Personal Care Device Slider for Working-Head Position Locking
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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 robust mechanism for holding the working head in a desired angular position without obstructing the supplementary tool, leading to poor handling and grip.
Innovation Solution
A slider mechanism that supports a supplementary tool, such as a long hair trimmer, is designed to activate and deactivate the holding brake for the working head, allowing it to be locked in a desired angular position while sliding along the handle, with an actuating contour that engages with the holding brake to ensure precise control and prevent undesired swiveling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a holding brake is provided to lock the working head in a specific angular position, then the working head can be held in a desired position, but the device complexity increases due to additional components and mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The holding brake mechanism is merged with the slider assembly. The slider that moves the supplementary tool between active and inactive positions also serves as the actuating element for the holding brake. When the slider is in the inactive position, it automatically engages the holding brake to lock the working head in a desired angular position relative to the handle. This integration eliminates the need for a separate actuating mechanism, thus reducing device complexity while maintaining reliable holding capability.
2Ease of operation
If the working head is freely pivotable to adapt to skin contours, then contour adaption is improved, but unintentional configuration switching occurs during operation
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically switches between two states: a locked state where the holding brake prevents unintentional configuration changes during operation, and an unlocked state where the working head can freely pivot for contour adaption. The slider mechanism provides this dynamic control - when moved to the inactive position, it engages the holding brake to lock the working head angle, preventing unintentional switching. When needed, the user can move the slider to unlock the brake and adjust the working head angle freely.
3Ease of operation
If the supplementary tool is positioned to be accessible, then ease of use is improved, but it obstructs the working head when not in use
Solution Approach 1:
The supplementary tool is mounted on a slider that enables dynamic repositioning between an inactive position (retracted away from the working head to avoid obstruction) and an active position (extended for use). This dynamic positioning ensures that when the supplementary tool is not needed, it does not obstruct the working head or interfere with its operation. When needed, the user can easily slide it into the active position for accessibility and use.
4Measurement precision
If a separate actuating mechanism is provided for the holding brake, then control precision is improved, but the device complexity and number of components increases
Solution Approach 1:
The slider is designed with multi-functionality: it serves both as the actuating mechanism for moving the supplementary tool between active and inactive positions, and as the actuating element for the holding brake. The same sliding motion that positions the supplementary tool also engages or disengages the holding brake. This universal design eliminates the need for a separate actuating mechanism, reducing component quantity while maintaining precise control through the integrated design.
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 holding brake for holding said working head in a desired pivot position relative to the handle, and 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, wherein the slider is provided with an actuating contour for actuating the holding brake when the slider is in an intermediate position between the parking position and the working position and for releasing said holding brake when the slider is in said parking position