Multi-Pivot Safety Razor Blade Unit with Magnetic Return
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Solution Overview
Problem
Safety razors with blade units that pivot about a single axis parallel to the blade edges have limited ability to conform to skin contours, often disengaging during shaving due to restricted movement.
Innovation Solution
A safety razor design featuring a blade unit mounted for pivotal movement about a pivot axis substantially perpendicular to the blade edges, utilizing magnetic return forces to ensure smooth and consistent conformance with skin contours, with multiple sets of magnetic elements generating increasing repulsive forces to guide the blade unit back to rest positions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the blade unit pivots about a single axis parallel to the blade edges, then the structure is simple, but the blade unit has limited ability to conform to skin contours and often disengages during shaving
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from single-axis pivotal movement to multi-axis pivotal movement, adding another dimension of freedom. The blade unit can now pivot about a first axis substantially parallel to the blade edges and a second axis substantially perpendicular to the blade edges, enabling three-dimensional adaptation to skin contours while maintaining manageable structural complexity through modular magnetic element design
2Adaptability or versatility
If the blade unit is allowed to pivot freely to follow skin contours, then conformance improves, but the blade unit may disengage from the skin during shaving
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements magnetic feedback mechanisms where magnets mounted on the handle interact with magnets on the blade unit to generate restoring forces. As the blade unit pivots away from its rest position to follow skin contours, the magnetic attraction/repulsion provides a feedback force that guides the blade unit back toward engagement, preventing disengagement while maintaining adaptability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes changes in magnetic field parameters (strength, direction, distribution) as the blade unit pivots. The magnetic interaction parameters dynamically adjust based on the blade unit's position, providing controlled restoring forces that maintain reliable skin engagement throughout the range of motion
3Ease of operation
If magnetic elements are used to generate return force, then smooth and reproducible pivotal movement is achieved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the magnetic system into segmented components: multiple magnets distributed on the handle and multiple magnets on the blade unit, each serving specific functional zones. This segmentation allows independent optimization of each magnetic element's position and strength, achieving smooth reproducible movement while managing overall system complexity through modular design
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 magnetic return forces enable improved conformance to skin contours, ensuring smooth and reproducible pivotal movement, enhancing shaving performance by maintaining blade unit engagement throughout the shaving process.
Implementation Method 1
The return force comprises a magnetic force generated by a set of magnetic elements that are moved relative to each other in response to pivotal movement of the blade unit about the pivot axis
Data Source
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AI summary
A safety razor blade unit 11 mounted for pivotal movement relative to a razor handle 12 about a pivot axis B substantially perpendicular to a blade 20 mounted in the blade unit. The blade unit is biased to a rest position by a magnetic return force generated by a set of magnetic elements 32, 34, 36. The set of magnetic elements are so disposed that the return force increases as the pivotal displacement of the blade unit from the rest position increases.