Hidden user interface panel for personal care appliances and method of making same

An oral cleaning device, comprising:

• a handle portion comprising a plurality of indicia and a plurality of illuminating elements;
• a brush head member positioned at one end of the handle portion;
• a mode select member;
• and
• a user interface assembly, the user interface assembly comprising an interface panel and a baffle assembly, the baffle assembly comprising a plurality of baffle sections wherein each of the plurality of baffle sections corresponds with a respective one of the plurality of illuminating elements and a respective one of the plurality of indicia, and further wherein each of the plurality of baffle sections comprises a cover portion covering the baffle section and positioned between the respective one of the plurality of illuminating elements and the respective one of the plurality of indicia, and further wherein the cover portion comprises a material that allows light from the respective one of the plurality of illuminating elements to pass through and prevents diffusion of the light to adjacent baffle sections;
• wherein the interface panel comprises:
• (i) a masking layer formed on an outer surface of the handle portion, the masking layer comprising one or more etched regions defining the plurality of indicia, and (ii) a light transmitting layer formed on the masking layer and etched regions;
• wherein the handle portion adjacent the user interface assembly is translucent, and further wherein the user interface assembly is configured such that when the oral cleaning device is powered off the interface panel is blank, and when the oral cleaning device is powered on, at least one of the plurality of indicia on the panel corresponding to a selected oral cleaning device mode is illuminated.

A method for manufacturing an interface panel of an oral cleaning device, the method comprising the steps of:

• inserting a baffle assembly inside a handle portion of the oral cleaning device, the handle portion comprising a plurality of indicia and a plurality of illuminating elements, the baffle assembly comprising a plurality of baffle sections, each of the plurality of baffle sections comprising a cover portion covering the baffle section and positioned between the respective one of the plurality of illuminating elements and the respective one of the plurality of indicia, and further wherein the cover portion comprises a material that allows light from the respective one of the plurality of illuminating elements to pass through and prevents diffusion of the light to adjacent baffle sections;
• applying a masking layer on an outer surface of the handle portion;
• etching at least a portion of the masking layer to create one or more etched regions defining the plurality of indicia;
• and
• applying a light transmitting layer over the masking layer and etched regions.