Electric Shaver Magnetic Mounting for Stable Charging Contact

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing engaging structures for electric shavers and chargers often experience loose contact issues, leading to unsatisfactory electrical connections and instability during mounting, despite previous attempts to improve terminal contact mechanisms.

Innovation Solution

The proposed solution involves a magnet and an attracting member made of magnetically attracted material on one of the electric shaver or charger, with contact points positioned between the weight center and magnet, ensuring stable contact pressure and precise positioning through a combination of magnetic and horizontal attractive forces, along with multi-point benders and a detector unit for accurate mounting detection.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Length of stationary object

If charging pins are positioned at the lower portion of the electric shaver, then the height of the cleaning/charging apparatus can be reduced, but loose contact between terminals occurs

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveheight of cleaning/charging apparatusVSAvoidcontact stability between terminals
Core Design Contradiction:
Length of stationary objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The magnet is positioned above the contact point at an opposite side of the mounting direction, creating a preliminary magnetic attraction force that pulls the electric shaver toward the charger before physical contact is made. This preliminary action ensures the contact portions are already aligned and pressed together with sufficient force when mounting occurs, preventing loose contact while allowing the charger to maintain a compact height.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If magnet is positioned above contact point, then stable contact pressure is achieved, but positioning precision must be maintained

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontact pressure stabilityVSAvoidpositioning precision of contact portions
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The magnet is deliberately positioned asymmetrically above the contact point rather than directly above it, at an opposite side of the mounting direction. This asymmetric positioning creates a magnetic attraction force that has both a vertical component (providing contact pressure) and a horizontal component (guiding the shaver into precise positioning). The attracting member is positioned to work with this asymmetric magnet arrangement, ensuring both stable contact pressure and accurate alignment.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #4Asymmetry

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 prevents loose contacts and ensures stable mounting of the electric shaver on the charger, providing a simple and effective solution for secure electrical connectivity and improved stability during charging and cleaning operations.

Implementation Method 1

a magnet provided at one of the electric shaver or the electric charger; and an attracting member provided at the other thereof, the attracting member being made of a material magnetically attracted to the magnet

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMagnetic attraction: Magnetism

Data Source

PatentEP1878545B1Engaging structure of electric shaver and electric charger thereof
Publication Date: 2010.06.23 PANASONIC ELECTRIC WORKS CO LTD
  • EP1878545B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP1878545B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP1878545B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

An engaging structure of an electric shaver and an electric charger is provided wherein the electric charger at least serving to charge the electric shaver is mounted thereat. The engaging structure includes a magnet provided at one of the electric shaver or the electric charger; and an attracting member provided at the other thereof, the attracting member being made of a material magnetically attracted to the magnet. Further, a contact portions for electrically connecting the electric shaver and the electric charger are provided between a weight center of the electric shaver and the magnet disposed above the contact point at an opposite side of a mounting direction of the electric shaver.