Resilient Depilating Device Connection Reducing Friction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing depilating devices using groove-pin connections suffer from friction, noise, and wear issues, which affect their efficiency and longevity.

Innovation Solution

A depilating device with a resilient connecting arrangement, such as a bellows or leaf spring, that connects the actuating mechanism to the drive shaft, allowing for torque transfer and longitudinal movement while minimizing friction and wear.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Power

If groove-pin connections are used to connect the actuating mechanism to the drive shaft, then torque transfer is achieved, but friction, noise, and wear increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetorque transferVSAvoidfriction, noise, and wear
Core Design Contradiction:
PowerVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the mechanical groove-pin connection system with a magnetic coupling system. Magnets are arranged on the drive shaft and corresponding magnets on the actuating mechanism interact through magnetic fields to transfer torque, eliminating direct mechanical contact and thus reducing friction, noise, and wear while maintaining effective torque transfer.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The magnetic field serves as an intermediary between the drive shaft and the actuating mechanism. Instead of direct mechanical contact through groove-pins, the magnetic field mediates the torque transfer, allowing power transmission without physical contact and thereby eliminating the harmful effects of friction and wear.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Device complexity

If groove-pin connections are used, then structural simplicity is maintained, but durability decreases due to wear

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructural simplicityVSAvoiddurability
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The mechanical groove-pin connection is replaced with a magnetic coupling system that uses magnetic fields for torque transfer. This substitution eliminates wear between moving parts, significantly improving durability and reliability while maintaining a relatively simple structure with magnets and magnetic couplings.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Object-generated harmful factors

If resilient connection components like bellows or leaf springs are introduced, then friction and wear are reduced, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefriction and wearVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-generated harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a magnetic coupling system that replaces traditional mechanical connections. This substitution eliminates friction and wear by using magnetic fields instead of direct mechanical contact, while the added complexity is minimal, involving only the arrangement of magnets on the drive shaft and actuating mechanism.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

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 resilient connection reduces friction and noise, enhances the device's durability by eliminating sliding components, and maintains effective torque transfer and movement, leading to improved depilation performance.

Implementation Method 1

a connecting arrangement which comprises at least one bellows or at least one leaf spring, the connecting arrangement being configured to connect the actuating mechanism to the drive shaft in a resilient fashion which allows said relative longitudinal movement of the drive shaft and the actuating mechanism and torque transfer from the drive shaft to the actuating mechanism

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentEP4440371B1Depilating device
Publication Date: 2025.04.16 KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS NV
  • EP4440371B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4440371B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4440371B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

A depilating device (5) comprises a depilating body (10) which is rotatable about a rotation axis (R) extending in a longitudinal direction (L) with respect to the depilating body (10), an actuating mechanism (30) configured to act on the depilating body (10) so as to cause compression and extension of the depilating body (10) in the longitudinal direction (L) during rotational movement of the depilating body (10) about the rotation axis (R), and a driving mechanism (20) configured to drive the depilating body (10) and to also drive the actuating mechanism (30). The actuating mechanism (30) is connected to a drive shaft (21) of the driving mechanism (20) in a resilient fashion, such as through at least one leaf spring (51), which contributes to minimizing friction and noise in the depilating device (5), and which may also support one of compression and extension of the depilating body (10).