U.S. patent application number 15/689618 was filed with the patent office on 2018-03-01 for handheld appliance.
This patent application is currently assigned to Dyson Technology Limited. The applicant listed for this patent is Dyson Technology Limited. Invention is credited to Emma Victoria CARSON, Jeremy Adam Tomas ELLIS-GRAY, Daniel John THOMPSON.
Application Number | 20180055183 15/689618 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 57119789 |
Filed Date | 2018-03-01 |
United States Patent
Application |
20180055183 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
CARSON; Emma Victoria ; et
al. |
March 1, 2018 |
HANDHELD APPLIANCE
Abstract
A handheld appliance includes a user operable button, a switch
and an actuator including an arm extending between the button and
the switch wherein the button has three linearly spaced positions
each position corresponding to a different state for the switch.
The arm may include a surface adapted to engage with the switch.
The switch may include a lever and the lever is moved by contact
with the surface. The lever may have 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 may engage with the
lever. The lever may be housed within a recess of the arm. The
switch may comprise a first switch and a second switch which may be
longitudinally spaced.
Inventors: |
CARSON; Emma Victoria;
(Swindon, GB) ; THOMPSON; Daniel John; (Bristol,
GB) ; ELLIS-GRAY; Jeremy Adam Tomas; (Dursley,
GB) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Dyson Technology Limited |
Wiltshire |
|
GB |
|
|
Assignee: |
Dyson Technology Limited
Wiltshire
GB
|
Family ID: |
57119789 |
Appl. No.: |
15/689618 |
Filed: |
August 29, 2017 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A45D 20/12 20130101;
A45D 20/30 20130101; A45D 1/00 20130101; A45D 1/28 20130101; A45D
6/20 20130101 |
International
Class: |
A45D 6/20 20060101
A45D006/20 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Aug 30, 2016 |
GB |
1614662.3 |
Claims
1. A handheld appliance comprising a user operable button; a first
switch; a second switch; and an actuator, the actuator including an
arm extending between the button, the first switch, and the second
switch, wherein the button has three linearly spaced positions,
each position corresponding to a different state for the first
switch or the second switch.
2. The appliance of claim 1, wherein the arm comprises a first
surface configured to engage with the first switch or the second
switch.
3. The appliance of claim 2, wherein the first switch comprises a
lever and the lever is moved by contact with the first surface.
4. The appliance of claim 3, wherein the lever has a first position
and a second position.
5. 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 first surface.
6. The appliance of claim 4, wherein when the lever is in the first
position, the first surface engages with the lever.
7. The appliance of claim 4, wherein the lever also comprises a
third position.
8. The appliance of claim 7, wherein the arm is provided with a
second surface and the second surface engages with the lever to
produce a movement of the lever to the third position.
9. The appliance of claim 6, wherein at least one of the first
surface and the second surface are internal surfaces.
10. The appliance of claim 7, wherein the arm is provided with a
recess formed from one or more of the first surface and the second
surface.
11. The appliance of claim 10, wherein the recess is V-shaped.
12. The appliance of claim 10, wherein the lever is housed within
the recess.
13. The appliance of claim 1, wherein the first switch and the
second switch are longitudinally spaced.
14. The appliance of claim 1, wherein the arm comprises a first
surface adapted to engage with the first switch and a second
surface adapted to engage with the second switch.
15. The appliance of claim 14, wherein the arm comprises a first
side and the first surface is located on the first side.
16. The appliance of claim 14, wherein the arm comprises a second
side and the second surface is located on the second side.
17. The appliance of claim 13, wherein the second switch is a push
switch.
18. The appliance of claim 1, wherein the actuator comprises a
housing.
19. The appliance of claim 18, wherein the housing comprises a
movable protrusion for engaging with the button.
20. The appliance of claim 19, wherein the protrusion comprises
three linearly spaced positions which correspond to one of each of
the button positions.
21. The appliance of claim 20, wherein a first and a second of the
three linearly spaced positions is defined by a detent.
22. The appliance of claim 21, wherein a third of the three
linearly spaced positions of the protrusion is defined by a
detent.
23. The appliance of claim 21, wherein the housing further
comprises a spring and a third of the three linearly spaced
positions of the protrusion is produced when the user operated
button is pushed against the spring.
24. The appliance of claim 23, wherein the spring biases the
protrusion towards the second position.
Description
REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims the priority of United Kingdom
Application No.1614662.3, filed Aug. 30, 2016, the entire contents
of which are incorporated herein by reference.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] This invention relates to a handheld appliance and in
particular to a hair care appliance such as a hot styling
device.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] In a conventional hot styling appliance, air is drawn into
an inlet by a fan unit and directed towards the hair by an outlet.
Often, one appliance is provided with different attachments, each
having a different outlet configuration and thus a different
function, for example drying, curling or volumising. Depending on
the style desired, the air may or may not be heated. The attachment
may include bristles onto which hair is wrapped and held for
styling.
[0004] The appliance will have at least one user operated button
which may be a push button or a sliding button. One feature that is
advantageous is a cold shot which is used once a hair tress has
been styled to quickly cool the hair and set the style. Most
appliances have a separate button for the cold shot which means a
user must activate two buttons when setting the hair, the cold shot
and then a separate button to turn the appliance off. For the time
interval between releasing the cold shot and turning the appliance
off, the hair will have fluid and possibly heat flowing through it
which can affect the style that has been created.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] According to some embodiments, the invention provides a
handheld appliance comprising a user operable button, a switch and
an actuator including an arm extending between the button and the
switch wherein the button has three linearly spaced positions each
position corresponding to a different state for the switch.
[0006] According to some embodiments, the invention provides a
single button having three linearly spaced positions corresponding
to three different conditions of, e.g., temperature or flow or a
combination thereof. The button is connected to an actuator which
includes an arm which enables the button to be longitudinally
spaced from the switch. This allows for a relatively shallow user
interface as the switch is not connected directly to the
button.
[0007] Preferably, the appliance comprises an outer wall wherein
the button is positioned adjacent an external surface of the outer
wall and is movable relative thereto and the actuator and switch
are positioned adjacent an internal surface of the outer wall and
longitudinally spaced from the button.
[0008] Preferably, the arm comprises a surface adapted to engage
with the switch. The arm is elongate and has a structure. At or
near the distal end of the arm from the button, the arm preferably
comprises a surface, the surface may be an internal or an external
surface of the arm and this surface is adapted to engage with the
switch. The switch preferably includes a lever and the lever is
moved by contact with the surface. In one embodiment the lever has
a first position and a second position and in another embodiment
the lever also comprises a third position.
[0009] The second position of the lever is preferably a neutral
position where the lever is not in contact with the surface.
Preferably, when the lever is in the first position, the surface
engages with the lever. The surface moves the lever from the
neutral position. In one embodiment, the arm is provided with a
second surface and the second surface engages with the lever to
produce a movement to the third position. Preferably, the surface
is an internal surface. Preferably, the second surface is an
internal surface. An internal surface is a surface provided within
the structure of the arm. The arm, is preferably provided with a
recess which is formed from one or more of the first and/or second
surfaces. The recess is an indentation within the structure of the
arm and is preferably V-shaped. Preferably, the lever is housed
within the recess. In this embodiment the recess is sized such that
the neutral position is approximately central to the recess and is
not in significant contact with any surface of the recess such that
the lever is not moved from the neutral position when the switch is
in the second position.
[0010] Preferably, the lever is part of a detector switch, a
non-latching sprung switch which moves back into the neutral or
second position when there is no external force applied to the
switch. Such switches are suitable for use with heat and flow
settings of the appliance where a number of different options can
be selected by the user via a single button which preferably slides
between each position.
[0011] In some embodiments a single user operated button is used to
provide two functions. Preferably, the switch comprises a first
switch and a second switch. In a preferred embodiment, the first
switch and the second switch are longitudinally spaced. Preferably,
the arm comprises a first surface adapted to engage with the first
switch and a further 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 further surface is located on the
second side. The button is connected to an actuator which
sequentially activates a first switch and a second switch dependant
on the position of the button. Preferably, the second switch is a
push switch.
[0012] In a preferred embodiment, the actuator comprises a housing.
Preferably, the housing comprises a movable protrusion for engaging
with the button. Preferably, the protrusion is attached at one end
to the arm and at the other end to the button. Thus, as the button
is moved, the protrusion and the arm move. The button is preferably
moved in a linear manner and a user slides the button from one
position to another. Preferably, the protrusion comprises three
linearly spaced positions each of which correspond to one of each
of the button positions.
[0013] In one embodiment, one of the three linearly spaced
positions of the protrusion is a temporary position. Preferably, a
first and a second of the three linearly spaced positions is
defined by a detent. In one embodiment, a third of the three
linearly spaced positions of the protrusion is defined by a detent.
Alternatively, a third of the three linearly spaced positions of
the protrusion is defined by a user acting against a bias of a
spring. In a preferred embodiment, the housing further comprises a
spring wherein a third of the three linearly spaced positions of
the protrusion is produced when the user operated button is pushed
against the spring. Preferably, the spring biases the protrusion
towards the second position. Thus, when the user pushes the button
towards the third position the arm is pushed against a spring and
the third position is only produced whilst the user applies a force
against the spring. As soon as the user releases the force on the
button, the spring biases the arm and the protrusion back to the
second position.
[0014] The use of a detent provides feedback to the user that a
different position has been selected. In addition, to the feel of
the switch changing position, it is possible to create an audible
noise for the user as the protrusion is moved over a boundary
between two adjacent detents.
[0015] In one embodiment, the invention provides a single button
having three positions corresponding to off, on and cold shot
respectively, thus the user can quickly move from cold shot to off
by operating the single button. Preferably, the cold shot condition
or state is corresponds to the third position, i.e. the position of
the protrusion that is biased by a spring. Thus, this position is a
temporary position and the user must keep pressure on the button in
order to keep this condition activated. In this embodiment, there
are two switches, an on switch and subsequently a cold shot switch.
Preferably, the on switch is a push button switch and the cold shot
is a latching switch.
[0016] In a preferred embodiment, the appliance is a hair care
appliance and preferably, a hot styling device.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0017] The invention will now be described by way of example, with
reference to the accompanying drawings, of which:
[0018] FIG. 1 shows an appliance on which a user interface
according to the invention can be utilised;
[0019] FIGS. 2a and 2b show side views of a user interface with and
without buttons respectively;
[0020] FIG. 3 shows the radially inner surface of actuators
according to the invention;
[0021] FIG. 4 shows a cross section through part of an actuator
according to the invention;
[0022] FIG. 5 shows a cross section through an alternative actuator
according to the invention;
[0023] FIG. 6 shows an isometric view of an actuator according to
the invention;
[0024] FIG. 7a shows a side view of a user interface with all
buttons in the first position;
[0025] FIG. 7b shows a side view of a user interface with all
buttons in the second position;
[0026] FIG. 7c shows a side view of a user interface with all
buttons in the third position;
[0027] FIG. 8 shows a cross section through an appliance according
to the invention; and
[0028] FIG. 9 shows a cross section through one of the buttons of
the appliance.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0029] Referring to FIG. 1, an example of a hand held appliance 10
is shown. The appliance has a handle 210 and an attachment 20 for
styling hair. In order to enable a user to create different styles
and to give the appliance multi functionality, the attachment 20 is
removable and can be replaced with an alternative attachment. In
addition, the attachment 20 can be removed to allow easier storage
of the appliance when not in use. The handle 210 includes a number
of different user operated buttons 30, 138 enabling the user to
select between a number of different heat and flow settings. The
appliance includes a fan unit and heater (both not shown), in use
the fan unit draws fluid in through a fluid inlet 212, optionally
heats the fluid which is then emitted by the fluid outlet 22 in the
attachment 20.
[0030] This appliance 10 has two different button arrangements for
controlling the appliance. In this embodiment, both arrangements
have three different settings but one arrangement controls a single
switch whereas 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 this button type controls a
single switch. The second button arrangement 130 is suitable for
controlling two different aspects such as turning the appliance on
and providing a cold shot function. Alternatively, the two
different aspects could be temperature or flow with a cold shot
function but these options are more restrictive as the cold shot
could only be used with the highest or lowest of these functions
and that may not always be appropriate.
[0031] Referring now to FIGS. 2a to 7c in particular, the first
button arrangement 30 will be described. The first button
arrangement 30 has a single switch 32 with a lever 36 movable
between first 36a, second 36b and third 36c positions. An actuator
40 extends between a button 38 and the switch 32, the actuator 40
has a protrusion 42 for engaging with the button 38, the protrusion
42 is attached to an arm 44 which extends to the switch 32. The
protrusion 42 is housed within a housing 46. The housing 46 has an
aperture 48 through which the protrusion 42 extends. The housing 46
includes three detents 50 each one defining a position of the
button 38, protrusion 42, arm 44 and lever 36. A ball 52 is adapted
to move between the three detents 50 and a spring 54 biases the
ball 52 into one of the three detents 50 until a further movement
of the button 38 occurs. The spring 54 is at least partially housed
within a recess 42a provided internal of the protrusion 42 thus as
the button 38 is moved the ball 52 also moves between detents
50.
[0032] At or near the distal end 44a of the arm 44 from the
housing, a recess 56 is provided. The recess 56 is generally
V-shaped and is adapted to house and retain the lever 36. In a
first position 36a, the lever engages with an internal surface 58
of the recess 56. A second position 36b of the lever corresponds to
a neutral position of the lever 36, where it sits within the recess
56 without being pushed or pulled; this is the middle button
position. In a third position 36c, the lever engages with a second
surface 60 of the recess 56. In the first and third positions, the
lever 36 is retained in the position by the force applied by the
spring 54 which biases ball 52 into a detent 50.
[0033] The button arrangement 30 additionally includes a button
plate 62 which sits 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, an aperture 216 is formed
in the outer wall 214 which accommodates the sliding between three
positions thus the aperture 216 is larger than the button 38. The
button plate 62 is located inside the outer wall 214 and is sized
to completely cover the aperture 216 regardless of the position of
the button 38. The button plate 62 prevents direct ingress of
debris into the handle 210.
[0034] The second button arrangement 130 will now be described; in
this embodiment, components illustrated and already described in
relation to the first button arrangement 30 have like reference
numerals. The second button arrangement 130 has a first switch 132
and a second switch 150. In this example, the first switch 132
provides the off to 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 neither the first switch 132 nor the second switch
150 are activated. When the second button 138 is moved 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
turns on.
[0035] 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
housed within a second housing 146. The second housing 146 has an
aperture 48 through which the protrusion 42 extends. The second
housing 146 includes two detents 50 each one defining a position of
the second button 138 and a second arm 144. A ball 52 is adapted to
move between the two detents 50 and a spring 54 is provided to bias
the ball 52 into one of the two detents 50 until a further movement
of the second button 138 occurs. The spring 54 is at least
partially housed within a recess 42a provided internal of the
protrusion 42 thus as the second button 138 is moved the ball 52
also moves between detents 50.
[0036] The second actuator 140 has a surface 158 for engaging with
the push button 134, as 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 depresses the
push button 134.
[0037] The second button 138 can be moved to a third position but
this third position is not defined by a detent, instead it is only
effected when the user applies a pressure to the second button 138
when the second button 138 is in the second position. The distal
end 140b of the actuator 140 from the first switch 132 is shaped to
receive a spring 152. When a user pushes the second button 138 and
protrusion 42 from the second position to the third position, the
ball 52 moves out of the middle detent 50b and against 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 and
this second surface 160 engages 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 which is pushed from a neutral or
free position when engaged by the second surface 160 and whilst the
second lever 154 is out of this neutral position, the heater (not
shown) is deactivated and a cold shot provided.
[0038] The first switch 132 and the second switch 150 are
longitudinally spaced and the push button 134 of the first switch
132 remains engaged when the second button 138 and protrusion 42
are moved to the third position.
[0039] The second arm 144 has a first side 156 and this first side
156 includes the surface 158 which engages with the push button
134. The second arm has a second side 162 and the second side
includes the second surface 160. This is advantageous as when both
switches are engaged, there is force applied to both sides of the
second arm 144.
[0040] In this embodiment, the first button arrangement 30,30a is
used twice, once for temperature settings and once for flow
settings. Conveniently, the pair of first button arrangements
30,30a are separated by the second button arrangement 130. This
means the user has a small area on the outer wall 214 where all the
controls for the product are situated. In order to assist the user,
the second button 138 is larger than the first buttons 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
identify the second button 138 by touch and change the setting
without needing to see the UI.
[0041] In the example shown (see FIG. 8), all the switches are
mounted into a substrate 70, for example a printed circuit board
(PCB). Such substrates are usually flat, but so that the substrate
70 does not take up a significant proportion of the internal space
in of the handle 210 in one embodiment the substrate is formed in
two pieces 70a, 70b with a flexible portion 72 connecting the two
parts. This enables the substrate 70 to be bent slightly into a
V-shape which more closely follows the shape of the outer wall 214
of the handle 210. As the fluid flow path extends through the
inside of the handle 210, bending the substrate 70 causes less
restriction to fluid flowing inside the handle 210. The second arm
144 is positioned approximately centrally on the substrate, over
the flexible portion 72 and engages the push button 134 on one side
which corresponds to one piece 70a of the substrate 70. The second
arm 144 engages the second switch 150 on the other side which
corresponds to the other piece 70b of the substrate. Whilst the
second arm 144 extends away from the second housing 146 in a first
direction X-X which is 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 produces an L-shaped
profile near the distal end 144a of the second arm 144 from the
second housing 46. The second direction Y-Y extends from the outer
wall 214 towards the substrate 70. The L-shaped profile enables a
single arm 144 to engage with both the first switch 132 and the
second switch 150 across the bend of the substrate 70.
[0042] Referring now to FIG. 9, in this embodiment, in addition to
the UI having the user operated buttons 38, 138 a further button
100 is provided. This further button 100 operates an attachment
mechanism (not shown) for retaining and releasing the attachment 20
with respect to the handle 210.
[0043] The outer wall 214 of the handle 210 is elliptical in
cross-section. The handle 210 has a major axis B-B and a minor axis
C-C. The major axis is the one having the larger radius and
diameter. Having an elliptical handle 210 provides a number of
benefits: it orients the handle 210 in a user's hand; and it
provides increased space internal to the handle 210 compared to the
circular equivalent of the minor axis.
[0044] It is natural for a user to orient the major axis into the
web between the thumb and index finger. The user operated buttons
38,138 and 100 are provided proximate the major axis enabling easy
access by the thumb or index finger. In one embodiment, the further
button 100 is diametrically opposite the second button 138. This
has a number of advantages, it assists in orienting the user as to
the orientation of the appliance in the user's hand, it balances
the product and it is visually appealing.
[0045] The user interface 180 comprises a first button arrangement
30,30a and a second button arrangement 130 and is provided at a
first vertex 182 of the major axis B-B. Specifically, in the
embodiment shown, the second button arrangement 130 is provided on
the first vertex 182 with each of the first button arrangements
30,30a being radially offset one to each side of the first vertex
182 in order to form the triangular user interface 180. The second
of the three user operated buttons comprises an on/off switch.
Conveniently, the pair of first button arrangements are referred to
as the first and third buttons and these control temperature and
flow through the appliance respectively. Advantageously, the first
and third buttons are longitudinally displaced from the second
button and form a base of the triangular user interface. The second
button 138 is positioned at the apex of the triangle.
[0046] The further user operated button 100 is provided on the
second vertex 184 of the major axis B-B. The further user operated
button 100 is therefore diametrically opposite the second button
arrangement 130.
[0047] The increased space internal to the handle 210 is achieved
without the overall impression of the diameter of the handle 210
being significantly increased. The use of the ellipse masks the
size of the major axis. Also, having a handle with a circular cross
section the size of the major axis would be too large for many
people to hold comfortably.
[0048] The user interface 180 is triangular and has one user
operated button at each vertex of the triangle. As there are two of
the first button arrangement 30,30a, in one embodiment the
triangular user interface 180 is in the form of an isosceles
triangle and the two first button arrangements are provided at a
respective corner of the base of the triangle.
[0049] In one embodiment, the further user operated button 100 is
longitudinally displaced from the user interface 180. One reason
for this is that this further user operated button 100 operates an
attachment mechanism by which attachments 20 are attached to and
released from the handle 210 of the appliance 10 thus this
mechanism is simplified if the further user operated button 100 is
adjacent or proximate a first end 210a of the handle 210 to which
the attachments 20 are attached. A second benefit of this
arrangement is that the internal mechanisms which function to
facilitate the operation of the further user operated button 100
and the user interface 180 can be separated within the handle 210
thus, any internal reduction in the cross sectional area due to
these internal mechanisms is longitudinally separate within the
handle 210. A third reason is that this configuration naturally
assists a user in positioning the appliance in a hand having the
triangular user interface 180 with the first, second and third
buttons all accessible by a thumb and the further user operated
button 100 diametrically opposite and closer to the first end 210a
of the handle 210. In this embodiment, the second button 138 is on
a vertex of the user interface 180 distal to the further user
operated button 100 and the first end 210a of the handle 210.
[0050] In the example described, the first button arrangement 130
has three settings; this is not essential so there can be more
settings or fewer settings. In addition, the first and second
switches are provided in opposite sides of the arm again this is
not essential and depending on space restraints, the two switches
may be provided on the same side of the arm.
[0051] The two first button arrangements 30,30a are slightly
different in the embodiment shown; there are slight differences in
the configuration of each recess 60,60a. These differences are
merely due to space considerations on the substrate 70. So, the two
recesses 60,60a may alternatively be the same.
[0052] In the Figures, and in particular in FIGS. 7a to 7c, the
buttons are shown in the same position at the same time; this was
merely for ease of explaining the invention and each combination of
each of the three button positions can be used with the others. For
example, each temperature setting can be used with each of the flow
settings when the machine is on and the cold shot can be used with
any flow setting.
[0053] The invention has been described in detail with respect to a
hot styling device however, it is applicable to any appliance that
draws in a fluid and directs the outflow of that fluid from the
appliance.
[0054] The appliance can be used with or without a heater; the
action of the outflow of fluid at high velocity has a drying
effect.
[0055] The fluid that flows through the appliance is generally air,
but may be a different combination of gases or gas and can include
additives to improve performance of the appliance or the impact the
appliance has on an object the output is directed at for example,
hair and the styling of that hair.
[0056] The invention is not limited to the detailed description
given above. Variations will be apparent to the person skilled in
the art.
* * * * *