Patent ID: 12233566

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring toFIG.1, one possible embodiment of the present disclosure is shown illustrating a personal care appliance10. Although the personal care appliance10shown is a wet shaving razor system, it is understood that other personal care appliances may include, but are not limited to a foil type shaving razor, a toothbrush, a shaving brush, a powered cleansing apparatus, an epilator, and other powered personal appliances. These appliances may be used in a wet environment, such as the bathroom. In certain embodiments, the personal care appliance10may include a cartridge12(e.g., a shaving razor cartridge) that may be removably mounted to a handle14. The handle14may include a consumer usable interface16, such as a touch screen. In certain embodiments, the consumer may digitally connect the personal care appliance with a smart device, such as a smart phone or smart watch.

Referring toFIG.2, a cross section view of the personal care appliance10is illustrated, taken generally along the line2-2ofFIG.1. The handle14may include a housing18defining a cavity20dimensioned to receive an electronic subassembly22that is electrically connected to a power source24, such as a rechargeable battery. A cover15may be secured to the housing18to protect the components positioned within the cavity20, such as the power source24and the electronic subassembly. As will be described in further detail below, the electronic subassembly22may include a platform26that supports a first rigid circuit board28. A second rigid circuit board30may be positioned over the first rigid circuit board28. The first rigid circuit board28and the second rigid circuit board30may be spaced apart such that any electronic components of the first rigid circuit board28and the second rigid circuit board30are not damaged during assembly.

Referring toFIGS.3A and3Ba perspective view of the electronic subassembly22is illustrated in a first position and a second position, respectfully. The electronic subassembly22may include a flexible circuit board32(e.g., a flexible printed circuit board) having a first end portion34and a second end portion36. The first rigid circuit board28may be mounted to the first end portion34of the flexible circuit board32. The second rigid circuit board30may be mounted to the second end portion36of the flexible circuit board32. It is understood that the electronic subassembly may be created by a laminating process in which multiple layers of flexible and/or rigid circuit boards may be stacked on top of each other creating stacked layers, like a sandwich. The first rigid circuit board28and the second rigid circuit board30may be secured and electrically connected to the flexible circuit board32. The flexible circuit board32may have a flexible bridge38between the first end portion34and the second end portion36. The flexible bridge38may be positioned between the first rigid circuit board28and the second rigid circuit board30, thus allowing it to bend and fold over.

The first rigid circuit board28may have a plurality of electronic components40mounted to a top surface42of the first rigid circuit board28, including, but not limited to capacitors, resistors, diodes, transistors and switches. It is understood that a bottom surface (not shown) of the first rigid circuit board28may also include a plurality of electronic components. One or more of the electronic components40may emit electromagnetic waves. The second rigid circuit board30may have a plurality of electronic components44mounted to a top surface46of the second rigid circuit board30, including, but not limited to capacitors, resistors, diodes, transistors and switches. It is understood that a bottom surface (not shown) of the second rigid circuit board30may also include a plurality of electronic components. One or more of the electronic components44may emit electromagnetic waves. The electronic components40on the first rigid circuit board28may face the electronic components44on the second rigid circuit board30in the folded position.

In certain embodiments, the electronic subassembly22may include a flexible shield45adjacent the first rigid circuit board28and/or the second rigid circuit board30. For example, the flexible shield45may extend outward from the first rigid circuit board28. The flexible shield45may comprise copper or other material commonly used to block electromagnetic waves. In certain embodiments, the flexible shield45may not be electrically connected to any other components of the electronic sub assembly, such as the electronic components40and44. The flexible shield45may be folded over the first rigid circuit board28and/or the second rigid circuit board30to cover the one or more electronic components40and44. Accordingly, electromagnetic waves emitted from the one or more electronic components40and44may be effectively blocked by the flexible shield45so they do not cause interference with an antenna52that receives and/or transmits electromagnetic waves to external devices. After the flexible shield45is folded over the electronic component40, the second rigid circuit board30may be folded over the first rigid circuit board28by bending the flexible circuit board32along the flexible bridge38so the top surface42of the first rigid circuit board42faces the top surface46of the second rigid circuit board30. In certain embodiments, the flexible shield45may have a folded position in which the flexible shield is positioned between the first rigid circuit board28and the second rigid circuit board30(i.e., when second ridged circuit board30is folded over the first rigid circuit board28). The flexible shield45may not be secured to the first rigid circuit board28. For example, the flexible shield45may be held in place when the second rigid circuit board30is folded over the first rigid circuit board. Accordingly, the flexible shield45may touch between the first rigid circuit board28and/or the second rigid circuit board30. It is understood that several electronic subassemblies22may be interconnect together by flexible bridges, thus allowing additional rigid circuit boards to be efficiently folded and stacked on top of each other.

In certain embodiments, the electronic subassembly22may include the flexible antenna48in electrical communication with the first rigid circuit board28and/or the second rigid circuit board30. The flexible shield45and the flexible antenna48may be positioned on an opposite sides of the first rigid circuit board28. However, the flexible shield45may be folded over the first rigid circuit board28and the flexible antenna48may be folded under the first rigid circuit board28. The flexible antenna48may having a flexible bridge50extending from the flexible circuit board32and away from the first rigid circuit board28. It is understood that the flexible antenna48may extend from any edge of the first rigid circuit board28and/or the second rigid circuit board30. The flexible antenna48may include a flap52that is connected to the flexible circuit board32by the bridge50. The flap52may be spaced apart from the first circuit board28by a gap54to facilitate the folding of the flexible antenna48(e.g., flap52). The flap52may have a copper track56on a top surface58of the flexible antenna48(e.g., the flap52) for sending and/or receiving electrical signals. As will be described in greater detail below, the a flexible antenna48may have one or more engagement surfaces to facilitate securing and holding the flexible antennae48in a folded position, as shown inFIG.3B. For example, the flap52of the flexible antenna48may define one or more openings60and62.

The flexible antenna48, including the flap52, may have a first position, as shown inFIG.3Athat is generally planar (e.g., generally on a same plane as the first rigid circuit board28). The flexible antenna48, including the flap52may have a second position, as shown inFIG.3B, in which the flexible antenna48(e.g., flap52) is folded away from the second circuit board30(e.g., under the first rigid circuit board28). The flap52may be folded towards a bottom surface64of the first rigid circuit board28. Accordingly, the copper track56may face away from the first rigid circuit board28and/or the second rigid circuit board30. Accordingly, the second position may help shield the flexible antenna48from stray electromagnetic signals generated by the electronic components40and44of the first and second rigid circuit boards28and30. The folding of the flexible antenna48also helps the electronic subassembly22fit within the handle14(FIG.1) without being damaged during assembly.

Referring toFIGS.4A,4B,4C and4Dperspective views of the personal care appliance10is shown at various stages of the assembly process. InFIG.4A, the electronic subassembly22is illustrated in the first position. The first rigid circuit board28may be mounted to a top surface66of the platform26. The platform26may have one or more pegs68and70to properly position the first rigid circuit board28. The first rigid circuit board28may be secured to the platform26by cold stamping the pegs68and70. However, it is understood that other securing methods may be used, such as adhesives. The flexible antenna48may be folded over a portion of a lower surface72(opposite the top surface66) of the platform26, as shown inFIG.4B. The openings60and62of the flexible antenna48may engage a corresponding tab74and76on the platform26. The tabs74and76may facilitate quick and simple securement of the flexible antenna48in a folded position to the platform26. The platform26with the electronic subassembly22(in the first position) may be positioned within the housing18, as shown inFIG.4C. For example, the first rigid circuit board,28, the second rigid circuit board30and the flexible antenna48may be positioned within the housing18. The first rigid circuit board28may be secured to the housing18by cold stamping one or more pegs78on the housing18. The second rigid circuit board30may be folded over the first rigid circuit board28, as shown inFIG.4D. The first rigid circuit board28may be folded over the second rigid circuit board30by bending a portion (i.e., the flexible bridge38) of the flexible circuit board32located between the first rigid circuit board28and the second rigid circuit board30. The second rigid circuit board30may be secured to the housing18by cold stamping one or more pegs80and82of the housing18. The first rigid circuit board28may be spaced apart from the second rigid circuit board30in the second position to prevent damage to the electronic subassembly22. The cover15may be secured to the housing18to protect the electronic subassembly22from water ingress. The housing18may comprise a polymeric material such as polycarbonate or another non-metallic material to allow the flexible antenna48ofFIG.4Bto send and receive signals. Accordingly, after assembling the electronic subassembly22to the housing18, the electrical tracks56(FIG.3B) of the flexible antenna48may face the housing18.

FIG.5is a block diagram that depicts a method of assembling the personal care appliance10ofFIG.1according to one or more embodiments shown and described herein. With reference toFIG.5, a method84assembling a personal care appliance includes providing a flexible bridge between a first rigid circuit board and a second rigid circuit board at Step86. An electronic component emitting electromagnetic waves may be mounted on the first rigid circuit board or the second rigid circuit board88at step88. At step90an antenna in electrical communication with first rigid circuit board is folded away from the first rigid circuit board or the second rigid circuit board. At step92, the antenna may be optionally secured to the platform. The platform may then be positioned within housing (step94) and secured to the housing (step96). At step98, the first rigid circuit board may be folded over the second rigid circuit board by bending the flexible bridge. The second rigid circuit board may be secured to the housing, as provided in step100.

FIG.6is a block diagram that depicts a method of assembling an electronic subassembly according to one or more embodiments shown and described herein. With reference toFIG.6, a method102of assembling an electronic subassembly by providing a flexible bridge between a first rigid circuit and a second rigid circuit board at step104. An electronic component emitting electromagnetic waves is mounted to the first rigid circuit board or the second rigid circuit board at step106. At step108, a flexible shield extending out from first rigid circuit board or the second rigid circuit board is provided. The flexible shield may be folded over the at least one electronic component at step110. At step112, the second rigid circuit board may be folded over the first rigid circuit board by bending the flexible bridge located between the first and the second rigid circuit boards.

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” Furthermore, dimensions should not be held to an impossibly high standard of metaphysical identity that does not allow for discrepancies due to typical manufacturing tolerances. Therefore, the term “about” should be interpreted as being within typical manufacturing tolerances.

Every document cited herein, including any cross referenced or related patent or application is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety unless expressly excluded or otherwise limited. The citation of any document is not an admission that it is prior art with respect to any invention disclosed or claimed herein or that it alone, or in any combination with any other reference or references, teaches, suggests or discloses any such invention. Further, to the extent that any meaning or definition of a term in this document conflicts with any meaning or definition of the same term in a document incorporated by reference, the meaning or definition assigned to that term in this document shall govern.

While particular embodiments of the present invention have been illustrated and described, it would be obvious to those skilled in the art that various other changes and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. It is therefore intended to cover in the appended claims all such changes and modifications that are within the scope of this invention.