Rotational Safety Razor with Locking Ejector Button

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Solution Overview

Problem

Safety razors with limited mobility due to single-axis pivotal movement fail to closely follow body contours during shaving, necessitating a design that incorporates both pivotal and rotational movements to enhance conformance.

Innovation Solution

A safety razor with a handle featuring a grip portion and a connection portion that rotates about a rotational axis, equipped with an ejector button for locking, allowing rotation, and ejecting the blade unit, combined with a blade unit that pivots about a pivot axis parallel to the blades and rotates about a perpendicular axis, utilizing an elastomeric return force generating member for balanced movement.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the blade unit is provided with single-axis pivotal movement, then the structure is simple, but the blade unit cannot closely follow body contours during shaving

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconformance to body contoursVSAvoidmovement mechanism complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The connection portion is designed to rotate relative to the grip portion about a rotational axis, while the blade unit pivots about a pivot axis. This dynamic multi-axis movement system allows the blade unit to adapt to various body contours, resolving the contradiction between conformance and complexity by implementing controlled rotational freedom.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The invention transitions from single-axis pivotal movement to dual-axis movement by adding rotational movement about a rotational axis that is substantially perpendicular to the blade, complementing the existing pivotal movement about a pivot axis parallel to the blade. This dimensional expansion enables the blade unit to follow complex body contours more effectively.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Adaptability or versatility

If the connection portion is allowed to rotate freely, then the blade unit can follow body contours better, but the blade unit may become unstable during shaving

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconformance to body contoursVSAvoidblade unit stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The ejector button mechanism dynamically controls the rotational freedom of the connection portion, allowing rotation when needed for contour conformance while providing locking capability for stability during specific shaving operations, thus balancing adaptability and stability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The ejector button changes the operational parameter of the connection portion from locked to unlocked state, enabling controlled transitions between stable fixed position and flexible rotated position, thereby managing the trade-off between stability and adaptability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Ease of operation

If the ejector button mechanism is added for blade ejection, then blade replacement is easier, but the device structure becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveblade replacement easeVSAvoidhandle mechanism complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The ejector button mechanism enables the user to easily eject the blade unit through a simple button press action, making blade replacement a self-service operation that does not require additional tools or complex procedures, thus improving ease of operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The ejector button serves multiple functions: it locks the connection portion in the grip portion, allows rotational movement when needed, and ejects the blade unit for replacement. This multi-functionality justifies the added structural complexity by consolidating multiple operations into a single mechanism.

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

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

Enables the blade unit to closely follow all body contours during shaving by providing enhanced mobility through dual-axis movement and a secure, easy-to-use mechanism for blade attachment and ejection.

Implementation Method 1

utilizing an elastomeric return force generating member for balanced movement

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentEP2464497B1Safety razor with rotational movement and locking button
Publication Date: 2017.07.19 THE GILLETTE CO
  • EP2464497B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2464497B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2464497B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A safety razor including a handle having a grip portion and a connection portion secured to the grip portion. The connection portion rotates with respect to the grip portion about a rotational axis. A blade unit is mounted to the connection portion by a connection member. The handle includes an ejector button having a first position locking the connection portion with respect to the grip portion preventing the connection portion from rotating with respect to the grip portion, a second position allowing the connection portion to rotate with respect to the grip portion, and a third position for ejecting the blade unit from the connection portion.