Blade Set for Hair Cutting Appliance with Guide Slot Clearance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Common electric razors are not suited for precise trimming operations due to the lack of mechanisms for spacing the foil and cutter blade from the skin, while hair trimmers are not suited for shaving due to the required rigidity of their blades, leading to the need for separate appliances and complex, uncomfortable combined devices that are heavy and prone to wear.
Innovation Solution
A blade set with a stationary blade that encloses and guides a movable blade, featuring a U-shaped leading edge and integrated guard portions to enhance structural strength, allowing for thin, skin-contacting blades that can efficiently cut both short and long hairs, and a design that minimizes hair entry into gaps to prevent blockages and improve cutting performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If a hair trimmer uses rigid blades for trimming operations, then the blade strength and rigidity are improved, but the ability to shave close to the skin deteriorates due to the required rigidity preventing thin, skin-contacting blade design
Solution Approach 1:
The blade assembly is divided into a stationary blade and a movable blade that can oscillate relative to each other. The stationary blade has a toothed edge for trimming, while the movable blade has a smooth edge for shaving, allowing both functions in one device. The segmentation enables each blade portion to be optimized for its specific function while working together as an integrated system.
Solution Approach 2:
The movable blade is designed to oscillate back and forth relative to the stationary blade during operation. This dynamic motion allows the smooth edge of the movable blade to effectively shave close to the skin while the toothed stationary blade provides trimming capability, resolving the contradiction between rigidity and shaving adaptability.
2Adaptability or versatility
If an electric razor uses a foil and cutter blade for shaving, then the shaving performance is improved, but the ability to perform precise trimming operations deteriorates due to lack of spacing mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The blade assembly is designed to perform both shaving and trimming functions using a single configuration. The toothed edges of the stationary blade provide comb-like spacing that enables precise trimming, while the smooth movable blade provides shaving capability. This multi-functional design eliminates the need for separate appliances or complex spacing mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The toothed stationary blade extends slightly beyond the movable blade to provide the comb-like spacing needed for trimming precision. This partial extension of the stationary blade creates the necessary gap control for precise trimming while maintaining the shaving function, achieving both capabilities without excessive complexity.
3Reliability
If separate appliances are used for shaving and trimming, then each appliance can be optimized for its specific function, but the device complexity and user inconvenience increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention merges the shaving function and trimming function into a single blade assembly and appliance. The stationary blade with toothed edges and the movable blade with smooth edge work together to provide both shaving and trimming capabilities, eliminating the need for separate appliances and reducing device complexity while maintaining function-specific performance.
Solution Approach 2:
The blade assembly is designed as a universal cutting system that can perform both shaving and trimming operations. The toothed stationary blade provides comb-like spacing for trimming precision, while the smooth movable blade provides shaving capability, allowing one appliance to replace multiple specialized devices.
4Adaptability or versatility
If combined shaving and trimming devices are created, then both functions are available in one appliance, but the device becomes heavy and prone to wear
Solution Approach 1:
The shaving and trimming functions are merged into a single lightweight blade assembly rather than combining two separate heavy mechanisms. The stationary blade and movable blade work together in a compact configuration that provides dual functionality without the weight and complexity of traditional combined devices.
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a hair cutting appliance (10) and a blade set (20) for a hair cutting appliance (10), said blade set (20) being arranged to be moved through hair in a moving direction (28) to cut hair, said blade set (20) comprising a stationary blade (22), comprising a first wall portion (44), and a second wall portion (46), each wall portion defining a first surface (80, 82, 84), a second surface (86, 88, 90), and at least one toothed leading edge (32, 34) comprising a plurality of mutually spaced apart projections (36), wherein the toothed leading edge (32, 34) at least partially extends in a transverse direction (Y, t) relative to the moving direction (28), wherein the mutually spaced apart projections (36) at least partially extend forwardly in a longitudinal direction (X, r) approximately perpendicular to the transverse direction (Y, t), wherein the first surfaces (80, 82) of the first wall portion (44) and the second wall portion (46) face each other, at least at their leading edges (32, 34), wherein, in a filled region (58), facing projections (36) along the leading edges (32, 34) of the first and second wall portions (46) are mutually connected at their tips (38) to define a plurality of teeth (40), a movable blade (24) comprising at least one toothed leading edge (106, 106), said movable blade (24) being movably arranged within a guide slot (76) defined by the stationary blade (22), wherein the guide slot (76), at least partially extends into the forwardly extending projections (36) to an inwardly facing end face (114) of the filled region (58), and wherein the toothed leading edge (106, 108) of the movable blade (24) is spaced apart from the end face (114) of the filled region (58), thereby defining a clearance portion (118), and wherein the movable blade (24) leading edge (106, 108) and the end face (114) are longitudinally spaced apart by a clearance longitudinal dimension (lcl) of less than 0.5 mm, preferably less than 0.2 mm, more preferably less than 0.1 mm.