Segmented Hair Clipper Blade for Shaving and Trimming

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Solution Overview

Problem

Common electric razors are not suited for precise trimming operations due to lack of mechanisms for spacing the foil and cutter blade from the skin, while hair trimmers are not suited for shaving due to blade rigidity, leading to the need for separate appliances and complex, uncomfortable combined devices that are heavy and prone to wear.

Innovation Solution

A segmented stationary blade with a skin-facing wall segment, a supporting wall segment, and an intermediate segment forming a layered stack with a toothed leading edge, allowing for both shaving and trimming with improved stiffness and flexibility, enabling efficient capture of longer hairs and reduced skin irritation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a traditional razor blade structure is used, then shaving function is achieved, but trimming function is not available due to lack of spacing mechanism

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveshaving and trimming functionVSAvoidblade structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The stationary blade is divided into multiple wall segments (first wall segment, second wall segment, intermediate wall segment) that can be independently configured. This segmentation allows the blade to provide both skin-facing surface for shaving and spaced structure for trimming without requiring entirely separate blade systems.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The stationary blade structure is designed to perform multiple functions: the first wall segment provides skin contact for shaving, while the spaced wall segments create guide slots that enable trimming at different heights. This multi-functional design eliminates the need for separate shaving and trimming appliances.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Adaptability or versatility

If a traditional hair trimmer blade structure is used, then trimming function is achieved, but shaving function is not available due to blade rigidity

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveshaving and trimming functionVSAvoidskin irritation

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

Different wall segments have different properties: the first wall segment is positioned to face the skin for gentle shaving contact, while the second wall segment provides structural support. This local differentiation allows the blade to be rigid where needed for trimming and flexible where needed for skin contact.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The intermediate wall segment acts as a mediator between the skin-facing first wall segment and the supporting second wall segment. It provides spacing to create guide slots for trimming while maintaining overall blade flexibility to prevent skin irritation during shaving operations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Reliability

If separate shaving and trimming appliances are used, then each function is optimized, but device weight and complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecutting performanceVSAvoidappliance weight

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges shaving and trimming functions into a single blade set and appliance. The stationary blade with its multiple wall segments and the movable blade work together to provide both shaving (when blade is close to skin) and trimming (when guide slots engage hairs at distance), eliminating the need for carrying and switching between separate appliances.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The blade set is designed as a universal cutting system that can perform both shaving and trimming operations with a single configuration. The guide slots in the stationary blade enable height adjustment for trimming, while the overall blade structure maintains skin-contact capability for shaving, providing versatile functionality in one device.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

4Adaptability or versatility

If a single stationary blade is used, then manufacturing is simple, but both shaving and trimming functions cannot be achieved

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveshaving and trimming functionVSAvoidblade manufacturing

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The stationary blade is manufactured as an integrated component with pre-formed wall segments and guide slots. This segmentation is built into the manufacturing process through precision forming or molding, allowing the complex multi-functional structure to be produced efficiently in a single manufacturing step rather than requiring assembly of multiple separate parts.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS11465303B2Blade set, hair cutting appliance, and related manufacturing method

Publication Date: 2022.10.11 KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS NV

AI summary

A stationary blade for the blade set suitable for use with a hair cutting appliance that includes of wall segments fixedly interconnected forming a segmented stack, wherein an intermediate wall segment is disposed between a first wall segment and a second wall segment jointly forming, at an end of the segmented stack at least one toothed leading edge comprising a plurality of mutually spaced apart projections defining a plurality of teeth and respective tooth spaces, wherein the intermediate wall segment comprises a cutout and wherein the cutout in the intermediate wall segment, the first wall segment and the second wall segment define therebetween a guide slot for a movable blade.