Shaver Handle Lock Mechanism with Arcuate Guide Arms

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing shaving razor handles with release mechanisms for disposable cartridges lack sufficient attachment strength and safety during engagement and disengagement, often requiring minimal force to release the cartridge, which can lead to unintended detachment.

Innovation Solution

The handle features a pair of arms movably mounted on arcuate guides, with a driving member that slides to toggle the arms between lock and release positions, combining sliding and rotational movements to enhance the locking and releasing forces, ensuring the cartridge is securely attached and easily disengaged with controlled force.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If the arms are mounted to move only in a single direction (towards and away from each other), then the structure is simple, but the attachment strength is insufficient and the cartridge can detach with minimal force

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveattachment strengthVSAvoidstructure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The arms are constrained to move along arcuate guides rather than simple linear paths. This adds a rotational dimension to the movement, transforming the arms from purely translational motion to combined translational and rotational motion. The arcuate path ensures that the arms not only move towards and away from each other but also rotate, creating a more secure engagement with the cartridge that resists detachment forces.

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

Solution Approach 2:

The arcuate guides incorporate curved paths instead of straight lines. The curvature of the guides forces the arms to follow a rotational trajectory during engagement and disengagement. This curved motion pattern increases the mechanical advantage and locking effect, enhancing attachment strength while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

2Reliability

If the arms are elastically biased into the lock position, then the cartridge is firmly held, but the cartridge can be disengaged with minimal force when external pulling forces are applied

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecartridge retentionVSAvoidcontrolled disengagement
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The arms are designed with elastic biasing that allows dynamic adjustment between lock and release positions. The elastic elements provide continuous force to maintain engagement during normal use, while the arcuate guides and driving member mechanism allow controlled transition to the release position when intentionally actuated, preventing accidental disengagement while enabling easy intentional removal.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The elastic biasing pre-applies locking force to prevent unintended disengagement during normal cartridge use. The arcuate guides and driving member are configured so that intentional release requires overcoming this pre-applied bias through a specific motion path, creating a form of preliminary protection against accidental release while allowing controlled disengagement when needed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #9Preliminary anti-action

3Strength

If the arms perform only rotational movement, then the structure is simple, but the locking force is insufficient compared to combined sliding and rotational movements

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelocking forceVSAvoidmovement mechanism complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The mechanism combines sliding motion along the arcuate guides with rotational movement of the arms into a single integrated action. The driving member simultaneously translates the arms along the curved path and rotates them, merging two degrees of freedom into one coordinated motion. This combination produces greater locking force than either motion type alone while keeping the overall mechanism relatively compact and manageable in complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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 configuration provides increased safety and attachment strength by utilizing the combination of sliding and rotational movements of the arms along arcuate guides, ensuring the cartridge is securely held and easily released with proportional force, enhancing user safety and handling.

Implementation Method 1

said pair of arms being adapted to engage said cartridge when the arms are in a lock position, and to disengage said cartridge when the arms are in a release position

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElastic biasing: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentEP3439838B1A shaver's handle with a lock and release mechanism for engaging and disengaging a razor cartridge
Publication Date: 2020.05.27 BIC VIOLEX SA
  • EP3439838B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3439838B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3439838B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

A handle (102) for a shaving razor (101) adapted to releasably engage with a razor cartridge (103), said handle comprising: a handle body (102A), a support (104), a pair of arms (106) movably mounted on the support and adapted to engage said cartridge (103) when the arms (106) are in a lock position, and to disengage said cartridge when the arms (106) are in a release position, each of said arms (106) extending in a forward direction. The support (104) further comprises a pair of arcuate guides (109) and said arms (106) are slidably mounted along said arcuate guides (109), such that the arms are turned toward to/away from the lock position when sliding along a forward/backward direction. The arms are driven by a driving member (110), which is slidably mounted on the support (104) between the arms (106).