Interchangeable Beard Trimmer Heads for Adjustable Stubble Length

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing electric shaving apparatuses are not suitable for users seeking to maintain hair at a length between a close shave and a full beard, as they require multiple orientations and are ineffective for cutting longer hairs due to their design, leading to difficulties in achieving desired stubble lengths and comfort during use.

Innovation Solution

An electric hair cutting kit with a handle and interchangeable head portions, including a shaver unit with oscillating cutters and a long hair cutter unit, equipped with comb units of varying thickness and attachment options, allowing for adjustable hair trimming lengths and improved contour following without the need for frequent repositioning.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If a perforated shaving foil is used to trim hair at the skin's surface, then a close shave is achieved, but the apparatus is ineffective at cutting hairs exceeding a certain length

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecutting precisionVSAvoidhair length adaptability
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The shaving apparatus is divided into multiple independent cutting units: a first shaver unit with foil-type cutters for close shaving, and a second shaver unit with projected teeth for longer hair trimming. Each unit can operate independently or together, allowing the apparatus to handle various hair lengths effectively.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The apparatus integrates multiple cutting mechanisms (foil-type cutters and projected teeth) into a single device, enabling it to perform both close shaving and stubble trimming functions. The guard assembly can be adjusted to work with either cutting unit, providing universal adaptability across different shaving needs.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Adaptability or versatility

If projected teeth are used to cut hairs, then longer hair can be trimmed, but the user must orient the apparatus in many different positions relative to the skin

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehair length handlingVSAvoidoperational simplicity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The apparatus combines foil-type cutters and projected teeth into a single integrated shaver head, allowing both cutting mechanisms to work simultaneously or independently. This merging eliminates the need to switch between different devices or orientations, as both cutting types are accessible in one unified structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The guard assembly is designed with adjustable positioning mechanisms that allow dynamic adjustment of the guard's position and angle relative to the cutting units. This enables the apparatus to maintain effective cutting geometry across different skin contours and hair directions without requiring the user to reorient the entire device frequently.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Length of moving object

If a guard is attached to increase the distance between the skin's surface and the projected teeth, then the cut length of the hair is increased, but the apparatus complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecutting lengthVSAvoidapparatus structure
Core Design Contradiction:
Length of moving objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The guard assembly is designed to work with both foil-type cutters and projected teeth, serving multiple functions depending on which cutting unit is active. This universal design allows a single guard structure to provide length control for different cutting mechanisms, reducing the need for separate guards for each cutting type.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The guard assembly incorporates adjustable positioning mechanisms that allow dynamic adjustment of the guard's position and angle. This enables the guard to maintain optimal spacing for different cutting lengths and to adapt to various skin contours, providing versatile length control without requiring multiple fixed-geometry guards.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP3300856B1Beard trimmer
Publication Date: 2021.06.02 BRAUN GMBH
  • EP3300856B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3300856B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3300856B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

An electric hair cutting kit comprises a handle with a motor for driving a beard trimmer head portion and a shaver head portion. The shaver head portion is attachable to the handle and has at least a first shaver unit, which is provided with a first foil-type outer shaver cutter and a first inner shaver cutter. The motor drives the first inner shaver cutter in order to oscillate relative to first outer shaver cutter in a direction along an x axis and cut and shave hair between the first inner shaver cutter and the first outer shaver cutter. The beard trimmer head portion is attachable to the handle as an alternative to the shaver head portion and has at least a first long hair cutter unit for trimming hair, which is provided with a first, non-foil type outer cutter and a first inner cutter. A comb unit is attachable to the first long hair cutter unit.