Cleaning appliance

• US 10,463,143 B2
• Filed: 10/25/2017
• Issued: 11/05/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 10/26/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dyson Technology Limited (Beeswax Holdings UK Limited)
• Original Assignee: Dyson Technology Limited (Beeswax Holdings UK Limited)
• Inventors: Harris, Sammantha Stephanie, Zukina, Boris, Wilkinson, Christopher Daniel Currer
• Primary Examiner(s): Chin, Randall E
• Application Number:
  US15/793,389
• Publication Number:
  US 20180110321A1
• Time in Patent Office: 741 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 15/0004 with a controlling means
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 15/0022 with an electrical means
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 15/0036 with a lighting means, e.g. laser, bulb A46B15/0034 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 15/0044 with light signalling means A46B15/0034, A46B15/0036 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 2200/1066 Toothbrush for cleaning the teeth or dentures A61C17/16 takes precedence; bristles arrangements for toothbrushes A46B9/04
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 17/221 Control arrangements therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 17/222 Brush body details, e.g. the shape thereof or connection to handle
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 17/225 Handles or details thereof
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 17/227 with reservoirs, e.g. for toothpaste
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 17/28 with rinsing means
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 17/36 with rinsing means
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 1/14 Protective coatings, e.g. hard coatings
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/144 using partially transparent surfaces without spectral selectivity G02B27/147 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/0808 having a single reflecting layer G02B5/0883, G02B5/0891 take precedence

Abstract

A dental cleaning appliance includes a handle, a display, and a control circuit for activating the display. The handle includes a body which is gripped by a user during use of the appliance, a transparent panel beneath which the display is located, and a layer of reflective material disposed on an external surface of the panel and through which, during use, the activated display is visible to the user.

Claims

1. A dental cleaning appliance comprising:

a handle;

a display; and

a control circuit for activating the display,

wherein the handle comprises a body which is gripped by a user during use of the appliance, a transparent panel beneath which the display is located, and a layer of reflective material disposed on an external surface of the panel and through which, during use, the activated display is visible to the user, and

wherein at least an adjoining portion of the body is overmolded on to the panel.

2. The appliance of claim 1, wherein the layer of reflective material has a transmissivity which is in the range from 70 to 90%.

3. The appliance of claim 1, wherein the layer of reflective material is applied to the panel using a printing process.

4. The appliance of claim 1, wherein the layer of reflective material is applied to the panel using a hot stamping process.

5. The appliance of claim 1, wherein the panel is molded on to the layer of reflective material.

6. The appliance of claim 1, wherein the layer of reflective material is formed from one of a polyester and a polycarbonate material.

7. The appliance of claim 1, wherein the panel is formed from a transparent polycarbonate material.

8. The appliance of claim 1, wherein the body of the handle is formed from a blend of polycarbonate (PC) and acrylnitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS) materials.

9. The appliance of claim 1, wherein the handle comprises at least one user-operable button having a flexible membrane which is pressed by the user to operate the button, and wherein the flexible membrane is molded on to the panel.

10. The appliance of claim 9, wherein the flexible membrane is formed from a thermoplastic elastomeric material.

11. The appliance of claim 1, wherein the display comprises an elongate display.

12. The appliance of claim 1, wherein the display comprises an OLED display.

13. A handle for a dental cleaning appliance comprising a cleaning tool to which the handle is detachably connectable, the handle comprising:

a display;

a control circuit for activating the display;

a body which is gripped by a user during use of the appliance;

a transparent panel beneath which the display is located; and

a layer of reflective material disposed on an external surface of the panel and through which, during use, the activated display is visible to the user,

wherein at least an adjoining portion of the body is overmolded on to the panel.

14. The handle of claim 13, wherein the layer of reflective material has a transmissivity which is in the range from 70 to 90%.

15. The handle of claim 13, wherein the layer of reflective material is applied to the panel using a printing process.

16. The handle of claim 13, wherein the layer of reflective material is applied to the panel using a hot stamping process.

17. The handle of claim 13, wherein the panel is molded on to the layer of reflective material.

18. The handle of claim 13, wherein the layer of reflective material is formed from one of a polyester or a polycarbonate material.

19. The handle of claim 13, wherein the panel is formed from a transparent polycarbonate material.

20. The handle of claim 13, wherein the body is formed from a blend of polycarbonate (PC) and acrylnitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS) materials.

21. The handle of claim 13, comprising at least one user-operable button having a flexible membrane which is pressed by the user to operate the button, and wherein the flexible membrane is molded on to the panel.

22. The handle of claim 21, wherein the flexible membrane is formed from a thermoplastic elastomeric material.

23. The handle of claim 13, wherein the display comprises an elongate display.