Patent Application
20180207822
The present invention is concerned with an electronically operated hair removing device, such as a shaver, a hair or beard clipper, an epilation device or the like, having at least one electrically operated equipment, like a light source. In more detail, the present invention refers to an electrically operable shaver with a shaver housing, an energy source located in the housing, at least one hair removal unit and a light source, which is movable relative to the housing.
Hair removing devices comprising a light source or the like electrically operated equipment which is directly connected to an energy source of the device are known. For example, an epilator is disclosed in WO 2014/206852 A1. This epilator comprises a light source which is adjustable regarding its position on the epilator and which is directly connected via a bendable cord. Further, a shaver comprising two short-hair cutter units with an internal illumination device and one long-hair trimmer unit is disclosed in EP 1 326 738 B1 and EP 1 326 739 B1. This internal illumination device is directly connected to an energy source by means of a wired connection. The use of light sources in the above-mentioned devices is either known for indicating a certain operation mode of the device, e.g. indicating that the device is turned on, indication of a specific motor or shaving mode, or for illumination of the user's skin, thereby facilitating hair removal.
A direct connection of an electrically operated equipment, like a light source, with an energy source either requires that the electrically operated equipment is arranged within the, typically sealed, housing or requires special efforts for sealing the housing and the electrically operated equipment. Especially for a movable electrically operated equipment sealing becomes more difficult. It is an object of the present disclosure to provide an improved shaver or the like hair removing device.
In accordance with one aspect of the present disclosure an electrically operable hair removing device, such as a shaver, may comprise a housing, an energy source located in the housing, at least one hair removal unit and at least one electrically operated equipment, like a light source, which is movable relative to the housing. During its use, the at least one electrically operated equipment is not directly connected to the energy source located in the housing. With respect to the present disclosure, a non-direct connection to the energy source is understood to exclude any direct wiring between the energy source and the electrically operated equipment as well as any indirect wiring, e.g. a connection between the energy source and the electrically operated equipment via a printed circuit board or the like electronic components. In other words, a non-direct connection to the energy source may include wireless power transfer and/or a power supply by means of an external energy source which is not the energy source provided in the housing, e.g. for supplying a motor. An energy source may be a battery, for example a rechargeable battery, and/or a connection to an external power supply.
A shaver according to the present disclosure may comprise an elongate shaver housing defining a longitudinal axis, at least one short-hair cutter unit, at least one long-hair trimmer unit disposed on the shaver housing and the at least one electrically operated equipment, like a light source. The longitudinal axis of the shaver housing typically runs from a distal end, i.e. the end facing towards the user's skin during use of the shaver, to an opposite proximal end, wherein the distal end is provided with the shaver head and/or the long-hair cutter unit. The at least one electrically operated equipment or appliance, e.g. the light source, may be movable substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis between a retracted position and an extended position. As an alternative to a light source the electrically operated equipment may be a heat source or heat sink or a source of radiation. The change in the position of the electrically operated equipment with respect to the user's skin may change the intensity of the equipment. For example, a light pattern and/or the illuminated area may change depending on the axial position of a light source. Further, heat transfer to the user's skin may change depending on the distance between the heat source or heat sink to the user's skin.
Further details and features of the invention may be obtained from the following description of embodiments in conjunction with the drawings.
The present disclosure is based on the idea that the at least one electrically operated equipment is not directly connected to the energy source located in the housing, e.g. by means of an indirect wireless connection. There are several alternatives for indirectly connecting the at least one electrically operated equipment to the energy source located in the housing. These alternatives include (but are not limited to) non-radiative near-field techniques by means of inductive coupling (electromagnetic induction), resonant inductive coupling (electrodynamic coupling), capacitive coupling (electrostatic induction) or by means of magnetodynamic coupling and radiative far-field wireless power transfer techniques, e.g. based on radio waves or microwaves. Such an indirect connection has the advantage of avoiding the limitations of movement of the at least one electrically operated equipment with respect to the housing due to a wire connection. In addition, the indirect connection may have benefits regarding sealing of the housing and at least one electrically operated equipment.
According to the first alternative, the at least one electrically operated equipment may be indirectly connected to the energy source located in the housing by means of induction coils. For example, at least one of the induction coils may be provided on a flexible printed circuit board having a thickness of less than 1.5 mm, preferably less than 0.5 mm, e.g. about 0.2 mm. In more detail, a primary induction coil may be provided on a flexible printed circuit board sealed in the housing and a secondary induction coil may be provided on a flexible printed circuit board sealed in a component part which is movable relative to the housing, for example a long-hair trimmer unit. In other words, the secondary induction coil may be axially movable together with the movable component part relative to the primary induction coil.
The shaver or the like hair removing device typically comprises an electric motor and a, preferably rechargeable, battery as the energy source. The primary induction coil may be provided on a flexible printed circuit board or as a part of the board located adjacent to the motor, e.g. under the motor, or adjacent to the battery, e.g. under the battery. Positioning the primary induction coil under the motor may have the advantage of more space available for mounting the primary induction coil. Positioning the primary induction coil under the battery may have the benefit of less interference with the motor.
According to a further aspect of the present disclosure, the primary induction coil may have an elongate shape to ensure its function irrespective of an axial movement of the secondary induction coil and the electrically operated equipment. In addition or as an alternative, the secondary induction coil may be provided on a flexible printed circuit board or as a part of the board provided with at least one LED unit. For example, the secondary induction coil may be a round coil for best efficiency.
According to a further alternative of the present disclosure, the at least one electrically operated equipment may be connected to an additional energy source, such as a battery. The battery may be a rechargeable battery. The battery may be provided in the movable component part in a releasable manner permitting replacing an empty battery. The battery may be provided externally to the main handle housing which accommodates the motor and the electrics of the shaver. For example, the additional energy source may be a coin cell, such as a lithium coin cell. The additional energy source is provided additionally to an energy source which drives the motor of the shaver.
In a shaver comprising an elongate shaver housing defining a longitudinal axis, at least one short-hair cutter unit, at least one long-hair trimmer unit disposed on the shaver housing and the at least one electrically operated equipment, like a light source, the at least one long-hair trimmer unit may be movable substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis between a retracted idle position and an extended operating position. For example, the shaver may be operated only using the short-hair cutter unit when the long-hair trimmer unit is in its retracted idle position, whereas the shaver may be operated predominantly using the long-hair trimmer unit when the long-hair trimmer unit is in its extended operating position. This change of the position of the long-hair trimmer unit may be used for movement of the light source or the like electrically operated equipment. For example, the long-hair trimmer unit may entrain the electrically operated equipment during its axial movement. According to an example of the present disclosure, the at least one electrically operated equipment may be movable together with the at least one long-hair trimmer unit between the retracted position and the extended position. This includes embodiments in which the electrically operated equipment is mechanically coupled to the long-hair trimmer unit such that the movement of the long-hair trimmer unit causes a movement of the electrically operated equipment. Such a mechanical coupling may include a gearing or the like causing as an alternative the movement of the electrically operated equipment in a different direction and/or with a different speed with respect to the long-hair trimmer unit.
In a more detailed embodiment of the present disclosure of an electrically operable shaver, the at least one electrically operated equipment is mounted on or integrated in the at least one long-hair trimmer unit. This results in a simultaneous movement in the same direction of the electrically operated equipment and the long-hair trimmer unit. For example, the at least one electrically operated equipment may be mounted on the at least one long-hair trimmer unit on a side facing away from the shaver housing.
Irrespective of the above embodiments, an electrically operable shaver, for example the shaver as defined above, comprises an elongate shaver housing defining a longitudinal axis, at least one short-hair cutter unit, at least one long-hair trimmer unit, which is disposed on the shaver housing and which is movable substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis between a retracted idle position and an extended operating position, and at least one light source, wherein the at least one light source when in its retracted position has an illuminance in the range of 200 lx to 2.000 lx in an illuminated area of a plane defined by a distal edge of the at least one short-hair cutter unit and a distal edge of the at least one long-hair trimmer unit when in its extended operating position. The plane defined by a distal edge of the at least one short-hair cutter unit and a distal edge of the at least one long-hair trimmer unit when in its extended operating position typically corresponds to the user's skin during use of the shaver. In other words, in the retracted position, the illuminance on the skin may be in the range of 200 lx to 2000 lx in the central region of the light spot or illuminated area.
The at least one light source of the shaver may emit light in a cone shape with limited opening angle. For example, the at least one light source may comprise an optical unit, like a lens or the like, for shaping an illuminated area, preferably into an elongate, oval and/or semi-circle form.
According to a further aspect, the at least one light source may generate at least one light spot having an illuminance decreasing from the center of the light spot towards its boundaries by a factor of less than 2 per mm. In other words, the boundaries of the light spot may be shaped in a way that strong contrasts are avoided. Instead, the intensity of the illumination decreases gently with increasing distance from the middle. The decrease can e.g. be less than a factor 4, preferably less than a factor 2, per mm.
Irrespective of the above embodiments, an electrically operable shaver, for example the shaver as defined above, comprises an elongate shaver housing defining a longitudinal axis, at least one short-hair cutter unit, at least one long-hair trimmer unit, which is disposed on the shaver housing and which is movable substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis between a retracted idle position and an extended operating position, and at least one light source, wherein the shaver further comprises a control unit connected to the at least one light source, with the control unit being designed and adapted such that the at least one light source provides a visual feedback to a user. In other words, the light may also be used to give optical feedback to the user during the shave. This feedback can be used to deliver any desired type of information to the user. The feedback may be done by changing any property of the light, such as the intensity, the color or the duration of any on-off time intervals. The control unit may be directly connected to the primary induction coil and/or to the battery or the like energy source. The power transfer by means of induction technology may also permit data transfer. Thus, for example different LEDs may be activated by the control unit via the induction interface.
In more detail, the control unit may comprise or may be connected to at least one sensor or detector for detecting a condition or position of a shaver component or a magnitude related to the use of the shaver, wherein the control unit is designed and adapted such that the at least one light source provides a visual feedback to a user indicating the condition or position of the shaver component or a magnitude related to the use of the shaver. Such shave related magnitudes may include e.g. the force, applied onto the skin with the shaver. Further, this may include a simple feedback whether the shaver is turned on or is turned off. Further, this may include a feedback regarding an operation mode of the shaver, indication of a specific motor or shaving mode and/or a feedback regarding the charging condition of a battery.
The at least one short-hair cutter unit of the shaver may be provided with a lower cutter linearly oscillating relative to an upper cutter. For example, a short-hair cutter unit may be designed as described in EP 1 326 739 B 1, i.e. with the upper cutter comprising a bend shear foil which is provided with hair capture openings. At least one long-hair trimmer unit may be provided interposed between two short-hair cutter units as suggested in EP 1 326 739 B1. According to an aspect of the present disclosure, the at least one long-hair trimmer unit of the shaver comprises two clipping combs which are linearly oscillating relative to each other. At least one long-hair trimmer unit may be located laterally spaced from the at least one short-hair cutter unit. Especially, a long-hair trimmer unit may be movable independent from the at least one short-hair cutter unit.
Different scenarios are possible for controlling the on/off status of the light source. The light source may always be on during the shave. Alternatively, it can have a default state of “on” or “off” when the shaver is turned on and the user may switch it on or off. Further, when the shaver is turned on, the light source may go into the state it had at the end of the last shave and the user may switch it on or off.
To toggle between on and off mode of the light a separate switch is located on the long hair trimmer housing. A more comfortable on/off toggling can be achieved by an automatic switch via e.g. a vibration sensor integrated in the electronic compartment of the light. This sensor reacts on the vibrations of the shaver motor. So, the light is turned on and off synchronic to the shaver.
Optionally, the user may adapt the color of the light emitted by the light source according to his preferences. The range from warm white via cold white to blue is an example for a range of colors.
In the embodiment depicted in
The shaver 1 comprises a shaver head 3 which may be movable with respect to the shaver housing 2. For example, the shaver head 3 may swivel about at least one axis perpendicular to the longitudinal axis I. In the embodiment depicted in
An additional long-hair trimmer unit 6 is provided laterally spaced from the shaver head 3 on the upper lateral side (as seen in
As an alternative to the predominantly parallel movement of the long-hair trimmer unit 6 with respect to the longitudinal axis I, the long-hair trimmer unit 6 may perform a substantially parallel movement with respect to the longitudinal axis I which may include a slightly curved movement and/or a movement including an angle between the longitudinal axis I and the main direction of movement of the long-hair trimmer unit 6. The additional long-hair trimmer unit 6 may be guided on the shaver housing 2, for example by means of an axially shiftable guiding member 11 received in respective tracks (not shown) of the shaver housing 2, and may be releasably fixed in the retracted position (
The axial movement of the additional long-hair trimmer unit 6 may be used for switching the long-hair trimmer unit 6 on and off. For example, the long-hair trimmer unit 6 may be a decoupled from a driving motor (not shown) of the shaver in its retracted condition and may be coupled to such a driving motor in its extended condition. As an alternative, the long-hair trimmer unit 6 may permanently operate when the shaver 1 is switched on. Typically, the shaver head 3 is predominantly used when the additional long-hair trimmer unit 6 is in its retracted position, whereas the additional long-hair trimmer unit 6 is predominantly used when the additional long-hair trimmer unit 6 is in its extended position.
A light source 7 is provided on the additional long-hair trimmer unit 6. In the embodiment depicted in
The light source 7 may comprise at least one LED. In addition, the light source 7 may comprise at least one optical unit, like a lens, a light duct or the like, for generating a predefined pattern of light distribution and/or for guiding light. In other words, an LED may be positioned remote from the position indicated as a light source 7 in
As depicted in the embodiment of
As mentioned above, the point where the light leaves the light source 7 of the shaver 1 is mounted on an element that can be shifted with respect to the shaver body, to change the distance to the skin. In the embodiment depicted in the
Mounting the light source 7 on a shiftable element offers the possibility for another setting. While the situation depicted in
In addition, the change in the light properties on a user's skin corresponds to the change of the operation mode of the shaver 1 by axially moving the additional long-hair trimmer unit 6 from its retracted idle position to its extended operation position. Thus, positioning the light source 7 in or on the additional long-hair trimmer unit 6 results in automatically adapting the light properties or of the pattern of the area illuminated by the light source 7 to the change of the operation mode of the shaver 1.
In the embodiment depicted in
As an alternative,
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 ”
Every document cited herein, including any cross referenced or related patent or application and any patent application or patent to which this application claims priority or benefit thereof, 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.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 17153254.2 | Jan 2017 | EP | regional |
