Electric grooming appliance

1. A grooming appliance comprising:

a handle;

a grooming head detachably disposed on the handle, wherein the grooming head generates heat during operation of the appliance;

a cooling system disposed at least in part within the handle, wherein the cooling system comprises a thermoelectric cooling device for removing heat from the grooming head during operation of the appliance;

the grooming head having a plurality of spaced-apart thermally conductive terminals, and the handle having a plurality of corresponding thermally conductive terminals; and

wherein when the grooming head is attached to the handle, the plurality of spaced-apart thermally conductive terminals engages with the plurality of corresponding thermally conductive terminals at an interface between the grooming head and the handle.

2. An electric hair grooming appliance comprising:

a handle;

a motor housed within the handle;

a head detachably disposed on the handle, wherein the head comprises a blade set having a plurality of blades that cooperate to remove hair, at least one of the blades being operatively connected to the motor;

a cooling system disposed at least in part within the handle, wherein the cooling system comprises a thermoelectric cooling device for removing heat from the blade set during operation of the appliance;

the head having a plurality of spaced-apart thermally conductive terminals, and the handle having a plurality of corresponding thermally conductive terminals; and

wherein when the head is attached to the handle, the plurality of spaced-apart thermally conductive terminals engages with the plurality of corresponding thermally conductive terminals at an interface between the head and the handle.

3. The electric hair grooming appliance set forth in claim 2 wherein the thermoelectric cooling device is a Peltier device.

4. The electric hair grooming appliance set forth in claim 2 wherein the cooling system includes a heat sink situated in conductive heat transfer with the thermoelectric cooling device and disposed within the handle.

5. The electric hair grooming appliance set forth in claim 4 wherein the cooling system comprises a fan for exhausting heat from the handle.

6. The electric hair grooming appliance set forth in claim 2 wherein the cooling system includes a pad situated in conductive heat transfer between the blade set and the thermoelectric cooling device.

7. The electric hair grooming appliance set forth in claim 2 wherein the cooling system is completely contained within the handle.

8. The electric hair grooming appliance set forth in claim 2 wherein the appliance is an epilator such that the blades are configured for plucking hair.

9. The electric hair grooming appliance set forth in claim 2 wherein the appliance is a reciprocating shaver such that one of the blades is a foil blade.

10. The electric hair grooming appliance set forth in claim 2 wherein the appliance is a rotary shaver such that one of the blades is a cup-shaped, slotted blade.

11. The electric hair grooming appliance set forth in claim 2 wherein the appliance is a trimmer, the blades comprising a toothed stationary blade and a toothed movable blade.

12. The electric hair grooming appliance set forth in claim 11 wherein the head comprises a blade cartridge for supporting the blade set on the handle.

13. The electric hair grooming appliance set forth in claim 12 wherein the blade cartridge comprises a blade frame to which the stationary blade is fastened such that the movable blade is secured between the stationary blade and the blade frame.

14. The electric hair grooming appliance set forth in claim 13 wherein the head and the handle are configured for manual ejection of the head from the handle.

15. The electric hair grooming appliance set forth in claim 13 wherein the head and the handle are configured for automatic ejection of the head from the handle.

16. The electric hair grooming appliance set forth in claim 13 wherein the blade cartridge comprises a biasing element for biasing the movable blade against the stationary blade.

17. The electric hair grooming appliance set forth in claim 16 wherein the biasing element is a coil spring.

18. The electric hair grooming appliance set forth in claim 17 wherein the blade cartridge comprises a blade support disposed between the biasing element and the movable blade, the blade support comprising a follower for oscillating the movable blade.

19. The electric hair grooming appliance set forth in claim 18 wherein the movable blade comprises a groove, and the blade support comprises a finger inserted into the groove to facilitate guiding oscillation of the movable blade.

20. An electric hair grooming appliance comprising:

a handle;

a motor housed within the handle;

a head detachably connected to the handle, wherein the head comprises a blade set and a blade cartridge configured to support the blade set on the handle, the blade set comprising a toothed stationary blade and a toothed movable blade arranged in sliding, face-to-face contact with the stationary blade, wherein the blade cartridge comprises:

a blade frame to which the stationary blade is fastened;

a drive member on which the movable blade is seated, wherein the drive member comprises a follower configured to drive the movable blade into oscillation when the appliance is operated; and

a biasing assembly configured to bias the movable blade and the drive member toward the stationary blade, wherein the biasing assembly comprises a spring and a blade support seated on the spring for engaging the movable blade and guiding oscillation of the movable blade such that the movable blade, the drive member, and the biasing assembly are secured between the stationary blade and the blade frame; and

a cooling system comprising a heat sink and a Peltier device situated in conductive heat transfer with the heat sink and with at least one of the motor and the blade set such that the Peltier device is configured to transfer heat from the at least one of the motor and the blade set to the heat sink during operation of the appliance;

the head having a plurality of spaced-apart thermally conductive terminals, and the handle having a plurality of corresponding thermally conductive terminals; and

wherein when the head is attached to the handle, the plurality of spaced-apart thermally conductive terminals engages with the plurality of corresponding thermally conductive terminals at an interface between the head and the handle.