GRIP

• US 20090320297A1
• Filed: 12/15/2006
• Published: 12/31/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Original Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Inventors: Petz, Hubert, Teuben, Paul Johan, Segeren, Leonardus Hendrikus Gerardus Johannes, Roth, Corneulis Willem, Heier, Jakob, Bleeker, Michel, Opzeeland, Johannes Bernardus Valentinus, Smid, Jacob, Brouwer, Lammert Jan
• Application Number:
  US12/158,754
• Publication Number:
  US 20090320297A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 30/45
• CPC Class Codes: B25G 1/10 characterised by material or shape B25G1/01, B25G1/02 take precedence ; for hand tools comprising coating rollers B05C17/0205
• CPC Class Codes: B26B 19/28 Drive layout for hair clippers or dry shavers, e.g. providing for electromotive drive electric motors per se H02
• CPC Class Codes: B26B 19/3853 Housing or handle
• CPC Class Codes: B26B 21/522 Ergonomic details, e.g. shape, ribs or rubber parts
• CPC Class Codes: B29L 2031/463 Grips, handles handgrips as part of the body finishing of the vehicles B29L2031/3029
• CPC Class Codes: B29L 2031/7186 Shaving equipment
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 Assembling or joining

Abstract

The grip (1) according to the invention has a rigid frame (3) for providing a dedicated shape, which allows manufacturing complex three-dimensional shapes. The grip further comprises a flexible skin (5) having an outer surface and being attached to the frame at its periphery, a lid being attached to the frame at its periphery and a chamber being enclosed by the skin and the lid, and substantially filled with a formable material. These features enable an optional design freedom in the shape of the grip. This invention also relates to a method of manufacturing the grip.

Claims

1. A grip having

a rigid frame,

a flexible skin having an outer surface and being attached to the frame at its periphery,

a lid being attached to the frame at its periphery and

a chamber being enclosed by the skin and the lid and being substantially filled with a formable material.

2. A grip according to claim 1, characterized in that the flexible skin is made from a material selected from a group comprising silicone rubber, a thermoplastic elastomer and a polyurethane polymer.

3. A grip according to claim 2 characterized in that the flexible skin material has a hardness in a range of 5 Shore A-80 ShoreA.

4. A grip according to claim 1, characterized in that the formable material is a visco-elastic material having a storage modulus G1 in a range 1-100 kPa and a loss modulus G2 in a range 1-20 kPa.

5. A grip according to claim 1, characterized in that the visco-elastic material is an at least partially cross-linked silicone rubber, a polyurethane gel, or a SEBS gel.

6. A grip according to claim 1, characterized in that the outer surface is provided with a layer of a coating material.

7. A grip according to claim 1, characterized in that

considered in a direction substantially perpendicular to the outer surface of the skin the formable material has a thickness, at least locally of at least 3 mm in a grip area of the grip.

8. A grip according to claim 1, characterized in that the frame has a periphery shaped to fit a corresponding recess in a domestic appliance.

9. A grip according to claim 1, characterized in that the grip has a shape that after being pressed resumes its shape in rest in 0.5-3.5 seconds after release of the grip.

10. A grip according to claim 9, characterized in that the grip after being pressed returns back to the shape in rest in 1.5-2.5 seconds after release of the grip.

11. A grip according to claim 1, characterized in that the grip has a foil located in between the lid and the formable material for providing visual information or decoration.

21. An appliance comprising a grip according to claim 1.

23. An appliance comprising a basic component, a housing covering the basic component, a grip according to claim 1, wherein the housing is provided with the grip.

24. An appliance according to claim 23, characterized in that a part of the housing is formed by the grip and the outer surface of the skin of the grip protrudes out of the adjoining remaining parts of the housing over a distance of less than 6 mm.

25. An appliance according to claim 21, characterized in that the appliance is selected from a group containing an electric shaver, a depilator, a toothbrush, an epilator, an iron, a coffeemaker, a water kettle and a vacuum cleaner.

26. Electric shaver having a shaving head fixed to a body having a longitudinal axis, the shaving head being located near one axial end of portion of the body, having the first grip according to claim 1 and having a first grasp area and a second grasp area, wherein the second grasp area is located more in the vicinity of the shaver head than the first grasp area.

27. Electric shaver according to claim 26, characterized in that the grip is located at the first grasp area.

28. Electric shaver according to claim 27, characterized in that a further grip according to any one of the claims 1-11 is located at the second grasp area.

29. Electric shaver according to claim 28, only referring back to claim 1, characterized in that the grip has a recovery time of 1.5-2.5 sec and the further grip has a recovery time of 0.1-0.5 sec.

12. Method of manufacturing a grip comprising the following steps:

providing a panel comprising a rigid frame, and a flexible skin having a periphery connected to frame, having an outer surface and being made from a flexible material

providing a lid,

joining the panel and the lid thereby forming a chamber with an opening,

filling the chamber through the opening with a fill material.

13. Method according to claim 12 characterized in that the method further comprises the following step:

closing the opening with a stopper.

14. Method according to claim 12 characterized in that the method further comprises the following step:

curing the fill material.

15. Method of manufacturing a grip comprising the following steps

providing a panel comprising a rigid frame, and a flexible skin having a periphery connected to the frame and having an outer surface,

placing a formable material within the periphery of the frame,

providing a lid,

joining the panel and the lid thereby forming a chamber substantially filled with the formable material.

16. Method according to claim 15, characterized in that the panel is manufactured by injection moulding.

17. Method according to claim 15, characterized in that the lid is manufactured by injection moulding.

18. Method according to claim 15, characterized in that the method further comprises the following step:

providing the outer surface of the skin with a coating.

19. Method according to claim 16, characterized in that the skin material is made from a material selected from a group containing a liquid silicone rubber, a thermoplastic elastomer or a thermoplastic vulcanisate, the material having a hardness in a range of 5 Shore A-80 Shore A.

20. Method according to claim 15, characterized in that the formable material is selected from a group containing silicone oil, silicone gel, polyurethane (PU) gel and highly viscous polymeric oil.

22. An appliance comprising the grip manufactured via the method according to claim 15.