Shaving Head Retainer Bar Snap-Fit Assembly

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional shaving razor manufacturing faces inefficiencies due to buckling clips and unstable blade exposure, leading to production delays and increased costs, as traditional clips are prone to bending and improper installation during the manufacturing process.

Innovation Solution

A shaving razor design featuring a housing with specific openings and a retainer bar system, where the retainer bar is snap-fitted into corresponding openings, using ears with a spring mechanism to secure components like blades and guard bars, ensuring stable exposure and easy installation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If traditional clips are used to retain components in the shaving head, then individual component retention is achieved, but manufacturing efficiency deteriorates due to buckling and improper installation

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecomponent retention stabilityVSAvoidmanufacturing efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges multiple separate clip retention mechanisms into a single retainer bar that simultaneously retains multiple components (blades, guard bars, lubrication strips) within the shaving head housing. This consolidation eliminates the need for multiple individual clips, reducing manufacturing complexity and improving installation reliability while maintaining component retention stability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Reliability

If traditional clips are bent at multiple locations to retain components, then component retention is achieved, but manufacturing precision deteriorates due to tolerance management difficulties

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecomponent retentionVSAvoidblade exposure stability
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the geometric parameters of the retainer bar, specifically designing it with a uniform cross-sectional area along its length rather than requiring multiple bend points. This parameter change simplifies the manufacturing tolerances required, as the retainer bar can be produced with consistent dimensions using standard extrusion or drawing processes, thereby improving blade exposure stability while maintaining component retention.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Reliability

If multiple separate retaining means are used for each component, then individual component security is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecomponent securityVSAvoidretaining mechanism complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple separate retaining functions into a single integrated retainer bar structure. This retainer bar features multiple engagement points along its length that can simultaneously secure blades, guard bars, and lubrication strips, thereby reducing the overall number of retaining components and simplifying the assembly structure while maintaining secure retention of all individual components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

4Reliability

If clips are installed individually and separately, then component-specific retention is achieved, but installation time increases due to additional labor requirements

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveproper component retentionVSAvoidinstallation time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent designs the retainer bar to be pre-formed with all necessary engagement features (such as slots, holes, or attachment points) during the manufacturing process. This preliminary preparation allows the retainer bar to be installed as a single unit that automatically secures multiple components in their correct positions, eliminating the need for separate installation steps for each component and significantly reducing assembly time while ensuring proper retention.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

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 solution stabilizes blade exposure, simplifies the manufacturing process, reduces production delays, and lowers costs by preventing clip buckling and ensuring proper installation, thereby enhancing manufacturing efficiency.

Implementation Method 1

The ears may include a spring which returns the ears, when not compressed, to an original position.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSpring: Spring

Data Source

PatentEP3389961B1Shaving head
Publication Date: 2021.08.11 BIC VIOLEX SINGLE MEMBER SA
  • EP3389961B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3389961B1 patent drawingFigure 2A~2B
  • EP3389961B1 patent drawingFigure 3~5

AI summary

A shaving head 100 includes a housing 101 having a plurality of openings 162, at least one component 113 coupled with the housing, and at least one retainer 150 coupled with the housing. The retainer secures the at least one component in the housing and is a bar. The retainer is received in the corresponding openings in the housing.