Controlled and practically play-free movement of a head member in an assembly for use in a handheld personal care appliance

Abstract

In the field of handheld personal care appliances, an assembly (7) comprising a base member (8) and a head member (9) which are coupled to each other is provided. The head member (9) is movable relative to the base member (8) in a direction about a pivot axis. The base member (8) comprises engagement elements at the position of which the head member (9) engages on the base member (8), wherein the engagement elements are particularly designed to enable movement of the head member (9) relative to the base member (8) as desired with low levels of play and friction. The pivot axis is mainly defined by a first engagement member while a second engagement member which is at a distance from the first engagement member in a direction in which the pivot axis extends is shaped and sized differently from the first engagement member.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The invention relates to an assembly configured to be used in a handheld personal care appliance, comprising a base member configured to be coupled to a handle of the personal care appliance, and a head member arranged on and coupled to the base member, wherein the head member is movable relative to the base member in a direction about a pivot axis extending perpendicularly to a longitudinal direction in which a longitudinal axis of the assembly extends.

[0002] Further, the invention relates to a handheld electric shaver comprising an assembly as mentioned here before, which handheld electric shaver may further comprise a hair-cutting unit including at least one movable cutting element, and a drive system configured to make the movable cutting element perform a reciprocating movement during operation of the electric shaver.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] Electric shavers are well known and are generally used to shave body hair, which may be facial hair, chest hair, etc. Electric shavers are powered by electric supply mains and / or by electric energy storage devices such as batteries. A commonly used alternative term to electric shaver is electric groomer.

[0004] In a generally known set-up, a handheld electric shaver comprises a handle configured to be gripped by a user's hand, and a shaving unit which is intended to be moved over the skin to be shaved during use of the shaver, wherein the handle and the shaving unit are coupled to each other in an assembled condition of the shaver. Traditionally, the shaving unit comprises at least one combination of an external cutting member having a hair-cutting area provided with hair-entry openings as a non-driven component and an internal cutting member as a driven component, wherein at least the internal cutting member has one or more cutting edges. In such a case, use of the electric shaver involves putting the shaver to an operation mode in which the internal cutting member of the shaving unit is driven to move relative to the external cutting member, and moving the shaving unit over the skin in such a way that the hair-cutting area of the external cutting member of the shaving unit faces and contacts the skin. In this process, hairs protruding from the skin are caught in the hair-entry openings and are thereby made to extend through the openings in an interior space of the shaving unit in which they are cut through when they are encountered by a cutting edge of the moving internal cutting member.

[0005] To enhance efficiency and comfort of use of the handheld electric shaver described in the foregoing, it is known to apply a concept referred to as contour following. In particular, contour following enables having the external cutting member in a correct orientation relative to the skin under all circumstances by allowing variation of the orientation of the external cutting member relative to the handle in relation to shape features of the skin. Contour following is commonly realized by using an assembly which comprises a base member and a head member in the shaving unit of the shaver, wherein the base member is configured to be coupled to the handle of the shaver, wherein the head member arranged on and coupled to the base member, and wherein the head member is movable relative to the base member in a direction about at least one pivot axis extending in a direction which is perpendicular to a longitudinal direction in which a longitudinal axis of the assembly extends.

[0006] For example, shaving units are known in which the external cutting member is of generally elongated shape, and in which the internal cutting member is driven to perform a reciprocating linear movement relative to the external cutting member. In the assembly of such a shaving unit, contour following may comprise enabling movement of the head member relative to the base member in a direction about a pivot axis extending in a direction which is perpendicular to a direction in which the internal cutting member is movable relative to the external cutting member. For achieving the best possible contour following results, it is desirable to have the pivot axis at a level which is as close as possible to the skin. In view of the fact that the cutting members are present at skin level, there is no space for a pivot shaft at that position. A solution is found in providing a design of the assembly aimed at realizing a virtual pivot axis.

[0007] It is an object of the invention to provide an assembly as mentioned here before, comprising a base member and a head member, wherein smooth movement of the head member relative to the base member is realized with minimal risk of jamming and prevention of vibrations or other noise-generating factors.SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0008] The invention provides an assembly configured to be used in a handheld personal care appliance, comprising a base member configured to be coupled to a handle of the personal care appliance, and a head member arranged on and coupled to the base member, wherein: the head member is movable relative to the base member in a direction about a pivot axis extending perpendicularly to a longitudinal direction in which a longitudinal axis of the assembly extends, the base member comprises a first engagement element at the position of which the head member engages on the base member, the first engagement element including a concavely curved pivot guiding track for the head member configured to control movement of the head member relative to the base member in the direction about the pivot axis, and the base member comprises a second engagement element at the position of which the head member engages on the base member, the second engagement element being at a distance from the first engagement element in a direction in which the pivot axis extends and being configured to contact the head member along a significantly shorter path than the pivot guiding track of the first engagement element in the direction about the pivot axis.

[0009] It follows from the above that in the assembly according to the invention, special measures are taken in relation to the design of engagement elements of the base member, i.e., elements at the position of which the head member engages on the base member so that the elements are functional to guide and / or control movement of the head member relative to the base member. It is an insight of the invention that control of the movement of the head member relative to the base member in the direction about the pivot axis does not necessarily need two engagement members of equal size, or in fact two concavely curved pivot guiding tracks of equal size. According to the invention, the base member comprises a first engagement element including a concavely curved pivot guiding track for the head member configured to control movement of the head member relative to the base member in the direction about the pivot axis. A second engagement element is present at a distance from the first engagement element in the direction in which the pivot axis extends, and is thereby also useful to enable the pivoting movement of the head member. However, the second engagement element is configured to contact the head member along a path of significantly smaller size than the first engagement element in the direction about the pivot axis. As an advantageous consequence, such a low level of friction between the base member and the head member can be realized that jamming as might otherwise be caused under the influence of forces acting in a direction about a central longitudinal axis of the assembly is prevented. Thus, by relatively simple constructional measures, reliability of use of the personal care appliance is increased.

[0010] The invention covers various possibilities in respect of the size of the contacting path of the second engagement element in comparison to the size of the contacting path of the first engagement element in the direction about the pivot axis. For example, the second engagement element is configured to contact the head member along a path which is at least twice as short as the pivot guiding track of the first engagement element in the direction about the pivot axis. The contacting path of the second engagement element may even be much shorter than that, wherein in theory point contact or line contact may be sufficient, and wherein in practice contact over at least a small area may be useful. In the latter case, it is advantageous if the second engagement element has a concavely curved surface, because on the basis of the presence of such a surface, the second engagement element can contribute to the guidance of the head member in the movement relative to the base member in the direction about the pivot axis. Further, in view of overall control of movement of the head member relative to the base member, it is advantageous if the second engagement element is configured to at least prevent movement of the head member relative to the base member in a direction about an axis extending in a direction which is perpendicular to both the longitudinal direction and the direction in which the pivot axis extends on the basis of engagement of the head member on the base member at the position of the second engagement element.

[0011] Various designs of the engagement elements of the base member are feasible in the context of the invention. For example, it is possible that the first engagement element comprises a crescent-shaped feature including the pivot guiding track. In that case, it is practical if the head member comprises a portion including a curved slot, and the crescent-shaped feature of the first engagement element is received in the slot. In order to realize defined minimal play of the engagement of the slot and the crescent-shaped feature, it is practical if the crescent-shaped feature of the first engagement element is received in the curved slot with variable play along the slot, wherein the play in two areas of the slot is significantly smaller than outside of the two areas. One way of realizing this feature involves a design of the crescent-shaped feature of the first engagement element in which the crescent-shaped feature has thickened end portions. In a more or less similar fashion, it is possible that the head member comprises another portion including a curved slot, and that the second engagement element is partially received in the slot, optionally with variable play along the slot, wherein the play in at least one area of the slot is significantly smaller than outside of the area.

[0012] In an advantageous aspect, the invention proposes to equip the base member with guiding engagement elements at strategic positions, namely, two guiding engagement elements which are at a distance from each other in a direction which is perpendicular to both the longitudinal direction and the direction in which the pivot axis extends, and which are configured to at least prevent movement of the head member relative to the base member in a direction about a central longitudinal axis of the assembly on the basis of engagement of the head member on the base member at the position of the guiding engagement elements, which makes the guiding engagement elements rotation stop elements for the head member. On the basis of the use of such guiding engagement elements in the base member, there is no need for the second engagement element of the base member to be functional to prevent the movement of the head member relative to the base member in the direction about a central longitudinal axis of the assembly, which supports a general concept of having relatively small dimensions of the second engagement element.

[0013] It is practical if the assembly comprises at least one biasing element configured to bias the head member to a defined default position relative to the base member in the direction about the pivot axis. In that way, it is ensured that the head member always returns to the default position relative to the base member in the direction about the pivot axis as soon as the assembly is no longer exerted to external forces after the personal care appliance has been used to perform the respective personal care action. For example, the biasing element comprises a spring in an appropriate arrangement in the assembly.

[0014] Further practical possibilities covered by the invention include both the base member and the head member being integral plastic members formed by injection molding, and the head member being coupled to the base member through snap connection features.

[0015] The invention relates to various types of handheld personal care appliance. A handheld electric shaver comprising an assembly as defined and described in the foregoing is one feasible example. Such a shaver may comprise a hair-cutting unit including at least one movable cutting element, and a drive system configured to make the movable cutting element perform a reciprocating movement during operation of the electric shaver, or a drive system configured to make the movable cutting element perform a rotating movement during operation of the electric shaver. In order to enable interaction of the hair-cutting unit with skin to be subjected to a shaving action as desired, the hair-cutting unit is at the position of the head member of the assembly. Another type of handheld personal care appliance which is covered by the invention is a depilator.

[0016] The above-described and other aspects of the invention will be apparent from and elucidated with reference to the following detailed description of an embodiment of an assembly for use in a handheld electric shaver, comprising a base member and a head member which is pivotable relative to the base member, wherein the base member is provided with a number of specific engagement elements for controlling movement of the head member relative to the base member while at the same realizing low levels of both play and friction.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0017] The invention will now be explained in greater detail with reference to the figures, in which equal or similar parts are indicated by the same reference signs, and in which: Fig. 1 diagrammatically shows a handheld electric shaver comprising a shaving unit and a handle, wherein a hair-cutting unit of the shaving unit is in a default, perpendicular orientation relative to a longitudinal axis of the shaving unit; Fig. 2 diagrammatically shows the shaving unit with the hair-cutting unit in a tilted orientation relative to the longitudinal axis of the shaving unit; Fig. 3 diagrammatically shows an assembly which is part of the shaving unit and which comprises a base member and a head member; Fig. 4 diagrammatically shows the shaving unit with the head member of the assembly removed; Figs. 5 and 6 show two different views of the head member; Fig. 7 shows a sectional view of the assembly, wherein the head member is in a default position relative to the base member in a direction about a pivot axis; Fig. 8 shows a sectional view of the assembly, wherein the head member is in a tilted position relative to the base member in the direction about the pivot axis; and Fig. 9 shows another sectional view of the assembly, wherein the head member is in the default position relative to the base member in the direction about the pivot axis. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

[0018] As indicated in the foregoing, the invention relates to an assembly which is suitable for use in a handheld personal care appliance, and which comprises a base member and a head member, wherein the head member is tiltable relative to the base member. In the following, the assembly is described in the context of a handheld electric shaver, which does not imply that the invention is restricted to that context in any way nor that the details from the description are intrinsically linked to only that context.

[0019] Fig. 1 shows a handheld electric shaver 1 comprising a shaving unit 2 and a handle 3. The size and shape of the handle 3 can be any suitable size and shape, and the handle 3 is only depicted by means of dashed lining in view thereof. Generally speaking, the handle 3 is designed to enable a user of the shaver 1 to take hold of the shaver 1 and to manipulate the shaver 1, wherein the shaving unit 2 constitutes the part of the shaver 1 which is to be positioned on and moved over the skin so that a shaving action may be performed on the skin. The handle 3 may have a function in accommodating at least one electric motor for driving components of the shaving unit 2. The handle 3 may further include means such as a rechargeable battery for powering the at least one electric motor. It is practical if at least a portion of the shaving unit 2 is removable from the shaver 1, such as for cleaning purposes or replacement purposes.

[0020] The shaving unit 2 comprises a hair-cutting unit 4 and a holder unit 5 of the hair-cutting unit 4, coupling the hair-cutting unit 4 to the handle 3. In the present example, the shaver 1 is of the type which is commonly referred to as foil shaver. This implies that the hair-cutting unit 4 comprises an external cutting member 6 of generally elongated shape, as shown, and that an internal cutting member of the hair-cutting unit 4 is driven to perform a reciprocating linear movement relative to the external cutting member 6. Further, in the present example, the shaving unit 2 is designed to be able to perform contour following as the shaving unit 2 is moved over the skin. This implies that an orientation of the hair-cutting unit 4 relative to a longitudinal axis Ls of the shaving unit 2 is variable, which is beneficial to both shaving performance and comfort experienced by the user. In this respect, Fig. 1 shows the hair-cutting unit 4 in a default, perpendicular orientation relative to the longitudinal axis Ls, while Fig. 2 shows the hair-cutting unit 4 in a tilted orientation relative to the longitudinal axis Ls.

[0021] For the purpose of enabling the above-mentioned variation of the hair-cutting unit 4 relative to the longitudinal axis Ls, the shaving unit 2 comprises an assembly 7 as shown in Fig. 3. The assembly 7 comprises a base member 8 and a head member 9, wherein the base member 8 is located at a side of the handle 3, while the head member 9 is arranged on top of the base member 8 as seen in a longitudinal direction defined by the longitudinal axis Ls, assuming that the handle 3 is at a lower position and the shaving unit 2 is at a higher position in the longitudinal direction. Any references in the present text suggesting lower and higher positions are based on this assumption of the handle 3 being at a lower position and the shaving unit 2 being at a higher position.

[0022] The head member 9 is coupled to the base member 8 in a suitable way, such as through snap connection features. An important aspect of the assembly 7 is related to the contour following functionality of the shaving unit 2, and resides in the fact that the head member 9 is movable relative to the base member 8 in a direction about a pivot axis P extending in a direction which is perpendicular to a longitudinal direction, and which is also referred to as first transverse direction, wherein it is noted that a longitudinal axis La of the assembly extends in the same direction as the longitudinal axis Ls of the shaving unit 4 in its entirety. In Fig. 3, the head member 9 is shown in a tilted orientation relative to the base member 8. The direction in which the pivot axis P extends can be seen in Fig. 4, which shows the shaving unit 2 with the head member 9 of the assembly 7 removed in perspective top view.

[0023] With reference to Figs. 4 to 8, it is noted that the base member 8 comprises engagement elements which are functional to enable engagement of the head member on the base member, and which are present in the base member 8 at appropriate respective positions. Each of those engagement elements will be introduced in the following, wherein especially their functionality in guiding and / or controlling movement of the head member 9 relative to the base member 8 will be explained.

[0024] In the first place, the base member 8 is equipped with a pair of engagement elements comprising a first engagement element 10 and a second engagement element 11, wherein the second engagement element 11 is at a distance from the first engagement element 10 in the direction in which the pivot axis P extends. The first engagement member 10 includes a concavely curved pivot guiding track 12 for the head member 9 as a main feature for controlling the movement of the head member 9 relative to the base member 8 in the direction about the pivot axis P as desired. In fact, it is the pivot guiding track 12 which defines the pivot axis P.

[0025] The pivot guiding track 12 is at the top of a crescent-shaped feature 13 of the base member 8. The second engagement element 11 has a concavely curved surface 14 which serves to contact the head member 9 while enabling the pivoting movement of the head member 9 determined by the pivot guiding track 12. In Fig. 5, it can be seen that the head member 9 comprises a portion including a curved slot 15 at a position for receiving a portion of the second engagement element 11. In the direction about the pivot axis P, the concavely curved surface 14 of the second engagement element 11 is significantly shorter than the pivot guiding track 12. Generally speaking, in a second transverse direction which is perpendicular to both the longitudinal direction and the first transverse direction, the second engagement element 11 is significantly smaller than the first engagement element 10. What is more, it is possible that a portion of the curved slot 15 is narrower than the remainder of the curved slot 15, so that guidance of the head member 9 at the position of the second engagement member 11 in the direction about the pivot axis P takes place only along a limited path. Alternatives are feasible in which contact between the base member 8 and the head member 9 at the position of the second engagement member 11 is reduced to no more than line contact or near-line contact.

[0026] On the basis of the fact that the second engagement element 11 is more or less shaped like a lip protruding in the first transverse direction, the second engagement element is functional to prevent movement of the head member 9 relative to the base member 8 in a direction about an axis Y extending in the second transverse direction on the basis of engagement of the head member 9 on the base member 8 at the position of the second engagement element 11.

[0027] In Figs. 6, 7 and 8, it can be seen that the head member 9 comprises a portion including a curved slot 16. Figs. 7 and 8 show how the crescent-shaped feature 13 of the first engagement element 10 is received in the slot 16. The crescent-shaped feature 13 and the slot 16 cooperate to prevent movement of the head member 9 away from the base member 8 in the longitudinal direction, besides defining the specific pivoting movement of the head member 9 on which the contour following functionality of the shaving unit 2 is based. The crescent-shaped feature 13 is received in the slot 16 with defined minimal play, namely, at the position of thickened end portions 17 of the crescent-shaped feature 13. This is beneficial to realizing smooth contour following and keeping noise generated at the position of the shaving unit 2 during operation of the shaver 1 to a minimum.

[0028] In the second place, the base member 8 is equipped with a pair of guiding engagement elements 18, 19 which are at a distance from each other in the second transverse direction. On the basis of their positioning and shape, the guiding engagement elements 18, 19 have a role in preventing movement of the head member 9 relative to the base member 8 in a direction about a central longitudinal axis La of the assembly 7 on the basis of engagement of the head member 9 on the base member 8 at the position of the guiding engagement elements 18, 19. The relatively small dimension of the second engagement element 11 is beneficial to prevent over-constraining of the construction including the first engagement element 10, the second engagement element 11 and the two guiding engagement elements 18, 19, while friction is at a low level as surfaces involved in contact between the base member 8 and the head member 9 are designed to be as small as possible. The guiding engagement elements 18, 19 also have a role in preventing movement of the head member 9 relative to the base member 8 in the first transverse direction, while being shaped to not hinder the pivoting movement of the head member 9 in any way.

[0029] It is practical if the contour following functionality of the shaving unit 2 further involves ensuring that a default configuration of the shaving unit 2 is realized in situations in which the shaving unit 2 is not subjected to external forces, i.e., a configuration of the shaving unit 2 in which the hair-cutting unit 4 is in the default, perpendicular orientation relative to the longitudinal axis Ls. In the present example, as can be seen in Figs. 4 and 9, this is realized by means of a spring 20 in the assembly 7 which is arranged to keep the head member 9 in a default orientation relative to the base member 8 in which the head member 9 is not tilted relative to the base member 8 in the direction about the pivot axis P, and to urge the head member 9 back to that orientation during the times that the head member 9 is forced to another orientation.

[0030] It will be clear to a person skilled in the art that the scope of the invention is not limited to the examples discussed in the foregoing, and that several amendments and modifications thereof are possible without deviating from the scope of the invention as defined in the attached claims. It is intended that the invention be construed as including all such amendments and modifications insofar they come within the scope of the claims or the equivalents thereof. While the invention has been illustrated and described in detail in the figures and the description, such illustration and description are to be considered illustrative or exemplary only, and not restrictive. The invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments. The drawings are schematic, wherein details which are not required for understanding the invention may have been omitted, and not necessarily to scale.

[0031] Variations to the disclosed embodiments can be understood and effected by a person skilled in the art in practicing the claimed invention, from a study of the figures, the description and the attached claims. In the claims, the word "comprising" does not exclude other steps or elements, and the indefinite article "a" or "an" does not exclude a plurality. Any reference signs in the claims should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention.

[0032] Elements and aspects discussed for or in relation with a particular embodiment may be suitably combined with elements and aspects of other embodiments, unless explicitly stated otherwise. Thus, the mere fact that certain measures are recited in mutually different dependent claims does not indicate that a combination of these measures cannot be used to advantage.

[0033] The terms "comprise" and "include" as used in the present text will be understood by a person skilled in the art as covering the term "consist of'. Hence, the term "comprise" or "include" may in respect of an embodiment mean "consist of", but may in another embodiment mean "contain / have / be equipped with at least the defined species and optionally one or more other species".

[0034] Notable aspects of the invention are summarized as follows. In the field of handheld personal care appliances, an assembly 7 for use in such appliances is provided. The assembly 7 comprises a base member 8 and a head member 9 which are coupled to each other, wherein the head member 9 is movable relative to the base member 8 in a direction about a pivot axis P. The base member 8 comprises at least two engagement elements 10, 11 at the position of which the head member 9 engages on the base member 8, wherein the engagement elements 10, 11 are particularly designed to enable movement of the head member 9 relative to the base member 8 as desired with low levels of play and friction. The pivot axis P is mainly defined by a first engagement member 10 while a second engagement member 11 which is at a distance from the first engagement member 10 in a direction in which the pivot axis P extends is shaped and sized differently from the first engagement member 10. A practical example of an assembly 7 according to the invention is an assembly 7 which is intended to be used in a handheld electric shaver 1 for realizing a contour following functionality.

Claims

1. Assembly (7) configured to be used in a handheld personal care appliance (1), comprising a base member (8) configured to be coupled to a handle (3) of the personal care appliance (1), and a head member (9) arranged on and coupled to the base member (8), wherein: - the head member (9) is movable relative to the base member (8) in a direction about a pivot axis (P) extending perpendicularly to a longitudinal direction in which a longitudinal axis (La) of the assembly (7) extends, - the base member (8) comprises a first engagement element (10) at the position of which the head member (9) engages on the base member (8), the first engagement element (10) including a concavely curved pivot guiding track (12) for the head member (9) configured to control movement of the head member (9) relative to the base member (8) in the direction about the pivot axis (P), and - the base member (8) comprises a second engagement element (11) at the position of which the head member (9) engages on the base member (8), the second engagement element (11) being at a distance from the first engagement element (10) in a direction in which the pivot axis (P) extends and being configured to contact the head member (9) along a significantly shorter path than the pivot guiding track (12) of the first engagement element (10) in the direction about the pivot axis (P).

2. Assembly (7) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second engagement element (11) is configured to contact the head member (9) along a path which is at least twice as short as the pivot guiding track (12) of the first engagement element (10) in the direction about the pivot axis (P).

3. Assembly (7) as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the second engagement element (11) has a concavely curved surface (14).

4. Assembly (7) as claimed in any of claims 1-3, wherein the second engagement element (11) is configured to at least prevent movement of the head member (9) relative to the base member (8) in a direction about an axis (Y) extending in a direction which is perpendicular to both the longitudinal direction and the direction in which the pivot axis (P) extends on the basis of engagement of the head member (9) on the base member (8) at the position of the second engagement element (11).

5. Assembly as claimed in any of claims 1-4, wherein the head member (9) comprises a portion including a curved slot (15), and wherein the second engagement element (11) is partially received in the slot (15).

6. Assembly (7) as claimed in any of claims 1-5, wherein the first engagement element (10) comprises a crescent-shaped feature (13) including the pivot guiding track (12).

7. Assembly (7) as claimed in claim 6, wherein the head member (9) comprises a portion including a curved slot (16), and wherein the crescent-shaped feature (13) of the first engagement element (10) is received in the slot (16).

8. Assembly (7) as claimed in claim 7, wherein the crescent-shaped feature (13) of the first engagement element (10) is received in the curved slot (16) with variable play along the slot (16), and wherein the play in two areas of the slot (16) is significantly smaller than outside of the two areas.

9. Assembly (7) as claimed in claim 8, wherein the crescent-shaped feature (13) of the first engagement element (10) has thickened end portions.

10. Assembly (7) as claimed in any of claims 1-9, wherein the base member (8) comprises two guiding engagement elements (18, 19) which are at a distance from each other in a direction which is perpendicular to both the longitudinal direction and the direction in which the pivot axis (P) extends, and which are configured to at least prevent movement of the head member (9) relative to the base member (8) in a direction about a central longitudinal axis (La) of the assembly (7) on the basis of engagement of the head member (9) on the base member (8) at the position of the guiding engagement elements (18, 19).

11. Assembly (7) as claimed in any of claims 1-10, comprising at least one biasing element (20) configured to bias the head member (9) to a defined default position relative to the base member (8) in the direction about the pivot axis (P).

12. Assembly (7) as claimed in any of claims 1-11, wherein both the base member (8) and the head member (9) are integral plastic members formed by injection molding.

13. Assembly (7) as claimed in any of claims 1-12, wherein the head member (9) is coupled to the base member (8) through snap connection features.

14. Handheld personal care appliance, comprising an assembly (7) as claimed in any of claims 1-13.

15. Handheld personal care appliance as claimed in claim 14, comprising a hair-cutting unit (4) including at least one movable cutting element, and a drive system configured to make the movable cutting element perform a movement during operation of the electric shaver (1), wherein the hair-cutting unit (4) is at the position of the head member (9) of the assembly (7).

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