US2286093A - Dry shaver - Google Patents

Description

'R. HICKS DRY sHAvER June 9, 1.942.

Filed March 15, 1941 x Vr 5..

INVENTOR Patented June 9, 1942 nmz simvrml Reginald Hicks, Yonkers, N. Y., assignor to Schick Incorporated, a corporation of Delaware I Application March l5, 1941, Serial No. 383,501

(cl. sil-41) l1 Claims.

This invention relates to dry shavers and is of particular advantage in connection with electric shavers of the kind employing a shearing head mounted on a motor-containing handle and consisting of a hollow, open-ended, outer cutter within which an inner, movable cutter is mounted for actuation by the motor, the inner cutter having suitable teeth to sever hair protruding through perforations in the outer cutter as the shaver is moved over the face.

Various proposals have been made for catching and accumulating during a shave, for subsequent convenient disposal, the cut hair which otherwise falls outof the open ends of such a shearing head onto the clothing or elsewhere; and the objects of this invention are to make better provision'than heretofore for the incorporation of suitable hair receptacles into the shaver structure, rather than forming them as attachments or appurtenances, to provide a shearing head construction itself especially adapted to cooperate with appropriate hair receptacles, which may be an integral part of the shaver handle, and to provide an organization of parts susceptible of ready manufacture at small cost and having sundry other advantages as regards ease of assembly and eiectiveness for the intended purpose, as will be apparent from the following description.

In the accompanying drawing, Fig. 1 is an elevation of a shaver equipped with the preferred form of the invention; Fig. 2 is a sectional view of the shearing head, on an enlarged scale; Fig. 3 is an end view of the upper part of the shaver; Fig. 4 is a section of the upper end of the shaver, taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3; Fig. 5 is an end view similar to Fig. 3 but illustrating a diil'erent construction; Fig. 6 is a side view, partly sectioned, of the Fig. 5 construction; and Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 6 but illustrating a modified construction.

The illustrated shaver includes a handle or casing generally designated I, containing suitable driving means, such as an electric motor, and at one end carries a so-called shearing head,

which includes an outer cutter, generally designated 2, provided with slots 3 or other perforations to receive the beard as the shaver is moved over the face in the usual manner. In accordance with common practice the handle consists of two molded plastic shells, marked 4 and 5 (Figs. 3 and 5) so formed as to provide one or more head-receiving channels 6 across the end of the handle. For convenience of illustration and description, a single head only is shown;

the so-called but, as will presently be apparent, the invention is equally applicablev to multiple-head shavers. While the particular cross-sectional shape of the outer cutter is immaterial, it is shown as of rounded type, including an arcuate skin-contacting wall in which the slots 3 are formed and adjoining side or' supporting walls 'I secured at their free ends to a spacer or base member 8. Also in accordance with commonY practice, the base member is provided with a central opening 9, aligned with a similar opening I0 in the handle (Fig. 4) to accommodate-a motor-driven actuating member, such as lever Il, the free end of which is shown aS engaging the base I2 of an inner cutter I3 mounted for reciprocation within the outer cutter and having teeth I4 to cooperate with the edges of the slots 3 to sever the hair in the usual manner. Within the limitations imposed by the special features below described, the foregoing elements, which are correspondingly numbered in all the views, may be modied as desired.

Referring now to the construction illustrated in Figs. 1 to 4, the handle of the shaver, which normally terminates at the shoulders I5 which border the channel 46, is so molded as to provide upstanding end walls I6 enclosing chambers or receptacles I'I having inwardly facing entrances I8 extending above and aligned with -the head channel 6 to receive the cut hair which passes out of the ends of the inner cutter I3. The sides and ends of the walls I'I are shaped and dimensioned to substantially conform to the (in this instance) rounded section of the 7 shearing head. The construction thus provided is rugged and readily achieved by molding. Also, as will be seen, the walls I6 can be streamlined into the outer lines of the handle to present an attractive appearance; and furthermore, in this form, it is not necessary to break these lines by providing external outlets from the chambers I1 since, when the shearing head is removed, the Y cut hair can be shaken outa and discharged through the entrances I8.

In the shearing head construction preferred to be employed, the length of the base member 8 of the outer cutter is less than that of its walls 1, so that the latter form shallow hoods overhangng the ends of the base; and the corners of the overhanging portions of the side walls of the outer cutter are cut away, as shown in Fig. 2, flush with the ends of the base and to a vertical height substantially equal to the height of the side walls of the head-receiving channel 6 in the handle.. The inner cutter is likewise .shorter than the walls of the outer cutter, being of such a length and so driven that in the course of its reciprocation it travels substantially between the ends of the base member. The length of the base member in this form is such as to substantially fit the base of the channel 6 be-- tween the receptacle entrances I8.

It will be apparent from the foregoing that when the shearing head is in place on the handle a substantially sealed passage is provided for the cut hair to pass out of the ends of the head and into the receptacles l1, the overhanging hood portions of the outer cutter walls overlying and seating sufciently closely for this purpose around the walls I8 regardless of slight variations in the dimensions of the parts. Also, the fact that the base of the outer cutter terminates short of its walls permits the ready withdrawal of the head from its channel; and, since the base of the outer cutter substantially fits the channel 6, lengthwise as well as crosswise, the head is properly located without difnculty when put back on the handle. Disposal of the cut hair accumulated in the receptacles can be eiected by simply withdrawing the head, and inverting the shaver handle to empty out the hair.

While any conventional means for holding the shearing head in its channel may be utilized, it is preferred to use such means as will permit the most convenient removal of the head in order to facilitate the emptying of the hair receptacles; and, to this end, the base of the outer cutter is shown provided with split posts I9 adapted to seat in holes 20 in the base of channel 6. With such construction the shearing head is removed by simply withdrawing it from the channel axially of the shaver handle. Preferably, also,

the inner cutter is arranged to be held against falling out when the shearing head is so removed, as by means of spring-pressed balls 2l which serve also to maintain shearing contact between the top of the inner cutter and the nether surface of the outer cutter. As shown, the threaded plug portions 22 of the prongs I9 may be utilized to tension the ball-sustaining springs 23.

The construction illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6 differs from that already described primarily in that the hair receptacles, instead of being molded as an integral part of the handle of the shaver, are formed as separate elements comprising shalllow cups 24 of any suitable material and preferably of formed sheet metal or die cast.

The shearing head 2 is shown secured' in its channel 6 by a conventional set screw 25 rather than by the spring ports I9 but is otherwise of substantially the same construction as that above described. As shown, however, the end corners of the outer cutter side walls are not cut away, with the result that the hood portions of the cutter extend down fiush with the base of the channel 6, as indicated at 26. 'I'he upper portions of the hair receptacles, however the latter may be mounted, are adapted to seat within the overhanging hood portions of the outer cutter to form the closed passages for the cut hair, the shearing head, as before, being freely removable axially of the shaver handle without disturbing the receptacles.

The described shearing head construction has a further and special advantage when the hair receptacles are hinge-mounted on the Shaver handle. The particular type of hinge mounting illustrated, which is no part of the present invcntion, consists of a spring member 21 secured to the handle by screw 28, with its lower end bent to engage a hinge pin 29 and its upper end bent to form a latch 30 engageable with a pin 3|, the pins 29 and 3| being carried by the receptacles. As will be understood, this or any other hinge mounting requires the use of relatively small and fragile parts, and, normally, somewhat close fitting of the hinge to avoid rattling and also side play of the receptacles, with consequent failure of the receptacles to prevent the escape of the cut hair. But with the described outer cutter forming a receiving and reinforcing hood for the side and end flanges of the receptacles, a much more rugged construction is obtained and the several disadvantages mentioned are avoided. Even if the receptacles are somewhat loosely hinged to the handle, a neat and non-rattling closure is ensured.

The illustrated handle construction is also adapted to contribute to these ends in that the lower portions of the hair receptacles are likewise enclosed and similarly reinforced. This is accomplished by mounting the hair receptacles in recesses 32 formed ,in the shoulders of the handle at the ends of the head-receiving channel 6. As shown, these recesses are provided with side walls 33 spaced to flt the sides of the receptacles throughout so much of their length as is outside the hood portions of the head; with the result that the receptacles are properly located and are protected throughout their entire lengths. To facilitate the opening of the receptacles a laterally projecting finger tab 3| may be provided.

The construction illustrated in Fig. 7 is largely the same as that of Figs. 5 and 6 and the parts are correspondingly numbered. It diners in that the shaver handle is provided with a cavity 35 into which the lower end of each receptacle may swing about its hinge pin 29. With this arrangement it is unnecessary to provide any external projections, such as tab 34, to facilitate the opening of the receptacles. Even though the latter are substantially enclosed by the hood portions of the shearing head and by the walls of the recesses in the handle and cannot therefore be readily grasped between the fingers, they can be opened by simply pressing inwardly on the outer walls adjacent the lower ends of the receptacles, as will be understood.

The following is claimed:

l. An electric shaver of the kind including a handle, a shearing head mounted on the end of the handle and comprising an outer cutter having a perforated skin-contacting wall, spaced side walls and a base member between said walls, and an inner cutter mounted for reciprocation within the outer cutter to sever hair protruding through the said perforated wall of the outer cutter, characterized in that the said outer cutter alls extend beyond the ends of the base member to form a shallow, overhanging hood at each end of the outer cutter and in that the length of the inner cutter and the amount of its travel are such that its ends move substantially within the limits of the length of the base member during reciprocation of such cutter, and characterized further by the provision of a hair receptacle mounted adjacent each end of the base member and having marginal portions at the upper end of each receptacle adapted to fit within the said hood portions of the outer cutter.

2. An electric shaver comprising a casing having a channel across one end thereof, a hair chamber at each end of the channel having its walls upstanding beyond the upper edges of the walls of said channel and inwardly facing entrances into the chambers in line with said channel, a hollow, open-ended shearing head having a base portion adapted to seat in said channel and wall portions of a length greater than the space between said chambers, said wall portions overlying and substantially tting the upper ends of said chamber walls to form a closed passage for cut hair from the interior of the shearing head, through said entrances and into said chambers.

3. In an electric shaver, a handle having a channel across one end thereof, hair receptacles mounted on the handle adjacent the ends of said channel, an open-ended shearing head mounted in the channel and having skin-contacting and side walls and a base, the length of said base being substantially equal to the length of the base of said channel and wall portions of the head being of greater length and adapted to embrace the upper ends of said receptacles.

4. A hollow, open-ended cutter having a perforated, skin-engaging wall and adjoining -side walls, and a spacer member uniting said side walls, said skin-engaging and side walls being extended beyond the ends of the spacer member to form a hood at each open end of the cutter, for the purpose described.

5. In an electric shaver, a handle having a channel across one end thereof, hair receptacles mounted on the handle adjacent the ends of said channel and having shallow marginal anges, an open-ended cutter mounted in the channel and having skin-contacting and supporting walls. said walls overlying the said receptacle flanges at the sides and upper nds only of said receptacles, thereby permitting withdrawal of the cutter out of engagement with the receptacles axially of the shaver handle.

6. 1n an electric shaver, a handle having a channel across one end thereof, a recess ineach side of the handle below the ends of said channel, a hollow, open-ended cutter mounted in said channel and having skin-contacting and supporting walls and a base, the ends of the base terminating substantially iiush with the ends of the bottom of said channel and the walls of the cutter extending beyond the ends of the base to form shallow hoods overlying the upper ends of said recesses, and hair receptacles mounted in said recesses with their upper ends seating within said hoods.

7. In an electric shaver, a handle Vhaving a channel across one end thereof, a walled recess in each side of the handle below the ends of said channel, a hollow, open-ended cutter mounted in said channel and having skin-contacting and supporting walls and a base, the ends of the base terminating substantially iiush with the ends of said channel and the said walls of the cutter extending outwardly into said recesses, and a hair receptacle mounted adjacent each end of the cutter with its lower end in and substantially fitting one of said walled recesses and its upper end in and substantially fitting the walls of the cutter which extend beyond the base.

8. In an electric shaver, a handle having a channel across one end thereof, a walled recess in each side of th'e handle extending below the ends of said channel, a hollow, open-ended cutter head mounted in said channel and having skin-contacting and supporting walls and a base, the ends of the base terminating substantially flush with the ends of said channel and the said walls of the head extending outwardly to overlie the upper ends of said recesses, a pair of hair receptacles, one adjacent each end of the head and pivot mountings therefor located on the handle in said recesses, said receptacles having side flanges extending at their lower ends between the walls of the recesses and at their upper ends between the said outwardly extending portions of the walls of the cutter head.

9. An electric shaver of the kind including a molded handle having a channel across one end thereof and a hollow, open-ended shearing head mounted in said channel, characterized in that said handle is provided with integrally molded walls upstanding at and in part spaced from the ends of said channel and enclosing hair collection chambers having inlets thereto at the ends of said channel aligned with the open ends of the shearing head and having wall portions cooperating with the head to form substantially closed passages for the cut hair from the interior of the head, through said entrances and into said chambers, said head having wall portions overlying the upper ends of said chambers.

10. An electric shaver of the kind including a molded handle having thereof and a hollow, open-ended shearing head mounted in said channel, characterized in that said handle is provided with integrally molded walls upstanding at and in part spaced from the ends of said channel and enclosing hair collection chambers having inlets thereto at the ends n1' saidchannel aligned with the open ends of the shearing head and having wall portions cooperating with the head to form substantially closed passages for the cut hair from the interior of the head, through said entrances and into said chambers.

11. An electric shaver of the kind including a molded handle having a channel across one end thereof and a hollow, open-ended shearing head mounted in said channel, with a cut hair receptacle adjacent each end of the head and having a hinge mounting on the handle below said channel, characterized in that said handle is provided with a cavity below each receptacle hinge for the purpose described.

vREGINrilLD HICKS.

a channel across one end

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