Personal Care Device Slider With Directional Detent Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing personal care devices, such as electric shavers and hair cutters, suffer from unintentional switching between configurations and lack a reliable mechanism for holding the working head in a desired angular position with defined resistance, compromising user grip and functionality.
Innovation Solution
A sliding controller with a latching mechanism and directional functionality is introduced, allowing the slider to hold an intermediate position only when approached from a specific direction, and activating/deactivating the holding brake based on the slider's position, ensuring precise control over the working head's orientation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a holding brake is provided to hold the working head in a specific angular position, then the working head can be locked in desired orientation, but the device structure becomes more complex and may unintentionally switch configurations
Solution Approach 1:
The holding brake mechanism is segmented into discrete detent positions with corresponding notches on the pivot shaft. This segmentation allows the brake to hold the working head at specific angular positions while reducing the complexity of continuous positioning control.
Solution Approach 2:
A detent spring acts as an intermediary element between the brake shoe and the pivot shaft notches. The spring provides the holding force to maintain angular positions while allowing easy release, simplifying the overall brake mechanism operation.
2Ease of operation
If the slider is made freely movable between parking and working positions, then the supplementary tool can be easily deployed, but unintentional switching between configurations occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The slider is provided with detent positions that preliminarily establish stable configurations before use. The first detent position corresponds to the parking position and the second detent position corresponds to the working position, ensuring the slider is properly positioned before operation begins.
Solution Approach 2:
The slider mechanism incorporates periodic detent positions that create stable, discrete configurations during movement between parking and working positions. This periodic structure prevents unintentional switching by requiring deliberate user action to transition between configured states.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the working head is freely pivotable relative to the handle, then contour adaption is improved, but the working head cannot be held in a specific orientation
Solution Approach 1:
The working head pivot mechanism transitions from a purely free-pivot design to a dynamic system that allows free movement during adjustment but automatically locks into stable angular positions during use. The detent spring and brake shoe work together to provide this dynamic behavior.
Solution Approach 2:
The holding brake applies localized friction force at specific angular positions through the brake shoe contacting the pivot shaft notches. This localized action maintains the working head in specific orientations while allowing freedom of movement between positions.
4Measurement precision
If a latching mechanism is added to hold the slider in intermediate positions, then precise control is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The latching function for the slider is merged with the existing detent spring mechanism used in the holding brake. The same spring-loaded detent principle is applied to both the working head position control and the slider position control, reducing overall device complexity while maintaining precise positioning capability.
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a personal care device such as a hair cutter or electric shaver, comprising a handle, a working head pivotably attached to said handle, a slider which is provided with a supplementary working tool such as a longhair trimmer and slidably attached to said handle to slide between an inactive parking position and an active working position for working with the supplementary working tool, and sliding controller for holding said slider in said inactive parking position and/or in said active working position and/or in at least one intermediate position. The sliding controller is configured to hold the slider in said at least one intermediate position only.