CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Serial No. 63/270,112 filed on October 21, 2021, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The present invention relates generally to personal grooming devices and, more particularly, to an adapter for powered brush accessories which enables removable attachment of such brush accessories to a powered brush.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] Personal grooming devices used for, for example, skin cleansing, have become increasingly common in recent years. Most of these personal grooming devices include a hand-held appliance housing one or more electric motors, with the electric motor(s) configured to rotate or oscillate at least a portion of an attached brush head so as to provide a cleansing action on the user's skin. Some brush heads rotate 360° in one direction continuously, while others oscillate through a selected angle. The higher frequency skin brushes are often referred to as sonic or sonic frequency brushes. Typically, the frequency range of such brushes is 120-300 Hz. Due to the need for frequent cleaning and/or replacement of the brush heads, the brush heads are typically configured to be removable from the hand-held appliance.

[0004] An example of such an appliance and brush head is disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 7,386,906, which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. In some arrangements, the attached brush head includes two separate portions: a first, stationary portion having a first plurality of bristles, and a second, movable portion, having a second plurality of bristles. In most configurations, the stationary portion annularly surrounds the movable portion, with the movable portion being couplable to a drive member of the hand-held appliance such that the movable portion may oscillate and/or rotate relative to the stationary portion.

[0005] Such an arrangement, however, requires that any brush head to be used with the hand-held appliance include an integral base or socket specifically configured to mate with the hub / drive member of the hand-held appliance, which limits the diversity of heads or other accessories available for use with the hand-held appliance.

[0006] In view of the above, there is a need for an adapter that facilitates the use of various aftermarket brush heads and accessories with an existing powered personal grooming device.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0007] It is an object of the present invention to provide an adapter for accessories for use with a personal grooming device.

[0008] It is another object of the present invention to provide an adapter for accessories for use with a powered brush.

[0009] These and other objects are achieved by the present invention.

[0010] According to an embodiment of the present invention, an adapter for a powered brush includes a body portion, a plurality of leg members extending from the body portion and being configured to releasably retain the adapter on a drive hub of a powered brush, and an attachment hub on the body portion, the attachment hub being configured to releasably receive an accessory. The adapter is configured to transmit rotation and/or oscillation from the drive hub of the powered brush to the accessory.

[0011] According to another embodiment of the present invention, a powered brush includes a housing containing a motor, a drive hub driven by the motor in rotational and/or oscillatory fashion, and an adapter configured for releasable attachment to the drive hub, the adapter being configured to facilitate attachment of an accessory to the powered brush.

[0012] According to yet another embodiment of the present invention, a method of operating a powered brush includes the steps of attaching an adapter to a drive hub of a powered brush in a manner such that rotational and/or oscillatory motion of the drive hub is transferred to the adapter, and attaching a brush head to the adapter in a manner such that rotational and/or oscillatory motion of the adapter is transferred to the brush head.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0013] The present invention will be better understood from reading the following description of non-limiting embodiments, with reference to the attached drawings, wherein below:

[0014] FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of an adapter for a powered brush according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0015] FIG. 2 is a bottom perspective view of the adapter of FIG. 1.

[0016] FIG. 3 is a perspective illustration showing attachment of the adapter to the hub of a powered brush.

[0017] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the adapter installed on the hub of the powered brush.

[0018] FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing attachment of a brush head to the adapter.

[0019] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the brush head installed on the adapter of the powered brush.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0020] With reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, an adapter 10 for a personal grooming device, such as a powered brush, is illustrated. In an embodiment, the adapter 10 has a generally circular body portion 12 and three sets of downwardly depending legs 14, 16, 18 on the outer periphery thereof, spaced at approximately 120° from one another. Each set of legs 14, 16, 18 includes a first leg member 20 and a second leg member 22, separated by a slot 24. The leg members 20, 22 of each set are configured and arranged to slightly flex toward each other during installation of adapter 10 on the driving hub of the powered brush, with the outside edges of the free tips of the leg members 20, 22 having outward bulges 26 which snap back (with the leg members 20, 22) after they pass over a pointed portion of the drive hub, as explained in more detail below, helping to tightly engage the drive hub and retain the adapter 10 on the drive hub as more specifically shown and described in U.S. Patent No. 7,386,906.

[0021] As further shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, extending generally radially outwardly from outer surface of each leg member 20, 22 is a locking snap element 28. Locking snap elements 28 are triangular-shaped or rounded / arcuate elements, which include a slightly V-shaped upper surface, which facilitates alignment and latching of the adapter 10 to an outer brush head portion of the powered brush.

[0022] The adapter 10 further includes a second trio of spaced drive legs 32. Drive legs 32 alternate with sets of depending legs 14, 16, 18 around the periphery of adapter 10 and are also separated by intervals of approximately 120°. Drive legs 32 taper slightly from their base (where they are attached to the body portion 12) to their free ends, which are rounded, and are designed to provide a close tolerance fit between them and the drive hub of the powered brush.

[0023] With further reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, in an embodiment, the adapter 10 includes a central attachment hub 40 that protrudes above the body portion 12 and has a shape or configuration configured to mate with a correspondingly shaped portion of a powered brush accessory or attachment, as described below. For example, in an embodiment, the attachment hub 40 may be hexagonal in shape, although other shapes and configurations are also possible depending on the specific configuration of the brush accessory with which the adapter 10 is designed to be used. In this respect, the attachment hub 40 is "keyed" to the shape and configuration of a corresponding recess or mating portion of an attachment or accessory.

[0024] Importantly, the body portion 12 is formed with clearance slots 42 intermediate the drive legs 32 and the attachment hub 40, which are spaced 120° from one another. As best shown in FIG. 1, for example, the clearance slots 42 are aligned in the radial direction with the drive legs 32 (and angularly offset with respect to the sets of downwardly depending legs 14, 16, 18). In an embodiment, the clearance slots 42 are generally rectangular in shape.

[0025] Turning now to FIGS. 3-6, use of the adapter 10 with a powered brush 100 and brush head /accessory 120 is shown. As illustrated therein, any existing brush head on a powered brush 100 is first removed from engagement with the drive hub 102 of the powered brush 100. As shown in FIG. 3, the adapter 10 can then be installed on the drive hub 102 by pushing the adapter 10 onto the drive hub 102 (along a rotational axis of the drive hub 102). In particular, the drive hub 102 of existing powered brush devices is generally circular in configuration, with an upper surface, a depending circular wall and a series of diamond-shaped or triangular-shaped projections on the wall at spaced intervals, separated by clearance spaces into which the depending legs 14, 16, 18 and drive legs 32 of the adapter 10 can fit. The circular wall is tapered slightly outwardly from top to bottom, which produces a splaying effect on all the legs 14, 16, 18, 32 of the adapter 10, and which provides a snug fit between the adapter 10 and the drive hub 102. The drive hub 102 of such a powered brush 100 is best shown in FIGS. 1 and 7 of U.S. Patent No. 7,386,906.

[0026] The configuration of the projections on the drive hub 102 in association with the configuration of the depending legs 14, 16, 18 and drive legs 32 of the adapter 10 provide a reliable and secure attachment between drive hub 102 of the powered brush 100 and the adapter, such that there is little or no lost motion between drive hub action and the adapter action. The depending legs 14, 16, 18 and drive legs 32 perform distinctly different functions as described herein, with the depending legs 14, 16, 18 primarily latching the adapter 10 to the drive hub 102 of the powered brush 100, and the drive legs 32 transferring the rotational energy of the hub 102 to the adapter 10.

[0027] Each drive leg 32 contacts the maximum width points of two adjacent projections on the drive hub 102, providing efficient transfer of rotational movement, with an interference fit or press fit therebetween. As indicated above, each leg member 20, 22 of the depending legs 14, 16, 18 include bulge portions 26 at the tips thereof which move slightly outwardly with the leg members 20, 22 after they pass maximum width points of the projection. This arrangement also helps to provide a reliable connection between drive hub 102 and the adapter 10.

[0028] As indicated above, the outer wall of the drive hub 102 is tapered relative to all the depending legs of the adapter 10, so that the legs tend to be forced outwardly as the adapter 10 is moved downwardly onto the drive hub 102, again ensuring a snug, reliable fit between drive hub 102 and the adapter 10. The combination of the diamond or triangular configuration of projections, the tapered wall of the drive hub 102, and the configuration of the two sets of legs 14, 16, 18 and 32 of the adapter 10 provide a reliable, tight, interference fit between the adapter 19 and the drive hub 102, so that both an efficient transfer of rotational motion and secure retention of adapter 10 is provided.

[0029] FIG. 4 illustrates the adapter 10 securely received on the drive hub 102 of the powered brush 100, with the hexagonal attachment hub 40 facing outward. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, a powered brush accessory, such as a brush head 120 having an array of bristles 124 can then be releasably connected to the adapter 10, as discussed below. In an embodiment, the brush head or accessory 120 has central receiving portion (not shown) that is sized and dimensioned to receive the attachment hub 40. Accordingly, in an embodiment, the central receiving portion is configured as a hexagonal recess. The brush head 120 also includes a plurality of resilient retention legs 122 surrounding the central recess, and which are configured to be received in the clearance slots 42. Accordingly, in an embodiment, the brush head 120 may have three retention legs 122 corresponding to the three clearance slots 42 in the body portion 12 of the adapter 10.

[0030] The brush head 120 is thus connected to the adapter 10 by aligning the central recess of the brush head 120 with the attachment hub 40 of the adapter 10, and aligning the resilient retention legs 122 of the brush head 120 with the clearance slots 42 in adapter 10. When properly aligned, the brush head 120 can be urged axially onto the adapter 10 such that the retention legs 122 of the brush head 120 are received in the clearance slots 42 of the adapter 10, which releasably retain the brush head 120 on the adapter 10. Engagement of the retention legs 122 of the brush head 120 within the clearance slots 42 also functions to transfer rotation or oscillatory movement of the adapter 10 to the brush head 120.

[0031] Importantly, the adapter 10 of the present invention allows a variety of aftermarket and/or more varied or diverse brush heads or other accessories to be utilized with existing powered brush or other personal grooming devices. Moreover, it is contemplated that the configuration of the adapter 10 may be varied to accommodate a variety of different brush heads or accessories (e.g., the slots and hub on the adapter may be designed so as to mate with the retention legs and recess /hub of the brush head). [0032] While the embodiments described herein involve using the adapter to attach a brush head to the hub of a powered brush, the present invention is not so limited in this regard. In particular, it is contemplated that the adapter of the present invention can be utilized to releasably attached a variety of different accessories such as, for example, brush heads, massagers, and the like, to a powered brush (e.g., powered brushes sold by Clarisonic, such as the Clarisonic Mia Smart) or other personal grooming device.

[0033] Although this invention has been shown and described with respect to the detailed embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those of skill in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the invention. In addition, modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the invention without departing from the essential scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the particular embodiments disclosed in the above detailed description, but that the invention will include all embodiments falling within the scope of this disclosure.