Body hair removal device

Abstract

We provide a body hair removal device. [Solution] The device includes a handle, a work head frame, and a hair removal tool supported on the work head frame, the hair removal tool comprising a work head that defines the skin contact contour of the work head, the work head frame being pivotably supported on the handle so as to pivot the skin contact contour on the handle about a pivot axis, and a biasing device being provided, the support structure and biasing device being configured to pivot the work head frame about a pivot axis parallel to the pivot axis when a first contact force is received, and to pivot the skin contact contour about a pivot axis parallel to the pivot axis by moving the hair removal tool on the work head frame when a second contact force is received, the first contact force required to pivot the work head frame is smaller than the second contact force, and the biasing device is provided to bias the hair removal tool and / or the work frame head to a predetermined position and / or neutral position in the absence of skin contact pressure.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a hair removal device, particularly an electric shaver, comprising a working head attached to a handle for moving the working head along the skin surface, the working head including at least one hair removal tool defining the skin contact contour of the working head, the at least one hair removal tool being movable relative to the handle under skin contact pressure by a support structure and enabling pivotal movement of the skin contact contour of the working head relative to the handle.

Background Art

[0002] Hair removal devices such as electric shavers, hair removers, or beard trimmers typically include various types of hair removal tools that enable the removal of long, medium, and short hair, as well as stubble, as commonly found on men's beards and women's legs. A short hair cutter can include a movable cutter blade or undercutter cooperating with a thin flexible mesh screen or opening or perforated foil, such mesh screen or foil having a round elongated contour, and the undercutter being able to reciprocate along the longitudinal axis under such an elongated round contour of the mesh screen. Another type of short hair cutter uses a rotary cutter element, which may be driven in a vibrating or continuous manner, and may cooperate with a disc-shaped mesh screen covering the rotary cutter element. By slidably guiding the mesh screen or perforated foil onto the skin surface to be shaved, individual hair shafts enter the holes formed in the screen or foil and are cut by the movement of the cutting blade.

[0003] For medium and / or long hair fibers, separate hair trimmers may be provided on the work head, and such trimmers may be positioned adjacent to one of the short hair cutters. For example, such trimmers may form elongated blocks extending along one of an elongated circular mesh screen or a perforated foil of the short cutters. Such trimmers may include cutter bars having a pair of sickle-shaped finger bars that reciprocate with each other, but may also include foil or cover plates having a relatively large opening, beneath which an undercutter having a cutting blade rotates reciprocating or continuously to cut the hairs entering the opening.

[0004] To achieve good hair removal performance, the short hair cutter, long hair cutter, and other hair removal tools should be positioned substantially perpendicular to the skin being treated. However, due to uneven skin contours and surface orientation, this can be difficult as it requires the user to unnaturally twist their hand to hold the device's handle in a position where the hair removal tool is actually perpendicular to the surface.

[0005] To correct a handle held in an incorrect orientation, it is known to provide a depilatory tool that is movably supported relative to the handle under skin contact pressure by a support structure, and to pivot the skin contact contour of the work head relative to the handle so that the skin contact contour of the work head conforms to the orientation of the skin surface. Such pivotable self-adjustment of the orientation of the depilatory tool can be achieved in various ways, including multi-axis mobility of the depilatory tool. For example, some support structures allow uniaxial or multi-axial pivoting of the entire work head frame relative to the handle, and in addition to the pivoting of the work head frame, allow the diving / floating and / or pivoting of the short hair cutter and / or trimmer tool relative to the work head frame. For example, if there is one or more removal tools, such as a pair of short hair cutters and long hair cutters, the pivoting of the skin contact contour can be achieved, for example, when one depilatory tool is dived and the other depilatory tools are not under asymmetric skin contact pressure on multiple depilatory tools, by diving the short hair cutter into the work head frame in a direction substantially perpendicular to the skin contact contour or along a substantially circular path.

[0006] Such self-adjusting work heads and depilatory tools present challenges in achieving sufficient self-fitting to skin contours and surface orientation while simultaneously providing the user with a sense of control when increasing skin contact pressure to achieve complete hair removal in specific areas. One reason for insufficient self-fitting is that some users actually prefer a low-irritation treatment and press the work head gently against their skin. On the other hand, some users apply relatively high contact pressure to achieve complete hair removal, for example, in the upper lip area below the nose, where excessive self-fitting due to the skin contact contour of the work head can be detrimental.

[0007] For example, reference EP1854593B1 describes an electric razor having a work head equipped with a set of short-hair and long-hair cutters pivotable relative to the handle to achieve self-adaptation to skin contours and skin surface orientation. To avoid undesirable pivoting due to the weight of the work head, for example, if the razor is not held upright but substantially horizontal, and the weight of the shaver head generates torque by the lever arm relative to the pivot axis, it has been proposed to add a counterweight to correct the undesirable pivoting tendency. More specifically, the weight-applying member is connected to the pivotable work head structure and extends to the pivot axis side opposite the main part of the work head. However, such a counterweight significantly increases the inertia of the work head structure, reducing the agility of the portable device. [Prior art documents] [Patent Documents]

[0008] [Patent Document 1] EP1854593B1 [Overview of the project] [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] The fundamental objective of the present invention is to provide an improved hair removal device that avoids at least one of the drawbacks of the prior art and / or further develops existing solutions. A more specific fundamental objective of the present invention is to provide an improved work head structure for a hair removal device that has improved self-adaptation to changes in skin contour and skin surface orientation. Another fundamental objective of the present invention is to simplify the self-adaptation of the hair removal tool to complex skin contours over a wide range of angles, while providing a good sense of control when the work head is pressed against the skin to achieve thorough treatment, along with a low-irritation treatment for the skin.

[0010] At least one of the above objectives is achieved by a hair removal device having the features described in claim 1. At least one of the above objectives is also achieved by a hair removal device having the features described in claim 6. At least one of the above objectives is also achieved by a hair removal device having the features described in claim 15. Advantageous embodiments are given by the features of the dependent claims.

[0011] To achieve at least one of the aforementioned objectives, the hair removal device has an improved work head structure for pivoting the skin contact contour of the work head over a predetermined angular range, even when the work head is carefully slid along the skin to achieve a low-irritation treatment. More specifically, the skin contact contour of the work head can be pivoted around a pivot axis over a relatively large angular range with low contact pressure. In one embodiment, a support structure that movably supports the hair removal tool relative to a handle is configured to allow pivoting of the skin contact contour at angles of + / - 15 degrees or more with respect to the handle under a contact pressure of 0.75 N or less, and at angles of + / - 20 degrees or more with respect to a contact pressure of 1.5 N or less. Such a configuration of the support structure allows for wide-ranging self-adjustment during low-irritation treatment of the skin with low contact pressure.

[0012] More specifically, the support structure may be configured to allow the skin contact contour to pivot at an angle of + / - 22.5 degrees or more under a contact pressure of 0.75 N or less relative to the handle, and at an angle of approximately + / - 30 degrees or more under a contact pressure of 1.25 N or less.

[0013] The pivot resistance, i.e., force and / or torque, applied to the work head and / or depilatory tool to achieve pivoting of the skin contact contour and / or to achieve a specific angular displacement of the skin contact contour may, to some extent, result from the frictional resistance of the support structure and / or the frictional resistance due to the coupling of the drive structure between, for example, the depilatory tool and the motor position, and / or may be controlled by a pivot resistance control device that can form part of the support structure.

[0014] The support structure may include a biasing device for biasing the hair removal tool to a changed position and / or a (predefined) neutral position in the absence of skin contact pressure, the biasing device may include, for example, a spring device that attempts to bias the hair removal tool toward the neutral position. Such a neutral position may be an intermediate position in which the skin contact contour can pivot toward opposing angular positions, for example in terms of clockwise and counterclockwise pivoting. In addition to, or instead of, such a biasing means or support structure may include a braking device for providing a braking force and / or braking torque that needs to be exceeded when changing the angular position of the skin contact contour and / or pivoting the skin contact contour. Additionally or alternatively, such a biasing means or support structure may include a damper or braking device that provides pivot resistance / torque to the work head. The pivot resistance control device may be optionally switched on / off (including automatic on / off switching).

[0015] If the biasing device described above is present, it is necessary to exceed the pre-tension provided by such a biasing device in order to achieve a specific pivot position. As described above, the biasing device may be configured to provide relatively small pivot resistance to simplify self-adjustment during low-irritation skin treatment under low contact pressure. However, even if the hair removal device and its handle are held in an upright or horizontal position, the biasing device is sufficiently effective to bias the hair removal tool to a neutral position where no skin contact pressure is applied.

[0016] In yet another embodiment, the support structure is adjustable with respect to the pivot resistance and the angular displacement range in which the skin contact contour of the work head can pivot. More specifically, a pivot range adjustment device is provided for adjusting the pivot angle in which the skin contact contour can pivot relative to the handle, and is adjusted to have at least a first setting in which the angle is less than + / -35 degrees and greater than + / -5 degrees, and a second setting in which the angle is less than + / -25 degrees and greater than + / -5 degrees, wherein the second setting is different from the first setting.

[0017] The pivot range adjustment device may be connected to a pivot resistance control device and may be configured to increase pivot resistance when reducing the angular range in which the skin contact contour can pivot. In other words, reducing the pivot range increases the rigidity of the work head and hair removal tool, providing a better sense of control.

[0018] These and other advantages will become apparent from the following description, which refers to the drawings and possible examples. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0019] [Figure 1] This is a front view of a hair removal device relating to an electric razor, comprising a handle and a work head attached to the handle, the work head including a set of hair cutting tools. [Figure 2] Figure 1 is a side view of the electric shaver's work head, with the hair removal tool in the neutral position. [Figure 3] This is a side view of the work head, similar to Figure 2, in which the hair removal tool provides pivoting of the skin contact contour of the work head by taking a recessed position under asymmetrical contact pressure. [Figure 4] This is a side view of the work head, similar to Figures 2 and 3, showing the pivot of the work head frame around the pivot axis. [Figure 5] Figures 2-4 show top views of the work head, illustrating the swivel and tilt axes that enable multi-axis pivoting. [Figure 6] This is a partial cross-sectional front view of an electric shaver, similar to Figure 1, showing the internal support structure of the drive system for reciprocating the working head and hair removal tool. [Figure 7] Figure 6 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the drive train, showing the arrangement of the pivotable drive plate between a pair of roller bearings. [Figure 8] This is a schematic side view of the internal support structure and biasing device for supporting and biasing the work head, and shows the adjustment device for adjusting the angular pivot range and biasing force. [Figure 9]It is a side view of a working head similar to FIGS. 2 to 4. Sub - figure (a) shows the neutral position of the hair removal tool, sub - figure (b) shows the pivoting of the working head frame at an angle α1 under the contact pressure F1, and sub - figure (c) shows the pivoting of the skin contact surface by making one of the hair removal tools dive by the pivoting angle α2 under the contact pressure F2. [Figure 10] It is a side view of a working head basically similar to FIG. 9, but different from the example of FIG. 9 in that the working head frame is pivotally supported and the hair removal tool is of a rotary disk type that enables pivoting of the hair removal tool relative to the working head frame. [Figure 11] It is a diagram showing the functional relationship of the pivoting angle achievable under a specific contact pressure. The dark - gray area shows the range of pivoting angles and contact pressures that are more useful than other embodiments. [Figure 12] It is a diagram showing the pivoting angle of the working head of the electric shaver of FIGS. 1 to 9 with respect to the handle under the skin contact pressure acting on the skin contact contour of the working head.

Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0020] To better conform to the skin contour and correct the "incorrect" orientation of the handle, the hair removal device has an improved work head structure that allows the pivoting movement of the skin contact contour of the work head over a wide angular range, even when the work head is carefully slid along the skin to perform a low-irritation procedure. More specifically, the skin contact contour of the work head can be pivoted over a relatively wide range under low contact pressure. In one embodiment, a support structure that movably supports the hair removal tool relative to the handle and a biasing device that biases the hair removal tool to a changeable position, which may or may not be a neutral position in the absence of skin contact pressure, are configured to allow the pivoting of the skin contact contour at an angle of approximately + / - 15 degrees or more under a contact pressure of 0.75 N or less, and / or at an angle of approximately + / - 25 degrees or more under a contact pressure of 1.5 N or less, relative to the handle. Such configurations of the support structure and biasing device allow for a wide range of self-conformation during low-irritation procedures on the skin at low contact pressure. Even though the hair removal device and its handle are held in an upright or horizontal position, the biasing device is sufficiently effective to bias the hair removal tool to a changed position. More specifically, the biasing device and support structure may be configured to allow pivoting of the skin contact contour at an angle of + / - 22.5 degrees or more with respect to the handle under a contact pressure of 0.75 N or less, and at an angle of approximately + / - 30 degrees or more with respect to a contact pressure of 1.25 N or less.

[0021] In yet another embodiment, the biasing device and support structure are adjustable in terms of pivot resistance and the range of resistance and angle over which the skin contact contour of the work head can pivot. More specifically, a pivot range adjustment device is provided for adjusting the pivot angle over which the skin contact contour can pivot relative to the handle, and is adjusted to have at least a first setting where the angle is less than + / -35 degrees and greater than + / -5 degrees, and a second setting where the angle is less than + / -25 degrees and greater than 5 degrees, wherein the second setting is different from the first setting.

[0022] The kinematics of the support structure can have different configurations. For example, there may be only one pivot axis, around which the entire work head can pivot relative to the handle. Alternatively, the support structure may allow for multi-axis pivoting, for example, if the work head is considered to be in a neutral position, the pivot axis and tilt axis (in the case of two-axis pivoting) are substantially orthogonal to each other and extend parallel to the encompassing plane of the skin contact contour of the work head. Additionally or alternatively, at least one hair removal tool may pivot relative to the work head frame, allowing it to submerge or rise.

[0023] More specifically, it is possible that at least one hair removal tool can pivot at different levels.

[0024] In another embodiment, at least one hair removal tool or part of a hair removal tool is movably supported relative to a work head frame, the work head frame may be pivotably supported relative to a handle, allowing the skin contact contour to pivot relative to the handle, the support structure and biasing device are configured to allow the work head frame to pivot at an angle α1 of + / -20 degrees or more relative to the handle under a contact pressure F1, and to allow the skin contact contour to pivot at an angle α2 of + / -2 degrees or + / -5 degrees or more relative to a pivot axis parallel to the pivot axis under a contact pressure F2 by moving the hair removal tool relative to the work head frame, the contact pressure F1 that pivots the work head frame is less than the contact pressure F2 that moves the hair removal tool relative to the work head frame, or the movable part of the head frame relative to the handle or other part of the head frame. Additionally or alternatively, part of the work head frame may be movable relative to the handle and / or other part of the work head frame.

[0025] More specifically, the contact pressure F1 that pivots the work head frame may be 0.5N or less, and the contact pressure F2 that moves the hair removal tool relative to the work head frame may be 1.5N or less.

[0026] In yet another embodiment, a pivot range adjustment device may be provided that adjusts the pivot angle α at which the skin contact contour can pivot relative to the handle, so that there is a first setting different from the second setting. Preferably, the difference in angle between the two settings is about 0 degrees or more, more preferably about 3 degrees. Preferably, in the first setting, the angle α is less than + / -35 degrees and greater than + / -5 degrees, and in the second setting, the angle α is less than + / -25 degrees and greater than + / -5 degrees, and the second setting is different from the first setting.

[0027] In conventional shavers, it is known that the shaver head can be locked to prevent it from pivoting relative to the handle. This is also possible for the working head of the hair removal device of the present invention. However, in addition to such locking, the pivot range adjustment means can be set so that the maximum pivot angle has different values ​​(each value being different from 0). In other words, the maximum pivot angle can be set to take a large value, and to have a smaller value that is not 0.

[0028] In yet another embodiment, in the first setting, the angle α may be less than + / -30 degrees and greater than + / -20 degrees, and in the second setting, the angle α may be less than + / -20 degrees and greater than + / -5 degrees.

[0029] The pivot range adjustment device may be configured to allow continuous adjustment of the maximum pivot angle over a specific range. For example, if the maximum pivot angle can be adjusted over a range of + / -5 degrees to + / -20 degrees, continuous adjustment means that any value between -5 degrees and +20 degrees can be set as the maximum allowable pivot angle. Such continuous adjustment allows for fine-tuning of the user's needs.

[0030] In addition or alternatively, the pivot range adjustment device may be configured to allow stepwise adjustment of the maximum pivot angle, such stepwise adjustment may include, for example, at least three steps from + / -5° to + / -10° to + / -20°. Such stepwise adjustment allows for quicker setting and leads to quicker recognition of changes in the pivot range.

[0031] In another embodiment, the pivot resistance control device may be able to adjust the resistance that must be overcome to bias the skin contact contour of the work head to a specific pivot position in response to the force and / or torque applied to the work head frame and / or the depilatory tool. The resistance that the control device must overcome allows for adjustment of responsiveness and control sensation by varying the resistance against the pivot and / or lift of the depilatory tool. More specifically, as the resistance force and / or torque increases, the work head provides more aggressive and agile operation, which is typically noticed when carefully treating certain skin areas such as the upper lip below the nose. On the other hand, as the resistance force and / or torque decreases, the skin contact contour of the work head can pivot more easily, i.e., with less resistance, to allow for less irritating treatment.

[0032] The adjustment of pivot resistance control devices such as biasing devices can be performed simultaneously with the adjustment of the pivot range in order to simultaneously achieve adjustment of pivot stiffness and / or floating stiffness and adjustment of the pivot range. More specifically, the aforementioned pivot range adjustment device is connected to the biasing device and / or pivot resistance adjustment device, and by starting one adjustment device, the pivot resistance force and / or torque and the pivot angle range can be adjusted.

[0033] In one embodiment, the pivot range adjustment may be linked to the resistance adjustment such that the resistance force and / or torque increases as the angular pivot range decreases. On the other hand, as the pivot angle range increases, i.e., as the maximum allowable pivot angle increases, the resistance force and / or torque is reduced to allow for easy pivoting over a wide range.

[0034] The aforementioned pivot range adjustment device and / or bias adjustment device may include a manual actuator to allow manual adjustment of the pivot range and / or bias. For example, a sliding knob or a rotatable adjustment element may be provided to enable adjustment of the pivot range and / or bias / torque.

[0035] Additionally or alternatively, adjustment actuators, such as electric motors, magnetic elements, or fluid-pressure cylinders, may be provided to enable automatic or semi-automatic starting of the pivot range adjuster and / or bias adjuster. For example, such adjustment actuators may be controlled by an electronic control unit in response to one or more processing parameters detected by corresponding detectors when operating the hair removal device during a hair removal session. For example, the hair removal device may include a skin pressure sensor for detecting the skin contact pressure of the work head and / or hair removal tool, and the electronic control unit may change the pivot range and / or bias of the adjustment actuator in response to the signal from the skin contact sensor indicating the skin contact pressure. More specifically, if the skin contact sensor detects that the work head is being pressed strongly against the skin surface, the adjustment actuator may operate to increase the biasing force and / or biasing torque, and / or reduce the pivot adjustment range to a smaller maximum pivot angle.

[0036] In one embodiment, a switch is provided to turn the biasing adjustment device (26) and / or the pivot resistance control device on and off, or to automatically turn on and off, for example, when the skin contact pressure falls below a certain threshold.

[0037] In another embodiment, the hair removal device comprises a support structure and / or a biasing device, both of which are configured to allow the skin contact contour to pivot over a range of angles approximately varying relative to the handle in response to the contact pressure applied by the skin contact contour to the skin and / or the skin contact pressure. Users who press the work tool harder than usual against their skin are interpreted as desiring relatively small mobility of the shaver head over a relatively narrow range of pivot angles, and / or relatively difficult mobility, to enhance head controllability at the head pivot position, even with relatively high pressing force.

[0038] These and other features will become apparent from the examples shown in the drawings. As can be seen from Figure 1, the hair removal device can be configured as an electric razor 1 including a razor housing that forms a handle 3, and a drive unit including an electric motor and an electronic control unit may be housed inside the handle 3a. Such a handle 3 may have an elongated, substantially bony configuration that extends along the longitudinal axis 3l.

[0039] The work head may be attached to the handle 3 at one end, and the work head 2 may be movably supported on the handle 3. For example, the support structure 11 that supports the work head 2 on the handle 3 can allow single-axis or multi-axis pivoting (e.g., two axes or an unspecified / unlimited number of axes) and / or swiveling of the entire work head 2 relative to the handle 3.

[0040] In addition to this basic mobility, the work head 3 may allow for certain internal movements. More specifically, the work head 2 includes a plurality of hair removal tools 4, which may include a pair of short hair cutters 5 and 6 and a trimmer 7, movably supported relative to the base structure of the work head. The work head may also include wings, each wing comprising at least one hair cutting unit that can move relative to the other wings.

[0041] More specifically, the work head 3 may include a support frame or work head frame 12 that can be pivotably supported on the handle 3 around a pivot axis 8 that allows pivoting of the entire work head 2, and thus the support frame 12 on the handle 3. In an alternative configuration in which the work head includes wings, the work head as a whole may be movable relative to the handle, but the wings may also be individually movable relative to the handle and relative to each other. Furthermore, each hair cutter may be movable relative to each other and relative to the handle and the wings, which are provided with at least one hair cutter. The work head frame may be divided into two parts that are movable relative to each other if the work head includes a two-wing structure. Each wing may include one or more hair cutting units.

[0042] The pivot shaft 8 may extend parallel to a second plane that is parallel to a first plane separating the short-hair cutters 4 and 5 from each other, and substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis 31 of the handle 3.

[0043] As can be seen in Figure 5, the short-pile cutters 5 and 6, and the trimmer 7 described above, may be elongated substantial block-shaped and / or elongated roughly rectangular in shape, and the short-pile cutters 5 and 6 include a flexible mesh screen with a curved surface, beneath which the undercutter and / or cutter blade block can reciprocate. On the other hand, the trimmer 7 may include a foil with a relatively large opening beneath which a pair of sickle-shaped finger bars and / or undercutters with cutting blades can reciprocate relative to each other.

[0044] Since the short hair cutter and trimmer have the elongated shape described above, the skin contact surface of the work head 2 formed by the upper surfaces of the short hair cutters 5 and 6 and the trimmer 7 can have a strip-like structure, and as a whole, it can have a rectangular structure when viewed from above. In the rotary cutting system, the skin contact surface comprises circular, ring-shaped, or disc-shaped portions of each rotary cutting unit, and all of these together may form a skin contact contour that is, for example, convex, concave, or flat, depending on the skin contact contour of the user's skin.

[0045] As can be seen from Figure 3, the hair removal tool 4, viewed from the perspective of the short hair cutters 5 and 6 and the trimmer 7, can float relative to the work head frame 12, and thus can retract into the work head tool along a direction substantially perpendicular to the skin contact contour 9, assuming that at least the skin contact contour 9 is in the neutral or initial position as shown in Figure 2. Since each hair removal tool 4 can float or retract individually, the skin contact contour 9 can pivot when one of the hair removal tools 4 is retracted and the other is not. Specifically, when subjected to asymmetrical skin pressure, one of the short hair cutters 5 retracts while the other does not, and the skin contact contour 9 pivots around an axis substantially parallel to the pivot axis 8. The skin contact contour 9 is illustrated as a line following the skin contour. The portion of the hair removal tool / cutting unit / hair cutter that is in contact with the skin is also understood as the skin contact contour 9. The skin contact surface may include the skin contact contour 9.

[0046] As can be seen from Figure 5, multi-axis pivoting is possible, and the second pivot axis 14 may extend substantially perpendicular to the first pivot axis 8. The pivoting around such second pivot axis 14 may also occur at different levels. That is, the support structure 11 may pivot the work head frame 12 around such second axis 14, and / or the hair removal tool 4 may float and / or submerge asymmetrically with respect to the work head frame 12 so that the hair removal tool 4 pivots with respect to the work head frame 12 around the second axis 14.

[0047] Due to the multiple degrees of freedom of the work head 2 and its hair removal tool 4, various pivotal responses can occur in response to forces applied to the work head 2 and / or hair removal tool 4, as shown in Figures 9 and 10.

[0048] As shown in Figure 9, the skin contact pressure F1 acting on one of the external hair removal tools 4, such as the left short hair cutter 5, can cause the working head frame 12 to pivot around the pivot axis 8. This pivot of the working head frame 12 is indicated by the pivot angle α1.

[0049] On the other hand, skin contact pressure F2 applied to one of the external hair removal tools 4, such as the external short hair cutter 5, also causes the external short hair cutter 5 to slide in and / or float up, resulting in pivoting of the skin contact contour 9. The pivoting of the skin contact contour 9 due to the sliding in and / or floating of the hair removal tool 4 relative to the working head frame 12 is indicated by the pivot angle α2. See Figure 9(c). In the case of an alternative head frame that includes two parts that are movable relative to each other, the skin contact contours of each part of the cutting unit do not have to lie on a single line.

[0050] Depending on the biasing force and / or biasing torque applied to the biasing device 10, more specifically to the hair removal tools 4 and / or the work head frame 12, the force applied to one of the hair removal tools 4 can cause at least a portion of the work head frame 12 to pivot and / or cause the skin contact contour 9 to pivot as the hair removal tool 4 slides through.

[0051] The biasing device 10 may include a separate biasing element 10a for biasing the hair removal tool 4 against the work head frame 12, such biasing element 10a attempts to prevent the hair removal tool 4 from sinking into and / or floating above the work head frame 12, and / or biases the hair removal tool 4 to a neutral position where it has maximum height relative to the work head frame 12. On the other hand, the biasing device 10 may include a biasing element 10b for biasing the work head frame 12 to a neutral angular position relative to the handle 3. See Figure 8. Additional biasing elements may be provided to bias parts of the work head frame against each other and / or against the handle.

[0052] A biasing device may also be provided to bias at least a portion of the working head frame to a predetermined position. This fixed or predetermined position is not necessarily a central position or a position where the head moves solely based on gravity. Instead, this fixed position may be designed, for example, so that the head is in a position where the cutting unit is best visible.

[0053] As shown in Figures 9(b) and 9(c), the aforementioned forces F1 and F2 may also be forces acting on the outermost hair removal tool 4, which has the longest lever arm relative to the pivot axis in a cross section perpendicular to the pivot axis. Depending on the contour of the hair removal tool, the forces F1 and F2 may act on the hair removal tool in its middle or outer edge. For example, when short hair cutters 5 and 6 are considered, such tools may have a substantially rounded semi-cylindrical skin contact contour, and typically the central portion of such a barrel-shaped upper part contacts the skin. Therefore, a practical approach is to assume that the forces F1 and F2 act on the central portion of the short hair cutters 5 and 6. See Figures 9(b) and 9(c).

[0054] On the other hand, if the work head 2 includes a rotary, roughly cup-shaped hair removal tool 4 as shown in Figure 10, a practical approach would be for forces F1 and F2 to act on the outer and / or inner edges of the cup-shaped rotary cutter, causing the rotary cutter to pivot via the associated lever arm.

[0055] In either case, regardless of whether a substantially cylindrical barrel-shaped cutter as shown in Figure 9 or a cup-shaped cutter as shown in Figure 10 is used, the forces F1 and F2 can be considered to be applied substantially perpendicular to the skin contact contour 9 in the neutral position of the work head 2 and the hair removal tool 4. For example, if the skin contact contour 9 is horizontal as shown in Figure 2 in the neutral position of the device, the forces F1 and F2 are applied perpendicularly. The skin contact surface may include the skin contact contour 9.

[0056] The determination of the force F1 and / or F2 may include the following: - The razor is turned on by fully charging the battery or (for products without batteries) by plugging it into an outlet. If various settings are available, the highest head vibration level / highest power level setting will be used. If these levels are different, the highest head vibration level setting will be used. - The test will be conducted under laboratory conditions. - The razor is thoroughly cleaned, for example, all beard and dirt are removed. - All parts that undergo relative motion can be lubricated with machine oil (after cleaning and before testing). - To measure F1, it may be necessary to prevent the movement caused by F2, for example, by using mechanical fasteners that prevent the short-hair cutter and / or trimmer tools from moving between them. Similarly, to measure F2, it may be necessary to prevent the movement caused by F1, for example, by using mechanical fasteners that prevent the working head frame from rotating around a pivot axis relative to the handle. -Since the razor is fixed in the holder in this manner, the working head with the skin contact contour 9 is aligned horizontally. The applied force is set perpendicular to this configuration. - The cutter and / or support structure are pressed down onto the block. Force and displacement are measured using a Mecmesin force and torque testing system. The system requires displacement values ​​based on force and angle values.

[0057] As already mentioned, applying the above forces F1 and / or F2 to the hair removal tool of the work head 2 can result in pivot angles α1 and / or pivot angles α2 that actually overlap and / or are coupled to each other. In other words, the skin contact contour 9 defined by the encompassing surface on the hair removal tool 4 pivots by an angle α with respect to the sum of the partial pivot angles α1 and α2. It can be moved.

[0058] Considering the possible pivoting kinematics and force application structures, the support structure 11 and biasing device 10 are configured to allow pivoting of the skin contact contour 9 at an angle α of approximately + / - 15 degrees or more under a contact pressure F of 0.75 N or less relative to the handle 3, and / or at an angle α of approximately + / - 25 degrees or more under a contact pressure of 1.5 N or less.

[0059] More specifically, the support structure 11 and the biasing device 10 may be configured to allow the skin contact contour 9 to pivot at an angle α of approximately + / - 22.5 degrees or more under a contact pressure of 0.75 N or less with respect to the handle 3, and at an angle α of approximately + / - 30 degrees or more under a contact pressure of 1.25 N or less.

[0060] In another embodiment, the support structure 11 and the biasing device 10 are configured to allow at least a portion of the work head frame 12 to pivot at an angle α1 of + / - 20 degrees or more under a contact pressure F1 about the pivot axis 8 relative to the handle 3, and to allow the skin contact contour 9 to pivot at an angle α2 of + / - 5 degrees or more under a contact pressure F2 about a pivot axis parallel to the pivot axis 8 by moving the hair removal tool 4 relative to the work head frame 12, wherein the contact pressure F1 that pivots the work head frame 12 is smaller than the contact pressure F2 that moves the hair removal tool 4 relative to the work head frame 12.

[0061] More specifically, the contact pressure F1 that pivots at least a portion of the work head frame 12 is 0.5N or less, and the contact pressure F2 that moves the hair removal tool 4 relative to the work head frame 12 is 1.5N or less.

[0062] The available pivot angles and effective range of force F required to achieve the above pivot angle α are shown in Figure 11, more specifically by region 15 in the figure. Figure 11 shows the skin contact pressure F in Newtons on one axis and the pivot angle α on the other axis.

[0063] The particularly advantageous sub-region 16 exhibits a pivot angle of approximately + / -35° to + / -37.5°, i.e., a total pivot angle of approximately 70° to 75°, under a skin contact pressure F of approximately 1N to 1.5N.

[0064] Basically, the support structure 11 including the biasing device 10 may be configured to allow pivoting of approximately + / - 25 degrees under a skin contact pressure of 1.5 N or less.

[0065] As described above, the support structure 11 or biasing device may include other types of pivot resistance control devices such as braking devices and / or dampers, and may be adjustable with respect to pivot resistance force and / or pivot resistance torque.

[0066] To avoid undesirable limitations on pivoting behavior, the hair removal device may be provided with a drive system that avoids large frictional forces that increase pivoting resistance. More specifically, as shown in Figures 6 and 7, a drive source such as an electric motor 16 can cause the reciprocating motion of a hair removal tool 4 such as short hair cutters 5 and 6 or a trimmer 7, and a drive system 17 connecting the motor 16 to the hair removal tool 4 includes low-friction bearings, while transmitting the drive motion to the hair removal tool 4 to enable the pivoting of the hair removal tool 4 relative to the motor 16.

[0067] For example, the drive system 17 may include a vibrating or reciprocating drive element 19 that can reciprocate substantially linearly in a direction substantially parallel to the cutting motion of the hair removal tool 4. For example, as shown in Figure 7, the drive element 19 may vibrate substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis 3l of the handle 3.

[0068] Furthermore, the drive system 17 may include a second drive element 20 connected to the hair removal tool 4 to perform reciprocating or vibrating motion together with the hair removal tool 4, the drive element 20 of which may be, for example, rigidly connected to a drive bridge 21 and then drivably connected to the hair removal tool 4. The aforementioned drive element 20 may take the form of a plate-like structure and / or a rod-like structure having a longitudinal axis substantially perpendicular to the vibration axis of the other drive element 19.

[0069] As can be seen in Figure 7, the drive element 20 is connected to the drive element 19 by at least one low-friction bearing 18, and the drive element 20 can be accommodated with substantially no play between the pair of low-friction bearings 18 connected to the drive element 19. The low-friction bearings 18 may include roller bearings, for example, and / or sliding bearings. For example, the drive element 19 may include a fork section having two spaced-apart arms, each arm 22, 23 provided with one of the low-friction bearings 18 that accommodates the drive element 20 between them. The low-friction bearings 18 allow the work head frame 12 and / or the hair removal tool 4 to pivot relative to the handle 3 from the drive system 17 with substantially no frictional resistance.

[0070] As can be seen from Figure 8, adjustments to the pivot angle range and / or biasing force and / or biasing torque may exist. For example, to adjust the pivot angle at which the skin contact contour 9 can pivot relative to the handle 3, a pivot range adjustment device 13 may be provided, which has a first setting where the angle α is less than + / -35 degrees and greater than + / -5 degrees, and a second setting where the angle α is less than + / -25 degrees and greater than + / -5 degrees, wherein the second setting is different from the first setting.

[0071] For example, in the first setting, the angle α may be less than + / -30 degrees and greater than + / -20 degrees, and in the second setting, the angle α may be less than + / -20 degrees and greater than + / -5 degrees.

[0072] In an advantageous embodiment, the pivot range adjustment device 13 is configured to allow continuous adjustment of an angle α of at least + / -5 degrees to + / -20 degrees, and / or stepwise adjustment of an angle α including at least three steps of at least + / -5 degrees to + / -20 degrees.

[0073] In an advantageous embodiment, the biasing device 10 is adjustable with respect to biasing force and / or biasing torque by a biasing adjustment device 26, providing a range of biasing forces and / or biasing torques.

[0074] In a favorable embodiment, the pivot range adjustment device 13 is connected to the biasing adjustment device 26 and is configured to increase the biasing force and / or biasing torque of the biasing device 10 when the angle α is reduced.

[0075] As can be seen in Figure 8, the pivot range adjustment device 13 may include, for example, an adjustment element 24 which is a sleeve that cooperates with the biasing element 10b of the biasing device 10 to bias the working head frame 12 to a neutral position. The adjustment actuator 25 may be provided to move the adjustment element 24 to various positions such that the adjustment element 24 restricts the mobility of the biasing element 10b and / or the preload biasing element 10b in various ways and / or at various levels.

[0076] The above pivot angle is expressed as a + / - value. This means that the entire pivot range is a 2x value; for example, a pivot angle of + / - 20 degrees refers to a total drive range of 40 degrees, which is 2 x 20 degrees. The + / - value of the pivot angle can refer to the pivot value in a first direction relative to a predetermined or neutral position and in a second direction different from the first direction. This + / - value encompasses all options where the entire range is a 2x value regardless of the starting point and the pivot movement in one or two directions; for example, the + / - value of the pivot angle is performed from one predetermined end position of the work head or skin contact contour in a single direction.

[0077] Hair cutting tools, hair cutting units, individual cutting elements, The terms short hair cutter and trimmer can be understood as interchangeable.

[0078] The dimensions and values ​​disclosed herein should not be understood as being strictly limited to the exact numerical values ​​stated. Rather, unless otherwise specified, each such dimension is intended to mean both the stated value and a functionally equivalent range around that value. For example, a dimension disclosed as "40 mm" is intended to mean "approximately 40 mm".

Claims

1. A hair removal device, ・ Handle (3) and, - A work head (2) attached to the handle (3) for moving the work head (2) along the skin surface, comprising a work head frame (12) and at least one hair removal tool (4) movably supported relative to the work head frame (12), wherein the at least one hair removal tool (4) defines the skin contact contour (9) of the work head (2), and - The work head frame (12) is pivotably supported by the support structure (11) so as to allow the skin contact contour (9) to pivot around the pivot axis (8, 14) relative to the handle (3) by the support structure (11), A biasing device (10) is provided to apply bias and / or motion resistance to the hair removal tool (4) and / or the work head frame (12). - The support structure (11) and the biasing device (10) are configured such that when a first contact force (F1) is received, the work head frame (12) can be pivoted about a pivot axis (8) relative to the handle (3), and when a second contact force (F2) is received, the hair removal tool (4) is moved relative to the work head frame (12), thereby allowing the skin contact contour (9) to be pivoted about a pivot axis parallel to the pivot axis (8). - The first contact force (F1) required to pivot the work head frame (12) is smaller than the second contact force (F2) required to move the hair removal tool (4) relative to the work head frame (12). A body hair removal device wherein the biasing device (10) is provided to bias the hair removal tool (4) and / or the work frame head (12) to a predetermined position and / or a neutral position without skin contact pressure.

2. The hair removal device according to claim 1, wherein the support structure (11) and the biasing device (10) are configured to allow the handle (3) to pivot at any angle (α) in the range of -22.5 degrees to +22.5 degrees or more, with respect to the pivot axis (8, 14) of the skin contact contour (9), with respect to a contact pressure (F) of 0.75 N or less, and / or at any angle (α) in the range of -30 degrees to +30 degrees or more, with respect to a contact pressure of 1.25 N or less.

3. The body hair removal device according to claim 1, wherein the contact pressure (F1) for pivoting the work head frame (12) is 0.5 N or less, and the contact pressure (F2) for moving the hair removal tool (4) relative to the work head frame (12) is 1.5 N or less.

4. A pivot range adjusting device (13) is provided for adjusting the pivot angle (α) at ​​which the skin contact contour (9) can pivot relative to the handle (3), wherein the pivot angle (α) differs between a first setting and a second setting, and in particular, the pivot angle varies from about 0 degrees or 3 degrees between both the first setting and the second setting, according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

5. The hair removal device according to claim 4, wherein in the first setting, the angle (α) is less than ±30 degrees and greater than ±20 degrees, and in the second setting, the angle (α) is less than ±20 degrees and greater than ±2 degrees.

6. The hair removal device according to claim 4 or 5, wherein the pivot range adjustment device (13) is configured to enable continuous adjustment of an angle (α) of at least + / - 2 degrees to + / - 20 degrees, and / or stepped adjustment including at least three steps of an angle (α) of at least + / - 5 degrees to + / - 20 degrees.

7. The hair removal device according to any one of claims 4 to 6, wherein the biasing device (10) and / or the support structure (10) are adjustable with respect to pivoting resistance force and / or pivoting resistance torque by a biasing adjustment device (26) and / or pivoting resistance control device that provide different pivoting resistance force and / or pivoting resistance torque.

8. The hair removal device according to claim 7, wherein the pivot range adjustment device (13) is connected to the biasing adjustment device (26) and / or pivot resistance control device, and is configured such that the pivot resistance force and / or pivot resistance torque increase when the angle (α) decreases.

9. The hair removal device according to claim 8, wherein an adjustment actuator (25) controlled by an electronic control unit is provided to automatically adjust the pivot angle (α) to which the skin contact contour (9) can pivot relative to the handle (3) and / or the pivot resistance force / torque, in response to at least one processing parameter detected by a detector (26) when operating the hair removal device during a hair removal session.

10. The hair removal device according to claim 9, wherein the detector (26) includes a skin contact pressure sensor that provides a signal indicating the skin contact pressure of the work head (2) to the control unit configured to control the adjustment actuator (25) in response to the detected skin contact pressure.

11. The hair removal device according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein a motor for driving the hair removal tool (4) is housed in the handle (31) to reduce the inertia of the work head with respect to pivoting.

12. The hair removal device according to claim 9 or 10, wherein a switch is provided for turning the biasing adjustment device (26) and / or the pivot resistance control device on and off, or an automatic switch operating device is provided for automatically turning the biasing adjustment device (26) and / or the pivot resistance control device on and off in accordance with at least one processing parameter detected by the detector.

13. The hair removal device according to any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein the support structure (11) and / or the biasing device (10) are configured to allow the skin contact contour (9) to pivot relative to the handle (3) in a range of different angles (α) depending on the contact pressure (F) and / or skin contact pressure applied to the skin by the skin contact contour (9).

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