Electric Shaver Skin Guard Integration for Smooth Contact

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional electric shavers have grooves and uneven portions between the skin guard member and the outer blade frame, leading to nonsmooth contact with the skin, causing discomfort for users.

Innovation Solution

The integration of the top surface of the outer blade frame with the skin guard member to form a continuous smooth curved surface, eliminating irregularities and providing a comfortable skin contact.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a skin guard member is provided between outer blades to prevent skin contact, then skin protection is improved, but grooves and uneven portions are formed between the skin guard member and outer blade frame causing nonsmooth contact

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveskin protectionVSAvoidskin contact smoothness
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the skin guard member and outer blade frame into a single integrated structure. The skin guard member is formed as an integral part of the outer blade frame, eliminating the interface between separate components that caused grooves and uneven portions. This integration ensures a continuous smooth surface that contacts the skin without irregularities while maintaining the skin protection function.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Ease of manufacture

If separate skin guard member and outer blade frame are used, then manufacturing is simplified, but grooves and uneven portions cause discomfort to users

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecomponent assemblyVSAvoiduser comfort
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The skin guard member and outer blade frame are combined into a single integrated component. The outer blade frame includes the skin guard member as an integral part, forming a continuous smooth surface without grooves or uneven portions at the interface. This integration maintains manufacturing efficiency while eliminating user discomfort caused by surface irregularities.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Adaptability or versatility

If the top surface of outer blade frame and rib are separate, then structural flexibility is improved, but irregular surfaces cause nonsmooth skin contact

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructural flexibilityVSAvoidskin contact quality
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The top surface of the outer blade frame and the top surface of the rib are merged to form a continuous smooth surface. The skin guard member is integrated with the outer blade frame such that their top surfaces are coplanar and form no steps or grooves, ensuring smooth skin contact while maintaining the structural flexibility needed for the shaver's operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentEP2452789B1Electric shaver
Publication Date: 2018.12.19 PANASONIC HOLDINGS CORP
  • EP2452789B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2452789B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP2452789B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5

AI summary

An electric shaver (1) provided with one or more outer blades (2) at a blade face (4a) of a shaver body (3), and a rib (30) adjacent to and in parallel with the outer blades (2) in an orthogonal direction (vertical direction) X to the extending direction (horizontal direction) Y of the outer blades (2), in which a top surface (51a) exposed on each end of an outer blade frame (25a) in the extending direction Y of the outer blades (2) is integrated with a top surface (35b) of the skin guard member (30) to form a continuous surface including a smooth curved surface.