Powered Wet-Shaving Razor Control and Safety

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Solution Overview

Problem

Powered wet-shaving razors lack effective mechanisms for controlling vibration frequency, monitoring blade life, and preventing accidental motor activation, leading to inefficient shaving experiences and battery drainage.

Innovation Solution

The razor features a battery-powered system with a modular grip tube, variable speed control through a pulse-width modulator, blade-life indicators, and a locking mechanism to prevent accidental activation, ensuring optimal shaving performance and battery efficiency.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a battery-powered motor is provided for vibrating a shaving cartridge, then shaving functionality is enabled, but accidental motor activation and battery drainage occur

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveshaving functionalityVSAvoidaccidental activation prevention
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a travel lock mechanism that must be disengaged before the motor can operate. This preliminary action prevents accidental activation during storage or transport by requiring a deliberate user action (engaging/disengaging the travel lock) before the shaving function becomes accessible, thus resolving the contradiction between enabling functionality and preventing accidental activation

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Productivity

If vibration frequency control is added to optimize shaving performance, then shaving efficiency improves, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveshaving efficiencyVSAvoidcontrol mechanism complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent incorporates a variable speed control mechanism with multiple vibration frequency settings that allow the user to dynamically adjust the motor's operating characteristics. This dynamic adjustment capability enables optimization of shaving efficiency for different hair types and shaving preferences while maintaining a relatively simple control interface, thus resolving the contradiction between improved productivity and increased device complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Measurement precision

If blade life monitoring is implemented, then maintenance timing is optimized, but device complexity and manufacturing cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveblade life monitoring accuracyVSAvoidmanufacturing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a blade life monitoring system that tracks usage parameters and provides feedback to the user about cartridge wear and replacement needs. This feedback mechanism allows for optimized maintenance timing, preventing both premature and delayed cartridge replacement, while the system is designed to be integrated into the existing razor structure to minimize manufacturing complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

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 solution provides customizable vibration frequencies, accurate blade-life monitoring, and prevents accidental motor activation, resulting in improved shaving efficiency and extended battery life.

Implementation Method 1

variable speed control through a pulse-width modulator

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPulse-width modulation:

Data Source

PatentEP1922183B9Powered wet-shaving razor
Publication Date: 2018.03.14 THE GILLETTE CO
  • EP1922183B9 patent drawingFigure 1~1B
  • EP1922183B9 patent drawingFigure 2~5
  • EP1922183B9 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A razor includes a load and a voltage conversion system coupled to a voltage source and the load for transforming a variable voltage provided by the voltage source into a constant operating voltage for driving a load. Further embodiments comprise: a user-operable switch and an arming switch; a usage indicator and a counter; a motor and a speed-controller; a force-sensing circuit.