Non-Uniform Attachment Comb Teeth for Skin Protection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing hair cutting appliances and attachment combs face challenges in achieving a balance between cutting performance, hair lifting behavior, skin protection, and ease of operation, particularly in sensitive skin regions, where opposing design criteria such as comfort, safety, and performance are difficult to meet simultaneously.
Innovation Solution
The design of an attachment comb with non-uniform teeth, featuring lateral teeth with a larger tip radius than central teeth, which provides a supportive function to reduce skin contact pressure and improve hair lifting and cutting performance, while maintaining comfort and safety.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If uniform teeth design is used in attachment comb, then manufacturing simplicity is maintained, but cutting performance and hair lifting behavior cannot be optimized simultaneously
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by differentiating the tooth geometry at different positions along the comb. Central teeth have a first tip radius while lateral teeth have a second, larger tip radius. This localized variation optimizes hair lifting and cutting performance at each position without compromising manufacturability, as the variation follows a systematic gradient pattern that can be implemented through standard manufacturing processes.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements asymmetry by creating a non-uniform tooth configuration where teeth progressively change in size from central to lateral positions. The tip radius increases along the comb according to a gradient, creating an asymmetric pattern that optimizes both hair lifting behavior and cutting performance while maintaining a regular manufacturing approach.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If larger tip radius is used for all teeth, then skin protection is improved, but hair lifting behavior and cutting performance deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by assigning different tip radii to different tooth positions based on their specific functional requirements. Central teeth with smaller tip radii optimize hair lifting and cutting efficiency, while lateral teeth with larger tip radii reduce skin contact pressure. This localized differentiation resolves the contradiction by optimizing each position for its primary function.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a dynamic approach by creating a gradient in tip radius values along the comb rather than using a fixed uniform size. The tip radius varies progressively from central to lateral teeth, allowing the comb to adapt its interaction characteristics with hair and skin across different zones, thereby simultaneously achieving good hair lifting and skin protection.
3Productivity
If smaller tip radius is used for all teeth, then cutting performance is improved, but skin safety and comfort worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by differentiating tooth geometry according to position-specific requirements. Central teeth with smaller tip radii maximize cutting performance where hair density is highest, while lateral teeth with larger tip radii provide skin protection at the comb edges where skin contact is more direct. This resolves the contradiction by optimizing cutting and safety at different locations simultaneously.
4Productivity
If non-uniform teeth design is implemented, then cutting performance and skin protection are optimized, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements asymmetry through a systematic gradient in tip radius values that progresses predictably from central to lateral teeth. While the teeth are non-uniform, the variation follows a regular pattern that can be manufactured using standard processes, thereby achieving optimized cutting performance without excessive complexity in the device structure or manufacturing.
Data Source
AI summary
An attachment comb, particularly a skin protecting comb, for a blade set of a cutting head of a hair cutting appliance, the attachment comb including a supporting frame and comb teeth that are arranged in a series and that define a skin contact zone at a top side thereof. The teeth extend from the supporting frame and include rounded tips at frontal ends thereof. Additionally, the teeth are non-uniform along the series and include two outer lateral teeth that define lateral ends of the series, along with central teeth arranged therebetween. At the lateral teeth, a lateral teeth tip radius (Rtl) is present that is greater than a tip radius (Rtc) of the central teeth. Also described herein is corresponding a cutting head and hair cutting appliance.