Beveled Razor Blade Supports for Fluid Flow

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional blade supports in shaving systems often have residual sharp edges, corners, and burrs that interfere with fluid flow, cause assembly inconsistencies, and lead to damage in precision equipment, resulting in suboptimal shaving performance and increased maintenance.

Innovation Solution

The development of novel blade supports with beveled corners and radii, manufactured using a precision shaping process that eliminates sharp features, allowing for improved fluid flow and assembly precision, featuring a bent elongated body with upper and lower portions and specific bevel angles, materials like carbon chrome nickel stainless steel, and a method involving rolling and skiving operations.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If conventional blade supports are fabricated using traditional methods, then manufacturing is simpler and less costly, but residual sharp edges, corners, and burrs remain that interfere with fluid flow, cause assembly inconsistencies, and lead to equipment damage

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveblade support edge qualityVSAvoidmanufacturing process complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The blade support is pre-formed with beveled corners and radii during the manufacturing process itself, rather than adding features later. The forming process creates the desired geometry with smooth transitions from the outset, preventing sharp edges and burrs before they can interfere with assembly or fluid flow

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The invention changes the geometric parameters of the blade support by introducing beveled corners with specific angles and radii with specific dimensions. These parameter changes transform the sharp, problematic edges into smooth, controlled surfaces that eliminate fluid flow interference while maintaining manufacturing feasibility

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Productivity

If blade supports have sharp edges and corners to maintain structural integrity, then manufacturing is easier, but fluid flow between blades is restricted and debris accumulates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefluid flow efficiencyVSAvoidblade support structural integrity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The invention applies curvature by adding radii to the corners of the blade support. These rounded corners create smooth fluid flow paths that prevent debris accumulation and maintain flow efficiency while the overall structural geometry of the blade support remains intact to provide necessary strength

Inventive Principle:
Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

3Reliability

If conventional blade supports are used with standard materials, then material selection is simpler, but assembly consistency varies and precision equipment is prone to damage

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveassembly consistencyVSAvoidmanufacturing process steps
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The desired corner geometry with bevels and radii is built into the blade support during the forming process itself. This preliminary creation of precise features eliminates variability in assembly consistency and prevents equipment damage without requiring complex post-processing or assembly adjustments

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP2707180B1Razor blade supports
Publication Date: 2016.12.14 EDGEWELL PERSONAL CARE BRANDS LLC
  • EP2707180B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2707180B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2707180B1 patent drawingFigure 3A~3B

AI summary

A blade support for a razor blade cartridge and a method of manufacturing such a blade support are provided. The blade support includes an elongated body bent at an angle to form an upper blade attachment portion and a lower portion, and the elongated body includes one or more bevels at corners of the elongated body. The method of manufacturing the blade support includes the steps of shaping a wire into a formed wire having a thickness and a substantially rectangular cross section, shaping the formed wire into a precision shaped wire having a width and one or more bevels at corners, and bending the precision shaped wire to form the blade support having an upper blade attachment portion and a lower portion.