HIDDEN USER INTERFACE PANEL FOR PERSONAL CARE DEVICES AND METHOD OF MAKING SAME Russian patent published in 2016 - IPC A61C17/22 

FIELD: hygiene.

SUBSTANCE: group of inventions includes a device for personal oral care and method of making a hidden panel unit in device, relates to medical equipment, in particular, hygiene, and is intended for oral care. Device for personal oral care comprises a device handle, a brushhead assembly which includes a brush member for cleaning teeth, drive assembly for brushhead assembly, a mode selection element and a user interface unit. Drive assembly for brushhead assembly is mounted within handle and responsive to an on/off switch to produce an oscillating movement of brushhead assembly, wherein drive assembly is capable of producing a plurality of modes of operation of brushhead assembly. User interface assembly includes an interface panel, which is structured so that when device is off, interface panel is blank, and when device is on, symbols on panel corresponding to a selected mode of operation are illuminated and visible to user. Handle is translucent and includes a plurality of illuminating elements positioned within handle. Interface panel including a first layer of light-blocking paint on outer surface of handle, etched regions extending through first layer defining symbols representing plurality of modes of operation of device, and a second layer of light-illuminating paint on outer surface of handle covering at least etched regions. Second layer is illuminated by one or more of illuminating elements, with illuminated symbols being visible to user.

EFFECT: group of inventions enables, when device is on, user to see symbols corresponding to selected mode of operation, due to illumination.

14 cl, 5 dwg