Flexible Razor Blade Support Structure with Suspension Arms
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing safety razors fail to effectively conform to convex and concave skin curvatures, leading to inefficient shaving and potential discomfort.
Innovation Solution
A support structure for a flexible blade assembly comprising a subframe, end mounts, suspension arm structures, and a stop arrangement, allowing the blade assembly to tilt and flex while preventing longitudinal displacement, ensuring smooth curvature adaptation to skin contours.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the blade assembly is made flexible to conform to skin curvatures, then adaptability to skin contours is improved, but control and support stability deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The support structure is divided into multiple functional segments: a rigid subframe for stability, flexible suspension arms for conformance, and a stop arrangement for control. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function optimally while working together to resolve the contradiction between flexibility and stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The suspension arms are designed to be dynamically flexible, allowing them to deform elastically under pressure to follow skin contours while returning to their original position to maintain control. This dynamic behavior enables the blade assembly to adapt to curvature changes without losing support stability.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the blade assembly is allowed to flex freely to follow skin curvatures, then conformance to skin contours is improved, but longitudinal displacement control deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The stop arrangement is pre-positioned to counteract excessive longitudinal displacement before it becomes problematic. By providing a mechanical stop that prevents the blade assembly from moving too far along the subframe, the design proactively prevents loss of control while allowing necessary flexing for conformance.
3Stability of the object's composition
If a rigid support structure is used to maintain blade alignment, then support stability is improved, but ability to follow skin curvatures deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The support structure combines different material properties: rigid subframe material for stability and alignment maintenance, and flexible elastomeric material for suspension arms to enable curvature following. This composite approach allows the structure to simultaneously provide stable blade alignment and adaptability to skin contours.
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
The solution enables the blade assembly to deform concavely or convexly, ensuring a smooth shaving experience by maintaining blade alignment with skin contours, while the stop arrangement prevents excessive displacement, ensuring safety and ease of use.
Implementation Method 1
a pair of arms extending from a handle and a strut interconnecting the free ends of the arms
Implementation Method 2
The frame structure may be formed as a moulding of elastromeric material
Data Source
Figure 1
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AI summary
A support structure (3) for a safety razor blade assembly (2) that is capable of flexing along its length to follow convex or concave curvatures includes a subframe (15) and end mounts (17) for attachment to the blade assembly at opposite ends thereof coupled to the subframe by respective suspension arm structures (16) each having two arms (21, 22) interconnected by a first pivotal connection (21) and connected to the subframe by a second pivotal connection (23). A restraining device, such as a pin (26) arranged between the blade assembly and the subframe (15) or a torsion bar connected between the subframe (15) and one of the end mounts (17), may be provided to prevent longitudinal displacement of the blade assembly (2).