Safety Razor Blade Unit Dual-Axis Pivot and Rotation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional safety razors with a blade unit that pivots about a single axis have limited mobility, causing the blade to disengage from the skin during shaving, especially when shaving body contours other than the face.
Innovation Solution
A safety razor design that incorporates both pivotal and rotational movements by mounting a blade unit to a connection member, allowing it to pivot about a pivot axis parallel to the blade and rotate about a rotational axis, with a return force generating member using an elastomeric material to maintain alignment and control the blade's movement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the blade unit pivots about a single axis, then the structure is simple, but the blade unit has limited mobility and disengages from the skin during shaving
Solution Approach 1:
The movement capability is segmented into two independent rotational axes: a first rotational axis for pivoting motion and a second rotational axis for rotational motion. This segmentation allows each axis to contribute separately to the overall adaptability, resolving the contradiction by achieving enhanced mobility through modular movement components rather than a single complex mechanism
Solution Approach 2:
The invention transitions from single-axis (one-dimensional rotation) to dual-axis (two-dimensional rotation) movement. By adding rotation about a second axis that is substantially perpendicular to the first axis, the blade unit gains the ability to conform to contours in multiple directions, effectively adding another dimension of movement freedom without overly complicating the basic rotational mechanism
2Adaptability or versatility
If the blade unit pivots about two axes, then the conformance to face contours is improved, but the razor still does not follow all body contours during shaving
Solution Approach 1:
The blade unit is designed with dynamic movement capabilities through two independent rotational axes, allowing it to adapt its orientation in real-time during shaving. The first axis enables pivoting motion for initial contour following, while the second axis provides additional rotational freedom to adjust to varying body surfaces, making the system dynamically responsive to different shaving geometries
Solution Approach 2:
The dual-axis rotational mechanism provides universal adaptability for shaving different body contours. The first rotational axis handles pivoting motions suitable for facial contours, while the second rotational axis extends this capability to accommodate various body surface geometries, making the razor universally effective across multiple shaving applications
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
Enables the blade unit to closely follow all body contours during shaving, providing improved conformance and preventing disengagement, thus enhancing shaving efficiency and comfort.
Implementation Method 1
The return force generating member may comprise an elastomeric member
Data Source
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AI summary
A safety razor (10) including a handle (12) having a grip portion (14) and a connection portion (16) secured to the grip portion. The connection portion rotates with respect to the grip portion about a rotational axis (18). The blade unit (11) is mounted to the connection portion by a connection member (20). The blade unit has a guard (22), a cap (24) and at least one blade (26) positioned between the guard and the cap. The blade unit pivots with respect to the connection member about a pivot axis (36) substantially parallel to the at least one blade.