JP2018033955A - Handheld appliance - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a single button having three linearly spaced positions corresponding to three different states of temperature or flow or a combination thereof.SOLUTION: A handheld appliance includes a user operable button, a switch, and an actuator including an arm. The button has three linearly spaced positions, each position corresponding to a different state of the switch. The arm includes a surface adapted to engage with the switch. The switch includes a lever and the lever is moved by contact with the surface. The lever has a first position and a second position. The second position of the lever may be a neutral position where the lever is not in contact with the surface. When the lever is in the first position, the surface engages with the lever. The lever is housed within a recess of the arm. The switch comprises a first switch and a second switch which are longitudinally spaced.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 7a

Description

  The present invention relates to a hand-held electric appliance, and more particularly to an electric appliance for hair styling such as a hot styling device.

  In conventional hot styling appliances, air is drawn from the inlet by the fan unit and directed from the outlet to the hair. In many cases, an appliance includes various attachments, each attachment having a different exit configuration and thus different functions such as drying, curling, or volumizing. Depending on the desired style, the air may or may not be heated. The attachment can include bristles where the hair is wrapped and held for hair styling.

  The appliance has at least one user operation button that can be a push button or a slide button. One advantageous feature is a cold shot that is used when a long hair style is formed to quickly cool and style the hair. Many appliances have separate buttons for cold shots, which means that the user needs to activate two buttons when shaping the hair, the cold shot button, then the appliance power supply Is another button to turn off. In the time interval between release of the cold shot and power off of the appliance, the hair will be exposed to the fluid and will receive heat passing through it, which may affect the shaped style.

  The present invention provides a handheld appliance comprising a button operable by a user, a switch, and an actuator including an arm extending between the button and the switch. There are two linearly spaced positions, each position corresponding to a different state for the switch.

  The present invention provides a single button having three linearly spaced positions corresponding to, for example, three different states of temperature or flow rate or combinations thereof. The button is coupled to an actuator that includes an arm that allows the button to be spaced longitudinally from the switch. This allows for a relatively shallow user interface since the switch is not directly coupled to the button.

  Preferably, the appliance comprises an outer wall, the button is disposed near the outer surface of the outer wall and is movable relative to the outer surface, and the actuator and the switch are disposed near the inner surface of the outer wall and longitudinally away from the button. Separate.

  Preferably, the arm comprises a surface adapted to engage the switch. The arm is elongated and has a structure. At or near the distal end from the button of the arm, the arm preferably comprises a surface, which can be the inner or outer surface of the arm, which surface is adapted to engage the switch. Yes. Preferably, the switch includes a lever that moves upon contact with the surface. In one embodiment, the lever has a first position and a second position, and in another embodiment, the lever further comprises a third position.

  Preferably, the second position of the lever is a neutral position when the lever is not in contact with the surface. Preferably, the surface engages the lever when the lever is in the first position. The surface moves the lever from the neutral position. In one embodiment, the arm comprises a second surface that engages the lever to effect movement to a third position. Preferably, the surface is an inner surface. Preferably, the second surface is an inner surface. The inner surface is a surface provided in the structure of the arm. Preferably, the arm includes a recess formed by one or more of the first surface and / or the second surface. The recess is a recess in the arm structure, and is preferably V-shaped. Preferably, the lever is housed in the recess. In this embodiment, the recess is sized such that the neutral position is approximately in the middle of the recess and the lever does not significantly contact any surface of the recess so that the lever does not move from the neutral position when the switch is in the second position. That's it.

  Preferably, the lever is part of a detector switch, ie a non-latching spring-loaded switch that returns to the neutral or second position when there is no external force applied to the switch. Such a switch is suitable for use with appliance temperature and flow settings, and the user may select several different options, preferably with a single button that slides between each position. it can.

  In some embodiments, a single user operation button is used to provide two functions. Preferably, the switch includes a first switch and a second switch. In a preferred embodiment, the first switch and the second switch are spaced apart in the longitudinal direction. Preferably, the arm includes a first surface adapted to engage with the first switch and an additional surface adapted to engage with the second switch. In one embodiment, the arm comprises a first side and the first surface is located on the first side. Preferably, the arm comprises a second side and the additional surface is located on the second side. The button is coupled to an actuator that sequentially activates the first switch and the second switch depending on the position of the button. Preferably, the second switch is a push switch.

  In a preferred embodiment, the actuator comprises a housing. Preferably, the housing includes a movable protrusion that engages the button. Preferably, one end of the protrusion is attached to the arm and the other end is attached to the button. Therefore, when the button moves, the protrusion and the arm move. Preferably, the button moves linearly and the user slides the button from one position to another. Preferably, the protrusion comprises three linearly spaced positions, each corresponding to one of each of the button positions.

  In one embodiment, one of the three linearly spaced positions of the protrusion is a temporary position. Preferably, the first and second positions of the three linearly spaced positions are defined by detents. In one embodiment, the third of the three linearly spaced positions of the protrusion is defined by the detent. Alternatively, the third position of the three linearly spaced positions of the protrusion is defined by the user operating against the spring bias. In a preferred embodiment, the housing further comprises a spring, and a third position of the three linearly spaced positions of the protrusion is provided when the user operation button is pressed against the spring. Preferably, the spring biases the protrusion toward the second position. Thus, when the user presses the button toward the third position, the arm is pressed against the spring, and the third position is only provided while the user applies a force against the spring. When the user releases the force applied to the button, the spring biases the arm to return the protrusion to the second position.

  Using the detent gives the user feedback that a different location has been selected. In addition, it is possible to create audible noise for the user as the protrusion moves over the boundary between two adjacent detents in order to perceive the switch position.

  In one embodiment, the present invention provides a single button having three positions corresponding to off, on, and cold shot, respectively, so that the user can operate the cold shot by manipulating the single button. It can be moved quickly from off to off. Preferably, the cold shot condition or condition corresponds to the third position, ie the position of the protrusion biased by the spring. Therefore, this position is a temporary position, and the user needs to keep pressing the button to keep this state active. In this embodiment, there are two switches: an on switch followed by a cold shot switch. Preferably, the on switch is a push button switch and the cold shot is a latch switch.

  In a preferred embodiment, the appliance is a hair care appliance, preferably a hot styling device.

  The invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Fig. 2 shows an appliance that can use a user interface according to the invention. A side view of a user interface with buttons is shown. Fig. 5 shows a side view of a user interface without buttons. 2 shows the radially inner surface of an actuator according to the invention. 2 shows a cross section of a part of an actuator according to the invention. 2 shows a cross section of another actuator according to the invention. 1 shows an isometric view of an actuator according to the present invention. FIG. 4 shows a side view of the user interface with all buttons in a first position. FIG. 6 shows a side view of the user interface with all buttons in a second position. FIG. 6 shows a side view of the user interface with all buttons in a third position. 2 shows a cross section of an appliance according to the invention. Figure 3 shows a cross section of one of the buttons of an appliance.

  Referring to FIG. 1, an embodiment of a handheld appliance 10 is shown. The electric appliance has a handle 210 and a hair styling attachment 20. Attachment 20 is removable and can be replaced with another attachment to allow the user to create different styles and give the appliance different functions. In addition, the attachment 20 can be removed to facilitate storage of the appliance when not in use. The handle 210 includes a plurality of different user operation buttons 30, 138 that allow the user to select a plurality of different temperature and flow settings. The appliance includes a fan unit and a heater (both not shown), and in use, the fan unit sucks fluid through the fluid inlet 212, which is optionally heated, and then the fluid outlet 22 in the attachment 20. Released from.

  The appliance 10 has two different button configurations (structures) that control the appliance. In this embodiment, both configurations have three different setting positions, but one configuration controls a single switch, while the other configuration controls two switches. The first button configuration (structure) 30 is more suitable for controlling appliance parameters such as temperature or flow rate, and this button type controls a single switch. The second button arrangement 130 (structure) is suitable for controlling two different aspects such as turning on the appliance and providing a cold shot function. Alternatively, two different aspects can be temperature or flow with a cold shot function, but a cold shot can only be used with the highest or lowest of these functions and is not always appropriate. These options are more restrictive.

  The first button arrangement 30 will now be described with particular reference to FIGS. 2a-7c. The first button arrangement 30 has a single switch 32 with a lever 36 movable between a first position 36a, a second position 36b, and a third position 36c. An actuator 40 extends between the button 38 and the switch 32, and the actuator 40 has a protrusion 42 that engages the button 38, and the protrusion 42 is attached to an arm 44 that extends to the switch 32. The protruding portion 42 is accommodated in the housing 46. The housing 46 has an opening 48 through which the protrusion 42 extends. Housing 46 includes three detents 50, each detent defining the position of button 38, protrusion 42, arm 44, and lever 36. Ball 52 is adapted to move between three detents 50 and spring 54 biases ball 52 against one of three detents 50 until further movement of button 38 occurs. Since the spring 54 is at least partially housed in a recess 42 a provided inside the protruding portion 42, the ball 52 moves between the detents 50 when the button 38 moves.

  A recess 56 is provided at or near the distal end 44a of the arm 44 from the housing. The concave portion 56 is substantially V-shaped, and accommodates and holds the lever 36. In the first position 36 a, the lever engages the inner surface 58 of the recess 56. The second position 36b of the lever corresponds to the neutral position of the lever 36, which is in the recess 56 without being pushed or pulled, which is the central button position. In the third position 36 c, the lever engages the second surface 60 of the recess 56. In the first and third positions, the lever 36 is held in that position by the force applied by the spring 54 that biases the ball 52 against the detent 50.

  The button arrangement 30 further includes a button plate 62 located between the button 38 and the protrusion 42. The handle 210 has an outer wall 214, and in order for the button 38 to move or slide between each position, the outer wall 214 is formed with an opening 216 corresponding to sliding between the three positions. Is larger than the button 38. The button plate 62 is positioned inside the outer wall 214 and is sized to completely cover the opening 216 regardless of the position of the button 38. The button plate 62 prevents debris from entering the handle 210 directly.

  Here, the second button configuration 130 will be described. In this embodiment, the components illustrated and described above in connection with the first button configuration 30 have similar reference numbers. The second button configuration 130 includes a first switch 132 and a second switch 150. In this embodiment, the first switch 132 provides an off-on function and the second switch 150 provides a cold shot. When the second button 138 is in the off position as shown in FIG. 7a, the first switch 132 and the second switch 150 are not active. As shown in FIGS. 2a and 7b, when the second button 138 moves to one position, the push button 134 provided on the surface of the first switch 132 is engaged to turn on the power of the appliance. become.

  The second actuator 140 extends between the second button 138 and the first switch 132. The second actuator 140 has a protrusion 42 that engages with the second button 138. The protruding portion 42 is accommodated in the second housing 146. The second housing 146 has an opening 48 through which the protrusion 42 extends. The second housing 146 includes two detents 50, each detent defining the position of the second button 138 and the second arm 144. The ball 52 is adapted to move between the two detents 50 and the spring 54 biases the ball 52 against one of the two detents 50 until further movement of the second button 138 occurs. It is provided for. Since the spring 54 is at least partially housed in a recess 42 a provided in the protrusion 42, the ball 52 also moves between the detents 50 when the second button 138 moves.

  The second actuator 140 has a surface 158 that engages the push button 134 and when the user moves the second button 138 from the off position to the on position, the second arm 144 moves and the surface 158 The push button 134 is pushed down by engaging with the push button 134.

  The second button 138 can be moved to a third position, but this third position is not defined by the detent; instead, the third position is determined by the second button 138 being the second position. Only when the user applies pressure to the second button 138. The distal end 140 b from the first switch 132 of the actuator 140 is shaped to receive the spring 152. When the user pushes the second button 138 and protrusion 42 from the second position to the third position, the ball 52 moves out of the central detent 50b and opposes the action of the spring 152. The second arm 144 has a second surface 160 formed near the arm end 144a distal from the second housing 146, the second surface 160 having a second button 138 as a spring. When pushed against 152, the second switch 150 is engaged. The second switch 150 has a second lever 154 that is pushed from a neutral or free position when engaged with the second surface 160, as long as the second lever 154 is outside the range of this neutral position. The heater (not shown) is stopped, resulting in a cold shot.

  The first switch 132 and the second switch 150 are separated from each other in the longitudinal direction. When the second button 138 and the protrusion 42 are moved to the third position, the push button 134 of the first switch 132 is It remains engaged.

  The second arm 144 has a first side 156 that includes a surface 158 that engages the push button 134. The second arm has a second side 162 and the second side includes a second surface 160. This is advantageous because force is applied to both sides of the second arm 144 when both switches are engaged.

  In this embodiment, the first button arrangement 30, 30a is used twice, one for temperature setting and the other for flow rate setting. Optionally, the pair of first button configurations 30, 30a are separated by a second button configuration 130. This means that the user has a small area on the outer wall 214 where all the controls of the product are located. To assist the user, the second button 138 is larger than the first button 38 and is displaced along the outer wall 214 to form a triangular UI (user interface) 180 (FIG. 2a). The user can naturally identify the second button 138 by touching, and can change the setting without looking at the UI.

  In the illustrated embodiment (see FIG. 8), all switches are attached to a substrate 70, for example a PCB (printed circuit board). Usually such a substrate is flat, but in one embodiment the substrate is formed of two elements 70a, 70b and is flexible so that the substrate 70 does not occupy a significant proportion of the interior space of the handle 210. A sex part 72 connects the two elements. This allows the substrate 70 to be slightly bent into a V shape that more closely follows the shape of the outer wall 214 of the handle 210. Since the fluid flow path extends through the inside of the handle 210, if the substrate 70 is bent, the fluid flowing inside the handle 210 is less constricted. The second arm 144 is positioned approximately in the center of the substrate above the flexible portion 72 and engages a push button 134 on one side corresponding to one element 70 a of the substrate 70. The second arm 144 engages the second switch 150 on the other side corresponding to the other element 70b of the substrate. The second arm 144 extends in a direction away from the second housing 146 in a first direction XX parallel to the longitudinal axis AA of the handle 210, while the second arm 144 is It also extends in a second direction YY that is substantially perpendicular to the direction. This creates an L-shaped profile near the distal end 144a of the second arm 144 from the second housing 146. The second direction YY extends from the outer wall 214 toward the substrate 70. The L-shaped profile allows a single arm 144 to engage the first switch 132 and the second switch 150 across the bend of the substrate 70.

  Referring now to FIG. 9, in this embodiment, an additional button 100 is provided in addition to the UI having user operation buttons 38, 138. This additional button 100 operates an attachment mechanism (not shown) that holds and releases the attachment 20 relative to the handle 210.

  The outer wall 214 of the handle 210 has an elliptical cross section. The handle 210 has a long axis BB and a short axis CC. A major axis is an axis with a larger radius and diameter. The oval handle 210 provides several advantages. That is, the handle 210 is oriented in the user's hand, resulting in a large space within the handle 210 compared to the short-axis equivalent circle.

  It is natural for the user to place the long axis in the correct direction with the interdigital membrane (web) between the thumb and index finger. User operation buttons 38, 138 and 100 are provided close to the long axis and can be easily accessed by the thumb or index finger. In one embodiment, the additional button 100 is in a symmetrical position with the second button 138. This has several advantages, helping the user to place it in the correct orientation with respect to the orientation of the appliance in the user's hand, balancing the product, and visually appealing.

  The user interface 180 includes first button configurations 30, 30a and a second button configuration 130, and is provided at the first vertex 182 of the long axis BB. Specifically, in the illustrated embodiment, a second button configuration 130 is provided on the first vertex 182, and each of the first button configurations 30, 30 a forms a triangular user interface 180. In addition, the first vertex 182 is offset in the radial direction on both sides. Of the three user operation buttons, the second user operation button includes an on / off switch. Where appropriate, the pair of first button configurations is referred to as first and third buttons, which control the temperature and flow through the appliance, respectively. Conveniently, the first and third buttons are longitudinally displaced from the second button and form the base of a triangular user interface. The second button 138 is disposed at the apex of the triangle.

  An additional user operation button 100 is provided on the second vertex 184 of the long axis BB. Accordingly, the additional user operation button 100 is in a symmetrical position with respect to the second button configuration 130.

  A large space inside the handle 210 is achieved without significantly increasing the overall impression of the diameter of the handle 210. The use of an ellipse hides the size of the long axis. Also, with a handle having a circular cross section, the major axis size would be too large for many people to hold comfortably.

  The user interface 180 is a triangle, and there is one user operation button at each vertex of the triangle. Since there are two first button configurations 30, 30a, in one embodiment, the triangular user interface 180 is in the form of an isosceles triangle, and the two first button configurations are each at the bottom of the triangle. Provided at the corner.

  In one embodiment, the additional user operation buttons 100 are displaced longitudinally from the user interface 180. One reason for this is that an additional user operation button 100 activates the attachment mechanism, which causes the attachment 20 to be attached to and released from the handle 210 of the appliance 10, resulting in the mechanism being added The typical user operation button 100 is simplified when it is adjacent to or close to the first end 210a of the handle 210 to which the attachment 20 is attached. A second advantage of this configuration is that the internal mechanism that functions to facilitate operation of the additional user operation buttons 100 and the user interface 180 can be separated within the handle 210, resulting in these Some internal reduction of the cross-sectional area due to the internal mechanism is that it is spaced longitudinally within the handle 210. The third reason is that this configuration is near the first end 210a of the handle 210 in a symmetrical position with a triangular user interface 180 with first, second, and third buttons that are all accessible with the thumb. This is to help the user naturally place the appliance with the additional user operation button 100 in the right direction in the hand. In this embodiment, the second button 138 is on the top of the user interface 180, distal from the additional user operation button 100 and the first end 210 a of the handle 210.

  In the previous embodiment, the first button configuration 130 has three set positions, but this is not essential and can have more or less set positions. In addition, the first and second switches are provided on both sides of the arm, but are not required as well, and due to space constraints, the two switches can be provided on the same side of the arm.

  The two first button configurations 30, 30a are slightly different in the illustrated embodiment, and the configuration of each recess 60, 60a is slightly different. These differences are simply due to spatial considerations on the substrate 70. Thus, the two recesses 60, 60a can alternatively be the same.

  In each figure, particularly in FIGS. 7a-7c, the buttons are shown in the same position at the same time, but this is merely for ease of explanation of the present invention and each combination for each of the three button positions is Can be used with others. For example, each temperature setting position can be used when the machine is on, and a cold shot can be used at some flow setting position.

  Although the present invention has been described in detail in connection with hot styling equipment, it can be applied to any electrical appliance that draws fluid and sends outflow of fluid from the electrical appliance.

  The appliance can be used with or without a heater, and the action of the high velocity outflow of fluid provides a drying effect.

  The fluid that passes through the appliance is typically air, but can be any combination of gases, and its product to improve the performance of the appliance or the effect the appliance has on the object. May contain additives that are directed to the hair or its hair styling.

  The present invention is not limited to the above detailed description. Those skilled in the art will understand various modifications.

30 first button configuration 30a first button configuration 38 button 100 additional user operation buttons 130 first button configuration 138 second button 182 first vertex 184 second vertex 210 handle 214 outer wall

Claims (24)

A hand-held appliance comprising a user operable button, a first switch, a second switch, and an actuator,
The actuator includes an arm extending between the button, the first switch, and the second switch;
The button has three linearly spaced positions, each of the positions corresponding to a different state with respect to the first switch or the second switch.   The appliance of claim 1, wherein the arm comprises a surface adapted to engage the first switch or the second switch.   The appliance according to claim 2, wherein the first switch includes a lever, and the lever moves by contact with the surface.   The appliance of claim 3, wherein the lever has a first position and a second position.   The appliance of claim 4, wherein the second position of the lever is a neutral position where the lever is not in contact with the surface.   6. The appliance of claim 4 or 5, wherein the surface engages the lever when the lever is in the first position.   The appliance according to any one of claims 4 to 6, wherein the lever further comprises a third position.   The appliance of claim 7, wherein the arm comprises a second surface, the second surface engaging the lever to effect movement of the lever to a third position.   The electrical appliance according to any one of claims 6 to 8, wherein at least one of the surface and the second surface is an inner surface.   The appliance according to any of claims 7 to 9, wherein the arm comprises a recess formed in one or more of the first surface and / or the second surface.   The appliance according to claim 10, wherein the recess is V-shaped.   The electric appliance according to claim 10 or 11, wherein the lever is housed in the recess.   The appliance of claim 1, wherein the first switch and the second switch are spaced apart in the longitudinal direction.   The arm includes a first surface adapted to engage with the first switch and an additional surface adapted to engage with the second switch. 13. The electric appliance according to 13.   The electric device according to claim 1, wherein the arm includes a first side surface, and the first surface is located on the first side surface.   16. An appliance as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the arm includes a second side and the additional surface is located on the second side.   The electric appliance according to claim 1, wherein the second switch is a push switch.   The electric device according to claim 1, wherein the actuator includes a housing.   The appliance of claim 18, wherein the housing includes a movable protrusion that engages the button.   The appliance of claim 19, wherein the protrusion comprises three linearly spaced positions corresponding to each one of the button positions.   21. The appliance of claim 20, wherein first and second positions of the three linearly spaced positions are defined by a detent.   23. The appliance of claim 21, wherein a third position of the three linearly spaced positions of the protrusion is defined by a detent.   The housing further comprises a spring, wherein a third position of the three linearly spaced positions of the protrusion is provided when the user operation button is pressed against the spring. The electric appliance according to.   24. The appliance of claim 23, wherein the spring biases the protrusion toward the second position.