WO2013057529A1

WO2013057529A1 - Handheld device for treating hairs

Info

Publication number: WO2013057529A1
Application number: PCT/IB2011/002519
Authority: WO
Inventors: Yehuda Poran
Original assignee: Epilady 2000 Llc
Priority date: 2011-10-21
Filing date: 2011-10-21
Publication date: 2013-04-25

Abstract

The invention relates to a handheld device for treating hairs, comprising a first treatment appliance (3) with a first energy consumer (7) and at least one first energy storage device (9) being at least partially integrated in the first treatment appliance (3), and at least one second treatment appliance (5) with a second energy consumer (11) and at least one second energy storage device (13), the second energy storage device (13) being at least partially integrated in the second treatment appliance (5), wherein the second treatment appliance (5) is at least partially removably integrated in the first treatment appliance (3).

Description

Handheld device for treating hairs

The present invention relates to a handheld device for treating hairs, for instance a trimmer or a haircutter.

Conventional handheld devices for treating hairs such as conventional trimmers are generally configured as handheld devices comprising inbuilt or removable batteries which drive the trimmer. Also known from the prior art are haircutters for removing hairs located in the ear and/or nose. Users generally use two different devices: one trimmer for trimming the beard, and one haircutter for cutting the hairs located in the nose and/or ear.

However, having two separate devices leads to several disadvantages. For instance, two different devices are generally supplied with two different charging units for charging the battery/batteries of each device. Those charging units represent a considerable part of the overall production costs. They also increase the number of spare parts and thus, the complexity of after sales service.

Moreover, the end user of a hair trimmer and a haircutter has to deal with two separate battery chargers which generally require a lot of space and involve a certain weight which is particularly relevant for travellers. Moreover, it is inconvenient for an end user to constantly recharge a multitude of electric devices he is carrying with him during travel.

It is a preferred object of the present invention to overcome and/or ameliorate the afore mentioned drawbacks of the prior art and to provide an improved, alternative and/or additional handheld device for treating hairs.

One preferred aspect of the present invention is to provide appliances which reduce the overall manufacturing costs for devices. It is another preferred aspect of the present invention to provide appliances for treating hairs which decrease the required space and which preferably also reduces the number of spare parts.

Preferably, it is another aspect of the present invention to provide appliances which are convenient for the end user, preferably as regards the required space and weight, preferably during travelling.

It is yet another preferred aspect of the present invention to provide appliances, which may be used for different areas of hair cutting such as trimming a beard and cutting hairs located in or near the ear and/or nose.

Moreover, it is a preferred aspect of the present invention to provide appliances which may be recharged less frequently.

The object(s) underline the present invention is (are) particularly solved by the features defined in the independent claim. The dependent claims relate to preferred embodiments of the invention. Further additional/alternative aspects are discussed below.

The present invention relates to a handheld device for treating hairs comprising a first treatment appliance and at least one second treatment appliance. The first treatment appliance comprises a first energy consumer and at least one first energy storage device. The at least one first energy storage device is at least partially integrated in the first treatment appliance. The at least one second treatment appliance comprises a second energy consumer and at least one second energy storage device. The second energy storage device is at least partially integrated into the second treatment appliance. The second treatment appliance is at least partially removably integrated in the first treatment appliance.

A handheld device for treating hair may be any kind of device which is portable and usable without being connected to a power network, and which is used for any kind of hair treatment, such as a trimmer, haircutter, shaver, epilator or other grooming devices.

An energy storage device may be any entity which is configured to be provided at least partially within the handheld device and which supplies stored energy to the handheld device/appliance(s) when the handheld device/appliance(s) is/are not connected to a power source/power network, such as batteries, capacitors, fuel cells, etc. An energy consumer may be any energy consuming entity such as an actuator like a motor, a light, etc. The at least one first energy storage device and the at least one second energy storage device are at least partially integrated in the first treatment appliance and second treatment appliance, respectively. Being at least partially integrated in this context, means that the respective first and/or second treatment appliance is a unit which at least partially, preferably completely, receives the respective first and/or second energy storage device. Preferably, the first treatment appliance and the second treatment appliance house the first storage device and the second storage device, respectively. The respective first and/or second energy storage device may be connected of bonded to the respective first and/or second treatment appliance in a removable or non-removable fashion. In other words, the first treatment appliance and the second treatment appliance comprise housings into which the first energy storage device and the second energy storage device are located.

Moreover, the second treatment appliance is at least partially removably integrated in the first treatment appliance, wherein at least partially removably integrated, inter alia, means that the first treatment appliance is adapted to receive at least a portion of the at least one second treatment appliance in a fashion that the second treatment appliance may be removed, preferably easily, from the first treatment appliance.

The first and second treatment appliance may be a main and an auxiliary appliance for the same or different purposes.

Preferably, the first energy storage device and/or the second energy storage device supply energy to the first energy consumer in case the second treatment appliance is at least partially removably integrated or integrated into the first treatment appliance. The first treatment appliance may be coupled mechanically and also electrically to the second treatment appliance. In other words, the energy consumer of the first treatment appliance may be connected to each energy storage device. Additionally and/or alternatively, the energy consumer of the second treatment appliance may be connected to each energy storage device. The first energy storage device and the second energy storage device may be configured to operate the first energy consumer and the second energy consumer, respectively. In other words, the first energy storage device may be configured to operate or to supply energy to the first energy consumer and the second energy storage device may be configured to operate or to supply energy to the second energy consumer.

In one embodiment, the second energy storage device may be configured to operate the second energy consumer, wherein the first energy storage device may be configured to operate the first energy consumer only together with the second energy storage device. In other words, (only) both energy storage devices together may be sufficient to operate the first energy consumer.

The first and second energy storage devices may have the same nominal voltage and/or same capacity. The first treatment appliance may be operated only when the second treatment appliance is integrated in the handheld device since the capacity of both energy storage devices is needed or since the operating voltage of the first energy consumer corresponds to the nominal voltage of both energy storage devices connected in series.

The first energy storage device and the second energy storage device may be (electrically) connected in parallel. Preferably, the first and second energy storage device are connected so that one storage device may recharge the other. Alternatively, the first energy storage device and the second energy storage device may be connected in series. The first energy storage device and the second energy storage device may have the same capacity, or alternatively may be of different capacities. Preferably, one or several standard batteries commonly available such as 1.5-Volt AAA batteries maybe used as (a) first and/or second energy storage device(s).

The first treatment appliance may comprise a first connector and the second treatment appliance may comprise a second connector. The first and second connectors are preferably adapted to removably (electrically) connect the first and second energy storage devices.

The handheld device moreover preferably comprises a charger connector to connect the handheld device, preferably the first treatment appliance or second treatment appliance, to a charger. The charger is preferably adapted to charge the first treatment appliance and/or the second treatment appliance.

Alternatively, the first and/or second treatment appliance may be charged separately via independent charger connectors. Preferably, the first and second treatment appliance may be charged by one charger connected by one charger connector of the handheld device. The charger may be any kind of standard charger adapted to charge the handheld device, i.e. to charge the first and/or second treatment appliance. The charger may comprise any kind of bridge circuit adapted to provide a charging voltage and charging current which is suitable for the energy storage devices. Moreover, the charger may be configured to assess whether both treatment appliances or only one treatment appliance is connected and may adapt the charging process accordingly. The handheld device may be configured to be charged by induction. In this case, the handheld device preferably does not comprise a charger connector. Alternatively, the handheld device may be equipped with (a) disposable energy storage device(s), for instance in the event that charger is . not available or in a configuration without a charger and/or charger connector.

The first treatment appliance may comprise a housing with at least one receiving portion which may be adapted to receive at least partially the second treatment appliance. The first treatment appliance and the second treatment appliance may thus be perceived by an end user as one unit, out of which the second treatment appliance may be taken out. The second treatment appliance may thus be received at least partially, preferably completely in the housing of the first treatment appliance. The second treatment appliance may be received by the first treatment appliance so that a substantial portion of the second treatment appliance is covered. The covered portion may be a portion to be kept clean such as a portion which is in contact with the human body during use. The mechanical connection between the first and the second treatment appliance may be done by any kind of conventional connection means which is adapted to mechanically connect or to retain two entities in a removable manner, for instance by a positive forming fit, by clamping, e.g. a latch or the like.

The first treatment appliance is preferably a hair trimmer and the second treatment appliance is preferably a nose and/or ear haircutter.

The present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description given hereinafter and the accompanying drawings which are given by way of illustration only, and thus, are not limitative of the present invention, and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a handheld device connected to a charger,

FIG. 2 is a detailed perspective view of a handheld device connected to a charger, and

FIG. 3 depicts schematically the electric connection diagram.

Figure 1 depicts a handheld device 1 having a first treatment appliance 3 configured as a hair trimmer and a second treatment appliance 5 configured as a nose and ear haircutter or cutter 5. Trimmer 3 comprises a receiving portion 23 which is configured to receive cutter 5 in a way, so that the top part of cutter 5 comprising the haircutting portion is covered below the housing of trimmer 3. Trimmer 3 moreover comprises a charger connector 19 by which charger 21 is connected to trimmer 3.

In the depicted embodiment of trimmer 3 receiving portion 23 is configured as a closed keyway into which cutter 5 is laterally inserted. Alternatively, receiving portion 23 of trimmer 3 could also be configured as an open keyway 23 into which cutter 5 may be inserted from the rear end of trimmer 3. Thus, the open keyway 23 may be configured to insert or to taken out cutter 5 by moving cutter 5 in the direction of the main axis of trimmer 3.

Figure 2 depicts trimmer 3 of Figure 1 more in detail. As can be seen in Figure 2, trimmer 3 and cutter 5 each comprise one removable battery 9, 13. Trimmer 3 comprises a first connector 15 located in receiving portion 23 which is adapted to be connected with a second connector 17 of cutter 5. Moreover, the first energy consumer 7 is a motor driving the blades of trimmer 3.

Figure 3 depicts the electric connection diagram when handheld device 1 is connected to charger 21. Charger 21 comprises a transformer 22a and a rectifier circuit 22b which are adapted to transform an AC current supplied by the power networks to an appropriate DC current adapted to charge batteries 9 and 13. Handheld device 1 is connected to charger 21 via charger connection 18 which is established by charger connector 19 and the respective connector of charger 21. Battery 9 of trimmer 3 and battery 13 of cutter 5 are connected in parallel. If charger 21 is connected to handheld device 1 , both batteries 9, 13 will be charged simultaneously, provided that handheld connection 12 is not interrupted. Handheld connection 12 is established by first connector 15 being in contact with second connector 17. In other words, handheld connection 12 is interrupted when first connector 15 is not in contact with second connector 17. If first handheld connection 12 is interrupted, charger 21 charges only trimmer 3. In the event that charger 21 is not connected to handheld device 1 , i.e. connector connection 18 is interrupted and provided that handheld connection 12 is established, battery 9 of trimmer 3 may charge battery 13 of trimmer 5 and vice versa.

As can be seen from Figure 3, trimmer 3 and cutter 5 may comprise a first switch 10 and/or a second switch 14. If the first switch 10 is in the closed position and in the event that handheld connection 12 is established, energy consumer 7, here a motor Ml , is provided with energy from battery 9 and 13. On the other hand, motor Ml of the energy consumer 7 may only be provided with energy from battery 9 in the event that trimmer 5 is not received in trimmer 3, since handheld connection 12 is then not established. Thanks to the two batteries 9, 13 provided in the two appliances 3, 5 and connected via handheld connection 12 either the first or second energy consumer 7, 1 1 may be provided with energy from either one or both batteries 9, 13 if either one of the switches 10, 14 is in the closed position. If both switches 10, 14 are in the closed position, both energy consumer 7, 11 would operate. In the event that handheld connection 12 is not established, i.e. cutter 5 is not received in trimmer 3, switch 10, 14 manipulate trimmer 3 and cutter 5, respectively.

With the inventive handheld device it is advantageously possible to reduce the overall manufacturing cost, since both treatment appliances for treating hairs are part of one handheld device sharing one charging unit. Not only the costs of the second charging unit may be eliminated, but also the total weight may be reduced due to the fact that only one charging unit is needed. The manufacturers thus preferably may reduce their manufacturing costs and may facilitate the after sales service. Moreover, the inventive handheld device is preferably smaller and preferably lighter than conventional solutions. Preferably, the inventive handheld device is convenient for the end user since he may use only one device for different areas of hair cutting. Moreover, the inventive handheld device may be recharged less frequently thanks to the recharging effects between the first and second energy storage device.

Although it is referred to the first treatment appliance and the second treatment appliance in this application, it is noted, that all the features attributed to the first treatment appliance may also apply to the second treatment appliance and vice versa. For instance, (only) both energy storage devices together may be sufficient to operate the second energy consumer (instead of the first energy consumer as described above).

The invention also covers all further features shown in the figures individually although they may not have been described in the afore description. The present invention covers further embodiments with any combination of features from different embodiments described above. Reference signs in the claims are provided merely as a clarifying example and shall not be construed as limiting the scope of the claims in any way. The present invention also covers the exact terms, features, values and ranges etc. in case these terms, features, values and ranges etc. are used in conjunction with terms such as about, around, generally, substantially, essentially, at least etc. (i.e., "about 3" shall also cover exactly 3 or "essentially radial" shall also cover exactly radial). The terms "a", "an", "first", "second" etc do not preclude a plurality.

Claims

1. A handheld device (1) for treating hairs, comprising

a first treatment appliance (3) with a first energy consumer (7) and at least one first energy storage device (9) being at least partially integrated in the first treatment appliance (3), and

at least one second treatment appliance (5) with a second energy consumer (1 1) and at least one second energy storage device (13), the second energy storage device (13) being at least partially integrated in the second treatment appliance (5), wherein the second treatment appliance (5) is at least partially removably integrated in the first treatment appliance (3).

2. The handheld device (1) of claim 1 , wherein the first energy storage device (9) and/or the second energy storage device (13) supply energy to the first energy consumer (7) in case the second treatment appliance (5) is at least partially removably integrated into the first treatment appliance (3).

3. The handheld device (1) of claim 1 or 2, wherein the first energy storage device (9) and the second energy storage device (13) are configured to operate the first energy consumer (7) and the second energy consumer (11), respectively.

4. The handheld device (1) of claim 1 or 2, wherein the second energy storage device (13) is configured to operate the second energy consumer (1 1), and wherein the first energy storage device (9) is configured to operate the first energy consumer (7) together with the second energy storage device (13).

5. The handheld device (1) of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the first energy storage device (9) and the second energy storage device (13) are connected in parallel.

6. The handheld device (1) of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the first energy storage device (9) and the second energy storage device (13) have the same capacity.

7. The handheld device (1) of any one of the preceding claims, wherein

- the first treatment appliance (3) comprises a first connector (15) and the second treatment appliance (5) comprises a second connector (17)

wherein the first and second connectors (15, 17) are adapted to removably connect the first and second energy storage devices (9, 13).

8. The handheld device (1) of any one of the preceding claims, further comprising a charger connector (19) to connect the handheld device (1) to a charger (21), the charger (21) being adapted to charge the first treatment appliance (3) and/or the second treatment appliance (5).

9. The handheld device (1) of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the first treatment appliance (3) comprises a housing with at least one receiving portion (23) adapted to receive at least partially the second treatment appliance (5).

10. The handheld device (1) of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the first treatment appliance (3) is a hair trimmer and the second treatment appliance (5) is a nose and/or ear hair cutter.