CN216818182U - Switch assembly for cleaning and nursing appliance and cleaning and nursing appliance - Google Patents

Abstract

The utility model provides a switch assembly for a cleaning and nursing tool and the cleaning and nursing tool. A switch assembly, comprising: a switch; a toggle having a distal end and a proximal end, a switch disposed below the distal end of the toggle such that the toggle is operable to activate the switch, wherein the toggle has a small arm, a large arm, and a pivot located between the small arm and the large arm, the large arm having a length greater than a length of the small arm, the large arm including the distal end; the switch assembly further includes a first retaining portion for retaining the pivot portion of the switch paddle and a second retaining portion for retaining the proximal end of the switch paddle, the second retaining portion retaining an end of the small arm distal from the pivot portion such that the small arm of the switch paddle flexes to a pre-tensioned state when no pressing force is applied to the switch paddle, while the switch paddle generates a first moment about the pivot portion tending to move the large arm away from the switch. The utility model can ensure the compactness of the layout of all parts in the shell while meeting the requirement that the arrangement position of the switch part on the shell of the handle accords with the ergonomic design.

Description

Switch assembly for cleaning and nursing appliance and cleaning and nursing appliance

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a cleaning and care implement, such as a power toothbrush, and more particularly to a switch assembly in a cleaning and care implement.

Background

Various handheld electric cleaning and nursing appliances such as electric toothbrushes, tooth rinsers, shavers and the like are available in the market at present. These power-driven cleaning and care tools usually have a handle with a switch portion provided at a suitable position on the surface of the housing of the handle. Generally, when a user holds the handle of the electric cleaning and care tool with one hand, the user can easily press the switch portion with his fingers, thereby actuating the switch device disposed inside the handle below the switch operation portion.

It is common for the switching section on the handle housing to be formed of an elastic material, such as TPE, with the actuatable switching means being arranged below the elastic material. Thus, the switch device can be triggered by the elastic material deforming when the switch part is pressed by the force of a user. Inside the handle, the switch device may be mounted on a circuit board, or may be separately disposed to be connected to a power source through a wire. The switch assembly with the elastomeric material and the switch means ensures that the switch portion of the cleaning and care appliance can have a waterproof construction, which is particularly advantageous for power appliances having waterproof requirements, such as power toothbrushes and tooth rinsing machines.

However, such a switch arrangement structure has limitations that the switch device can only be installed right under the switch portion made of elastic material, the switch portion generally needs to be matched with the installation position of the switch device inside the handle, the flexibility of the switch portion is insufficient, and sometimes, in order to satisfy the convenience of operation, the switch device inside the handle is arranged at a position far away from the motor or the battery, and an additional wire needs to be used for electrical connection, which results in a complicated internal electrical structure of the appliance.

Accordingly, it is desirable to improve the switch assembly of the electric cleaning and nursing tool, avoid using redundant wires to connect the switch device, and improve the flexibility of the position layout of the switch device inside the handle of the electric cleaning and nursing tool.

SUMMERY OF THE UTILITY MODEL

To address the deficiencies of the prior art, the present invention provides a switch assembly for a cleaning and care implement, comprising: a switch for switching the cleaning and care implement; a switch paddle having a distal end and a proximal end, the switch being disposed below the distal end of the switch paddle such that the switch paddle is operable to activate the switch, wherein the paddle has a small arm, a large arm, and a pivot between the small and large arms, the large arm having a length greater than the small arm, the large arm including the distal end; the switch assembly further includes a first holding portion for holding the pivot portion of the seesaw and a second holding portion for holding a proximal end of the seesaw, the second holding portion holding an end of the small arm away from the pivot portion, so that the small arm of the seesaw is bent and deformed to be in a pre-tensioned state when no pressing force acts on the seesaw, while the seesaw generates a first moment about the pivot portion that tends to move the large arm away from the switch.

According to an aspect of the present invention, a switch is provided with an elastic member generating an elastic force acting on the large arm of the seesaw, and a second moment generated around the pivot by the elastic force is in the same direction as the first moment.

According to yet another aspect of the present invention, the large arm of the switch rocker defines a pressing portion between the pivot portion and the switch, upon which an external force for actuating the switch assembly can act.

According to a further aspect of the utility model, the switch assembly comprises a switch portion on the housing of the cleaning and care implement, the switch portion being constructed of an elastic material adapted to deform, the switch portion being aligned with the pressing portion.

According to still another aspect of the present invention, the first holding portion is provided on a member which is stationary with respect to the housing of the cleaning and care implement, wherein the first holding portion includes a pair of U-shaped grooves in the interior of the cleaning and care implement, and the pivot portion includes a pair of shaft portions which are respectively received in the corresponding U-shaped grooves.

According to a further aspect of the utility model, the second retaining portion is provided on a part which is stationary relative to the housing of the cleaning and care implement, and the second retaining portion comprises the fixed opening in the interior of the cleaning and care implement, in which opening the free end of the small arm is inserted and retained. The open pore can be a blind hole or a through hole

According to a further aspect of the utility model, the switch is mounted on a circuit board inside the cleaning appliance.

In addition, the present invention also provides an electric cleaning and nursing tool, comprising: a housing forming an elongated accommodation chamber in which a battery and a driving device are arranged in a longitudinal direction; and a switch assembly as described above housed within the housing; wherein the switch rocker of the switch assembly is arranged substantially parallel to the longitudinal direction.

In the cleaning-care implement according to the present invention, the switch of the switch assembly is mounted on a circuit board which is disposed between the battery and the motor of the drive device and which is fixed to the chassis, the circuit board being connected to at least one electrode of the motor and at least one electrode of the power supply, respectively.

Further, in the cleaning and care implement according to the present invention, the housing is provided inside thereof with a case that accommodates at least a part of the driving means and a gear cover attached to the case, the first holding portion is provided on the case, and the second holding portion is provided on the gear cover.

By adopting the scheme of the utility model, the arrangement position of the switch part on the handle shell meets the requirement of ergonomic design, and simultaneously, the compactness of the layout of all parts in the shell can be ensured. The switch portion is located generally at the proximal end of the drive means or where the drive means and the transmission means engage, and the switch may be directly attached to a circuit board located remotely from this location, eliminating the need for long wires to connect the switch or circuit board on which the switch is mounted to the battery, thus making the internal layout of the electric toothbrush more compact, while also simplifying the installation process of the various device components within the electric toothbrush.

Drawings

For a more complete understanding of the present invention, reference is made to the following description of exemplary embodiments taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

fig. 1 is a perspective view showing an electric toothbrush according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view illustrating the internal structure of the electric toothbrush shown in fig. 1, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 3 is another perspective view illustrating the internal structure of the electric toothbrush of fig. 1 according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, in which a gear case is removed to show an internal transmission mechanism.

Fig. 4 is another perspective view illustrating the internal structure of the electric toothbrush shown in fig. 1, in which a battery is removed, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 5 is a force analysis diagram illustrating a seesaw of the switch assembly according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 6 is a side view showing a state in which the switch assembly is fitted to the gear housing according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

List of reference numerals

1 handle

2 brush head

3 switching part

4 cleaning element

5 Battery

6 machine frame

7 case body

8 case cover

9 electric machine

10 switch wane

11 small arm

12 proximal end

13 pivot part

14 big arm

15 distal end

20 drive shaft

21 handle shell

30 circuit board

31 switch

71U-shaped groove

81 holes are opened

100 electric toothbrush

Detailed Description

The present invention is further described in the following description with reference to specific embodiments and the accompanying drawings, wherein the details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention, but it is apparent that the present invention can be embodied in many other forms different from those described herein, and it will be readily appreciated by those skilled in the art that the present invention can be implemented in many different forms without departing from the spirit and scope of the utility model.

An exemplary embodiment of the present invention is described in more detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings, using a power toothbrush as a representative example of a personal cleaning care appliance. Although the following description will be made by taking only the electric toothbrush as an example, the present invention is not limited thereto. The present invention is also applicable to cleaning and nursing tools such as electric shavers, electric face cleaners, electric showers, etc., which can provide a cleaning action by the driving means.

For clarity, the spatially relative positional terms such as "proximal/proximal", "distal/distal", and the like, are used herein to describe simply the relationship of one element or feature to another element(s) or feature(s) as shown in the drawings, with "proximal/proximal" referring to the end or side adjacent to where the cleaning force is applied when the cleaning implement is in use; "distal end" refers to the end or side of the cleaning implement that is distal from the location of application of the cleaning force during use of the cleaning implement.

Further, as used herein, the term "and/or" includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed words.

Although the word "first" or the like is used in this specification to describe various elements or components, these elements or components should not be limited by these words. These terms are only used to distinguish one element or constituent from another element or constituent, and do not include "order". Thus, the use of ordinal numbers for those elements or components discussed below to interchange forms does not depart from the spirit and scope of the utility model.

Fig. 1 shows a perspective view of the outer shape of a cleaning and care implement according to a preferred embodiment of the utility model. The cleaning and care implement shown in fig. 1 is an electric toothbrush which mainly comprises a handle 1 adapted to be held by one hand and a head 2 detachably mounted on the handle 1, the handle 1 and the head 2 being arranged adjacently in the longitudinal direction of the whole electric toothbrush. The head 2 is provided with a plurality of cleaning elements 4, such as bristles. The handle 1 includes a handle housing 21 and various functional components mounted in the handle housing 21.

As shown in fig. 1, the electric toothbrush has a handle case 21 of a generally elongated cylindrical shape, and a switch section 3 is provided in the middle of the handle case 21. The switching section 3 comprises a membrane of elastic material, which may be substantially circular or oval, corresponding to the shape of a human finger. For an elongated cylindrical handle housing 21 of a power toothbrush, the switching section 3 is preferably disposed in the middle portion near the proximal end, such a location being suitable for a user to hold the actuating switching section with one hand. Preferably, the switch portion 3 made of an elastic material may be formed integrally with the handle housing 21 or may be formed separately.

Fig. 2 further shows the internal construction of the electric toothbrush according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention. As shown in fig. 2, the electric toothbrush includes a battery 5 as a power source, a driving means for providing a driving force to the head 2, a transmission means for transferring the driving force to the head 2, a driving shaft 20 to which the head 2 is attached, a switch assembly, and a circuit board 30, which are substantially accommodated in a chamber formed in a handle housing 21.

The battery 5 is disposed in the chamber near the handle at a location remote from the distal end of the brush head. The drive unit mainly comprises a motor 9 and a frame 6. A motor 9 is fixed to the frame 6, and an output shaft of the motor 9 extends from a proximal end of the motor 9 adjacent the drive means. In the longitudinal direction of the handle 1, a circuit board 30 is arranged between the motor 9 and the battery 5, the circuit board 30 also being normally fixed to the frame 6. The circuit board 30 is electrically connected, on the one hand, to at least one pole of the motor 9 and, on the other hand, to at least one of the positive and negative poles of the power supply.

Further, a transmission device is mounted on a proximal end side of the driving device, and the transmission device mainly includes a link mechanism and a gear case accommodating the link mechanism. The link mechanism is connected to the output shaft of the motor 9 and the drive shaft 20, respectively, so as to convert the rotational motion of the output shaft of the motor 9 about its longitudinal axis into the reciprocating rotation of the drive shaft 20.

The drive shaft 20 is located on the proximal side of the powered toothbrush 100 and extends from an opening in the proximal end of the handle housing 21. The drive shaft 20 has a longitudinal axis, the longitudinal axis of the drive shaft 20 being substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the output shaft of the motor 9, more preferably the two longitudinal axes are aligned. The brush head 2 is snap-fitted to the drive shaft 20 by a snap-fit arrangement so that the brush head 2 can rotate back and forth with the drive shaft 20 about the longitudinal axis of the drive shaft 20.

In particular, the switch assembly in the electric toothbrush 100 mainly includes a switch 31 and a switch rocker 10, wherein the switch 31 is directly mounted on the circuit board 30, and the switch rocker 10 is disposed in a space between the driving means and the transmission means and the handle housing within the cavity of the handle 1. The length direction of the seesaw 10 is arranged substantially parallel to the longitudinal direction of the handle,

the construction of the switch assembly according to the preferred embodiment of the utility model is clearly seen in fig. 3. The seesaw 10 has a small arm 11, a large arm 14, and a pivot 13 between the small arm 11 and the large arm 14. Preferably, the rocker 10 is integrally formed of a resin material, and the small arm 11, the large arm 14 and the pivot 13 constitute a single integral piece. Generally, the length of the large arm 14 in the longitudinal direction is greater than the length of the small arm 11 in the longitudinal direction. A switch 31 on the circuit board 30 is disposed below the free or distal end 15 of the large arm 14 whereby the switch 31 is interlockingly engageable with the free end of the large arm 14. By actuating the switch rocker 10, the switch 31 can be actuated accordingly, thereby achieving electrical opening and closing of the switch 31. As shown in fig. 3 and 4, the seesaw 10 has a shape of a lath, but has different widths in a longitudinal direction, a narrow proximal end 12 of the small arm 11 and a wide distal end 15 of the large arm 14.

Further, as shown in fig. 4 and 6, the pivot portion 13 of the switch rocker 10 and the proximal end 12 of the small arm 11 are held so as to be restricted from moving. Specifically, the pivoting portion 13 of the seesaw 10 is held by the first holding portion, and the proximal end of the small arm 11 is held by the second holding portion, which are stationary members with respect to the handle housing 21. In a preferred embodiment, the first retaining portion and the second retaining portion are both provided on a gear box of the transmission.

In the preferred embodiment, as shown in fig. 6, the first retaining portion for retaining the pivot portion 13 comprises a pair of U-shaped slots 71 on the housing 7 of the gearbox, and the pivot portion 13 comprises a pair of shaft portions, each of which is received in a corresponding one of the U-shaped slots 71. The U-shaped channel 71 substantially restricts movement of the shaft portion in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the handle, but allows the shaft portion to rotate within the U-shaped channel 71.

Meanwhile, as also shown in fig. 6, the second holding portion for holding the proximal end 12 of the seesaw 10 includes an opening 81 in the cover 8 of the gear case, and the narrow proximal end 12 of the small arm 11 is inserted into the opening 81 and held by the opening 81. At this point, the opening 81 in the gearbox cover limits the movement of the proximal end of the forearm 11 in any direction. Obviously, the opening 81 may be a blind hole or a through hole.

It should be understood that the first holding portion and the second holding portion may be an integral part of the case body 7 and the case cover 8 of the gear case, respectively, or may be fittings attached to the case body 7 and the case cover 8. In the preferred embodiment, the seesaw 10 is disposed on both sides as the pair of shaft portions of the pivot portion 13. In other alternative embodiments, the pivot 13 may also be provided on the side of the rocker 10 opposite the gearbox.

In particular, the aperture 81 retains the proximal end 12 of the small arm 11 such that when the switch 31 is in the off state, the small arm 11 of the switch rocker 10 is bent to assume a pre-tensioned state, at which point the switch rocker 10 generates a first moment M about the pivot 13 that tends to move the large arm 14 away from the switch 31, as shown in fig. 5.

The relative positions of the first and second retaining portions are arranged to enable the seesaw 10 to achieve such a pre-tensioned state. Specifically, the opening 81 in the gear box cover is offset to the inside in the lateral direction, i.e., the side near the center of the handle cavity, with respect to the position of the proximal end 12 of the rocker switch 10 in the freely extended state of the small arm 11 when the shaft portion is received in the U-shaped groove 71. When the proximal end 12 of the small arm 11 is forcibly held in the opening 81, the small arm 11 is subjected to bending deformation, and thus, a pre-tightening state is achieved. With the pretension on the small arm 11, the pivot 13 of the rocker switch 10 accordingly generates a first moment M in the direction shown in fig. 5, so that the large arm 14 tends to move away from the switch 31.

On the other hand, the switch 31 usually has an elastic member (not shown) that generates an elastic force F2 to the movable part of the switch 31, as shown in fig. 5, and the elastic force F2 acts on the distal end 15 of the rocker 10, and the second moment generated by the elastic force F2 of the elastic member around the pivot 13 is in the same direction as the first moment generated by the pre-tightening force.

The second moment generated by the switch 31 itself and the first moment generated by the pre-tensioned state of the small arm 11 ensure that the switch 31 below the free end of the large arm 14 is not actuated in the event that the switching part 3 of the handle housing 21 is not actuated.

As shown in fig. 5, the large arm 14 defines a pressing portion 16 between the pivot portion 13 and the switch portion 3, and an external force for actuating the switch assembly can act on the pressing portion 16 of the large arm 14 through the switch portion 3. Preferably, the pressing portion 16 is closer to the pivot portion 13 than to the free end of the large arm 14. The switch section 3 is substantially aligned with the pressing section 16 on the housing 21, and since the switch section 3 is made of an elastic material, the pressing force acting on the switch section 3 can be transmitted to the pressing section 16 of the large arm 14.

When the user actuates the switch 31, a pressing force is applied to the pressing portion 16 of the large arm 14 in a direction opposite to the elastic force of the switch 31, the pressing force generating a third moment opposite to the first moment and the second moment around the driving portion 13. When the pressing force is sufficiently large and the third moment is greater than the sum of the first moment and the second moment, the free end of the large arm 14 will rotate about the pivot towards the switch 31, thereby actuating the switch 31 and completing the desired switching operation.

As shown in fig. 2, after the proximal end 12 and the pivot portion 13 of the seesaw 10 are secured to the gear housing, respectively, the seesaw 10 extends from the proximal end of the gear housing to a position on the circuit board 30 between the actuator and the battery 5, where the pressing portion 16 is adjacent to the proximal end of the actuator. The switch part 3 is arranged on a part of the handle shell 21 close to the near end, so that when the handle is held by a single hand, fingers can just press the switch part 3, in the cavity of the shell 21, the switch 13 is arranged at the position of the approximate middle part of the longitudinal direction of the whole handle, the switch 31 can be arranged far away from the switch part 3 on the shell 21, and the compactness of the layout of all parts in the shell 21 is ensured while the arrangement position of the switch part 3 on the handle shell 21 meets the requirement of ergonomic design. The switch portion 3 is located substantially at the proximal end of the drive means or where the drive means and the transmission means engage, and with the solution according to the utility model the switch can be located remotely from this location, but without the need for long wires to connect the switch or the circuit board 30 on which the switch is mounted to the battery 5, thus simplifying the process of mounting the various device components inside the electric toothbrush.

Although the present invention has been disclosed in terms of the preferred embodiment, it is not intended to limit the utility model, and variations and modifications may be made by one skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the utility model. Therefore, any modification, equivalent change and modification of the above embodiments according to the technical essence of the present invention are within the protection scope defined by the claims of the present invention, unless the technical essence of the present invention departs from the content of the present invention.

Claims (10)

1. A switch assembly for a cleaning and care appliance, comprising:

a switch (31) for switching operation of the cleaning and care implement;

a switch paddle (10), the switch paddle (10) having a distal end and a proximal end, the switch being disposed below the distal end of the switch paddle such that the switch paddle is operable to activate the switch,

it is characterized in that the preparation method is characterized in that,

the rocker having a small arm (11), a large arm (14) and a pivot (13) therebetween, the large arm having a length greater than the small arm, the large arm (14) including the distal end;

the switch assembly further includes a first retaining portion for retaining the pivot portion of the switch paddle and a second retaining portion for retaining a proximal end of the switch paddle,

the second holding portion holds an end of the small arm away from the pivot portion so that the small arm of the seesaw is bent to be deformed in a pre-tightened state when no pressing force acts on the seesaw, while the seesaw generates a first moment (M) about the pivot portion that tends to move the large arm away from the switch.

2. The switch assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that the switch (31) is provided with a spring, the spring force generated by the spring acting on the large arm of the switch rocker, the second moment generated by the spring about the pivot being in the same direction as the first moment.

3. The switch assembly of claim 1, wherein the large arm defines a pressing portion between the pivot portion and the switch, the pressing force for actuating the switch assembly being capable of acting on the pressing portion.

4. The switch assembly of claim 3, including a switch portion on the cleaning implement housing, the switch portion being constructed of a resilient material adapted to deform, the switch portion being aligned with the pressing portion.

5. The switch assembly of claim 1, wherein the first retaining portion is disposed on a component that is stationary relative to the housing of the cleaning and care implement,

wherein the first holding portion includes a pair of U-shaped grooves (71) in the interior of the cleaning and care implement, and the pivot portion includes a pair of shaft portions which are respectively received in the corresponding U-shaped grooves.

6. The switch assembly of claim 1, wherein the second retaining portion is disposed on a component that is stationary relative to the housing of the cleaning and care implement,

and the second holding part comprises a fixed opening (81) inside the cleaning and nursing tool, the proximal end of the small arm is inserted and held in the opening, and the opening is a blind hole or a through hole.

7. A switch assembly according to claim 1, wherein the switch is mounted on a circuit board (30) within the cleaning appliance.

8. A cleaning and care implement comprising:

a housing forming an elongated receiving chamber in which the battery (5) and the drive means are arranged in a longitudinal direction; and

wherein the cleaning and care implement further comprises a switch assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 7 contained within the housing;

wherein the switch rocker of the switch assembly is arranged substantially parallel to the longitudinal direction.

9. The cleaning and care implement of claim 8, wherein said switch of said switch assembly is mounted on a circuit board disposed between said battery and a motor of said drive mechanism and said circuit board is secured to a frame, said circuit board being connected to at least one pole of said motor and at least one pole of said battery, respectively.

10. A cleaning and care implement according to claim 8 or 9, characterized in that the housing is internally provided with a housing (7) accommodating at least a part of the drive means and a gearbox cover (8) attached to the housing (7), the first retaining portion being provided on the housing (7) and the second retaining portion being provided on the gearbox cover (8).

Images