Title: Shaving head cleaner
Abstract: A shaving head cleaner includes a housing defining a receptacle adapted to receive a shaving head of the dry shaving apparatus. A contact member extends from the housing, and is adapted to accommodate an end of the dry shaving apparatus remote from the shaving head. A pushbutton is positioned near an end of the contact member, and the pushbutton has electrical connectors configured to be moved by the pushbutton for establishing an electrical connection between the dry shaving apparatus and the shaving head cleaner. A tolerance compensating device is arranged between the electrical connectors and the pushbutton.
Patent Number: 7,002,091 Issued on 02/21/2006 to Hoser, et al.
| Inventors:
|
Hoser; Jurgen (Neu-Anspach, DE);
Kappes; Diana (Eppstein, DE);
Larscheid; Andreas (Kelkheim-Fischbach, DE);
Ludascher; Uwe (Frankfurt, DE);
Krumnikl; Svatopluk (Kronberg, DE)
|
| Assignee:
|
Braun GmbH (Kronberg, DE)
|
| Appl. No.:
|
060186 |
| Filed:
|
February 17, 2005 |
Foreign Application Priority Data
| Aug 17, 2002[DE] | 102 37 741 |
| Current U.S. Class: |
200/520; 200/523 |
| Current Intern'l Class: |
H01H 13/14 (20060101) |
| Field of Search: |
200/51 R,511.6,510.9,520-524
134/166.R,169.R,135,170
|
References Cited [Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
| 1865289 | Jun., 1932 | Trowbridge.
| |
| 5649556 | Jul., 1997 | Braun.
| |
| 6305391 | Oct., 2001 | Hoser.
| |
| 6305394 | Oct., 2001 | Reese.
| |
| 6371136 | Apr., 2002 | Hoser.
| |
| 2005/0034313 | Feb., 2005 | Hoser et al.
| |
| 2005/0045204 | Mar., 2005 | Hoser et al.
| |
| 2005/0126610 | Jun., 2005 | Hoser.
| |
Primary Examiner: Friedhofer; Michael
Assistant Examiner: Klaus; Lisa
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Fish & Richardson P.C.
Parent Case Text
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
This is a continuation of PCT Application No. PCT/EP2003/006738, filed on Jun.
26, 2003, which claims priority to German Patent Application No. 102 37 741.3,
filed on Aug. 17, 2002, each of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A shaving head cleaner for a dry shaving apparatus, the shaving head cleaner comprising:
a housing defining a receptacle adapted to receive a shaving head of the dry
shaving apparatus;
a contact member extending from the housing, the contact member being adapted
to accommodate an end of the dry shaving apparatus remote from the shaving head;
a pushbutton positioned near an end of the contact member, the pushbutton having
electrical connectors configured to be moved by the pushbutton for establishing
an electrical connection between the dry shaving apparatus and the shaving head
cleaner; and
a tolerance compensating device arranged between the electrical connectors and
the pushbutton.
2. The shaving head cleaner of claim 1, wherein the tolerance compensating device
comprises a rocker on which the electrical connectors are arranged, a spring connecting
the rocker to the pushbutton.
3. The shaving head cleaner of claim 2, wherein the rocker is pivotally mounted
in the contact member.
4. The shaving head cleaner of claim 2, wherein the rocker is pivotally mounted
to a component arranged in the contact member.
5. The shaving head cleaner of claim 2, wherein the pushbutton comprises elements
configured to move the rocker in response to movement of the pushbutton.
6. The shaving head cleaner of claim 2, wherein the pushbutton comprises hooks
configured to engage the rocker.
7. The shaving head cleaner of claim 2, wherein the spring comprises a spiral
spring arranged within a guide of the rocker.
8. The shaving head cleaner of claim 2, wherein the spring comprises a spiral
spring arranged within a guide of the pushbutton.
9. The shaving head cleaner of claim 2, wherein the electrical connectors comprise
sheet-metal contacts arranged on the rocker.
10. The shaving head cleaner of claim 9, wherein each of the sheet-metal contacts
comprises an end fixedly mounted to the rocker.
11. The shaving head cleaner of claim 9, wherein the sheet-metal contacts are
fixed to the rocker by means of a latch and plug connection.
12. The shaving head cleaner of claim 9, wherein the sheet-metal contacts are
fixed to the rocker by molding thermoplastic material around the sheet-metal contacts.
13. The shaving head cleaner of claim 12, wherein the detent is slidably arranged
in a groove.
14. The shaving head cleaner of claim 13, wherein the groove is defined by the
contact member.
15. The shaving head cleaner of claim 13, wherein the groove comprises a latching
mechanism in at least one of its end regions.
16. The shaving head cleaner of claim 9, wherein the sheet-metal contacts are
arranged in a recess defined by the rocker.
17. The shaving head cleaner of claim 16, wherein each sheet-metal contact is
arranged in a respective recess.
18. The shaving head cleaner of claim 9, wherein each sheet-metal contact has
an elastic region.
19. The shaving head cleaner of claim 1, wherein the pushbutton comprises a detent
element adapted to lock the pushbutton in end positions of its travel.
20. The shaving head cleaner of claim 19, wherein the lower latch stop comprises
a curvilinear portion.
21. The shaving head cleaner of claim 20, wherein the curvilinear portion is
substantially heart-shaped.
22. The shaving head cleaner of claim 19, wherein the detent element is arranged
to move in a direction transverse to the movement of the pushbutton.
23. The shaving head cleaner of claim 1, further comprising a spring configured
to bias the pushbutton against the contact member.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
This invention relates to shaving head cleaners.
BACKGROUND
Devices have been developed for cleaning the shaving head of a dry shaving
apparatus. DE 44 02 237 C1, for example, describes a cleaning device for cleaning
a shaving head of a dry shaving apparatus. The shaving head of the dry shaving
apparatus is inserted into a receptacle, which is subsequently filled with a cleaning
fluid. The cleaning fluid dislodges and carries away hair residues and deposits
adhering to the shaving head. To enhance the cleaning effect, the dry shaving apparatus
is temporarily activated during the cleaning process. To enable activation of the
dry shaving apparatus during the cleaning process, the dry shaving apparatus is
electrically connected to the cleaning device.
The electrical connection between the cleaning device and the dry shaving apparatus
is accomplished by means of contact pins of the dry shaving apparatus which are
connected to electrical connectors of the cleaning device. The electrical connectors
are arranged in the upper end of a contact member and can be moved in the direction
of the contact pins by means of a pushbutton. Upon reaching the contact pins, the
electrical connectors are held in position by detent hooks. The dry shaving apparatus
is thus electrically connected to and locked in the cleaning device. The structural
design of the contact member with its movable part is relatively complex. Consequently,
manufacture and/or assembly of the contact member can be relatively complicated.
In addition, the contact pins of the dry shaving apparatus have a tendency to become
dislocated from their original position after time. Such dislocations, for example,
can be the result of manufacturing tolerances of the cleaning device and the dry
shaving apparatus. Dislocations can also result from slight variances in the positioning
of the dry shaving apparatus when inserted into the cleaning device. Though only
slight, these variances can result in forces that act on the electrical connectors
while connecting the electrical connectors to the electrical pins of the dry shaving
apparatus, and may expose the contact member to high mechanical loads. In particular,
the detent hooks are subjected to these mechanical loads. Such loads may increase
wear. Under adverse circumstances, wear may be so severe that the contact member
is prevented from latching reliably with prolonged use of the cleaning device,
whereby at worst electrical contacting of the dry shaving apparatus is no longer possible.
SUMMARY
According to one aspect of the invention, a cleaning device includes a
tolerance compensating device arranged between electrical connectors and a pushbutton.
The tolerance compensating device enables compensation for manufacturing tolerances
and tolerances resulting from improperly inserting a dry shaving apparatus into
the cleaning device. The tolerance compensating device prevents a direct connection
between the pushbutton and the electrical connectors. Consequently, the pushbutton
movement is decoupled from the movement of the electrical connectors. High plugging
forces associate with electrically connecting the dry shaving apparatus to the
electrical connectors can also be prevented. As a result, the loads acting on the
electrical connection and the contact member can be reduced significantly. In particular,
the detent elements can be exposed to less severe mechanical loads, which can lead
to a substantially prolonged service life of the locking mechanism.
In an advantageous aspect, the tolerance compensating device is a spring-loaded
rocker on which the electrical connectors are arranged. The rocker is mechanically
connected to the pushbutton by way of the spring. The rocker cooperates through
the spring with the pushbutton for creating electrical contact between the electrical
connectors and the dry shaving apparatus (e.g., contact pins of the dry shaving
apparatus). The electrical connectors, which are arranged on the rocker, serve
to establish contact with the dry shaving apparatus. By actuating the pushbutton,
the rocker, along with its electrical connectors, is moved in the direction of
the contact pins of the dry shaving apparatus. When, due to tolerances, contact
is made before the pushbutton reaches its latch stop, the spring on the rocker
allows the pushbutton to continue its movement, while the rocker, as a result of
the contact forces of the electrical connectors, remains in its position. The pushbutton
is then moved against the spring until it reaches its latch stop. As a result of
its relatively small number of parts, the tolerance compensating device requires
little assembly effort, which can make it a particularly low-cost item.
In some embodiments, the rocker is mounted for pivotal movement with the contact
member or a component arranged within the contact member. The contact member as
a mount for the rocker has proven to be suitable because of the particular ease
with which a bearing for the rocker can be provided at this site. Moreover, this
has the advantage of enabling the continued use of an already present contact member
with minor modifications. Still further, the contact member is a component of sufficient
strength so that the bearing does not generally need any additional reinforcements
of the contact member.
In another aspect, the bearing may be arranged on a component provided within
the contact member. Consequently, the component can be fitted to suit the rocker.
The pushbutton may possess elements for constraining the rocker to follow it
in its movement. In some embodiments, the pushbutton includes hooks engaging behind
the rocker.
The spring between the pushbutton and the rocker may be arranged loosely between
the two components or, alternatively, may have one of its ends connected with the
rocker or the pushbutton. These configurations require relatively little assembly
effort. By contrast, a spring having both its ends fixed enables the rocker to
follow the movement when the pushbutton is moved. Otherwise follower elements (e.g.,
hooks) can be arranged on the pushbutton or the rocker to cause the rocker to move
along with the pushbutton.
Where spiral springs are used, it is advantageous to guide the spring on the
rocker or in the pushbutton. This secures the spring against jamming and provides
improved protection from damage.
By suitably selecting the arrangement of the pushbutton acting through the spring
and the electrical connectors on the rocker, a wide variety of arrangements can
be realized. In an advantageous configuration, the pushbutton acts between the
electrical connectors and the pivot point of the rocker. In this configuration
the pushbutton travels a short distance before contacting, while the electrical
connectors travel a longer distance. Depending on the length of the rocker, a corresponding
stroke length can be used for contacting and for the compensation of tolerances.
This enables the stroke of the pushbutton to be designed as in existing cleaning
devices so that the user can operate the new cleaning device in the conventional manner.
In another configuration the electrical connectors are arranged between the pivot
point of the rocker and the pushbutton acting via the spring, so that the pushbutton
travels a longer distance than the electrical connectors. This arrangement affords
advantages in cases where small and delicate contacts are used, because it enables
gentler contacting.
The electrical connectors may be sheet-metal contacts which are arranged on the
rocker. In some embodiments, the sheet-metal contacts have one of their ends fixedly mounted.
The sheet-metal contacts may be fixed to the rocker by means of a latch or plug
connection. In cases where the rocker is injection molded from a plastics material,
the plastics material may be injection molded around the sheet-metal contacts to
fix them on the rocker.
For protection against damage, the rocker is constructed such that each of the
sheet-metal contacts is arranged in its respective recess within the rocker. Arranging
the connectors individually has the added advantage of compensating for height
tolerances between the contact pins of the dry shaving apparatus.
It has proven to be advantageous for the sheet-metal contacts to have an elastic
region in the direction of the contact pins to be contacted. This enables the sheet-metal
contacts to compensate for tolerances and support the effect of the tolerance compensating device.
In a further configuration the sheet-metal contacts have hooks cooperating with
stops on the rocker. The hooks limit the stroke of the sheet-metal contacts, causing
the sheet-metal contacts to move within the reversibly deformable range.
To help to ensure reliable contacting of the dry shaving apparatus for the cleaning
process, the electrical connectors are locked during this period. Aside from ensuring
contacting, any accidental removal of the dry shaving apparatus from the cleaning
device is prevented at the same time. The locking mechanism used for this purpose
includes two latch stops. At the first latch stop the electrical connectors are
completely received within the contact member, and the dry shaving apparatus can
be inserted into the cleaning device. At the second latch stop the electrical connectors
are connected to the contact pins of the dry shaving apparatus. At both latch stops
the electrical connectors are held in their respective position.
The locking mechanism is of particularly simple design if the pushbutton for
movement of the electrical connectors is an actuating element for the locking mechanism.
For this purpose, the pushbutton is equipped with a slide that is movable between
the two latch stops along a guide. With the slide following the movement of the
pushbutton, a rectilinear movement of the slide can be produced. The design possibilities
for the locking mechanism can be increased considerably by arranging the slide
for movement in a direction transverse to the direction of movement of the pushbutton.
In this way two-dimensional guides can be realized.
A particularly simple construction of the guide is obtained by aligning it essentially
transverse to the movement of the pushbutton. The first latch stop can be formed
by the upper end of the guide or by the upper housing boundary. An elaborate design
of the latch stop can be avoided if the pushbutton and hence the slide are held
at this latch stop by means of a spring. The second latch stop is arranged underneath
the first latch stop. In order to ensure that the slide moved against the spring
is received reliably, a lower latch stop has proven advantageous, which is formed
within a curvilinear portion of the guide (e.g., heart-shaped curve portion) known
as a control slideway. After the latch stop has been reached, by reversal of the
direction of movement of the slide, the restoring force of the spring ensures a
secure seat of the slide in the heart-shaped curve portion of the guide. Furthermore,
due to the characteristic of the heart-shaped curve, the locking engagement provides
the user with a tactile signal indicative of the locked condition of the cleaning device.
The guide for the slide may be arranged in a separate component in the contact
member. An additional component may be omitted, however, if the guide is arranged
in the housing of the contact member. This renders the locking mechanism particularly economical.
In some embodiments, the cleaning device can be constructed in a relatively simple
manner. In certain embodiments, the cleaning device can enable reliable contacting
of the dry shaving apparatus while reducing the load on the locking mechanism and
the contact member.
Other features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the description,
the drawings, and the claims.
DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a view of a cleaning device.
FIG. 2 is a view of the arrangement of a tolerance compensating device in a
contact member of the cleaning device of FIG. 1.
FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the tolerance compensating device of FIG. 2.
FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the tolerance compensating device of FIG. 2.
FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the tolerance compensating device of FIG. 3.
Like reference symbols in the various drawings indicate like elements.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
The cleaning device 1 shown in FIG. 1 has a housing 2. Through
an opening 3 in the housing 2, a shaving head of a dry shaving apparatus
(not shown) is insertable into a receptacle. The housing 2 accommodates
equipment for cleaning the dry shaving apparatus. Disposed on the housing 2
adjacent the opening 3 is a contact member 4, which extends roughly
perpendicularly during use of the cleaning device. A pushbutton 5 is located
at the upper end of the contact member 4. When the dry shaving apparatus
is inserted in the opening 3, the pushbutton 5 rests on the dry shaving
apparatus to lock it in place. Actuation of the pushbutton 5 causes sheet-metal
contacts 6, illustrated schematically, to be moved downwards until they
meet contact pins of the dry shaving apparatus. For illustrative purposes, the
sheet-metal contacts 6 are shown as downwardly protruding elements.
The contact member 4 shown in FIG. 2 is composed of two housing parts
7, 8. The housing parts 7, 8 are latched and held together
by means of catch hooks 9. The rear housing part 7 has in its upper
end region an opening 10 for receiving the pushbutton 5. The pushbutton
5 is guided for vertical movement in the front housing part 8. The
front housing part 8 has in its upper end region likewise an opening 11
through which a free end 12 of a rocker 13 extends when the cleaning
device 1 is locked. The rocker 13 possesses two bracket arms 14,
15 located on either side of the pushbutton 5. Integrally formed
on the ends of the bracket arms 14, 15 remote from the end 12
is a respective journal 16 for providing a pivot for the rocker 13.
The end 12 of the rocker 13 has recesses 17, each recess supporting
a respective sheet-metal contact 6.
FIG 3 is a more detailed representation of a tolerance compensating device.
The journals 16 arranged on the bracket arms 14, 15 of the
rocker 13 are received by two bearings 18 in the housing part 8,
so that the rocker 13 is pivotal. Arranged perpendicularly between the bracket
arms 14, 15 is a mount 19 for receiving a spring 20.
The spring 20 urges against the pushbutton 5 from below. The housing
part 8 likewise has a perpendicular mount 21 providing a guide for
another spring 22 which also urges against the pushbutton 5 from
below. On the side of the pushbutton 5, both springs 20, 22
are held in receiving sockets 23, 24 (shown in FIG 4) located
in the interior of the pushbutton 5.
For vertical movement, the pushbutton 5 has guide elements 25 configured
to mate with corresponding structure in the housing part 8. Hooks 26
arranged on the pushbutton 5 embrace the bracket arms 14, 15
of the rocker 13, thus enabling the rocker 13 to follow the upward
movement of the pushbutton 5 for unlocking. Arranged on the rear side of
the pushbutton 5 is a slide 27. The sheet-metal contacts 6
are connected to the electrical leads (not shown) of the cleaning device 1
by means of terminals.
The mode of operation of the tolerance compensating device will now be described
with reference to FIG. 4. By means of the spring 22 arranged in a receiving
socket 24 of the pushbutton 5, the pushbutton 5 is urged upwardly
in the direction of the housing part 7 of the contact member 4. When
downward force or pressure is applied to the pushbutton 5, the pushbutton
moves downwards against the spring 22. As this movement occurs, the spring
20, supported by the rocker 13, bears against the rocker 13,
causing it to pivot in counterclockwise direction. As a result, the sheet-metal
contacts 6 are moved downwards into contact with the contact pins (not shown)
of the dry shaving apparatus (not shown). With contact having been established
between the sheet-metal contacts 6 and the contact pins, the pushbutton
5 is moved further downwards. As a result, the rocker 13 remains
in its lower position, and the pushbutton 5 is moved against the spring
force of the springs 22 and 20. The pushbutton movement is hence
independent of the contact-making movement. In the event of the spring 20
being compressed to its solid length, any further movement of the pushbutton 5
in the downward direction would increase the forces acting on the contact pins
of the dry shaving apparatus. To prevent this from occurring, the sheet-metal contacts
6 have elastically deformable regions 28 enabling further compensation.
FIG. 5 shows the rear side of the pushbutton 5 having the slide 27
movably arranged in a horizontal slot 29 thereof. The hooks 26 embrace
the rocker 13 in the area of the bracket arms 14, 15. With
its journals 16, the rocker 13 is carried in the bearings 18
of the housing part 8 and is pivotal about an axis A. The guide elements
25 of the pushbutton 5 run in guideways 30 of the housing
part 8. The housing part 8 furthermore possesses a guide 31
into which the slide 27 extends. The upper latch stop, which limits the
movement of the pushbutton 5 in the upward direction, is defined by stops
32 that, in this position, engage the housing part 7 in the proximity
of the opening 10 under spring load. A lower latch stop 33 is provided
in the lower section of the guide 31 configured as a heart-shaped curve
34. For this purpose, the guide groove divides at a point 35 into
two grooves extending downwardly at an inclination away from each other. Each groove
has a reversal point 36. At this reversal point 36 the two grooves
extend inwardly each with a gradient of 45°. Then they ascend upwardly at
an inclination towards each other until they meet at a point which represents the
latch stop 33 and lies below point 35.
For locking of the cleaning device 1, the pushbutton 5 is moved
downwards against the spring 22. In this process, the slide 27 slides
likewise downwards in its guide 31. At point 35, the slide 27
continues its inclined downward movement in the one groove, which is the left-hand
groove in FIG. 5. The downward movement of the pushbutton 5 is stopped when
the reversal point is reached. The user then releases the pushbutton 5 which
is moved upwards by the spring 22. On reaching the reversal point, the slide
27 is directed inwardly by the 45° incline of the groove, so that on
release of the pushbutton 5 it is situated in that section of the groove
that extends towards the lower latch stop 33. The spring 22 urging
the pushbutton 5 upwards reliably holds the slide 27 at point 33
between the two inclines, that is, at the latch stop. In this condition the cleaning
device 1 is locked. For unlocking of the cleaning device 1, the pushbutton
5 is pressed downwards to cause the slide 27 to be moved downwards
in one of the two grooves until the downward movement is stopped by the reversal
point 36. The slide 27 is again displaced by the 45° incline,
this time to the right, and with the user releasing the pushbutton 5 the
slide 27 returns in its guide to the upper latch stop which is reached when
the stops 32 engage the housing part 7. Within the guide 31
the slide 27 is above point 35.
A number of embodiments of the invention have been described. Nevertheless, it
will be understood that various modifications may be made without departing from
the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, other embodiments are within
the scope of the following claims.
*
