Connection and separation of the main housing and functional attachments of a handheld personal care device.

Abstract

In the handheld personal care device 1, the main housing 10 comprises a first connecting member 23 and the functional attachment 30 comprises a second connecting member 33. The main housing 10 further comprises a U-shaped holder 20 for receiving and accommodating the base member 31 of the functional attachment 30. The device 1 is designed to realize that in the connected state of the main housing 10 and the functional attachment 30, the main housing 10 and the functional attachment 30 are held to each other in the axial direction A only by the mutual engagement of the first and second connecting members 22, 33, and the base member 31 is surrounded and supported in the lateral direction S by the two protruding wall portions 21, 22 of the U-shaped holder 20 without being connected or coupled to these wall portions 21, 22 in the axial direction A.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a handheld personal care device comprising a main housing and a functional attachment that can be coupled to and detached from the main housing. The main housing includes a front wall, a rear wall, an upper wall, two opposing side walls interconnecting the front and rear walls, a first coupling member disposed within the upper wall and having a first coupling axis, the upper wall, and a U-shaped holder formed by two opposing protruding wall portions each forming an extension of a corresponding one of the two side walls and extending beyond the upper wall. The functional attachment includes a base member, a functional personal care unit disposed on the base member, and a second coupling member disposed within the base member and having a second coupling axis. The first and second coupling members can be coupled to each other by aligning the first and second coupling axes and moving the first and second coupling members toward each other along the aligned first and second coupling axes so as to be in an engaged state.

Background Art

[0002] Handheld personal care devices comprising a main housing and a functional attachment that can be coupled to and detached from the main housing are generally known, and it is common for the functional attachment to include a base member and a functional personal care unit disposed on the base member. In this regard, it should be noted that multiple types of functional attachments can be used with a single main housing to enable the multi-purpose use of the handheld personal care device. Further, it should be noted that practical options for the functional personal care unit include a shaving unit, a hair clipper unit, a beard trimming unit, and a facial brushing unit.

[0003] International Patent Publication WO2008 / 062339A1 discloses a shaving device comprising a base structure and a head structure having the role of holding and supporting at least one shaving head. The head structure includes a coupling element in the form of a shaft-like element that is releasably retainable on the base structure and is positioned to protrude from the head structure and has an inclined surface at its distal end. Since the base structure has no support element in the region of the periphery of the head structure, when the head structure is coupled to the base structure, the head structure is not supported in the region of its periphery and is held to the base structure substantially by the retaining force provided by the retaining structure of the base structure. The retaining structure includes a retaining recess for receiving the coupling element of the head structure and a spring element provided at least partially within the retaining recess. The spring element is positioned to engage with the inclined surface of the coupling element so that the coupling element is retainable within the retaining recess.

[0004] The design of the shaving device, as known from International Patent Publication WO2008 / 062339A1, was developed against the backdrop of protecting the head structure and shaving head from damage in the event of excessive force. In fact, when an external load is applied to the head structure, the load is transmitted to the coupling element. In the coupled state, the head structure is not supported in its peripheral region, and therefore the peripheral region cannot contribute to the transmission of the external load to the base structure. Thus, the coupling element must transmit the majority of the external load. If the external load becomes too high, the spring element located in the retaining recess of the base structure is forced to shift onto the inclined surface of the coupling element. Eventually, the spring element shifts away from the inclined surface, and at that point the coupling element is released from the retaining structure.

[0005] Korean Utility Model No. 20-0257871Y1 discloses an example of a handheld personal care device as defined in the opening paragraph. Known handheld personal care devices include two types of functional attachments: a functional attachment designed to be used as a shaving head (hereinafter referred to as the shaving attachment) and a functional attachment designed to be used as a hair clipper head (hereinafter referred to as the hair clipper attachment). If a person wants to use the device to perform either of the possible actions of shaving or clipping, they only need to ensure that the appropriate functional attachment is properly positioned in the main housing.

[0006] In the handheld personal care device known from Korean Utility Model No. 20-0257871Y1, the shaving attachment includes a safety cap and rubber hooks on both sides of the safety cap. Similarly, the clipper attachment includes a carrier body for the clipper blade of the attachment and elastic hooks on both sides of the carrier body. Furthermore, the main housing is provided with recesses on the inner surface of a U-shaped holder, and these recesses are located on both sides of the U-shaped holder and in positions selected to allow the recesses to receive the elastic hooks when the functional attachment is placed in place in the main housing. A protruding knob is positioned on the elastic hook. A person can press the protruding knob when they want to remove the functional attachment from the main housing. The U-shaped holder is provided with an opening slot for the protruding knob to pass through when either placing the functional attachment in place in the main housing or removing it from the main housing. When the functional attachment is placed in place in the main housing, it is held in place by the elastic hook of the functional attachment being accommodated in a recess of the U-shaped holder of the main housing, and unless a protruding knob is activated to release the elastic hook from the recess. Furthermore, when the functional attachment is placed in place in the main housing, the respective coupling members of the functional attachment and the main housing engage with each other. In particular, the second coupling member includes a partition, and the first coupling member is designed to clamp and receive the partition. [Overview of the project] [Problems that the invention aims to solve]

[0007] The present invention provides an alternative method to those known in the art for coupling a functional attachment to a main housing and for separating the functional attachment from the main housing, thereby achieving a high level of ease of use without compromising important elements such as the functionality of the functional attachment and the robustness of the coupling. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] The present invention provides a handheld personal care device comprising a main housing and a functional attachment that is connectable to and detachable from the main housing. The main housing is A front wall, a rear wall, a top wall, and two opposing side walls that connect the front wall and the rear wall, A first connecting member is positioned within the upper wall and has a first connecting shaft, A U-shaped holder formed by an upper wall and two opposing protruding wall portions that extend beyond the upper wall, each forming a corresponding extension of one of two side walls, Includes, Functional attachments are, Base member and A functional personal care unit is placed on the base component, A second coupling member is disposed within the base member and has a second coupling axis, Includes, The first and second connecting members can be connected to each other by moving them toward each other along the aligned first and second connecting axes so that their first and second connecting axes are aligned and they are in a mutually engaged state. The first and second connecting members are separable from each other by applying a separation force greater than a predefined threshold force to one of the first and second connecting members in an axial direction parallel to the aligned first and second connecting axes, and away from the other of the first and second connecting members. In the coupling state between the main housing and the functional attachment, in which the base member is positioned within the U-shaped holder and the first and second coupling members are in a mutually engaged state, The main housing and the functional attachment are held together in the axial direction solely by the mutual engagement of the first and second connecting members. The base member of the functional attachment is surrounded and supported by two protruding wall portions of the U-shaped holder in the lateral direction, traversing the aligned first and second coupling axes, without being connected or coupled to the two protruding wall portions in the axial direction.

[0009] Based on the configuration of the handheld personal care device defined above, it is achieved that a person can easily connect and disconnect the main housing of the device from the functional attachment. In fact, to connect the functional attachment to the main housing, a person only needs to move the functional attachment and the main housing toward each other so that the connecting axes of the first and second connecting members are aligned, and continue this until mutual engagement of the first and second connecting members is achieved. Furthermore, to disconnect the functional attachment from the main housing, a person only needs to apply a separation force greater than a predefined threshold force to one of the first and second connecting members in an axial direction parallel to the aligned first and second connecting axes, and away from the other of the first and second connecting members. In other words, all that is needed to connect a functional attachment to the main housing is to place the functional attachment and the main housing together in the appropriate orientation determined by the design of the first and second connecting members, and all that is needed to separate a functional attachment from the main housing is to pull the functional attachment and the main housing apart in the appropriate orientation.

[0010] In the handheld personal care device according to the present invention, coupling robustness is achieved primarily based on the following factors: the main housing and the functional attachment are held axially together by the mutual engagement of first and second coupling members. This mutual engagement is released only when a separation force greater than a predefined threshold force is applied to one of the coupling members in a specific direction. Furthermore, the two protruding wall portions of the U-shaped holder prevent lateral movement of the functional attachment.

[0011] The present invention covers various possibilities regarding methods for achieving mutual engagement of first and second coupling members. Combinations of magnets or combinations of a spring element and a coupling element having an inclined surface can be used, and the spring element can engage with the inclined surface, as known from International Patent Publication WO2008 / 062339A1.

[0012] The robustness of the coupling of the handheld personal care device according to the present invention can be further enhanced if, in the coupled state of the main housing and the functional attachment, the base member of the functional attachment is supported by the upper wall of the main housing. For example, the design of the device includes the following embodiment: the base member includes a bottom wall, and a second coupling member is positioned on the bottom wall, and in the coupled state of the main housing and the functional attachment, the bottom wall is at least partially supported by the upper wall of the main housing. This design provides a very practical means of preventing a person from mispositioning the functional attachment in the main housing. In practice, a coupling with inclined characteristics can be provided. Here, the upper wall of the main housing has an orientation inclined with respect to an imaginary plane extending perpendicular to the first coupling axis, and the bottom wall of the base member has an orientation inclined with respect to an imaginary plane extending perpendicular to the second coupling axis. In such a case, it is very easy to see how the two inclined walls can be aligned so that anyone can immediately see which is the correct way to place the functional attachment and the main housing.

[0013] Preferably, in the coupled state of the main housing and the functional attachment, in order to obtain a smooth overall appearance of the handheld personal care device according to the present invention, the base member of the functional attachment includes a front wall and a rear wall designed so that, in the coupled state of the main housing and the functional attachment, the front wall and rear wall of the base member are coplanar with the front wall and rear wall of the main housing, respectively.

[0014] Further options for the base member include a front wall, a rear wall, and two opposing side walls that interconnect the front and rear walls of the base member, wherein, in the configuration of the main housing and the functional attachment, each of the side walls of the base member is at least partially supported laterally by the corresponding one of the two protruding wall portions of the U-shaped holder.

[0015] To achieve stable support for rotation of the functional attachment around an axis extending perpendicular to both the axial and lateral directions, it is advantageous if the average length of the two protruding wall portions of the U-shaped holder in the axial direction is at least 50%, preferably at least 100%, of the average distance between the two protruding wall portions in the lateral direction. Alternatively, the average length of the two protruding wall portions of the U-shaped holder in the axial direction can be selected in relation to the total length of the main housing in the axial direction. In that case, it is advantageous if the average length of the two protruding wall portions of the U-shaped holder in the axial direction is 10% to 50% of the total length of the main housing in the axial direction. As a result of the relatively large depth of the U-shaped holder, the coupling of the functional attachment to the main housing is very robust and stable.

[0016] Furthermore, to achieve stable support against rotation of the functional attachment around a laterally extending axis, it is advantageous if the average distance between the front and rear walls of the main housing, measured along the upper wall of the main housing in the longitudinal direction, is greater than the average distance between the two protruding wall portions of the U-shaped holder in the lateral direction. In this case, any rotational motion around the aforementioned axis is hindered by the presence of the material of the upper wall of the main housing. Another or additional means of enhancing resistance to rotation of the functional attachment around a laterally extending axis is a design of the main housing in which, when viewed in a cross section perpendicular to the first coupling axis, the inner surfaces of each of the two protruding wall portions of the U-shaped holder are concave.

[0017] In practice, the U-shaped holder of the main housing and the base member of the functional attachment are designed such that, when the main housing and the functional attachment are coupled, the base member fits into the U-shaped holder in only one predefined orientation relative to the U-shaped holder, thereby enabling the functional attachment to be coupled to the main housing in only one predefined orientation relative to the main housing. This assists the person attempting to couple the functional attachment to the main housing in correctly positioning it as intended relative to the main housing. In this regard, the inner surface of each of the two protruding wall portions of the U-shaped holder has a shape that is asymmetrical with respect to a first imaginary plane that includes a first coupling axis and extends centrally between the front and rear walls of the main housing, and / or asymmetrical with respect to a second imaginary plane that includes a first coupling axis and extends centrally between the two protruding wall portions of the U-shaped holder. It can be expected that anyone will immediately recognize the asymmetrical aspects and, based on these aspects, understand what specific way of bringing the functional attachment and the main housing together is required.

[0018] In a favorable option, the handheld personal care device according to the present invention is provided with means designed to assist a person in aligning the first and second coupling axes. For example, an embodiment of the device is achievable in which a base member and at least one of the two protruding wall portions of a U-shaped holder are provided with mutually engaging guide members. These mutually engaging guide members are positioned parallel to the axial direction and are arranged to engage with each other as the first and second coupling members are moved toward each other along the aligned first and second coupling axes so as to align and engage the first and second coupling axes. Such mutual engagement of the guide members also serves to prevent rotation of the base member in the direction of the aligned first and second coupling axes.

[0019] The present invention relates to embodiments of functional attachments that include a member driven during use so as to be able to perform an intended function. In this regard, it is practical if the main housing houses an electric motor and a drive member driven by the electric motor, and in the coupled state of the main housing and the functional attachment, the base member of the functional attachment houses a driven member coupled to the drive member, and the base member houses a mechanical transmission device that converts the movement of the driven member into different movements of the moving parts of the functional personal care unit. For example, the base member may house a gear system that converts the rotational motion of the drive unit in the main housing into reciprocating motion or rotational motion at different speeds. The base member may include an electrical interface for electrically coupling the functional attachment to an electrical or electronic unit in the main housing. Another practical option that the present invention relates to includes the electric motor being housed in the functional attachment, particularly in the position of the base member, in which case the drive member is also housed in the functional attachment.

[0020] In the context of the present invention, numerous embodiments of the functional attachment are possible. As mentioned above, the functional personal care unit of the functional attachment is a shaving unit, a clipper unit, a beard trimming unit, or a facial brushing unit, etc. Regardless of the function of the functional attachment, it is practical if the second coupling member is located in the central region of the functional attachment when viewed in a direction parallel to the second coupling axis, but this is not required in the context of the present invention.

[0021] The present invention is directed to a practical option, according to which: 1) a handheld personal care device comprises a plurality of different functional attachments, each having a different functional personal care unit, each being alternately coupled to a main housing, and 2) each of the plurality of different functional attachments includes a base member, a second coupling member disposed on the base member, and a different functional personal care unit disposed on an upper portion of the base member. This is an interesting option since there is no need to have separate devices for performing different operations. Instead, a single main housing can be used, and, based on the desired personal care action, an appropriate one of several functional attachments is selected by a person. Considering the manner in which the functional attachment is coupled to and separable from the main housing, it is very easy for a person to place the functional attachment on the main housing and remove it from the main housing when it is no longer needed for use or when another functional attachment is intended to be used. The two opposing wall portions of the U-shaped holder firmly support the base member, so there is no risk that the functional attachment will come off the main housing, and a relatively high load can be applied to the functional attachment. Further, due to the support / holding function of the wall portions, the load on the optional drive interface and / or the optional electrical interface is significantly reduced, so the robustness of these interfaces can be made low without increasing the risk of damage under the influence of the high load applied to the functional attachment.

[0022] The above and other aspects of the present invention will become apparent and be made clear from the following detailed description of a handheld personal care device including a combination of a main housing and several different functional attachments, and by reference to the description.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0023] The present invention will be described in more detail with reference to the drawings. In the drawings, the same or similar parts are denoted by the same reference numerals.

[0024] [Figure 1] Figure 1 illustrates an embodiment of a handheld personal care device according to the present invention, comprising a main housing and several functional attachments that can be coupled to and separated from the main housing. [Figure 2] Figure 2 illustrates a side view of each functional attachment positioned in the U-shaped holder of the main housing. [Figure 3] Figure 3 illustrates a front view of the main housing and the functional attachment in the coupled state. [Figure 4] Figure 4 illustrates a rear view of the main housing and the functional attachment in the coupled state. [Figure 5] Figure 5 illustrates a side cross-sectional rear view of the main housing and the functional attachment in the coupled state. The internal components of the main housing are shown. [Figure 6] Figure 6 illustrates a rear view of the main housing and the functional attachment in the coupled state. The internal components of the main housing are shown. [Figure 7] Figure 7 shows options regarding the depth of the U-shaped holder of the main housing. [Figure 8] Figure 8 shows related distances and imaginary planes within the main housing. [Figure 9] Figure 9 illustrates a side view of the functional attachment. [Figure 10] Figure 10 illustrates the alignment of the main housing and the functional attachment with respect to each other. [Figure 11] Figure 11 shows the tilt characteristics of the coupling of the functional attachment to the main housing. [Figure 12] Figure 12 shows the tilt characteristics of the coupling of the functional attachment to the main housing. [Figure 13] Figure 13 shows the asymmetry of the coupling of the functional attachment to the main housing. [Figure 14]Figure 14 shows the asymmetry in the coupling of the functional attachment to the main housing. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0025] The present invention relates to a handheld personal care device 1 comprising a main housing 10 and functional attachments 30 that are connectable to and detachable from the main housing 10. The figure shows an embodiment of the handheld personal care device 1, where the device 1 includes several functional attachments 30, each connectable to and detachable from a single main housing 10. The device 1 is shown in a normal orientation, where the functional attachments 30 are positioned on top of the main housing 10, and this orientation serves as the basis for the terminology used in this text to indicate the positioning of the components. However, it should be noted that the definition of device 1 in the appended claims is not limited to this orientation; that is, the definition is applicable to device 1 in any possible orientation.

[0026] Figure 1 shows the main housing 10 and five functional attachments 30 of the handheld personal care device 1. Here, downward arrows are used to indicate how the functional attachments 30 are connected to the main housing 10. Figures 2 to 4 relate to the connection between the main housing 10 and the functional attachments 30. Figure 2 shows each functional attachment 30 positioned in the U-shaped holder 20 of the main housing 10, while Figures 3 and 4 show the entire main housing 10 and the functional attachments 30 connected to the main housing 10.

[0027] In a typical configuration of the main housing 10, the main housing 10 includes a front wall 11, a rear wall 12, an upper wall 13, a left side wall 14, and a right side wall 15. The side walls 14 and 15 are arranged opposite each other and interconnect the front wall 11 and the rear wall 12. The above U-shaped holder 20 of the main housing 10 is formed by the upper wall 13 and two opposing protruding wall portions 21 and 22 that extend beyond the upper wall 13, each forming a corresponding extension of one of the two side walls 14 and 15. Referring to Figures 5 and 6, it should be noted that the main housing 10 houses an electric motor 16, a battery 17 which may be rechargeable, and a printed circuit board 18 which processes input from a person using the handheld personal care device 1 and controls the operation of the device 1 in relation to that input and based on an algorithm.

[0028] The main housing 10 further includes a first coupling member 23 positioned on the upper wall 13 and having a first coupling shaft C1. For example, as shown by the dashed line in Figure 1, the first coupling member 23 includes an opening 24 provided in the upper wall 13. This opening 24 provides access to the output shaft of the motor 16 from outside the main housing 10. Hereinafter, we assume that the design of the first coupling member 23 includes such an opening 24, but in fact, other designs of the first coupling member 23 are also feasible in the context of the present invention.

[0029] The robust coupling of the functional attachment 30 to the main housing 10 is achieved by various possible means, including means of providing sufficient depth for the U-shaped holder 20. Figure 7 shows that this depth is practical if the average length L1 of the two protruding wall portions 21 and 22 of the U-shaped holder 20 in the axial direction A parallel to the first coupling axis C1 is selected to be 10% to 50% of the total length L2 of the main housing 10 in the axial direction A.

[0030] Referring to Figure 8, which shows a top view of the main housing 10, it should be noted that there are two more favorable options with respect to the relative dimensions within the main housing: 1) The average length L1 of the two protruding wall portions 21, 22 of the U-shaped holder 20 in the axial direction A is at least 50%, preferably at least 100%, of the average distance D1 between the two protruding wall portions 21, 22 in the lateral direction S; 2) The average distance D2 between the front wall 11 and the rear wall 12 of the main housing 10, measured along the top wall 13 of the main housing 10 in a direction T perpendicular to both the axial direction A and the lateral direction S, is greater than the average distance D1 between the two protruding wall portions 21, 22 of the U-shaped holder 20 in the lateral direction S.

[0031] Furthermore, in Figure 8, a first imaginary plane P1, which includes the first coupling axis C1 and extends centrally between the front wall 11 and the rear wall 12 of the main housing 10, and a second imaginary plane P2, which includes the first coupling axis C1 and extends centrally between the two protruding wall portions 21 and 22 of the U-shaped holder 20, are shown by dashed lines.

[0032] Figure 9 shows the functional attachment 30 alone. In a typical configuration of the functional attachment 30, it includes a base member 31 and a functional personal care unit 32 positioned on the base member 31. The functional attachments 30 shown in Figures 1 and 2 differ from each other in terms of the design and function of the functional personal care unit 32. Viewed from left to right in Figures 1 and 2, the functional personal care unit 32 is shown to be a shaving unit, a beard trimming unit, a facial brushing unit, and a trimming unit for nose and ear hair. The specific embodiments of the functional personal care unit 32 of the functional attachment 30 shown in the figures are practical examples in the context of the present invention. It should be noted that a number of other options regarding the design and function of the functional personal care unit 32 are also subject to the present invention.

[0033] It is practical if the first coupling axis C1 coincides with the rotation axis of the output shaft of the motor 16, and further, if the drive member 19 for transmitting motion to the driven member 41 housed in the base member 31 is coupled to the output shaft or integrated with the output shaft, and further, as shown in Figure 5, a mechanical transmission device 42 can be applied between the driven member 41 and the movable part of the functional personal care unit 32 to convert the movement of the driven member 41 into different movements of the movable part of the functional personal care unit 32.

[0034] The functional attachment 30 further includes a second coupling member 33, which is located within or on the base member 31 and has a second coupling axis C2. For example, the second coupling member 33 includes a projection 34 (shown as a dashed line in Figure 1) extending from the bottom wall 35 of the base member 31. In particular, the projection 34 is received by an opening 24 in the upper wall 13 of the main housing 10 when the functional attachment 30 is coupled to the main housing 10. In the following, it is assumed that the design of the second coupling member 33 includes such a projection 34, but the fact remains that other designs of the second coupling member 33 are also feasible in the context of the present invention.

[0035] The first coupling member 23 and the second coupling member 33 further include components specifically designed to releasably engage with each other by moving the first and second coupling members 23, 33 toward each other along aligned first and second coupling axes C1, C2, and to separate from each other by applying a separation force greater than a predefined threshold force to one of the first and second coupling members 23, 33 in the axial direction A. Based on what is known from International Patent Publication WO2008 / 062339A1, the first coupling member 23 includes a U-shaped spring element positioned in the opening 24, and the second coupling member 33 includes two inclined surfaces provided in recesses located opposite each other on the projection 34. To give one of many viable examples, the legs of the U-shaped spring element engage with the inclined surfaces in the coupled state of the main housing 10 and the functional attachment 30. In another solution to achieve similar coupling and separating functions, a pair of magnets that attract each other are placed on the projection 34 and the opening 24. In any case, the projection 34 is designed to allow the output shaft of the motor 16 to be coupled to the driven member 41 housed in the base member 31, in the case where the functional attachment 30 is of a type that includes a mechanical system including at least one movable component (such as the mechanical transmission device 42 as described above).

[0036] The features of the first connecting member 23 of the main housing 10 and the second connecting member 33 of the functional attachment 30 are as follows: The first and second connecting members 23 and 33 can be connected to each other by moving the first and second connecting members 23 and 33 toward each other along the aligned first and second connecting axes C1 and C2 so that the first and second connecting axes C1 and C2 are aligned and mutually engaged, and The first and second connecting members 23 and 33 are separable from each other by applying a separation force greater than a predefined threshold force to one of the first and second connecting members 23 and 33 in the axial direction A and away from the other of the first and second connecting members 23 and 33.

[0037] Figure 10 shows the alignment of the main housing 10 and the functional attachment 30 relative to each other, so as to be appropriate when connecting the functional attachment 30 to the main housing 10.

[0038] As can be seen from the above description and as can be deduced from the diagram, the design of the handheld personal care device 1 is such that the base member 31 of the mechanical attachment 30 is positioned within the U-shaped holder 20 of the main housing 10, and the first and second connecting members 23, 33 are in an interlocking state when the main housing 10 and the functional attachment 30 are coupled: The main housing 10 and the functional attachment 30 are held together in the axial direction A solely by the mutual engagement of the first and second connecting members 23 and 33. The base member 31 of the functional attachment 30 is surrounded and supported by the two protruding wall portions 21, 22 of the U-shaped holder 20 in the lateral direction S that traverses the aligned first and second coupling axes C1, C2, without being connected to or coupled to these two protruding wall portions 21, 22 in the axial direction A.

[0039] Furthermore, in the illustrated embodiment of the handheld personal care device 1, the base member 31 of the functional attachment 30 is supported by the upper wall 13 of the main housing 10 when the functional attachment 30 is coupled to the main housing 10.

[0040] Figure 10 shows that the base member 31 and the two protruding wall portions 21 and 22 of the U-shaped holder 20 are provided with mutually engaging guide members 25 and 50 arranged parallel to the axial direction A. The guide members 25 and 50 serve to facilitate the process of coupling the functional attachment 30 to the main housing 10, particularly by ensuring proper alignment during the process, and also provide visual cues for correct installation. Figure 10 also shows that the inner surfaces of each of the two protruding wall portions 21 and 22 of the U-shaped holder 20 are slightly concave. Similarly, the outer surfaces on both sides of the base member 31 of the functional attachment 30 are slightly convex. As a result, rotation of the functional attachment 30 around the axis extending in the lateral direction S is prevented when the main housing 10 and the functional attachment 30 are coupled. Thus, this embodiment, in addition to the other embodiments described above, contributes to the coupling robustness of the handheld personal care device 1.

[0041] The handheld personal care device 1 described above and shown in the figure offers a high level of ease of use, coupled with the robust coupling and favorable force distribution described above. Coupling the functional attachment 30 to the main housing 10 is easily performed by simply moving the functional attachment 30 toward the main housing 10 in an orientation in which the first and second coupling axes C1 and C2 are aligned. A person holding the functional attachment 30 and the main housing 10 is assisted in achieving the above orientation by the engagement of the guide members 25 and 50 of the U-shaped holder 20 of the main housing 10 and the base member 31 of the functional attachment 30 with each other, and by the acceptance of the projection 34 of the base member 31 into the opening 24 of the upper wall 13 of the main housing 10. Once the functional attachment 30 is connected to the main housing 10, the base member 31 is securely held in the U-shaped holder 20, allowing any movable components and / or electrical components within the functional attachment 30, such as shafts and gears, to be driven based on connections to the appropriate internal components of the main housing 10 via the first and second coupling members 23, 33. To separate the functional attachment 30 from the main housing 10, it is sufficient to grasp the main housing 10 and the functional attachment 30 together and pull them apart with sufficient force, i.e., a separation force greater than a predefined threshold force.

[0042] Figures 11 and 12 show further embodiments of the design of a handheld personal care device 1 that assists a person in correctly positioning the base member 31 of a functional attachment 30 in the U-shaped holder 20 of the main housing 10. This embodiment includes both the upper wall 13 of the main housing 10 and the bottom wall 35 of the base member 31, which is inclined at a similar angle α with respect to an imaginary plane p extending perpendicular to the axial direction A.

[0043] Figures 13 and 14 illustrate another aspect of the design of a handheld personal care device 1 that assists a person in correctly positioning the base member 31 of a functional attachment 30 in the U-shaped holder 20 of the main housing 10. This aspect involves both the inner surfaces of the protruding wall portions 21, 22 of the U-shaped holder 20 and the outer surface of the base member 31 having an asymmetrical appearance in the overall structure of the device 1. Based on the asymmetrical appearance, the base member 31 can only be fitted into the U-shaped holder 20 in a single, predefined orientation relative to the U-shaped holder 20. The lower part of Figure 14 shows how the base member 31 fits into the U-shaped holder 20. Figure 14 also clearly shows the design of the base member 31 having a front wall 36, a rear wall 37, and two opposing side walls 38, 39 that connect the front wall 36 and the rear wall 37 of the base member 31 to each other. In the example shown in the figure, when the main housing 10 and the functional attachment 30 are connected, each of the side walls 38 and 39 of the base member 31 is fully supported in the lateral direction S by the corresponding one of the protruding wall portions 21 and 22 of the U-shaped holder 20.

[0044] Those skilled in the art will see that the scope of the present invention is not limited to the examples described above, and that several amendments and modifications are possible without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims. The present invention is intended to be construed as including all such amendments and modifications, insofar as they remain within the scope of the claims or their equivalents. The present invention is illustrated and described in detail in the drawings and description, but such illustrations and descriptions should be considered illustrative or exemplary only and not restrictive. The present invention is not limited to the embodiments disclosed. The drawings are schematic diagrams and may omit details not necessary to understand the invention, and are not necessarily to scale.

[0045] Variations of the disclosed embodiments can be understood and implemented by those skilled in the art in carrying out the claimed invention, based on a review of the figures, disclosures, and appended claims. In the claims, the word “including” is not exclusive of other steps or elements, and singular elements are not exclusive of plural elements. Any reference numerals in the claims should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention.

[0046] Elements and aspects described in relation to or in connection with a particular embodiment can be appropriately combined with elements and aspects of other embodiments unless otherwise explicitly stated. Therefore, the mere fact that certain means are described in different dependent claims does not mean that combinations of these means cannot be used advantageously.

[0047] As used in this text, the terms “having” and “including” will be understood by those skilled in the art to encompass the term “consisting of.” Therefore, the terms “having” or “including” may mean “consisting of” in one embodiment, but in another embodiment, they may mean “containing / having / equipping with at least the defined species and optionally one or more other species.”

[0048] An important aspect of the present invention is as follows: A handheld personal care device 1 comprising a main housing 10 and a functional attachment 30, wherein the functional attachment 30 is connectable to and detachable from the main housing 10. The main housing 10 includes a first connecting member 23 positioned on the upper wall 13 of the main housing 10. The functional attachment 30 includes a second connecting member 33 positioned on the base member 31 of the functional attachment 30. The main housing 10 further includes a U-shaped holder 20 for receiving and housing the base member 31. The handheld personal care device 1 is designed such that, when the main housing 10 and the functional attachment 30 are coupled, the main housing 10 and the functional attachment 30 are held together in the axial direction A solely by the mutual engagement of the first and second coupling members 22 and 33, and the base member 31 is surrounded and supported in the lateral direction S by the two protruding wall portions 21 and 22 of the U-shaped holder 20 without being connected or coupled to these two protruding wall portions 21 and 22 in the axial direction A.

Claims

1. A handheld personal care device comprising a main housing and a functional attachment that is connectable to and detachable from the main housing, The main housing is, A front wall, a rear wall, an upper wall, and two opposing side walls connecting the front wall and the rear wall, A first connecting member having a first connecting shaft is disposed within the upper wall, A U-shaped holder formed by the upper wall and two opposing protruding wall portions, each forming a corresponding extension of one of the two side walls and extending beyond the upper wall, Includes, The aforementioned functional attachment is, Base member and A functional personal care unit arranged on the base member, A second coupling member having a second coupling shaft is disposed within the base member, Includes, The first and second connecting members can be connected to each other by moving them toward each other along the aligned first and second connecting axes so that their first and second connecting axes are aligned and they are in a mutually engaged state. The first and second connecting members are separable from each other by applying a separation force greater than a predefined threshold force to one of the first and second connecting members in an axial direction parallel to the aligned first and second connecting axes, and away from the other of the first and second connecting members. In the coupling state between the main housing and the functional attachment, where the base member is positioned within the U-shaped holder and the first and second coupling members are mutually engaged, The main housing and the functional attachment are held together in the axial direction solely by the mutual engagement of the first and second connecting members. A handheld personal care device in which the base member of the functional attachment is surrounded and supported by the two protruding wall portions of the U-shaped holder in a lateral direction traversing the aligned first and second coupling axes, without being connected to or coupled to the two protruding wall portions in the axial direction.

2. In the coupled state of the main housing and the functional attachment, the base member of the functional attachment is supported by the upper wall of the main housing, as described in claim 1.

3. The base member includes a bottom wall, The second connecting member is positioned on the bottom wall, The handheld personal care device according to claim 2, wherein in the coupled state of the main housing and the functional attachment, the bottom wall is at least partially supported by the upper wall of the main housing.

4. The handheld personal care device according to claim 3, wherein the upper wall of the main housing has an orientation inclined with respect to an imaginary plane extending perpendicular to the first coupling axis, and the bottom wall of the base member has an orientation inclined with respect to an imaginary plane extending perpendicular to the second coupling axis.

5. The handheld personal care device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the base member includes a front wall, a rear wall, and two opposing side walls that interconnect the front wall and the rear wall of the base member, and in the coupled state of the main housing and the functional attachment, each of the side walls of the base member is at least partially supported in the lateral direction by the corresponding one of the two protruding wall portions of the U-shaped holder.

6. The handheld personal care device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the average length of the two protruding wall portions of the U-shaped holder in the axial direction is at least 50%, preferably at least 100%, of the average distance between the two protruding wall portions in the lateral direction.

7. The handheld personal care device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the average length of the two protruding wall portions of the U-shaped holder in the axial direction is 10% to 50% of the total length of the main housing in the axial direction.

8. The handheld personal care device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the average distance between the front wall and the rear wall of the main housing, measured along the upper wall of the main housing in a direction perpendicular to both the axial and lateral directions, is greater than the average distance between the two protruding wall portions of the U-shaped holder in the lateral direction.

9. The handheld personal care device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein, when viewed in a cross section perpendicular to the first coupling axis, the inner surface of each of the two protruding wall portions of the U-shaped holder is concave.

10. The handheld personal care device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the U-shaped holder and the base member are designed such that, in the coupled state of the main housing and the functional attachment, the base member fits into the U-shaped holder in only one predefined orientation relative to the U-shaped holder, thereby enabling the functional attachment to be coupled to the main housing in only one predefined orientation relative to the main housing.

11. The handheld personal care device according to claim 10, wherein the inner surface of each of the two protruding wall portions of the U-shaped holder is asymmetrical with respect to a first imaginary plane that includes the first coupling axis and extends centrally between the front wall and the rear wall of the main housing, and / or is asymmetrical with respect to a second imaginary plane that includes the first coupling axis and extends centrally between the two protruding wall portions of the U-shaped holder.

12. A handheld personal care device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein a guide member that can engage with each other is provided on the base member and on at least one of the two protruding wall portions of the U-shaped holder, and the guide member that can engage with each other is arranged parallel to the axial direction and is arranged to engage with each other as the first and second coupling members are moved toward each other along the aligned first and second coupling axes so that they are in an engaged state.

13. The main housing houses an electric motor and a drive member driven by the electric motor. In the state in which the main housing and the functional attachment are coupled, the base member accommodates the driven member which is coupled to the drive member. The handheld personal care device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the base member houses a mechanical transmission device that converts the movement of the driven member into different movements of the movable parts of the functional personal care unit.

14. The handheld personal care device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the functional personal care unit is a shaving unit, a clipper unit, a beard trimming unit, or a facial brushing unit.

15. It has multiple different functional attachments, each having a different functional personal care unit, and each can be alternately coupled to the main housing. A handheld personal care device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein each of the plurality of different functional attachments includes the base member, the second coupling member disposed on the base member, and the respective different functional personal care unit disposed on top of the base member.

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