Electric Shaver Cutter Unit Contour Adaptation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electric shavers face limitations in adapting to the contour of the skin due to constraints in the degree of movement of the cutter unit relative to the housing, which affects shaving performance.
Innovation Solution
The electric shaver design enhances the adaptability of the cutter unit by allowing it to be pivotable about two horizontal axes and axially displaceable parallel to a vertical axis, with an elastically deformable biasing element to guide the cutter unit into a home position, and the cartridge is designed to move independently or coupled with the shaver head, enabling greater angular displacement and reduced vibration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the cutter unit is allowed to move with additional degrees of freedom (pivotable about two horizontal axes and axially displaceable), then the adaptability to skin contours is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The cutter unit is divided into separable components (cutter head, cartridge, blade assembly) that can move independently relative to each other. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized for specific movements while reducing overall system complexity through modular design.
Solution Approach 2:
The cutter unit is designed with dynamic mounting that allows it to pivot about a first horizontal axis and a second horizontal axis perpendicular to the first, while also allowing axial displacement. This dynamic configuration enables the cutter unit to adapt to varying skin contours through multiple degrees of freedom.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the cutter unit is made more movable with respect to the housing, then the adaptability to skin contours is improved, but the stability of the cutter unit composition worsens
Solution Approach 1:
A spring element is incorporated into the mounting of the cutter unit to provide elastic cushioning. This spring element allows the cutter unit to move relative to the cartridge while maintaining stable composition through elastic forces that return the cutter unit to its home position after displacement.
Solution Approach 2:
The cartridge serves as an intermediary component between the housing and the cutter unit. It provides a stable mounting structure while allowing controlled movement of the cutter unit through defined degrees of freedom, thus mediating between stability and adaptability requirements.
3Ease of manufacture
If the drive train is shortened to reduce complexity, then the manufacturing precision and ease of manufacture are improved, but the control precision over cutter movement may worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The spring element provides self-service by automatically returning the cutter unit to its home position after displacement without requiring additional actuators or control mechanisms. This passive elastic restoration simplifies the drive train while maintaining precise control over cutter unit positioning.
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
This design improves shaving performance by allowing better adaptation to both concave and convex skin contours, reduces component complexity and costs, and minimizes wear through exchangeable parts and a shorter drive train, resulting in enhanced shaving efficiency and reduced surface pressure.
Implementation Method 1
an elastically deformable biasing element to guide the cutter unit into a home position
Data Source
Figure 1~6b
Figure 2a~4c
Figure 5a~5b
AI summary
The invention refers to an electric shaver (1) comprising a shaver housing (2), a shaver head (3) and at least one cartridge (10; 10a, 10b) mounted in or on said shaver housing (2). The cartridge (10; 10a, 10b) comprises at least one cutter unit (4, 5) with a first cutter element (9) and a second cutter element (6) which are movable relative to each other in an oscillating manner along a first horizontal cutter oscillation axis (II). Each cutter unit (4, 5) is mounted in the cartridge (10; 10a, 10b) pivotably about a second horizontal tilting axis (III) and axially displaceably parallel to a vertical axis (I). The first horizontal cutter oscillation axis (II) is perpendicular to the vertical axis (I) and perpendicular to the second horizontal tilting axis (III). The adaption of the cutter element (6) to the contour of the skin to be shaved is improved by permitting at least one additional movement of the at least one cutter unit (4, 5) relative to the shaver head (3).