Shaver Cleaning Station Cartridge Design for Compact Fluid Flow

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing shaver cleaning station cartridges are bulky, leading to high transportation costs and inefficient fluid flow, with protruding features causing contamination and reduced packability.

Innovation Solution

A shaver cleaning station cartridge design with axially extending side walls, convex end walls, and a mounting feature for correct insertion, featuring thermoplastic components welded together to enhance compactness and efficiency.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the cartridge includes protruding sealing rims and side ear projections to ensure sealing and structural integrity, then sealing reliability is improved, but the cartridge becomes bulkier increasing transportation costs and reducing packability

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesealing reliabilityVSAvoidcartridge volume
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The cartridge employs asymmetric design by eliminating symmetric side ear projections and replacing uniform sealing rims with a localized sealing groove positioned strategically at the interface with the cleaning station. This asymmetric approach maintains sealing functionality while reducing overall cartridge volume and improving packability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #4Asymmetry

Solution Approach 2:

The invention extracts and removes the bulky side ear projections from the cartridge design, retaining only the essential sealing functionality through a streamlined sealing groove. This extraction eliminates unnecessary volume while preserving the critical sealing function needed for reliable operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Volume of moving object

If the cartridge has a compact design with axially extending side walls and convex end walls to improve packability, then transportation efficiency is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases due to welding requirements

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecartridge volumeVSAvoidmanufacturing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Volume of moving objectVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The cartridge integrates multiple structural functions into unified components: the convex end walls serve both as structural elements for compactness and as integral parts of the sealing system. The side walls extend axially to provide both structural integrity and streamlined geometry for efficient packing, merging form and function in a single manufacturing process.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention changes the geometric parameters of the cartridge by implementing convex end walls with specific curvature radii and axially extending side walls with controlled thickness variations. These parameter optimizations enable the compact shape to be achieved through standard injection molding or similar processes, reducing manufacturing complexity despite the unconventional geometry.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Reliability

If the cartridge features uniformly shaped compartment walls protruding into the interior space for debris collection, then cleaning effectiveness is improved, but the cartridge becomes bulkier and fluid flow efficiency deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecleaning effectivenessVSAvoidfluid flow efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of uniform compartment walls throughout the cartridge, the invention implements localized debris collection features only where needed - specifically at the interface with the cleaning station where debris is generated. The interior space maintains a largely open, unobstructed geometry to preserve fluid flow efficiency, with selective local modifications for cleaning functionality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The cartridge interior is segmented into functional zones: a debris collection zone near the station interface with minimal protrusions, and a fluid reservoir zone with maximized open space for efficient fluid circulation. This segmentation allows debris trapping without compromising overall fluid flow dynamics.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP4578611A1Shaver cleaning station cartridges and methods for manufacturing the same
Publication Date: 2025.07.02 BRAUN GMBH
  • EP4578611A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4578611A1 patent drawingFigure 2A~2B
  • EP4578611A1 patent drawingFigure 2C~2F

AI summary

Provided is a shaver cleaning station cartridge (22) for inserting into a slot defined in a shaver cleaning station. The cartridge is suitable for containing cleaning liquid for cleaning a shaver docked in the shaver cleaning station. Further provided is a method for manufacturing such a cartridge.