Shaver Head Locking Mechanism for Adjustable Contact Force
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electric shaver designs face challenges in controlling the shaving process effectively, leading to inconsistent closeness of shave and skin irritation due to varying skin doming effects among users.
Innovation Solution
A shaver head with a locking mechanism that allows the supporting portion, along with the hair-cutting units, to be set in a locked or unlocked condition, enabling users to adjust the contact force based on their skin sensitivity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If the shaver head is elastically suspended to reduce peak contact forces, then skin irritation is reduced, but user control over shaving closeness is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The shaver head incorporates a spring member that enables dynamic movement between a retracted position (reducing contact force for sensitive skin) and an extended position (increasing contact force for closer shave). This dynamic adjustment allows the system to adapt between two opposing requirements: reducing skin irritation while maintaining user control over shaving closeness.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the supporting portion is allowed to move linearly to adapt to skin contours, then shaving comfort is improved, but shaving precision is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The linear guiding structure combined with the spring member creates a dynamic system where the supporting portion can move between retracted and extended positions. This movement allows adaptation to skin contours for comfort while the locked/unlocked mechanism provides precision control when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The spring member automatically biases the supporting portion to move between positions based on contact force, providing self-adjusting comfort without requiring active user intervention, while still allowing manual control when precision is needed.
3Adaptability or versatility
If a locking mechanism is added to provide adjustable contact force, then adaptability to different users is improved, but device complexity is increased
Solution Approach 1:
The locking mechanism works with the spring member to create a dynamic system that can be locked in either retracted or extended position. This provides adaptability to different user needs (sensitive skin vs. close shave preference) while maintaining relatively simple construction through the use of basic mechanical components.
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
The adjustable locking mechanism enhances user control over the shaving process, allowing for optimal shaving performance across a range of user skin types and sensitivities, reducing skin irritation and improving the closeness of shave.
Implementation Method 1
a spring member for biasing the supporting portion away from the base portion in the movement direction from the first position to the second position
Data Source
AI summary
A shaver head for an electric shaver has at least two hair-cutting units, each of which includes an external cutting member and an internal cutting member that is rotatable relative to the external cutting member. Each of the hair-cutting units is supported by a supporting portion that is linearly movable under the bias of a spring member relative to a base portion of the shaver head between a first, retracted position and a second, extended position. The shaver head has a locking mechanism for selectively locking the supporting portion in a locked position relative to the base portion allowing a user to select different shaving modes.