JP2008154607A - Electric shaver - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an electric shaver capable of sufficiently caring a skin surface simultaneously with shaving and obtaining an excellent shaving performance over a long period of time without giving electrical pains. <P>SOLUTION: For the electric shaver 1, on a blade head 2 having a blade surface 3 constituted of an acute angle or a thin surface for cutting beards, an electrode part 4 for supplying a feeble potential or current to the skin surface of a human body is provided on a position not in electric contact with the blade surface 3. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an electric razor blade head, and more particularly to a technique for reducing skin razor loss due to the blade surface of the blade head and simultaneously performing skin care.

  Conventionally, in a hair removal apparatus that shaves or pulls out hair as a hair removal treatment, it has a blade surface for removing body hair, and this body performs hair removal by cutting the body hair. The keratin around the pores may be cut or peeled off along with the eyelids, resulting in a rough skin condition as represented by razor loss.Therefore, along with studying measures to reduce razor loss, There is also a need to consider measures for caring for the face.

  As an example of the latter, there has been proposed a shave using the hair raising action of body hair by electrical stimulation, or a hair removal device that cares for the skin surface by applying potential / current to the skin surface (see, for example, Patent Document 1). ).

  By the way, in the hair removal apparatus shown by the said patent document 1, it supplies with electricity to the blade surface of the hair removal head for processing body hair, and the stimulation electric current of the pulse amplitude between about 1V and 100V is given to the skin surface. The flow stimulates the nervous system of the skin tissue, and this electrical stimulation is used to continuously numb the painful stimulation caused by the withdrawal of body hair, and the user feels a slight irritation It is adjusted to.

However, in the conventional example, since a voltage is applied to the blade surface, there is a concern that the blade surface made of a metal such as stainless steel is electrically oxidized and corroded. In particular, when trying to apply to the field of electric razor, the edge tip of the blade surface that cuts hair is sharply processed. In addition to a decrease in performance, it has a problem of damaging the skin surface. In addition, there is a problem that an electrical stimulation effect is increased by applying a stimulation current to give an electric pain.
Japanese National Patent Publication No. 9-510127

  The present invention was invented in view of the above-mentioned conventional problems, and at the same time as shaving, the wounded skin tissue was repaired, and the barrier function of the skin stratum corneum was repaired / promoted. An object of the present invention is to provide an electric razor that can sufficiently perform care, does not give an electric pain, and provides a good shaving performance over a long period of time.

  In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present inventors have applied a weak electric potential or current to the skin surface when the blade head of an electric razor hits the skin surface, so as not to give an electric pain to the skin surface. The present invention has been completed by finding that the effect of sufficient care can be obtained.

  That is, according to the first aspect of the present invention, a weak electric potential is applied to the skin surface of the human body at a position where the blade head 2 having the blade surface 3 composed of an acute angle or a thin wall for cutting hair is not in electrical contact with the blade surface 3. And an electrode portion 4 for supplying a current is provided.

  With such a configuration, it is possible to apply a weak electrical stimulus to the skin surface while shaving, repairing the wounded skin tissue and repairing / promoting the barrier function of the skin stratum corneum At the same time, since it is a weak electrical stimulus, it does not give an electrical pain. In addition, since the electrode part 4 is not in electrical contact with the blade surface 3 of the blade head 2, even when the blade surface 3 is a metal blade surface, the blade surface 3 is not electrically oxidized and corroded. In particular, it is possible to avoid a situation in which the sharp portion of the metal blade surface is electrolytically eroded and blade spilling occurs, so that the skin surface can be sufficiently cared for while improving the shaving performance.

  According to the second aspect of the present invention, the periphery of the electrode portion 4 is covered with the insulator 5 and the portion of the electrode portion 4 that is not covered with the insulator 5 is skinned simultaneously with the blade surface 3 of the blade head 2 during shaving. This makes it possible to make contact with the surface, thereby preventing electrical contact between the electrode portion 4 and the blade surface 3 even when the electrode portion 4 is disposed at a position adjacent to the blade surface 3 of the blade head 2. As a result, leakage of electricity to the blade surface 3 of the blade head 2 is prevented, and at the same time, the degree of freedom of arrangement of the electrode portions 4 is increased, and design and the like are facilitated.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, the insulator 5 is formed of resin or rubber, and when the direction of moving the blade surface 3 during shaving is defined as the front-rear direction A, the periphery is covered with the resin or rubber. The electrode part 4 is disposed in at least one of the blade surfaces 3 in the front-rear direction A, whereby the electrode part 4 can be easily and inexpensively insulated with an insulator 5 such as resin or rubber, Immediately before shaving while moving the blade head 2 forward or backward, electrical stimulation can be applied to the skin tissue from the electrode part 4 insulated with the insulator 5 such as resin or rubber, At the same time, the shaving performance can be improved at a low cost by the effect of raising the eyelids.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, the blade head 2 includes a plurality of blades each composed of an outer blade 6 for cutting hair and an inner blade 7 slidably contacting the outer blade 6 to reciprocate, The electrode part 4 is characterized in that it is arranged in at least one inter-blade space 8 between the blades, whereby the electrode part 4 can be stored compactly using the inter-blade space 8 of the blade head 2, The enlargement of the blade head 2 can be suppressed.

  The invention according to claim 5 is characterized in that the blade head 2 is attached to a grip part 9 to be gripped by hand, and a counter electrode part 10 is provided on the surface part of the grip part 9 to be in electrical contact with a palm or a finger. As a result, when the electrode portion 4 is brought into contact with the skin surface to be shaved, a closed circuit is formed between the blade head 2 and the grip portion 9 so that a weak current can easily flow through the human body. The skin surface to be shaved is always applied with a potential / voltage having the same potential. In addition, since the palm, fingers, and the like are in electrical contact with the counter electrode portion 10 simply by gripping the grip portion 9 by hand, a weak electrical stimulation effect can be enhanced by using the grip portion 9 to be gripped.

  The invention according to claim 6 is characterized in that a voltage is applied so that the electrode part 4 provided on the blade head 2 is a cathode and the counter electrode part 10 provided on the grip part 9 is an anode. Since a negative potential can be applied to the skin surface to be shaved, the skin surface can be maintained at a normal potential state, which is more effective for the care effect of the skin surface.

  The invention described in claim 7 is characterized in that the voltage applied to the electrode portion 4 is set in a range of 0.01 V to 20 V, thereby maintaining the skin surface in a normal potential state and at the same time the skin. Skin tissue can be activated while preventing excessive current from flowing through the surface and causing cells to die by electrolysis.

  The invention described in claim 8 is characterized in that the voltage applied to the electrode part 4 is an alternating current, whereby a current can flow through the skin surface even at a low voltage, and even if the voltage is high. Increasing the frequency can reduce electrical pain.

  In the present invention, by shaving and applying a weak electrical stimulus to the skin surface, the wounded skin tissue is repaired, and the barrier function of the skin stratum corneum is repaired and promoted. Providing an electric shaver that is expected to improve the skin condition and that it is a weak electrical stimulus, so that it does not give an electric pain and can provide good shaving performance over a long period of time. It can be done.

  Hereinafter, the present invention will be described based on embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the electric razor 1 of the present embodiment includes a blade head 2 in which a blade having a blade surface 3 made of an acute angle or a thin wall for cutting a scissors is held by a blade frame 12; The main body is composed of a razor body 11 that also serves as the grip portion 9.

  In the example shown in FIG. 1, the blade of the blade head 2 has three outer blades 6 arranged in the front-rear direction A in the order of a net outer blade 6a, a slit blade 6b, and a net outer blade 6a. The net outer blade 6 a is held by an outer blade frame fixed to the blade frame 12. Here, the blade of the blade head 2 is not limited to a metal blade made of a metal such as stainless steel, but may be a blade formed of resin, for example.

  Here, in the present invention, the blade head 2 is provided with an electrode portion 4 for applying a weak potential or current to the skin surface of the human body. The electrode portion 4 of this example is made of a conductor disposed in the left-right direction B orthogonal to the front-rear direction A, for example, a metal piece extending in a thin plate shape in the left-right direction B, and has a slit blade 6b and a net outer blade 6a. Is housed in a slit-groove space 8 between the two. Here, the material of the electrode part 4 is not limited to a metal piece, but other than that, for example, the surface of a conductive resin or an insulating resin may be coated with a metal plating (plating). Is not particularly limited. Moreover, the upper end surface which contacts the skin surface of the electrode part 4 may be a flat curved surface or a smooth curved surface that fits the skin surface.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 1C, the periphery of the electrode portion 4 is covered with a resin insulator 5 having a flat cylindrical shape. The insulator 5 electrically insulates the periphery excluding the upper surface portion of the electrode portion 4 and the blade surface 3 of the net outer blade 6a and the slit blade 6b so that the blade surface 3 is not energized when the electrode portion 4 is energized. To work.

  Further, the electrode portion 4 is supported so as to be floatable up and down with respect to the blade frame 12. For example, it is arranged so as to be movable up and down within the inter-blade space 8 between the net outer blade 6a and the slit blade 6b and is always urged upward by a spring (not shown). When the net outer blade 6a and the slit blade 6b are in contact with the skin surface and float when shaving, the electrode portion 4 floats without touching the net outer blade 6a and the slit blade 6b, and the upper surface portion of the electrode portion 4 is the skin surface. The height position where it can come into contact with can be maintained.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 1C, a pair of left and right electrode terminals 13 project from the bottom surfaces of both ends in the left-right direction B of the electrode portion 4, while the upper surface of the razor body 11 is As shown in FIG. 2B, a pair of left and right power supply terminals 14 are provided so that the electrode terminal 13 and the power supply terminal 14 are in electrical contact with the blade head 2 mounted on the razor body 11. A voltage is applied to the electrode unit 4 from a power supply unit (not shown) in the razor body 11. Here, a low voltage control device (not shown) is provided in the razor body 11 between, for example, the power supply unit and the power supply terminal 14 in order to make the current passed through the electrode unit 4 weak. Here, in the structure in which the electrode portion 4 is float-supported by the blade frame 12 as described above, as a method of maintaining the electrical contact state between the electrode terminal 13 to be floated and the power supply terminal 14 of the razor body 11, for example, the power supply terminal 14 is used. It is preferable that the razor body 11 can be projected and retracted from the upper surface portion and the power supply terminal 14 is spring-biased upward by a spring (not shown).

  In addition, as shown in FIG. 2, the razor body 11 is provided with a switch 15 for driving a motor (not shown) and a counter electrode portion 10 made of a conductor provided on the surface of the grip portion 9. Has been. For example, when the direction in which the razor body 11 is moved during shaving is defined as the front-rear direction A, the counter electrode unit 10 is formed from both side surfaces 11c and 11c in the left-right direction B as shown in FIGS. 8 (a) and 8 (b), for example. It arrange | positions over the back surface 11b, and when the grip part 9 is hold | gripped with a hand, a palm and a finger | toe can be reliably made to be in electrical contact with the counter electrode part 10. FIG. Note that the position, shape, and size of the counter electrode portion 10 provided in the grip portion 9 are not limited to this.

  Thus, when the switch 15 of the electric shaver 1 having the above-described configuration is turned on, the power supply unit and the motor circuit are electrically connected, and the motor drives the inner blade driver so that the inner blade 7 is driven left and right. The scissors introduced into the outer blade 6a can be cut by slicing between the inner blade 7 and the net outer blade 6a. At this time, the slit blade driver can be driven to roughly shave the scissors extended at the slit blade 6b. It becomes like this. At this time, a low voltage is applied to the electrode portion 4 of the blade head 2 by turning on the switch 15, and a weak current of, for example, about several μA flows on the skin surface in contact with the electrode portion 4. Incidentally, a bioelectric current of 100 to 200 μA flows in the body, and it has been demonstrated that natural healing power is enhanced by flowing a weak current close to the bioelectric current from outside the body.

  By applying a weak current to the skin surface at the same time as shaving in this way, especially when rough skin occurs, the wounded skin tissue is repaired by the weak current, and the barrier function of the skin stratum corneum is repaired and promoted. The skin condition after shaving can be moist and smooth, and it is expected that the skin condition will be improved by sufficient care of the skin surface. In addition, since the current is weak, the electrical stimulation is also weak and does not cause electrical pain. Furthermore, since the electrode portion 4 is not in electrical contact with the blade surface 3 of the blade head 2, even when the blade surface 3 is a metal blade surface, the electrode portion 4 is not electrically oxidized and corroded. As a result, it is possible to avoid a situation in which the sharp portion of the wire is eroded and the blade spills, and as a result, the skin surface can be sufficiently cared for while improving the shaving performance.

  Further, in this example, the counter electrode portion 10 is provided in the grip portion 9, so that when the electrode portion 4 is brought into contact with the skin surface to be shaved, the counter electrode portion of the electrode portion 4 and the grip portion 9 through the human body. A closed circuit is formed between the thin film 10 and the human body so that a weak current easily flows. As a result, a potential / voltage having the same potential is always applied to the skin surface to be shaved. In addition, since the palm, fingers, and the like are brought into contact with the counter electrode portion 10 simply by gripping the grip portion 9 by hand, a weak electrical stimulation effect can be enhanced by using the grip portion 9 to be gripped. Further, in this example, when a DC voltage is applied, the electrode part 4 provided on the blade head 2 is used as a cathode, and the counter electrode part 10 provided on the grip part 9 is used as an anode, so that the skin surface to be shaved is minus. Therefore, the skin surface can be maintained in a normal potential state, which is more effective for the skin surface care effect.

  It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the case where a voltage is applied to the counter electrode 10, and as another example, a configuration in which a positive voltage is applied to one of the pair of power supply terminals 14 of the razor body 11 and a negative voltage is applied to the other is possible. is there.

  Further, since the periphery of the electrode portion 4 is covered with the insulator 5, even when the electrode portion 4 is disposed at a position adjacent to the blade surface 3 of the blade head 2, the electrode portion 4 is in electrical contact with the blade surface 3. As a result, there is an advantage that leakage to the blade surface 3 of the blade head 2 is prevented, and at the same time, the degree of freedom of arrangement of the electrode portion 4 is widened, and the design and the like are facilitated. Moreover, since the insulator 5 is formed of resin or rubber, the electrode portion 4 can be easily and inexpensively insulated with the insulator 5 such as resin or rubber, and shaving is performed while moving the blade head 2 in the front-rear direction A. In this case, the electrode part 4 insulated by the insulator 5 such as resin or rubber is located in the front (or the rear), so that the shaving performance can be improved by the napping effect of wrinkles simultaneously with the care of the skin surface. Has the advantage of being able to.

  Furthermore, since the electrode part 4 is disposed in the inter-blade space 8 between the blades of the blade head 2, the electrode part 4 can be stored compactly using the inter-blade space 8 of the blade head 2. In the example of FIG. 1, the electrode unit 4 is stored in one inter-blade space 8 between the slit blade 6 b and the net outer blade 6 a. For example, the electrode unit 4 is stored in each of two or more inter-blade spaces 8. As a result, there is also an advantage that the electrode portion 4 can be stored well by using a plurality of inter-blade spaces 8 and the enlargement of the blade head 2 can be suppressed as much as possible.

  By the way, as a weak current flowing from the electrode part 4 to the skin surface, a constant voltage value L1 as shown in FIG. 3, a DC voltage of a rectangular wave L2 as shown in FIG. 4, or as shown in FIG. A sinusoidal wave L3 or an alternating voltage of a rectangular wave L4 as shown in FIG. 6 can be applied. For example, when a constant voltage value L1 as shown in FIG. 3 is given as the voltage value at this time, it is preferably applied within a range of 0.01V to 20V. If the voltage value is lower than 0.01V, the skin surface cannot be kept in a normal potential state. If the voltage value exceeds 20V, an excessive current flows through the skin surface, and the cells die due to electrolysis. In this example, the skin tissue is activated within the above range.

  The voltage mentioned here is not limited to the kind of voltage to be applied, such as a constant voltage, a pulse voltage, or a voltage whose value fluctuates periodically. For example, in a DC voltage (L1 in FIG. 3, L2 in FIG. 4), when a voltage value such as a pulse voltage (60 Hz to 1 MHz) fluctuates, an average voltage value or a peak voltage value is within the voltage value range. In addition, in the case where constant current control is performed, this also applies to the case where the average value of the voltage value when applied to the shaved skin surface is within the range of the voltage value. On the other hand, the AC voltage (L3 in FIG. 5, L4 in FIG. 6) corresponds to the case where the maximum value of the peak is within the range of the voltage value. Here, when the AC voltage is used, a current can flow through the skin even at a low voltage, and electrical pain can be reduced by increasing the frequency even when the voltage is high. The alternating current referred to here includes a triangular wave in addition to the sine wave of FIG. 5 and the rectangular wave of FIG. 6, and the shape thereof is not limited.

  In the present embodiment, the low voltage control pattern is described. However, when the constant current control is performed, the voltage value varies depending on conditions and the like. In this case, the average voltage value or the peak voltage value is also used. Is preferably 0.01V to 20V.

  FIG. 7 shows another embodiment of the present invention. The electrode portion 4 for applying a weak current to the skin surface is provided on the outside of the net outer blade 6a, and the net outer blade 6a is used when shaving. When the slit blade 6b is in contact with the skin surface, the electrode portion 4 is also arranged at a height position so as to be in contact with the skin surface. Other configurations are the same as those of the embodiment of FIGS. 1 to 6, and corresponding portions are denoted by the same reference numerals. In this example, when shaving, the electrode part 4 comes in contact with the skin surface more reliably, and the skin surface can be sufficiently cared for. As a result, the same effects as those shown in FIGS. In addition, there is an advantage that the front end surface of the electrode portion 4 is formed into a smooth curved shape, so that it is easy to fit the skin surface, and there is no need to cover the periphery of the electrode portion 4 with the insulator 5 (FIG. 4). Only the side surface on one side of the electrode portion 4 facing the net outer blade 6a has an insulating structure, and there is an advantage that the structure of the electrode portion 4 can be simplified.

  FIG. 8 shows still another embodiment of the present invention, in which an electrode support portion 16 is slidably attached to the back of the razor body 11 and a weak current is applied to the skin surface at the upper end of the electrode support portion 16. An electrode portion 4 for providing is provided. Other configurations are the same as those of the embodiment of FIGS. 1 to 6, and corresponding portions are denoted by the same reference numerals. In this example, by sliding the electrode support portion 16 up and down, the electrode support portion 16 and the electrode portion 4 can be lifted up and down without touching the net outer blade 6a. 1, the net outer blade 6a and the electrode portion 4 come into contact with the skin surface at the same time when shaving. As a result, FIG. The same operational effects as in FIG. 6 can be obtained, and as shown in FIG. 8C, the electrode portion 4 does not need to be added to the blade head 2, so that the design of the existing blade head 2 is not changed. There is an advantage that it can be used as it is, and in this example, there is no need to insulate the electrode part 4 with an insulator, and there is an advantage that the number of parts can be reduced. In addition, the electrode support part 16 may serve as a trimmer for shaving long scissors, for example. That is, it is also possible to have a structure in which the cutting edge portion of an existing trimmer functions as the electrode portion 4.

(A) is a perspective view of the blade head provided with the electrode part of one Embodiment of this invention, (b) is a side view of the upper blade head, (c) is a perspective view of an electrode part. (A) is a front view of the electric razor same as the above, and (b) is a front view of the razor main body with the blade frame removed. It is explanatory drawing of an example of the application pattern applied to the electrode part same as the above. It is explanatory drawing of the other example of the application pattern applied to the electrode part same as the above. It is explanatory drawing of the other example of the application pattern applied to the electrode part same as the above. It is explanatory drawing of the other example of the application pattern applied to the electrode part same as the above. (A) is a front view of the electric shaver used for other embodiment of this invention, (b) is a perspective view of a blade head. (A) is a rear view of the electric razor used for other embodiment of this invention, (b) is a side view, (c) is a perspective view of a blade head.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Electric razor 2 Blade head 3 Blade surface 4 Electrode part 5 Insulator 6 Outer blade 7 Inner blade 8 Space between blades 9 Grip part 10 Counter electrode part A A front-back direction

Claims (8)

  A blade head having a blade surface constituted by an acute angle or a thin wall for cutting hair is provided with an electrode portion for applying a weak electric potential or current to the skin surface of the human body at a position not in electrical contact with the blade surface. An electric razor characterized by that.   2. The electrode portion is covered with an insulator, and a portion of the electrode portion that is not covered with the insulator can be brought into contact with the skin surface simultaneously with the blade surface of the blade head during shaving. Electric razor.   The insulator is formed of resin or rubber, and when the direction in which the blade surface is moved during shaving is defined as the front-rear direction, at least one of the electrode portions, the periphery of which is covered with the resin or rubber, in the front-rear direction of the blade surface The electric shaver according to claim 1 or 2, wherein   The blade head includes a plurality of blades including an outer blade for cutting hair and an inner blade that reciprocates in contact with the outer blade, and the electrode portion has at least one inter-blade space between the blades. The electric shaver according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the electric shaver is disposed on the surface.   The said blade head is attached to the grip part hold | gripped by hand, The counter electrode part which electrically contacts with a palm, a finger | toe, etc. was provided in the surface part of the grip part. The described electric razor.   6. The electric shaver according to claim 5, wherein a voltage is applied so that the electrode portion provided on the blade head is a cathode and the counter electrode portion provided on the grip portion is an anode.   The electric razor according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein a voltage applied to the electrode portion is set in a range of 0.01V to 20V.   The electric razor according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein a voltage applied to the electrode portion is an alternating current.

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