Single-Blade Razor Head with Multi-Dimensional Blade Movement

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Solution Overview

Problem

The market for shaving tools has been dominated by multi-blade cartridges, which lack evidence of improved shaving performance, while a well-designed single-blade razor can provide a superior shaving experience, but its durability and design can be further enhanced.

Innovation Solution

A single-blade razor apparatus with a pivotably mounted head featuring a lower and upper portion that physically interface, forming an aperture for the blade, and retaining posts that allow the blade to move in multiple dimensions during use, manufactured using metal injection molding for improved structural integrity and performance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a single-blade design is used, then shaving performance is improved, but durability is insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveshaving performanceVSAvoiddurability
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDuration of action of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The head is divided into upper and lower portions that are separately manufactured and then assembled together, allowing the single blade to be retained securely while maintaining the ability to pivot and adapt to skin contours, thus improving both durability and shaving performance

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The head is made pivotably mounted on the handle, allowing it to move and adapt dynamically to the contours of the user's face and skin irregularities during shaving, which maintains contact and cutting effectiveness while improving durability through flexible engagement

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Duration of action of stationary object

If multi-blade cartridges are used, then durability is improved, but shaving performance deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovedurabilityVSAvoidshaving performance
Core Design Contradiction:
Duration of action of stationary objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The design extracts the unnecessary complexity of multi-blade cartridges and retains only the essential single cutting blade, eliminating the performance degradation caused by multiple blades while maintaining durability through the robust upper-lower portion construction and pivotable mounting

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Adaptability or versatility

If the head is made pivotably mounted, then adaptability to skin irregularities is improved, but structural complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveadaptability to skin irregularitiesVSAvoidstructural complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The head is segmented into upper and lower portions that can be manufactured separately and assembled, which simplifies the overall structure while enabling the pivotable mounting mechanism that provides adaptability to skin irregularities

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP3532256B1Single-blade razor apparatus
Publication Date: 2021.06.23 ONEBLADE INC
  • EP3532256B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3532256B1 patent drawingFigure 2~4
  • EP3532256B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

A single-blade razor apparatus 100 and methods for manufacturing the same. A razor apparatus may include a handle 102 and a head 104 pivotably mounted on the handle, where the head may include an aperture 185 for receiving a single blade 200. The head may further include a means for retaining the single blade, where the means is configured to retain the single blade during use while permitting the single blade to move in two or more dimensions within the means for retaining the single blade during use. In a particular implementation, the means for retaining the single blade may include a number of retaining posts 180, each configured to mate with a respective recess 215 in the single blade to retain the single blade within the head. The retaining posts may be spaced to retain the single blade during use while permitting the single blade to move in at least two dimensions during use.