Compliant Roller Cutting Surface for Irregular Fibers

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing cutting devices struggle to effectively cut hair or fibers from non-rigid, irregularly shaped or smooth surfaces due to their rigid cutting edges, which fail to conform to natural curves and tight spaces, leading to inefficiencies and safety concerns.

Innovation Solution

A cutting apparatus with a compliant cutting surface, such as a roller with cutting elements on its peripheral surface, that can be squeezed or rolled over the hair- or fiber-bearing surface to conform to its shape, allowing for effective cutting in irregular areas, including the use of spherical or cylindrical rollers with embedded cutters and apertures that change shape to sever fibers or hair.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If a rigid cutting edge is used, then the cutting blade maintains structural strength and durability, but it fails to conform to irregularly shaped or compliant surfaces such as the face, ears, and nose

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecutting blade strengthVSAvoidconformability to irregular surfaces

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies this principle by using a flexible foil support structure that can conform to irregular surfaces while maintaining embedded rigid cutting edges. The foil support is flexible enough to adapt to the contours of the face, ears, and nose, yet strong enough to hold the cutting edges in place effectively.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Solution Approach 2:

The patent divides the cutting device into separate functional components: flexible foil support elements and rigid cutting edge elements. This segmentation allows each component to optimize its specific function - the foil provides conformability while the cutting edges provide structural strength and cutting capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Adaptability or versatility

If a flexible or pivot head razor is used, then the device can adapt to some extent to curved surfaces, but the cutting surface still cannot properly conform to flexible or convoluted hair-bearing surfaces

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveadaptability to curved surfacesVSAvoidcutting effectiveness on convoluted surfaces

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The flexible foil support structure allows the cutting device to conform to the contours of the face, ears, and nose while maintaining effective cutting contact. This flexibility enables the device to navigate curved and convoluted surfaces that rigid razors cannot reach.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs a dynamic cutting mechanism where the foil support can flex and adapt its shape in real-time according to the surface it contacts. This dynamic conformity allows the cutting edges to maintain optimal contact with irregular surfaces during use.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Power

If electric razors with rotating blades are used, then the cutting action can be enhanced through rotation, but the rigid blades still cannot conform to non-rigid, irregularly shaped or smooth surfaces

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecutting power through rotationVSAvoidconformability to non-rigid surfaces

Core Design Contradiction:

PowerVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The flexible foil support enables the rotating cutting blades to conform to irregular surfaces while maintaining their rotational cutting action. The foil's flexibility allows the blades to contact and cut hair on the face, ears, and nose effectively despite the non-rigid surface geometry.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Solution Approach 2:

The patent separates the rotational cutting mechanism from the support structure, allowing the blades to rotate with cutting power while the flexible foil support independently adapts to the surface contours. This segmentation enables both rotational power and surface conformability to coexist.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

4Ease of operation

If chemical systems with thioglycolates are used to remove protein fibers, then the fibers can be dissolved rather than cut, but the process requires considerable time, temperature, and contains noxious chemicals

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefiber removal capabilityVSAvoidprocess complexity and chemical requirements

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces chemical fiber dissolution methods with a mechanical cutting system using flexible foil-supported cutting edges. This substitution eliminates the need for noxious chemicals like thioglycolates while achieving fiber removal through controlled mechanical severing, reducing health hazards and process complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The flexible foil support structure can be easily replaced and is inexpensive to manufacture. This disposable or easily replaceable component simplifies the overall system compared to complex chemical treatment systems, eliminating the need for specialized chemical handling and storage infrastructure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

Data Source

PatentUS11679522B2Cutting apparatus for hair or fiber and a cutting device using same

Publication Date: 2023.06.20 LEE INNOVATIONS

AI summary

A cutting apparatus for hair or fiber protruding from a surface includes a roller, a number of cutting features disposed at an outer peripheral surface of the roller, wherein the number of cutting features is adapted for cutting the hair or fiber when the roller rotates in contact with the filamentous surface or is moved while in contact with the filamentous surface.