Faucet-Mounted Rotating Brush for Razor Blade Cleaning

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Solution Overview

Problem

Parallel blade safety razors are difficult to clean due to the small spaces between and around the blades, which are encased within the shaving head and not removable, leading to trapped shaving debris that is hard to dislodge with traditional methods.

Innovation Solution

A cleaning device with a T-shaped body and a rotatable brush that can be affixed to a faucet, featuring a quick release coupling or threaded connection, and bristles arranged in rows to effectively remove debris from the blades by rotating and contacting them with water flow.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If traditional cleaning methods (holding under running water or shaking) are used, then the device is simple to operate, but shaving debris is trapped and difficult to dislodge due to small spaces between parallel blades

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesimplicity of operationVSAvoidcleaning effectiveness
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention employs a rotating brush with bristles that actively move against the razor blades to dislodge debris. The rotation creates mechanical action that penetrates the small spaces between parallel blades, transforming the static cleaning approach into a dynamic one that effectively removes trapped shaving debris while maintaining operational simplicity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The rotating brush generates mechanical motion and vibration that helps dislodge debris from the tight spaces between blades. This mechanical action, combined with water flow, creates a powerful cleaning effect that overcomes the difficulty of cleaning parallel blade structures without complicating the device.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #18Mechanical vibration

2Stability of the object's composition

If parallel blades are encased within the shaving head and not removable, then the razor structure is compact and stable, but cleaning becomes difficult due to trapped debris in small spaces

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructural stabilityVSAvoidcleanability
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The rotating brush acts as an intermediary tool that accesses the spaces between encased blades without requiring disassembly. The brush bristles penetrate the tight gaps between parallel blades, allowing debris removal while the blades remain securely encased in the stable razor structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Productivity

If prior art devices are designed to overcome cleaning difficulty, then cleaning effectiveness improves, but the devices become complicated or bulky in structure or expensive to manufacture

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecleaning effectivenessVSAvoidstructural complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The device allows users to clean their own razors using a simple rotating brush mechanism powered by water flow. This self-service approach eliminates the need for complex disassembly mechanisms or specialized cleaning equipment, achieving effective cleaning while maintaining structural simplicity and manufacturing economy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The invention uses water flow (hydraulics) to power the rotating brush and facilitate debris removal. The water provides both the cleaning medium and the mechanical power needed to rotate the brush, eliminating the need for motors, batteries, or complex mechanical drive systems.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #29Pneumatics and hydraulics

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

Provides an inexpensive and simple method to clean safety razors by facilitating the removal of shaving debris from between and around the blades, ensuring easy maintenance and operation.

Implementation Method 1

water flows through the connector (5) and the body (2), rotates the brush (15)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectWater flow:

Implementation Method 2

the shaving head of the razor is positioned within the slot (14) such that, as the brush (15) rotates, its bristles contact with the blades remove shaving debris

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMechanical contact and friction: Friction

Data Source

PatentEP2779864B1A cleaning device
Publication Date: 2016.04.20 ONEILL LUKE
  • EP2779864B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2779864B1 patent drawingFigure 2

AI summary

A cleaning device (1) for a safety razor having single or multiple parallel blades is disclosed. A hollow connector (5) is affixed to a water tap of a bathroom sink allowing water to flow therethrough into a body (2) depending from the connector (5), rotating a brush (15) held in the body (2) and exiting through a slot (14) in the body (2). The shaving head of the razor is positioned within the slot (14) such that the blades within the head are embedded within the bristles of the brush (15). As the brush (15) rotates, its bristles remove shaving debris from between the blades and immediate surrounds. After use, the device (1) can easily be disassembled to facilitate cleaning of all components thereof.