FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is concerned with a cleaning and charging station for an electrically driven device, for example an electric hair removal device, such as a dry shaver, an electric toothbrush or an electric skin treatment device.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Generally, there are at least two types of electric shaver cleaning and battery loading/charging stations are more available at the market and both differ in the way how the shaver is electrically contacted with the station. In a first way the shaver is provided with electrical contacting pins at the lateral housing side which is often the opposite side of the on/off button housing side and the clean and charging station is provided with shaver electrical contacts in an area adjacent to the cleaning chamber. In a second way the shaver electrical socket provided often at the end of the housing opposite to the other end with the cutting units is used as electrical contacting means to contact with the clean and charging station. In order to allow the clean and charging station to electrically connect with the shaver according to the second way the base housing with the cleaning chamber is provided with an extension or projection which looks like a tower which is also often named as“gallow” and which is provided with station electrical contacting means at the free end of the gallow. Said station electrical contacting means of this second way may be provided with a kind of electrical plug to be pushed into the socket of the shaver, so that the shaver is both electrically connected with the station and clamped or fixed within the station.

EP 2 308 338 A2 discloses a cleaning and charging station comprising a housing and a basin with a cleaning chamber. A dry shaver can be inserted into the cleaning chamber in which a stopper abuts against the housing of said shaver to hold it in place and rest it to a bearing surface with a terminal to charge the shaver. In addition, a support structure is provided for holding the shaver in place. This support structure is located offset with respect to the cleaning chamber and extends vertically.

Further, US 2009 0019 702 Al discloses a cleaning station for an electrical shaver comprising a housing with a base, a cleaning chamber and a gallows structure, i.e. a support member, to support and hold a connected shaver in an upside down position and either displace the shaver into a cleaning liquid or displace the shaver out of the cleaning liquid to start a drying process. The gallows structure of this cleaning and charging station is located offset with respect to the cleaning chamber and is inclined backwards. The shaver is held in the cleaning chamber such that its lower surface, i.e. the shaver head when placed upside down in the cleaning chamber, extends substantially horizontally. This orientation may have drawbacks regarding the cleaning results as beard dust may remain in the shaver head. Further, this cleaning and charging station comprises a collar at the upper end of the base. Located on the collar, there are a display and a selector for selecting different operation modes.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present disclosure to provide a cleaning and charging station improving cleaning and handling of the station.

This object is solved by a cleaning and charging station as defined in claim 1. In accordance with one aspect there is provided a cleaning and charging station comprising a housing with a base portion and a gallows structure extending from the base portion. The base portion has a vertical center axis and comprises a cleaning chamber for at least partially receiving the electrically driven device and the gallows structure comprises a charging terminal for charging the electrically driven device. A circuit board is mounted within the housing and connected to the charging terminal. The gallows structure is located offset to the vertical center axis on the base portion and is inclined to the vertical center axis in at least two directions. For example, the gallows structure is inclined towards a back side of the base portion and is inclined towards a lateral side of the base portion. The inclination in at least two directions has the benefit in positioning of the electrically driven device, for example a dry shaver or a wet shaver, such that the cleaning result is increased. Especially, the inclination of the gallows structure results in an inclined arrangement e.g. of a shaver head such that small particles, like beard dust, are washed out of the shaver head more thoroughly. In addition, the inclination may facilitate drying of the shaver head after the cleaning process by accumulating cleaning liquid at the lowest position of the shaver head from which remaining cleaning liquid may drip off. The cleaning and charging station has a base portion with a front side and an opposite back side as well as lateral sides. The front side of the station may be the side facing towards the user when inserting a cartridge with cleaning liquid, i.e. the side from which the cartridge is inserted into the housing. The cleaning chamber may be located closer to the front side and the gallows structure may be located closer to the back side. The gallows structure may be inclined towards the back side. In other words, a free end of the gallows structure facing away from the base portion is inclined towards the back side compared with the end of the gallows structure which is attached to the base portion.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Figure 1 shows an isometric view of a cleaning and charging station according to an embodiment of the invention;

Figure 2a shows the lighting unit of the cleaning and charging station of Figure 1 ; Figure 2b shows an exploded view of the lighting unit of Figure 2a; Figure 3 shows a perspective view of the cleaning and charging station of Figure 1 together with an electrically driven device;

Figure 4a shows a perspective view of the cleaning and charging station of Figure 1 without an electrically driven device;

Figure 4b shows a portion of the cleaning and charging station of Figure 1 with a display unit and a selector;

Figure 5 shows a sectional view of Figure 3;

Figure 6a shows a side view of the cleaning and charging station of Figure 1 ; Figure 6b shows a further side view of the cleaning and charging station of Figure 1 ; Figure 6c shows a top view of the cleaning and charging station of Figure 1 ; and

Figure 7 shows a partially exploded view of the cleaning and charging station of Figure 1.

DETAIFED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Before describing advantageous embodiments of the invention related to the embodiments depicted in Figures 1 to 7, different aspects of the invention are described more in detail. These aspects disclose further features, advantages and possibilities of use of the present invention that might be combined in any useful combination. All features described and/or shown in the drawings are subject matter of the invention, irrespective of the grouping of the features in the claims and/or their back references.

The cleaning chamber and /or the gallow structure is disposed symmetrical relative to a symmetry plane extending through the longitudinal extension of the gallow structure on said top side. Thus the cleaning chamber has at least with respect to two opposing sides around the same distance to the lateral sides of the base portion. The cleaning chamber and the gallow structure may have a symmetry axis that is perpendicular to an axis along the longitudinal extension of the gallow structure, so that left and right side are mirror symmetrical and the top side surrounding the cleaning chamber and the gallow structure may be mirror symmetrical about the same axis as well.The electrically driven device may be a shaver having a shaver head inclined with respect to its handle, for example by 25°. For placing the shaver had substantially parallel to the level of the cleaning fluid in the cleaning chamber, inclination of gallows structure results in an inclination of the handle which is received in the gallows structure when placed in the station. In other words, especially for the shaver having a shaver head inclined with respect to the handle, the inclination of the gallows structure towards the back side increases the cleaning performance by arranging the shaver head substantially horizontally in the cleaning chamber. The gallows structure may be inclined towards the back side by 10° to 45°, preferably by 20° to 30°, e.g. by 25°.

In addition, the gallows structure may be inclined towards a lateral side. A lateral side is a side facing to the right or to the left with respect to a plane running through the front side, the back side and the vertical center axis. For example, the gallows structure is inclined to the left. The gallows structure may be inclined towards a lateral side by 2° to 30°, preferably by 5° to 15°, e.g. by l0°.This additional inclination of the gallows structure results in the shaver being inclined in the station, e.g. by 10° to the left, to ensure a sufficient flow of the cleaning fluid, thereby increasing the cleaning performance and to ensure that no beard dust remains in the bath of the cleaning chamber.

The base portion of the cleaning and charging station may have a bottom side and a top side which is inclined with respect to the bottom side such that the height of the base portion is larger at the back side and smaller on the front side. This facilitates placing the shaver or the like into the station. According to an aspect of the present disclosure, the gallows structure is located rotationally offset with respect to the back side. In other words, the center of the gallows structure is not located in a plane running through the front side, the back side and the vertical center axis. For example, the gallows structure is located rotationally offset with respect to the back side by 10° to 50°, preferably by 20° to 40°, e.g. by 30°.

The reliability of the cleaning and charging station may be increased by mounting the circuit board within the gallows structure and above the cleaning chamber. Locating the circuit board above liquid level reduces the risk of contamination with cleaning liquid and thereby the risk of damage or malfunction.

According to a further aspect, a support may be detachably received in the base portion, wherein a cartridge containing cleaning fluid is detachably received in the support. The cartridge typically comprises an inlet and an outlet which are both in fluid communication with the cleaning chamber. For example, the base portion may be partially lifted with respect to the support for replacing the cartridge containing the cleaning fluid. To permit easy access to the cartridge, the support may comprise an orifice for receiving the cartridge, wherein the orifice being preferably open towards the front side.

The drying process of the shaver head or the like may be shortened with the cleaning chamber having a bottom surface which is inclined with respect to a plane perpendicular to the central vertical axis. This may facilitate draining of the cleaning liquid from the cleaning chamber.

Further, the gallows structure is preferably provided with at least one lighting unit connected to the circuit board and having at least one light-emitting source optically connected to at least one light- diffusing element. The light-emitting source and the light-diffusing element may either be optically connected by an intermediate piece, such as a light guide, to each other or through a direct connection, such as mounting the light-emitting source directly to the light-diffusing element.

The at least one lighting unit is capable of providing a feedback signal to the user of the cleaning and charging station, for example regarding the operation mode or status of the station. This may include a feedback of the charging and cleaning status of said electrically driven device, e.g. a dry or wet shaver. By providing the at least one lighting unit in or on the gallows structure, visibility of the lighting unit is improved. Especially, arranging the at least one lighting unit in or on the gallows structure permits unshielded view on the at least one lighting unit from different sides and angles.

The lighting unit of the charging and cleaning station may further comprise a light guide optically interposed between the at least one light-emitting source and the at least one light-diffusing element. This light guide may optically connect at least one light-emitting source with at least one light-diffusing element such that light emitted from the light source is transmitted into the light- diffusing element. The light guide may be made of a fully- or semi-transparent material and may comprise defined discontinuities on the surface to efficiently transmit light to the light-diffusing elements in an example, the light guide and/or the light-diffusing element is/are provided with defined discontinuities in the form of steps, a knurling, a corrugation, a fluting or the like for transmitting light from the light guide into the at least one light-diffusing element. The light guide may be in direct contract with the at least one light-diffusing element with the surface of the light guide contacting the at least one light-diffusing element. Providing a light guide permits transmitting light from a potentially remote light source to the at least one light-diffusing element. This allows placing the light source and the at least one light-diffusing element at ideal positions regarding visibility of the at least one light-diffusing element and/or building space for the light source and its electrical connectors.

In a preferred form, the at least one light-diffusing element is a ring provided in and/or on the gallows structure, preferably at an end of the gallows structure facing away from the base portion. Thus, the at least one light-diffusing element is visible from all sides of the cleaning and charging station. The light guide may be substantially ring-shaped to fit to a ring-shaped portion of the light- diffusing element. Furthermore, the light guide may comprise at least one arm, preferably two arms spaced from each other that is/are optically connected to at least one respective light-emitting source. The at least one arm may guide light from a potentially remote light source to ring-shaped portion of the light guide abutting the light-diffusing element.

The at least one light-diffusing element may contain, at least partly, light scattering inorganic and/or organic particles, preferably titanium dioxide (TiC ). This results in light scattering or light diffusion such that the light-diffusing element generates a visible feedback to the user and softened emitted light. The light-emitting source may comprise at least one light emitting diode, preferably at least one RGB light emitting diode, provided on the circuit board within the housing. The use of at least two RGB light-emitting diodes allows the display of the full range of the visible light spectrum to visualize varying operating modes. Thus different light colors may be displayed for indicating different modes of the station. In an example the station comprises two RGB light emitting diodes arranged spaced from each other on the circuit board and optically connected to the light-diffusing element by means of a light guide with two arms, wherein each arm is assigned to one of the RGB light emitting diodes.

To connect the elements of the lighting unit to each other and fix the light guide and/or the light- diffusing element to the gallows structure, a cover element may be utilized. In more detail, the cover element is preferably ring-shaped and can be received by a recess within the light-diffusing element. Locking hooks on one end of the cover element may interlock the light guide and the light-diffusing element to the gallows structure. In addition, the cover element may be used to cover any undesirable elements and partly shield the light-diffusing element. The cover element may also fix further component parts on the gallows structure.

Additionally, the lighting unit comprises a button for activating the cleaning and charging station. The button may be provided with locking hooks to connect to the cover element through recesses within the cover elements structure. A set of eyelets on the buttons side may be provided to connect to the gallows structure. The button may be at least partially surrounded by the at least one light- diffusing element. In an embodiment, the button is displaceable relative to the light-diffusing element.

The gallows structure of the cleaning and charging station may comprise a recess for at least partially receiving the electrically driven device, e.g. a dry or wet shaver or an epilating device. Within the recess, e.g. at the end of the gallows structure facing away from the base portion, the charging terminal is provided to charge the electrically driven device. In other words, the electrically driven device may be received in the shell-like gallows structure for cleaning and charging. In addition, the electrically driven device may partially immerse in the cleaning chamber of the base portion. Furthermore, a display unit for indicating different operation modes of the cleaning and charging station may be provided within the recess of the gallows structure. This unit may indicate different operation modes of the cleaning and charging station e.g. via separate illuminated icons, which may be selected by a separate selector, e.g. a button, within the display unit. The display unit and the selector are connected to the circuit board that is located within the gallows structure.

In addition, the circuit board is preferably adapted such that the at least one lighting unit emits different optical feedback signals. These signals may indicate different operation modes of the cleaning and charging station and/or different states of the electrically driven device. The circuit board may be further adapted for different cleaning programs, e.g. with a delayed start. For example, the circuit board is provided with a program adapted such that in use, before putting the shaver in the cleaning center, the desired operation mode has to be chosen by pressing the separate selector, e.g. several times to switch between different operation modes. The chosen operation mode may be displayed via illuminated symbols on the display unit. Pressing the start button then starts the selected operation mode and this may be indicated by the light ring by means of a certain color associated to the respective mode or state. For example, a blue light may indicate cleaning of the shaver, a green light may indicate charging, a yellow light may indicate a low cleaning cartridge level and/or a red light may indicate that the cleaning cartridge is empty.

Turning now to the embodiment depicted in Figures 1 to 7, the charging and cleaning station and its main component parts is shown. In the embodiment depicted in Figure 1, the charging and cleaning station comprises a housing 1 with a base portion 2 and a gallows structure 3. The base portion 2 has a vertical center axis I. The base portion 2 comprises a recess forming a cleaning chamber 4. The cleaning chamber 4 is designed to fit to an electrically driven device, e.g. the shaving head of an electrical shaver 5, which may be at least partially immersed in a cleaning fluid in the cleaning chamber 4 (Figure 5).

The gallows structure 3 protrudes from the base portion 2 of the housing 1 as depicted in Figure 1. The gallows structure 3 is provided with an internal recess 6 such that the gallows structure 3 has, at least partially, a shcll-likc configuration. The electrically driven device 5 may be placed in the recess 6 of the gallows structure 3 as shown in Figures 3 and 5. In other words, the electrically driven device 5 is placed upside down in the charging and cleaning station partially received in the recess 6 of the gallows structure 3 and partially immersed into the cleaning chamber 4. The gallows structure 3 comprises lighting unit 7 at the end of said structure, a charging terminal 8 and a display unit 9 which is shown in more detail in Figures 4a and 4b.

The gallows structure 3 exhibits two inclinations and a rotation relative to the base portions 2 vertical center axis I as depicted in Figures 6a to 6c. The first inclination of the said structure 3 is backwards relative to the vertical center axis I of the base portion 2 between 20° and 30°, preferably about 25° as shown in Figure 6b. This allows for a parallel position of the shaver's head compartment of an electrical shaver 5 within the cleaning chamber to the level of cleaning fluid which is needed for an optimal cleaning process. The gallows structure 3 is also inclined between 5° and 20°, preferably about 10°, to the left (as seen in Figures 3 and 6a) relative to the vertical center axis I of the base portion 2. This setup ensures a sufficient flow of the cleaning fluid during the cleaning process of an inserted electrical shaver 5. Furthermore, the gallows structure 3 in this preferred embodiment displays a counterclockwise rotation between 15° and 45° relative to the vertical axis of the base portion 2, preferably about 30° as depicted in Figure 6c, which in combination with the two aforementioned inclinations of the gallows structure 3 is beneficial to the drying process of the electrical shaver 5 as remaining cleaning fluid on the shaver's head compartment is drained more efficiently.

Figure 4a depicts a perspective view of the cleaning and charging station without an electrical shaver 5. The charging terminal 8 is located at the top side of the recess 4 of the gallows structure 3, i.e. facing away from the base portion 2. An electrical shaver 5 can be placed upside down within the recess 4 to get charged by the charging terminal 8 and is held in place by a stopper 10 on the housing 1. Inset within the gallows recess 4 is the display unit 9 which is used for a manual preselection of different cleaning and/or charging options for the electrical shaver 5.

Figure 4b illustrates a front view of the aforementioned display unit 9 in more detail. The display unit 9 comprises illuminated indicators (shown in dashed lines), e.g. symbols, for optical feedback which correspond to a desired operation mode selected manually via a selector 11. In other words, the selector 11 is used to choose between several different operation modes of the cleaning and charging station, for example an operation mode for immediate start of the cleaning process or an operation mode for a delayed start of the cleaning process. The selection of the respective operation mode is indicated by the respective symbols in the display unit 9. The location of the display unit 9 and the selector 11 is depicted in the exemplary embodiment shown in the Figures such that selection of the respective operation mode has to be performed prior to inserting the electrically driven device 5 into the recess 6 of the gallows structure 3. However, in a not shown alternative embodiment the display unit 9 and/or the selector 11 may be located such that the display unit 9 is visible and/or the selector 11 is operable with the electrically driven device 5 inserted into the recess 6.

In Figure 3 the cleaning and charging station is shown with the electrically driven device 5 received within the gallows structure's recess 6. By placing said device 5 upside down into the station, the head of the device is situated inside the cleaning chamber 4 while the other end of the device is connected to the charging terminal 8 below the lighting unit 7. Charging of of the electrically driven device 5 which preferably comprises a rechargeable battery may start immediately when connecting the charging terminal 8 to the electrically driven device 5. As an alternative, it may be required that a user starts the charging process, e.g. by selecting a respective operation mode and/or by pressing the start button.

The lighting unit 7 is depicted in Figures 2a and 2b in more detail. While Figure 2a shows the assembled lighting unit 7, Figure 2b demonstrates an exploded view of the main component parts of the lighting unit 7. A circuit board 12 is mounted to the gallows structure 3 and is connected to the charging terminal 8. In other words, the circuit board 12 is arranged within the charging and cleaning station at a position above the base portion 2 with the cleaning chamber 4. This has the benefit that the risk of exposing the circuit board 12 to the cleaning liquid is significantly reduced. Preferably, the circuit board 12 is located within the gallows structure 3 in the vicinity of the display unit 9 and the selector 11 such that light emitting elements and/or a push button or switch assigned to the selector 11 may be placed directly on the circuit board 12.

The circuit board 12 is suitable and adapted to perform and/or control several operations of the charging and cleaning station, especially controlling a cleaning process and/or controlling a charging process in response to signals from the selector 11 and/or a separate start button 18. In addition, the circuit board 12 is suitable and adapted to control provision of feedback signals to the user by means of the lightning unit 7 and/or the display unit 9. The circuit board 12 may be suitable to perform and/or control additional functions, e.g. providing different types of feedback signals including an acoustic feedback signal. The circuit board 12 is provided with two light-emitting sources 13 which are incorporated at the upper end of the circuit board 12 (as seen in Figures 2a and 2b) and are preferably two RGB light- emitting diodes to produce the full spectrum of visible light. As an alternative to the exemplary embodiment depicted in the Figures, a single light-emitting source 13 may be provided on the circuit board 12 or further light-emitting sources may be provided. In the depicted embodiment the circuit board 12 further comprises at least one light-emitting source assigned to the display unit 9.

Through light guide arms 14 the light-emitting sources 13 are optically connected to a highly transparent light guide unit 15. This guide element features defined discontinuities on the surface facing towards a light-diffusing element 16 for an optimal transmission of the emitted light of the light sources 13 to the light-diffusing element 16. Provision of the light guide unit 15 with its guide arms 14 as of the benefit that the two light-emitting sources 13 may be provided on the circuit board 12 while the light-diffusing element 16 is located remote from the circuit board 12. In addition, no cables or the like are required between the circuit board 12 and the light-diffusing element 16.

The light guide 15 and the light-diffusing element 16 are at least partially ring-shaped. The light guide 15 may be connected to a recess in the ring structure of the light-diffusing element 16. In order to fix the light guide 15 and the light-diffusing element 16 to the gallows structure 3, a ring- shaped cover element 17 may be placed on the light-diffusing element 16 connecting the aforementioned units e.g. via engagement hooks. Further, the cover element 17 may shield or cover portions of the light-diffusing element 16.

The ring-shaped form of the lighting unit 7 as depicted in the Figures is an exemplary embodiment of the design of the lighting unit and the light-diffusing element 16. Flowever, the present disclosure is not limited to only ring-shapes and can be any arbitrary shape as long as the elements are located in and/or on the gallows structure 3 such that they are visible from different positions and angles.

The top of the lighting unit 7 is provided with the button element 18 that may physically lock into the cover element 17 through engagement hooks. Pressing the button 18 either activates or deactivates the cleaning and charging station which is indicated by the lighting unit's 7 optical feedback. A charging and cleaning process may be started by a user by selecting an operation mode by pressing the selector 11. The selected operation mode may be indicated on the display unit 9. After placing the electrically driven device 5 into the charging and cleaning station the respective process is initiated by pressing the button 18. As the electrically driven device 5 shields the display unit 9 when placed in the charging and cleaning station, a visual feedback provided by the display unit 9 may be impeded. However, the lighting unit 7 provides an additional visual feedback to the user corresponding to the selected operation mode of the charging and cleaning station and/or corresponding to the status of the charging and cleaning station. Thus, even with the display unit 9 being shielded by the electrically driven device 5, a user gets feedback regarding the process performed by the charging and cleaning station. The visual feedback provided by the lighting unit 7 may be in the form of different colors associated to a respective status and/or a respective operation mode of the charging and cleaning station. In addition or as an alternative, the status and/or an operation mode of the charging and cleaning station may be indicated by emitting permanent light and/or by emitting interrupted light, e.g. a blinking light.

The base portion 2 houses a support 19 of the station which is accessible to a user by lifting the base portion 2 together with the gallows structure 3 to insert a cleaning cartridge 21 containing a cleaning fluid used for the cleaning process of the shaver 5. As shown in Figure 7, the support 19 comprises an orifice 20 facing towards a front side of the station. In the embodiment depicted in the Figures, the base portion 2 has a lower height at the front side of the station compared with the opposite back side of the station.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure the charging and cleaning station is combined with an electrically driven device 5 which is an electric shaver, preferably a dry shaver or of the shaver. For example, the charging and cleaning station is adapted to the electrically driven device 5 regarding size and shape of the electrically driven device, regarding the connection of the shaver head to the device and/or regarding the position of the charging terminal 8. The electrically driven device may be a shaver with a pivotable and/or tiltable shaver head. The shaver head may comprise a stationary foil type cutter unit with a cutter blade linearly movable with respect to the stationary foil type cutter unit. The dimensions and values disclosed herein are not to be understood as being strictly limited to the exact numerical values recited. Instead, unless otherwise specified, each such dimension is intended to mean both the recited value and a functionally equivalent range surrounding that value. For example, a dimension disclosed as“40 mm” is intended to mean“about 40 mm.”

Reference Numerals

1 housing

2 base portion

3 gallows structure

4 cleaning chamber

5 electrically driven device

6 gallows structure recess

7 lighting unit

8 charging terminal

9 display unit

10 stopper

11 selector

12 circuit board

13 light-emitting source

14 light guide

15 light guide arm

16 light-diffusing element

17 cover element

18 button

19 support

20 orifice

21 cartridge

I vertical center axis