Hairdressing Scissors Handle Segmentation for Weight Reduction

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

The increasing scarcity of skilled workers to apply mirror finishes on hairdressing scissors has led to higher production costs and workload challenges, making traditional scissors expensive and labor-intensive to manufacture.

Innovation Solution

The design incorporates handle portions formed from parallel flat metal or resin plate parts with bridges and rings, allowing for a lightweight and ergonomic structure that reduces the need for a mirror finish, enabling easier assembly and reduced labor costs.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Shape

If mirror finish is applied on surfaces of middle portions and handle portions by highly skilled workers, then design quality is improved, but production cost increases and workload increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesurface finish qualityVSAvoidproduction cost and workload
Core Design Contradiction:
ShapeVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies mirror finish to the blade portions (cutting surfaces) during the manufacturing process before assembly, rather than requiring post-assembly polishing by skilled workers. This preliminary application of the finish to critical surfaces reduces the need for manual finishing work on handle portions while maintaining high design quality where it matters most for cutting performance

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The handle portions are designed with functional surfaces that do not require mirror finish for their primary function. The patent recognizes that only the blade cutting surfaces need high-precision mirror finish, while handle surfaces can be manufactured with standard finishes, allowing automated or semi-automated processes to suffice without skilled manual labor

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

2Strength

If handle portions are formed by casting, then structural integrity is maintained, but weight reduction and design flexibility are limited

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructural integrityVSAvoidscissors weight
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The handle portions are segmented into multiple components: a hollow section enclosing viscoelastic material, plate parts, and bridges. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently - the hollow structure reduces weight while the viscoelastic material provides structural reinforcement where needed, achieving both weight reduction and structural integrity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent combines multiple materials in the handle portions: metal or resin plate parts for structural framework, viscoelastic material for damping and reinforcement, and strategic positioning of these materials creates a composite structure that is both lightweight and strong

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

3Weight of moving object

If hollow section enclosing viscoelastic material is used in handle portion, then weight is reduced, but manufacturing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehandle portion weightVSAvoidhandle portion structure
Core Design Contradiction:
Weight of moving objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The hollow section enclosing viscoelastic material is formed as an integral part of the handle portion manufacturing process. By creating the hollow structure and placing the viscoelastic material during the initial forming stage rather than adding it later, the patent reduces assembly steps and overall manufacturing complexity despite the sophisticated internal structure

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP3626414B1Hairdressing scissors
Publication Date: 2024.02.21 YAGYU
  • EP3626414B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3626414B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3626414B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Scissors (1) include a pair of blade bodies (2) in each of which a blade portion (3), an intermediate portion (4) and a handle portion (5) are formed in order from a distal end side. Each handle portion (5) includes flat plate-shaped first and second press bodies (7, 8) which face one another along an axis of a pivot (4b) and which extend parallel to one another in a longitudinal direction of the blade body (2), and cylindrical collars (11, 12) and first and second resin bodies (9A, 9B) bridging the first and second press bodies (7, 8). The first press body (7A) has an extended portion (7d) which extends further toward to the intermediate portion (4) than the second press body (8A) and which is connected to the intermediate portion (4), whereas the second press body (8A) is separated from the intermediate portion (4).