Animal Clipper Shearing Head Pressure Indicator Pin

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional animal clippers lack a pressure display for the upper knife on the lower knife, making it difficult for users to set and maintain optimal pressure, leading to increased friction and potential overheating, which can be uncomfortable for animals and detrimental to the clipper.

Innovation Solution

A shaving head with a pressure control device featuring a rotatable control knob and a visible pressure indicator pin that shows the set pressure, allowing users to adjust and monitor the pressure between the upper and lower knives, including a spacer screw and lever mechanism for enhanced visibility and a locking mechanism to prevent unintentional adjustments.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If the pressure of the upper blade on the lower blade is increased to maintain cutting quality, then the cutting performance is improved, but excessive friction and overheating occur

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecutting performanceVSAvoidfriction and overheating
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a pressure indicator pin that provides visual feedback to the user about the current pressure setting. This feedback mechanism allows users to monitor the pressure between blades in real-time and adjust it to optimal levels, preventing both insufficient pressure (poor cutting) and excessive pressure (overheating). The indicator pin translates the rotational position of the control knob into a visible linear position, enabling precise pressure control.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Ease of operation

If a rotary control knob is used to adjust pressure, then pressure adjustment is enabled, but the user cannot determine the actual pressure setting

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepressure adjustmentVSAvoidpressure setting information
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a pressure indicator pin as an intermediary element between the rotary control knob and the user. This pin converts the rotational motion of the control knob into linear displacement that is visible to the user. The indicator pin acts as a mediator that translates the abstract rotational position into concrete visual information about the pressure setting, eliminating the information loss inherent in direct rotary controls.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent transforms the one-dimensional rotational control into a two-dimensional visualization system. The control knob operates in the rotational dimension, while the indicator pin displays the pressure setting in the linear vertical dimension. This dimensional transformation allows users to perceive pressure settings more intuitively, converting an invisible rotational parameter into a visible linear position.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Device complexity

If the pressure control device lacks a display, then the device complexity is reduced, but the user cannot monitor the pressure setting

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontrol device structureVSAvoidpressure setting visibility
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The pressure indicator pin serves a dual function: it is both part of the pressure control mechanism and the display element. The same mechanical component that adjusts the pressure also indicates the pressure setting, eliminating the need for separate display devices. This self-service approach maintains simplicity while providing necessary information feedback.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

Enables users to easily determine the set pressure, preventing excessive friction and overheating, facilitating better cutting performance and extending the life of the knives by providing clear pressure indicators and locking mechanisms.

Implementation Method 1

a pressure bracket spring arranged between the control knob spindle and the pressure bracket

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Implementation Method 2

a spacer screw arranged coaxially with the control knob spindle and freely movable in translation along its longitudinal axis relative to the control knob spindle, wherein a first end of the spacer screw is connected to the pressure bracket and a second end of the spacer screw interacts with the pressure indicator pin

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMechanical Advantage: Mechanical Advantage

Data Source

PatentEP3939755B1Shearing head for animal clipper and animal clipper
Publication Date: 2024.04.10 HEINIGER
  • EP3939755B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3939755B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3939755B1 patent drawingFigure 5

AI summary

The present invention relates to a shearing head (10) for an animal clipper, comprising an upper blade (12) and a lower blade (13), wherein the upper blade (12) is movable relative to the lower blade (13), a pressure control device (14) comprising a rotatable control knob (15) with which the pressure of the upper blade (12) on the lower blade (13) can be adjusted, wherein the pressure control device (14) comprises a pressure indicator pin (23) arranged coaxially with the control knob (15) and movable translationally, wherein the pressure indicator pin (23) is at least partially visible to a user of the shearing head (10), and wherein the axial position of the pressure indicator pin (23) relative to the control knob (15) depends on the pressure of the upper blade (12) on the lower blade (13) set by the pressure control device (14). The present invention also relates to an animal clipper comprising a shearing head (10) according to the invention.