US 12,257,117 B2
Flexible spring and motor assembly
Dave Ahlman, Bothell, WA (US)
Assigned to KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V., Eindhoven (NL)
Appl. No. 17/435,710
Filed by KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V., Eindhoven (NL)
PCT Filed Feb. 14, 2020, PCT No. PCT/EP2020/053934
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Sep. 2, 2021,
PCT Pub. No. WO2020/182410, PCT Pub. Date Sep. 17, 2020.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/815,547, filed on Mar. 8, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2022/0151755 A1, May 19, 2022
Int. Cl. A61C 17/34 (2006.01); F16F 1/02 (2006.01); H02K 1/14 (2006.01); H02K 1/2706 (2022.01); H02K 7/14 (2006.01); H02K 33/12 (2006.01)
CPC A61C 17/34 (2013.01) [F16F 1/027 (2013.01); H02K 1/141 (2013.01); H02K 1/145 (2013.01); H02K 1/2706 (2013.01); H02K 7/14 (2013.01); H02K 33/12 (2013.01); F16F 2236/08 (2013.01)] 14 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A personal care appliance comprising:
a housing, the housing having a cavity; and
a motor assembly arranged within the cavity of the housing, the motor assembly comprising:
a first plurality of flexible springs, each flexible spring of the first plurality of flexible springs comprising:
a grounded section having an outer surface and an inner surface;
a rotational member arranged radially within the grounded section, the rotational member arranged to rotate within the grounded section in a first rotational direction about an imaginary rotational axis; and
a compliant member having a first end and a second end, the first end operatively engaged with the inner surface of the grounded section and the second end operatively engaged with the rotational member;
wherein the compliant member has a first stiffness such that the compliant member is arranged to resist rotation of the rotational member in at least the first rotational direction.