Razor Handle Pivoting Head Design

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current shaving razors face challenges in providing a close and comfortable shave while delivering skin benefits like fluid or heat, as they require effective blade pivoting in a compact and durable design, which complicates the manufacturing and assembly process.

Innovation Solution

A shaving razor design featuring a handle with a trapezoidal prism-shaped pivoting head that allows the blade cartridge unit to pivot, incorporating a spring mechanism and benefit delivery components for fluid or heat distribution, enhancing skin contact and comfort during shaving.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Area of moving object

If a pivoting mechanism is added to enable blade cartridge rotation for closer shave, then skin contact area increases, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveskin contact areaVSAvoidpivoting mechanism complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Area of moving objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The pivoting mechanism is segmented into modular components: a pivot axis, a cam follower member with bearing, and a pusher member. This segmentation allows each component to perform a specific function independently, simplifying the overall design and manufacturing while enabling the blade cartridge to pivot for increased skin contact area.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The cam follower member is disposed within the handle body, and the pusher member is nested within the cam follower member. This nested arrangement compactly houses the pivoting mechanism components within the handle, reducing overall device complexity while maintaining the pivoting functionality for closer shave.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

2Ease of operation

If skin benefit delivery components are added for fluid or heat provision, then skin comfort improves, but manufacturing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveskin comfortVSAvoidmanufacturing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The handle body is designed as a multi-functional component that simultaneously houses the pivoting mechanism (cam follower and pusher members) and the skin benefit delivery components (fluid reservoir and heating element). This universal design allows a single structure to perform multiple functions, improving skin comfort through fluid and heat delivery while avoiding the need for separate complex assemblies, thus simplifying manufacturing.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Reliability

If a compact design is used to accommodate pivoting mechanism, then durability improves, but assembly precision requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovedurabilityVSAvoidassembly precision
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The cam follower member includes a bearing that facilitates smooth rotation of the blade cartridge around the pivot axis. This self-lubricating bearing mechanism reduces friction and wear automatically during operation, enhancing durability while the simple geometric features (cam surface, stop surfaces) provide self-aligning characteristics that reduce assembly precision requirements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

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 design achieves a closer, more comfortable shave by increasing skin contact area and delivering skin benefits effectively, while simplifying manufacturing and assembly, and ensuring durability and precision.

Implementation Method 1

a spring member disposed between the cover member and the base member and operatively coupled to the pivoting head such that the spring member applies a biasing force to the pivoting head

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSpring mechanism: Spring

Data Source

PatentEP3774235B1Razor handle with a pivoting portion
Publication Date: 2024.08.21 THE GILLETTE CO
  • EP3774235B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3774235B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3774235B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A handle. The handle having a main body and a first substantially flat arm (24) having a first distal end (58) and a first proximal end (52) defining a first arm opening can be coupled to a first location of the main body. A second substantially flat arm (24) having a second distal end (58) and a second proximal end (52)defining a second arm opening, can be coupled to a second location of the main body. The first and second distal ends can be in spaced relationship and have pivotally coupled therebetween a pivoting head (22) having a trapezoidal prism shape.