Patent Application
20110016721
The present invention relates to a button assembly for actuating a switch or other mechanism that requires actuation and more particularly to an illuminated button for small electronic appliances used in wet environments, such as a wet shaving razor or other grooming devices.
Powered electronic devices are commonly provided with button assemblies that allow switches, or other mechanisms mounted within the housing of the device, to be actuated from outside of the device. However, when such devices are used in a wet environment, providing a functional button and a fluid seal can be problematic. Providing a seal increases the complexity and cost of the button as well as limits the aesthetics and functionality of the button. The seal can also limit assembly and installation of the button to the housing. For example, elastomeric type push buttons that are used for sealing purposes do not provide the tactile and secure feedback of a rigid push button.
Some buttons have a transparent portion associated with a lighting means, such as an LED to display the respective function. The transparent portion associated with the lighting means does not provide a uniform light over the top surface of the button. These buttons have a combination of dim and bright light impressions on the top surface of the button, resulting in a visually non aesthetic display. Providing a uniform light on the top surface of a button becomes even more problematic if the top surface of the button has both illuminated portions and non-illuminated portions. Illuminated portions and non-illuminated portions may be provided to create an icon or symbol to display the function of the device. A device having an illuminated portion of the button and a seal further increases the complexity and cost of the button, and is thus usually limited to larger household appliances. Typically consumer products, such as shaving razors, have not had much added functionality, because of size and cost limitations.
In one aspect, the invention features, in general, a button assembly for displaying an illuminated symbol. The button assembly has a locking ring and a solid light guide positioned within and spaced apart from the locking ring. The light guide has a top surface for displaying an illuminated symbol and a bottom surface with a light receiving member having a refracting surface with a first lens member for receiving and directing light to the top surface of the light guide. The button assembly also has a resilient sealing member mounted on the locking ring and interconnecting the locking ring and the light guide. The sealing member has an unsupported portion that facilitates movement of the light guide relative to the locking ring.
In another aspect, the invention features, in general, an electronic grooming appliance having a handle defining an open space therein. The handle has an edge portion defining an opening with a switch positioned within the open space and a light source operatively connected to the switch and positioned within the open space. A button assembly is mounted within the opening of the handle. The button assembly has a locking ring secured to the handle. A solid light guide is positioned within and is spaced apart from the locking ring. The light guide has a top surface for displaying an illuminated symbol, a bottom surface positioned operatively in a facing relationship to the internal switch, and a light receiving member facing the light source. The button assembly has a resilient sealing member that interconnects the locking ring and the light guide. The resilient sealing member compresses the button assembly against the edge portion of the handle to create a liquid impervious seal.
Referring to
The button assembly 18 may include a light guide 22 and a resilient seal member 30, which may define a symbol to illustrate a function of the handle 10 (e.g., a motor or light is on or off). The light guide 22 may be manufactured from a transparent or translucent material and may have two or more spaced apart symbol portions 24 and 26 that direct light to a top surface 27 of the light guide 22. The light guide 22 may be solid such that light travels through the material of the light guide 22 in order to exit the light guide 22 and not through a hollow or open space in the light guide 22. The resilient seal member 30 may be opaque and may circumscribe the spaced apart symbol portions 24 and 26 to define an unlit area between the spaced apart symbol portions 24 and 26. The symbol portions 24 and 26 may appear as separate and distinct lighted regions on assembly the top surface 28 of the button assembly 18 to define a symbol or icon, such as a power symbol. Although the spaced apart symbol portions 24 and 26 and the resilient seal member 30 define a power symbol icon, other icons, symbols, letters, numbers, or trademarks may also be used to illustrate a function of the handle 10. The light guide 22 may also display an illuminated symbol that is as simple as a ring or a line, which may include only one symbol portion.
Referring to
Referring to
The sealing member 30 may facilitate positioning the light guide 22 generally centered within the locking ring 70.
As shown in
Referring to
The light source 64 and the internal switch 62 may be positioned in an open space 57 that is in communication with the opening 56 of the handle 14. The internal switch 62 may be positioned directly adjacent to (e.g., next to, but not necessarily touching) the light source 64 to maximize the limited space within the handle 14. The geometry of the bottom surface 90 and the light receiving member 92 may accommodate the light source 64 by having a lower profile than the internal switch 62. The light receiving member 92 may be positioned directly above the light source 64 to maximize light projected from the light source 64 when the shaving system 10 is turned on. The light receiving member 92 may project from the bottom surface 90 of the light guide such that the light receiving member 92 is adjacent to, but does not contact the internal switch 62. The light guide 22 may function not only to focus and direct light, but may also act as an actuation member to transfer force (either directly or indirectly through a secondary member, such as a lever) to the internal switch 62. In certain embodiments, light guide 22 may have a first position in which the bottom surface 90 of the light guide 22 is positioned operatively in a facing relationship to the internal switch 62 (e.g., capable of contacting the switch 62 either directly or indirectly). Alternatively, the bottom surface 90 may lightly contact the internal switch 62 in the first position, but may not contact the internal switch 62 sufficiently to activate the internal switch 62. In the first position, the internal switch 62 may be in either an open position in which power does not flow from the power source to the light source 64 or a closed position in which power flows from the power source to the light source 64. For example, after the internal switch 62 is activated (to an open or closed position), the light guide 22 may return to its original position (e.g., a first position). The resilient seal member 30 may suspend the light guide 22 above the internal switch 62 to prevent the internal switch 62 from being activated unless the user presses down on the button assembly 18 to turn the shaving system 10 on or off.
A user may press down on the button assembly 18 to power on or off the light source 64, as well as other electronic components of the handle 14, such as a motor. When the button assembly 18 is pressed, the light guide 22 may be moved to a second position to activate the internal switch 62. In the second position, the light receiving member 92 may be positioned temporarily closer to the light source 64 than in the first position; however, the light receiving member 92 may not contact the light source 64. The light source 64 or the light receiving member 92 may become damaged if the light source 64 and the light receiving member 92 contact each other. The resilient seal member 30 may provide sufficient resistance to prevent the light guide 22 from traveling too far, which may prevent the light receiving member 92 from contacting the light source 64. The internal switch 62 may also act as a positive stop against the bottom surface 90 of the light guide 22, which may to prevent the light receiving member 92 from contacting the light source 64.
The resilient seal member 30 may have a supported portion 34 mounted on the top surface of the locking ring 70 and an unsupported portion 36 between the supported portion 34 and the light guide 22. The unsupported portion 36 may facilitate flexing of the resilient seal member 30 and may permit the light guide 22 to move in a downward direction toward the internal switch 62. The unsupported portion 36 may have a thickness of about 0.3 mm, 1.0 mm, or 5 mm to about 0.3 mm, 1.0 mm, or 5 mm. The resilient seal member 30 may also have a groove 38 extending around a circumference of the resilient seal member 30 to enhance the flexibility of the resilient seal member 30 and further facilitate and control movement of the light guide 22 toward the internal switch 62. The groove 38 may have a depth of about 0.1 mm, 0.2 mm, or 0.3 mm to about 0.5 mm, 1 m, or 2 mm. The groove 38 may have a width of about 0.2 mm, 0.5 mm, or 0.7 mm to about 1 mm, 2 mm, or 4 mm. The light guide 22 may travel axially relative to the handle 14 and the locking ring 70 to activate the internal switch 62. The locking ring 70 may remain secured to the handle 14 when the button assembly 18 is pressed. The elastic properties of the resilient seal member 30 may facilitate the light guide 22 to return to its original position (i.e., the first position) after the internal switch 62 is activated. The internal switch 62 may also be spring loaded to aid in returning the light guide 22 to the first position. The internal switch 62 and/or the light guide 22 may provide an audible or tactile feedback to the user signaling the internal switch 62 has been activated (e.g., a click sound).
Referring to
The locking ring 70 and the light guide 22 may be two separate components that are flexibly interconnected by the resilient seal member 30. In certain embodiments, the resilient seal member 30 may be co-injection molded or insert molded to interconnect the light guide 22 and the locking ring 70. The locking ring 70 and/or the light guide 22 may comprise translucent regions, transparent regions, and combinations thereof. For example, the locking ring 70 and/or the light guide 22 may be molded from polymers that are capable of transmitting light (e.g., ASTM D 1003 haze value (39.4 mil) of less than 15%) which are also rigid, such as polypropylene or polycarbonate. The locking ring 70 does not necessarily need to be transparent or translucent. A rigid polymer having a Shore A hardness of about 50, 60, or 70 to about 90, 110, or 120 may allow for simple and reliable mechanical assembly of the locking ring 70 to the handle 14 and may facilitate the transfer and tactile feedback of force from the light guide 22 to the internal switch 62. The resilient seal member 30 may be molded from a flexible polymer that permits the light guide 22 to move relative to the locking ring 70 and the handle 14 when a user presses the button assembly 18. Polymers having a Shore A hardness of about 20, 30, or 40 to about 50, 60, or 70 and an elongation at break (DIN 533504/ISO 37) of about 300%, 400%, or 500% to about 600%, 700%, or 900% may provide sufficient flexibility. The resilient seal member 30 may also be molded from a polymer material that chemically bonds to the material of the light guide 22, thus preventing separation of the light guide 22 from the locking ring 70 during use. Suitable materials for the resilient seal member 30 may include thermoplastic elastomers (TPEs), such as Thermolast K TF5STE from KRAIBURG TPE Corporation. Suitable materials for the light guide 22 that provide sufficient transparency and bonding to the resilient seal member 30 may include Metocene HM648T polypropylene from Lyondell Basell Industries.
The button assembly 18 integrates several different functions in a small single button having a simple design with low manufacturing cost. As previously described, the button assembly 18 may provide for simple and reliable mechanical assembly and liquid-tight sealing of the handle 14 to prevent water ingress. The button assembly 18 may also provide even light transmission for an illuminated symbol and transfer force from a user to the internal switch 62.
The dimensions and values disclosed herein are not to be understood as being strictly limited to the exact numerical values recited. Instead, 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”. In an effort to avoid any ambiguity, for the purposes of this disclosure, the term “portion” shall be construed as meaning less than 50%. For example, the term “distal end portion” should be interpreted as from about 0%, 5%, 10%, or 15% to about 15%, 20%, 25%, 30%, 40% or 45% from the terminal end of the element referenced. Similarly, the term “proximal end portion” should be interpreted as from about 0%, 5%, 10%, or 15% to about 15%, 20%, 25%, 30%, 40% or 45% from the end opposite the terminal end of the element referenced.
Every document cited herein, including any cross referenced or related patent or application is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety unless expressly excluded or otherwise limited. The citation of any document is not an admission that it is prior art with respect to any invention disclosed or claimed herein or that it alone, or in any combination with any other reference or references, teaches, suggests or discloses any such invention. Further, to the extent that any meaning or definition of a term in this document conflicts with any meaning or definition of the same term in a document incorporated by reference, the meaning or definition assigned to that term in this document shall govern.
While particular embodiments of the present invention have been illustrated and described, it would be obvious to those skilled in the art that various other changes and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. It is therefore intended to cover in the appended claims all such changes and modifications that are within the scope of this invention.
