TWM559101U - A haircare appliance - Google Patents

Abstract

Disclosed is a hand held appliance comprising a handle and a user interface comprising at least one user operated button wherein the handle has an elliptical cross section having a major axis and a minor axis wherein the user interface is provided on a first vertex of the major axis and the handle additionally comprises a further user operated button and the further user operated button is provided on a second vertex of the major axis. The appliance may further comprise an attachment for connection to the handle wherein the further user operated button operates a mechanism for removing the attachment from the handle. The user interface may comprise three user operated buttons which may be arranged in a triangular configuration, each of the three user operated buttons may be disposed at a vertex of the triangle.

Description

Hair care appliances

The present invention relates to a handheld appliance, and in particular to a hair care appliance, such as a thermal styling device.

In a conventional thermal styling appliance, air is drawn into an inlet by a fan unit and is directed towards the hair through an outlet. Generally, an appliance is provided with different accessories, each of which has a different outlet configuration, and therefore has a different function, such as drying, curling, or volumising. Depending on the desired shape, the air may or may not be heated. The attachment may include bristles, and the hair is tangled and held on the bristles for styling.

The appliance has at least one user-operated button, which can be a push button or a slide button. There is also usually a device for replacing one accessory with another, and although this can often be achieved by twisting the accessory relative to the head, there is a lock or a snap to prevent accidental removal of the accessory during use. The lock or buckle is typically disengaged by another user-activated button, allowing the user to remove the accessory when needed.

This creation provides a hand-held appliance including a handle and a use User interface, the user interface includes at least one user operation button. Preferably, the handle has an oval cross-section, and the oval cross-section mask has a long axis and a short axis. In a preferred embodiment, the user interface is disposed on a first vertex of the long axis. Preferably, the handle further includes another user operation button, and the other user operation button is disposed on a second vertex of the long axis.

If the handle is circular and the diameter is a long axis, the long axis of the handle may be too large for some users to hold comfortably. Using an oval handle provides the advantage of having extra space provided by the long axis, while also having the advantage of a handle that can be comfortably held. There is a balance between ergonomics and the space for internal components.

In a preferred embodiment, the appliance further comprises an accessory for connecting to the handle, wherein the other user operates a button to operate a mechanism for removing the accessory from the handle.

Preferably, the user interface includes three user operation buttons. In a preferred embodiment, three user-operated buttons are arranged in a triangular configuration. Therefore, the layout of the user interface is triangular.

Preferably, each of the three user-operated buttons is provided at a vertex of a triangular configuration.

In a preferred embodiment, one of the three user-operated buttons includes an on / off switch. Preferably, a first and a third of the three user-operated buttons control the temperature and flow through the appliance, respectively.

Preferably, a second button is disposed at a vertex of the triangle configuration. This distinguishing / off function allows the user to easily identify this button. Preferably, the on / off button has a different size and shape from the second and third buttons to further facilitate this.

In a preferred embodiment, the second button is located away from the user interface. The other user operates a vertex of the button. When the other user operates the button to control an attachment mechanism for the accessory, it is positioned adjacent to the end of the handle to which the accessory is attached. Due to the oval shape of the handle, a user naturally orients the long axis as the connection between the thumb and forefinger. In this orientation, the index finger has a larger reachable range than the thumb, and can be used to reach the other user-operated button, and the thumb is used to reach the three user-operated buttons.

Preferably, the handle has a first end and a second end. In a preferred embodiment, the accessory is attached to the handle at the first end. Preferably, the other user operation button is adjacent to the first end.

In a preferred embodiment, the user interface is longitudinally spaced from the first end of the handle. Preferably, the second button is remote from the first end of the handle.

Preferably, one second and one third of the three user-operated buttons are radially spaced around the handle.

In a preferred embodiment, the first and third buttons form a bottom edge in a triangular configuration.

Preferably, the appliance is a hair care appliance.

In a preferred embodiment, the hair care appliance is a thermal styling appliance.

10‧‧‧ Handheld appliances

20‧‧‧ Annex

22‧‧‧fluid outlet

30‧‧‧First button layout

30a‧‧‧First Button Arrangement

32‧‧‧Switch

36‧‧‧ par

36a‧‧‧First position

36b‧‧‧Second position

36c‧‧‧Third position

38‧‧‧ button

40‧‧‧Actuator

42‧‧‧ protrusion

42a‧‧‧Concave

44‧‧‧ arm

44a‧‧‧Remote

46‧‧‧shell

48‧‧‧hole

50‧‧‧ pawl

50b‧‧‧Middle detent

52‧‧‧ball

54‧‧‧Spring

56‧‧‧ Recess

58‧‧‧Inner surface

60‧‧‧ Recess

62‧‧‧ button board

70a‧‧‧pieces

70b‧‧‧pieces

72‧‧‧Flexible part

100‧‧‧ another button

130‧‧‧Second button arrangement

132‧‧‧The first switch

134‧‧‧Push Button

138‧‧‧Second button

140‧‧‧Second actuator

140b‧‧‧Remote

144‧‧‧second arm

144a‧‧‧arm end

146‧‧‧Second shell

150‧‧‧Second switch

152‧‧‧Spring

154‧‧‧Second par

156‧‧‧first side

158‧‧‧ surface

160‧‧‧Second surface

162‧‧‧second side

180‧‧‧user interface

182‧‧‧ first vertex

184‧‧‧Second Vertex

210‧‧‧Handle

212‧‧‧fluid inlet

214‧‧‧outer wall

The creation will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: FIG. 1 shows an appliance to which a user interface according to the creation can be applied; FIGS. 2a and 2b respectively show with and without buttons Side view of a user interface; FIG. 3 shows a radially inner surface of an actuator according to the present creation; Fig. 4 shows a cross section through a part of an actuator according to the present invention; Fig. 5 shows a cross section through an alternative actuator according to the present invention; Fig. 6 shows a cross section according to the present invention An isometric view of the actuator; Figure 7a shows a side view of a user interface with all buttons in a first position; Figure 7b shows a side of a user interface with all buttons in a second position View; Figure 7c shows a side view of a user interface with all buttons in a third position; Figure 8 shows a cross section through an appliance created in accordance with the present invention; and Figure 9 shows through the appliance Cross section of a button.

Referring to FIG. 1, an example of a handheld appliance 10 is shown. The appliance has a handle 210 and an attachment 20 for styling hair. In order to allow a user to create different shapes and give the appliance multiple functions, the accessory 20 is detachable and can be replaced with a replacement accessory. In addition, the attachment 20 can be removed to easily store the appliance when not in use. The handle 210 includes many different user-operated buttons (such as a button 38 and a second button 138), enabling the user to choose between a number of different heat and flow settings. The appliance includes a fan unit and a heater (neither shown). In use, the fan unit draws fluid through a fluid inlet 212, optionally heating the fluid, and the fluid is then emitted from a fluid outlet 22 in the accessory 20.

The hand-held appliance 10 has two different buttons for controlling the appliance. Button arrangement. In this embodiment, the two arrangements have three different settings, but one arrangement controls a single switch and the other controls two switches. A first button arrangement 30 is more suitable for controlling a parameter of the appliance, such as heat or flow, and the button type controls a single switch. The second button arrangement 130 is suitable for controlling two different aspects, such as opening the appliance and providing a cold spray function. Alternatively, the two different aspects may be the temperature or flow with a cold spray function, but these options are more restrictive because cold spray can only be used for the highest or lowest of these functions, and may not always be appropriate.

With particular reference now to Figs. 2a to 7c, the first button arrangement 30 will be described. The first button arrangement 30 has a single switch 32 with a lever 36 which can be moved between a first position 36a, a second position 36b and a third position 36c. The actuator 40 extends between a button 38 and a switch 32. The actuator 40 has a protrusion 42 for engaging the button 38, and the protrusion 42 is attached to an arm 44 extending to the switch 32. The protrusion 42 is housed in a case 46. The housing 46 has a hole 48 through which the protrusion 42 extends. The housing 46 includes three detents 50, each defining a position for the button 38, the protrusion 42, the arm 44, and the lever 36. A ball 52 is adapted to move between the three pawls 50, and a spring 54 biases the ball 52 into one of the three pawls 50 until further movement of the button 38 occurs. The spring 54 is at least partially accommodated in a recess 42 a provided inside the protrusion 42, so when the button 38 moves, the ball 52 also moves between the pawls 50.

A recess 56 is provided at or near the distal end 44a of the arm 44 relative to the housing. The recess 56 is generally V-shaped and is adapted to receive and hold the rod 36. In a first position 36a, the rod engages an inner surface 58 of the recess 56. A second position 36b of the lever corresponds to a middle position of the lever 36, in which the lever is placed in the recess 56 without being pushed or pulled; this is the middle button position. In a third position 36c, the rod engages a second surface of the recess 56 (such as a recess 60). In the first and third positions, the lever 36 is held in place by a force applied by a spring 54 that biases the ball 52 into a pawl 50.

The button arrangement 30 further includes a button plate 62 disposed between the button 38 and the protrusion 42. The handle 210 has an outer wall 214, and a hole 216 is formed in the outer wall 214 for the button 38 to move or slide between each position. The hole accommodates sliding between three positions, so the hole 216 is larger than the button 38. The button plate 62 is located inside the outer wall 214 and its size is designed to completely cover the hole 216 regardless of the position of the button 38. The button plate 62 prevents debris from directly entering the handle 210.

The second button arrangement 130 will now be described; in this embodiment, the components shown and described with respect to the first button arrangement 30 have the same element symbols. The second button arrangement 130 has a first switch 132 and a second switch 150. In this example, the first switch 132 provides a switching function, and the second switch 150 provides a cold spray. When the second button 138 is in the closed position as shown in FIG. 7a, neither the first switch 132 nor the second switch 150 is activated. When the second button 138 moves by one position, as shown in FIGS. 2a and 7b, a push button 134 provided on a surface of the first switch 132 is engaged and the appliance is turned on.

A second actuator 140 extends between the second button 138 and the first switch 132. The second actuator 140 has a protrusion 42 for engaging with the second button 138. The protrusion 42 is received in a second case 146. The second housing 146 has a hole 48 through which the protrusion 42 extends. The second housing 146 includes two pawls 50, each defining a position of the second button 138 and a second arm 144. A ball 52 is adapted to move between the two pawls 50, and a spring 54 is provided to bias the ball 52 to one of the two pawls 50 until a further movement of the second button 138 occurs. The spring 54 is at least partially accommodated in a recess 42 a provided inside the protrusion 42, so when the second button 138 moves, the ball 52 also moves between the pawls 50.

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

The second button 138 can be moved to a third position, but the third position is not defined by a pawl, but the third position is only when the user presses the second button 138 when the second button 138 is in the second position. Only when a pressure is applied. A distal end 140 b of the second actuator 140 opposite to the first switch 132 is configured to receive a spring 152. When a user pushes the second button 138 and the protrusion 42 from the second position to the third position, the ball 52 moves out of the middle pawl 50b and resists the action of the spring 152. The second arm 144 has a second surface 160 formed near the arm end 144 a away from the second housing 146, and the second surface 160 is engaged with the second switch 150 when the second button 138 is pushed against the spring 152. The second switch 150 has a second lever 154. When engaged with the second surface 160, the second lever 154 is pushed from an intermediate or idle position, and when the second lever 154 leaves the intermediate position, a heater (not shown) Out) is deactivated and a cold spray is provided.

When the second button 138 and the protrusion 42 are moved to the third position, the first switch 132 and the second switch 150 are vertically spaced apart, and the push button 134 of the first switch 132 remains engaged.

The second arm 144 has a first side 156 and the first side 156 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 when both switches are engaged, there is a force applied to both sides of the second arm 144.

In this embodiment, the first button arrangement 30, 30a is used twice, once for temperature setting and once for flow setting. Conveniently, the pair of first button arrangements 30, 30 a are separated by a second button arrangement 130. This means that the user has a small area on the outer wall 214 in which all control items of the product are located. To assist the user, the second button 138 is larger than the button 38 and is displaced along the outer wall 214 to form a triangular UI (user interface) 180 (FIG. 2a). Over time, the user will be able to recognize the second button 138 by touch and change settings without needing to see the UI.

In the example shown (see Figure 8), all switches are mounted to In a substrate 70, for example, a PCB (printed circuit board). Such a substrate is generally flat, but in one embodiment, in order to prevent the substrate 70 from occupying most of the internal space in the handle 210, the substrate is formed into two pieces 70a, 70b, and an elastic portion 72 connects the two portions. This enables the base plate 70 to be slightly bent into a V shape that more closely follows the shape of the outer wall 214 of the handle 210. When the fluid flow path extends through the inside of the handle 210, the curved substrate 70 places fewer restrictions on the fluid flowing inside the handle 210. The second arm 144 is positioned approximately on the middle of the substrate, above the elastic portion 72, and engages the push button 134 on a side corresponding to a piece 70 a of the substrate 70. The second arm 144 engages the second switch 150 on the other side corresponding to the other piece 70b of the substrate. Although the second arm 144 extends away from the second housing 146 in a first direction X-X parallel to a longitudinal axis A-A of the handle 210, it also extends in a second direction Y-Y substantially perpendicular to the first direction. This creates an L-shaped profile near the distal arm end 144a of the second arm 144 remote from the second housing 46. The second direction Y-Y extends from the outer wall 214 toward the substrate 70. The L-shaped profile enables a single second arm 144 to engage both the first switch 132 and the second switch 150 across the curved portion of the substrate 70.

Referring now to FIG. 9, in this embodiment, in addition to a UI having user-operated buttons such as the button 38 and the second button 138, another button 100 is provided. The other button 100 operates an attachment mechanism (not shown) for holding and releasing the attachment 20 with respect to the handle 210.

The cross section of the outer wall 214 of the handle 210 is oval. The handle 210 has a long axis B-B and a short axis C-C. The long axis is the one with the larger radius and diameter. Having an elliptical handle 210 provides many benefits: it orients the handle 210 in the hand of a user; and it provides increased space inside the handle 210 compared to the short-axis circular equivalent.

A user naturally orients the long axis on the connection between the thumb and forefinger. User-operated buttons, such as button 38 and second button 138 and another button 100, are provided near the long axis, making it easy to reach with the thumb or index finger. in a In the embodiment, the other button 100 is radially opposite to the second button 138. This has many advantages, it helps to orient the user about the direction of the appliance in the user's hand, which balances the product and makes it visually appealing.

The user interface 180 includes a first button arrangement 30, 30a and a second button arrangement 130, and is disposed at a first vertex 182 of the long axis B-B. Specifically, in the illustrated embodiment, the second button arrangement 130 is disposed on the first vertex 182, wherein each of the first button arrangements 30, 30a is radially offset with respect to each side of the first vertex 182 To form a triangular user interface 180. The second of the three user-operated buttons includes an on / off switch. Conveniently, the pair of first button arrangements are referred to as first and third buttons, and these buttons control temperature and flow through the appliance, respectively. Advantageously, the first and third buttons are longitudinally displaced from the second button and form the bottom edge of the triangular user interface. The second button 138 is located at the vertex of the triangle configuration.

The other button 100 is disposed on the second vertex 184 of the long axis B-B. Therefore, the other button 100 is radially opposed to the second button arrangement 130.

The increased space inside the handle 210 is achieved without the overall impression that the diameter of the handle 210 is significantly increased. The use of an ellipse masks the size of the long axis. In addition, if a handle has a circular cross section, the size of the long axis will be too large for many people to make it easy to grip comfortably.

The user interface 180 is triangular and has a user operation button at each vertex of the triangular configuration. Since there are two first button arrangements 30, 30a, in one embodiment, the triangular user interface 180 is a triangular configuration of an isosceles triangle, and the two first button arrangements are disposed at corresponding corners of the bottom side of the triangular configuration .

In one embodiment, the other button 100 is longitudinally displaced from the user interface 180. One reason for this is that the other button 100 operates an accessory mechanism through which the accessory 20 is attached to and from the handle 210 of the handheld appliance 10 The handle 210 is released, so if the other button 100 is adjacent to or near a first end 210a to which the accessory 20 is attached, the mechanism is simplified. A second benefit of this arrangement is that the internal mechanism and user interface 180 for facilitating the operation of the other button 100 can be separated within the handle 210, thereby reducing any internal reduction in cross-sectional area due to these internal mechanisms. The small parts are longitudinally separated within the handle 210. A third reason is that this configuration naturally helps the user to position the appliance in his hand so that the first, second and third buttons of the triangular user interface 180 can be reached with one thumb, and the other button 100 Radially opposite and closer to the first end 210a of the handle 210. In this embodiment, the second button 138 is located on a vertex of the user interface 180 away from the other button 100 and the first end 210 a of the handle 210.

In the example described, the second button arrangement 130 has three settings; this is not necessary, so there may be more settings or fewer settings. In addition, the first and second switches are disposed on opposite sides of the arm, and again, this is not necessary, and depending on space constraints, two switches may be disposed on the same side of the arm.

The two first button arrangements 30, 30a are slightly different in the embodiment shown; there is a slight difference in the configuration of each recess 60, 60a. These differences are only due to space considerations on the substrate 70. Therefore, the two recessed portions 60 and 60a may be the same.

In the diagrams, and especially in Figs. 7a to 7c, the buttons are shown at the same position at the same time; this is just to facilitate the explanation of this creation, and each combination of each of the three button positions can be combined with other positions use. For example, when the machine is on, each temperature setting can be used with each flow setting, and cold spray can be used at any flow setting.

The creation has been described in detail with respect to a thermostyling device, however, it is applicable to any appliance that draws in fluid and directs fluid flowing from the appliance.

The appliance can be used with or without a heater; the high-speed fluid flow has a drying effect.

The fluid flowing through the appliance is usually air, but can be a different gas or a different combination of gases, and can include effects that improve the performance of the appliance or the appliance on objects to which the output is directed (such as hair and hair styling) Additives.

This creation is not limited to the above detailed description. Various variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

Claims (16)

A hair care appliance includes a handle and a user interface. The user interface includes at least one user operation button, wherein the handle has an oval cross-section, and the oval cross-section mask has a long axis and a short axis. Wherein, the user interface is disposed on a first vertex of the long axis, the handle further includes another user operation button, and the other user operation button is disposed on a second vertex of the long axis. The appliance according to item 1 of the scope of patent application, further comprising an accessory for connecting to the handle, wherein the other user operates a button to operate a mechanism for removing the accessory from the handle. The device according to item 1 or 2 of the patent application scope, wherein the user interface includes three user operation buttons. The appliance according to item 3 of the scope of patent application, wherein the three user-operated buttons are arranged in a triangular configuration. The appliance according to item 4 of the scope of patent application, wherein each of the three user-operated buttons is disposed at a vertex of the triangular configuration. The appliance according to item 3 of the scope of patent application, wherein a second one of the three user-operated buttons includes an on / off switch. The appliance according to item 5 of the scope of patent application, wherein a second button is provided at a vertex of the triangular configuration. The device according to item 7 of the patent application scope, wherein the second button is located on a vertex of the user interface remote from the other user-operated button. The appliance according to item 6 of the scope of patent application, wherein the first button and the third button of the three user-operated buttons are radially spaced around the handle. The appliance according to item 9 of the scope of patent application, wherein the first button and the third button form a bottom edge of a triangular configuration. The device according to item 1 of the patent application scope, wherein the handle has a first end and a second end. The appliance according to item 11 of the scope of patent application, further comprising an accessory for connecting to the handle, wherein the accessory is attached to the handle at the first end. The appliance according to item 12 of the patent application scope, wherein the other user-operated button is adjacent to the first end. The appliance of claim 12 or 13, wherein the user interface is longitudinally spaced from the first end of the handle. The appliance according to item 14 of the patent application scope, wherein the second button is far from the first end of the handle. The appliance according to item 1 of the patent application scope, wherein the hair care appliance is a thermal styling appliance.