Abstract: The present application relates to a domestic appliance (1) comprising a mechanical function unit (2) having a movable member (3), a housing (4) containing a motor (5) to operate the movable member to carry out a primary function of the appliance, and an electrical function unit (6) having an electrically operative member (7) to perform a secondary function of the appliance that supports the primary function performed by the mechanical function unit. The electrical function unit comprises a module (8) positioned between the mechanical function unit and the housing. The electrical function unit comprises a generator to convert mechanical energy generated by the motor located in the housing into electrical energy to power the electrically operative member.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a hair clipping device (10) comprising: a cutting assembly (14) having a stationary cutting blade (24) and a moveable cutting blade (26), wherein the moveable cutting blade (26) is arranged on a first side with respect to the stationary cutting blade (24);—a drive arrangement (34) for driving the moveable cutting blade (26) relative to the stationary cutting blade (24); a housing (12) having an air outlet (48) and an air inlet (58); a fan (46) for generating a pressurized airflow (52), the fan (46) being fluidly connected to the air outlet (48), such that the pressurized airflow (52) exits the housing (12) at the air outlet (48) and at least partly re-enters the housing (12) at the air inlet (58); wherein the air outlet (48) and the air inlet (58) are both arranged on the first side with respect to the stationary cutting blade (24).

Abstract: An adjustment drive for an adjustable spacing comb for a hair cutting appliance includes an actuator configured to actuate a movable comb portion of the adjustable spacing comb with respect to a blade set of the hair cutting appliance, and a drivetrain for coupling the actuator and the movable comb portion. The drivetrain includes a reduction gear unit and a location detection unit having a rotary encoder which is coupled to an output shaft of the reduction gear unit.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a hair clipping device (10) which comprises a housing (14), a cutting assembly (16) including a stationary cutting blade (32) and a moveable cutting blade (34), a drive arrangement (42) for driving the moveable cutting blade (34) relative to the stationary cutting blade (32) in an oscillatory movement along a first axis (40), a comb support element (45) for removably attaching a comb attachment (12) with a plurality of comb teeth (50), and an adjustment unit (58) for adjusting the position of the comb attachment (12) relative to the cutting assembly (16), when the comb attachment (12) is attached to the comb support element (45), wherein the adjustment unit (58) is configured to increase a distance between the comb attachment (12) and the cutting assembly (16) during an extension movement of the adjustment unit (58), and to decrease the distance between the comb attachment (12) and the cutting assembly (16) during a retraction movement of the adjustment unit (58).

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an adjustment drive (50) for an adjustable spacing comb (26) for a hair cutting appliance (10) and to a hair cutting appliance (10) that is fitted with an adjustable spacing comb (26). The present disclosure further relates to a method for operating an adjustable spacing comb (26) for a hair cutting appliance (10). The adjustment drive (50) comprises an actuator (52) that is configured for actuating a movable comb portion (40) of the adjustable spacing comb (26) with respect to a blade set (16) of the hair cutting appliance (10), and a proximity sensitive or touch sensitive sensor element (64), particularly a gesture control user input interface, wherein the sensor element (64) is configured to detect multi-faceted user inputs (70, 72) applied to the sensor element (64) and to output a user input signal that is derived from the multi-faceted user inputs (70, 72), and wherein the actuator (52) is operated on the basis of the user input signal.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an adjustment drive (50) for an adjustable spacing comb (26) for a hair cutting appliance (10) and to a hair cutting appliance (10) that is fitted with an adjustable spacing comb (26). The present disclosure further relates to a method for operating an adjustable spacing comb (26) for a hair cutting appliance (10). The adjustment drive (50) comprises an actuator (52) for actuating a movable comb portion (40) of the adjustable spacing comb (26) with respect to a blade set (16) of the hair cutting appliance (10), a manually operable rotation element (64), particularly a manually rotatable rotation element (64) and an encoder (70) particularly a rotary encoder (70), that is configured to detect rotary movement of the rotation element (64) and to output a respective user input signal, wherein the actuator (52) is operated on the basis of the user input signal.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a humidifier and a method of monitoring the water level in the humidifier, the method comprising the steps of: detecting the temperature at the air outlet of the humidifier and generating temperature signals indicating the temperature thereof (310, 410); determining the water level in the humidifier according to the generated temperature signals (330, 430). The water level in the humidifier can be monitored using a rather simple structure yielding a high accuracy.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an adjustment drive (58) for an adjustable spacing comb (26) for a hair cutting appliance (10) and to a hair cutting appliance (10) that is fitted with an adjustable spacing comb (26). The adjustment drive (58) comprises an actuator (60) that is configured for actuating a movable comb portion (40) of the adjustable spacing comb (26) with respect to a blade set (16) of the hair cutting appliance (10), a drivetrain (62) for coupling the actuator (60) and the movable comb portion (40), wherein the drivetrain (62) comprises a reduction gear unit (66), and a location detection unit (80) comprising a rotary encoder (84), wherein the rotary encoder (84) is coupled to an output shaft (68) of the reduction gear unit (66).

Abstract: A device for projecting an elongate optical image (7) onto a surface (5) is disclosed. The device has an optical element (8) with a reflective surface (11) configured to reflect a beam of light emitted by a light source (9) so that the beam of light (12) converges in a first plane (X-Y) and diverges in a second plane (Y-Z), the first plane being at right angles to the second plane.

Abstract: A device for projecting an elongate optical image (7) onto a surface (5) is disclosed. The device has an optical element (8) with a reflective surface (11) configured to reflect a beam of light emitted by a light source (9) so that the beam of light (12) cel converges in a first plane (X-Y) and diverges in a second plane (Y-Z), the first plane being at right angles to the second plane.

Abstract: A domestic appliance includes a functional action unit which has at least one movably arranged member, and a generator configured to generate electric energy at the location of the functional action unit. The generator is associated with the movably arranged member, and employs movement of this member in a process of generating electric energy. The generator includes a permanent magnet and an electric coil, where the magnet may be mounted on the movably arranged member. By having the generator at a location inside the functional action unit, it is possible to have one or more electric components at a location inside this unit without the need for external electric connections.

Abstract: A shaver includes a shaving unit having e.g., three shaving elements. Each shaving element accommodates a cutter member for cutting off hairs. Each shaving element further accommodates a gear wheel which is part of a transmission for coupling a drive shaft for driving the cutter member to an output shaft of a motor of the shaver. A top side of a space where the gear wheel is located is covered by a partition, where only the drive shaft extends through this partition. Each shaving element can be individually opened by removing a top portion of the shaving element, including the cutter member, from a base portion of the shaving element where the gear wheel, the drive shaft and the partition are located. An opening system may be provided to open all the shaving elements in one action by reversal of the direction of rotation of the output shaft, for example.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a humidifier and a method of monitoring the water level in the humidifier, the method comprising the steps of: detecting the temperature at the air outlet of the humidifier and generating temperature signals indicating the temperature thereof (310, 410); determining the water level in the humidifier according to the generated temperature signals (330, 430). The water level in the humidifier can be monitored using a rather simple structure yielding a high accuracy.

Abstract: A shaver includes a shaving unit having e.g., three shaving elements. Each shaving element accommodates a cutter member for cutting off hairs. Each shaving element further accommodates a gear wheel which is part of a transmission for coupling a drive shaft for driving the cutter member to an output shaft of a motor of the shaver. A top side of a space where the gear wheel is located is covered by a partition, where only the drive shaft extends through this partition. Each shaving element can be individually opened by removing a top portion of the shaving element, including the cutter member, from a base portion of the shaving element where the gear wheel, the drive shaft and the partition are located. An opening system may be provided to open all the shaving elements in one action by reversal of the direction of rotation of the output shaft, for example.

Abstract: A shaver includes a shaving unit having e.g., three shaving elements. Each shaving element accommodates a cutter member for cutting off hairs. Each shaving element further accommodates a gear wheel which is part of a transmission for coupling a drive shaft for driving the cutter member to an output shaft of a motor of the shaver. A top side of a space where the gear wheel is located is covered by a partition, where only the drive shaft extends through this partition. Each shaving element can be individually opened by removing a top portion of the shaving element, including the cutter member, from a base portion of the shaving element where the gear wheel, the drive shaft and the partition are located. An opening system may be provided to open all the shaving elements in one action by reversal of the direction of rotation of the output shaft, for example.

Abstract: A domestic appliance comprises a functional action unit (3) which has at least one movably arranged member, and further comprises means (15) for generating electric energy at the location of the unit (3). The means (15) for generating electric energy are associated with the movably arranged member, and are adapted to employ movement of this member in a process of generating electric energy. In a practical embodiment, the means (15) for generating electric energy comprise a permanent magnet (16) and an electric coil (18), wherein the magnet (16) may be mounted on the movably arranged member. By having the means (15) for generating electric energy at a location inside the functional action unit (3), it is possible to have one or more electric components at a location inside this unit (3) as well.

Abstract: A shaver has a shaving unit which comprises three shaving elements (6), wherein each shaving element (6) accommodates a cutter member (9) for cutting off hairs. Each shaving element (6) further accommodates a gear wheel (16) which is part of transmission means for coupling a drive shaft (17) for driving the cutter member (9) to an output shaft of a motor of the shaver. A top side of a space (23) where the gear wheel (16) is located is covered by a partition (22), wherein only the drive shaft (17) is extending through this partition (22). Each shaving element (6) can easily be opened by removing a top portion (27) of the shaving element (6), which comprises the cutter member (9) from a base portion (26) of the shaving element (6) where the gear wheel (16), the drive shaft (17) and the partition (22) are located. An opening system (102, 104, 112, 200) may be provided to open all the shaving elements (6) in one action by reversal of the direction of rotation of the output shaft (15, 15a).

Abstract: Shaving apparatus having a skin contact surface (9,15,16) accommodating at least one cutting unit (3) comprising an external stationary cutting member (4) and a matching internal cutting member (6) and a device (18-20) for providing a shaving aid to said skin contact surface (9,15,16), wherein shaving aid retaining means (35,48) are provided on at least part of said skin contact surface (9,15,16).