Battery-operated razor

• US 8,250,763 B2
• Filed: 02/18/2010
• Issued: 08/28/2012
• 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: Diehl, Martin, Fandrey, Ulrich, Schaaf, Uwe, Winter, Florina, Schnak, Fred
• Primary Examiner(s): Ryan, Patrick
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lewis, Ben
• Application Number:
  US12/707,683
• Publication Number:
  US 20100173519A1
• Time in Patent Office: 922 Days
• Field of Search: 429/97, 429/100, 30/43, 30/44, 30/45, 30/91, 302/10, 30/32
• US Class Current: 30/67
• 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 razor 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 during rotation of the battery cover relative to the housing, thereby mechanically securing the battery cover to the housing while also establishing electrical contact between the first and second electrically conductive members,

wherein the first electrically conductive member includes one or more circumferentially extending slots.

2. The razor of claim 1 wherein the circumferentially extending slot has an open end and the second electrically conductive member includes a hook configured to slide into the slot through the open end during rotation.

3. The razor of claim 2 wherein the open end of the slot includes a lead-in configured to guide insertion of the hook into the slot.

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

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

6. The razor of claim 1 wherein the second electrically conductive member comprises 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 razor of claim 6 wherein the second electrically conductive member includes two or more spring elements.

8. The razor of claim 6 wherein the spring element provides an electrical contact between the first and second electrically conductive members.

9. The razor 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 razor of claim 1 wherein the second electrically conductive element includes one or more undercuts configured to engage corresponding undercuts on the interior wall of the housing.

11. The razor of claim 10 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.

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

13. The razor of claim 12 wherein the portion comprises one or more power rails.

14. The razor of claim 13 wherein each power rail includes a clip constructed to engage the sub-assembly.

15. The razor of claim 14 wherein each clip is configured to mechanically secure the second electrically conductive member to the sub-assembly.

16. The razor of claim 1 wherein the electronics are configured to drive a vibrating function of the razor.

17. The razor of claim 1 wherein the housing comprises the handle of a razor.

18. The razor of claim 1 wherein the first electrically conductive member comprises one or more undercuts configured to engage corresponding undercuts on the battery cover.

19. The razor of claim 18 wherein one of the one or more circumferentially extending slots is relatively close to and generally axially aligned with at least one of the undercuts.