EP0413168B1 - Wet-shaver - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a wet-shaver having a handle 1 at the front end of which a razor-blade unit 11 is arranged on a shaving head 10, a motor-driven vibration device 5 being arranged in a housing 2 of the handle 1, said vibration device setting the shaving head 10 together with the razor-blade unit 11 into a vibrational movement. To provide a wet-shaver with improved vibration properties, it is proposed according to the invention that the vibration device 5 be constructed in such a way that the razor-blade unit 11 performs a controlled, directed vibrational movement while avoiding, to the greatest possible extent, vibrations of the handle 1. <IMAGE>

Description

The invention relates to a wet shaver with a handle, at the front end of which a razor blade unit is arranged on a razor head, a motor-operated vibration device being arranged in a housing of the handle, which together with the razor blade unit in a controlled, directed vibration movement, with the razor blade unit being largely avoided Vibrations of the handle offset.

Wet shavers of the type mentioned are known. They consist of a handle, at the front end of which a razor blade unit is arranged on a razor head, a razor blade unit being understood to mean a plastic body in which a single or double razor blade is embedded in a non-detachable manner. To improve the shaving properties, a vibration device is provided in the handle housing, which is driven by a battery-operated electric motor. The vibration device sets the razor head together with the razor blade unit arranged thereon in vibration during the shave if necessary.

A disadvantage of these known wet shavers is that the vibration properties are not optimal. Thus, the handle is vibrated in a disturbing manner, so that, moreover, the vibration energy is not completely transmitted to the razor blade unit. In addition, the Vibration transmission is damped by the design of the plastic handle, which also worsens the vibration effect. Furthermore, only a single vibration frequency can be set with the known wet shavers, which is always a compromise. The vibration frequency is always too high for weak beard growth or for more sensitive areas, such as the neck area, while it is too low for shaving with stronger beard growth or for areas with dense beard growth. Another disadvantage of the known wet shavers is the split handle housing made of plastic, the housing parts being ultrasonically welded during assembly. These weld connections are often loosened by the vibration, which leads to a change in the vibration characteristics, which then reduces the functionality of the wet shaver. Water can also penetrate into the interior of the apparatus through the loosened welded connection or through an incorrectly executed welded connection, which leads to rapid destruction of the functional parts. Finally, it is a disadvantage of the known wet shavers that they have disturbing transverse vibrations.

From US-A 4,819, 330 a generic wet shaver is known, on the handle of which a razor head with a razor blade unit is arranged at the front end, wherein the razor blade unit can be set in a controlled, directed vibration movement in the longitudinal direction of the cutting edges of the razor blades. For this purpose, the razor head with the razor blade unit is arranged via an elastic sleeve at the front end of the handle in such a way that the razor head can carry out vibratory movements with respect to the handle. To generate these vibratory movements in the razor head and thus in the razor blade unit, a motor is arranged within the handle, the axis of rotation of which via a clutch eccentrically arranged cam drives, which in turn sets a pivotable lever in the razor head in such an oscillating motion that the razor head vibrates accordingly.

By means of this known wet shaver, a directional vibration movement is generated in the shaver head, which is intended to avoid vibrations of the handle, but the structural design for generating the vibration movements is very complex. In particular, a pivotable lever must be arranged within the shaver head, the oscillation axis of this lever must be exactly correct. If this vibration axis changes over time due to material fatigue, this leads to disturbing transverse vibrations. In addition, the known wet shaver is not very stable in the area of the shaver head, since it consists of many individual parts here.

Based on this, the object of the invention is to further develop the known wet shaver in such a way that, while increasing the stability of the wet shaver, in particular in the area of the shaver head, the overall construction for generating the vibration movements is simplified and the vibration properties are improved.

• a) daß ein Träger für die Vibrationseinrichtung (5) im wesentlichen starr mit dem die Rasierklingeneinheit (11) tragenden Rasierapparatekopf (10) verbunden
  ist und
• b) daß die aus dem Träger für die Vibrationseinrichtung (5) und dem Rasierapparatekopf (10) mit der Rasierklingeneinheit (11) bestehende starre Baugruppe im Austrittsbereich aus dem vorderen Ende des Gehäuses (2) des Handgriffs (1) verschwenkbar gelagert ist.

The invention proposes as a technical solution

• a) that a carrier for the vibration device (5) is connected substantially rigidly to the razor head (10) carrying the razor blade unit (11)
  is and
• b) that from the carrier for the vibration device (5) and the razor head (10) with the Razor blade unit (11) existing rigid assembly is pivotally mounted in the exit area from the front end of the housing (2) of the handle (1).

A wet shaver designed according to this technical teaching is characterized by its constructive simplicity and by its stability in the area of the shaver head. The structural simplicity is achieved in that the razor head with the razor blade unit arranged thereon forms a rigid unit with the vibration device arranged inside the handle, in the manner of a rod, which is pivotably mounted in the exit region from the handle. Such an assembly is very easy to assemble in the handle of the wet shaver. In addition, since the shaver head forms a rigid unit with the actual vibration device, the stability is correspondingly high.

In a constructive embodiment, the housing of the handle preferably has an opening with a rectangular cross-sectional profile at the front end, and the connection of the support for the vibration device to the shaver head is formed by a cuboid body which is pivotably mounted in the opening. This represents a technically simple one Possibility to pivotally mount the assembly described above at the front end of the handle.

The vibration device is preferably arranged in a vibrator housing, which is accommodated for the vibration movements with play within the housing of the handle. This vibrator housing thus forms the carrier for the vibration device, the vibrator housing being able to accommodate all the parts which are necessary for generating the vibrations.

In a further development, the housing of the handle consists predominantly of metal. Such a handle housing made of metal has the advantage that the transmission of vibrations is less damped than, for example, with a plastic version of the handle housing. In addition, due to the higher weight, a metal handle housing leads to a significantly lower housing vibration than is the case, for example, with a plastic housing.

In a further development, the housing of the handle is made in one piece. The handle housing is preferably made of metal, but can also consist of plastic. The one-piece housing design has the advantage that the vibration is transferred to the razor head with the razor blade unit in an optimal manner. In contrast to the conventional split handle housing, no vibrations can be loosened by the vibrations, so that the vibration characteristics are not changed and thus a constant functionality is achieved. Also, in the one-piece handle housing there is no danger that water can penetrate into the interior of the apparatus, for example due to loosened or incorrectly executed welded connections, so that the one-piece design prevents destruction of the functional parts.

Furthermore, it is proposed in a further development that the housing of the handle has an elastic, vibration-damping coating on the outside. This is preferably made of rubber, in particular synthetic rubber. In addition to a significantly reduced vibration in the grip area, this also results in better haptics.

A further development suggests that a switch for operating the vibration device with different, in particular with two different frequencies is arranged on the handle. The user thus has the option at two speeds with two different frequencies to select the lower frequency in the case of weak beard growth or for more sensitive zones, such as the neck area. The higher frequency is used for stronger beard growth or for areas with dense beard growth.

In a preferred development of the vibration device, it consists of two synchronously opposing eccentrics, the common center of gravity of which moves back and forth parallel to the longitudinal extent of the razor blade unit. In this way, a controlled, aligned vibration movement is created in only one direction, namely parallel to the cutting edge of the razor blade embedded in the razor blade unit. As a result, no disturbing transverse vibrations occur. At least these are reduced to a tolerable level.

In a constructive implementation of this eccentric principle, it is proposed that the synchronously counter-rotating eccentrics are formed by two gearwheels which engage with one another with the same number of teeth and are each provided with an unbalance, one gearwheel on the rotating motor shaft of the motor and the other gearwheel in the carrier the vibration device are stored. By means of such a gearbox, counter-rotating eccentric operation is possible in a technically simple manner, which allows only a vibration movement in a reliable manner parallel to the cutting edge of the razor blade.

The motor shaft of the motor is preferably located in the longitudinal central axis of the housing of the handle. Instead, however, it is also conceivable to arrange the motor shaft itself eccentrically, so that the second gear wheel can then lie exactly in the longitudinal central axis of the housing of the handle.

Fig. 1

einen schematischen Längsschnitt durch den Naßrasierapparat;

Fig. 2

einen Schnitt entlang der Linie II-II in Fig. 1.

An embodiment of a wet shaver according to the invention with a vibration device is described below with reference to the drawing. The drawing shows:

Fig. 1

a schematic longitudinal section through the wet shaver;

Fig. 2

a section along the line II-II in Fig. 1st

The wet shaver consists of a handle 1. This is formed by an essentially hollow cylindrical housing 2 made of metal, the rear open end of which is closed by a cover 3. This is connected to the housing 2 by means of a snap device. The front end of the housing 2 has an opening 4 with a rectangular cross-sectional profile.

A vibration device 5 is arranged within the housing 2 of the handle 1. This first consists of a vibrator housing 6, which is also essentially a hollow cylinder is formed, the outer diameter of this vibrator housing 6 is slightly smaller than the inner diameter of the housing 2 for the handle 1, so that the vibrator housing 6 has some play to the housing 2. The back of the vibrator housing 6 is also closed by a cover 7. At the front end of the vibrator housing 6, a cuboid body 8 is attached, for example glued. This in turn carries a similarly shaped cuboid body 9, which is arranged in the opening 4 of the housing 2 for the handle 1. Finally, on the cuboid body 9, a razor head 10 is fastened outside the housing 2 for the handle 1 and carries a so-called razor blade unit 11 at its front end, in which a razor blade 13 in the form of a double razor blade is embedded in a plastic body 12.

The vibrator housing 6 with the cover 7, the body 8, the cuboid body 9 and finally the razor head 10 with the razor blade unit 11 thus form a structural unit. This is pivotally mounted within the housing 2 for the handle 1, the pivot point being defined by the cuboid body 9 within the opening 4. In the exit area of this assembly from the front end of the housing 2, it is thus pivotably mounted, the pivoting movement being made possible by the play between the vibrator housing 6 and the housing 2 for the handle 1.

The actual vibration device 5 consists of a motor 14 in the form of an electric motor, which is fixedly arranged in the rear area of the vibrator housing 6. The electrical supply of this motor 5 takes place by means of a battery 15 via electrical lines 16. The battery 15 is inserted from behind into the housing 2 for the handle 1, the securing being carried out by the cover 3 attached.

A spring 17 is supported between the back of the battery 15 and the inside of the cover 3.

A first gear wheel 19 is arranged on the motor shaft 18 of the motor 14, which for the rest lies in the longitudinal central axis of the handle 1. With its pinion, this has a certain number of teeth 20. But above all, this gear 19 has an imbalance 21. The gear 19 meshes with a second gear 19 ', which is mounted with its shaft 22 in the vibrator housing 6 freely rotatable. This second gear 19 'has a corresponding number of teeth 20' as in the first gear 19. Finally, the second gear 19 'has an unbalance 21'.

Finally, it should also be mentioned that the housing 2 for the handle 1 has a coating 23 made of soft, vibration-damping synthetic rubber in the grip area.

The wet shaver with its vibrating device 5 works as follows:
The motor 14 is switched on, so that the motor shaft 18 is rotated at a certain speed and thus with a certain rotational frequency. The fixedly arranged on the motor shaft 18 gear 19 rotates accordingly and drives the gear 19 'in a synchronous manner in opposite directions. The arrangement of the two unbalances 21,21 'in the gears 19,19' is such that the common center of gravity of the two gears 19,19 'is always in a fixed plane which runs parallel to the cutting edges of the two razor blades 13. In the drawing, this is the paper level. In this way, the common center of gravity of the two gears 19, 19 'always moves back and forth in the paper plane.

Due to the vibration-capable suspension of the assembly within the front opening 4 in the housing 2 for the handle 1, the razor head 10 with its razor blade unit 11 is set into a vibration movement running in the paper plane. Transversely perpendicular movements (i.e. perpendicular to the paper plane) do not occur.

By means of a switch, not shown, two speeds of the motor 14 can be set. This leads to two different speeds and thus to two different vibration frequencies. The lower frequency is chosen for weak beard growth or for sensitive areas, such as the neck area, while the higher frequency is used for stronger beard growth or for areas with dense beard growth.

Reference list

1

Handle

2nd

casing

3rd

cover

4th

Breakthrough

5

Vibrating device

6

Vibrator housing

7

cover

8th

body

9

Cuboid

10th

Shaver head

11

Razor blade unit

12th

Plastic body

13

razor blade

14

engine

15

battery

16

electrical line

17th

feathers

18th

Motor shaft

19th

gear

19 ′

gear

20th

tooth

20 ′

tooth

21

Unbalance

21 ′

Unbalance

22

wave

23

Coating

Claims (11)

1. Wet razor having a handle (1), at the front end of which a razor blade unit (11) is disposed on a razor head (10), whereby disposed in a housing (2) of the handle (1) is a motor-driven vibration mechanism (5) that imparts a controlled directed movement to the razor head (10) together with the razor blade unit (11), while nearly completely avoiding vibration of the handle (1),
   characterised in that
   a carrier for the vibration mechanism (5) is essentially rigidly connected with the razor head (10) that carries the razor blade unit (11) and in that the structural unit comprised of the carrier for the vibration mechanism (5) and the razor head (10) with the razor blade unit (11) is pivotally mounted in the exit region out of the front end of the housing (2) of the handle (1).
2. Wet razor according to claim 1, characterised in that the housing (2) of the handle (1) is provided at the front end with an opening (4) having a square or rectangular cross-section, and in that the connection of the carrier for the vibration mechanism (5) with the razor head (10) is formed by a parallelepipedal member (9) that is pivotally mounted in the opening (4).
3. Wet razor according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the vibration mechanism (5) is disposed in a vibrator housing (6) which for the vibration movements is accommodated with play within the housing (2) of the handle (1).
4. Wet razor according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterised in that the housing (2) of the handle (1) is predominately comprised of metal.
5. Wet razor according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterised in that the housing (2) of the handle (1) is a single piece.
6. Wet razor according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterised in that the housing (2) of the handle (1) has an elastic, vibration damping coating (23) on the outside.
7. Wet razor according to claim 6, characterised in that the coating (3) comprises rubber, especially synthetic rubber.
8. Wet razor according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterised in that disposed on the handle (1) is a switch for operating the vibration mechanism (5) with different frequencies, especially with two different frequencies.
9. Wet razor according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterised in that the vibration mechanism (5) comprises two eccentrics that operate synchronously in opposite directions, with the common centre of gravity of the eccentrics moving parallel to the longitudinal dimension of the razor blade unit (11).
10. Wet razor according to claim 9, characterised in that the eccentrics, which operate synchronously in opposite directions, are formed by two gear wheels (19, 19') that mesh with one another via the same number of teeth (20, 20') and are respectively provided with an imbalancing means (21, 21'), whereby one of the gear wheels (19) is mounted on the rotating shaft (18) of the motor (14) and the other gear wheel (19') is mounted in the carrier of the vibration mechanism (5).
11. Wet razor according to claim 10, characterised in that the shaft (18) of the motor (14) is disposed exactly in the longitudinal central axis of the housing (2) of the handle (1).

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