Classifications

• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B26—HAND CUTTING TOOLS; CUTTING; SEVERING
  • B26B—HAND-HELD CUTTING TOOLS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • B26B19/00—Clippers or shavers operating with a plurality of cutting edges, e.g. hair clippers, dry shavers
  • B26B19/38—Details of, or accessories for, hair clippers, or dry shavers, e.g. housings, casings, grips, guards
  • B26B19/3806—Accessories
  • B26B19/3833—Storage and cleaning devices; Power cord storage
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A45—HAND OR TRAVELLING ARTICLES
  • A45D—HAIRDRESSING OR SHAVING EQUIPMENT; EQUIPMENT FOR COSMETICS OR COSMETIC TREATMENTS, e.g. FOR MANICURING OR PEDICURING
  • A45D27/00—Shaving accessories
  • A45D27/46—Devices specially adapted for cleaning or disinfecting shavers or razors
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B08—CLEANING
  • B08B—CLEANING IN GENERAL; PREVENTION OF FOULING IN GENERAL
  • B08B3/00—Cleaning by methods involving the use or presence of liquid or steam
  • B08B3/04—Cleaning involving contact with liquid
  • B08B3/08—Cleaning involving contact with liquid the liquid having chemical or dissolving effect
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B26—HAND CUTTING TOOLS; CUTTING; SEVERING
  • B26B—HAND-HELD CUTTING TOOLS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • B26B19/00—Clippers or shavers operating with a plurality of cutting edges, e.g. hair clippers, dry shavers
  • B26B19/38—Details of, or accessories for, hair clippers, or dry shavers, e.g. housings, casings, grips, guards
  • B26B19/48—Accessory implements for carrying out a function other than cutting hair, e.g. attachable appliances for manicuring

Definitions

• the present disclosure relates to a shaver cleaning station assembly comprising a shaver cleaning station and a cartridge for containing cleaning liquid suitable for cleaning a shaver when the shaver is docked in the shaver cleaning station.
• Maintenance of a shaver tends to involve cleaning the shaver, as well as lubricating moving parts of the shaver. Such maintenance can assist to prolong the operating lifetime of the shaver. Performing such maintenance can, however, be onerous for the user.
• At least some of the burden on the user can be alleviated by the shaver being dockable in a shaver cleaning station capable of cleaning the shaver, for example specifically a shaving head of the shaver, when the shaver is docked in the shaver cleaning station.
• a shaver cleaning station assembly comprising a shaver cleaning station and a cartridge for containing cleaning liquid suitable for cleaning a shaver docked in the shaver cleaning station, wherein the shaver cleaning station comprises: a front side and a rear side, the front side facing forward and the rear side facing backward, the rear side comprising a connection point for connecting the shaver cleaning station to a supply of electricity; a pair of slot-defining members, a slot for the cartridge being at least partly delimited by the pair of slot-defining members; and a locating part at an end of the slot, the slot being arranged so that the cartridge is moveable from the front side into the slot, via a slot entrance, in a backward direction towards the locating part at the end of the slot and towards the rear side; wherein the cartridge comprises: a first end wall portion; and a second end wall portion, a main body of the cartridge extending between the first end wall portion and the second end wall
• the cartridge may be moved into, and secured in, the slot when the cartridge is in the first orientation.
• the cartridge When secured in the slot, the cartridge can be fluidly connected to the shaver cleaning station.
• the cartridge When in the second orientation, the cartridge is only partially receivable in the slot but is not securable in the slot via the mounting feature engaging the locating part. This is because of the mounting feature facing away from the locating part when the cartridge is in the second orientation.
• the cartridge may not be fluidly connectable to the shaver cleaning station.
• the user can simply withdraw the (unsecured) cartridge from the slot, rotate the cartridge by 180° to the first orientation and re-insert the cartridge into the slot until the mounting feature engages the locating part.
• This process can also be assisted by the arrangement of the slot. Since the slot is arranged to receive the cartridge in the backward direction from the front side, towards the rear side of the shaver cleaning station, the user positioned in front of the front side of the shaver cleaning station can relatively easily, without being hampered by the connection to the supply of electricity, withdraw the cartridge in a forward direction, rotate the cartridge by 180°, to adopt either the first orientation or the second orientation, and re-insert the cartridge into the slot in the backward direction.
• a width dimension of the cartridge may extend perpendicular to a length dimension of the cartridge that extends from the first end wall portion to the second end wall portion, and perpendicular to a height dimension of the cartridge that extends from a base portion to a cover portion of the cartridge.
• the width dimension and in particular the largest width dimension of the cartridge, may extend between the pair of slot-defining members when the cartridge is moved into the slot.
• shaver may refer to an electric device for cutting hairs that has at least one driven cutting blade whose movement relative to a further blade, for example a stationary blade, causes hair to be cut between the cutting blade(s) and the further blade.
• the cartridge when the cartridge is in the second orientation, the cartridge is moveable into the slot until the second end wall portion contacts the locating part.
• a significant portion, for example a majority, of the cartridge can thus be inserted into the slot when the cartridge is in the second orientation, since movement of the cartridge into the slot may be terminated only when the cartridge is moved sufficiently far into the slot that the locating part at the end of the slot is abutted by the second end wall portion to restrict further movement of the cartridge in the backward direction.
• the cartridge comprises a first side wall portion and a second side wall portion that axially extends parallel to the first side wall portion, and wherein the pair of slot-defining members axially extend parallel to each other.
• a parallel relationship of the first and second side wall portions of the cartridge may be complemented by a parallel relationship of the slot-defining members, thereby facilitating insertion of the cartridge into the slot when the cartridge is in the first orientation and when the cartridge is in the second orientation.
• the cartridge and the slot are arranged so that the first side wall portion slides against one of the pair of slot-defining members while the second side wall portion slides against the other of the pair of slot-defining members when the cartridge is being moved into the slot when the cartridge is in the first orientation and when the cartridge is in the second orientation.
• the contact between the pair of slot-defining members and the side wall portions of the cartridge can assist guiding of the cartridge, in each of the first and second orientations, into the slot.
• the first side wall portion extends in a flat plane between where the first side wall portion meets the first end wall portion and where the first side wall portion meets the second end wall portion
• the second side wall portion extends in a flat plane between where the second side wall portion meets the first end wall portion and where the second side wall portion meets the second end wall portion.
• the shaver cleaning station comprises a housing, with at least part of the housing being moveable to allow the cartridge to be moved into the slot.
• the housing can be moved to expose the slot and thereby allow the cartridge to be moved into the slot when the cartridge is in the first orientation and when the cartridge is in the second orientation.
• the housing may be arranged such that, following movement of the housing to allow the user to access the slot, the housing is moveable to at least partially cover the cartridge that has been moved into the slot, at least when the cartridge in the slot is in the first orientation.
• the housing can be moved to obscure the cartridge received (at least partially) in the slot, at least when the cartridge in the slot is in the first orientation.
• the shaver cleaning station comprises a user-actuatable element actuatable by a user to cause the movement of the housing that allows the cartridge to be moved into the slot, with the user-actuatable element being arranged at the rear side.
• Arranging the user-actuatable element, for example button, at the rear side can assist to lessen the risk of inadvertent movement of the housing, for instance compared to the scenario in which the user-actuatable element is arranged at the front side.
• this arrangement of the user-actuatable element can facilitate design of the shaver cleaning station that permits the cartridge to be moved into the slot from the front side in the backward direction.
• the shaver cleaning station comprises electrical contacts for contacting electrical contact points on the shaver when the shaver is docked in the shaver cleaning station.
• the electrical contact between the electrical contacts of the shaver cleaning station and the electrical contact points on the shaver can enable charging of a battery included in the shaver using the supply of electricity and/or can enable operation of the shaver, for example operation of motor(s) included in the shaver to move blade(s) of the shaver, during cleaning of the shaver when docked in the shaver cleaning station.
• the electrical contacts may be arranged closer to the rear side than to the front side of the shaver cleaning station. By arranging the electrical contacts closer to the rear side than to the front side in this manner, design of the shaver cleaning station to permit movement of the cartridge into the slot from the front side can be facilitated, since wiring to the electrical contacts may be proximal to the rear side and thus spatially removed from where the cartridge is moved into the slot.
• the shaver cleaning station comprises a cleaning cradle for receiving at least part of the shaver, with the cleaning cradle being arranged to receive the cleaning liquid from the cartridge when the cartridge is received in the slot with the mounting feature engaging the locating part.
• the cartridge can comprise an inlet for receiving the cleaning liquid returned from the shaver cleaning station when the cartridge is received in the slot with the mounting feature engaging the locating part.
• Debris for example hair/bristles, may be carried back to the cartridge via the inlet.
• the cartridge may be configured to separate such debris from the cleaning liquid prior to the cleaning liquid being (re- )conveyed back to the shaver.
• the shaver is configured so that blade(s) of the shaver are moved, for example reciprocated, whilst being contacted by the cleaning liquid received in the cleaning cradle.
• Such movement of the blade(s) can assist with cleaning of the blade(s) using the cleaning liquid.
• the shaver cleaning station comprises a liquid discharge conduit, with the liquid discharge conduit being arranged to carry the cleaning liquid from the cleaning cradle to the inlet of the cartridge.
• a base surface of the cleaning cradle can downwardly slope towards the liquid discharge conduit and towards the inlet when the cartridge is received in the slot with the mounting feature engaging the locating part.
• Such a downwardly sloping base surface can assist flushing of debris, for example hair/bristles, together with the cleaning liquid towards the inlet of the cartridge.
• the downwardly sloping base surface comprises a planar region, with an angle between a plane of the planar region and a horizontal plane, when the shaver cleaning station is orientated for use, being at least 2°, preferably at least 5°.
• Such a minimum angle has been found to be particularly conducive to fast draining of the cleaning liquid towards the liquid discharge conduit.
• This relatively fast draining of the cleaning liquid can help to minimize sedimentation of debris from the shaver in the cleaning cradle, and thus can assist to keep the cleaning cradle relatively free of debris after cleaning.
• the angle can be 15° or less, preferably 10° or less.
• This maximum angle can help to minimize spatial efficiency in the shaver cleaning station being compromised by the downwardly sloping base surface.
• the surface tension properties of an ethanol and/or propanol-comprising cleaning liquid can work synergistically with the angle between the plane of the planar region and the horizontal plane, being 15° or less, preferably 10° or less because the surface tension properties of the thus composed cleaning liquid can help the cleaning liquid to move relatively quickly down the downwardly sloping base surface, in spite of the steepness of the downwardly sloping base surface being limited by this maximum angle.
• the angle between the plane of the planar region and the horizontal plane, when the shaver cleaning station is orientated for use is 2° to 15°, preferably 2° to 10°, more preferably 5° to 10°, and most preferably 5° to 7°.
• the base surface of the cleaning cradle can be a polyolefinic base surface, such as a polypropylene base surface.
• the cleaning liquid comprises ethanol and/or propanol
• the angle between the plane of the planar region and the horizontal plane, when the shaver cleaning station is orientated for use is 2° to 15°
• the base surface of the cleaning cradle is a polyolefinic base surface.
• This combination of features can balance efficient draining of the cleaning liquid from the cleaning cradle with minimizing compromising of spatial efficiency in the shaver cleaning station.
• the cleaning liquid further comprises an oil for lubricating the shaver, for example for lubricating the shaving head thereof.
• the oil as well as assisting to lubricate the shaver, can additionally assist drainage of the cleaning liquid from the cleaning cradle.
• the oil can be included in an amount of 1% to 3% by weight of the cleaning liquid.
• the shaver cleaning station is configured to mount the shaver at an angled orientation that causes residual cleaning liquid to run off the shaver towards an upper portion of the downwardly sloping base surface.
• Such an arrangement can assist to separate debris that has collected at/towards a lower portion of the base surface from the shaver.
• the angled orientation of the docked shaver may mean that the shaver is closer to the upper portion of the base surface than the lower portion of the base surface where the debris collects.
• the shaver cleaning station is configured to mount the shaver so that a skin-contacting plane of a central area of the shaving head extends at a further angle of 18° to 25° relative to the plane of the planar region of the downwardly sloping base surface.
• a further angle can be large enough to assist to separate debris that has collected at/towards a lower portion of the base surface from the shaver, but also being small enough to avoid significantly compromising spatial efficiency in the shaver cleaning station.
• the mounting feature comprises an indentation defined in the first end wall portion, in which indentation at least a portion of the locating part is receivable during engagement of the mounting feature with the locating part.
• the indentation defined in the first end wall portion may provide a straightforwardly manufacturable way of ensuring that the cartridge can be secured in the slot when the cartridge is in the first orientation.
• an interior space of the cartridge, in which the cleaning liquid is receivable partially wraps around the indentation.
• the interior space wrapping, at least in two dimensions, partially around the indentation the interior space's volume may be maximized in spite of inclusion of the indentation in the mounting feature.
• the interior space may wrap around the indentation in two dimensions when the cartridge is viewed in plan, from above the cover portion of the cartridge or from below the base portion of the cartridge.
• the term “partially” qualifying the wrapping of the interior space (at least in two dimensions, such as in two dimensions when the cartridge is viewed in plan) around the indentation reflects that the first end wall portion, that closes the first end of the cartridge's hollow section and in which the indentation is defined, inherently prevents the interior space from wrapping entirely around the indentation.
• the cartridge contains the cleaning liquid, for example the cartridge contains cleaning liquid comprising ethanol and/or propanol.
• the cleaning liquid can include oil for lubricating the shaver.
• the oil can be included in an amount of 1% to 3% by weight of the cleaning liquid.
• the shaver cleaning station comprises a conveying device that is alignable, for example is at least partially insertable, into an outlet of the cartridge and configured to convey the cleaning liquid from the cartridge to the cleaning cradle.
• the conveying device as well as the liquid discharge conduit, can be arranged closer to the front side of the shaver cleaning station than to the rear side of the shaver cleaning station so that the conveying device is aligned with the outlet and the liquid discharge conduit is aligned with the inlet when the cartridge is received in the slot in the first orientation with the mounting feature engaging the locating part.
• the outlet and the inlet of the cartridge are arranged at or proximal to the second end wall portion, and correspondingly distal with respect to the first end wall portion.
• the mounting feature at the first end wall portion can engage the locating part, while the outlet and the inlet at/proximal to the second end wall portion are respectively brought into alignment with the conveying device and the liquid discharge conduit.
• This alignment between the conveying device and the outlet and between the liquid discharge conduit and the inlet can beneficially allow relatively short conduits between the cartridge and the cleaning cradle.
• the shaver cleaning station assembly comprises a further shaver cleaning station provided in addition to the shaver cleaning station, wherein the further shaver cleaning station comprises: a front elevation and a rear elevation, the front elevation facing forward and the rear elevation facing backward, the rear elevation comprising a connection site for connecting the further shaver cleaning station to a supply of electricity; a pair of channel-defining members, a channel for the cartridge being at least partly delimited by the pair of channel-defining members; and a locating element at an end of the channel, the channel being arranged and the cartridge being shaped so that the cartridge is moveable into the channel from the rear elevation, via a channel entrance, in a forward direction towards the locating element at the end of the channel and towards the front elevation, the mounting feature being for engaging with the locating element during securing of the cartridge in the channel.
• the same cartridge may be used, albeit not at the same time, for each of the shaver cleaning station and the further shaver cleaning station.
• the cartridge When being used in the shaver cleaning station, the cartridge is inserted into the slot from the front side in the backward direction.
• the cartridge when the cartridge is being used in the further shaver cleaning station, the cartridge may be inserted into the channel from the rear elevation in the forward direction.
• a shaver cleaning station assembly comprising a shaver cleaning station, a further shaver cleaning station provided in addition to the shaver cleaning station, and a cartridge for containing cleaning liquid suitable for cleaning a shaver docked in one of the shaver cleaning station and the further shaver cleaning station, wherein the shaver cleaning station comprises: a front side and a rear side, the front side facing forward and the rear side facing backward, the rear side comprising a connection point for connecting the shaver cleaning station to a supply of electricity; a pair of slot-defining members, a slot for the cartridge being at least partly delimited by the pair of slot-defining members; and a locating part at an end of the slot, the slot being arranged and the cartridge being shaped so that the cartridge is moveable into the slot from the front side, via a slot entrance, in a backward direction towards the locating part at the end of the slot and towards the rear side, the cartridge having
• front elevation As used in relation to the shaver cleaning station, the terms "front elevation”, “rear elevation”, “connection site”, “channel-defining members”, “channel”, and “locating element” are intended to have the same meanings as the terms “front side”, “rear side”, “connection point”, “slot-defining members”, “slot”, and “locating feature”, respectively, as used in relation to the shaver cleaning station.
• the same shaver may, for example, be dockable in the shaver cleaning station and in the further shaver cleaning station (albeit not at the same time).
• a shaver cleaning station assembly comprising a shaver cleaning station and a cartridge containing cleaning liquid suitable for cleaning a shaver docked in the shaver cleaning station, the cartridge containing cleaning liquid comprising ethanol and/or propanol
• the shaver cleaning station comprises a cleaning cradle for receiving at least part of the shaver, the cleaning cradle being arranged to receive the cleaning liquid from the cartridge when the cartridge is received in a slot of the shaver cleaning station with a mounting feature of the cartridge engaging a locating part of the shaver cleaning station
• the cartridge comprises an inlet for receiving the cleaning liquid returned from the shaver cleaning station when the cartridge is received in the slot with the mounting feature engaging the locating part
• the shaver cleaning station comprises a liquid discharge conduit, the liquid discharge conduit being arranged to carry the cleaning liquid from the cleaning cradle to the inlet, wherein a base surface of the cleaning
• the downwardly sloping base surface comprises a planar region, with an angle between a plane of the planar region and a horizontal plane, when the shaver cleaning station is orientated for use, being 2° to 15°.
• the combination of this angular range with the cleaning liquid comprising ethanol and/or propanol can help to balance efficient draining of the cleaning liquid from the cleaning cradle with minimizing compromising of spatial efficiency in the shaver cleaning station.
• the angle between the plane of the planar region and the horizontal plane, when the shaver cleaning station is orientated for use is 2° to 10°, preferably 5° to 10°, and most preferably 5° to 7°.
• the base surface of the cleaning cradle is a polyolefinic base surface, for example the base surface is a polypropylene base surface.
• a base surface can assist the ethanol and/or propanol-comprising cleaning liquid to drain from the cleaning cradle.
• the shaver cleaning station is configured to mount the shaver at an angled orientation that causes residual cleaning liquid to run off the shaver towards an upper portion of the downwardly sloping base surface.
• Such an arrangement can assist to separate debris that has collected at/towards a lower portion of the base surface from the shaver.
• the angled orientation of the shaver may mean that the shaver is closer to the upper portion of the base surface than the lower portion of the base surface where the debris collects.
• the shaver cleaning station is configured to mount the shaver so that a skin-contacting plane of a central area of the shaving head extends at a (further) angle of 18° to 25° relative to the plane of the planar region of the downwardly sloping base surface.
• a (further) angle can be large enough to assist to separate debris that has collected at/towards a lower portion of the base surface from the shaver, but also being small enough to avoid significantly compromising spatial efficiency in the shaver cleaning station.
• the cleaning liquid further comprises an oil for lubricating the shaver, for example for lubricating the shaving head thereof.
• the oil can be included in an amount of 1% to 3% by weight of the cleaning liquid.
• the oil as well as assisting to lubricate the shaver, can additionally assist drainage of the cleaning liquid from the cleaning cradle.
• the shaver cleaning station assembly can include the shaver.
• the user can be conveniently supplied with the shaver along with the shaver cleaning station, and in some embodiments the further cleaning station, and the cartridge.
• a shaver cleaning station assembly comprising a shaver cleaning station and a cartridge for inserting into a slot defined in the shaver cleaning station.
• the cartridge is suitable for containing cleaning liquid for cleaning a shaver docked in the shaver cleaning station.
• FIGs. 1A to 1D show a shaver cleaning station assembly 10 according to an example.
• a shaver 12 is shown docked in a shaver cleaning station 14 of the shaver cleaning station assembly 10.
• the shaver 12 can include a user interface 13A for controlling the shaver 12.
• the user interface 13A can, for example, include a power button for activating and deactivating movement of blade(s) included in the shaver 12.
• the shaver 12 is included, together with the shaver cleaning station 14, in the shaver cleaning station assembly 10.
• the user can be conveniently supplied with the shaver 12 along with the shaver cleaning station 10.
• the shaver cleaning station assembly 10 does not include the shaver 12, in which case the user may already have the shaver 12 in their possession, or may opt to source the shaver 12 separately from the shaver cleaning station 14.
• the shaver cleaning station 14 comprises a front side 15 and a rear side 16, with the front side 15 facing forward and the rear side 16 facing backward.
• the shaver's 12 user interface 13A may face in the forward direction.
• a cleaning station user interface 13B may be arranged proximal to the front side 15, and correspondingly distal with respect to the rear side 16.
• the cleaning station user interface 13B may be arranged at a top side portion of the shaver cleaning station 14, which top side portion is adjacent to the front side 15 of the shaver cleaning station 14.
• the cleaning station user interface 13B can, for instance, include button(s) and/or display functionality, for example lighting element(s).
• the rear side 16 comprises a connection point 17, for example a socket, for connecting the shaver cleaning station 14 to a supply of electricity.
• connection point 17, for example socket can be arranged at a center of the rear side 16 (as shown in Fig. 1C ), or towards a left or right portion of the rear side 16.
• the connection point 17, for example socket may not be visible to a user positioned directly in front of the front side 15 of the shaver cleaning station 14.
• the shaver cleaning station 14 comprises a user-actuatable element 18, for example button, arranged at the rear side 16, for instance arranged at the rear side 16 together with the connection point 17.
• the user-actuatable element 18, whose function is described herein below, can be centrally arranged at the rear side 16 (as shown in Fig. 1C ), or towards a left or right portion of the rear side 16.
• the user-actuatable element 18, for example button may not be visible to a user positioned directly in front of the front side 15 of the shaver cleaning station 14.
• the shaver cleaning station 14 includes a cleaning cradle 20 for receiving at least part of the shaver 12, for example at least a portion of the shaver's shaving head 21.
• the cleaning cradle 20 may be arranged to receive cleaning liquid from a cartridge 22 included, together with the shaver cleaning station 14, in the shaver cleaning station assembly 10.
• the shaving head 21 of the shaver 12 may be the part of the shaver 12 that comes into contact with a body part, for example the face, of a user and shaves hair therefrom during use of the shaver 12.
• the shaving head 21 can be designed in any suitable manner in order to shave hairs from the user's body part.
• the shaving head 21 can include guard blade(s), and cutting blade(s) whose reciprocating movement, driven by a motor included in the shaver 12, relative to the guard blade(s) cuts hair between the cutting blade(s) and the guard blade(s).
• the shaving head 21 may become contaminated with debris, for example hair/bristles, during use of the shaver 12, and/or moving parts, such as the cutting blade(s) and guard blade(s), of the shaving head 21 may require lubrication in order for reliable operation of the shaver 12 to be maintained.
• the shaver cleaning station 14 can be used for cleaning the shaver 12, for example for cleaning the shaving head 21, when the shaver 12 is docked in the shaver cleaning station 14.
• the shaver cleaning station 14 may also, for example, be used to lubricate moving parts of the shaving head 21.
• the shaver cleaning station 14 is configured to operate the shaver 12, for example operate motor(s) included in the shaver 12, to move blade(s) of the shaver 12, during cleaning of the shaver 12 when docked in the shaver cleaning station 14. Such movement of the blade(s) can assist with cleaning of and/or lubricating the blade(s) using the cleaning liquid.
• the shaver cleaning station 14 comprises a backrest 23 for supporting a main body of the shaver 12, which main body extends away from the shaving head 21, when the shaver 12 is docked in the shaver cleaning station 14.
• the backrest 23 can support the main body of the shaver 12 while the shaving head 21 is at least partly received in the cleaning cradle 21.
• the backrest 23 may be proximal to the rear side 16 of the shaver cleaning station 14, and correspondingly distal with respect to the front side 15 of the shaver cleaning station 14.
• the shaver cleaning station 14 may be arranged to dock the shaver 12 in a tilted orientation in which the shaver 12 is tilted so that the main body of the shaver 12 is closer to the rear side 16 of the shaver cleaning station 14 than the shaving head 21, for example with the main body resting against the backrest 23.
• an interior space 24 of the cartridge 22 can contain the cleaning liquid for cleaning the shaver 12 when docked in the shaver cleaning station 14.
• the cleaning liquid may, for example, also be used to lubricate moving parts of the shaving head 21.
• the cleaning liquid may be formulated in any suitable manner provided that the cleaning liquid is capable of cleaning, and optionally lubricating the moving parts of, the shaver 12.
• the cleaning liquid comprises a cleaning agent, such as a surfactant composition, and a solvent.
• the cleaning liquid may further comprise an oil for lubricating the shaver 12, for example for lubricating the shaving head 21 thereof.
• the oil as well as assisting to lubricate the shaver 12, can additionally assist drainage of the cleaning liquid from the cleaning cradle 20.
• the oil can be included in an amount of 1% to 3% by weight of the cleaning liquid.
• the solvent may comprise ethanol and/or propanol, such as propan-2-ol.
• the solvent consists of ethanol and/or propanol, such as propan-2-ol.
• Such an alcohol-based cleaning liquid may assist with sanitizing the shaver 12 when supplied to the shaver 12 during cleaning using the shaver cleaning station 14. Moreover, drying of the shaver 12 after cleaning using such an alcohol-based cleaning liquid may be relatively efficient owing to the volatility of the alcohol-based solvent.
• a further benefit of such an ethanol- and/or propanol-comprising cleaning liquid may relate to the speed at which such a cleaning liquid drains from the cleaning cradle 20, following cleaning, as explained in more detail herein below.
• a base surface 25 of the cleaning cradle 20 downwardly slopes, when the shaver cleaning station 14 is orientated for use, so as to assist draining of the cleaning liquid from the cleaning cradle 20.
• the downwardly sloping base surface 25 can help to flush debris, for example hair/bristles, together with the cleaning liquid back to the cartridge.
• the downwardly sloping base surface 25 can downwardly slope in a front-rear direction as well as in a left-right direction.
• the downwardly sloping base surface 25 downwardly slopes towards the front side 15 and downwardly slopes towards a left side of the shaver cleaning station 14 when viewed from in front of the front side 15.
• the shaver cleaning station 14 is configured to mount the shaver 12 at an angled orientation that causes residual cleaning liquid to run off the shaver 12 towards an upper portion of the downwardly sloping base surface 25.
• Such an arrangement can assist to separate debris that has collected at/towards a lower portion of the base surface 25 from the shaver 12.
• the angled orientation of the shaver 12 may mean that the docked shaver 12 is closer to the upper portion of the base surface 25 than the lower portion of the base surface 25 where the debris collects.
• the shaver cleaning station 14 is configured to mount the shaver 12 so that a skin-contacting plane 26 of a central area 27 of the shaving head 21 extends at an angle ⁇ of 18° to 25° relative to a plane of a planar region of the downwardly sloping base surface 25.
• Such an angle ⁇ can be large enough to assist to separate debris that has collected at/towards a lower portion of the base surface 25 from the shaver 12, but also being small enough to avoid significantly compromising spatial efficiency in the shaver cleaning station 14.
• the angle ⁇ as shown in Fig. 1G is to illustrate the angular relationship between the skin-contacting plane 26 and the plane of the planar region of the downwardly sloping base surface 25, albeit noting limitations associated with the cutaway view provided in Fig. 1G .
• the skilled person will appreciate that the angle ⁇ between the skin-contacting plane 26 and the plane of the planar region of the downwardly sloping base surface 25 is determinable by measuring the angle between a normal to the skin-contacting plane 26 and a normal to the plane of the planar region of the base surface 25.
• the base surface 25 of the cleaning cradle 20 may decline in two directions at the same time (the front-rear direction as well as the left-right direction), so that the draining cleaning liquid reaches the entrance 37A of the liquid discharge conduit 37 located at the corner of the substantially rectangular-shaped base surface 25.
• the skin-contacting plane 26 of the shaving head 21 is shown extending horizontally.
• the skin-contacting plane 26 evidently extending horizontally in the view provided in Fig. 1H explains why the angle ⁇ shown in the different view provided in Fig. 1G , in which the cross-sectional cut is made at 90 degrees to that shown in Fig. 1H , can be largely independent of precisely where the cross-sectional cut is made, noting that only the distance of the shaving head 21 to the base surface 25 of the cleaning cradle 20 is varying in the view provided in Fig. 1H .
• a conveying device 28 included in the shaver cleaning station 14 may convey the cleaning liquid from the cartridge's 22 interior space 24 towards the shaver 12 docked in the shaver cleaning station 14.
• the conveying device 28 comprises a motor 30 and an impeller 31 which, when rotated by the motor 30, causes the cleaning liquid to be drawn from the cartridge's 22 interior space 24 and transported towards the shaver 12.
• conveying device 28 may benefit from having a relatively simple and low-cost design.
• Alternative conveying device 28, for example pump, designs can also be contemplated.
• the conveying device 28 may convey the cleaning liquid through an outlet 32 of the cartridge 22 and towards the shaver 12 via a supply tube.
• the supply tube may be arranged to carry the cleaning liquid to the cleaning cradle 20, where the cleaning liquid may contact, and thereby clean and optionally lubricate, the shaver's 12 shaving head 21.
• one or more cleaning liquid supply holes 33 may be arranged in the base of the cleaning cradle 20, with the cleaning liquid being delivered into the cleaning cradle 20 via the liquid supply hole(s) 33.
• Such supply hole(s) 33 can assist to control delivery of the cleaning liquid into the cleaning cradle 20.
• the supply hole(s) 33 can be arranged relative to the shaving head's 21 positioning in the cleaning cradle 20 to focus delivery of the cleaning liquid into the shaving head 21, e.g. while the blade(s)/cutting units are reciprocating/vibrating during cleaning.
• the supply hole(s) 33 can be arranged to permit the best possible ingress of the cleaning liquid into the shaving head 21.
• the supply hole(s) 33 may be arranged in a baffle/deflecting plate 33A arranged to minimize the risk of the cleaning liquid exiting, e.g. being spread/squirted out of, the cleaning cradle 20.
• baffle/deflecting plate 33A can be included in the base surface 25 of the cleaning cradle 20, as also shown in Fig. 1I .
• the shaver cleaning station 14 includes an overflow arrangement 34 configured to define a maximum fill level of the cleaning liquid in the cleaning cradle 20.
• the overflow arrangement 34 may thus assist to ensure that only an intended part of the shaver 12, for example the shaving head 21 or part of the shaving head 21, is immersed in the cleaning liquid during cleaning of the shaver 12 using the shaver cleaning station 14.
• the cleaning liquid may return to an inlet 36 of the cartridge 22 via a liquid discharge conduit 37 included in the shaver cleaning station 14.
• the base surface 25 of the cleaning cradle 20 can downwardly slope towards the liquid discharge conduit 37 and towards the inlet 36 when the cartridge 22 is secured in the shaver cleaning station 14.
• the downwardly sloping base surface 25 can assist flushing of debris, for example hair/bristles, together with the cleaning liquid towards the inlet 36 of the cartridge 22.
• an entrance 37A to the liquid discharge conduit 37 can be delimited by the base surface 25 of the cleaning cradle 20.
• the entrance 37A to the liquid discharge conduit 37 can be arranged at a corner of the base surface 25, towards which corner the base surface 25 downwardly slopes.
• FIG. 1I shows the cleaning cradle 20 extending from rear to front.
• the entrance 37A to the liquid discharge conduit 37 is at a front-left position.
• an angle ⁇ between the plane of the base surface's 25 planar region and a horizontal plane HP, when the shaver cleaning station 14 is orientated for use is at least 2°, preferably at least 5°.
• Such a minimum angle ⁇ has been found to be particularly conducive to fast draining of the cleaning liquid towards the liquid discharge conduit 37, for example towards the entrance 37A of the liquid discharge conduit 37.
• This relatively fast draining of the cleaning liquid can help to minimize sedimentation of debris from the shaver 12 in the cleaning cradle 20, and thus can assist to keep the cleaning cradle 20 relatively free of debris after cleaning.
• the angle ⁇ as shown in Fig. 1G is to illustrate the angular relationship between the plane of the base surface's 25 planar region and the horizontal plane HP, albeit noting limitations associated with the cutaway view provided in Fig. 1G .
• the skilled person will appreciate that the angle ⁇ between the plane of the base surface's 25 planar region and the horizontal plane HP is determinable by measuring the angle between a normal to the plane of the planar region of the base surface 25 and a normal to the horizontal plane HP (in other words a vertical).
• the angle ⁇ being at least 2°, preferably at least 5°, the angle can be 15° or less, preferably 10° or less.
• This maximum angle ⁇ can help to minimize spatial efficiency in the shaver cleaning station 14 being compromised by the downwardly sloping base surface 25.
• the surface tension properties of an ethanol and/or propanol-comprising cleaning liquid can work synergistically with the angle ⁇ between the plane of the planar region and the horizontal plane HP, being 15° or less, preferably 10° or less because the surface tension properties of the thus composed cleaning liquid can help the cleaning liquid to move relatively quickly down the downwardly sloping base surface 25, in spite of the steepness of the downwardly sloping base surface 25 being limited by this maximum angle ⁇ .
• the angle ⁇ between the plane of the planar region and the horizontal plane HP, when the shaver cleaning station 14 is orientated for use is 2° to 15°, preferably 2° to 10°, more preferably 5° to 10°, and most preferably 5° to 7°.
• the base surface 25 of the cleaning cradle 20 can be a polyolefinic base surface, such as a polypropylene base surface.
• the cleaning liquid comprises ethanol and/or propanol
• the angle ⁇ between the plane of the planar region and the horizontal plane HP, when the shaver cleaning station 14 is orientated for use is 2° to 15°
• the base surface 25 of the cleaning cradle 20 is a polyolefinic base surface 25.
• This combination of features can balance efficient draining of the cleaning liquid from the cleaning cradle 20 with minimizing compromising of spatial efficiency in the shaver cleaning station 14.
• the cartridge 22 can include an interface 38 for establishing a fluid route for the cleaning liquid between the interior space 24 and the shaver cleaning station 14.
• the interface 38 may include the outlet 32 and the inlet 36.
• Debris for example hair/bristles, may be carried back to the cartridge's 22 interior space 24 via the inlet 36.
• the cartridge 22 may be configured to separate such debris from the cleaning liquid prior to the cleaning liquid being (re-)conveyed back to the shaver 12 via the outlet 32.
• the cartridge 22 may include a filter element, for example a filter element comprising a filter mesh, arranged to filter the cleaning liquid being transported towards the shaver 12.
• the filter element may be arranged to filter the cleaning liquid being drawn into the impeller 31.
• the cartridge 22 can also include further feature(s) for minimizing recirculation of debris back to the shaver 12, as explained in more detail herein below.
• the cartridge 22 is removably insertable into a slot 39 defined in the shaver cleaning station 14.
• a pair of slot-defining members 40A, 40B at least partly delimit the slot 39.
• a locating part 41 is provided at an end of the slot 39, with the slot 39 being arranged so that the cartridge 22 is moveable from the front side 15 into the slot 39, via a slot entrance, in a backward direction towards the locating part 41 at the end of the slot 39 and towards the rear side 16.
• the shaver cleaning station 14 comprises element(s) 42 for assisting to secure the cartridge 22 in the slot 39 and/or for assisting to urge the cartridge 22 out of the slot 39.
• the element(s) 42 may be moved by the cartridge 22 to adopt a securing configuration, once the cartridge 22 is fully received in the slot 39, in which the element(s) 42 exert force(s) that retain the cartridge 22 in the slot 39.
• the element(s) 42 may also be moveable from the securing configuration during movement of the cartridge 22 away from its fully received position in the slot 39 to an urging configuration in which the element(s) 42 exert (further) forces that urge release of the cartridge 22 from the slot 39.
• the shaver cleaning station 14 comprises electrical contacts 43A, 43B for contacting electrical contact points on the shaver 12 when the shaver 12 is docked in the shaver cleaning station 14.
• the electrical contact between the electrical contacts 43A, 43B of the shaver cleaning station 14 and the electrical contact points on the shaver 12 can enable charging of a battery included in the shaver 12 using the supply of electricity and/or can enable operation of the shaver 12, for example operation of motor(s) included in the shaver 12 to move blade(s) of the shaver 12, during cleaning of the shaver 12 when docked in the shaver cleaning station 14.
• the electrical contacts 43A, 43B may be arranged closer to the rear side 16 than to the front side 15 of the shaver cleaning station 14.
• the electrical contacts 43A, 43B By arranging the electrical contacts 43A, 43B closer to the rear side 16 than to the front side 15 in this manner, design of the shaver cleaning station 14 to permit movement of the cartridge 22 into the slot 39 from the front side 15 can be facilitated, since wiring to the electrical contacts 43A, 43B may be proximal to the rear side 16 and thus spatially removed from where the cartridge 22 is moved into the slot 39.
• the shaver cleaning station 14 may comprise a housing 46, with at least part of the housing 46 being moveable to allow the cartridge 22 to be moved into the slot 39.
• Fig. 1J shows the housing 46 moved to expose the slot 39 and thereby allow the cartridge 22 to be moved into the slot 39.
• the housing 46 may be arranged such that, following movement of the housing 46 to allow the user to access the slot 39, the housing 46 is moveable to at least partially cover the cartridge 22 that has been moved into the slot 39. Thus, the housing 46 can be moved to obscure the cartridge 22 received in the slot 39.
• At least part of the conveying device 28 for example at least part of the motor 30 and the impeller 31 included in the conveying device 28, can be received in the outlet 32, while at least part of the liquid discharge conduit 37 is received in the inlet 36.
• a fluid connection between the cartridge 22 and the shaver cleaning station 14 can be established when the housing 46 is moved to obscure the cartridge 22 received in the slot 39.
• the slot-defining members 40A, 40B may be arranged to support the housing 46 while the housing 46 is moved, for example moved upwardly, to allow the user to access the slot 39.
• the slot 39 may be arranged at or proximal to a base 48 of the shaver cleaning station 14.
• the locating part 41 can have any suitable form. In some embodiments, such as shown in Fig. 1J , the locating part 41 is in the form of a protrusion that protrudes upwardly away from the base 48 of the shaver cleaning station 14.
• the above-mentioned user-actuatable element 18 may be actuatable by a user to cause the movement of the housing 46 that allows the cartridge 22 to be moved into the slot 39.
• the user-actuatable element 18 may be arranged, for example together with the connection point 17, at the rear side 16 of the shaver cleaning station 14. Arranging the user-actuatable element 18, for example button, at the rear side 16 can assist to lessen the risk of inadvertent movement of the housing 46, for instance compared to the scenario in which the user-actuatable element 18 is arranged at the front side 15. Moreover, this arrangement of the user-actuatable element 18 can facilitate design of the shaver cleaning station 14 that permits the cartridge 22 to be moved into the slot 39 from the front side 15 in the backward direction.
• the present disclosure also relates to the cartridge 22 in combination with the shaver cleaning station 14, as well as the cartridge 22 as such, as will now be explained with reference to Figs. 2A to 7B .
• Figs. 2A to 2F provide various views of a cartridge 22 according to a non-limiting example.
• the depicted cartridge 22 comprises the above-mentioned interface 38 for establishing the fluid route for the cleaning liquid between the interior space 24 and the shaver cleaning station 14 when the cartridge 22 is secured in the shaver cleaning station's 14 slot.
• the interface 38 comprises a first opening providing the outlet 32 and a second opening providing the inlet 36.
• the first opening may be larger than the second opening, for example so that at least part of the conveying device 28, for example at least part of the motor 30 included in the conveying device 28, can be received in the first opening.
• the interface 38 for instance the first and second openings thereof, can be covered by a cover member 54, for example a lid, prior to use, with the cover member 54 being configured to enable the interface 38 to be accessed, for example by removing the cover member 54, when the cartridge 22 is to be received in the slot 39.
• a cover member 54 for example a lid
• Figs. 2A to 2F show the cartridge 22 in a closed state with the cover member 54 attached and covering the first and second openings of the interface 38.
• Fig. 3 shows an upper portion of the cartridge 22 in an open state with the cover member 54 having been removed.
• the cartridge 22 can comprise a base portion 60 and a cover portion 62, together with a first side wall portion 64 and a second side wall portion 66 that each upstand between the base portion 60 and the cover portion 62 to define, together with the base portion 60 and the cover portion 62, a hollow section.
• the cartridge 22 comprises a first end wall portion 68 and a second end wall portion 70, with a main body of the cartridge 22 extending between the first end wall portion 68 and the second end wall portion 70.
• the first end wall portion 68 may close a first end of the hollow section, and the second end wall portion 70 may close a second end of the hollow section, with the second end being opposite the first end.
• the interior space 24 for receiving the cleaning liquid can accordingly be defined within the hollow section between the first end wall portion 68 and the second end wall portion 70.
• the first end wall portion 68 comprises an arcuate shape (in plan) that curves between the first side wall portion 64 and the second side wall portion 66.
• the first end wall portion 68 may have a convex shape that causes the first end wall portion 68 to curve outwardly in a direction away from the second end wall portion 70.
• Such a convex shape for the first end wall portion 68 may assist to increase the interior space's 24 volume, for example relative to a planar or concave first end wall portion 68.
• the second end wall portion 70 may comprise an arcuate shape that curves between the first side wall portion 64 and the second side wall portion 66.
• the second end wall portion 70 may, for instance, have a convex shape, for example in common with the convex shape of the first end wall portion 68, that causes the second end wall portion 70 to curve outwardly in a direction away from the first end wall portion 68.
• a convex shape for the second end wall portion 70 may assist to increase the interior space's 24 volume, for instance relative to a planar or concave second end wall portion 70.
• At least part of the interface 38 for example the first opening and/or second opening thereof, may be defined in the cover portion 62.
• At least part of the interface 38 may be arranged at or proximal to the second end wall portion 70, and correspondingly distal with respect to the first end wall portion 68.
• both the outlet 32 and the inlet 36 may be arranged at or proximal to the second end wall portion 70, and correspondingly distal with respect to the first end wall portion 68.
• the first side wall portion 64 axially extends from the first end wall portion 68, with the axial extension of the first side wall portion 64 reaching a juncture 74 at which the first side wall portion 64 meets the second end wall portion 70, at which juncture 74 the second end wall portion 70 extends, for instance arcuately extends, towards the second side wall portion 66.
• the axial extension of the first side wall portion 64 may refer to a first side wall portion 64 whose linearity allows the first side wall portion 64 to contact a planar surface over a length of the first side wall portion 64 between a position 75 at which the first side wall portion 64 meets the first end wall portion 68 and the juncture 74 at which the first side wall portion 64 meets the second end wall portion 70.
• planar surface may, for example, be a side wall portion 64, 66 of another cartridge 22 or a side wall of a carton for containing the cartridge 22 or cartridges 22.
• the packability of the cartridge 22 may be enhanced relative to, for example, a cartridge 22 whose side wall portion 64, 66 comprises an outwardly protruding region arranged along the side wall portion 64, 66 between where the side wall portion 64, 66 meets the cartridge's 22 end wall portions 68, 70.
• Such an outwardly protruding region means that the side wall portion 64, 66 of such a cartridge 22 is unable to contact a planar surface over its length.
• the second side wall portion 66 axially extends from the first end wall portion 68, with the axial extension of the second side wall portion 66 reaching a further juncture 76 at which the second side wall portion 66 meets the second end wall portion 70, at which further juncture 76 the second end wall portion 70 extends, for instance arcuately extends, towards the first side wall portion 64.
• This may enhance the compactness and packability of the cartridge 22, for reasons analogous to those provided above in respect of the axially extending first side wall portion 64 evident in, for example, Fig. 2B .
• the axial extension of the second side wall portion 66 may refer to a second side wall portion 66 whose linearity allows the second side wall portion 66 to contact a planar surface over a length of the second side wall portion 66 between a point 77 at which the second side wall portion 66 meets the first end wall portion 68 and the further juncture 76 at which the second side wall portion 66 meets the second end wall portion 70.
• the first and second side wall portions 64, 66 axially extend parallel to each other. Such parallel first and second side wall portions 64, 66 may additionally enhance the compactness and packability of the cartridge 22.
• the hollow section of the cartridge 22, defined by the first and second side wall portions 64, 66 upstanding between the base portion 60 and the cover portion 62, may comprise a box section. Such a box section-comprising cartridge 22 may be efficiently stackable with other such cartridges 22, for example in a carton.
• the first end wall portion 68 is distinguished from the second end wall portion 70 at least in that the first end wall portion 68 comprises a mounting feature 72 for engaging with the locating part 41 of the shaver cleaning station 14 during securing of the cartridge 22 in the slot 39.
• the cartridge 22 is shaped so as to be moveable into the slot 39 in the backward direction until the mounting feature 72 engages the locating part 41 when the cartridge 22 is in a first orientation.
• the cartridge 22 is shaped so as to be also moveable into the slot 39 in the backward direction to insert a largest width dimension of the cartridge 22 between the slot-defining members 40A, 40B when the cartridge 22 is in a second orientation, in which second orientation the cartridge 22 is rotated 180° with respect to the first orientation such that the second end wall portion 70 faces the locating part 41.
• the capability to insert the cartridge 22 (partially) into the slot 39 even when the cartridge 22 is not, due to being in the second orientation, securable to the shaver cleaning station 14 via the mounting feature 72 engaging with the locating part 41 can assist to save space in the user's home, for example in the user's bathroom, and/or can help to save space in packaging used to transport the shaver cleaning station assembly 10, since the unsecured cartridge 22 is nonetheless accommodatable, at least in part, within the shaver cleaning station 14.
• the user can simply withdraw the (unsecured) cartridge 22 from the slot 39, rotate the cartridge 22 by 180° to the first orientation and re-insert the cartridge 22 into the slot 39 until the mounting feature 72 engages the locating part 41.
• This process can also be assisted by the arrangement of the slot 39.
• the slot 39 being arranged to receive the cartridge 22 in the backward direction from the front side 15, towards the rear side 16 of the shaver cleaning station 14, the user positioned in front of the front side 15 of the shaver cleaning station 14 can relatively easily, without being hampered by the connection to the supply of electricity, withdraw the cartridge 22 in a forward direction, rotate the cartridge 22 by 180°, to adopt either the first orientation or the second orientation, and re-insert the cartridge 22 into the slot 39 in the backward direction.
• a width dimension of the cartridge 22 may extend perpendicular to a length dimension of the cartridge 22 that extends from the first end wall portion 68 to the second end wall portion 70.
• the width dimension extends between the first and second side wall portions 64, 66.
• the width dimension may be perpendicular to a height dimension of the cartridge 22 that extends from the base portion 60 to the cover portion 62 of the cartridge 22.
• the width dimension, and in particular the largest width dimension of the cartridge 22, may extend between the pair of slot-defining members 40A, 40B when the cartridge 22 is moved into the slot 39.
• At least part of the conveying device 28, for example at least part of the motor 30 and the impeller 31 included in the conveying device 28, can be received in the outlet 32, while at least part of the liquid discharge conduit 37 is received in the inlet 36. This fluid connection cannot be made when the cartridge 22 is in the second orientation.
• the conveying device 28, as well as the liquid discharge conduit 37, can be arranged closer to the front side 15 than to the rear side 16 of the shaver cleaning station 14 so that the fluid connection can be made when the cartridge 22 is in the first orientation, once again noting that the outlet 32 and the inlet 36 of the cartridge 22 can be arranged at or proximal to the second end wall portion 70, and correspondingly distal with respect to the first end wall portion 68.
• the mounting feature 72 at the first end wall portion 68 can engage the locating part 41, while the outlet 32 and the inlet 36 (that are at/proximal to the second end wall portion 70) are respectively brought into alignment with the conveying device 28 and the liquid discharge conduit 37.
• This alignment between the conveying device 28 and the outlet 32 and between the liquid discharge conduit 37 and the inlet 36 can beneficially allow relatively short conduits between the cartridge 22 and the cleaning cradle 20.
• the cartridge 22 when the cartridge 22 is in the second orientation, the cartridge 22 is moveable into the slot 39 until the second end wall portion 70 contacts the locating part 41.
• a significant portion, for example a majority, of the cartridge 22 can thus be inserted into the slot 39 when the cartridge 22 is in the second orientation, since movement of the cartridge 22 into the slot 39 may be terminated only when the cartridge 22 is moved sufficiently far into the slot 39 that the locating part 41 at the end of the slot 39 is abutted by the second end wall portion 70 to restrict further movement of the cartridge 22 in the backward direction.
• the pair of slot-defining members 40A, 40B may also axially extend parallel to each other.
• a parallel relationship of the first and second side wall portions 64, 66 of the cartridge 22 may be complemented by a parallel relationship of the slot-defining members 40A, 40B, thereby facilitating insertion of the cartridge 22 into the slot 39 when the cartridge 22 is in the first orientation and when the cartridge 22 is in the second orientation.
• the cartridge 22 and the slot 39 are arranged so that the first side wall portion 64 slides against one of the pair of slot-defining members 40A, 40B while the second side wall portion 66 slides against the other of the pair of slot-defining members 40B, 40A when the cartridge 22 is being moved into the slot 39 when the cartridge 22 is in the first orientation and when the cartridge 22 is in the second orientation.
• the contact between the pair of slot-defining members 40A, 40B and the side wall portions 64, 66 of the cartridge 22 can assist guiding of the cartridge 22, in each of the first and second orientations, into the slot 39.
• the first side wall portion 64 extends in a flat plane between where the first side wall portion 64 meets the first end wall portion 68 and where the first side wall portion 64 meets the second end wall portion 70
• the second side wall portion 66 extends in a flat plane between where the second side wall portion 66 meets the first end wall portion 68 and where the second side wall portion 66 meets the second end wall portion 70.
• Such a shape for the cartridge 22 can facilitate movement of the cartridge 22 into the slot 39 when the cartridge 22 is in the first orientation and when the cartridge 22 is in the second orientation.
• the mounting feature 72 comprises, for example is in the form of, an indentation defined in the first end wall portion 68, in which indentation at least a portion of the locating part 41 is receivable.
• the locating part 41 in the form of the protrusion, that protrudes upwardly away from the base 48 of the shaver cleaning station 14, can be at least partially receivable in the indentation.
• the interior space 24 of the cartridge 22, in which the cleaning liquid is receivable partially wraps around the indentation.
• the interior space 24 wrapping, at least in two dimensions, partially around the indentation the interior space's 24 volume may be maximized in spite of inclusion of the indentation in the mounting feature 72.
• the interior space may wrap around the indentation in two dimensions when the cartridge is viewed in plan, from above the cover portion 62 of the cartridge 22 (see Fig. 2B ) or from below the base portion 60 of the cartridge 22.
• the term “partially” qualifying the wrapping of the interior space 24 (at least in two dimensions, such as in two dimensions when the cartridge 22 is viewed in plan) around the indentation reflects that the first end wall portion 68, that closes the first end of the cartridge's 22 hollow section and in which the indentation is defined, inherently prevents the interior space 24 from wrapping entirely around the indentation.
• the increase in the interior space's 24 volume provided by the convex first end wall portion 68 may assist to counteract loss of volume caused by inclusion of the indentation.
• the housing 46 is moveable to allow access to the slot 39 and moveable to obscure the cartridge 22 received in the slot 39
• the housing 46 can be moved to obscure the cartridge 22 received (at least partially) in the slot 39, at least when the cartridge 22 in the slot 39 is in the first orientation.
• Adoption of the first orientation can enable the at least part of the conveying device 28, for example at least part of the motor 30 and the impeller 31 included in the conveying device 28, to be received in the outlet 32, while at least part of the liquid discharge conduit 37 is received in the inlet 36, when the housing 46 is moved to obscure the cartridge 22 received in the slot 39.
• the inlet 36 of the cartridge 22 can be arranged to receive the cleaning liquid returned from the shaver cleaning station 14 when the cartridge 22, in the first orientation, is received in the slot 39 with the mounting feature 72 engaging the locating part 41.
• the shaver cleaning station assembly 10 comprises a further shaver cleaning station (not visible) provided in addition to the shaver cleaning station 14, wherein the further shaver cleaning station comprises: a front elevation and a rear elevation, the front elevation facing forward and the rear elevation facing backward, the rear elevation comprising a connection site for connecting the further shaver cleaning station to a supply of electricity; a pair of channel-defining members, a channel for the cartridge 22 being at least partly delimited by the pair of channel-defining members; and a locating element at an end of the channel, the channel being arranged and the cartridge 22 being shaped so that the cartridge 22 is moveable into the channel from the rear elevation, via a channel entrance, in a forward direction towards the locating element at the end of the channel and towards the front elevation, the mounting feature 72 being for engaging with the locating element during securing of the cartridge 22 in the channel.
• the same cartridge 22 may be used, albeit not at the same time, for each of the shaver cleaning station 14 and the further shaver cleaning station.
• the cartridge 22 When being used in the shaver cleaning station, the cartridge 22 is inserted into the slot 39 from the front side in the backward direction.
• the cartridge 22 when the cartridge 22 is being used in the further shaver cleaning station, the cartridge 22 may be inserted into the channel from the rear elevation in the forward direction.
• front elevation As used in relation to the shaver cleaning station 14, the terms "front elevation”, “rear elevation”, “connection site”, “channel-defining members”, “channel”, and “locating element” are intended to have the same meanings as the terms “front side”, “rear side”, “connection point”, “slot-defining members”, “slot”, and “locating feature”, respectively, as used in relation to the shaver cleaning station 14.
• connection site for example socket
• the connection site can be arranged at a center of the rear elevation, or towards a left or right portion of the rear elevation.
• connection site By arranging the connection site towards a left or right portion of the rear elevation, the connection site may be less likely to hamper insertion of the cartridge 22 into the channel from the rear elevation in the forward direction
• connection site for example socket
• the connection site may not be visible to a user positioned directly in front of the front elevation of the further shaver cleaning station.
• the indentation can receive at least part of the locating feature, for example protuberance, of the further shaver cleaning station when the cartridge 22 is received in the channel, as well as the locating part 41, for example protrusion, of the shaver cleaning station 14 when the cartridge 22 is received in the slot 39.
• the cartridge 22 is shaped so as to be moveable into the channel in the forward direction until the mounting feature 72 engages the locating element when the cartridge 22 is in a first disposition, with the cartridge 22 being shaped so as to be also moveable into the channel in the forward direction to insert the largest width dimension of the cartridge 22 between the channel-defining members when the cartridge 22 is in a second disposition, in which second disposition the cartridge 22 is rotated 180° with respect to the first disposition such that the second end wall portion 70 faces the locating element.
• first disposition and second disposition are intended to have analogous meanings to the terms “first orientation” and “second orientation” used in relation to the cartridge's 22 spatial relationship with the shaver cleaning station 14.
• the cartridge 22 when the cartridge 22 is in the second disposition, the cartridge 22 is moveable into the channel until the second end wall portion 70 contacts the locating element.
• a significant portion, for example a majority, of the cartridge 22 can thus be inserted into the channel when the cartridge 22 is in the second disposition, since movement of the cartridge 22 into the channel may be terminated only when the cartridge 22 is moved sufficiently far into the channel that the locating element at the end of the channel is abutted by the second end wall portion 70 to restrict further movement of the cartridge 22 in the forward direction.
• first side wall portion 64 and the second side wall portion 66 axially extend parallel to each other, and the pair of channel-defining members axially extend parallel to each other.
• the parallel relationship of the first and second side wall portions 64, 66 of the cartridge 22 may be complemented by a parallel relationship of the channel-defining members, thereby facilitating insertion of the cartridge 22 into the channel, for example when the cartridge 22 is in the first disposition and when the cartridge 22 is in the second disposition.
• the cartridge 22 and the channel are arranged so that the first side wall portion 64 slides against one of the pair of channel-defining members while the second side wall portion 66 slides against the other of the pair of channel-defining members when the cartridge 22 is being moved into the channel.
• the contact between the pair of channel-defining members and the side wall portions 64, 66 of the cartridge 22 can assist guiding of the cartridge 22, in each of the first and second dispositions, into the channel.
• the further shaver cleaning station comprises a casing, with at least part of the casing being moveable to allow the cartridge 22 to be moved into the channel.
• the casing may be arranged such that, following movement of the casing to allow the user to access the channel, the casing is moveable to at least partially cover the cartridge 22 that has been moved into the channel, at least when the cartridge 22 in the channel is in the first disposition.
• casing is intended to have an analogous meaning to the term “housing” used in relation to the shaver cleaning station 14.
• the further shaver cleaning station can comprise a user-actuatable member, for example a button, actuatable by a user to cause the movement of the casing that allows the cartridge 22 to be moved into the channel.
• a user-actuatable member for example a button
• the user-actuatable member may, for example, be arranged at the rear elevation of the further shaver cleaning station. Arranging the user-actuatable member, for example button, at the rear elevation can assist to lessen the risk of inadvertent movement of the casing, for instance compared to the scenario in which the user-actuatable member is arranged at the front elevation.
• the term "user-actuatable member” is intended to have an analogous meaning to the term “user-actuatable element” used in relation to the shaver cleaning station 14.
• the further shaver cleaning station comprises electrical contact elements for contacting electrical contact points on the shaver 12 when the shaver 12 is docked in the further shaver cleaning station.
• the electrical contact between the electrical contact elements of the further shaver cleaning station and the electrical contact points on the shaver 12 can enable charging of the battery included in the shaver 12 using the supply of electricity and/or can enable operation of the shaver 12, for example operation of motor(s) included in the shaver 12 to move blade(s) of the shaver 12, during cleaning of the shaver 12 when docked in the further shaver cleaning station.
• the electrical contact elements may be arranged closer to the rear elevation than to the front elevation of the further shaver cleaning station.
• electrical contact elements is intended to have an analogous meaning to the term “electrical contacts” used in relation to the shaver cleaning station 14.
• the further shaver cleaning station comprises a cleaning dock for receiving at least part of the shaver 12, with the cleaning dock being arranged to receive the cleaning liquid from the cartridge 22 when the cartridge 22 is received in the channel with the mounting feature 72 engaging the locating element.
• the cartridge's 22 inlet 36 can receive the cleaning liquid returned from the further shaver cleaning station when the cartridge 22 is received in the channel with the mounting feature 72 engaging the locating element.
• cleaning dock is used analogously with the term “cleaning cradle” as used in relation to the shaver cleaning station 14.
• the further shaver cleaning station comprises a liquid discharge duct, with the liquid discharge duct being arranged to carry the cleaning liquid from the cleaning dock to the inlet 36.
• a base surface of the cleaning dock can downwardly slope towards the liquid discharge duct and towards the inlet 36 when the cartridge 22 is received in the channel with the mounting feature engaging the locating element.
• the downwardly sloping base surface can assist flushing of debris, for example hair/bristles, together with the cleaning liquid towards the inlet 36 of the cartridge 22.
• liquid discharge duct is used analogously to the term “liquid discharge conduit” as used in relation to the shaver cleaning station 14.
• the downwardly sloping base surface of the cleaning dock can downwardly slope in a front-rear direction as well as in a left-right direction.
• the downwardly sloping base surface of the cleaning dock downwardly slopes towards the rear elevation and downwardly slopes towards a right elevation of the further shaver cleaning station when viewed from in front of the front elevation.
• the liquid discharge conduit 37 is arranged proximal to a left side of the shaver cleaning station 14 (and correspondingly distal with respect to a right side of the shaver cleaning station 14) when viewed by a user in front of the front side 15, and the liquid discharge duct is arranged proximal to a right elevation of the further shaver cleaning station (and correspondingly distal with respect to a left elevation of the further shaver cleaning station) when viewed by a user in front of the front elevation.
• the liquid discharge conduit 37 may be arranged proximal to a right side of the shaver cleaning station 14 (and correspondingly distal with respect to a left side of the shaver cleaning station 14) when viewed by a user in front of the front side 15, and the liquid discharge duct is arranged proximal to a left elevation of the further shaver cleaning station (and correspondingly distal with respect to a right elevation of the further shaver cleaning station) when viewed by a user in front of the front elevation.
• the different right/left positions of the liquid discharge conduit 37 and the liquid discharge duct can reflect that the cartridge 22 is inserted into the shaver cleaning station 14 from the front side 15 in the backward direction, whereas the cartridge 22 is inserted into the further shaver cleaning station from the rear elevation in the forward direction.
• the different left/right positions means that in both the shaver cleaning station 14 and the further shaver cleaning station, the liquid in the cleaning cradle 20/cleaning dock drains towards the inlet 36 of the cartridge 22.
• the liquid discharge conduit 37 may be proximal to the front side 15 of the shaver cleaning station 14 (and correspondingly distal with respect to the rear side 16 of the shaver cleaning station 14, as shown in Fig. 1F ), with the liquid discharge duct being proximal to the rear elevation of the further shaver cleaning station (and correspondingly distal with respect to the front elevation of the further shaver cleaning station).
• the downwardly sloping base surface 25 of the cleaning cradle 20 can (correspondingly) downwardly slope in an opposite direction, for example in an opposite left-right direction and an opposite front-rear direction, relative to the downwardly sloping base surface of the cleaning dock.
• This arrangement of the downwardly sloping base surface 25 can be combined, for example, with the conveying device 28, as well as the liquid discharge conduit 37, being arranged closer to the front side 15 than to the rear side 16 of the shaver cleaning station 14 so that the fluid connection can be made when the cartridge 22 is in the first orientation, again noting that the outlet 32 and the inlet 36 of the cartridge 22 can be arranged at or proximal to the second end wall portion 70, and correspondingly distal with respect to the first end wall portion 68.
• the downwardly sloping base surface 25 of the cleaning cradle 20 downwardly slopes towards the front side 15 and downwardly slopes towards the left side of the shaver cleaning station 14 when viewed from in front of the front side 15, and the downwardly sloping base surface of the cleaning dock downwardly slopes towards the rear elevation and downwardly slopes towards the right elevation of the further shaver cleaning station when viewed from in front of the front elevation.
• a conveying device, as well as the liquid discharge duct, of the further shaver cleaning station can be arranged closer to the rear elevation of the further shaver cleaning station than to the front elevation of the further shaver cleaning station so that the conveying device is aligned with the outlet 32 and the liquid discharge duct is aligned with the inlet 36 when the cartridge 22 is received in the channel with the mounting feature 72 engaging the locating element.
• the outlet 32 and the inlet 36 of the cartridge 22 are arranged at or proximal to the second end wall portion 70, and correspondingly distal with respect to the first end wall portion 68.
• the downwardly sloping base surface of the cleaning dock comprises a planar portion, and an angle between a plane of the planar portion and a horizontal plane HP, when the further shaver cleaning station is orientated for use, is at least 2°, preferably at least 5°. Such a minimum angle has been found to be particularly conducive to fast draining of the cleaning liquid towards the liquid discharge duct.
• the angle can be 15° or less, preferably 10° or less.
• This maximum angle can help to minimize spatial efficiency in the further shaver cleaning station being compromised by the downwardly sloping base surface.
• the surface tension properties of an ethanol and/or propanol-comprising cleaning liquid can work synergistically with the angle between the plane of the planar portion and the horizontal plane HP, being 15° or less, preferably 10° or less because the surface tension properties of the thus composed cleaning liquid can help the cleaning liquid to move relatively quickly down the downwardly sloping base surface, in spite of the steepness of the downwardly sloping base surface being limited by this maximum angle.
• the angle between the plane of the planar portion and the horizontal plane HP, when the further shaver cleaning station is orientated for use is 2° to 15°, preferably 2° to 10°, more preferably 5° to 10°, and most preferably 5° to 7°.
• the base surface of the cleaning dock can be a polyolefinic base surface, such as a polypropylene base surface.
• the cleaning liquid comprises ethanol and/or propanol
• the angle between the plane of the planar portion and the horizontal plane HP, when the further shaver cleaning station is orientated for use is 2° to 15°
• the base surface of the cleaning dock is a polyolefinic base surface.
• This combination of features can balance efficient draining of the cleaning liquid from the cleaning dock with minimizing compromising of spatial efficiency in the further shaver cleaning station.
• the further shaver cleaning station is configured to mount the shaver 12 so that the skin-contacting plane 26 of the central area 27 of the shaving head 21 extends at a further angle of 5° to 25° relative to the plane of the planar portion of the downwardly sloping base surface of the cleaning dock.
• planar portion in the context of the cleaning dock of the further shaver cleaning station is used analogously with the term “planar region” as used in relation to the cleaning cradle 20 of the shaver cleaning station 14.
• a first thermoplastic component 90 (shown in Fig. 3 ) can include the cover portion 62, with a second thermoplastic component 92 (shown in Figs. 4A and 4B ) including the base portion 60.
• the first thermoplastic component 90 can be formed by molding, with particular mention being made of injection molding.
• the second thermoplastic component 90 can also be formed by molding, particularly injection molding.
• the first thermoplastic component 90 is an injection molded first thermoplastic component 90
• the second thermoplastic component 92 is an injection molded second thermoplastic component 92.
• the first and second thermoplastic components 90, 92 for instance the first and second injection molded thermoplastic components 90, 92, can be joined, for example welded, to each other.
• a weld seam 94 may be provided between the first and second thermoplastic components 90, 92 when the first and second components 90, 92 are welded to each other.
• Welding the first and second thermoplastic components 90, 92 may provide a robust and straightforwardly implementable way of manufacturing the cartridge 22.
• the welding may be effected in any suitable manner. Particular mention is made of mirror welding or laser welding being used to weld the first and second thermoplastic components 90, 92 to each other.
• thermoplastic included in the first and second thermoplastic components 90, 92 can be of any suitable type.
• each of the first and second thermoplastic components 90, 92 comprise a polyolefin, such as polypropylene.
• Polypropylene may assist to provide rigidity to the cartridge 22, capable of withstanding the vapor pressure of the cleaning liquid contained in the cartridge's 22 interior space 24, for example during storage and transportation of the cartridge 22.
• a relatively robust polypropylene weld seam may be provided via crystallization of molten polypropylene during the welding process.
• the cartridge 22 comprises an external surface 96 facing away from the interior space 24, with the external surface 96 being included in each of the first side wall portion 64, the second side wall portion 66, the first end wall portion 68 and the second end wall portion 70.
• the external surface 96 may comprise a first surface portion 98A of the first thermoplastic component 90, and a second surface portion 98B of the second thermoplastic component 92.
• the first and second surface portions 98A, 98B may be separated from each other by the weld seam 94.
• Fig. 5B shows the first and second surface portions 98A, 98B of the cartridge's 22 external surface 96 being aligned with each other. It is noted that the term "aligned" in this context may mean that an offset between the first and second surface portions 98A, 98B is limited to being 0.6 mm or less, preferably 0.4 mm or less.
• first and second surface portions 98A, 98B on respective sides of the weld seam 94 may assist to balance compactness/packability of the cartridge 22 with the requirement for the cartridge's 22 capacity for the cleaning liquid to be suitably large.
• the enhanced compactness/packability of the cartridge 22 resulting, for example, from the first side wall portion 64 axially extending from the first end wall portion 68 to reach the second end wall portion 70 may entail reduction in volume of the cartridge's 22 interior space 24 relative to, for example, a cartridge 22 whose side wall portion 64, 66 comprises an outwardly protruding region arranged along the side wall portion 64, 66 between where the side wall portion 64, 66 meets the cartridge's 22 end wall portions 68, 70. This is because the outwardly protruding region may assist to increase the volume of the interior space 24.
• the cartridge 22 may be designed to have a larger internal volume than, for example, a cartridge 22 in which the second surface portion 98B outwardly protrudes beyond the first surface portion 98A so that the inboard first surface portion 98A restricts the volume of the interior space 24 and the outboard second surface portion 98B defines the outermost profile of the cartridge 22.
• aligned first and second surface portions 98A, 98B may be present at the indentation, for example notch, included in the mounting feature 72.
• the aligned first and second surface portions 98A, 98B at the indentation may mean that both of the first and second thermoplastic components 90, 92 contribute to the profile of the indentation.
• a method for manufacturing such a cartridge 22 comprises welding the first thermoplastic component 90 and the second thermoplastic component 92 to each other, for example via laser welding or mirror welding.
• FIGs. 6A and 6B show the first and second surface portions 98A, 98B of the cartridge's 22 external surface 96, as well as an internal surface 99 included in each of the first side wall portion 64, the second side wall portion 66, the first end wall portion 68 and the second end wall portion 70.
• the first side wall portion 64, the second side wall portion 66, the first end wall portion 68 and the second end wall portion 70 may be shaped such that the external surface 96 and the internal surface 99 each follow extension of the respective wall portion 64, 66, 68, 70 to which they belong.
• the first thermoplastic component 90 and the second thermoplastic component 92 are aligned by a tooling member 100 so that the first surface portion 98A and the second surface portion 98B are aligned with each other.
• the tooling member 100 can assist to align the first and second thermoplastic components 90, 92, for instance without such alignment having to be provided by the structure of the first and/or second thermoplastic component 90, 92 itself/themselves.
• the latter can assist to provide a more compact cartridge 22 because alignment features can be omitted from the first and second thermoplastic components 90, 92.
• the limited offset (less than 0.6 mm, preferably less than 0.4 mm) between the first and second surface portions 98A, 98B may reflect the size and tolerance of the tooling member 100, for example the size and tolerance of the work piece carrier, which may additionally serve as a welding shield, as explained in more detail herein below.
• a gap 101 is initially defined at an interfacial region between the first thermoplastic component 90 and the second thermoplastic component 92.
• the gap 101 is for subsequently receiving molten thermoplastic from the first and second thermoplastic components 90, 92 during the welding, as shown in Fig. 6B .
• the tooling member 100 may be arranged to block egress of the molten thermoplastic from the gap 101.
• the risk of an undesirable bulge, in other words a burr or protrusion, of excess thermoplastic material beyond the external surface 96 at the weld seam 94 may be reduced. This may assist to enhance visual appearance of the cartridge 22, as well as helping to minimize the risk of the weld seam 94 hindering insertion of the cartridge 22 into the shaver cleaning station's 14 slot.
• the weldable portions of the first and second thermoplastic components 90, 92 and the gap 101 may be designed so that there is about 50% thermoplastic material flow to the gap 101. This may assist to avoid protrusion of the thermoplastic material.
• the second thermoplastic component 92 comprises a welding rib WR for welding to a further welding rib FWR included in the first thermoplastic component 90 to form an internal rib extending within the hollow section when the first and second thermoplastic components 90, 92 are welded to each other.
• the internal rib can assist to ensure that the first and second thermoplastic components 90, 92 are securely welded to each other, as well as guiding flow of the cleaning liquid in the internal space 24.
• the above-described maximum tolerance of 0.6 mm, preferably 0.4 mm may refer to a sidewise misalignment of the first and second surface portions 98A, 98B respectively from the top, first thermoplastic component 90 and from the bottom, second thermoplastic component 92.
• the welding walls WR, FWR/projections to be melted and connected may be intentionally slightly non-aligned.
• the internal rib extends between the second end wall portion 70 and the first end wall portion 68, so as to separate the interior space 24 into a pair of chambers.
• An opening 103 may nonetheless be provided for allowing the cleaning liquid to flow from the chamber in which the cleaning liquid is initially received via the inlet 36, to the chamber from which the cleaning liquid is subsequently transported to the shaver cleaning station 14 via the outlet 32.
• the opening 103 may be arranged adjacent or proximal to the first end wall portion 68 so that the cleaning liquid received in the interior space 24 via the inlet 36 is forced by the internal rib to travel first towards the first end wall portion 68 and then back towards the second end wall portion 70 (at or proximal to which the outlet 32 is arranged).
• This flow path may assist with separation of debris from the cleaning liquid , for example since the flow path may provide more opportunity for sedimentation of such debris.
• the second thermoplastic component 92 further comprises a mirror rib MR that mirrors shape and extension of the welding rib WR without being welded when the first and second thermoplastic components 90, 92 are welded to each other.
• one or more intersections at which the welding rib WR crosses the mirror rib MR is or are provided.
• an arrangement of the welding rib WR and the mirror rib MR may approximate a figure of eight when the base portion's 60 internal surface 102 is viewed in plan.
• a plurality of compartment walls CW protrude from the internal surface 102 of the base portion 60 into the interior space 24, with the compartment walls CW defining compartments in which debris is collectable from the cleaning liquid received in the interior space 24 from the shaver cleaning station 14.
• the compartments may provide receptacles in which sedimentation of the debris, for example bristles etc., contaminating the cleaning liquid can take place.
• the cartridge 22 may include the filter element, for example a filter mesh, as well as the compartments defined by the compartment walls CW.
• the sedimentation of the debris in the compartments can assist to alleviate clogging of the filter element.
• the compartment walls CW comprise first compartment walls CW1 and second compartment walls CW2, with the second compartment walls CW2 protruding further into the interior space 24 from the internal surface 102 than the first compartment walls CW1.
• the enhanced stiffness/rigidity provided by the taller second compartment walls CW2 can assist manufacturing of the base portion 60, for example as well as facilitating welding of the second thermoplastic component 92 that comprises the base portion 60 to the first thermoplastic component 90 comprising the cover portion 62.
• the greater stiffness/rigidity of the base portion 60 can reduce the risk of warping of the base portion 60 that can otherwise hamper welding, for example mirror welding, of the first thermoplastic component 90 to the second thermoplastic component 92.
• the taller second compartment walls CW2 may reduce the risk of bulging of the base portion 60 that may otherwise occur during, for instance, a molding, for example injection molding, process used to manufacture the base portion 60.
• the enhanced stiffness/rigidity of the base portion 60 can also assist to confer structural robustness to the cartridge 22, in particular in terms of assisting the base portion 60 to withstand the vapor pressure of the cleaning liquid contained in the cartridge's interior space 24, for example during storage and transportation of the cartridge 22.
• This may be particularly advantageous in embodiments in which the solvent included in the cleaning liquid comprises ethanol and/or propanol.
• the taller second compartment walls CW2 may assist to minimize bulging that may happen during shipping of the cartridge 22, for example on container ships, noting that during shipping the cartridges 22 containing the cleaning liquid may be heated up to 80°C, thereby increasing pressure inside the cartridge 22 by about 1 bar.
• the taller second compartment walls CW2 may therefore assist to reduce the risk of deformation of the cartridge's 22 wall portions 64, 66, 68, 70 caused by the increased pressure, particularly in the case of polypropylene wall portions 64, 66, 68, 70.
• first compartment walls CW1 may assist to minimize fluid flow inefficiency, whilst also assisting to reduce the amount of material, for example thermoplastic, included in the base portion 60.
• the second compartment walls CW2 protrude into the interior space 24 from the internal surface 102 by at least 10%, preferably by at least 20%, more than the first compartment walls' CW1 protrusion into the interior space 24 from the internal surface 102.
• the second compartment walls CW2 may protrude from the internal surface 102 to a height of 3.5 mm to 4 mm, for example about 3.7 mm, with the first compartment walls CW1 protruding from the internal surface 102 to a height of 2.7 mm to 3.2 mm, for example about 2.9 mm.
• the base portion 60 may have a thickness, as defined between the base portion's 60 external surface 96 and the base portion's internal surface 102, of 0.8 mm to 1.5 mm, for example about 1.2 mm.
• the cover portion 62 may have a thickness, as defined between the cover portion's 62 external surface 96 and the cover portion's internal surface of at least 0.65 mm.
• the second compartment walls CW2 may add stiffness/rigidity to the base portion 60 further to that intrinsically provided by the regular polygonal or circular shape of the compartment(s).
• the second compartment walls CW2 define the entirety of the regular polygonal or circular shape of the compartment(s).
• the second compartment walls CW2 may define the opposite portions of the regular polygonal or circular shape of each of one or more of the compartments, but with the remainder of the regular polygonal or circular shape being defined by the first compartment walls CW1.
• Examples of regular polygonal shapes for the compartments whose opposite portions are defined by the taller second compartment walls CW2 include square, hexagonal and octagonal. Particular mention is made of hexagonal compartments, in other words compartments that are each delimited by six hexagonally arranged compartment walls CW. In such an example, the taller second compartment walls CW2 may define one, two or all three opposite pairs of the hexagonally arranged compartment walls CW.
• the second compartment walls CW2 comprise a first interconnected arrangement 104A of second compartment walls CW2, with the first interconnected arrangement 104A being elongate and longitudinally extending between the first end wall portion 68 and the second end wall portion 70, adjacent to the first side wall portion 64.
• the enhanced stiffness provided by the second compartment walls CW2 may be provided in a region where there is more risk of bulging due to expansion of vapor from the cleaning liquid in the interior space 24.
• the second compartment walls CW2 comprise a second interconnected arrangement 104B of second compartment walls CW2, with the second interconnected arrangement 104B being elongate and longitudinally extending between the first end wall portion 68 and the second end wall portion 70, adjacent to the second side wall portion 66.
• the second compartment walls CW2 include the first interconnected arrangement 104A and the second interconnected arrangement 104B, for example with the first and second interconnected arrangements 104A, 104B being distinct from each other, in other words without sharing second compartment wall(s) CW2 common to both of the first and second interconnected arrangements 104A, 104B.
• the symmetry provided by inclusion of both of the first and second interconnected arrangements 104A, 104B may assist manufacture of the base portion 60, for example by minimizing the risk of warping during molding of the base portion 60.
• the second compartment walls CW2 comprise a third interconnected arrangement 104C of second compartment walls CW2, with the third interconnected arrangement 104C being arranged in a central region between the first side wall portion 64 and the second side wall portion 66.
• the central region may, for example, be closer to the second end wall portion 70 than the first end wall portion 68.
• Such a third interconnected arrangement 104C of second compartment walls CW2 can further assist to reduce the risk of bulging due to containment of the cleaning liquid in the interior space 24.
• a plurality of elongate support ribs SR protrude from the internal surface 102 of the base portion 60 into the interior space 24, with the plurality of elongate support ribs SR comprising at least one longitudinal support rib extending between the first end wall portion 68 and the second end wall portion 70 and/or at least one lateral support rib extending between the first side wall portion 64 and the second side wall portion 66.
• the elongate support ribs SR may provide enhanced stiffness/rigidity of the base portion 60.
• the combination of the second compartment walls CW2 and the elongate support rib(s) SR may provide particularly enhanced structural robustness to the base portion 60.
• the at least one longitudinal support rib comprises a first longitudinal support rib extending adjacent to the first side wall portion 64, and a second longitudinal support rib extending adjacent to the second side wall portion 66, with the first longitudinal support rib being spaced apart from the second longitudinal support rib.
• the at least one lateral support rib SR may comprise a first lateral support rib, and a second lateral support rib spaced apart from the first lateral support rib.
• both the longitudinal support rib(s) and the lateral support rib(s) are included in the base portion 60, for example in combination with the compartment walls CW comprising the first and second compartment walls CW1, CW2.
• Such a base portion 60 may benefit from being particularly robust, thereby facilitating fabrication of the cartridge 22, as well as conferring enhanced robustness on the manufactured cartridge 22.

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