Hair Clipper Blade Gapping Tool for Consistent Gap Setting

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Solution Overview

Problem

Manual assembly of hair clipper bladesets is challenging due to difficulty in holding the moving blade still relative to the fixed blade while attaching fasteners, and achieving a consistent bladeset gap is inconsistent.

Innovation Solution

A blade gapping tool with a base, adjustable arms, and a locking mechanism that includes blade tip stops and an adjustable boss to securely hold and align the blades, allowing for precise adjustment of the gap between the fixed and moving blades.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of repair

If manual assembly of bladesets is performed, then users can sharpen and clean the blades, but it is difficult to hold the moving blade still relative to the fixed blade while attaching fasteners

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveEase of blade assemblyVSAvoidDifficulty in holding blade steady

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of repairVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The assembly process is segmented into distinct functional zones: the base provides a stable mounting surface, blade tip stops separate and position the two blades, and the adjustable boss independently adjusts the fixed blade position. This segmentation allows each component to address a specific aspect of the assembly difficulty.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The base acts as an intermediary device that temporarily holds both blades in the correct relative positions during assembly. The blade tip stops and adjustable boss serve as mediating elements that translate the user's adjustment actions into precise blade positioning, making the assembly process manageable.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of repair

If manual assembly of bladesets is performed, then users can customize blade maintenance, but achieving a consistent bladeset gap is difficult

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveEase of blade assemblyVSAvoidConsistency of bladeset gap

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of repairVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The blade tip stops are pre-positioned on the base to define the correct gap distance before the blades are assembled. This preliminary positioning ensures that when users attach the fasteners, the blades are already in the correct relative positions, guaranteeing consistent bladeset gap without requiring user skill or measurement.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The adjustable boss with its adjustment mechanism allows the fixed blade to self-position at the correct angle and distance from the moving blade. The mechanism inherently maintains the correct geometry through its design, eliminating the need for external measurement or adjustment tools and ensuring consistent results.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Manufacturing precision

If a blade gapping tool with adjustable components is used, then precise gap setting is achieved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovePrecision of bladeset gapVSAvoidComplexity of gapping tool

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Complexity is concentrated only in the adjustable boss region where precision adjustment is needed, while the rest of the base remains simple and static. The blade tip stops are fixed simple elements, and only the boss requires adjustment mechanisms. This localized complexity minimizes the overall device complexity while achieving the precision goal.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentUS9144913B2Hair clipper blade gapping tool

Publication Date: 2015.09.29 ANDIS CO

AI summary

A blade gapping tool for setting the gap of a hair clipper bladeset, the blade gapping tool including a base, a locking member, an adjustable boss and an adjuster.