GB2129732A - Washable electric shaver - Google Patents

Abstract

A washable electric shaver comprises a water-tight housing (10) containing the shaver motor and having an on/off switch (20) mounted thereon, and a shaving head (22) fitted to one end of the housing. The shaving head (22) has a stationary perforated shear plate (38) and a movable shear element (58) which is arranged to be driven by the motor to oscillate in engagement with the inner surface of the stationary shear plate (38). Adjacent the opposite ends of the shear element (58) the shaving head has a pair of end openings (34a) which are normally closed by a pair of lateral closure flaps or lids (70). The closure flaps (70) are biassed towards the closed position, and a mechanism having an actuating member (78 Figure 2) is provided for opening the flaps simultaneously when desired. When the flaps (70) are open the shaver can be washed by allowing a flush of water to flow through the head (22) from one of the end openings (34a) to the other. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Washable electric shaver This invention relates to washable electric shavers which can be used for a wet shave or a dry shave as desired.

The washable electric shaver is a recent development and generally comprises, as is the case with conventional dry shavers, a shaving head having a stationary perforated shear plate, and a movable shear element which is driven by an electric motor and which cooperates with the stationary shear plate to cut hairs of a beard or a moustache projecting through the perforations in the shear plate. In general, washable electric shavers may be disting :ished from the dry type by the employment of a water-tight structure in a housing for the electrical components, i.e. the motor, a battery source, an operating switch, and the connecting circuitry, and by the use of rust-resistant material for component parts of the shaving head.

The washable electric shaver is considered very convenient in that the clippings of hairs which accumulate inside the shaving head can readily be washed out. This is in contrast to the dry type of electric shaver which cannot be used for wet shaving and which requires occasional or regular cleaning of the shaving head with the aid of a brush to remove the clippings. Also, whereas it has been observed with dry electric shavers that hair clippings, when wetted by a fatty secretion from sweat glands in the human face, can become incrusted on the cutting edge or edges of the movable shear element so stubbornly as to require a relative strong brushing to remove them, the washable electric shaver is substantially free from this disadvantage when used for wet shaving.Specifically, when the washable electric shaver is used with soap or a shaving foam applied to the hairs to be cut, the secretion from the sweat glands is neutralised by the soap or the shaving foam and, therefore, the wetted hair clippings gathering around the cutting edge or edges of the movable shear element are readily removed when the shaving head is flushed with water or washed in a bowl of water in a manner similar to conventional wet razors.

However, the known washable electric shaver is still unsatisfactory in that difficulty is encountered in achieving a substantially complete cleaning of the shaving head with water, at least not without a complicated and time-consuming handling process.

Furthermore, to keep a wet razor sharp so that a smooth and comfortable shave can be appreciated throughout, it is usually necessary to wash the razor with water to remove the hair clippings each time one or two draws of the razor have been made, and this is equally applicable to the washable electric shaver when used for wet shaving. However, in the case of the known washable electric shaver it is a disadvantage that water used to wash the shaving head and/or droplets of water remaining in the shaving head after the washing can flow downwards to wet the body of the shaver held by the hand of the user. Once the body of the shaver becomes wet, the user's grip on the shaver may be hampered by a tendency for slip to occur between the hand and the body of the shaver.

With the aim of providing a washable electric shaver which can be washed both easily and efficiently, according to the invention a washable electric shaver comprises an elongate water-tight housing serving as a hand-grip, a shaver motor mounted within the housing, an on/off switch having an operating element mounted on the housing for controlling an electrical power supply for driving the shaver motor, a shaving head having a generally T-shaped body mounted on one end of the housing so that the shaver as a whole has a generally T-shaped configuration, a cap which is removably mounted on the top of the T-shaped body and which has a stationary perforated shear plate replaceably carried thereby, a movable shear element which is mounted on the T-shaped body for movement in engagement with the inner surface of the stationary shear plate to cut hairs which, in use, project through the plate, and means which is arranged to be driven by the shaver motor to drive the movable shear element, a pair of end openings located at opposite ends of the cap and aligned with each other adjacent the opposite ends of the movable shear element, a pair of pivotally mounted closure flaps which are biassed to close the end openings, and a flap opening mechanism having an actuating element movable between an inoperative position in which the flaps are closed and an operative position in which the flaps, and thereby the end openings, are open.

A dry electric shaver is known, from Japanese Utility Model No. 45-9388, which has a shaving head provided with a pair of simultaneously pivotable lateral lids or flaps for selectively opening and closing a pair of lateral openings leading into the interior of the shaving head. The opening and closing of the lateral lids is effected by a mechanism which comprises a knob slidably mounted on the casing of the shaver, and a leaf spring having its opposite ends pivotally connected to the lateral lids and an intermediate portion secured to the knob.

The leaf spring has a length substantially greater than the linear distance or span between the pivot points of the lateral lids so that a snap action of the leaf spring causes the lateral lids to pivot between two different positions to open or close the lateral openings depending on the direction in which the knob is moved. The specification states that, when and so long as the knob is in the position in which the lateral lids are open, a brush can be inserted into the interior of the shaving head through either of the lateral openings for the removal of the hair clippings, but there is no suggestion that the electric shaver can be washed with water.

The provision of the closure flaps at opposite ends of the cap of the shaving head in the washable electric shaver in accordance with the invention, and the facility to open these flaps when desired by simple manipulation of the actuating member, enables the interior of the shaving head to be washed quickly and thoroughly, and without the complicated procedure necessary with the known type of wash able electric shaver. Also, the shaver in accordance with the invention may have a relatively simple construction which is easy to manufacture.

Preferably, the T-shaped body of the shaving head has a hollow stem having one end so arranged that its exterior surface is continued from the exterior surface of the water-tight housing and having the other end formed integrally with a transverse bench which extends laterally outwardly therefrom in opposite directions and on which the cap is removably mounted. Preferably the transverse bench is tilted relative to the stem so that it faces forwards and upwards to present the stationary shear plate of the shaving head to the face of the user when the housing is held in a generally upright position.

The cap of the shaving head, with the stationary shear plate in position, preferably has a generally semi-circular cross-sectional profile so that the perforated shear plate, which may be of any suitable known construction, presents a curvilinear surface for contact with the skin during shaving. The movable shear element is preferably of a known construction having a plurality of juxtaposed blades cooperable with the stationary shear plate to cut hairs projecting therethrough when the movable shear element is linearly vibrated in a direction generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of the transverse bench and perpendicular to that of the shaver housing.

The closure flaps for the end openings in the cap may be pivotally mounted on either the cap or the transverse bench, but are preferably mounted on the cap to enhance the ease of fabrication and also to minimize the number of projections which may be exposed when the cap is removed from the transverse bench. The actuating element of the flap opening mechanism preferably comprises a slide knob which is mounted on the T-shaped body at a location adjacent the junction between the stem and the bench and facing generally away from the direction in which the bench is tilted, and which is slidable between the inoperative and operative positions in a direction generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the transverse bench.Preferably the actuating element opens and closes the flaps by means of a rigid member having an intermediate portion coupled to the slide knob and the opposite ends thereof engageable with the closure flaps. Preferably, also, the flap opening mechanism includes a detent mechanism for holding the slide knob in its operative position and preventing it from automatically returning to the inoperative position under the influence of the biasing forces acting on the closure flaps if the slide knob is released. The slide knob must then be moved positively to the inoperative position to close the flaps.

The washing of the shaving head to remove hair clippings from the interior thereof is usually carried out with the flaps in the open position. At this time, the shaving head is washed either by shaking the shaving head in a pool of water or by flushing a stream of water through the head from one of the end openings to the other.

In accordance with another preferred feature of this invention, the T-shaped body of the shaving head is shaped so that it has a constricted region generally at the junction between the stem and the transverse bench to facilitate the drainage of water drops which would otherwise flow towards the hand-grip provided by the water-tight housing during or after washing the shaving head.

A preferred example of the washable electric shaver in accordance with the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a front elevation of the washable electric shaver; Figure 2 is a rear elevation of the shaver, with the closure flaps of the shaving head in the open position; Figure 3 is a side elevation of the shaver as shown in Figure 1; Figure 4 is a sectional view, on an enlarged scale, of the shaving head of the shaver as shown in Figure 1, i.e. with the closure flaps closed; Figure 5 is a view similar to that of Figure 4, but showing the closure flaps opened; Figure 6 is a top plan view, on an enlarged scale, of the shaver head with the stationary shear plate and the movable shear element removed to show the interior of the head;; Figures 7 and 8 are cross-sections of the shaving head taken along the lines VII-VII and VIII-VIII respectively in Figure 6; Figure 9 is a view similar to that of Figure 8, showing the slide knob of the flap opening mechanism moved to the position to open the flaps; Figure 10 is an exploded view of the flap opening and closing mechanism, with only one of the flaps being shown; Figure 11 is a sectional view, on a further enlarged scale showing the manner in which the lids are biassed closed and are opened; and, Figure 12 is a front elevational view of the shaver, with a portion cut away, showing the shaver being washed with a flush of water coming from a water faucet.

Before the description of this invention proceeds, it is to be noted that like parts are designated by like reference numerals throughout the accompanying drawings.

Referring first to Figures 1 to 3, a washable electric shaver according to this invention and shown therein is of a generally two-component structure comprising an elongated water-tight housing 10, which serves concurrently as a grip for the holding by the hand of a user, and a shaving head 22. The housing 10 has one end closed by an end plate 12 in any suitable manner, but in any event in a water-tight fashion, and the other end closed by an end wall which may be either a separate member or an integral part of the housing 10. Preferably, the end wall at the other end of the housing 10 is formed with a recess 14 in which a pair of plug pins (not shown) for removable connection with an external electric power supply line (not shown) are exposed.

As a matter of course, these piug pins are situated within the recess 14 in the form as extending in a water-tight fashion through the end wall.

The housing 10 accommodates therein a micromotor M having its drive shaft extending through the end plate 12 rotatably, but in a water-tight fashion, the tip of which drive shaft has an eccentric flywheel 16 mounted thereon for rotation together therewith.

The flywheel 16, capable of undergoing an eccentric rotation relative to the drive shaft of the motor M during the rotation of the latter, carries a drive pin 18 having one end rigidly secured thereto so as to extend in a direction opposite to and parallel to the drive shaft of the motor M, but in axially offset relation to the drive shaft of the motor M.

The housing 10 has a slide 20 mounted exteriorly thereon for movement between on and off positions in a direction preferably parallel to the longitudinal sense thereof for controlling a power supply control switch (not shown) for initiating and interrupting the supply of an electric power to the motor M when the slide 20 is moved to the on position and the off position, respectively. The housing 10 may accommodate a battery source B therein, preferably a rechargeable battery, and an electric circuit associated with the electric component parts accommodated inside the housing 10.

Referring still to Figures 1 to 3, the shaving head 22 comprises a generally T-shaped body 24 constituted by a hollow stem 26 having one end mounted on the end plate 12 by means of either a screw mounting or a bayonet mounting so as to cover both the eccentric flywheel 16 and the drive pin 18, and a transverse bench 28 integral with the stem 26 and protruding laterally outwards from the other end of the stem 26 in a direction generally perpendicular to the longitudinal sense of the housing 10 as best seen from Figures 1 and 2.As best shown in Figure 3, the stem 26, except for a rear portion thereof which comes rearwardly of the slide 20, i.e., which is situated on one side of the shaver circumferentially opposite to the slide 20, is generally tapered inward ly, or is so shaped as to converge in a direction, towards the transverse bench 28 so as to define a constricted area 30 generally at the junction between the stem 26 and the transverse bench 28. In addition, the transverse bench 28 integral with the stem 26 is so molded together with the stem 26 and so shaped as to tilt a certain angle relative to a plane perpendiocular to the longitudinal sense of the housing 10 or the shaver body in a direction substantiallyfront- wardly of the slide 20 as viewed in Figure 3.

In other words, the head body 24 of one-piece construction including the stem 26 and the transverse bench 28 is molded to such a shape that the shaving head 22 is tilted forwards at a certain angle relative to the elongated housing 10 so that, during the shaving of the hairs, it can incidentally lean against the skin even when the housing 10 held in the hand of the user is generally positioned upright.

The shaving head 22 also comprises a cap 32 of a shape generally similar to the inverted shape of a figure "U" comprised of a pair of opposite end walls 34 of a generally inverted U-shape and a wall 36 of a generally inverted U-shape having its opposite U shaped lateral edges continued to the U-shaped peripheral edge portions of the respective end walls 34.The end walls 34 have end openings 34a (Figures 4 and 5) defined therein, respectively, each being of a shape similar to the shape of any one of the end walls 34, and the wall 36 also has a shaving opening 36a defined therein at a location corresponding to the bottom of the shape of the figure "U" and extending between the end walls 34. Flexible stationary shear plate 38 having a multiplicity of fine perforations defined therein in a predetermined or desired pattern is replaceably mounted on the cap 32 in any known manner so as to cover the shaving opening 36a, said stationary shear plate 38 being so bent as to follow the contour of the U-shaped peripheral edge portions of the respective end walls 34.

Hereinafter, an internal mechanism of the shaving head 22 will be described with particular reference to Figures 4 to 11. As can readily be understood from Figures 4 to 9, the transverse bench 28 is, when generally viewed from top, rectangular in shape, having a pair of opposite end walls 28a, a pair of opposite side walls 28b and a bottom wall 28c, said walls 28a and 28b being continued to and integral with the stem 26 through the bottom wall 28c, and said bottom wall 28c being discontinued by a bottom opening which is defined therein in communication with the hollow of the stem 26.

Referring still to Figures 4 to 9, the transverse bench 28, essentially in the form of a receptacle, is closed by a rectangular cover plate 40 to form a generally flattened space therebetween. This cover plate 40 is secured by means of set screws 42 to a pair of spaced projections 44 integral with and protruding outwards from the bottom wall 28c in a direction away from the stem 26, and has a central aperture 40a defined therein, and also a pair of opposite hollow bearing projections 46 located adjacent the opposite ends thereof and protruding therefrom at right angles in a direction away from the stem 26.The bearing projections 46 carry detent pieces 48, respectively, which detent pieces 48 are collapsibly supported thereby, but are normally biased by associated springs 50 within the bearing projections 46 so as to project laterally outwardly therefrom in the opposite directions away from each other for engagement into corresponding detent recesses, defined in the interior surfaces of the respective end walls 34 of the cap 32 to hold the cap 32 in the form as mounted on the transverse bench 28.Thus, it will readily be seen that the cap 32 with the stationary shear plate 38 thereon can be removed from the transverse bench 28 merely by pulling it outwards in a direction generally perpendicular to the bench 28 thereby allowing the detent pieces 48 to be temporarily collapsed inwardly of the respective projections 46 against the springs 50 to let the end walls 34 pass over the detent pieces 48.

Extending loosely through the central opening 40a in the cover plate 40 and also through the bottom opening in the bottom wall 28c of the transverse bench 28 is an oscillating carriage 52 operatively coupled to the drive pin 18 (Figure 2) for the oscillatory motion in a direction generally perpendi cularthereto and parallel to the longitudinal sense of the transverse bench 28. The oscillating carriage 52 includes a post 54 having one end situated within the hollow of the head body 24 and formed integrally with a pair of opposite flexible arms 56 which extend axially inwardly thereof towards the other end of the post 54 generally in parallel relation to each other, the free ends of said arms 56 being firmly clamped between the projections 44 and the cover plate 40 with the set screws 42 passing therethrough as best shown in Figures 4 and 5.With the oscillating carriage 52 so supported, the drive pin 18 (Figure 3) projects axially inwards into the post 54 wherefore, during the eccentric rotation of the flywheel 16 as a result of the rotation of the motor M, the post 54 can be oscillated in a direction generally perpendicular thereto and parallel to the longitudinal sense of the transverse bench 28.The other end of the post 54, situated within the cap 32, has a generally elongated movable shear element 58 yieldingly mounted thereon through a holder 60 of any known construction in a known manner More specifically, the holder 60 having the movable shear element 58 replaceably mounted thereon has a bushing 62 supported thereby for pivotal movement in a plane parallel to the lengthwise direction of the movable shear element 58 and is carried by the oscillating carriage 52 with the bushing 62 mounted axially non-movably on the other end of the post 54.

The movable shear element 58, comprised of a plurality of closely juxtaposed blades as is well known to those skilled in the art, is normally biased so as to contact the stationary shear plate 38 by a compression spring 64 interposed between the bushing 62 and a closure plate 66. The closure plate 66 is mounted on the post 54 for oscillatory movement together therewith and is used to close the central opening 40a in the cover plate 40 to prevent the clippings of the hairs from falling into the hollow of the stem 26 therethrough and then through the bottom opening in the transverse bench 28.

In the construction so far described, it will readily be seen that, during the rotation of the motor, the movable shear element 58 can be oscillated relative to the stationary shear plate 38 in a direction transversely of the drive pin 18 then undergoing an eccentric motion together with the eccentricfly wheei 16, cooperating with the stationary shear plate 38 to cut hairs which have projected through the fine perforations in the stationary shear plate 38 for engagement by the movable shear element 58. In any event, the manner by which both of the stationary and movable shear elements 38 and 58 are supported relative to each other may not be limited to those described and illustrated, but may be of any known construction.

In accordance with a feature of this invention, the shaving head 22 further comprises a pair of lateral lids, generally identified by 70, for selectively closing and opening the end openings 34a in the cap 32. So far illustrated the lateral lids 70 are pivotally carried by the cap in a manner which will now be described with particular reference to Figures 8 to 11. However, it is to be noted that, since the lateral lids 70 are supported by the respective end walls 34 of the cap 32 in the same manner, reference will be made to only one of the lateral lids 70 for the sake of brevity.

Referring now to Figures 8 to 11, and as best shown in Figure 10, the lateral lid 70 is generally similar in shape to the shape of the respective end wall 34 of the cap 32 where the associated end opening 34a is defined, but is of a size sufficient to completely cover the end opening 34a. This lateral lid 70 has one end generally rounded and the other end formed integrally with a pair of spaced bearing flanges 72 of a generally sector-shaped configuration protruding outwardly therefrom in a direction at right angle to the body of the lateral lid 70. The lateral lid 70 has a shaft 74 rotatably extending through the bearing flanges 72 with its opposite ends situated exteriorly thereof and secured to the associated end wall 34.The securement of the opposite ends of the shaft 74 to the associated end wall 34 may be carried out by pressure-fitting them into correspondingly spaced recesses (not shown) defined in one surface of the associated end wall 34 facing the interior of the cap 32, or in any suitable manner readily conceivable to those skilled in the art. It is to be noted that, with the lateral lid 70 so supported, the bearing flanges 72 project into the interior of the cap 32 through a cutout area defined at 34b, as shown in Figure 11, in the associated end wall 34.The lateral lid 70 is normally held in position to close the end opening 34a in the associated end wall 34 by the action of a coil ortorsion spring 76 having its opposite ends engaged respectively to the end wall 34 and the lateral lid 70, a substantially intermediate coiled portion thereof being loosely mounted on the shaft 74 at a location between the bearing flanges 72.

While each of the lateral lids 70 is constructed and supported in the manner as hereinbefore described, it is to be noted that, when these lateral lids 70 are pivoted against the respective coil springs 76 to open the associated end openings 34a as shown in Figures 2, 5 and 9, they spread in the opposite directions with respect to each other in a plane generally perpendicular to the plane of each of the end openings 34a and also generally in parallel to the transverse bench 28 as best shown in Figures 5 and 12. For selectively opening and closing the lateral lids 70 simultaneously, a switching mechanism is utilized, which comprises a manipulatable slide knob 78 and a motion transmitter 80.

The motion transmitter 80 so far shown is of one-piece construction including a pair of elongated beams 82 connected together by a pair of spaced bridges 86, one of said elongated beams 82 having its substantially intermediate portion which is integrally formed with a connecting flange 83 for connection with the slide knob 78 in a manner described later. As best shown in Figure 10, each of the beams 82 has a pair of engagement projections, generally identified by 84, which projections 84 are integrally formed therewith and protrude therefrom in a direction at right angles to the respective beam 82.

This motion transmitter 80 is accommodated with the generally flattened space between the transverse bench 28 and the cover plate 40 for movement in a direction towards and away from the cover plate 40 as best shown in Figures 4 and 5. It is to be noted that, with the motion transmitter 80 so accommodated movably, the projections 84 on the beams 82 are aligned with corresponding openings 41 defined in the cover plate 40 at its four corners as shown in Figure 6, confronting through such openings 41 with respective flat edges 72a of the bearing flanges 72 of the lateral lids 70 in a manner substantially as shown in Figure 11.Thus, it will readily be seen that, as the motion transmitter 80 within the above described flattened space between the transverse bench 28 and the cover plate 40 is moved close towards the cover plate in a manner as will subsequently be described, the engagement projections 84 contact and push the flat edges 72a of the bearing flanges 72 fast with the lateral lids 70, thereby causing the lateral lids 70 to pivot against the associated coil springs 76 to open the end openings 34a in the end walls 34 of the cap 32.It will also readily be seen that, when the lateral lids 70 are so opened, the flat edges 72a of the bearing flanges 72 fast with the lateral lids 70 are held in contact with the end faces of the associated beams 82, respectively, and therefore, the lateral lids 70 can be kept in position to open the end openings 34a so long as the motion transmitter 80 is held in a position close to the cover plate 40 as shown in Figures 5 and 9.

Referring to Figures 7 to 9, the cover plate 40 has one side edge formed integrally with a depending plate 39 positioned in overlapping relation to the connecting flange 83 integral with the beam 82 and received in a recess (not shown) defined in one of the side walls 28b of the transverse bench 28 which is located on one side of the housing 10 opposite to the switch slide 20 and adjacent the junction between the transverse bench 28 and the stem 26 as shown in Figure 3. The depending plate 39 has a pair of slots 39a defined therein for the passage of connecting arms 78a of the manipulatable slide knob 78 therethrough for connection with the connecting flange 83 in a manner as will be described later, each of said slots extending in a direction perpendicular to the transverse bench and being so sized as to permit the slide knob 78 to be moved between opened and closed positions.The depending plate 39 also has a pair of spaced detent holes 39b and 39c (Figure 7) defined therein at a location intermediately between the slots 39a, which detent holes 39b and 39c correspond to the opened and closed positions, respectively, of the slide knob 78.

For cooperating with the detent holes 39b and 39c in the depending plate 39 integral with the cover plate 40, the connecting flange 83 integral with the beam 82 of the motion transmitter 80 is formed with a generally U-shaped cutout so as to leave a resilient tongue 88 which has a rounded detent projection 88a integrally formed therewith, or otherwise rigidly mounted thereon, for the selective engagement into the detent holes 39b and 39c one at a time.

The slide knob 78 having the arms 78a integrally formed therewith is rigidly connected to the connecting flange 83 with the arms 78a loosely extending through the spaced slots 39a in the depending plate 39 integral with the cover plate 40 such that the motion transmitter 80 can be moved together with the slide knob 78. Although the connection of the arms 78a to the connecting flange 83 may be done in any suitable manner, for example, by the use of a bonding agent or a pressure-fitting technique, an anchoring method is employed in the preferred embodiment.For this purpose, while the free ends of the respective arms 78a are so shaped as to represent an anchor, the connecting flange 83 is formed with a pair of anchoring holes 83a spaced from each other a distance slightly greater or smaller than the span between the arms 78a so that the arms 78a can be connected to the connecting flange 83 by inserting the arms 78a into the associated anchoring holes 83a while the arms 78a are allowed to outwardly or inwardly deform against their own resiliency, as the anchor-shaped free ends of said arms 78a pass therethrough, and then to let them resume the original positions.

From the foregoing description, it has now become clear that, when the slide knob 78 in the closed position as shown in Figure 8 is moved towards the opened position by the application of an external pushing force thereto, the motion transmitter 80 is generally upwardly shifted, as viewed in Figures 7 to 9 with the engagement projections 84 consequently brought into engagement with the flat edges 72a of the bearing flanges 72 of the lateral lids 70, said lateral lids 70 being completely opened as shown in Figure 5 when the slide knob 78 is subsequently clicked into the opened position as shown in Figures 2 and 9.At this time, the detent projection 88a (Figures 7 and 10) is engaged in the detent hole 39b to substantially lock the slide knob 78 in the opened position even though the composite force of the coil springs 76 tending to close the lateral lids 70 may be transmitted to the slide knob 78 through the motion transmitter 80.

However, the application of an external pulling force to the slide knob 78 to move the latter from the opened position towards the closed position results in the pivotal movement of the lateral lids 70 by the action of the coil springs 76 to close the respective end openings 34a. It is to be noted that at this time, i.e., as the slide knob 78 is moved towards the closed position, the detent projection 88a that has been engaged in the detent hole 39b is passed onto the detent hole 39c allowing the tongue 88 to flex against its own resiliency.

The washable electric shaver constructed and operable in the manner described hereinbefore can be washed in the following mannerafter or during the course of the shaving operation.

Referring to Figure 12, after the shaving has been done, or in the course of the shaving operation, and when the shaving head 22 is desired to be washed, the user should move the slide knob 78 from the closed position to the opened position to open the lateral lids 70. Then, the shaver should be held in position with either one of the end openings 34a aligned with a flush of water flowing from a city water supply faucet 90, allowing the water to flow from one end opening 34a to the other through the interior of the shaving head 22 as shown. At this time, the lateral lids 70 in their opened positions concurrently serve as baffles for substantially preventing, or minimizing, the water from splashing rearwardly onto the housing or grip 10.However, should it happen that the water used to wash the shaving head 22 splashes or overflows so much as to flow towards the housing or grip 10, the splashing or overflowing water can advantageously be drained, in a manner as shown by the arrow-headed lines in Figure 12, because of the presence of the constricted area 30 (Figures 1 to 3) defined exteriorly between the stem 26 and the transverse bench 28.

Accordingly the splashing or overflowing water will not substantially reach the housing or grip 10 and, therefore, the housing or grip 10 can advantageously firmly held by the hand of the user with no substantial possibility of the occurrence of slip between the hand and the exterior surface of the housing or grip 10. In addition, the hair clippings washed out from the shaving head 22 will not adhere to the housing or grip 10 because the water that has flown through the interior of the shaving head carrying the hair clippings does not flow upwards, as viewed in Figure 12, along the transverse bench.

Moreover, since the slide knob 78 is arranged at a location circumferentially opposite to the switch slide 20 with respect to the body of the shaver and is arranged adjacent the junction between the stem 26 and the transverse bench 28 where the transverse bench 28 tilts relative to the stem 28, there is no possibility of the slide knob 78 being erroneously moved during the shaving.

Although this invention has fully been described in connection with the preferred embodiment thereof with reference to the accompanying drawing, it is to be noted that various changes and modifications are apparent to those skilled in the art from the reading of the disclosure set forth above. By way of example, it is possibie to employ a single engagement projection on the motion transmitter for each of the lateral lids. In addition, the shape and construction of the motion transmitter may not be limited to those described and shown, but may be in the form of an elongated plate or strip having its opposite ends formed with the engagement projections.

Such changes and modifications are, unless they depart from the scope of this invention as defined by the appended claims, to be understood as included therein accordingly.

Claims (9)

1. A washable electric shaver comprising an elongate water-tight housing serving as a hand-grip, a shaver motor mounted within the housing, an on/off switch having an operating element mounted on the housing for controlling an electrical power supply for driving the shaver motor, a shaving head having a generally T-shaped body mounted on one end of the housing so that the shaver as a whole has a generally T-shaped configuration, a cap which is removably mounted on the top of the T-shaped body and which has a stationary perforated shear plate replaceably carried thereby, a movable shearele- ment which is mounted on the T-shaped body for movement in engagement with the inner surface of the stationary shear plate to cut hairs which, in use, project through the plate, and means which is arranged to be driven by the shaver motor to drive the movable shear element, a pair of end openings located at opposite ends of the cap and aligned with each other adjacent the opposite ends of the movable shear element, a pair of pivotally mounted closure flaps which are biassed to close the end openings, and a flap opening mechanism having an actuating element movable between an inoperative position in which the flaps are closed and an operative position in which the flaps, and thereby the end openings, are open.

2. A shaver according to claim 1, in which the operating element and the actuating element are positioned on opposite faces of the shaver.

3. A shaver according to claim 1 or claim 2, in which the T-shaped body comprises a stem and a transverse bench on which the cap is mounted, the bench being tilted relative to the stem so that it faces forwards and upwards to present the stationary shear plate of the shaving head to the face of the user when the housing is held in a generally upright position, and in which the actuating element is mounted on the T-shaped body at a location adjacent the junction between the stem and the bench and facing generally away from the direction in which the bench is tilted.

4. A shaver according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the closure flaps, when open, lie generally in the same plane as each other, extending in directions which are substantially at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the housing.

5. A shaver according to claim 3, in which the T-shaped body has a constricted region at the junction between the stem and the bench.

6. A shaver according to claim 3, in which the closure flaps are pivotally mounted on the transverse bench and, when open, lie in substantially the same plane as each other, extending laterally outwards in opposite directions from the bench.

7. A shaver according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the flap opening mechanism includes a rigid member through which the actuating element acts to open the closure flaps, the actuating element being coupled to an intermediate portion of the rigid member so that they move together, and the opposite ends of the rigid member being arranged to engage the closure flaps.

8. A shaver according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the flap opening mechanism includes a detent mechanism for holding the actuating element in its operative position and preventing it from automatically returning to the inoperative position under the influence of the biasing forces acting on the closure flaps if the actuating element is released.

9. A shaver according to claim 1, substantially as described with reference to the accompanying drawings.