US3090119A - Electric dry shaver - Google Patents

Description

May 21, 1963 JEPSON ELECTRIC DRY SHAVER 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed 001;. 22, 1959 INVENTOR. 2 3"" y 1, 1963 I. JEPSON 3,090,119

ELECTRIC DRY SHAVER Filed Oct. 22, 1959 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN V EN TOR.

Si va/z Jaw/E Gee/215 United States Patent 3,990,119 ELECTRIC DRY SHAVER Ivar Jepson, Oak Park, Ill., assignor to Sunbeam Corporation, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Filed Oct. 22, 1959, Ser. No. 848,102 11 Claims. (CI. 30-41) This invention relates to electric dry shavers, that is, apparatus for use in removing beards or face hair as well as effecting depilation of hair on the arms, legs and other portions of the human body. Specifically, the present invention is an improvement on the electric dry shaver disclosed and claimed in Patent 2,702,938-Jepson, granted March 1, i955 and assigned to the same assignee as the instant application.

The above mentioned Jepson patent discloses a dry shaver having a somewhat rectangular casing, the side walls of which are substantially square. Moreover, a cutting head extending entirely along one edge of the square side walls is employed. The cutting head embodies one or more combs and associated reciprocating cutters movable in shearing engagement with each other. Within the casing is disposed a rotary motor of the universal type which, through a bell crank mechanism, reciprocates the cutters. It will be appreciated that with such a shaver severed hair particles will be collected in or adjacent the cutting head of the apparatus. It would be desirable to provide an improved arrangement for collecting these hair particles for subsequent removal and an improved means for preventing these hair particles from reaching the motor or other operating mechanism.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved electric dry shaver.

It is another object of the present invention to provide improved sealing means for sealing the casing beneath the hair receptacle to prevent severed hairs from entering the motor chamber.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide an improved cutting head construction.

It is a further object of this invention to provide an improved means for connecting the motor and cutting head of an electric dry shaver in driving relationship.

It is a further object of this invention to provide an improved opening and closing means for the opposite open ends or sides of a cutting head receiving chamber of an electric dry shaver.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent as the following description pro ceeds and the features of novelty which characterize the invention will be pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this specification.

For a better understanding of the present invention reference may be had to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an electric dry shaver embodying the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged elevational view of the dry shaver of FIG. 1 with certain portions of the casing or housing thereof cut away to expose otherwise hidden parts of the shaver;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on line 3-3 of FIG. 2, assuming that FIG. 2 shows the complete structure but with the cutting head removed;

FIG. 4 is a greatly enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken on line 4-4 of FIG. 3, assuming that FIG. 3 shows the complete structure;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 5-5 of FIG. 2, assuming that FIG. 2 shows the com plete structure;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken on line 6--6 of FIG. 5, assuming that FIG. 5 shows the complete structure;

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FIG. 7 is an enlarged top plan view of the shaver of FIG. 1 with the multiple cutting head removed and with the hair retainers moved to the open position which would be necessary to remove the cutting head; and

FIG. 8 is a schematic circuit diagram illustrating the electric circuit of the shaver motor employed with the shaver of the present invention.

The electric dry shaver of the present invention generally designated by the reference numeral 10 in the different views of the drawings is of the type used in shaving beards and for removing hair from other parts of the body. As in the above mentioned Jepson patent, the shaver 10 comprises a casing generally designated at 13 having attached thereto one or more cutting units specifically illustrated as multiple shaver head 12 extending almost completely across one of the longer dimensions of the generally rectangular housing or casing 11. The head 12 shown as a multiple cutting head in the drawings might comprise one or more separate cutting units and is specifically illustrated as comprising separate generally identical cutting units designated as 12a, 12b and 12c joined together to form the cutting head 12. Each cutting unit comprises a comb and associated cutter with the cutter reciprocally movable in shearing engagement with the comb just as in the above mentioned Jepson patent. As illustrated, the unit 12a comprises comb 13 and cutter 14, the unit 12b comprises comb 15 and cutter 16 and the unit comprises comb l7 and cutter 18.

In order that the multiple cutting head 12 comprising the substantially identical individual units 12a, 12b and 120 may comprise a unitary structure presenting a large cutting surface of somewhat convex configuration which can be removed as a unit, there is provided a comb bracket 19 to which the individual cutting units 12a, 12b and 12c are secured. The bracket 19 is preferably a flat metal stamping which is deformed to have a somewhat stepped arcuate configuration (FIG. 5) whereby when the cutting units are secured thereto they present a slightly convex cutting surface.

Each of the cutting units 12a, 12b and 120 is illustrated as being identical. For the purpose of supporting them from the comb bracket 19, each of the combs 13, 15 and 17 is provided with a comb support designated as 13a, 15a and 17a, respectively. These comb supports are suit ably secured by spot welding or the like to the remainder of the comb comprising a somewhat U-shaped member having shearing teeth defined across the top and partially along the sides thereof. The combs 13, 15 and 17 are secured to the comb bracket 19 by any suitable means such as by a plurality of screws 20 which extend through the comb bracket 19 and threadediy engage the tapped openings in the comb supports 13a, 15a and 17a of the combs 13, 15 and 17, respectively. In order to accommodate suitable reciprocating means for moving the cutters 14, 16 and 18, the comb bracket 19 is provided with a plurality of centrally disposed openings 21 substantially aligned with similar openings 22 defined on each of the comb supports 13a, 15a and 17a of the respective combs 13, 15 and 17.

The reciprocating cutters 14, 16 and 18 are also of conventional construction having a U-shaped configuration with the exterior generally conforming to the interior of the combs 13, 15 and 17. Extending across the legs of the U of each cutter, one at each end of the cutter, are a pair of cutter supports 23 which are spot welded or otherwise secured to the legs of the U defining the cutting portion of the cutter. A suitable leaf spring 24 extends between the cutter supports 23 of each of the cutters 14, 16 and 18 and these springs are riveted to the associated cutter as indicated at 25. The center portion of each of the leaf springs 24, as clearly shown in FIG. 6 of the drawings, are provided with a plurality of undulations defining a central downwardly opening recess 26 for receiving suitable means to reciprocate the associated cutter. With this arrangement, a somewhat resilient means for transmitting the force to the reciprocating cutters 14, 16 and 18 is provided. The cutters are obviously provided with shearing teeth on the portions thereof moving in shearing engagement with the teeth of the associated combs.

In view of the somewhat arcuate nature of the comb bracket 19, the space between the combs adjacent the upper cutting surface thereof is greater than the space adjacent the comb supports 13a, 15a and 1711. These spaces are preferably filled by a suitable comb spacer designated at 27. The exposed portions of the comb spacer 27 are, as clearly shown in FIG. of the drawings, provided with an arcuate surface so as to smoothly move over the surface from which hair is being removed; two such arcuate surfaces are provided, one between the comb 13 and the comb 15 and the other between the comb 15 and the comb 17. Furthermore, the comb spacer 27 is illustrated as of somewhat U-shaped cross section with the lower or bight portion of the U secured to the comb bracket 19 by being clamped between the comb 15 and the comb bracket 19 by the same screws 20 which secure the comb 15 to the bracket 19.

For the purpose which will become apparent from the ensuing description, the bracket 19 is provided at the center of each end with a pair of integral angularly disposed projections 19a. These projections may also be readily grasped by the user in removing the entire cutting head 12 including the comb bracket 19 with the three individual cutting units secured thereto from the shaver 10. Actually the multiple cutting head 12 is latched in position on the shaver by spring means to be described hereinafter.

The casing 11 of the dry shaver 10 of the present invention is of the same general configuration disclosed in the above mentioned Jepson patent, namely, the casing is of rectangular configuration with two walls of major area substantially square. This same general configuration is retained in the shaver of the present invention and the cutting surface is defined along one entire edge comprising essentially one edge of the square referred to above. With this configuration the casing 11 may be comfortably cupped in the hand with the fingers loosely engaging the same.

As illustrated, the casing 11 of the dry shaver 10 essentially comprises two cooperating cup shaped complernentary portions 28 and 29 which are adapted to fit together to provide a somewhat rectangular shaped casing having side walls which approach a square in configuration and define a casing having a thickness substantially less than either dimension of the side walls. The casing portions 28 and 29 are preferably molded from a suitable moldable material, many moldable plastic materials being readily available on the market for this purpose capable of providing a smooth and satisfactory appearing surface of any desired color. If desired, the central portion of the casing 11 on each side thereof which is likely to be engaged by the operator finger may be provided with a surface generally designated at 30 in FIG. 1 of the drawings in the form of ribs or deformations which make it easier to manipulate the dry shaver 10. These deformations may also be decorative in nature to provide a more pleasing appearance.

In order to secure the complementary casing sections 28 and 29 together to form a unitary structure, one of the casing sections 28 is provided with a plurality of openings 32 to receive screws or other fastening means 33 which engage tapped openings in suitable inserts molded into complementary portions of easing section 29. To insure a satisfactory joint between the mating portions of the two casing sections 28 and 29, suitable interlocking flanges are formed on the casing sections to provide an interlocking fit, indicated at 34 in FIG. 5 of the drawings, at least over a substantial portion of the extent of engagement of the casing sections.

Each of the casing sections 28 and 29 on the adjacent sides thereof at a distance about one third the distance down from the top is provided with a projecting ledge designated as 28:: for the section 28 and 29a for the section 29. These ledges have their ends abutting to define the top wall of a motor chamber 35 contained within casing 11. Each ledge is provided with a complementary notch in approximately the center of each of the ledges 28a and 29a to define a relatively large opening 37 entering the top of motor chamber 35.

To reciprocate the cutters 14, 16 and 18 in shearing engagement with the associated combs 13, 15 and 17, respcctivcly, there is provided a motor generally designated at 4 3. This motor 48 may be of any suitable type but has been specifically disclosed as of the type illustrated in the above mentioned Jepson patent. This type of motor is the well-known so-called impulse type comprising a field structure 41 made up preferably of a stack of U- shaped laminations thereby to define a U-shaped field structure. Encircling the base or bight of the field structure 41 is a field winding or field coil 42 preferably comprising an insulating spool 43 having two sections for re ceiving thereon two field winding sections 42a and 42b best shown in FIGS. 6 and 8 of the drawings. Preferably, the spool 43 is formed of two parts of suitable insulating material capable of being interrelated when placed around the base or bight of the U-shaped field structure 41.

Secured to the end of the field structure remote from the bight portion thereof is a pair of insulating bearing plates 46 and 47 which extend across the open end of the U-shaped field structure. These bearing plates are secured to the field structure 41 by suitable screws or fastening means 45 which extend through the field structure and effectively clamp the insulating bearing plates 46 and 47 one on either side of the field structure; preferably the insulating bearing plates 46 and 47 are rigidly related to the field structure 41 in the manner shown in the drawings with the screws 45 extending through aligned openings in these members. Preferably, these fastening means are suitably insulated from the laminations through which they extend. The insulating bearing plates 46 and 47 may be formed of any suitable material such, for example, as a molded phenolic resin or a molded plastic such as nylon. These insulated bearing plates, moreover, support suitable aligned bearings 48 and 49 (FIG. 5) within which is journalled an armature shaft or crank shaft 50. To the shaft 50 is suitably fastened by set screws or the like an armature 51 (FIGS. 5 and 6) formed of a stack of laminations riveted or otherwise secured together. The armature 51 has such a configuration as to provide two diametrically opposed convex poles capable of rotating between the ends of the U-shaped field structure 41 which has concave surfaces defined thereon to provide a minimum air gap between these surfaces and the convex poles.

In order that the two pole armature 51 may effectively have a circular configuration so as readily to be rotated by a suitable starter wheel engaging the periphery thereof there is provided a starter drum 52 which preferably comprises a thin brass plate secured between two stacks of laminations defining the armature 51. This plate is provided with arcuate lateral flanges 52a at the periphery thereof between the poles of the armature 51, whereby the arcuate flanges 52a and the periphery of the convex armature poles define a continuous cylinder or drum as is clearly evident from FIG. 6 of the drawings. The longitudinal axis of the crank or armature shaft 50 is disposed parallel to the shortest dimension of the casing 11 and perpendicular to each of the long dimensions of this casing. The end of the crank or armature shaft 50 ex tending beyond the bearing plate 46 has an elliptical cross section, designated by the reference numeral 50a in FIGS. 2 and 5 of the drawings, for controlling the contacts of the impulse motor to be described hereinafter. The other end of the crank shaft 50 extending beyond the bearing plate 47 is drivingly connected to an eccentric 55. A suitable counterbalance 56 is secured to the shaft 50 adjacent the eccentric 55 to eliminate any unbalanced forces produced by virtue of the eccentric 55.

Preferably the motor 40 is not bolted or separately secured within the motor chamber 35 in any way but instead is clamped between rubber cushions supported within housing sections 28 and 29 when these casing sections are secured together by fastening means 33. To this end, four identical rubber grommets designated as 57 are provided for each casing section. These grommets each have a central opening 58 therein and include a portion 570 of reduced cross section which is adapted to be received in suitable openings such as 59 defined in raised projections or supports such as 28b and 29b, clearly shown in FIG. 5 of the drawings. Although the grommets 57 are all identical, the ledges integrally formed with the casing sections 28 and 29 upon which they are supported may be of difierent heights depending upon the particular portion of the motor 40 which the grommets contact. As illustrated, the central openings 58 in each of the grommets terminates in an enlargement or chamber on the side thereof remote from the reduced portion 57a. The openings 58 in two of these grommets in each casing section are adapted to receive the ends of fastening means 45, one pair of grommets receiving the head ends and the other pair receiving the threaded ends of the fastening means 45 extending be yond the field structure 41. The other grommets 57 merely rest against opposite sides of the field structure 41 adjacent the winding 42. With this arrangement, the motor 40 is merely inserted within the motor chamber 35 and held in position between the grommets 57 merely by the screws 33 which fasten the halves or casing sections 28 and 29 together.

From the above description it will be apparent that the multiple cutting head 12 is mounted above the ledges 28a and 29a defining the top of the motor chamber 35 while the motor 40 is below these ledges within the motor chamber 35.

For the purpose of drivingly relating the motor 40 and the reciprocating cutters 14, 16 and 18 there is provided a driving arm or bell crank generally designated at 60 which is pivotally supported to the field structure as by a bell crank shaft 6i, the latter being secured to the bell crank 60 and extending through aligned openings defined in a slight protuberance 41a on each of the laminations of the field structure 41, as clearly shown in FIG. 6 of the drawings. As illustrated, the shaft 61 is suitably insulated from the field structure 41 by an insulating sleeve 62 preferably formed of nylon, which essentially defines a bearing for the shaft 61. To provide further insulation the end of insulating sleeve 62 adjacent the bell crank 60 is preferably provided with an enlargement 62a which conforms in part to the protuberances 41:: on the field structure. At the other end of the shaft 61 there is provided an arm insulator 64 of somewhat similar configuration to the portion 62a. This arm insulator 64 is provided with a suitable recess to accommodate a retainer spring 65 which is held in position on the shaft 61 by a suitable C-shaped retaining ring 66.

The bell crank 60 is provided with a driven arm 60a which includes in the end thereof remote from shaft 61 a large opening 67 for receiving a suitable nylon insert or arm follower 68 having an elongated opening 69 therein for receiving the eccentric 55 whereby rotary movement of the armature shaft 50 causes oscillating movement of the bell crank 60 about the longitudinal axis of the shaft 61. The nylon insert 68 preferably includes spaced pro jcctions 68a receivable in corresponding notches 70 whereby the insert 68 may be secured in opening 67 by heating the projections 68a to perform a sort of riveting operation. The bell crank 60 is also provided with a driven arm 6% which extends laterally from the general longitudinal axis of the bell crank 60 above the motor 40. Extending from the lateral portion of the arm 60b are a plurality of arms 60c which all extend through the relatively large opening 37 in the wall defining the top of the motor chamber 35. These arms 600 each extend through a diflerent pair of the aligned openings 21 and 22 in the comb plate 19 and the comb supports 13a, 15a and 17a, respectively, to engage the respective recesses 26 defined in the springs 24 associated with each of the cutters 14, 16 and 18. It will be appreciated that oscillating motion of the bell crank 60 will cause reciprocal movement of the individual cutters 14, 16 and 18. Moreover, the arms 60c push against the springs 24 so as to bias the cutters into shearing engagement with the comb. Preferably the ends of the arms 60c are provided with nylon caps 71 which may be molded thereto to provide a satisfactory member for transferring the force produced by the bell crank 60 to the cutters 14, 16 and 18.

It will be understood that an impulse motor requires control means for periodically making and breaking the energization circuit for the winding sections 42a and 42b. To this end, the bearing plate 46 supports a pair of rigid contact brackets 76 and 77 (FIG. 2) preferably secured thereto by suitable rivets 78. These contact brackets 76 and 77 in turn each support an end of an associated resilient contact spring designated as 80 and 81, respectively, which in turn respectively support relatively rigid contact blades 82 and 83. The springs 80 and 81 and the blades supported thereby are disposed one on either side of the elliptical portion 50a of the armature shaft 50, as clearly shown in FIG. 2 of the drawings. Supported on the ends of contact blades 82 and 83 not secured to the resilient contact arms 80 and 81, respectively, are a pair of relatively movable contacts 84 and 85 which are normally biased into contacting engagement by the springs 80 and 81. A pair of nylon cam follower blocks 86 and 87 are secured to the free ends of the resilient contact arms 80 and 81 on the sides thereof adjacent elliptical member 50a. Preferably the same fastening means designated at 90 which secures the contact blades 82 and 83 to the resilient contact arms 80 and 81 also holds the nylon cam follower blocks 86 and 87 in position. Relative separation of the contacts 84 and 85 is caused in response to rotation of the elliptical cross section portion 500 which engages the cam follower blocks 86 and 87. It will be appreciated that the contacts 84 and 85 are thus periodically opened and closed in response to rotation of the armature shaft 51).

The operation of the impulse motor will readily be apparent from an examination of the electrical circuit schematically indicated in FIG. 8 of the drawings. As there illustrated, a pair of conventional contact prongs 92 effectively comprise the terminals of the motor circuit within the casing 11 to which may be connected a conventional power cord or the like for connecting the motor circuit to a source of electrical energy such as a conventional wall outlet. These contact prongs 92 are clearly shown in FIG. 6 of the drawings and are preferably mounted on a suitable terminal board 93. The complementary casing sections 28 and 29 are so designed as to provide a plug recess 94 with suitable cooperating recesses to receive the edges of the terminal board 93 firmly to support the same therein when the casing sections are secured together. Referring again to FIG. 8, it will be apparent that the terminal prongs 92 are electrically connected by conductors 95 and 96, respectively, with the winding sections 42a and 42b. The other terminals of the winding sections 42a and 42b are connected to the contacts 84 and 85, respectively, through a radio frequency choke coil 97. It will be apparent that the circuit through the winding sections 42a and 42b is alternately made and broken as the contacts 84 and 85 are engaged and disengaged.

It will be understood that the impulse motor, per se, is old and the operation thereof is well understood by those skilled in the art. The contacts 84 and 85 close the field circuit just when the poles of armature 51 approach the field or stator poles of the field structure 41, and the contacts 84 and 85 are separated when the armature poles are about to recede from the stator poles. In other words, the armature is so shaped and positioned with respect to the field structure 41 that the torque produced by the action of the field magnet upon the armature would be alternately clockwise and counterclockwise if the armature were mechanically rotated and the field structure were constantly excited without any interruption of its excitation. It is for this reason that the contacts 84 and 85 are provided which are so interrelated by means of the elliptical portion 50a of the armature shaft 50 that the energizatio-n circuit of the field structure is opened at those times when the torque tends to be negative with respect to the direction of rotation. An impulse motor operates at a speed of the order of 8000 rpm. and by virtue of the periodically operated contacts 84 and 85 operates equally well whether connected to a source of direct or a source of alternating current.

For the purpose of preventing excessive arcing at the contacts 84 and 85 and thereby to increase the contact life there is included in the electrical circuit, as best shown in FIG. 8 of the drawings, a capacitor 98 connected across the contacts 84 and 85 preferably through the choke 97. The choke 97 tends to limit the magnitude of the discharge current of the capacitor 98 so as to reduce arcing when the charged capacitor is suddenly short circuited by closure of the contacts 84 and 85. Preferably a pair of identical resistors 99 and 100 are serially connected by a conductor 101 across the contacts 34 and 85 to discharge the capacitor 98. Preferably the capacitor 93 and the choke coil 97 are positioned between the field pole 42 and the armature 51 and may be taped or otherwise secured to the field winding 42. The resistors are illustrated in FIG. 6 of the drawings as being mounted between the insulating bearing blocks 46 and 47 and partially held thereto by conductor 101 which is looped around an extension 47a of bearing block 47.

it will be understood that an impulse motor may have stopped in a position such that no starting torque will be applied to the armature to cause rotation thereof and to this end such impulse motors are usually provided with some manually actuatable starting means. As illustrated in the drawings, the casing 11 is provided with a suitable aperture through which may partially extend a starter wheel 102 mounted on a suitable shaft 103, the ends of which are receivable in suitable complementary notches defined in the casing sections 28 and 29. Such a notch 104 in the casing section 29 is visible in FIG. 2 of the drawings and a similar notch 105 in the casing section 28 is visible in FIG. 6 of the drawings. Normally a starter spring in the form of suitable wire 106 of resilient material biases the starter wheel shaft 103 toward the closed tends of the notches 104 and 105 or. in other words. away from the armature 51. This biasing spring 106 is illustrated as a piece of wire formed of resilient spring material having one end thereof deformed into a U or a V as designated at 106a which is insertahle in a suitable open-- ing 107 defined in the casing section 28. The biasing force on the starter spring 106 may be increased by a suitable integral projection 28c defined on the casing section 28 which tends to pivot the spring 106 about the axis of the opening 107 in a direction toward the closed ends of the notches 104 and 105. It will be appreciated that the periphery of the starter wheel 102. when actuated by thumb or finger of the operator, is moved against the biasing force of the spring 106 into engagement with the periphery of the armature 51 or the armature drum 52. Preferably the periphery of the starter wheel 102 is knurled or provided with suitable means that increases the friction thereof so that upon rotation of starter wheel 102 simultaneous rotation in the opposite direction of armature 51 will result.

in order to provide a hair retaining chamber and also a chamber for containing all but the cutting surface of the cutting head 12, the casing sections 28 and 29 each comprise walls or wall portions 28d and 290' which extend above the ledges 28a and 29a so as to define above said ledges a cutting head receiving pocket or chamber 109 which also serves as a hair receiving chamber. The large opening 37 through which the arms 60c of the bell crank 60 protrude then interconnects the motor chamber 35 and the hair receiving chamber 109. Without additional means it will be apparent that hair clippings and the like will enter the motor chamber 35 through opening 37. This is undesirable and to this end there is provided means to seal the opening 37 comprising a sealing member 110 preferably in the form of a flexible member of foam rubber or the like which has openings for the arms 60c therein which closely conform to the arms and which sealing member 40 is supported on ledges 28a and 29a so as to overlie the opening 37. Directly engaging the side of the sealing member 110 remote from the opening 37 is a head spring 111 which has a plurality of openings 112, 103 and 114 therein for permitting the arms 600 to extend therethrough. This head spring comprises a flat plate with a pair of upwardly directed resilient latching arms 111a and lllb. These latching arms. as clearly shown in FIG. 5 of the drawings. are provided. with a portion adapted to overlie the side edges of the comb plate 19 to hold the multiple cutting head 12 in position with respect to the casing 11. So that the spacing between the casing portions 28a and 29d may be only slightly greater than the width of comb plate 19, suitable recesses 117 and 118, respectively, are provided in these casing portions 28d and 29d to receive the latching arms 111a and lllb as clearly shown in FIG. 5 of the drawings. Furthermore, to limit the insertion of the head 12 into the pocket 109 a distance just sufiicient for the latching arms 111a and lllb to engage comb plate 19 the casing sections 28 and 29 are provided with identical ledges 28c and 29's (FIGS. 3, 5, 6 and 7) above one of which may be a positioning lug 28 (FIG. 7) for engaging a cooperating notch in the edge of comb plate 19. Thus the ledges 28c properly position the height of cutting head 11 and the log 28 properly orients the head in the other direction relative to casing 11.

For the purpose of holding the head spring 1.11 and, hence, the sealing member 110 in position, there is provided, in accordance with the present invention, a pair of hair retainer springs designated as 119 which are in the nature of slightly bowed spring plates. These spring plates 119, in addition to holding the head spring 111 in position. also perform another function. namely. to pivotally support a pair of hair retainers 120, which hair retainers are, in effect. closures for the ends of the chamber 109. These hair retainers 120 are preferably formed of molded material matching the material from which the casing sections 28 and 29 are formed. Since the two springs 119 are identical and the two hair retainers 120 are identical only one of each will be described in detail. In accordance with the present invention each hair retainmg spring 119 is provided at one end with a deformed portion 119a having projecting ends defining trunnions receivable in cooperating pockets or trunnion receiving notches 123 defined in the hair retainers 120.

To hold these parts in assembled relationship, each of the casing sections 28 and 29 is provided with integrally formed somewhat L-shaped projections designated as 28g in the case of easing section 28 and 29g in the case of easing section 29. One arm of the L of each of these projections is spaced slightly below the level of the ledges 28e and 2% and slightly above the ledges 28a and 29a, as the case may be, so as to define retainer receiving grooves 125 between the ledges 28g and the ledges 28a and also between the ledges 29g and 29a. The hair retainer springs 119, which when properly positioned are bowed upwardly, may then have the edges thereof inserted within these grooves so that the ends thereof remote from the portion 119a overlie the head spring 111 and not only secure it in position but provide the necessary pressure due to the bowed nature thereof for holding the sealing member 110 in sealing position. The edge of the hair retaining springs 119 remote from the portions 119a include an upwardly directed annular flange designated at 11% to facilitate pushing the hair retainer springs into the grooves 125 and particularly so that the springs 119 will readily move into position overlying the superimposed head spring 111 and sealing means 110. In order to retain the hair retainer springs 119 in position once they have been moved there, the projections 28g and 29g are provided Within the grooves 125 with integral depending portions 28h in the case of easing section 28, best shown in FIG. 6 of the drawings, and an identical projection 29h in the case of casing section 29. These projections depend into the grooves 125 and are adapted to be received in cooperating notches 126 provided in each edge of the hair retaining springs 119 disposed in the grooves 125. Thus, it is apparent that once the springs 119 are moved to the position shown in FIG. 7 of the drawings they will automatically be latched into position and cannot be released without bowing the springs downwardly a sufiicient amount to remove the projections 28h and 2911 from the notches 126.

It should be understood that just prior to assembling the hair retaining springs 119 with the casing 11, that the trunnion portions 119a thereof will be disposed in the trunnion receiving notches or pockets 123 provided in the hair retainers 120. The trunnion receiving notches 123 are preferably so disposed that the inherent resilience of the hair retainer springs will tend to bias the hair retainers 126 to the closed position when approaching the closed position and will tend to bias them to the open position shown in FIG. 7 of the drawings when approaching the open position.

The function of the angular projections 19a on the comb bracket 19 will now be apparent. These projections each latchingly engage an integral projection 120a on the associated hair retainers 120. The latched positions of hair retainers 120 are clearly indicated in FIG. 6 of the drawings.

From the above description it will be apparent that the hair retainers 120 when moved to the open position shown in FIG. 7 permit the ready removal of the multiple cutting head 12 which is latched into position by the latching fingers 111a and lllb of the head spring 111. Moreover, the sealing means 110 is maintained in complete sealing position at all times regardless of the removal of the multiple cutting head 12 or not and this assures that no hair clippings can enter the motor chamber through the opening 37. Moreover, by moving the hair retainers 120 to the so-called open position and removing the multiple cutting head 12, the hair contained in the chamber 189 can readily be removed.

In order to aid in moving the cutting surface of the multiple cutting head 12 over the skin of the user there are provided a pair of rollers 130 which automatically adjust to the face and heard of the user. These rollers 130 elfectively define the top edge of the two casing sections 28 and 29 and are disposed one on either side of the multiple cutting head 12. As best shown in FIG. 2 of the drawings, the two rollers 130 which are identical preferably comprise a rod having a longitudinal recess 131 defined in each end thereof for containing a suitable compression spring 132 and a part of a trunnion sup porting member 133 including a trunnion portion 133a biased to extend beyond the end of roller 130 by the spring 132. The ends of the roller 130 are deformed to define an annular depending flange 130;: at each end thereof after the springs 131 and the trunnion supporting members 133 are inserted therein to hold the 10 parts in the assembled relationship shown in FIG. 2 of the drawings. The trunnion members 133a can readily be pushed inwardly a sufiicient extent to permit them to be readily inserted Within suitable recesses 136 defined one at either end of the casing sections 28 and 29.

In order that the rollers may be vertically adjusted for any type of beard thereby to be automatically positioned at different levels relative to the cutting surface defined by the multiple cutting head 12, the recesses 136, as best shown in FIG. 4 of the drawings, are preferably elongated in a vertical direction so that the trunnions 133a may be moved vertically to variably position the rollers 130. So that these rollers are self adjusting a suitable spring biased support 137 is disposed in elongated recesses 138 defined in the casing sections 28 and 29 and suitable coiled springs 140 disposed in these recesses bias these supports 137 upwardly so that projections 137a thereof extend into recesses 136 and support the trunnions 133a of rollers 130 to move the rollers to the position shown in FIGS. 2 and 4 of the drawings with trunnions engaging the top of the elongated notches 136. These rollers 130 will then adjust themselves to any desired vertical position limited by the extent of elongation of the notches 136.

In view of the detailed description included above, the operation of the electric shaver embodied in the present invention will readily be understood by those skilled in the art and no further discussion is enclosed herewith. It will be apparent that there has been provided a simple and compact electric shaver which can be assembled in a very simple manner and wherein the hair retaining chamber is completely sealed from the motor chamber with respect to hair clippings passing from the chamber 109 to the motor chamber 35. Additionally, an improved snap action closure means is provided for the opposite open ends of the cutting head receiving chamber 109, and an improved means 60 is provided for connecting the motor and cutting head in driving relationship. In the form of the invention illustrated in the drawings the means 60 preferably is a single piece stamped metallic part. By viewing FIGS. 5 and 6 it will be apparent that part 60 is stamped flat and has a generally obtuse V-shaped configuration. The apex of the V-shaped stamped part 60 has an aperture formed in it to facilitate its pivotal mounting, and the lower end of the arm 60a is enlarged and has aperture 67 formed therein to facilitate its connection to the motor. The notches 70 and the two formed apertures can be punched during the stamping operation. The arm 60b is bent in a direction which is generally perpendicular to the planes of the apex portion and the arm 60a. The end of arm 60:: is offset slightly from the plane of the part 60, but generally speaking the apex portion and arm 60a are disposed in the same main plane of the part 60. The arm 6% has the plurality of members 600 integrally formed during the stamping operation and these members are bent to extend in a direction which is generally perpendicular to the plane of the bent arm 60b. In this manner the invention provides a motor-to-cutting-hcad connection means which is an improvement over the composite connecting means of the prior art.

While there has been shown and described a particular embodiment of the present invention it will be understood that changes and modifications are likely to occur to those skilled in the art and it is intended in the appended claims to cover all those changes and modifications which fall within the true spirit and scope of the present invention.

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. An electric dry shaving device comprising a casing defining a motor chamber therein, a motor in said motor chamber, said casing comprising walls extending above said motor chamber and defining a space therebetween, a cutting head receivable between said walls within said space, means extending through an opening in said motor chamber operatively relating said motor and said cutting head, sealing means for said opening, means including a head retainer spring for maintaining said sealing means in position, said head retaining spring releasably holding said cutting head in position, hair retainers for closing the ends of the space between said walls, and means for simultaneously holding said means including said head retainer spring in position and for pivotally supporting said hair retainers.

2. An electric dry shaving device comprising a casing defining a motor chamber therein, a motor in said motor chamber, said casing comprising walls extending above said motor chamber and defining a space therebetween, a cutting head receivable between said walls within said space, means extending through an opening in a wall defining said motor chamber operatively relating said motor and said cutting head, sealing means for said opening disposed above and in engagement with said seating means for, a head retainer spring resting on said wall defining said motor chamber maintaining said sealing means in position, said head retaining spring removably holding said cutting head in position, and spring means maintaining said head retainer spring and said sealing means in position regardless of the positioning or removal of said cutting head.

3. An electric dry shaving device comprising a casing defining a motor chamber therein, a motor in said motor chamber, said casing comprising walls extending above said motor chamber and defining a space therebetween, a cutting head receivable between said walls within said space, means extending through an opening in said motor chamber operativeiy relating said motor and said cutting head, a flexible sealing member overlying said opening, a head retainer spring engaging said sealing member on the opposite side of the sealing member from that overlying said opening for maintaining said sealing member in position, said head retaining spring releasably holding said cutting head in position, and a pair of hair retainer springs biasing said head retainer spring into engagement with said sealing means.

4. An electric dry shaving device comprising a casing defining a motor chamber therein, a motor in said motor chamber, said casing comprising walls extending above said motor chamber and defining a space therebetween, a cutting head receivable between said walls within said space, a plurality of arms extending through an opening in said motor chamber operatively relating said motor and said cutting head, a flexible sealing member having a plurality of openings closely conforming to said arms and through which said arms extend, said sealing member overlying said first-mentioned opening, a flat head retainer spring in engagement with said sealing member on the side opposite that overlying said first-mentioned opening and including a pair of resilient latching arms for removably holding said head, and a pair of hair retainer spring plates holding said head retainer spring in position, said casing cooperatively engaging said hair retainer spring plates to hold said plates in assembled position with said head retainer spring.

5. An electric dry shaving device as set forth in claim 4 above and additionally including a pair of hair retainers each closing an end of the space between said walls, and wherein said hair retainer spring plates each include a trunnion at one end pivotally mounting one of said hair retainers.

6. An electric dry shaving device comprising a casing defining a motor chamber and a head receiving chamber, a motor in said motor chamber, a cutting head receivable in said head receiving chamber, means defining an opening in said motor chamber, means extending through said opening in said motor chamber operatively relating said motor and said cutting head, sealing means for said opening, and means including a head retainer spring and a pair of hair retaining springs biasing said head retainer spring against one side of said sealing means for maintaining the other side of said sealing means in sealing engagement with the means defining said opening, said head retaining spring releasably holding said cutting head in position.

'7. In an electric dry shaving device comprising a casing having a motor chamber and a cutting head chamber, means sealing said chambers from each other, a cutting head in said cutting head chamber and a motor in said motor chamber, and means for connecting said cutting head and motor in driving relationship, said connecting means comprising a unitary metallic part stamped from sheet material, said metallic part including an L-shaped portion with a plurality of integrally formed arms projecting from one leg of said L, means pivotally mounting the other leg of said L in said motor chamber comprising a shaft pivotally supporting said connecting means at a point intermediate the ends of said other leg, means conmeeting the end of said other leg to said motor, and said plurality of arms extending through said sealing means, said cutting head comprising a plurality of cutting elements, and means connecting said integrally formed members to said cutting elements.

8. In an electric dry shaving device comprising a casing having a motor chamber and a cutting head chamber and means sealing said chambers from each other, said cutting head chamber being open ended, means for closing the open ends of said cutting head chamber, said means comprising a closure member for each of said ends, and resilient means pivotally mounting said closure members for snap action opening and closing movement, said resilient means comprising a bowed leaf spring for each of said closure members, said springs being disposed inside said casing and being supported along their concave sides by portions integrally formed with said casing, one end of said springs being connected to said closure members, and other integral portions of said casing bearing against the convex sides of said springs to stress said springs for said snap action.

9. In an electric dry shaving device as in claim 8, Wherein said first mentioned integrally formed casing portions define an open partition between said chambers, and said sealing means comprises a sealing member which is pressed against said open partition, and the other ends of said springs for snap action of said end closure members cooperating with said sealing means to press said sealing member against said open partition to seal the same.

10. In an electric dry shaver comprising a casing having a generally elongated and open ended cutting head receiv ing chamber, means closing the open ends of said chamber comprising a generally upright disposed closure member for each end of said chamber, the bottom of said chamber being defined by integral portions of said casing and the lower portions of said closure members being supported thereon for pivotal movement thereabout during their opening and closing movement, and means for imparting snap action to said closure members as they are pivoted open and closed on said integral casing portions, said means comprising a bowed leaf spring for each of said closure members, said springs being disposed in said chamber in a direction lengthwise of said chamber, said lower portions of said closure members having notches formed therein, the outer ends of said springs having integral trunnions formed thereon which are received in said notches, and said springs being supported along their concave sides by said integral casing portions, and other integral casing portions bearing against the convex sides of said springs to stress them to obtain said snap action pivotal opening and closing movement of said closure members.

11. In an electric dry shaver having a plurality of elongated inner cutting elements which are generally U-shaped in cross section and adapted to be reciprocated in a lengthwise direction by an electric motor; an improved means for connecting said cutting elements in driving relationship with an electric motor, said improved means comprising cross pieces permanently secured to the opposite legs of said cutting elements adjacent opposite ends thereof, a leaf type spring for each of said cutting elements which extends lengthwise thereto, the intermediate portions of said springs being connected to a motor operated member, the remainder of said springs being generally fiat and having their opposite ends permanently secured to said cross pieces, and said motor operated member comprising a single piece metallic part of L-shaped configuration having a plurality of arms extending from one leg of said L, said part being adapted to be pivotally mounted adjacent an intermediate portion of the other leg of said L, the end of said other leg being adapted for connection to an electric motor, and said plurality of arms extending to said intermediate spring portions.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,300,140 Te Pas et a1 Oct. 27, 1942 14 Collins et a1 Nov. 21, 1950 Carissimi July 1, 1952 Kobler et a1 Sept. 23, 1952 Streng Dec. 8, 1953 Jepson Mar. 1, 1955 Kleinman Apr. 2, 1957 Carissimi May 28, 1957 Bylund Nov. 11, 1958 Kohner et a1 Aug. 25, 1959 Kleinman Oct. 13, 1959 Gray Dec. 8, i959 FOREIGN PATENTS Great Britain July 5, 1949 Great Britain Sept. 1, 1949 Switzerland July 3, 1951

Claims (1)

1. AN ELECTRIC DRY SHAVING DEVICE COMPRISING A CASING DEFINING A MOTOR CHAMBER THEREIN, A MOTOR IN SAID MOTOR CHAMBER, SAID CASING COMPRISING WALLS EXTENDING ABOVE SAID MOTOR CHAMBER AND DEFINING A SPACE THEREBETWEEN, A CUTTING HEAD RECEIVABLE BETWEEN SAID WALLS WITHIN SAID SPACE, MEANS EXTENDING THROUGH AN OPENING IN SAID MOTOR CHAMBER OPERATIVELY RELATING SAID MOTOR AND SAID CUTTING HEAD, SEALING MEANS FOR SAID OPENING, MEANS INCLUDING A HEAD RETAINER SPRING FOR MAINTAINING SAID SEALING MEANS IN POSITION, SAID HEAD RETAINING SPRING RELEASABLY HOLDING SAID CUTTING HEAD IN POSITION, HAIR RETAINERS FOR CLOSING THE ENDS OF THE SPACE BETWEEN SAID WALLS, AND MEANS FOR SIMULTANEOUSLY HOLDING SAID MEANS INCLUDING SAID HEAD RETAINER SPRING IN POSITION AND FOR PIVOTALLY SUPPORTING SAID HAIR RETAINERS.

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