parts respectively received in the corresponding U-shaped grooves. The switch assembly according to claim 1 is characterized in that.

6. The second holding part is provided on a member that is stationary with respect to the housing of the cleaning and nursing appliance. The second holding part includes an opening (81) fixed inside the cleaning and nursing appliance. The proximal end of the small arm is inserted and held in the opening. The switch assembly according to claim 1 is characterized in that the opening is a turned hole or a through hole.

7. The switch is attached to a wiring board (30) inside the cleaning and nursing appliance. The switch assembly according to claim 1 is characterized in that.

8. A cleaning and nursing appliance, A housing forming an elongated accommodation chamber in which a battery (5) and a drive device are arranged along the longitudinal direction, The switch assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 7, housed in the housing, The cleaning and nursing appliance, wherein the switch deflection plate of the switch assembly is arranged substantially parallel to the longitudinal direction.

9. The switch of the switch assembly is attached to a wiring board installed between the battery and the motor of the drive device. The wiring board is fixed to a rack housed in the accommodation chamber. The wiring board is connected to at least one electrode of the motor and at least one electrode of the battery respectively. The cleaning and nursing appliance according to claim 8 is characterized in that.

10. Inside the housing, a gear box (7) for housing at least a part of the drive device and a gear box cover (8) attached to the gear box (7) are provided. The first holding part is provided on the gear box (7), and the second holding part is provided on the gear box cover (8). The cleaning and nursing appliance according to claim 8 is characterized in that.

Images