Electric hair trimmer for cutting hair at private part

Abstract

The present invention relates to a cutter head for a private part trimmer, the cutter head comprising a pair of cooperating cutter blades, each cutter blade having at least one row of comb-shaped cutting teeth for long hair cutting, the cutter blades comprising a lower cutter blade and an upper cutter blade, the upper cutter blade is closer to the skin contact surface than the lower cutter blade and is movable in a cutting direction along a cutting surface defined between the mating cutter blades. The cutting teeth of the movable upper cutter blade have a tooth tip having a cog angle greater than 100 degrees or greater than 110 degrees defined between a lower tooth side facing the cutting surface and a lower front side portion extending from the lower tooth side to a front end point defining a maximum longitudinal tooth extension.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to cutting body hair in sensitive skin areas, such as pubic hair trimming or body hair combing. More specifically, the invention relates to a cutter head for a pubic trimmer or body care container, the cutter head comprising a pair of mating cutter blades, each cutter blade having at least one row of comb-like cutting teeth for cutting long hair, the cutter blades including a lower cutter blade and an upper cutter blade, the upper cutter blade being movable in a cutting direction relative to the lower cutter blade along a cutting surface defined between the mating cutter blades. The invention also relates to a hair cutter, such as a pubic trimmer or body care container, the hair cutter comprising an elongated handle and the aforementioned cutter head attached to an end portion of the elongated handle. Background Technology

[0002] Electric razors and trimmers utilize various mechanisms to provide hair-cutting functionality. Some electric razors include a perforated cutting blade that engages with a bottom cutter that can move relative to it to cut hair that enters the perforations in the cutting blade. This type of blade-cutting razor is typically used daily to provide a clean shave where short, stubble beard stubble is cut close to the skin's surface.

[0003] On the other hand, other cutter systems that include a pair of mating comb-like cutting elements are typically used to cut longer stubble or curly body hair in intimate areas, or more generally body hair that is too long to be shaved with a shearing metal blade system. This pair of mating comb-like cutting elements has multiple comb-like or rake-like cutting teeth that reciprocate or rotate relative to each other. Depending on the type of driving motion, the teeth of such comb-like or rake-like cutting elements are generally parallel to each other or generally radially projecting, and can cut hair that enters the gaps between the cutting teeth, where cutting or shearing is achieved in a scissor-like manner as the cutting teeth of the mating elements close the gaps between the finger-like cutting teeth and pass over each other.

[0004] Such cutting systems for longer hair can be integrated into electric clipper containers or trimmers, which may also include the aforementioned shearing metal blade cutter. For example, there are electric trimmers or styling devices with a pair of such comb-like cutting elements spaced apart and facing away from each other, wherein the shearing metal blade system is arranged between the pair of rake-like cutting elements, see EP 4119 313 A1. Alternatively, only one row of such comb-like cutting elements may be provided, accompanied by a shearing metal blade system arranged on its tail side.

[0005] In such combined trimmers or grooming containers, different cutter systems can provide a two-step hair-cutting action in a single stroke. In the first cutting step, a rake-like cutting element cuts longer hairs, and in the second step, a shearing metal blade system cuts the remaining stubble after the first step. This two-step cutting can be achieved in a single movement because the shearing metal blade system is positioned on the rear or tail side of the long hair cutter. Therefore, as the cutter head moves across the skin in a direction substantially perpendicular to the extensions of a row of rake-like cutting teeth, the shearing metal blade system follows the comb-like cutting element and shaves the area of ​​skin just passed by the comb-like cutting teeth. Thus, the rake-like cutting teeth form a pre-cutter unit, and the shearing metal blade system forms a final or subsequent cutter unit or a post-cutter unit.

[0006] For effective cutting in a shearing metal sheet system, the hair stubble left by the rake-like cutting element needs to be short enough to enter the perforation of the shearing metal sheet cutter, preferably less than 1 mm in length. However, to cut such short hair, the user needs to move the cutter head with the rake-like cutting element very close to the skin, creating a risk of the sharp rake-like cutting element interfering with the skin and causing irritation, small cuts, and similar micro-damage. This risk increases when using a hair cutter in sensitive skin areas, such as the genital area, where the skin is very soft and tends to bulge and thus get caught by the sharp tip of the rake-like cutting element. This problem of skin wrapping around the tips of the rake-like cutting element, even when the upper cutter blade in the mating cutter blade remains stationary, can also lead to skin irritation and damage, which is exacerbated by cutter systems with driven (e.g., reciprocating) upper cutter blades.

[0007] To keep the cutting element at a certain distance from the skin, a distance comb can be attached to the cutter head. This distance comb may include multiple ribs that extend substantially parallel to the preferred or natural direction of movement of the cutter head on the skin. For example, for the aforementioned rake-like cutting element used to cut longer hair in a scissor-like manner, the ribs of the distance comb may be oriented perpendicular to a row of teeth on such a rake-like cutting element. Such a distance comb can be used to control the length of hair remaining on the skin after cutting; for example, a distance comb with ribs defining a skin contact surface 3 mm away from the rake-like cutting element can be used to achieve a hair cut leaving a 3 mm length of hair on the skin. On the other hand, when the hair clipper is used by less experienced users, such a distance comb also serves to protect sensitive skin from irritation such as cuts, nicks, or abrasions. For example, when using a hair clipper to cut hair in intimate areas of the body with very soft and sensitive skin (which tends to easily penetrate the cutting element), such a distance comb is a helpful protector.

[0008] However, such cutter heads are sometimes used without any protective comb in order to increase cutting efficiency and allow hair to be cut very short or used for very precise trimming of hair contours. Using a cutter head without a protective comb, of course, increases the risk of skin irritation and injury (such as skin cuts). To mitigate this risk, the mating cutter blades typically consist of a fixed blade and a movable or reciprocating blade, wherein the upper cutter blade, which is closer to the skin contact surface, is selected as the fixed blade, see EP 29 39 802 B1 and EP 31 31 711 B1.

[0009] EP 29 39 802 B1 further discloses a movable upper cutter blade with cutting teeth having a tooth tip having a blunt tooth tip angle of 160°, the blunt tooth tip angle being defined between a lower tooth side facing the cutting surface and a lower front side portion extending from the lower tooth side to a tip point, the tip point defining the maximum longitudinal tooth extension. It has been found that such a large blunt tooth tip angle significantly reduces the ability to cut hair or reduces hair cutting efficiency because the hair is pushed aside before it can be potentially cut.

[0010] The disadvantage of the arrangement of EP 31 31 711 B1 is that the particularly thin skin provided in the genital area can still be cut by the cutting element. In addition, the hair cutting efficiency is low because the design of the protective comb pushes a lot of hair to one side.

[0011] With this setup, the fixed cutter blade, which forms part of the skin contact surface when using a cutter head without a protective comb, can protect the skin from contact with the reciprocating or moving cutter blade. Therefore, the tendency for the skin to wrap around the moving teeth and thus enter the cutting area is reduced to some extent.

[0012] However, for several reasons, it may be desirable to move or reciprocate the upper cutter blade closer to the skin contact surface. Such an upper cutter blade is positioned opposite and / or away from the shank connection portion of the lower cutter blade to the cutter head, and thus on the side of the lower cutter blade away from the shank. In other words, the upper cutter blade is above the lower cutter blade and therefore closer to the skin contact surface. For example, when the upper cutter blade moves, difficult-to-comb hairs, such as curly hairs or hairs lying flat on the skin, are activated or fluffed to some extent, thus improving cutting performance. Furthermore, as the upper cutter blade, closer to the skin, is moving, the lower cutter blade, whose teeth protrude beyond the upper teeth, can more easily enter the gap between adjacent hairs, and considering the normal direction of movement of the cutter head, there is no lateral movement and therefore not much hair deflection, which helps the hair enter the cutter gap between adjacent teeth.

[0013] To achieve at least some skin protection as the upper cutter blade moves closer to the skin, it has been proposed to provide thickened ends projecting towards the skin at the tips of the teeth of the lower fixed cutter blade to push the skin away from the movable teeth of the upper cutter blade, see EP 1 963 057 B1. However, pushing the skin away from the movable teeth of the upper cutter blade is detrimental to cutting efficiency and prevents the cutter head from cutting the hair very short. Summary of the Invention

[0014] A fundamental objective of this invention is to provide an improved hair cutter that allows for improved pubic hair cutting or body hair combing in sensitive skin areas. More specifically, it is desirable to achieve effective body hair combing or pubic hair cutting without sacrificing skin protection and safety against skin irritation or damage.

[0015] Another object of the present invention is to provide reliable skin protection for a blade set that includes a movable upper cutter blade closer to the skin to allow for effective short hair cutting without skin irritation when using a cutter head without a protective comb.

[0016] To achieve at least one of the foregoing objectives, it is proposed that the tips of the movable teeth of the movable upper blade be shaped to have an overhang profile when viewed from the skin side or from the skin-facing upper tooth side. More specifically, the cutting teeth of the movable upper cutter blade may have tips with a blunt tip angle greater than 100° or greater than 110° and less than 150° or less than 140°, the blunt tip angle being defined between a lower tooth side of the cutting surface facing the mating cutter blades and a lower anterior side extending from said lower tooth side to the tip tip's leading edge, the leading edge defining the maximum longitudinal tooth extension.

[0017] Due to the sloping, concave lower anterior side of the movable upper tooth tip, the tendency for the skin to be captured in the cutting area at the movable tooth tip is reduced, even when the skin is raised and wrapped around the movable tooth tip to some extent, because the skin may not follow the overhang contour and is therefore prevented from reaching the contact point of the movable upper tooth tip with the lower tooth.

[0018] Depending on the rounding of the tooth tip, such a leading point of the tooth tip does not need to be a single point in a strictly mathematical sense, but can represent a line on the tooth tip profile that defines the maximum longitudinal tooth extension. For example, when the tooth tip is spherically rounded or multi-axially rounded, the leading point can actually be a single point, while in the case of rounding only in a plane perpendicular to the cutting surface, the tooth tip can have a blunt front side when viewed from above, and therefore a straight leading point line that can be parallel to the cutting direction. However, the leading point represents this straight leading point line because it is a point on that line that defines the maximum longitudinal tooth extension. The leading point can be seen when the tooth tip is viewed in a direction parallel to the cutting direction.

[0019] The blunt tooth tip angle can be in the range of 100° to 150°, 100° to 140°, 110° to 140°, 110° to 130°, or more specifically 115° to 125°, to combine reliable skin protection with greater efficiency in cutting hair short.

[0020] Due to the inclination of the lower front surface of the tooth tip, the maximum length of the moving upper tooth is not limited to the cutting surface, but rather above it. When considering the aforementioned tip point of the maximum longitudinal tooth extension of the cutting tooth of the movable upper cutter blade, which defines the tooth tip, such a tip point can be spaced apart from the cutting surface between the mating cutter blades, and thus from the upper surface of the lower cutter blade, by a distance that can correspond to approximately 10% to 90%, 20% to 80%, or 25% to 75% of the thickness of the cutting tooth of the movable upper cutter blade, which can be measured in the area between the lower and upper tooth sides where the cutting tooth of the lower cutter blade contacts the lower tooth side.

[0021] The upper front side of the cutting tooth tip extending from the aforementioned tip point to the upper tooth side of the movable upper cutter blade may be rounded to further prevent skin irritation. This upper front side may, together with the aforementioned lower front side, define an obtuse angle at the tip point greater than 100° or greater than 110°, or within the range of 110° to 140° or 125° to 135°. When considering the rounded profile of the upper front side, such an obtuse angle may define the direction of inclination or tangential direction of the upper front side extending from the tip point.

[0022] These and other advantages become more apparent from the following description with reference to the accompanying drawings and possible examples. Attached Figure Description

[0023] Figure 1 : A perspective view of a pubic hair trimmer, including the cutter head attached to the end portion of the elongated handle.

[0024] Figure 2 : Figure 1 A perspective view of the cutter head of a hair trimmer, which shares a cutter head frame and a connection portion where the cutter head will be attached to the handle.

[0025] Figure 3 : Figure 2 A top-plan view of the cutter head shows the shearing system for the metal sheet located in the central section, and the comb-shaped cutting teeth on opposite sides of the shearing system.

[0026] Figure 4 : Figure 2 and Figure 3 A perspective view of the cutter head, showing the arrangement of the comb-shaped cutting teeth and the system for shearing thin metal sheets.

[0027] Figure 5 A partially enlarged top view of the comb-like teeth of the cutting blade used for trimming long hair, showing the geometry of the teeth and the cutting grooves between them.

[0028] Figure 6 Top view of the overlapping teeth of the upper and lower cutter blades.

[0029] Figure 7 Along Figure 6 The image shows a cross-sectional view of a pair of mating teeth of the upper and lower cutter blades, taken from line GG. The cross-sectional view illustrates the overhanging tooth tip profile of the cutting tooth of the upper cutter blade.

[0030] Figure 8 Similar to Figure 7 A cross-sectional view of a pair of mating cutting teeth of the upper and lower cutter blades, but cut in the area of ​​the cutter groove between the teeth.

[0031] Figure 9 Similar to Figure 7 Cross-sectional view of the mating cutting teeth.

[0032] Figure 10 : An enlarged cross-sectional view of the cutting teeth of the lower cutter blade, wherein the cross-sectional view is taken in a plane passing through the cutter groove to show the side surfaces of the cutting teeth.

[0033] Figure 11 Perspective view of a movable upper cutter blade including two rows of cutting teeth.

[0034] Figure 12 : Figure 11 A partial perspective view of the cutting teeth of a cutter blade, showing the rounded, overhanging tooth tip profile.

[0035] Figure 13 Cross-sectional view of the cutting teeth of the movable upper cutter blade, showing the obtuse angle defined between the lower front portion and the upper front portion of the tooth tip.

[0036] Figure 14 Perspective view of a pubic hair trimmer with a protective attachment for the clipper head attached to the trimmer.

[0037] Figure 15 Perspective view of the cutter head and attached protective attachment removed from the handle of the hair trimmer.

[0038] Figure 16 : A perspective view of a cutter head without protective attachments, illustrating a cutter system comprising two rows of rake-like cutting teeth and a sheet metal shearing system positioned between the two rows of cutting teeth.

[0039] Figure 17 : A perspective view of the protective attachment, showing two rows of protective teeth on opposite sides of the attachment frame.

[0040] Figure 18 Similar to Figure 3 The perspective view of the cutter head in the view, but Figure 4 The protective accessory is attached to the cutter head.

[0041] Figure 19 Front view of the cutter head with protective attachment attached.

[0042] Figure 20 Cutter head and protective accessories along Figure 6 The cross-sectional view of line AA in the middle.

[0043] Figure 21 : The cutter head, and more specifically, the cutter head is composed of Figure 7 A magnified cross-sectional view of the portion marked with the shaded circle B in the image.

[0044] Figure 22 Similar to Figure 8 The view shows an enlarged partial cross-sectional view of the cutter head and the mounted protective attachment, illustrating the positioning of the rake-like cutting teeth and the contour of the skin-contact surface of the cutter head with two virtual tangential planes.

[0045] Figure 23: A side view of the protective teeth of the protective attachment in a partial view, illustrating the rounded outline of the protective teeth at the edge away from the rake-shaped cutting teeth.

[0046] Figure 24 The image shows a top-plan view of the cutter head, illustrating the positioning of multiple rows of guard teeth in front of multiple rows of cutting teeth and the entirely free axes of the shearing system for thin metal sheets.

[0047] Figure 25 : A side view of the protective teeth of the protective attachment in a partial view, illustrating the inclined skin contact surface on the top side of the teeth. Detailed Implementation

[0048] To achieve reliable skin protection for the blade assembly including a movable upper cutter blade that is closer to the skin than the lower cutter blade, the tips of the moving teeth of the movable upper blade have an overhang profile when viewed from the skin side or from the skin-facing upper tooth side. More specifically, the cutting teeth of the movable upper cutter blade may have tips with a blunt tooth tip angle greater than 100° or greater than 110°, which is defined between the lower tooth side facing the cutting surface between the mating cutter blades and a lower anterior side extending from the lower tooth side to the tip tip, the tip point defining the maximum longitudinal tooth extension.

[0049] The sloping, concave lower anterior side of the movable upper tooth tip helps reduce the tendency of the skin to be trapped in the cutting area at the tip of the movable tooth, even when the skin is raised and wrapped around the tip of the movable tooth to some extent, because the skin may not follow the overhang contour and is therefore prevented from reaching the contact point of the movable upper tooth tip with the lower tooth.

[0050] The blunt tooth tip angle can be in the range of 100° to 140° or 110° to 130° or more specifically 115° to 125° to combine reliable skin protection with greater efficiency in cutting hair short.

[0051] Due to the aforementioned inclination of the lower front surface of the tooth tip, the maximum length of the moving upper tooth is not directly limited to the cutting surface, but rather horizontally above the cutting surface. More specifically, the aforementioned tip point of the cutting tooth of the movable upper cutter blade can be spaced apart from the cutting surface between the mating cutter blades, and thus spaced apart from the upper surface of the lower cutter blade by a distance that can correspond to approximately 10% to 90%, 20% to 80%, or 25% to 75% of the thickness of the cutting tooth, which can be measured in the area between the lower and upper tooth sides where the cutting tooth of the lower cutter blade contacts the lower tooth side.

[0052] The upper front side of the cutting tooth tip extending from the aforementioned tip point to the upper tooth side of the movable upper cutter blade may be rounded to further prevent skin irritation. This upper front side, together with the aforementioned lower front side, may define an obtuse angle greater than 100° or greater than 110°, or within the range of 110° to 140° or 125° to 135° at the tip point in the longitudinal midplane of the tooth perpendicular to the cutting direction. When considering the rounded profile of the upper front side, such an obtuse angle may define the oblique or tangential direction of the upper front side extending from the tip point.

[0053] Due to the overhanging profile of the tip of the movable upper cutting tooth, a stepped recess is formed on the front of the tip of the movable upper cutting tooth between the tip and the upper side of the lower cutting tooth of the lower cutter blade. This stepped recess can define an acute angle of less than 80° or less than 70°, which can be measured between the upper tooth side of the lower cutter blade's cutting tooth that protrudes beyond the protruding portion of the upper cutter blade's cutting tooth and the aforementioned lower front portion of the tip of the upper cutter blade's cutting tooth.

[0054] More specifically, the acute angle at the tip of the upper cutting tooth and the recess in front of the upper tooth side of the lower tooth can be in the range of 50° to 70° or 55° to 65°. Due to this acute angle at the recess, the cutting area at the tip of the movable cutting tooth is sufficiently recessed from the front end of the cutting tooth to achieve reliable skin protection, while on the other hand, the length of the cutting tooth of the movable upper cutter blade is still largely utilized, and therefore the cutting efficiency remains high.

[0055] The aforementioned lower front portion of the cutting teeth of the upper cutter blade can be substantially planar.

[0056] The cutting teeth of the lower cutter blade can protrude beyond the tips of the cutting teeth of the movable upper cutter blade by a certain distance in the longitudinal tooth direction. This protrusion distance can be in the range of approximately 50% to 150% or 75% to 130% of the overlap length of the teeth.

[0057] This overlap length defines the overlap portion along which the cutting teeth of the upper cutter blade actually contact the cutting teeth of the lower cutter blade in the longitudinal tooth direction. In other words, this overlap length defines the length of the cutting zone in which the cutting action is achieved by the teeth sliding over each other in a scissor-like manner.

[0058] Because of this considerable protrusion of the lower teeth beyond the upper teeth, when considering the normal feed motion of the cutter head along the skin—that is, as the cutter head moves forward along the skin with a row of comb-like teeth—the fixed cutting teeth of the lower cutter blade can penetrate the gaps between the hairs to be cut, so as to properly groom the hairs before entering the cutting zone. For example, the protrusion of the lower teeth can make the hairs lying flat on the skin stand up or straighten before they enter the gaps or cutting grooves defining the cutting zone between adjacent teeth.

[0059] In addition, when using a cutter head without a protective comb, this protruding portion of the lower teeth can also form part of the skin contact surface, wherein this portion of the skin contact surface defined by the lower teeth can help straighten the skin or prevent excessive bulging of the skin before it comes into contact with the movable teeth of the movable upper cutter blade.

[0060] Specifically, the cutting teeth of the lower cutter blade have a tooth width at their tip portion that ranges from about 0.5 mm to about 1 mm, or from about 0.5 mm to about 0.75 mm, or from about 0.6 mm to about 0.7 mm in the cutting direction and therefore transverse to the aforementioned feed movement of the cutter head. This tooth width at its tip portion allows the cutting teeth of the lower cutter blade to easily enter between hairs that are typically spaced apart from each other, a distance that allows the cutting teeth with this tooth tip width to pass between adjacent hairs.

[0061] Regardless of the tooth width, the cutting teeth of the lower cutter blade define a cutter groove between each other. This cutter groove has a groove width that, when measured in the area of ​​the tooth tips of the upper cutter blade, can range from about 0.2 mm to about 0.4 mm, or about 0.25 mm to about 0.36 mm, or about 0.30 mm to about 0.36 mm. This cutter groove width of the lower cutter blade ensures high cutting efficiency and reliably prevents skin from penetrating the cutter groove deep enough to reach the cutting area, even when the skin is raised.

[0062] The tooth width of the cutting teeth of the upper cutter blade in the cutting direction may differ from the tooth width of the cutting teeth of the lower cutter blade. More specifically, when measured in the middle portion of the cutting surface (where the cutting teeth of the upper and lower cutter blades are in contact with each other), the tooth width of the cutting teeth of the movable upper cutter blade may range from about 33% to about 66% or from about 40% to about 60% of the tooth width of the cutting teeth of the lower cutter blade.

[0063] Regardless of the tooth width, the cutting teeth of the movable upper cutter blade can define a cutter groove between each other, which is in the range of about 120% to 150% or 125% to 135% of the tooth width of the cutting teeth of the upper cutter blade.

[0064] When comparing the upper and lower cutter blades, the cutting teeth can be arranged with different tooth pitches. More specifically, the cutting teeth of the upper cutter blade can be spaced apart from each other by a pitch smaller than that of the cutting teeth of the lower cutter blade. For example, the tooth pitch of the movable upper cutter blade can be in the range of about 75% to 95% or about 80% to about 90% of the tooth pitch of the cutting teeth of the lower cutter blade. In other words, the cutting teeth of the upper cutter blade can be positioned closer to each other than the cutting teeth of the lower cutter blade, or the tooth density, i.e., the number of teeth per unit length, can be higher at the movable upper cutter blade than at the lower cutter blade.

[0065] Given the aforementioned range of tooth widths for the upper and lower cutter blades and the width of the cutter groove, it is still essentially possible for strongly raised skin to enter the cutter groove when the cutter blades are not moving relative to each other. However, the skin needs some time to change its contour, and more specifically, the skin may not immediately bulge. This is particularly relevant because it is the upper cutter blade that is moving, as the movable upper cutter blade continuously pushes the skin away due to its cutting movement.

[0066] To reliably prevent skin from entering the cutter slot and being cut in the cutting area, the movable upper cutter blade can be driven or reciprocated at a frequency greater than 75 Hz or greater than 90 Hz. For example, the reciprocating frequency can be in the range of 80 Hz to 170 Hz or 80 Hz to 130 Hz, so as to allow hair to properly enter the cutter slot and prevent the movable teeth from boxing away hair attempting to enter, and on the other hand, to sufficiently push away the skin to prevent it from entering the cutter slot.

[0067] To enhance this functionality, the cutting teeth of the movable upper cutter blade may have a pair of side surfaces that are opposite each other and extend transversely to the cutting direction. These side surfaces may be inclined at an acute angle of less than 85° or less than 80°, or within the range of 70° to 80°, relative to the lower tooth side facing the cutting surface. In other words, the cutting teeth of the upper cutter blade may taper towards their upper tooth side, wherein the aforementioned acute angle of the side surface relative to the lower tooth side makes the cutting edge sufficiently sharp to achieve effective hair cutting, and on the other hand, makes the side surfaces sufficiently steep to prevent raised skin from entering the cutting area, especially when the upper blade is reciprocated at a sufficient frequency.

[0068] To further enhance skin protection for less experienced users, the trimmer can be used with a protective comb attached to the cutter head, despite having the geometry of the skin-protecting teeth as described above. More specifically, the cutter head can be provided with a protective attachment that partially forms the skin-contact surface of the cutter head, such that the rake-like cutting teeth are slightly recessed from the skin-contact surface formed by the protective attachment.

[0069] Advantageously, the protective accessory may include a row of comb-like protective teeth arranged along the front side of the cutting teeth opposite to the shearing sheet system on the rear or tail side of the shearing sheet system. The comb-like cutting teeth may be positioned in countersunk locations below the virtual tangential plane of the shearing sheet system and the protective accessory's comb-like protective teeth. Thus, the skin traveling over the cutter head is guided in a bridge-like manner to flow or slide on the tips of the cutting teeth, wherein the protective teeth of the protective accessory on the front side of the cutting teeth and the shearing sheet system on the rear side of the cutting teeth form a bridge abutment. Due to the countersunk location of the cutting teeth on the rear side of the protective teeth, skin is reliably prevented from wrapping around the tooth tips, even when the protective teeth bulge towards the cutter head between the protective teeth and the shearing sheet system. In a strictly mathematical sense, such a virtual tangential plane may, but need not, be precisely tangent to the shearing metal sheet system and the protective teeth, i.e., having a contact line or contact point on each of the shearing metal sheet system and the row of protective teeth. However, such a tangential plane may, for example, contact or lie on the row of protective teeth and be spaced a small distance from the shearing metal sheet to almost contact the shearing metal sheet, or it may be slightly inclined at a small angle relative to a plane that is tangent in a strictly mathematical sense.

[0070] Advantageously, the row of protective teeth and the shearing metal blade system can together form part of the skin contact surface of the cutter head, wherein the skin contact surface may have a recess or deepening between the row of protective teeth and the shearing metal blade system for skin elevation, wherein the row of cutting teeth for cutting long hair is arranged in the recess. This arrangement of the cutting teeth in the recess of the skin contact surface of the cutter head allows the skin to bulge towards the cutter head, and thus ensures firm skin contact with the shearing metal blade system, while still preventing the skin from wrapping around the tooth tips.

[0071] When considering the movement of the cutter head over the skin portion, this movement can have a longitudinally extending direction substantially perpendicular to a row of cutting teeth (where the cutting teeth face forward), allowing the skin to bulge towards the cutter head to a certain extent behind the comb-like cutting teeth (i.e., after having passed the guard teeth and cutting teeth), so that the skin can make firm contact with the subsequent shearing metal sheet system, and thus the left stub can reliably enter the perforation of the shearing metal sheet system, while the countersunk hole positioning of the cutting teeth prevents the skin from wrapping around the tooth tips.

[0072] The offset of the cutting teeth from the aforementioned virtual tangential plane to the countersunk hole position can be quite small and can be adapted to the size of the perforation in the shearing metal sheet system. More specifically, the offset into the countersunk hole position can substantially correspond to the diameter of the perforation or can be slightly smaller than the diameter of the perforation, so as to allow the stubble of hair on the left side to reliably enter the perforation in the shearing metal sheet system, and on the other hand, to keep the skin at a sufficient distance from the tips of the rake-like cutting element to avoid skin irritation and damage.

[0073] For example, the offset of the rake-shaped cutter element from the virtual tangential plane can be in the range of 25% to 125%, or 33% to 100%, or 50% to 95%, or 66% to 95%, or 75% to 95% of the diameter of the perforation in the shearing metal sheet system.

[0074] For example, this offset distance can be in the range of, for example, 0.1mm to 0.6mm or 0.3mm to 0.5mm.

[0075] The perforations in the shearing sheet of the shearing metal sheet system can have a diameter or maximum width of about 0.4 mm to 0.6 mm or about 0.5 mm.

[0076] In order to allow hair to reliably enter the channel-like recesses between the cutting teeth even though the protective teeth of the protective attachment are positioned in front of the cutting teeth (when considering the direction of travel of the cutter head on the skin), the number of protective teeth of the protective attachment can be less than the number of cutting teeth, so as to provide additional space between the protective teeth and make it easier for hair to pass through the protective teeth.

[0077] More specifically, the number of protective teeth can range from only 20% to 80% or 25% to 50% of the number of cutting teeth. Due to this reduction in the number of protective teeth, there is less obstruction in front of the row of cutting teeth through which the hair to be cut will pass. In other words, although the protective teeth of the protective attachment are positioned in front of the cutting teeth, the attachment does not block the cutting teeth, and more specifically, does not prevent hair from entering the gaps between the cutting teeth. However, this reduction in the number of protective teeth may be sufficient to prevent skin from wrapping around the tips of the teeth.

[0078] To further reduce this obstruction effect and keep the access channel unobstructed, the protective teeth of the protective accessory can be arranged with a tooth pitch that is an integer multiple of the tooth pitch of the cutting teeth.

[0079] More specifically, the guard teeth can be arranged such that they are positioned in front of every other one, every two, or every three fixed cutting teeth of the rake-like cutting teeth of the mating cutter blade. This alignment of the guard teeth with the fixed teeth of the fixed cutter blade maximizes the width of the channel through which hair enters the gap between the cutting teeth, and thus minimizes the likelihood of hair deflecting away from the cutting edge of the cutting teeth, and thus minimizes the likelihood of hair being blocked from entering the cutting area of ​​the mating cutter blade.

[0080] To allow the shearing metal blade system to effectively cut the stubble of hair left by the mating cutter blades, and thus to allow for a clean hair cut in just one pass, a protective attachment may be formed only outside the central cutter head region, where at least the shearing metal blade system is positioned to allow for firm skin contact with the shearing metal blade system. Specifically, the protective attachment does not include any protective ribs extending above the shearing metal blade system.

[0081] More generally, when considering the viewing direction of the aforementioned virtual tangential plane perpendicular to the protective teeth of the shearing metal sheet system and the protective attachment, at least the shearing metal sheet system is completely unobstructed by the protective attachment.

[0082] More specifically, the central cutter head region, unobstructed by the protective attachment, may be slightly larger than the outline of the sheet metal shearing cutter system. More specifically, the protective attachment may be formed only outside the central cutter head region, which includes the sheet metal shearing system and at least one row of cutting teeth; or, when a pair of rows of cutting teeth are provided, the sheet metal shearing system plus the two rows of cutting teeth.

[0083] According to another embodiment, the skin contact support may be disposed between the shearing metal sheet system and the at least one row of cutting teeth, wherein a deepening portion may be disposed between the skin contact support and the shearing metal sheet system, and / or the deepening portion may be disposed between the skin contact support and the row of cutting teeth. Such a skin contact support may have a ribbed, elongated profile and may extend along the rear side of the cutting teeth.

[0084] For example, elongated grooves or chamfered recesses may be provided on both sides of the skin contact support that extends along the edge portion of the shearing metal sheet system. Such a skin contact support between the shearing metal sheet system and adjacent or neighboring rows of cutting teeth can form another bridging support that guides the skin onto the rake-like cutting teeth even when soft skin bulges towards the cutter head. More specifically, the skin contact surface can form a stop for bulging skin and shorten the distance between the protective teeth of one attachment and the surface of the shearing metal sheet system on the other side of the free skin bulge.

[0085] Such a skin contact surface can form part of the skin contact surface of the cutter head, wherein such a portion of the skin contact surface, formed by a skin contact support, can be formed to be tangential to or adjacent to a virtual tangential plane on one side of the shearing metal sheet system and on the other side of the row of cutting teeth. Therefore, the skin contact support prevents the skin from protruding deeper than the upper surface of the cutting teeth. Because the protective teeth of the protective attachment on the other side of the cutting teeth are raised relative to the upper surface of the cutting teeth, the skin contact support has a surface tangential to a plane that contacts the upper surface of the cutting teeth on one side and the shearing metal sheet system on the other side. This skin contact support effectively prevents the skin from contacting the cutting teeth and, on the other hand, allows the cutting teeth to approach the skin to cut long hair short enough.

[0086] The tangential plane defining the contour and orientation of the skin contact support differs from the aforementioned first virtual tangential plane used to define the countersunk hole position of the cutting teeth. As mentioned earlier, the first virtual tangential plane is defined by contacting the protective teeth of the protective accessory on one side and the shearing foil system on the other. In contrast, the second virtual tangential plane defining the contour or orientation of the skin contact support is also defined by contacting the upper surface of the cutting teeth on one side and the shearing foil system on the other.

[0087] The skin contact support may have a skin contact surface that is substantially flat and inclined such that it is substantially tangent to the aforementioned second virtual tangential plane.

[0088] On the other hand, the protective teeth of the protective accessory may also have a substantially flat top surface, which may be oriented to be substantially tangent to the aforementioned first virtual tangential plane, which is defined by contact with the shearing metal sheet system and a row of protective teeth.

[0089] To allow for smooth gliding or sliding on the skin, the protective teeth of the attachment may have rounded outer edges. Such outer edges may be the edges of the protective teeth that are opposite to a row of cutting teeth. More specifically, the rounded edges may be the leading edges of the protective teeth, when considering the direction of travel of the cutter head moving the protective teeth on the skin in front of the rake-like cutting teeth.

[0090] The rounded front edges of the protective teeth of the protective attachment can connect to root surfaces that are inclined at an acute angle to each other, the acute angle ranging from approximately 60° to 90°, 70° to 89°, or 75° to 85°. This acute angle helps combine the slender, compact size of the protective teeth with the smooth gliding of the protective attachment on the skin. This slender, compact size facilitates reliable and direct entry of hair into the gaps between the rake-like cutting teeth.

[0091] Both mating cutter blades with the rake-like cutting teeth can be movable and driven by a drive unit, where having one fixed cutter blade and one driven cutter blade may be advantageous. For example, the upper cutter blade, which is closer to the skin than the lower cutter blade, can be fixed, and the lower cutter blade can be driven, for example, in a reciprocating linear or rotary manner. On the other hand, according to one aspect, the upper cutter blade can be driven, while the lower cutter blade, which is further away from the skin, can be fixed. Due to the efficient protection of the protective attachment, the upper cutter blade can be reciprocated without sacrificing skin protection.

[0092] To allow for safe use by less experienced users and to maximize performance for experienced users, the protective accessory can be releasably attached to or snap-fitted into the cutter head frame with the cutter head. The releasable attachment element of the protective accessory also allows for easy cleaning.

[0093] As mentioned, the cutter head may have only one row of rake-like cutting teeth. Alternatively, in order to allow the cutter head to travel in two opposite directions on the skin, the cutter head may be provided with two rows of rake-like cutting teeth that are opposite to and spaced apart from each other, wherein the shearing metal sheet system is positioned between the two rows of cutting teeth.

[0094] Regardless of the number of rows of cutting teeth, the protective attachment can have a substantially annular construction, wherein the protective attachment may include an annular attachment frame with two rows of protective teeth arranged along opposite frame legs. Even when used with an attachment for a cutter head having only one row of rake-like cutting teeth, a protective attachment with two rows of protective teeth is useful to prevent beginners from attaching the attachment in the wrong orientation and to eliminate the need for an attachment key that allows attachment in only one orientation. Furthermore, the same protective attachment can be used with cutter heads having only one row of cutting teeth as well as cutter heads having a pair of rows of cutting teeth.

[0095] When the cutter head has two rows of cutting teeth that are back-to-back and spaced apart from each other, protective teeth along the opposing frame legs of the annular attachment frame can be positioned along the front side of the two rows of cutting teeth. The attachment frame can be configured to extend around the shearing metal sheet system and around the two rows of cutting teeth, wherein the protective teeth are arranged in front of the two rows of cutting teeth.

[0096] As from Figure 1 and Figure 2As can be seen, the cutter head 3 can be attached to the handle 2 of the electric body care container or intimate area trimmer 1. More specifically, the care container and / or trimmer 1 may include an elongated handle 2 that houses electronic and / or electric components such as a control unit, an electric drive motor or a magnetic drive motor, and a transmission system 130 for transmitting the drive action of the motor to the cutter system 19 in the cutter head 3 (see [link]). Figure 21 and Figure 22 The cutter head 3 can be positioned at one end of the elongated handle 2, see [reference]. Figure 1 .

[0097] The cutter system 19 includes a pair of mating cutter blades 4 and 5, and also includes a sheet metal shearing system 11, wherein, for example, the cutter system 19 may have at least one row 10 of mating rake-like cutting teeth 8, 9, which may be positioned along the edge portion of the sheet metal shearing cutter 12.

[0098] The cutting teeth of row 10 can reciprocate relative to each other along a linear path defined by a cutting direction 35. See [link / reference] Figure 3 and Figure 4 This allows the cutting action to be achieved by closing the gap between the teeth and passing them over each other. Alternatively, the cutter system may also include cutting teeth aligned in a circle and / or arranged radially. Such rotary cutting elements may have substantially radially projecting cutting teeth, wherein the cutting elements can be driven to rotate and / or oscillate relative to each other. When rotating and / or oscillating, cyclically closing and reopening the gap between adjacent teeth and passing them over each other like scissors, the cutting action is substantially similar to that of a reciprocating cutting element, such as radially extending teeth.

[0099] like Figure 5 and Figure 22 As illustrated, the upper cutter blade 4 of the pair of cutter blades 4, 5 can be driven, while the lower cutter blade 5 of the mating cutter blades 4, 5 can be fixed, i.e., not driven by a motor. The transmission device of the aforementioned transmission system 130 can transmit the driving action to the upper cutter blade 4, causing the upper cutter blade 4 to reciprocate. See [link to relevant documentation]. Figure 22 .

[0100] The sheet metal shearing system 11 may include a sheet metal shearing cutter 12, which includes a perforated sheet metal shearing device forming an upper cutter element and a lower cutter element. The lower cutter element includes a plurality of blade-shaped cutting shoulders that contact and slide on the lower or inner surface of the sheet metal shearing device. See [link to documentation]. Figure 22 This illustrates a perforation with a diameter of 24 in perforation 17 of a sheared metal sheet. For example... Figure 22As illustrated, the shearing metal sheet cutter 12 may have a curved upper surface that forms a cylindrical or elongated convex surface, see [reference needed]. Figure 16 .

[0101] Similar to the reciprocating motion of the cutter blades 4 and 5 relative to each other, the shearing metal sheet cutter 12 can also be driven in a reciprocating motion, wherein the lower cutter driven by the transmission mechanism of the transmission system 130 can reciprocate along a long linear path 35. Therefore, the reciprocating motion of the cutter blades 4 and 5 on one hand and the reciprocating motion of the shearing metal sheet cutter 12 on the other hand can be parallel to each other and / or parallel to the longitudinal axis of the cutter head 3, see [reference needed]. Figure 3 and Figure 4 .

[0102] As from Figure 3 and Figure 22 As can be seen, the upper surface of the shearing metal sheet system 11 can form part of the skin contact surface 14 of the cutter head 3.

[0103] When using a hair cutter 1 without the protective accessory 6, the outer cutting element or upper cutting element 4 of the cutting elements 4 and 5 may also define a portion of the skin contact surface 14 of the cutter head 3 at the front end portion of the cutter head 3, see [link to relevant documentation]. Figure 3 and Figure 4 as well as Figure 16 .

[0104] On the other hand, when the protective accessory 6 is attached to the cutter head 3, it is not the upper cutting element / outer cutting element 4 itself, but rather this protective accessory 6, together with the shearing metal sheet system 11, that defines the skin contact surface 14 of the cutter system, see [link to relevant documentation]. Figure 16 and Figure 19 More specifically, the surface of the comb 6 that is away from the handle 2 or away from the cutting elements 4, 5 can define the skin contact surface 14, see [link to relevant documentation]. Figure 5 , Figure 8 and Figure 9 When protective accessory 6 is installed, another portion of the skin contact surface remains defined by the shear metal sheet system 11.

[0105] As from Figure 3 and Figure 4 As can be seen, the cutter system 19 may include two rows 10 of cutting teeth 8, 9, spaced apart from each other, wherein the sheet metal shearing system 11 is positioned between the two rows 10 of cutting teeth 8, 9. The two rows 10 of cutting teeth 8, 9 are opposite to each other to allow the cutter head 3 to travel on the skin in opposite directions of travel 36, 37. See [reference needed] Figure 20 and Figure 22 It shows the directions of travel 36 and 37.

[0106] To achieve reliable skin protection, the tip 41 of the movable tooth 8 of the movable upper blade 4 can have an overhang profile when viewed from the skin side or from the upper tooth side facing the skin. This type of viewing direction is actually in... Figure 3 , Figure 5 and Figure 6 As shown in, but in Figures 7 to 10 The overhang profile of tooth cusp 41 can be seen better in the middle. Figures 7 to 10 A cross-sectional side view with an observation axis parallel to the cutting direction 35 is shown.

[0107] More specifically, the cutting teeth 8 of the movable upper cutter blade 4 may have a tooth tip 41 with a blunt tooth tip angle α greater than 100°. This blunt tooth tip angle α is defined between the lower tooth side 42 facing the cutting surface 40 between the mating cutter blades 4 and 5 and the lower front portion 44 extending from the lower tooth side 42 to the front end point 45 of the tooth tip 41. This front end point defines the maximum longitudinal tooth extension. See [reference needed] Figure 7 , Figure 8 , Figure 9 and Figure 10 .

[0108] The inclined, concave lower anterior surface 44 of the tooth tip 41 helps prevent skin from entering the cutting area at the tooth tip 41 of the movable tooth 8, even when the skin is raised and wrapped around the tooth tip 41 to some extent, because the skin may not follow the overhang profile and is therefore prevented from reaching the contact point of the tooth tip 41 of the movable upper tooth 8 with the lower tooth 9. The lower anterior surface is substantially planar.

[0109] The blunt tooth tip angle α can be in the range of 100° to 140° or 110° to 130° or more specifically 115° to 125° to combine reliable skin protection with greater efficiency in cutting hair short.

[0110] like Figure 7 , Figure 12 and Figure 13 As shown, the aforementioned tip point 45 of the cutting tooth 41 of the movable upper cutter blade 4 emerges from the cutting surface 40 and thus from the upper surface 48 of the lower cutter blade 9 (see...). Figure 7 and Figure 8 The distance 51 is increased to a certain extent, which may correspond to approximately 10% to 90%, 20% to 80%, or 25% to 75% of the thickness 52 of the cutting tooth 8, which may be between the lower tooth side 42 and the upper tooth side 43 (see...). Figure 7 The area where the cutting tooth 9 of the lower cutter blade 5 contacts the lower tooth side 42 (see...) Figure 7 Measurements are taken during the process.

[0111] like Figure 7 As shown, the upper front portion 50 of the tooth tip 41 extending from the front point 45 to the upper tooth side 43 of the cutting tooth 8 of the movable upper cutter blade 4 may be rounded to further prevent skin irritation. The upper front portion 50, together with the aforementioned lower front portion 44, may be defined at the front point 45 at an obtuse angle ε within the range of 110° to 140° or 125° to 135°. See [reference needed]. Figure 13 .

[0112] When considering the rounded profile of the upper front portion 50, see Figure 7 This obtuse angle ε represents the inclination of the tangential plane on the upper front portion 50 at the front point 45.

[0113] like Figure 7 and Figure 9 As shown, a stepped recess 47 is formed in front of the tip 41 of the movable upper cutting tooth 8. The stepped recess 47 is defined between the tip 41 and the upper side 48 of the lower cutting tooth 9 of the lower cutter blade 5. Such a stepped recess 47 can define an acute angle γ of less than 80° or less than 70° (see...). Figure 10 See also Figure 10 Angle γ is shown.

[0114] This acute angle γ can be measured between the upper tooth side 48 of the protruding portion 49 of the cutting tooth 9 of the lower cutter blade 5 that exceeds the protruding portion 49 of the cutting tooth 8 of the upper cutter blade 4 and the aforementioned lower front portion 44 of the tooth tip 41 of the cutting tooth 8 of the upper cutter blade 4. Figure 5 The protruding portion 49 of the lower tooth 9 is shown.

[0115] More specifically, the acute angle γ at the recess 47 in front of the upper tooth side 48 of the protrusion 49 of the lower tooth 9, at the tip 41 of the upper cutting tooth 8, can be in the range of 50° to 70° or 55° to 65°. Due to this acute angle γ at the recess 47, the cutting area at the tip 41 of the movable cutting tooth 8 is sufficiently recessed from the front end point 45 of the cutting tooth 8 to achieve reliable skin protection, while the cutting efficiency remains high.

[0116] like Figure 12 As shown, each of the cutting teeth 8 of the movable upper cutter blade 4 may have a pair of side surfaces 53 that are opposite each other and extend transversely to the cutting direction 35, wherein the side surfaces 53 are inclined at an acute angle δ relative to the lower tooth side 42 facing the cutting surface 40 at less than 85° or less than 80° or in the range of 70° to 80°. This inclination of the side surfaces makes the teeth 8 sufficiently sharp on the one hand, and sufficiently steep on the other hand, to prevent skin from reaching the cutting area.

[0117] like Figure 5As shown, the cutting tooth 9 of the lower cutter blade 5 can protrude beyond the tip 41 of the cutting tooth 8 of the upper cutter blade 4 by a certain protrusion distance 54 in the longitudinal tooth direction 46b. This protrusion distance can be in the range of 50% to 150% or 75% to 130% of the overlap length 55. See [reference needed]. Figure 9 The cutting teeth 8 of the upper cutter blade 4 contact the cutting teeth 9 of the lower cutter blade 5 along the overlap length in the longitudinal tooth direction 46b.

[0118] Figure 5 Further illustrating this, the cutting tooth 9 of the lower cutter blade 5 may have a tooth width 57 at its tooth tip portion 56 in the cutting direction 35, which is in the range of 0.5 mm to 1 mm, 0.5 mm to 0.75 mm, or 0.60 mm to 0.70 mm. This tooth width 57 can be measured at point 56a, which defines the transition between the substantially straight cutting edge of the tooth 9 and the rounded edge of the tooth tip portion 56, see [reference needed]. Figure 5 .

[0119] The cutting teeth 9 of the lower cutter blade 5 define cutter grooves 58 with a groove width 59 between them. When measured in the region of the tooth tips 41 of the cutting teeth 8 of the upper cutter blade 4, this groove width can be in the range of 0.20 mm to 0.40 mm, 0.25 mm to 0.36 mm, or 0.30 mm to 0.36 mm. See [reference needed]. Figure 5 .

[0120] On the other hand, the cutting teeth 8 of the upper cutter blade 4 have a tooth width of 60 in the cutting direction 35, see [reference]. Figure 5 When measured on the cutting surface 40 where the cutting teeth 8 and 9 of the upper cutter blade 4 and the lower cutter blade 5 are in contact with each other, the tooth width 60 can be in the range of 33% to 66% or 40% to 60% of the tooth width 57 of the cutting tooth 9 of the lower cutter blade 5. This tooth width 60 can be measured at the midpoint of the overlap length 55 of the teeth 8 and 9, see [reference needed]. Figure 10 And in Figure 5 As shown in the text, and also by Figure 6 To illustrate at a larger scale.

[0121] Figure 5 Further illustrated is that the cutting teeth 8 of the upper cutter blade 4 define a cutter groove 61 between each other, the groove width 64 of which can be in the range of 120% to 150% or 125% to 135% of the tooth width 60 of the cutting teeth 8 of the upper cutter blade 4.

[0122] Figure 5It is also illustrated that the cutting teeth 8 of the upper cutter blade 4 are spaced apart by a tooth pitch 62, which is different from and particularly smaller than the tooth pitch 63 of the cutting teeth 9 of the lower cutter blade 5, or is in the range of 75% to 95% or 80% to 90% of the tooth pitch 63.

[0123] like Figure 17 As shown, the cutter head can also be used in conjunction with a protective comb. More specifically, the protective attachment 6, which can be attached to the cutter head frame 16 of the cutter head 3, may include an annular attachment frame 34, the shape of which is substantially adapted to the contour of the cutter head 3. Since the cutting teeth 8, 9 of the shearing sheet metal system 11 and row 10 can have elongated shapes and can define a substantially rectangular cutter system 19, the attachment frame 34 can have a substantially rectangular elongated construction, see [reference]. Figure 17 .

[0124] A pair of frame legs 38 forming the longer side of the attachment frame 34 may be provided with protective teeth 7 of row 15. These protective teeth may be aligned with each other and may have the same shape or construction. When the protective attachment 6 is mounted on the cutter head 3, the protective teeth 7 may be arranged along the front side of each of the cutting teeth 8, 9 of the row 10, taking into account the travel directions 36 and 37. See [reference needed] Figure 18 , Figure 20 , Figure 21 , Figure 22 and Figure 25 .

[0125] When considering a plan view that is substantially perpendicular to the skin contact surface 14 of the cutter head 3, such as Figure 24 As shown, the protective attachment 6 is adapted to the cutter head 3 such that the central cutter head region 25, including the shearing metal sheet system 11 and the two rows of comb-like cutting teeth 8, 9, remains open and unobstructed by the protective attachment 6, allowing skin free access to the shearing metal sheet cutter system 11 from above. When the top view is considered in a viewing direction substantially perpendicular to the skin contact surface 14, the attachment frame 34, including the two rows of protective teeth 7, extends only outside the central cutter head region 25.

[0126] As mentioned, when considering the opposite directions of travel 36 and 37, the protective teeth 7 of row 15 are arranged on the front side of the comb-like cutting teeth 8, 9 of row 10. To ensure that the protective teeth 7 do not obstruct hair from entering the cutting area of ​​the cutter blades 4, 5 despite being arranged on the front side of the cutting teeth 8, 9, the number of protective teeth 7 is less than the number of comb-like cutting teeth 8, 9. For example, the number of cutting teeth 8, 9 of the cutter blades 4, 5 can be twice the number of protective teeth 7. Therefore, the gap between adjacent protective teeth 7 can be significantly larger than the gap between adjacent cutting teeth 8 or 9.

[0127] As from Figure 24 As can be seen, the tooth pitch 7a of the protective tooth 7 can be an integer multiple of the tooth pitch 9a of the fixed cutting tooth 9. For example, the tooth pitch 7a of the protective tooth 7 can be 200% of the tooth pitch 9a of the fixed cutting tooth 9.

[0128] Regardless of the exact tooth pitch, the protective tooth 7 can be precisely positioned in front of one of the fixed cutting teeth 9, such as... Figure 24 As shown. This linear positioning, which protects the tooth 7 on one hand and fixes the cutting tooth 9 on the other, is used to maximize the width of the internal channel of the hair entering the cutting zone, and thus allows the hair to reliably enter the cutting zone of the mating cutter blades 4 and 5.

[0129] As from Figure 22 As can be seen, the protective tooth 7 with its upper end and the shearing metal sheet system 11 together define a tangential plane 18. This tangential plane is a virtual tangential plane and does not precisely correspond to the skin contact surface 14 of the cutter head 3, because in the region between the protective tooth 7 and the shearing metal sheet system 11, the skin contact surface 14 exhibits a recess 22. In other words, the element arranged between the upper end portion of the protective tooth 7 on one side and the shearing metal sheet system 11 on the other side is in a countersunk position or lowered relative to the virtual tangential plane 18, see [reference]. Figure 22 Similarly, this virtual tangential plane can be, but does not have to be, precisely tangential in a strictly mathematical sense. Rather, it can contact or be located on a row of protective teeth and be spaced a small distance from the sheared metal sheet to almost contact it, or it can be slightly tilted at a small angle relative to a strictly mathematically tangential plane, as mentioned above.

[0130] Specifically, the comb-shaped cutting teeth 8 and 9 of the cooperating cutter blades 4 and 5 are located in a countersunk position below the virtual tangential plane 18, so that even if the skin subsequently bulges towards the cutting head 3, it will not directly contact the comb-shaped cutting teeth 8 and 9. See [reference needed] Figure 22 The curved shadow lines reveal this skin bulge.

[0131] like Figure 22 As illustrated, the offset 23 of the cutting teeth 8, 9 from the tangential plane 18 can be, for example, about 0.5 mm. More generally, this countersunk hole offset 23 can substantially correspond to or be slightly smaller than the diameter 24 of the perforation 17 of the shearing sheet metal cutter system 11.

[0132] like Figure 16 , Figure 18 as well as Figure 21 and Figure 22As illustrated, the skin contact support 26 may be formed on the rear side of the comb-shaped cutting teeth 8, 9 of the row 10, or more generally, between the comb-shaped cutting teeth 8, 9 and the shearing sheet metal system 11. Such skin contact supports 26 may have an elongated profile and / or may form ribs extending substantially parallel to the cutting teeth 8, 9 of the row 10. Such skin contact supports 26 may form an additional portion of the skin contact surface 14, wherein such skin contact supports 26 may still perform dual functions, as they can be used to hold or mount the shearing sheet metal of the shearing sheet metal cutter 12, see [link to relevant documentation]. Figure 22 .

[0133] When considering directions of travel 36 and 37, see [link / reference] Figure 20 and Figure 22 Recesses 28 and 27 may be present on opposite sides of the skin contact support 26, wherein such recesses 27 and 28 may form part of the aforementioned recesses 22 of the skin contact surface 14. Therefore, the upper surface of the skin contact support 26 forms part of the skin contact surface 14.

[0134] As from Figure 22 As can be seen, such an upper surface of the skin contact support 26 may be tangential to or form part of the second tangential plane 29 defined by the contact portion. On one hand, there is the shearing metal sheet system 11, and on the other hand, there are the tips of the cutting teeth 8, 9, see [reference needed]. Figure 22 Therefore, this offset 23 between the two parallel lines 29 and 18 produces a stubble trim that is later easily shaved by the short-hair cutting shearing metal blade system, as shorter hairs are more easily caught by the shearing metal blade cutting system than longer hairs. Dashed line 91 shows an exemplary skin ridge where a protective attachment is attached to the cutter head. Thus, the skin follows the inclined skin contact surface of the top side of the teeth of the protective attachment, and is then pushed into the recess toward the top side of the cutting teeth 8, 9, and then along line 29 or line 90 toward the shearing metal blade cutting system.

[0135] In order to allow the cutter head 3 to slide smoothly along the skin surface, the protective tooth 7 may have a rounded front edge 31, which is the edge of the protective tooth away from the comb-shaped cutting teeth 8, 9.

[0136] like Figure 23 As illustrated, the rounded front edge 31 connects the root surfaces 32 and 33 to each other, wherein the upper tooth surface 32 of the root surfaces 32 and 33 forms the aforementioned tip surface 30 that defines a portion of the skin contact surface 14. Figure 25 As illustrated, each protective tooth of the protective accessory has a tip surface 30, which is inclined at an angle along line 93 relative to the horizontal line 92. The angle is in the range of 10° to 35°. This optional tilt facilitates the formation of a recess as the skin is guided upwards along its path to the sheared metal sheet. See also Figure 22 And line 90, which connects the top surface to the tangent of the sheared metal sheet and substantially coincides with line 93.

[0137] like Figure 23 As illustrated, the tooth root surfaces 32, 33, which are connected to each other by rounded front edges 31, may be inclined relative to each other at an acute angle β, wherein such acute angle β may be about 80° or may be in the range of about 75° to 85°.

[0138] As described above, the pubic trimmer or body care container includes a handle 2 that allows for the interchangeability and attachment of different types of cutter heads 3 for different trimming or shaving purposes. The body care container or pubic trimmer cutter head 3 includes a cutting unit that can be interchanged and replaced by another cutting unit if the blade becomes dull or wears within the cutter head housing. This replaceable cutting unit includes mating long hair trimmer cutter blades 4, 5 on opposite longer sides and a short hair cutting shearing metal sheet system 11 between the mating long hair trimmer cutter blades. Alternatively, other types of cutter and blade arrangements are used, such as arrangements without short hair cutters and / or only one long hair cutter and / or different orders of arrangement relative to each other and / or other functional units. Alternatively, the cutter head 3 with the cutter head frame 16 is not interchangeably provided to facilitate a more compact overall design and integration with the handle. Further alternatively, the handle is not elongated but rather wider than long.

[0139] Therefore, with the pubic hair trimmer described above, the long hair cutter blade first trims the hair to a stubble length of less than 1mm, and then the short hair cutting shearing metal blade system easily catches the stubble hair and cuts or shaves it, leaving no stubble residue. For this purpose, the user simply must slide the trimmer or body care container on the skin at a slightly angled position (along line 90, with protective comb attachment 6; or along line 29, without protective attachment) following the tilt of the skin contact surface and the roof-like shape of one side of the cutter head 3.

[0140] To further protect the sensitive, very thin skin in the genital area from being cut by the long hair trimmer blades 3 and 4, the user must attach a protective comb attachment 6 around the cutting blades of the trimmer head. The teeth of the protective comb attachment not only pre-comb the hair, improving trimming efficiency, but also prevent direct contact with the cutting teeth, as otherwise thin skin might fold and bulge between these cutting teeth 8 and 9 and be cut. During normal operation, non-thin skin does not bulge between the teeth. Furthermore, the teeth of the protective comb attachment raise the skin contact level relative to the cutting teeth 8 and 9, which are then located in recesses. Therefore, thin skin in the genital area (which is more prone to bulging) will still bulge near the cutting teeth 8 and 9 without being cut.

[0141] The dimensions and values ​​disclosed herein should not be construed as strictly limited to the precise numerical values ​​cited. Rather, unless otherwise specified, each such dimension is intended to represent the stated value and the range surrounding its functional equivalent. For example, a dimension disclosed as “40 mm” is intended to represent “approximately 40 mm”.

[0142] Unless expressly excluded or otherwise limited, every reference cited herein, including any cross-references or related patents or patent applications, and any patent application or patent claiming priority to or benefiting from it, is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. Reference to any reference is not an endorsement of it as prior art to any disclosed or protected art herein, nor is it an endorsement of any such invention, either on its own or in combination with any one or more references. Furthermore, where any meaning or definition of a term in this invention conflicts with any meaning or definition of the same term in referenced documents, the meaning or definition given to that term in this invention shall prevail.

[0143] While specific embodiments of the invention have been illustrated and described by way of example, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various other changes and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Therefore, it is intended that all such changes and modifications falling within the scope of the invention be covered by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A cutter head for a feminine trimmer (1) or body care container, the cutter head comprising a pair of mating cutter blades (4, 5), each cutter blade having at least one row (10) of comb-like cutting teeth (8, 9) for cutting long hair, the cutter blade comprising a lower cutter blade (5) and an upper cutter blade (4), the upper cutter blade being closer to a skin contact surface (14) than the lower cutter blade (5), and the upper cutter blade (4) being movable in a cutting direction (35) along a cutting surface (40) defined between the mating cutter blades (4, 5), characterized in that, The cutting teeth (8) of the movable upper cutter blade (4) have tooth tips (41) having a blunt tooth tip angle (α) defined in the range of 100° to 150° or 110° to 140° between a lower tooth side (42) facing the cutting surface (40) and a lower front portion (44) extending from the lower tooth side (42) to a front end point (45), the front end point defining the maximum longitudinal tooth extension.

2. The cutter head according to the preceding claim, wherein the cutting tooth (9) of the lower cutter blade (5) extends beyond the tip (41) of the cutting tooth (8) of the upper cutter blade (4) in a longitudinal tooth direction (46b) transverse to the cutting direction (35), wherein an upper tooth side (48) of the protruding portion (49) of the lower cutter blade (5) protruding beyond the cutting tooth (8) of the upper cutter blade (4) and the lower front portion (44) of the tip (41) of the cutting tooth (8) of the upper cutter blade (4) are defined between a stepped recess (47) having an acute angle (γ) of less than 80° or less than 70°.

3. The cutter head according to the preceding claim, wherein the acute angle (γ) is in the range of 50° to 70° or 55° to 65°.

4. The cutter head according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the tip (41) of the cutting tooth (8) of the movable upper cutter blade (4) includes a rounded upper front portion (50) extending from the front end point (45) away from the upper tooth side (43) of the lower cutter blade (5), wherein the upper front portion and the lower front portion (50, 44) of the tip (41) of the cutting tooth (8) of the movable upper cutter blade (4) define an obtuse angle (ε) greater than 100° or greater than 110° or in the range of 110° to 140° or 125° to 135° at the front end point (45).

5. The cutter head according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the front end point (45) is spaced apart from the cutting surface (40) by a distance (51), the distance corresponding to 10% to 90%, 20% to 80%, or 25% to 75% of the thickness (52) of the cutting tooth (8) of the movable upper cutter blade (4), the thickness being measured between the lower tooth side (42) and the upper tooth side (43) in the region where the lower tooth side (42) contacts the cutting tooth (9) of the lower cutter blade (5).

6. The cutter head according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the lower front portion (44) of the tip (41) of the cutting tooth (8) of the movable upper cutter blade (4) is planar.

7. The cutter head according to any of the preceding claims, wherein each of the cutting teeth (8) of the movable upper cutter blade (4) has a pair of side surfaces (53) that are opposite to each other and extend transversely to the cutting direction (35), wherein the side surfaces (53) are inclined at an acute angle (δ) relative to the lower tooth side (42) facing the cutting surface (40) at less than 85° or less than 80° or in the range of 70° to 80°.

8. The cutter head according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the cutting tooth (9) of the lower cutter blade (5) protrudes beyond the tip (41) of the cutting tooth (8) of the upper cutter blade (4) by a certain protrusion distance (54) in the longitudinal tooth direction (46b), the protrusion distance being in the range of 50% to 150% or 75% to 130% of the overlap length (55), and the cutting tooth (8) of the upper cutter blade (4) contacts the cutting tooth (9) of the lower cutter blade (5) along the overlap length in the longitudinal tooth direction (46b).

9. A cutter head according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the cutting teeth (9) of the lower cutter blade (5) have a tooth width (57) in the cutting direction (35) at the tooth tip portion (56) located at the end point (56a) of the straight cutting edge, the tooth width being in the range of 0.5 mm to 1 mm, or 0.5 mm to 0.75 mm, or 0.60 mm to 0.70 mm, wherein the cutting teeth (9) of the lower cutter blade (5) define a cutter groove (58) between each other, the cutter groove having a groove width (59) in the range of 0.20 mm to 0.40 mm, or 0.25 mm to 0.36 mm, or 0.30 mm to 0.36 mm when measured at the tooth tip (41) of the cutting teeth (8) of the upper cutter blade (4).

10. The cutter head according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the cutting teeth (8) of the upper cutter blade (4) have a tooth width (60) in the cutting direction (35), When measured at the midpoint of the overlap length (55) of the cutting teeth (8,9) of the upper and lower cutter blades (4,5) in the cutting surface (40) where the cutting teeth (8,9) of the upper and lower cutter blades (4,5) contact each other, the tooth width (60) is in the range of 33% to 66% or 40% to 60% of the tooth width (57) of the cutting teeth (9) of the lower cutter blade (5), wherein the cutting teeth (8) of the upper cutter blade (4) define a cutter groove (61) between each other, the cutter groove being in the range of 120% to 150% or 125% to 135% of the tooth width (60) of the cutting teeth (8) of the upper cutter blade (4).

11. The cutter head according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the cutting teeth (8) of the upper cutter blade (4) are spaced apart by a pitch (62) smaller than the pitch (63) between the cutting teeth (9) of the lower cutter blade (5) and spaced apart by a pitch (63), or within 75% to 95% or 80% to 90% of the pitch (63).

12. The cutter head according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the cutting teeth (8) of the upper cutter blade (4) define a portion of the skin contact surface of the cutter head (3) with their upper tooth sides (43).

13. The cutter head according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the removably attachable protective accessory (6) comprises a row (15) of comb-shaped protective teeth (7) arranged on the front side (20) of the cutting teeth (8,9) of the cutter blades (4,5).

14. The cutter head according to the preceding claim, wherein the protective teeth (7) of the row (15) and the tail portion such as the shearing metal sheet system (11) together form a portion of the skin contact surface (14) of the cutter head (3), wherein the skin contact surface (14) provides a recess (22) for skin elevation between the protective teeth (7) of the row (15) and the shearing metal sheet system (11), wherein the cutting teeth (8,9) of the row (10) for cutting long hair are arranged in the recess (22), wherein the cutting teeth (8,9) are arranged in the protective attachment (6) The countersunk hole position of the comb-shaped protective teeth (7) and the tail portion of the cutter head on the rear side of the cutting teeth (8,9) below the virtual tangential plane (18), and / or the cutting teeth (8,9) offset from the virtual tangential plane (18) by a distance (23) in the range of 25% to 125% or 33% to 100% or 50% to 95% of the diameter (24) of the perforation (17) of the shearing sheet metal system (11) and / or offset by a distance (23) in the range of 0.1mm to 0.6mm or 0.2mm to 0.5mm or 0.3mm to 0.5mm.

15. The cutter head according to any one of the preceding two claims, wherein the protective attachment (6) is formed only outside the central cutter head region (25), wherein at least one row (10) of cutting teeth (8,9) and an optional shearing metal sheet system are arranged in the central cutter head region such that the cutting teeth (8) of the movable upper cutter blade (4) and the optional shearing metal sheet system (11) are not obstructed by the protective attachment (6) when considering a viewing direction perpendicular to the skin contact surface (14).

16. A cutter head according to any of the preceding claims, wherein a skin contact bracket (26) is provided between the shearing metal sheet system (11) and the cutting teeth (8) of the row (10) of the upper cutter blade (4), wherein a deepening portion (27) is provided between the skin contact bracket (26) and the shearing metal sheet system (11), and / or a deepening portion (28) is provided between the skin contact bracket (26) and the cutting teeth (8) of the row (10), wherein the skin contact bracket (26) forms a portion of the skin contact surface (14) of the cutter head (3), the portion of the skin contact surface (14) formed by the skin contact bracket (26) being tangent to or adjacent to a virtual tangential plane (29) on the shearing metal sheet system (11) and the cutting teeth (8) of the row (10) of the movable upper cutter blade (4).

17. A hair cutter for cutting hair in sensitive and / or private body areas, the hair cutter comprising an elongated handle (2) and a cutter head (3) as defined in any of the preceding claims, the cutter head being attachable to the handle (2).

18. The cutter head according to the preceding claim, the cutter head comprising a drive unit (130) for driving the upper cutter blade (4) in a reciprocating motion at a frequency greater than 75 Hz or greater than 90 Hz.

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