阅读说明：本技术 个人护理装置 (Personal care device ) 是由 T·施瓦斯 J·霍佩尔特 R·德斯 C·埃尔塞泽 于 2020-05-04 设计创作，主要内容包括：本公开涉及一种个人护理装置,具体地讲电动牙刷,该个人护理装置具有：柄部,该柄部可由使用者的手抓握并具有纵向轴线；处理头部,该处理头部与支架连接,该支架在该柄部内延伸并安装在该柄部处以用于克服复位弹簧力围绕枢转轴线的枢转运动；电能消耗单元,具体地讲,驱动单元诸如线性致动器,该电能消耗单元安装在该支架上；以及至少一个电连接器,该至少一个电连接器布置在该柄部和该支架之间,以将电能从相对于该柄部固定安装的能量源输送到该电能消耗单元,其中该电连接器被实现为弹性金属片元件,该弹性金属片元件具有用于提供该复位弹簧力的至少一部分的弹簧常数。(The present disclosure relates to a personal care device, in particular an electric toothbrush, having: a handle graspable by a user's hand and having a longitudinal axis; a treatment head connected with a carriage extending within and mounted at the handle for pivotal movement about a pivot axis against a return spring force; an electric power consumption unit, in particular, a driving unit such as a linear actuator, which is mounted on the bracket; and at least one electrical connector arranged between the handle and the holder to deliver electrical energy from an energy source fixedly mounted with respect to the handle to the electrical energy consuming unit, wherein the electrical connector is realized as a resilient sheet metal element having a spring constant for providing at least a part of the return spring force.)

1. A personal care device, in particular an electric toothbrush, comprising:

a handle graspable by a user's hand, the handle having a longitudinal axis;

a treatment head connected with a cradle extending within and mounted at the handle for pivotal movement about a pivot axis against a return spring force;

an electric energy consuming unit, in particular a drive unit such as a linear actuator, mounted on the support;

at least one electrical connector disposed between the handle and the bracket to deliver electrical energy from an energy source fixedly mounted relative to the handle to the electrical energy consumption unit;

wherein the electrical connector is realized as a resilient sheet metal element having a spring constant for providing at least a part of the return spring force.

2. A personal care device according to claim 1, wherein the resilient sheet metal element is S-shaped or Z-shaped and has a first horizontal arm, a second horizontal arm and a transverse arm connecting the two horizontal arms.

3. The personal care device according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the resilient sheet metal element is preloaded in a rest position of the holder, in particular wherein the preload force has a value in the range between 0.1N and 0.6N, more particularly in the range between 0.2N and 0.5N, still more particularly in the range between 0.3N and 0.4N.

4. A personal care device according to one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the sheet metal element has a protrusion extending vertically from the first horizontal arm, the protrusion being fixedly connected to a contact area of a contact element on one of the stand or handle by means of an electrically conductive connection, such as a welded connection.

5. A personal care device according to claim 4, wherein the protrusions are arranged in slots of the contact element, which slots extend perpendicular to the direction of extension of the protrusions and which slots have one open side.

6. The personal care device of claim 5, wherein the slot is chamfered at the open side.

7. A personal care device according to one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the sheet metal element is made of a copper alloy, such as CuNi3Si1 Mg.

8. The personal care device according to one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the sheet metal material has a sheet thickness in a range between 0.1mm and 0.2mm, in particular in a range between 0.125mm and 0.175mm, more particularly about 0.15 mm.

9. The personal care device according to one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the spring constant of the sheet metal element is in a range between 0.1N/mm and 0.55N/mm, in particular in a range between 0.2N/mm and 0.45N/mm, and more particularly about 0.32N/mm.

10. The personal care device of one of claims 2 to 9, wherein the second horizontal arm of the sheet metal element has a cut-out through which a plastic connector finger extends, the plastic connector finger plastically deforming and holding the second horizontal arm in place.

11. The personal care device according to one of claims 2 to 10, wherein the sheet metal element has a protrusion extending vertically from the second horizontal arm of the sheet metal element, the protrusion abutting a side of a contact element, or wherein the sheet metal element comprises a recessed portion abutting the protrusion of the contact element.

12. The personal care device according to one of claims 2 to 11, wherein the horizontal arm of the sheet metal element is substantially used for connecting the sheet metal element with a contact element and the transverse arm provides a spring function along an effective length, in particular wherein the effective length is in a range between 5mm and 15mm, more particularly in a range between 6mm and 10mm, and still more particularly about 8.5 mm.

13. The personal care device according to one of claims 2 to 12, wherein the width of the transversal arms of the sheet metal element is in the range between 1mm and 5mm, in particular in the range between 1.2mm and 3mm, more particularly in the range between 1.3mm and 2mm, and still more particularly about 1.8 mm.

14. The personal care device according to one of claims 1 to 13, comprising at least one spring element having a spring constant, which is arranged between the holder and the handle such that the spring element increases the return spring force acting between the holder and the handle when the holder is pivoted out of its rest position, in particular wherein the spring element is a rectangular bar spring element and/or wherein the spring element provides a return spring force providing a total return spring force acting between holder and handle of more than about 50%.

15. The personal care device of one of claims 1 to 14, wherein a mechanical stop element is provided at the handle to define a rest position of the stand relative to the handle.

Technical Field

The present disclosure relates to a personal care device, such as an electric toothbrush, having an energy source, an electrical energy consuming unit (such as a drive unit), and an electrical connector for connecting the energy source and the electrical energy consuming unit, wherein in particular the energy source and the electrical energy consuming unit are movably mounted with respect to each other.

Background

It is known that electrical connections between two electronic components that are movable with respect to each other present technical challenges, since repeated relative movements of the two electronic components generate fatigue, which must have a certain fatigue resistance. A Flexible Flat Cable (FFC) may be used and the connection joint may be equipped with a strain relief.

It is an object of the present disclosure to provide a personal care device comprising an electrical connector for relative movement thereof mounted between an energy source and an energy consuming device, wherein the electrical connector is particularly suitable for withstanding the stress of repeated relative movements, and further wherein the electrical connector may also be suitable for enabling automated assembly of the personal care device.

Disclosure of Invention

According to one aspect, there is provided a personal care device, in particular an electric toothbrush, having: a handle graspable by a user's hand and having a longitudinal axis; a treatment head connected with a carriage extending within and mounted at the handle for pivotal movement about a pivot axis against a return spring force; an electric power consumption unit, in particular, a driving unit such as a linear actuator, which is mounted on the bracket; and at least one electrical connector arranged between the handle and the holder to deliver electrical energy from an energy source fixedly mounted with respect to the handle to the electrical energy consumption unit, wherein the electrical connector is realized as a resilient sheet metal element having a spring constant for providing at least a part of the return spring force.

Drawings

The present disclosure will be further elucidated by a detailed description of exemplary embodiments and with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings, there is shown in the drawings,

fig. 1 is a diagram of an exemplary personal care device;

fig. 2 is a schematic view of an exemplary embodiment of a personal care device according to the present disclosure;

fig. 3A-3D are different views of an exemplary embodiment of an electrical connector;

fig. 4A is an illustration of an exemplary electrical connector in an unloaded assembly state prior to full connection;

FIG. 4B is an illustration of a later assembled state of the connector elements shown in FIG. 4A with the electrical connector in a final position; and is

Fig. 5 is a top view of the connector element and the electrical connector in a final spatial position prior to connecting the electrical connector and the connector element.

Detailed Description

In the context of the present specification, "personal care" shall mean the cultivation (or care) of the skin and its appendages (i.e. hair and nails) as well as the teeth and oral cavity (including tongue, gums, etc.), with the aim of preventing diseases and maintaining and strengthening health ("care") on the one hand and cosmetically treating and improving the appearance of the skin and its appendages on the other hand. It should include maintaining and enhancing well-being. This includes skin care, hair care and oral care as well as nail care. This also includes other grooming activities such as beard care, shaving, and epilation. Thus, by "personal care device" is meant any device for performing such nutritional or grooming activities, for example a (cosmetic) skin treatment device such as a skin massaging device or a skin brush; a wet shaver; an electric razor or trimmer; an electric depilator; and oral care devices such as manual or electric toothbrushes, (electric) flosses, (electric) irrigators, (electric) tongue cleaners, or (electric) gum massagers. This should not exclude that the proposed personal care system may have a more pronounced benefit in one or several of these nutrition or device areas than in one or several other of these areas. In the following description with reference to the drawings, an electric toothbrush is selected to present the details of the proposed personal care device. To the extent details are not specific to a power toothbrush, the proposed technology can be used in any other personal care device.

A personal care device according to the present disclosure includes an energy consuming unit mounted for pivotal movement relative to a handle of the personal care device. The personal care device comprises a stand on which the energy consuming unit is mounted and which is mounted for said movement relative to the handle, in particular a pivoting movement about a pivot axis. The support may extend within the handle, but a portion of the support or a portion substantially non-movably connected with the support may extend outside the interior cavity of the handle (this outer extending portion may be the treatment head of the personal care device). The handle of the personal care device may have a longitudinal axis, and then the pivot axis may be arranged substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the handle. The energy source is fixedly mounted at or relative to the handle. Here, "fixedly mounted" shall mean that the fixedly mounted object cannot move relative to the handle, which includes that the object (here the energy source) can be mounted on a mounting structure which is inserted into an inner cavity of the handle during assembly, such that the mounting structure is fixed at the handle. The holder is connectable with a treatment head of the personal care device, wherein the treatment head is arranged to be detachable, in particular repeatedly detachable and reattachable, but substantially immovable relative to the holder during use of the personal care device. The bracket may be arranged for pivotal movement about the pivot axis when a force is applied at the treatment head, the force having a component that generates a torque relative to the pivot axis. In some embodiments, the energy consuming unit is a drive unit for driving at least a portion of the treatment head into motion. The drive unit may have a drive shaft to which at least a portion of the treatment head is connected. The drive unit may comprise a DC motor or a resonant actuator (i.e. a resonant spring-mass type motor providing at least one of a linear motion or a rotational oscillatory motion via a drive shaft).

In order to electrically connect the energy source and the energy consuming unit, at least one electrical connector is arranged between the handle and the holder for transferring electrical energy from the energy source to the energy consuming device. Although the number of electrical connectors according to the present disclosure is not limited, in some embodiments, two such electrical connectors are utilized to establish one closed electronic circuit. The electrical connector is realized as a resilient sheet metal element having a spring constant and in particular being compressed when the holder is moved out of its rest position relative to the handle, such that the resilient sheet metal element provides a return spring force depending on its spring constant and the compression distance. The personal care device may comprise a mechanical stop element to define the rest position of the stand when no external forces causing the pivoting movement act on the treatment head. In particular, the resilient sheet metal element may provide a biasing force or preload force when the bracket is in its rest position, which biasing force needs to be overcome by an external force before the bracket starts to pivot.

The resilient sheet metal element may take a particular form. In some embodiments, the resilient sheet metal element has a first substantially horizontal arm and a second substantially horizontal arm, which are connected by a transverse arm, thereby creating a substantially Z-shaped (or S-shaped) structure. The horizontal arm may be equipped with structures that support automated assembly. For example, the first or second horizontal arm may comprise at least one vertically extending protrusion extending through a slot in the connector element and coupled thereto by a soldered connection to the conductive area. The connector element may specifically be a Printed Circuit Board (PCB). The slot may be open on one side to allow the protrusion and the slot to move relative to each other during assembly such that the protrusion enters the slot via its open end during assembly. The open end of the slot may be chamfered so that potential offset between the slot and the tab is balanced out. For example, the first or second horizontal arm may comprise at least one vertically extending protrusion abutting a side of the connector element. For example, the first or second horizontal arm may comprise at least one cut-out through which a retainer element (e.g. a retainer finger) extends from the connector element. For example, during assembly, the cutout and the retainer element may be moved relative to each other such that the retainer element at the end extends through the cutout. In case the retainer element is made of plastic, the protruding portion of the retainer element is plastically deformable to fixedly hold the resilient sheet metal element in place. The soldered connection joint can be realized at least on one of the two horizontal arms, for example with a conductive area on the connector element or with a wire. The cut-out may be provided at least one of the two horizontal arms. The method of plastically deforming the plastic holder element and establishing the welded connection is easy to automate.

As already explained, the horizontal arms of the resilient sheet metal element can be used for positioning and holding purposes, and the transverse arms can then provide a spring function.

The resilient sheet metal element may be made of CuNi3Si1Mg material, which is commercially available, for example, as Wieland-K55 from viland corporation of Ulm, Germany (Wieland-Werke AG, Ulm, Germany). This material provides on the one hand good electrical conductivity and on the other hand good mechanical properties for use as an elastic element (i.e. a spring element). This is just one example of a suitable material.

The personal care device may comprise at least one further spring element (i.e. a further spring element in addition to the resilient sheet metal element), in particular two spring elements arranged between the handle and the stand, and which provides a return spring force between the stand and the handle when the stand is pivoted out of its rest position. The at least one spring element may be specified such that the total return spring force between the bracket and the handle is provided primarily by the at least one spring element. For example, the at least one spring element may provide more than about 50% of the total return spring force, in particular it may provide more than about 66% of the total return spring force, further in particular it may provide more than about 80% of the total return spring force, and even further in particular it may provide more than about 90% of the total return spring force. The at least one spring element may be designed with high precision and low manufacturing tolerances, for example the spring element may be designed as a rectangular bar element made of spring steel. Thus, manufacturing tolerances of the resilient sheet metal element can be compensated to a certain extent.

It has already been mentioned that the resilient sheet metal element provides a biasing force or preload force in the rest state of the bracket. The biasing force may be in a range between 0.1N and 0.6N, in particular between 0.2N and 0.5N, and further in particular between 0.3N and 0.4N.

The resilient sheet metal element may be made of sheet metal having a thickness in the range between 0.1mm and 0.2mm, in particular in the range between 0.125mm and 0.175mm, and further in particular about 0.15 mm.

The spring constant of the resilient sheet metal element may be in the range between 0.1N/mm and 0.55N/mm, in particular between 0.2N/mm and 0.45N/mm, and further in particular about 0.32N/mm.

Fig. l is an illustration of an exemplary personal care device 1 implemented as an electric toothbrush. The personal care device 1 has a handle 20 and a treatment head 10, here realized as a brush head. The treatment head 10 may be replaceable (i.e. repeatedly detachable and re-attachable for hygienic reasons or for reasons of providing a different treatment, and in particular interchangeable with a new or different treatment head). The treatment head 10 may have a functional head 11 (here a bristle holder) which is arranged to be moved, in particular driven by a drive unit provided in an inner cavity of the handle 20. The treatment head may have a housing 12 for connecting the treatment head 10 with a support extending in the hollow handle 20. In other embodiments, the treatment head 10 does not comprise an independently movable functional head, and the treatment head 10 is driven into motion completely, which should not preclude the treatment head 10 being driven into one motion while the functional head 11 is driven into another motion.

Fig. 2 is a schematic diagram of an exemplary structural arrangement of a personal care apparatus 1A according to the present description. The personal care device 1A comprises a treatment head 10A, a handle 20A with a handle housing 21A, a holder 30A, a mounting structure 40A, an energy consuming unit 50A, here realized as a drive unit, an energy source 60A and an electrical connector 100A. Treatment head 10A comprises a functional head 11A and a housing 12A, which is coupled with an adapter element 31A, which is fixedly connected with a support 30A (adapter element 31A may also be integral with support 30A). The fixed connection of the treatment head 10A should not preclude that the treatment head 10A can be detached from the adapter element 31A. The carriage 30A is pivotably mounted at the mounting structure 40A such that when an external force F is applied at a treatment head 10A substantially non-movably mounted at the carriage 30A, the carriage 30A can pivot relative to the mounting structure 40A about a pivot axis P, the treatment force F generating a torque relative to the pivot axis P. The mounting structure 40A is fixedly secured at the handle housing 21A, such as by snap connections 211A, 212A, etc. (e.g., clips may be an alternative form) such that the mounting structure 40A may not substantially move relative to the handle housing 21A, and the handle housing 21A and the mounting structure 40A may be considered a single element. The connector element 41A is part of the mounting structure 40A or mounted at the mounting structure 40A. This should not preclude the bracket 40A itself being a connector element. Here, the connector element 41A is a PCB fixedly mounted at the mounting structure 40A. In addition, an energy source 60A (e.g., a battery or accumulator) is also mounted at the mounting structure 40A. The electrical connector 100A is realized as a resilient sheet metal element (i.e., realized as an electrically conductive spring element) having a spring constant that provides a return spring force upon pivoting of the bracket 30A about the pivot axis P away from its rest position relative to the handle 20A (i.e., relative to the mounting structure 40A). The electrical connector 100A has a projection 101A on one end, which is electrically conductively coupled to the conductive area on the connector element 41A by means of a soldered connection 411A. At the other end, the electrical connector 100A is connected to the connector element 80A by the protrusion 801A. The connector element 80A may be a bobbin carrying the coils of the drive unit. The connector element 80A is fixedly connected with the bracket 30A. It is not to be excluded that the connector elements on the side of the holder are realized by the holder 30A itself. The protrusion 801A may be electrically conductive and may establish an electrically conductive connection with the coil (i.e., the energy dissipating unit 50A). The electrical connector 100A may be conductively connected to the energy dissipating unit 50A in another manner, for example, a conductive wire may be wrapped around the lower horizontal arm of the electrical connector 100A and/or the conductive wire may be soldered at the electrical connector 100A. Another electrical connector may be disposed between the cradle 30A and the mounting structure 40A to complete an electrically conductive circuit between the energy source 60A and the energy consuming unit 50A.

In the example shown, a spring element 70A extends between the cradle 30A and the mounting structure 40A, the spring element 70A having a spring constant and providing a return spring force that increases the return spring force applied by the electrical connector 100A, thereby creating a total return spring force. The spring element 70A is here fixed in a pivot bearing 314A on the side of the bracket 30A and is fixed by a clamping element 401A on the side of the mounting structure 40A.

A mechanical stop element 213A may be provided at the handle 20A to define a rest position of the stand 30A in an unloaded state.

Fig. 3A-3D are various views of an exemplary electrical connector 200 according to the present disclosure. Fig. 3A is a perspective view, fig. 3B is a side view, fig. 3C is a top view, and fig. 3D is a front view of the electrical connector 200.

The electrical connector 200 is made from sheet metal that is cut and bent into the shape shown. The resilient sheet metal element (i.e. the electrical connector) 200 has a generally Z-shaped or S-shaped form (depending on the viewing direction). Fig. 3A to 3D show the shape of the resilient sheet metal element 200 in an assembled state when the stand is in its rest position. In this rest position, the resilient sheet metal element 200 has a first horizontal arm 210, a second horizontal arm 220 and a transverse arm 230 connecting the two horizontal arms 210, 220. The transverse arm 230 is connected to the horizontal arms 210 and 220 by approximately 180 degree bends 240 and 250. The curvature of the curved sections 240, 250 is substantially circular. The radius R1 of the first curved segment 240 connecting the first horizontal arm 210 and the transverse arm 230 is greater than the radius R2 of the second curved segment 250 connecting the transverse arm 230 and the second horizontal arm 220. The reason for the difference in radii R1 and R2 will be explained further below. First horizontal arm 210 includes a protrusion 211 extending vertically upward from first horizontal arm 210. The second horizontal arm 220 includes a notch 221 and a recessed portion 222. These auxiliary structures of the resilient sheet metal element 200, i.e. the protrusions 211, the cut-outs 221 and the recessed portions 222, are only exemplary and a skilled person may use other auxiliary structures for positioning and connecting the resilient sheet metal element 200 and the respective connector element. For example, in addition to or in lieu of the recessed portion 222, the second horizontal arm 220 may include one or several protrusions that may extend vertically downward from the second horizontal arm 220. The second horizontal arm has a length L2 such that, in top view, a portion 225 of the second horizontal arm 220 is not covered by the first horizontal arm 210 or the transverse arm 230. A notch 221 is provided in the uncovered portion 225. This allows the cut 221 to be relatively freely accessible.

In the following, exemplary geometrical values of the resilient sheet metal element 200 are provided:

length L1 of the first horizontal arm: 5.25mm

Length L2 of the second horizontal arm: 15.1mm

Length of transverse arm L3: 8.5mm

Radius R1 of the first curved segment: 0.85mm

Radius R2 of the second curved segment: 0.55mm

Thickness d of the metal sheet: 0.15mm

Width w3 of the transverse arm: 1.79 mm.

Fig. 4A shows an intermediate state of the resilient sheet metal element 200B which has been placed on a connector element 320B, which connector element 320B is here part of a plastic holder (i.e. a skeleton) for the coil of the drive unit. Fig. 4A shows the resilient sheet metal element 200B in a given shape, i.e. in an unloaded state. The metal sheet, after being stamped (or laser cut) into the correct flat shape, is plastically deformed by a corresponding bending and pressing machine that strains the metal sheet beyond its elastic limit so that the resilient metal sheet element 200B assumes its designated shape rather than returning to a flat shape. Fig. 4B shows the shape assumed by the resilient sheet metal element 200B once the connector element 310B (here the PCB) is mounted at its final position at the mounting structure (by first moving downwards according to arrow M1, then sideways according to arrow M2 in fig. 4B). It can be seen that the resilient sheet metal element 200B has two projections 223B and 224B extending vertically downwards from the second horizontal arm 220B. The retaining element 321B extends through a cutout in the second horizontal arm 220B. The protrusion 322B of the connector element 320B abuts the recessed portion of the second horizontal arm 220B. The auxiliary structure of the resilient sheet metal element 200B and the auxiliary structure of the connector element 320B serve to achieve a precise automated positioning of the resilient sheet metal element 200B on the connector element 320B. Although this is not shown, the second horizontal arm may be soldered to the contact element to establish an electrically conductive connection with the energy consuming unit (here the coil of the drive unit).

As best seen in fig. 4B, the resilient sheet metal element 200B is compressed, thereby providing a pre-stress (or preload) between the bracket and the mounting structure. The specified shape of the resilient sheet metal element 200B is chosen such that the resilient sheet metal element always needs to be compressed despite manufacturing tolerances. Once in the compressed state, as connector element 310B moves horizontally toward protrusion 211B, the upwardly extending protrusion 211B is caught by the open slot in connector element 310B, so that protrusion 211B automatically aligns with the slot during assembly. Due to the preloading, the protrusion 211B extends beyond the top surface of the connector element 310B in a defined manner to enable automatic welding of the protrusion 211B to the connector element 310B. The elastic sheet metal member 200B has a prescribed shape. Due to the variety of manufacturing processes, a given shape is only achieved within a certain tolerance range.

Fig. 5 is a top view of a portion of first horizontal arm 210B and connector element 310B of electrical connector 200B. The two objects are shown in their final spatial relationship, i.e., when connector element 310B has moved in the direction of arrow M2. Although this is not shown in fig. 5, the horizontal movement of the connector element 310B in the direction M2 also serves to couple the connector element 310B with the mounting structure such that it is securely fixed at the mounting structure. The protrusion 211B of the electrical connector 200B is now positioned in the slot 311B of the connector element 310B, wherein the slot 311B is formed by the lateral finger 312B. Slot 311B is open on one side (here the left side relative to the regular paper orientation). The open side comprises chamfers 313B which support guiding the protrusions 211B into the slots when the connector element 310B is moved in the direction M2. In the next manufacturing step, the protrusion 211B may be soldered to the conductive region 314B provided on the connector element 314B. Conductive region 314B is conductively coupled to an energy source. This should not preclude the use of other means of electrically conductive connection of the electrical connector, such as conductive wires wrapped around a portion of the electrical connector.

The dimensions and values disclosed herein are not to be understood as being strictly limited to the exact numerical values recited. Rather, unless otherwise specified, each such dimension is intended to mean both the recited value and a functionally equivalent range surrounding that value. For example, a dimension disclosed as "40 mm" is intended to mean "about 40 mm".