Shaving Unit Pivot Axes for Skin Contour Following
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Solution Overview
Problem
Shaving apparatuses face challenges in effectively following skin contours, particularly in areas like the chin and jawline, leading to pressure peaks and reduced shaving efficiency due to inadequate pressure distribution and movement of cutting units.
Innovation Solution
A shaving unit with multiple cutting units, each having external and internal cutting members, is designed with a central support member and primary pivot axes that allow independent pivotal motion and translational movement, ensuring even contact with the skin and reducing pressure peaks by positioning pivot axes between shaving tracks and axes of rotation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If cutting units are pivotal in relation to the handle to improve contour-following ability, then the ability to follow skin contours is improved, but pressure distribution along shaving tracks deteriorates causing pressure peaks
Solution Approach 1:
The shaving unit is divided into multiple independently pivotal cutting units, each capable of following skin contours separately. This segmentation allows each cutting unit to adapt to local skin geometry while maintaining proper pressure distribution through individual pivot axes positioned between the shaving track and axis of rotation.
Solution Approach 2:
A pivot axis is introduced as an intermediary element between the cutting unit's axis of rotation and the skin contact point. This pivot axis acts as a mediator that enables contour-following motion while distributing pressure evenly along the shaving track, preventing direct transmission of rotational forces that would cause pressure peaks.
2Adaptability or versatility
If simple pivoting action is used to improve contour-following, then ability to follow skin contours is improved, but shaving efficiency deteriorates due to sectors not in contact with skin
Solution Approach 1:
The cutting units are designed with dynamic pivotal motion capabilities, allowing them to adapt their orientation in real-time as they move across the skin surface. This dynamic adjustment ensures that the entire shaving track remains in contact with the skin throughout the shaving motion, maintaining high shaving efficiency while following complex contours.
Solution Approach 2:
The pivot axis is positioned in a specific spatial relationship (between the shaving track and axis of rotation) that adds a dimensional advantage to the pivoting motion. This geometric arrangement ensures that during pivotal motion, all sectors of the shaving track maintain skin contact, transforming a potentially inefficient simple pivot into a highly effective multi-dimensional contour-following mechanism.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If pivot axis is positioned to improve pressure distribution, then pressure peaks are reduced, but contour-following capability may be affected
Solution Approach 1:
The position of the pivot axis is optimized as a critical parameter, positioned specifically between the shaving track and the axis of rotation. This parameter optimization simultaneously achieves two goals: it distributes pressure evenly along the shaving track by creating a lever arm that prevents pressure concentration, while maintaining full skin contact during pivotal motion to preserve contour-following capability.
Data Source
AI summary
A shaving unit for a shaving apparatus includes at least first and second cutting units which respectively include first and second external cutting members having a plurality of hair entry openings respectively defining first and second shaving tracks. The cutting units further include first and second internal cutting members which are rotatable relative to, respectively, the first and the second external cutting members about first and second axis of rotations, respectively. The first cutting unit is pivotal about a first primary pivot axis which, seen in a direction parallel to the first axis of rotation, is arranged between the first shaving track and the second axis of rotation. Similarly, the second cutting unit is pivotal about a second primary pivot axis which, seen in a direction parallel to the second axis of rotation, is arranged between the second shaving track and the first axis of rotation.