Battery-Operated Appliances

• US 20100173519A1
• Filed: 02/18/2010
• Published: 07/08/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 04/27/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Gillette Company LLC (The Procter & Gamble Company)
• Original Assignee: Gillette Company (The Procter & Gamble Company)
• Inventors: Schnak, Fred, Schaaf, Uwe, Winter, Florina, Fandrey, Ulrich, Diehl, Martin
• Granted Patent: US 8,250,763 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 439/500
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 17/225 Handles or details thereof
• CPC Class Codes: B26B 19/3853 Housing or handle
• CPC Class Codes: B26B 19/3873 Electric features; Charging; Computing devices
• CPC Class Codes: B26B 21/38 with provision for reciprocating the blade by means other than rollers reciprocating the cutting elements of clippers or dry shavers B26B19/00
• CPC Class Codes: B26B 21/526 Electric features
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/213 adapted for cells having curved cross-section, e.g. round or elliptic H01M50/209, H01M50/216 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/213 by bayonet connection
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/625 Casing or ring with bayonet engagement
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

Battery operated appliances are provided. Some appliances include a housing defining a chamber having an interior wall, electronics within the chamber, a battery cover, and a closing system including (a) a first electrically conductive member secured to the battery cover, and (b) a second electrically conductive member secured to the interior wall of the housing and configured to engage the first electrically conductive member and thereby mechanically secure the battery cover to the housing while also establishing electrical contact between the first and second electrically conductive members.

Claims

1. A battery operated appliance comprising

a housing defining a chamber having an interior wall,

electronics within the chamber,

a battery cover, the battery cover and/or the housing being configured to contain one or more batteries, and

a closing system, including a first electrically conductive member secured to the battery cover, and a second electrically conductive member secured to the interior wall of the housing and configured to engage the first electrically conductive member and thereby mechanically secure the battery cover to the housing while also establishing electrical contact between the first and second electrically conductive members.

2. The appliance of claim 1 wherein the first and second electrically conductive members are configured to engage each other by rotation of the battery cover relative to the housing.

3. The appliance of claim 2 wherein the second electrically conductive member includes a circumferentially extending slot having an open end and the first electrically conductive member includes a hook configured to slide into the slot through the open end during rotation.

4. The appliance of claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein the interior wall of the housing is generally cylindrical.

5. The appliance of claim 1 wherein outer surfaces of the housing and battery cover are generally cylindrical.

6. The appliance of claim 1 wherein the first electrically conductive member includes a spring element configured to apply an axial force between the housing and battery cover when the first and second electrically conductive members are engaged.

7. The appliance of claim 6 wherein the first electrically conductive member includes two or more spring elements.

8. The appliance of claim 7 wherein each spring element provides an electrical contact between the first and second electrically conductive members.

9. The appliance of claim 1 wherein the first and second electrically conductive members are secured to the battery cover and housing, respectively, by a snap fit.

10. The appliance of claim 1 wherein the second electrically conductive member includes a portion configured to make electrical contact with an electronic sub-assembly of the appliance.

11. The appliance of claim 10 wherein the portion comprises one or more power rails.

12. The appliance of claim 11 wherein each power rail includes a clip constructed to engage the sub-assembly.

13. The appliance of claim 12 wherein each clip is configured to mechanically secure the second electrically conductive member to the sub-assembly.

14. The appliance of claim 9 wherein the second electrically conductive element includes one or more undercuts configured to engage corresponding undercuts on the interior wall of the housing.

15. The appliance of claim 14 wherein the second electrically conductive member includes engagement regions configured for mechanical engagement with corresponding regions on the first electrically conductive member, and each undercut on the second electrically conductive element is generally axially aligned with one of the engagement regions.

16. The appliance of claim 1 wherein the electronics are configured to drive a toothbrush head.

17. The appliance of claim 1 wherein the electronics are configured to drive a vibrating function of the appliance.

18. The appliance of claim 17 wherein the housing comprises the handle of a razor.

19. The appliance of claim 3 wherein the open end of the slot includes a lead-in configured to guide insertion of the hook into the slot.

20. A battery operated appliance comprising

a housing defining a chamber having an interior wall,

electronics within the chamber,

a battery cover, the battery cover and/or the housing being configured to contain one or more batteries, and

a closing system, including a first closing member secured to the battery cover, and a second closing member secured to the interior wall of the housing and configured to engage the first closing member and thereby mechanically secure the battery cover to the housing while also establishing electrical contact between the first and second electrically conductive members.