Epilator Attachment with Shaving Blade for Single-Stroke Hair Removal

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing epilators either require multiple strokes for complete hair removal, leading to inefficiency and discomfort, and do not combine epilation and shaving effectively, resulting in skin feeling dry and itchy after use.

Innovation Solution

An epilator attachment with a rotating epilation cylinder and a shaving blade arrangement that allows for simultaneous hair plucking and shaving in a single stroke, featuring a detachable and swiveling frame structure for improved skin contact and efficiency.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If only epilation is used, then hair removal is achieved, but multiple strokes are required and skin feels dry and itchy

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehair removal efficiencyVSAvoiduser comfort
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines two hair removal technologies (epilation and shaving) into a single device. The epilation cylinder with tweezers plucks hairs from the root, while the shaving blade simultaneously shaves remaining hairs, achieving complete hair removal in one stroke and eliminating the need for multiple passes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The epilator head is designed to perform multiple functions: the epilation cylinder provides root hair removal, while the integrated shaving blade provides surface hair removal. This multi-functional design allows the device to address different hair removal needs in a single operation, improving both efficiency and skin comfort.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Productivity

If epilation and shaving are combined, then hair removal efficiency increases, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehair removal efficiencyVSAvoidstructure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The device is divided into modular components: the epilation cylinder with rotating tweezers is a separate module, and the shaving blade assembly is another module. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function independently while being integrated into a unified system, managing complexity through functional separation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The shaving blade is positioned within the housing structure, and the epilation cylinder is nested within the same head assembly. The components are arranged concentrically and spatially optimized to minimize overall device size while maintaining functional independence, reducing structural complexity through compact integration.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Data Source

PatentEP2220958B1Epilator with an attachment and such attachment
Publication Date: 2016.10.05 BRAUN GMBH
  • EP2220958B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2220958B1 patent drawingFigure 2

AI summary

The present invention is concerned with an epilator that comprises a housing (10), an epilation cylinder (20) mounted at a head region (11) of the housing (10) for plucking hairs from the skin during operation, and an attachment (1) detachably connected with the housing (10), which attachment (1) comprises at least a shaving blade (6) defining a use direction (B') along which the shaving blade is to be drawn over the skin to shave off hairs. In the attached state the shaving blade (6) is disposed behind the epilation cylinder (20) with respect to the use direction (B') so that during operation the epilation cylinder (20) plucks hairs from the skin and the shaving blade (6) contacts the skin to shave off hairs from the skin in successive order during a single stroke of the epilator (100) over a skin area, wherein the attachment (1) is connected with the housing (10) in the head region such that the epilation cylinder (20) is partially covered by the attachment (1) and a non-covered part of the epilation cylinder (20) extends into an aperture (4) of the attachment (1).