US3552011A - Electric dry shaver - Google Patents

Abstract

AN ELECTRIC DRY SHAVER CONSTRUCTION PROVIDING A SHEARING SECTION, A DRIVING SECTION CONNECTED TO THE SHEARING SECTION AND A CASING ENCLOSING THE DRIVING SECTION AND THE SHEARING HEAD, AND A LIFTING LEVER CONNECTED TO THE CASING FOR EFFECTING TRANSLATIONAL MOVEMENT OF THE DRIVING SECTION AND SHEARING HEAD WITHIN THE CASING. THE INVENTION ALSO PROVIDES A NOVEL ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR IN THE SHAVER CASING WHICH ALSO SERVES AS A POWER SWITCH, AND THE ELECTRICAL CONNECTION WITH THE SHAVER IS PROVIDED WITH AN INTERLOCK DISRUPTING POWER TO THE DRIVING SECTION WHEN THE LIFTING LEVER IS ACTUATED.

Description

5, 1971 MINEHARU OMORI ETAL 3552,33

ELECTRIC DRY SHAVER Filed March 28, 1968 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 IEHU o 00 E swozo 2 5c /5 mvsuo INVENTORS BY 44% y fiyfam ATTORNEYS Jan. 5, 1971 MINEHARU QMQR| ETAL. 355,11

ELECTRIC DRY SHAVER Filed March 28, 1968 I5 Sheets-Sheet 2 TTUO SHIGEATSU INVENTORS ATTORNEYS Jan. 5, 1971 MmEHARU QMQR] ETAL 3552,11

ELECTRIC DRY SHAVER Filed March 28, 1968 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 MINEHRU KOZO TEAY MA SHOZO R TAF'SUQ SHIGE /3/ INVENTORS ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,552,011 ELECTRIC DRY SHAVER Mineliaru Omori, Kozo Terayama, Shozo Matsubara, Tatsuo Shigematsu, and Gen Kido, Ibaraki-shi, Japan, assignors to Hitachi Maxell, Ltd., Oazo Ushitora,

Ibaraki-shi, Osaka Prefecture, Japan Filed Mar. 28, 1968, Ser. No. 716,912 Claims priority, application Japan, June 30, 1967, 42/ 41,992, 42/41,993, 42/41,994, ll/56,448 Int. Cl. B26b 19/02 US. Cl. 30-4332 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE An electric dry shaver construction providing a shearing section, a driving section connected to the shearing section and a casing enclosing the driving section and the shearing head, and a lifting lever connected to the casing for effecting translational movement of the driving section and shearing head within the casing. The invention also provides a novel electrical connector in the shaver casing which also serves as a power switch, and the electrical connection with the shaver is provided with an interlock disrupting power to the driving section when the lifting lever is actuated.

This invention relates to an electric shaver and more particularly to improvements in such device.

Electric shavers of this type have had the inherent disadvantage that, because the shearing head has to be disconnected from the case body for removal of shavings, replacement of worn outer and inner blades, etc., and

because the disconnection and reconnection of the shearing head requires both time and trouble, such operations, which must be performed periodically, can be accomplished only with difliculty. In addition, the repetition of such operations tends to have adverse effects upon the transmission mechanism between the shearing head and the driving section, eventually resulting in reduced shaving efiiciency and increased noise.

Moreover, the conventional shavers are susceptible of being switched on by chance during the removal of shavings and replacement of blades unless the power cord is pulled off beforehand from the plug socket for the power supply. This is not only potentially dangerous to those handling the device but may lead to damage of the blades and driving mechanism.

The present invention has for its object the elimination of the foregoing disadvantages by the provision of an electric razor having a shearing head which is protrudable from the case body so that the removal of shavings and exchange of blades can be accomplished with ease, and further, by the provision of a construction wherein the possibility of the shaver being erroneously switched on during the course of such cleaning or replacement can be precluded.

An additional feature of the present invention relates to the provision of a switching mechanism for actuating the shaver in combination with the socket for the plug of the electrical power cord providing energizing power to the shaver. In this way the need for protruding switches is obviated along with the need for a switch separate from and in addition to the power socket. This switching arrangement is also provided in such a way that the shaver will be automatically switched off when placed down for support on its bottom surface.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an electric shaver which eliminates or otherwise avoids the difiiculties and disadvantages inherent in known devices of a similar nature.

Patented Jan. 5, 1971 ice It is another object of the present invention to provide an electric shaver which includes means for facilitating the cleaning of the shaver and removal of the blade therein.

It is a further object of the invention to provide an electric shaver including means for automatically disconnecting the power thereto during cleaning or repair without removal of the power cord.

It is still another object of the invention to provide an electric shaver having means for easily exposing the entire shaving head for cleaning and further means for facilitating the removal thereof from the shaver body for repair or replacement of parts.

It is still a further object of the invention to provide an electric shaver which is simplified in construction through use of components for multiple functions.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide an electric shaver which is automically switched off when placed in an upright position on a support.

It is yet a further object of the present invention to provide an electric shaver which is switched on and off through shifting of the plug of the power cord without disconnection thereof.

These and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of the invention when taken with the accompanying drawings, and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of a shaver in accordance with the invention showing essential parts in section;

FIG. 2 is a side sectional view taken along the line IIII of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along the line IIIIII of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a front elevational view showing the essential parts in section with the shearing head protruding from the case;

FIG. 5 is a side elevational view of the above embodiment;

FIG. 6 is a plan view of the bottom of the shaver head;

FIG. 7 is a top plan view of the shaver with the head removed;

FIG. 8 is a front elevational view, partly in section, of the essential part of the switching mechanism shown in the ON position;

FIG. 9 is a sectional view taken along the line IXIX of FIG. 8; and

FIG. 10 is a front elevational view, partly in section, of the essential part of the switching mechanism shown in the OFF position.

The invention will now be more fully described in conjunction with the illustrated embodiment thereof.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, and particularly to FIGS. 1 and 2, the shaver embodying the present invention generally includes a driving section 1 and a shearing head 2 removably connected to the driving section, both being accommodated in a casing 3. The particular type of shaving head and drive section employed in the illustrated embodiment are only exemplary, the present invention being equally applicable to electric shavers having a different type of driving motor or a different type of shaving head than specifically disclosed herein.

The driving section 1 may consist of a generally U- shaped stator core 4a formed of a plurality of laminations upon which is mounted an insulating coil form having a conductor wound thereon to form an energizing coil 41;. A pair of U-shaped support plates 21 and 22 between the portions thereof spanning the free ends of the stator core 4a. A pivotable core member, also formed of a plurality of stacked laminations, is pivotably mounted on the pin 5d, having its extreme ends spaced by a gap from the free ends of the stator core 4a. A vibrator arm 5b is secured to the core element 5c and to a spring com bination (not shown) which preferably resiliently connects the vibrator arm 5b to one or the other of the support plates 21 and 22 on either side thereof to facilitate the vibrating action.

The driving section described consists of a typical vibrator arrangement wherein an alternating voltage sup ply to the coiled conductor 4b serves to oscillate the core member 50 about the pivot pin 5:! thereby driving the vibrator arm 5b with an oscillating or vibrating movement.

The vibrator arm 5]) of the driving section is provided with a coupling element 5a extending into the shearing head 2 and into communication with a socket element 2b therein. The socket element 2b is secured to the blade 2a, which is driven reciprocally by the vibrating arm 5b in the well known manner.

A lifting driving plate 6 provided with a slot 7 is secured fixedly to the coil form 40 at the bottom of the driving section 1. The slot 7 in the driving plate 6 engages with a roll pin 12 connected to a lifting lever 11 pivotally connected to the removable bottom cover 3a of the shaver casing 3. In addition, lifting guide plates 8 and 9 are provided at either side of the driving section 1 for guiding the driving section during upward and downward movements thereof within the casing 3 resulting from actuation of the lever 11.

The lifting guide plates 8 and 9 are fixed to the support plates 21 and 22 connected to the stator core 4a and are formed with pairs of ribs 13, 13 and 14, 14', respectively, extending in the longitudinal direction thereof in such a way that each pair of these ribs fits securely in a channel defined by two pairs of longitudinal ribs 15, 15 and 16, 16' formed on the inner surface of the casing 3, as seen in FIG. 3, each pair of which consists of ribs spaced a larger distance from each other than the ribs formed on the guide plates. Thus, the driving section and attached shearing head may be moved with a sliding action in the longitudinal direction of the casing, but are prevented from transverse or lateral movement within the casing by the ribs suitably positioned on the lifting guide plates and inner surface of the casing, respectively.

On both sides of the lifting lever 11 at the bottom of the casing, a socket 17 for a connection to a suitable power supply and a voltage change-over switch 18 are provided in such a manner as to contact, respectively, a power terminal plate 19 and a voltage change-over strip 20 which are both made of resilient material and are secured to the driving section 1. In this way the available voltage of the power supply is connected to the proper winding of the coil 4b via the socket 17 and the power terminal plate 9 for selective energization of the driving section.

If the arm 11' of the lifting lever 11 is pressed down so as to be turned counter clockwise around the shaft 10, the roll pin 12 provided at the tip of the connecting rod on the side opposite to the arm 11 will move along the surface of the slot 7 of the lifting driving plate 6 effecting a camming action against the driving plate 6 so that the driving section 1 to which the lifting driving plate 6 is secured and also the shearing head 2 connected to the driving section will be forced up as a units by the roll pin, the shearing head 2 being thereby exposed out of the case, as seen in FIG. 4. In this way the driving section 1 will be guided upwardly in a smooth movement without transverse vibration by virtue of the two pairs of ribs 13, 13' and 14, 14' provided on the lifting guide plates 8 and 9, which are indirectly secured through the stator core 4a and the two pairs of ribs 15, 15 and 16, 16' on the inner surface of easing 3. At the same time, by the upward movement of the driving sectional, the power terminal plate 19 and the voltage change-over strip 20 will be urged away from the power socket 17 and the voltage 4 change-over switch 18, thereby constituting interlock means cutting off the electrical connection from the power source to the driving unit while the shearing head is exposed even though energizing voltage from the power source may be still connected to the socket 17.

While the distance between the shaft of the lifting lever and the roll pin governs the surface area of the shearing head exposed out of the case, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, it is generally not necessary to expose the driving section 1 in addition to the shearing head. The distance between the shaft of the lifting lever and the roll pin may therefore be freely chosen in correlation with the length of the slot of the lifting driving plate so as to produce the desired degree of exposure.

In the case where the bearing for the vibrator requires frequent lubrication with oil or grease, it is possible to expose the upper portion of the driving section 1 in order to permit ready oiling and greasing at an advantage by removing the shearing head too. As is noted from FIGS. 6 and 7 illustrating respectively the bottom of the shearing head and the exposed surface of the driving section, the shearing head is secured to the driving section through studs 23 engaging with contoured apertures 24 in the shearing head 2. The studs 23', as seen in FIG. 1, serve to secure the assembly including the lifting guide plates 8 and 9 to the support plate 22, which is in turn secured to the stator core 4a. In addition, the studs 23 extend upwardly from the surface of the driving section 1 so as to protrude through the apertures 24 of the shearing section 2. The contour of the apertures 24 is such that the studs 23 will freely pass through the enlarged portions thereof whereupon the shearing head may be locked to the driving section by effecting a clockwise turning thereof forcing the studs into the narrow portion of the aperture 24 so that the head of the studs effectively lock the shearing head to the driving section.

It is therefore quite apparent that actuation of the lever 11 will cause a longitudinal shifting of the driving section and attached shearing heads so as to expose the shearing head above the top of the casing 3. The shearing head may be then simply removed by a counter clockwise twisting thereof until the studs 23 are shifted into alignment with the large portions of the apertures 24 thereby permitting easy removal of the shearing head. Once removed, the shearing head may be easily cleaned or repaired, and access is also provided at this time to the driving section 1 for purposes of lubrication or replacement of parts.

The shaving head is replaced simply by engaging the large portions of the apertures 24 by the respective studs 23 and twisting the shearing head in the counter clockwise direction. If the arm 11' of the lifting lever 11 is then pressed upwardly after the removal of the shavings and replacement of worn outer or inner blades, the driving section 1 in the shearing head 2 communicating therewith will be accommodated together in the casing and, at the same time, the power terminal plate 19 and power socket 17 will be brought into contact with each other and reset to the state ready for use.

Although in the embodiment above described the relative vertical sliding motions of the lifting guiding plates 8 and 9 and the case 2 are accomplished smoothly by two pairs of ribs formed respectively thereon, it should be appreciated of course that it is possible to form a single rib on each of the lifting guiding plates and one groove on the inner surface of the case, both in the longitudinal direction, so that the ribs on the lifting guiding plates can fit in the groove on the inner surface of the case, or alternatively to form the ribs and groove on the opposite surfaces, in order to attain a vertical sliding effect with exactly the same smoothness as achieved by the embodiment above described.

As explained hereinabove, the electric razor according to the present invention has a shearing head which is raised protrudingly out of the case or lowered to be accommodated therein by simply pressing up or down of a lifting lever, and therefore it offers ready access to the inside of the shearing head for example for the removal of shavings and replacement of worn blades, and permits consistently stabilized transmission of driving power to the shearing head, which achieves an accordingly stabilized shaving effect, and prevents development of noise. Moreover, as long as the shearing head is protruded out of the case, the power socket is disconnected from the power terminal strip, and hence a very high degree of safety is gained because there is no possibility of the razor being switched on by chance even through the power cord is connected to the power supply.

The present invention also provides a novel switching mechanism for an electric razor, and more specifically, as seen in the drawings, to a switching mechansim of simplified construction which is combined with the socket for the power supply. This feature of the invention will be more fully described hereunder in conjunction with an embodiment of the invention illustrated in the accompanying drawings in FIGS. 8 through 10.

A power socket 17 is rotatably fitted to spindles 26, 26' of bearing pieces 25, 25' mounted on the bottom portion 3a of casing 3 and is provided with a hollow interior 27 for receiving a plug 30. Power terminal pins 28, 28' are provided for the power socket 4. Resilient power terminal plates 19, 19 are connected to the winding 3b (FIG. 1) of the motor section 2 and fixedly secured thereto. A plug 30 connected to a power cord 31 engages with the pins 28 in the socket 17. The power terminal pins 28, 28' are so designed that they contact the power terminal plates 19, 19 when the power socket 17 is turned sidewise, thus switching the razor off.

As noted above, the switching mechanism for the electric razor embodying the present device is such that the power socket 17 combines with a switch and eliminates the necessity of providing a separate switch. If the plug opening 27 is turned sidewise as the plug is pushed into the power socket 17, then the electric razor will remain in the switched-off state and hence may be left as it is on a holder provided on a wash-basin or the like. In use the razor may be simply taken out of the holder or the like. The weight of the power cord 11 itself will then be applied on the plug 10 thereby enabling the shaver to turn the plug with his fingertip in order to switch on the razor.

We have shown and described one embodiment in accordance with the present invention. It is understood that the same is not limited thereto but is susceptible of numerous changes and modifications as known to a person skilled in the art and we, therefore, do not wish to be limited to the details shown and described herein, but intend to cover all such changes and modifications as are encompassed by the scope of the appended claims.

We claim:

1. An electric dry shaver comprising:

a shearing head including a perforated guard plate and a cutting member cooperating with said perforated guard plate to produce a shearing action,

a driving section in engagement with said cutting member for driving said cutting member with respect to said guard plate,

a casing enclosing said driving section and substantially all of said shearing head,

actuating means associated with said casing and said driving section for selectively shifting said driving section and shearing head with respect to said casing to thereby expose said shearing head, and

power source means-for applying electrical power to said driving section for operation thereof including first connector means secured to said driving section and second connector means secured to said casing and in electrical engagement with said first connector means, said first and second connector means being electrically separated by actuation of said actuating means producing relative movement between said casing and said driving section.

2. An electric dry shaver as defined in claim 1 wherein said second connector means is provided as a female connector capable of engagement with a male connector from without said casing.

3. An electric dry shaver as defined in claim 2 wherein said first connector means is provided as a pair of spring members forced against respective electrical contacts on said female connector when said driving section is fully inserted in said casing.

4. An electric dry shaver comprising:

a shearing head including a perforated guard plate and a cutting member cooperating with said perforated guard plate to produce a shearing action,

a driving section in engagement with said cutting member for driving said cutting member with respect to said guard plate,

a casing enclosing said driving section and substantially all of said shearing head,

actuating means associated with said casing and said driving section for selectively shifting said driving section and shearing head with respect to said casing to thereby expose said shearing head, and

power source means for applying electrical power to said driving section for operation thereof including interlock means for automatically electrically interrupting said application of electrical power to said driving section upon operation of said actuating means.

5. An electric dry shaver comprising:

a shearing head including a perforated guard plate and a cutting member cooperating with said perforated guard plate to produce a shearing action,

a driving section in engagement with said cutting member for driving said cutting member with respect to said guard plate,

a casing enclosing said driving section and substantially all of said shearing head,

actuating means associated with said casing and said driving section for selectively shifting said driving section and shearing head with respect to said casing to thereby expose said shearing head, and

wherein said shearing head is secured to said driving section by means of a pin and tapered slot arrangement whereby said shearing head may be disengaged by rotation thereof about a longitudinal axis of the shaver.

6. An electric dry shaver as defined in claim 2. wherein said female connector is pivotally mounted on said casing for rotation between first and second positions, said female connector having electrical contacts engaging said first connector means in said one position and being spaced from said first connector means in said second position thereby additionally serving as a power switch.

7 An electric dry shaver as defined in claim 6 wherein said casing is provided with first guide means and said driving section is provided with second guide means cooporating with said first guide means to restrict movement of said driving section within said casing to a single longitudinal direction.

'8. An electric dry shaver as defined in claim 7 wherein said actuating means includes cam means selectively actuatable to force apart said driving section and said casing.

9. An electric dry shaver as defined in claim 8 wherein said shearing head is secured to said driving section by means of a pin and tapered slot arrangement whereby said shearing head may be disengaged by rotation thereof about a longitudinal axis of the shaver.

10. An electric dry shaver comprising:

a shearing head including a perforated guard plate 7 and a cutting member cooperating with said perpower source means for applying electrical power to forated guard plate to produce a shearing action, said driving section for operation thereof including a driving section in engagement with said cutting interlock means for automatically electrically intermember for driving said cutting member with rerupting said application of electrical power to said spect to said guard plate, 5 driving section upon operation of said actuating a casing enclosing said driving section and substanmeans.

tially all of said shearing head,

actuating means associated with said casing and said References Cited driving section for selectively shifting said driving UNITED STATES PATENTS section and shearing head with respect to said casing 10 1 889 986 12/1932 Ha Wood 269 233 to thereby expose said shearing head wherein said 3339276 9/1967 i 30 43 1 actuating means includes cam means selectively actuatable to force apart said driving section and said ROBERT RIORDON, Primary Examiner casing and lever means pivotally connected to said casing for selectively actuating said cam means, 1 GRAFEL Assistant Examiner said lever means including a lifting lever having a roll pin mounted at one end thereof and said carn means including a driving plate having a cam sur- 30-42 face contacted by said roll pin, and

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