Abstract
An attachment for a personal care device, such as a shaving or trimming device, is configured to be releasably coupled to a coupling structure of the personal care device by a coupler. The coupler includes a shaft having at least one coupling recess on the circumferential surface thereof. The coupling recess has a central portion and first and second side portions arranged on opposite sides of the central portion. The coupling recess also includes a sloped surface arranged in at least the central portion. When the attachment is coupled to the coupling structure, the sloped surface is engaged by a spring of the coupling structure. At least one of the first and second side portions of the coupling recess is recessed relative to the sloped surface, seen in a direction parallel to the central axis of the shaft.
Claims
1. An attachment for a personal care device, the attachment comprising: at least one treater configured to perform a treatment action; and a coupler configured to releasably couple the attachment to a coupling structure of a main housing of the personal care device in a coupled condition, wherein the coupler comprises a shaft having a circumferential surface and a central axis, the shaft protruding from the attachment in a direction away from the at least one treater, and having at least one coupling recess arranged in a portion of the circumferential surface, and wherein the at least one coupling recess, when seen in the cross-section of the shaft perpendicular to the central axis, has first and second side portions on opposite sides of a central point, wherein the at least one coupling recess has a sloped surface inclined towards the at least one treater seen in a direction from the circumferential surface towards the central axis, wherein the sloped surface is configured to receive a spring of the personal care device for releasably attaching the attachment to the personal care device in the coupled condition, wherein one side portion of the first and second side portions is configured to engage the spring in the coupled condition, and another side portion of the first and second side portions is configured to not engage the spring in the coupled condition wherein the one side portion has a different shape than the another side portion, such that the first side portion extends from the central point to a first end point of the at least one coupling recess and the second side portion extends from the central point to a second end point of the at least one coupling recess, the first end point being nearer to the treater than the second end point, and wherein the one side portion is the first side portion and the another side portion is the second side portion.
2. The attachment according to claim 1, wherein the sloped surface is bordered by an edge at each location where the sloped surface borders a respective one of the first and second side portions that are recessed relative to the sloped surface, the edge being directed inwardly seen from the circumferential surface.
3. The attachment according to claim 1, wherein the sloped surface is plane.
4. The attachment according to claim 1, wherein the at least one coupling recess comprises two coupling recesses arranged on regions of the circumferential surface of the shaft which are mutually opposite relative to the central axis.
5. The attachment according to claim 1, wherein the attachment, when coupled to the personal care device, is solely supported by the coupler.
6. The attachment according to claim 1, wherein a collar is provided around the shaft.
7. A personal care device comprising: an attachment having at least one treater configured to perform a treatment action, and a coupler; and a main housing comprising a housing coupler configured to be releasably coupled with the coupler of the attachment in a coupled condition; wherein the coupler includes a shaft having a circumferential surface and a central axis, the shaft protruding from the attachment in a direction away from the at least one treater, and having at least one coupling recess arranged in a portion of the circumferential surface which is convex at least when seen in a cross-section of the shaft perpendicular to the central axis, wherein the housing coupler comprises: a retaining recess for receiving the shaft of the coupler, and at least one spring for engagement with the at least one coupling recess of the shaft to establish a releasable coupling between the attachment and the main housing in the coupled condition, wherein the at least one coupling recess, when seen in the cross-section of the shaft perpendicular to the central axis, has first and second side portions on opposite sides of a central point, wherein one side portion of the first and second side portions is configured to engage the spring in the coupled condition, and another side portion of the first and second side portions is configured to not engage the spring in the coupled condition, wherein the one side portion has a different shape than the another side portion, such that the first side portion extends from the central point to a first end point of the at least one coupling recess and the second side portion extends from the central point to a second end point of the at least one coupling recess, the first end point being nearer to the treater than the second end point, and wherein the one side portion is the first side portion and the another side portion is the second side portion.
8. An attachment for a personal care device, the attachment comprising: at least one treater configured to perform a treatment action; and a coupler configured to releasably couple the attachment to a coupling structure of a main housing of the personal care device in a coupled condition, wherein the coupler comprises a shaft having a circumferential surface and a central axis, the shaft protruding from the attachment in a direction away from the at least one treater, and having at least one coupling recess arranged in a portion of the circumferential surface, and wherein the at least one coupling recess has first and second side portions on opposite sides of a central point, wherein the at least one coupling recess is configured to receive a spring of the personal care device for releasably attaching the attachment to the personal care device in the coupled condition, wherein one side portion of the first and second side portions is configured to engage the spring in the coupled condition, and another side portion of the first and second side portions is configured to not engage the spring in the coupled condition, wherein the one side portion has a different shape than the another side portion, such that the first side portion extends from the central point to a first end point of the at least one coupling recess and the second side portion extends from the central point to a second end point of the at least one coupling recess, the first end point being nearer to the treater than the second end point, and wherein the one side portion is the first side portion and the another side portion is the second side portion.
9. The attachment of claim 8, wherein the circumferential surface is convex at least when seen in a cross-section of the shaft perpendicular to the central axis.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
(1) Embodiments of the invention will be described, by way of example only, with reference to the drawings, in which
(2) FIGS. 1a and 1b schematically show three-dimensional views of a known personal care device comprising a detachable attachment;
(3) FIGS. 2a and 2b schematically show three-dimensional views of the attachment of the personal care device of FIG. 1 and a part of the main housing of the personal care device in which the attachment can be releasably retained;
(4) FIGS. 3a and 3b schematically show cross-sectional views of the attachment and the part of the main housing shown in FIGS. 2a and 2b, wherein FIG. 3a shows a detached condition of the attachment, and wherein FIG. 3b shows a coupled condition of the attachment;
(5) FIG. 4a schematically shows a side view of another known coupling member;
(6) FIG. 4b schematically shows a cross-sectional view of a part of a known personal care device comprising the coupling member shown in FIG. 4a in a coupled condition;
(7) FIG. 5 shows computer simulations of the effect of an off-center pull-off force applied on a known coupling member;
(8) FIG. 6 schematically shows a coupling member with a coupling recess of an embodiment of an attachment in accordance with the present invention;
(9) FIG. 7 shows computer simulations of the effect of an off-center pull-off force applied on the coupling member shown in FIG. 6 in accordance with an embodiment substantially similar to that shown in FIG. 6;
(10) FIGS. 8a-8g schematically show coupling members with a coupling recess of various alternative embodiments of an attachment in accordance with the present invention; and
(11) FIG. 9 schematically shows an example of a possible shape of the surface of a coupling recess with a curved, sloped surface.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS
(12) FIGS. 1a and 1b schematically show three-dimensional views of a known personal care device 1 comprising a detachable attachment 2 and a main housing 12 including a drive shaft 30 for driving the attachment 2 and drive means, such as a motor 35, for driving the drive shaft 30. The device shown in these and the following figures is an electric trimmer, but other kinds of devices, such as shavers and massaging devices, are also covered by the present invention.
(13) FIGS. 2a and 2b schematically show three-dimensional views of a known design of a releasable coupling between the attachment 2 and a base part 3 of the main housing 12, exemplified with the trimmer in FIGS. 1a and 1b. FIG. 2a shows the attachment, and FIG. 2b shows an upper part of the base part 3 which comprises a retaining recess 4 for holding the attachment 2. The retaining recess 4 comprises a spring element 5 which, in the illustrated embodiment, is in the form of a bent piece of spring metal, i.e., a spring element bent in a U-shape having two parallel legs. Alternatively, the two spring legs could be embodied as two individual spring elements. As seen in FIG. 2a, the attachment 2 comprises a shaft 6, also referred to as a shaft-like element 6, adapted to engage with and be received by the retaining recess 4. Two coupling recesses 7 (only one of which is visible in FIG. 2a) are located on a circumferential surface 8 of the shaft-like element 6, i.e. in mutually opposite positions relative to a central axis of the shaft-like element 6.
(14) FIGS. 3a and 3b schematically show, in cross-sectional views, the known releasable couplings as shown in FIGS. 2a and 2b along a plane extending through the central axis 13 of the shaft-like element 6. FIG. 3a shows the attachment 2 in a released condition, and FIG. 3b shows the attachment 2 in a condition coupled to the base part 3 of the main housing 12 of the personal care device 1. The attachment 2 comprises at least one treatment member 9 for performing a treatment action. Such a treatment action could e.g. be shaving, in which case the attachment would be a shaving head, e.g. comprising one or more rotary shaving units. Other possible embodiments of the attachment could be a shaving unit with a linearly moving shaving member, a trimming unit in several executions, a unit with rotational brushes e.g. for facial cleaning, or an eye treatment unit. The attachment 2 further comprises a coupling member 10 which is releasably retainable by a coupling structure 11 of the base part 3 of the personal care device 1. The coupling member 10 comprises a shaft-like element 6 having a circumferential surface 8 and a central axis 13. The part of the attachment 2 comprising the at least one treatment member 9 may have any shape at least partly dependent on the treatment action to be performed. The shape shown in FIGS. 1a-3b is schematic only. The shaft-like element 6 protrudes from a surface 14 of the attachment 2, facing the coupling structure 11 in the coupled condition of the attachment, so that it can be engaged with the coupling structure 11. In other words, the shaft-like element 6 protrudes from the attachment 2 in a direction away from the at least one treatment member 9, so that the shaft-like element 6 has an orientation on the attachment 2 which ensures that it is adapted to be received by the retaining recess 4 of the coupling structure 11.
(15) In the embodiment in FIGS. 3a and 3b and in the following figures, the shaft-like element 6 comprises two coupling recesses 7, arranged on regions of the circumferential surface 8 of the shaft-like element 6 which are mutually opposite relative to the central axis 13 of the shaft-like element 6. This arrangement of the two coupling recesses 7 allows the use of the attachment 2 in a personal care device having a main housing with a base part e.g. as disclosed in WO 2008/062339. An alternative design would be a design with only one coupling recess on one side of the circumferential surface of the shaft-like element. The two coupling recesses 7 each comprise a sloped surface 15, said sloped surface 15 being inclined towards the treatment member 9, seen in a direction from the circumferential surface 8 towards the central axis 13. The sloped surfaces 15 of the two coupling recesses 7 are arranged to each engage with respectively one of the two legs of the spring element 5 of the coupling structure 11, so that the attachment 2 is releasably retained in the retaining recess 4 of the coupling structure 11 of the main housing 12 of the personal care device 1.
(16) FIG. 4a schematically shows a side view of another known coupling member 10, and FIG. 4b schematically shows a cross-sectional view of a part of the main housing of a known personal care device with the coupling member 10 as shown in FIG. 4a coupled thereto. FIG. 4a shows the coupling member 10 in a condition wherein the lower part of the coupling member 10 is about to engage with the spring element 5 of the coupling structure 11 of the base part 3 of the main housing. To couple the attachment 2 to the main housing, the attachment 2 is pressed downwards starting from the orientation shown in FIG. 4a. As a result, the legs of the spring element 5 are bent elastically in radially outward directions by their interaction with a further sloped surface provided on the bottom portion of the shaft-like element 6, until the legs pass the widest part of the circumferential surface 8 of the shaft-like element 6. By then, the legs engage with the two opposed coupling recesses 7 in a snap-fastening manner as shown in FIG. 4b. The sloped surfaces 15 of the coupling recesses 7 make it possible to release the attachment 2 from its engagement with the legs of the spring element 5 by applying a pulling force on the attachment 2, preferably aligned with the central axis of the shaft-like element.
(17) As shown in FIG. 4b, the attachment 2, when coupled to the main housing of the known personal care device, is solely supported by the coupling member 10. As a result, it is achieved that, when an external load is exerted on the attachment 2 of the personal care device 1, the load is transferred to the coupling member 10. Since, in the coupled state, the attachment 2 is not supported in the area of its outer circumference, the area of the outer circumference of the attachment 2 does not contribute in transferring the external load to the base part 3 of the main housing. As a result, the coupling member 10 solely has to transfer the external load to the base part 3. Since the coupling member 10 is arranged in a relatively narrow central area of the attachment 2, the mechanical torque associated with an external load exerted on the outer circumference of the attachment 2 will lead to a relatively high force on the coupling member 10. If the external load is large enough, the coupling member 10 is released from the coupling structure 11, thereby preventing that an overload would result in damage to the attachment 2 or the treatment member 9. In normal use of the personal care device 1, the coupling member 10 and the coupling structure 11 provide a solid coupling between the attachment 2 and the base part 3 such that a force exerted on the attachment 2 during normal use does not result in release of the coupling member 10. Only if the load on the attachment 2 exceeds a critical value, for example due to an accidental misuse or fall, the coupling member 10, and thus the whole attachment 2, is released from the base part 3.
(18) As also seen in FIGS. 4a and 4b, a collar 16 is provided around the shaft-like element 6 for abutting on an edge around the circumference of the retaining recess 4. The collar 16 abuts the base part 3 when the attachment 2 is attached to the base part 3. While the spring element 5 exerts a spring force on the sloped surfaces 15, the collar 16 prevents a further insertion of the coupling member 10, thus generating a tension force of the spring element 5 on the sloped surface 15 for retaining the coupling member 10 in a fixed position in the retaining recess 4. Further, the collar 16 may prevent dirt and dust from entering into the retaining recess 4 and/or may provide a watertight closure of the base part 3. If the collar 16 is not designed symmetrically, the collar may define an angular orientation of the attachment 2 about the central axis 13 in relation to the base part 3. Alternatively or in combination therewith, a protruding rib on the circumferential surface can be used to ensure a desired angular orientation of the attachment 2.
(19) The spring element 5 engages with a relatively large portion of the sloped surfaces 15 of the coupling recesses 7, thereby ensuring a sufficient holding force for retaining the attachment 2 coupled to the base part 3. When the attachment 2 is removed by applying a pulling force which is aligned with the central axis 13, the spring element 5 will glide off the sloped surfaces 15 until it reaches the circumferential surface 8, whereby the attachment 2 is released. However, studies including the use of computer simulations have shown that, when an off-center force F is applied as shown in the first part of FIG. 5, i.e. a force F parallel to but not aligned with the central axis 13, the spring element 5 will not glide off the sloped surface 15 in the intended manner. This is due to the fact that the off-center force gives rise to a torque on the coupling member 10 resulting in a tilting of the coupling member. This tilting will also occur for orientations and points of exertion of the applied force F other than along the central axis 13. The most critical condition occurs when the force F is applied in a plane comprising the central axis 13 and extending parallel to the longitudinal extensions of the two legs of the spring element 5. FIG. 5 shows the results of computer simulations illustrating the process of detachment of the coupling member 10 by application of a force as shown in the first sub-figure, i.e. the figure marked with “0 Degree”. FIG. 5 shows how the tilting of the coupling member 10, and thus of the whole attachment 2, causes the legs of the spring element 5 to glide off the sloped surfaces 15 of the coupling recesses 7, starting at the side portions of the sloped surfaces 15 where the depth of the coupling recesses 7 is relatively small, and to further glide off via the edges between the sloped surfaces 15 and the circumferential surface 8. In this situation, the resulting effective holding force of the spring element 5 on the sloped surfaces 15 is relatively low. In the preferred situation wherein the pulling force is exerted centrally along the central axis 13, the legs of the spring element 5 will glide off more uniformly over the sloped surfaces 15 of the coupling recesses 7, so that the central portions of the sloped surfaces 15, where the coupling recesses 7 have the largest depth, fully contribute to providing resistance against the gliding off of the spring element 5. An off-center pulling force generally does not cause any problem when it is the intention of a user to remove the attachment 2. However, in case of an off-center pulling force during use of the personal care device 1, the attachment 2 can be released from the base part 3 too easily, i.e. with too little force.
(20) The above described problem has been solved by the inventors of the present invention by re-designing the geometry of the coupling recess 7 as will be described in the following. FIG. 6 shows a geometry of a coupling recess 7 in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The other features of an attachment for a personal care device according to the invention are as schematically described in relation to the FIGS. 1-5. The coupling recess 7 in FIG. 6 comprises a sloped surface 15 which is partly delimited by an edge 17 directed inwardly seen from the circumferential surface 8, i.e. an edge 17 oriented in a direction towards a central region of the shaft-like element 6. The edge 17 typically has a radius of curvature from 0 to 3 mm, such as from 0 to 1 mm or from 0.5 to 2 mm, preferably from 0.1 to 0.5 mm along at least a part of its longitudinal extension.
(21) In the coupling recess 7 in FIG. 6, the sloped surface 15 extends over a central portion 7a (having a central point 7b) of the coupling recess 7 and over a first side portion 18 of the coupling recess 7 that extends from the central portion up to a first end point 19 of the coupling recess 7. A second side portion 20 of the coupling recess 7 extends from the central portion of the coupling recess 7 to a second end point 19′ of the coupling recess 7. Thus, seen in a cross-section of the shaft-like element 6 perpendicular to the central axis 13, the first and second side portions 18, 20 of the coupling recess 7 are arranged on opposite sides of the central portion and each extend from the central portion up to a respective one of the end points 19, 19′ of the coupling recess 7. The second side portion 20 has a geometry which ensures that it does not engage with the spring element in the coupled condition of the attachment 2. In particular, the sloped surface 15 is bordered by the edge 17 at the location where the sloped surface 15 borders the second side portion 20. As a result, the second side portion 20 of the coupling recess 7 is recessed relative to the sloped surface 15, seen in a direction parallel to the central axis 13. As a result of said recession of the second side portion 20, it is prevented that, in the coupled condition of the attachment 2, the spring element engages the coupling recess 7 at the location of the second side portion 20.
(22) FIG. 7 shows computer simulations of the effects of an off-center pull-off force, resembling the pull-off force in FIG. 5, applied to a coupling member 10 comprising the coupling recess 7 shown in FIG. 6 in accordance with an embodiment substantially similar to the embodiment shown in FIG. 6. The simulations show how, with the design of the coupling recess 7 according to the invention, the legs of the spring element glide off along the edge 17, which results in a substantially higher pull-off force as compared to the pull-off force according to the simulations shown in FIG. 5. This means that, with the coupling recess 7 configured in accordance with the present invention, the spring element 5 is more effective with respect to retaining the attachment 2 in the retaining recess 4 in the situation of an off-center pull-off force. At the same time, a centrally applied pull-off force will still result in the intended linear removal of the attachment 2 from the retaining recess 4, which involves a substantial resistance force.
(23) FIGS. 8a-8g schematically show various embodiments of coupling recesses 7 configured in accordance with the present invention. In preferred embodiments, including the embodiments shown in FIGS. 8a-8g, the sloped surface 15 is arranged in the central portion of the coupling recess 7, and the coupling recess 7 is symmetrically shaped relative to an imaginary plane of symmetry comprising the central axis 13 of the shaft-like element 6. The embodiments in FIGS. 8a-8g are all depicted as line drawings, grey scale drawings and cross-sectional views, as the different kinds of illustrations are considered to provide different kinds of information. The cross-sectional views are shown along planes oriented parallel to the central axis 13 at a distance from the circumferential surface 8 of the shaft-like element 6. Thus, for each of the illustrated embodiments, the cross-sectional view shows the profile of the coupling recess 7 in a plane positioned at a distance form the circumferential surface 8 and seen towards the central axis 13. The reference numbers are only added to the first sub-figure of each embodiment to more clearly show the other details in the following sub-figures.
(24) In the embodiments of FIGS. 8a-8g, the first and second side portions 18, 20 of the coupling recess 7 are both recessed relative to the sloped surface 15, seen in the direction parallel to the central axis 13, and the sloped surface 15 is bordered by first and second edges 17, 21 at the location where the sloped surface 15 borders respectively the first and second side portions 18, 20. The first and second edges 17, 21 are directed inwardly seen from the circumferential surface 8. As a result, in the coupled condition of the attachment 2, it is prevented that the spring element engages the coupling recess 7 at the location of both the first and second side portions 18, 20. In the embodiments of FIGS. 8a, 8c and 8d, the first and second edges 17, 21 extend non-parallel with respect to each other, while in the embodiments of FIGS. 8b and 8e-8g, the first and second edges 17, 21 extend parallel with respect to each other. In embodiments wherein the first and second edges 17, 21 extend non-parallel with respect to each other, the first and second edges 17, 21 may have a smallest mutual distance near the circumferential surface 8 of the shaft-like element 6, such as shown in the embodiments in FIG. 8c. Alternatively, in embodiments comprising non-parallel first and second edges 17, 21, the first and second edges 17,21 may have a largest mutual distance near the circumferential surface 8 of the shaft-like element 6, such as shown in the embodiments in FIGS. 8a and 8d.
(25) FIGS. 8e and 8f show embodiments wherein the first and second side portions 18, 20 of the coupling recess 7 are recessed relative to the sloped surface 15, seen in the direction parallel to the central axis 13, to such an extent that the coupling recess 7 at the location of the first and second side portions 18, 20 is not bounded by surfaces of the coupling member 10 in end positions of the coupling recess 7 facing away from the treatment member 9. Thus, in the embodiments shown in FIGS. 8e and 8f, the sloped surface 15 forms an upper surface (in the orientation shown in these figures) of a rib-shaped central support element 25 bordered by the recessed first and second side portions 18, 20. Also in the embodiment of FIG. 8g, the sloped surface 15 forms an upper surface of a rib-shaped central support element 25. In this embodiment, however, in the end positions of the coupling recess 7 facing away from the treatment member 9, the coupling recess 7 is bounded by surfaces 27 of the coupling member 10.
(26) The design of a coupling recess 7 in accordance with the invention will include considerations relating to the need for enough free space to allow the spring element to deform. The design also has to take into account that the material thickness of the shaft-like element between the coupling recesses and a possible hollow space in the central region of the shaft-like element should be large enough to prevent deformation or breakage of the shaft-like element. The design for a given product will typically be based on computer simulations, possibly combined with prototypes made e.g. by 3D-printing.
(27) If a personal care device according to the invention is to be used with different attachments, the coupling recesses of the coupling members of the different attachments can be designed differently, if desired or required. By such different designs, the combination of the necessary pull-off force for an intended release of the attachment and the resistance against unintentional release of the attachment can be optimized for each different attachment, since said pull-off force and resistance are directly dependent on the geometries of the coupling recessess used for the different attachments.
(28) The sloped surfaces 15 in the embodiments shown in the FIGS. 6-8 are plane surfaces. However, the sloped surfaces 15 may also be curved surfaces. An example of a possible shape of a coupling recess 7 with a curved sloped surface 22 is shown schematically in FIG. 9. The curved sloped surface 22 is shown in combination with first and second side portions 18, 20, wherein the first and second side portions 18, 20 comprise surfaces that are inclined at an angle relative the sloped surface 22 to ensure that, in the coupled condition of the attachment 2, there is no contact with the spring element at the location of the first and second side portions 18, 20. FIG. 9 shows the sloped surface 22 and the first and second side portions 18, 20, seen in a direction perpendicular to the central axis 13. In the shown embodiment, the first and second side portions 18, 20 have plane upper surfaces ending where the curved sloped surface 22 begins. The intersection between the curved and plane surfaces are illustrated with arrows in FIG. 9.
(29) While the invention has been illustrated and described in detail in the drawings and foregoing description, such illustration and description are to be considered illustrative or exemplary and not restrictive. The invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments. Other variations to the disclosed embodiments can be understood and effected by those skilled in the art in practicing the claimed invention, from a study of the drawings, the disclosure, and the appended claims. In the claims, the word “comprising” does not exclude other elements or steps, and the indefinite article “a” or “an” does not exclude a plurality. A particular unit may fulfill the functions of several items recited in the claims. The mere fact that certain measures are recited in mutually different dependent claims does not indicate that a combination of these measures cannot be used to advantage. Any reference signs in the claims should not be construed as limiting the scope.
