Hair cutting appliance

Abstract

A hair cutting appliance comprises an external cutting member and an internal cutting member arranged rotatable to the external cutting member for cutting hair. The internal cutting member is driven via a first coupling element by a drive spindle (24) rotatable about an axis of rotation (35) and having a first spindle part (26) arranged to be driven by a drive, and a second spindle part (30) arranged to be coupled to the internal cutting member, the first and second spindle parts (26, 30) being displaceable relative to each other in an axial direction parallel to the axis of rotation (35); wherein the second spindle part (30) comprises a second coupling element (34) which is coupled to the first coupling element for transmitting, during operation, a driving torque about the axis of rotation (35) from the drive spindle (24, 24a) to the internal cutting member; wherein one of the first and second spindle parts (26, 30) comprises an abutment element (36) and the other of the first and second spindle parts (26, 30) comprises an abutment surface (38) arranged to cooperate with the abutment element (36) for transmitting, during operation, the driving torque from the first spindle part (26) to the second spindle part (30); wherein the abutment surface (38) is arranged at an angle α relative to a tangential direction relative to the axis of rotation (35), wherein 0°<α<90° such that a transmission of the driving torque from the first spindle part (26) to the second spindle part (30) via the abutment element (36) and the abutment surface (38) results in a force exerted by the first spindle part (26) on the second spindle part (28) having a component parallel to the axis of rotation (35) and directed towards the internal cutting member, wherein the first and second coupling elements are configured to transmit the component from the second spindle part (30) to the second coupling element (34).

Claims

1. A hair cutting appliance comprising: a support structure accommodating a drive system; at least one cutting unit supported by the support structure and comprising an external cutting member having a plurality of hair entry openings, and an internal cutting member rotatable relative to the external cutting member; and at least one drive spindle rotatable about an axis of rotation and having a first spindle part arranged to be driven by the drive system and a second spindle part arranged to be coupled to the internal cutting member, the first and second spindle parts being displaceable relative to each other in an axial direction parallel to the axis of rotation; wherein the internal cutting member comprises a plurality of cutting elements, a first coupling element, and a carrier carrying the cutting elements and the first coupling element; wherein the second spindle part comprises a second coupling element which is coupled to the first coupling element for transmitting, during operation, a driving torque about the axis of rotation from the drive spindle to the internal cutting member; and wherein one of the first and second spindle parts comprises an abutment element and the other of the first and second spindle parts comprises an abutment surface arranged to cooperate with the abutment element for transmitting, during operation, the driving torque from the first spindle part to the second spindle part; characterized in that the abutment surface is arranged at an angle α relative to a line extending parallel to the axis of rotation, wherein 0°<α<90° such that a transmission of the driving torque from the first spindle part to the second spindle part via the abutment element and the abutment surface results in a force exerted by the first spindle part on the second spindle part having a component parallel to the axis of rotation and directed towards the internal cutting member, wherein the first and second coupling elements are configured to transmit said component from the second spindle part to the internal cutting member.

2. The hair cutting appliance as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the abutment surface extends helically relative to the axis of rotation.

3. The hair cutting appliance of claim 1, characterized in that the abutment element comprises a boss.

4. The hair cutting appliance as claimed in any one of the claim 1, characterized in that the drive spindle comprises a mechanical spring arranged to bias the second spindle part relative to the first spindle part in a direction towards the internal cutting member.

5. The hair cutting appliance as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the first spindle part comprises a cavity, wherein the second spindle part is partially received in said cavity and displaceably guided by said cavity so as to be displaceable relative to the first spindle part in the axial direction.

6. The hair cutting appliance as claimed in claim 5, characterized in that the mechanical spring is arranged in said cavity for exerting a biasing force on the second spindle part directed towards the internal cutting member.

7. The hair cutting appliance as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the angle (α) is at least 3°, preferably at least 5°, preferably at least 20°.

8. The hair cutting appliance as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the angle (α) is at most 87°, preferably at most 85°, preferably at most 70°.

9. The hair cutting appliance as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the cutting unit is moveably suspended relative to the support structure by means of a suspension structure such that, as a result of a motion of the cutting unit relative to the support structure allowed by the suspension structure, the first coupling element is displaced in the axial direction whereby the first and second spindle parts are displaced relative to each other in the axial direction, and wherein the angle (α) of the abutment surface varies in the axial direction.

10. The hair cutting appliance as claimed in claim 9, characterized in that the cutting unit comprises a supporting member for supporting the external cutting member, and wherein the suspension structure comprises a pivot structure pivotally connecting the supporting member to the support structure.

11. The hair cutting appliance as claimed in claim 9, further characterized by at least two cutting units and at least two drive spindles, wherein each of the at least two drive spindles is arranged to be couplable to a respective one of the at least two cutting units.

12. The hair cutting appliance as claimed in claim 9, characterized in that the second coupling element is releasably coupleable to the first coupling element.

13. A hair cutting device comprising a main housing accommodating an actuator, and further comprising a hair cutting appliance as claimed in claim 9, wherein the support structure is releasably coupled to the main housing, and wherein the actuator is arranged to drive the drive system during operation of the hair cutting device when the hair cutting appliance is coupled to the main housing.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) These and other aspects of the invention will be apparent from and elucidated with reference to the embodiment(s) described hereinafter. In the following drawings

(2) FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a hair cutting appliance according to the invention configured as a shaver;

(3) FIG. 2 shows an enlarged perspective view of a drive spindle used in the hair cutting appliance according to FIG. 1;

(4) FIG. 3 shows the drive spindle of FIG. 2, shown in longitudinal section;

(5) FIG. 4 shows another partially sectioned view of the drive spindle according to FIG. 2 wherein the respective forces are explained;

(6) FIG. 5 shows the drive spindle of FIG. 2, shown partially sectioned for explaining the angle α and the radius r;

(7) FIG. 6 shows a perspective view of a second spindle part of the drive spindle according to FIG. 2;

(8) FIG. 7 shows a cross section through the second spindle part according to FIG. 6;

(9) FIG. 8 shows an alternative embodiment of a drive spindle with a varying slope or angle;

(10) FIG. 9 shows a shaving unit including a contour following mechanism as known from PCT/EP2018/051763 in a base position;

(11) FIG. 10 shows the shaving unit of FIG. 9 in a downwardly tilted position;

(12) FIG. 11 shows a cross-section of the shaving unit of FIG. 9; and

(13) FIG. 12 shows one of the associated drive spindles according to the invention for replacing the respective drive spindle of FIG. 11.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(14) FIG. 1 shows a perspective top view of a hair cutting device 10 that is configured as a shaver. The hair cutting device 10 comprises an elongated main housing 12 and a hair cutting appliance configured as a shaving unit 20 arranged at a top end of the main housing 12. The shaving unit 20 comprises a cutting head 14 with three cutting units 17 that are arranged in a somewhat triangular fashion.

(15) In the main housing 12, a drive 16 is accommodated (not illustrated herein in much detail). The drive 16 is configured to operate and actuate the shaving unit 20 by means of at least one drive spindle to be explained hereinafter with reference to the following drawings. At the main housing 12, there may be provided further components of the hair cutting device 10, such as operator controls, an on-off switch 21, an external setting pad 23, a battery, a socket for an electric cable, and the like.

(16) The shaving unit 20 in total can be removed from the hair cutting device 10 which includes the main housing 12, the drive 16, the electronic control etc. The hair cutting appliance or shaving unit 20 is a replacement part that may be replaced, if necessary.

(17) As this arrangement is basically known in the art and does not form part of the invention, it will not be explained here in further detail.

(18) According to FIG. 2 the appliance 10 comprises a drive spindle 24. The drive spindle 24 transfers a rotary motion of the drive 16 to the cutting unit 17. The drive spindle 24 comprises a second part (driven part) 30 of cylindrical configuration that is received with its lower end within a first part (driving part) 26. The first part of the drive spindle 24 comprises an outer toothing 28 to be driven by a corresponding toothing (not shown) of the drive 16. At the top end of the second part 30 there is provided a coupling designated in total with 32 from which only the second coupling element 34 of a somewhat triangular shape with rounded sides is shown that cooperates with a corresponding cavity (first coupling element) arranged at the cutting unit 17.

(19) Such a coupling is described in detail in US 2003/0019107 A1 which is fully incorporated by reference herewith. This type of coupling is configured to transmit torque, and to transmit force only in the axial direction of the drive spindle 24, but to transmit not any other mechanical loads.

(20) The drive spindle 24 is rotated by the drive 16 about its axis of rotation 35. The first part 26 and the second part 30 are arranged axially displaceable with respect to each other. According to the invention the drive spindle 24 is configured to provide a self-adaptive closing force onto the cutting unit 17 as will be explained in the following.

(21) When the shaving unit 20 encounters beard hairs, the torque will increase, and the closing force will instantaneously increase as well. With heavier beards, the torque will increase more, and the closing force accordingly. This will improve cutting performance with heavier beards while unnecessary skin irritation with lighter beards is avoided. When the shaver is running idle, the torque will decrease, and the closing force will be decreased accordingly. Thereby friction, wear, energy loss, and noise are reduced, and battery life is extended.

(22) The respective forces transmitted in such a system are explained later with respect to the drawings according to FIGS. 4 and 5.

(23) From FIG. 3 it can be seen that the first part 26 is of somewhat cup-like nature including a bottom 40 from which sidewalls 43 extend. The second part 30 at its lower end 44 comprises a plurality of abutment elements 36 that are configured as bosses that extend radially. These abutment elements or bosses 36 cooperate with helical abutment surfaces 38 provided on the first part 26, wherein the bosses 36 are guided.

(24) The first part 26 and the second part 30 are pre-stressed apart from each other by a mechanical compression spring 46 configured as a helical spring that is arranged at the bottom 42 held by a mandrel 48 extending therefrom and that extends into a cylindrical cavity 50 of the second part 30.

(25) In FIG. 4 the forces acting during hair cutting are explained.

(26) During hair cutting the cutting unit 17 exerts a torque Tc that is transmitted via the coupling element 34 onto the drive spindle 24. Further an axial force F.sub.c resulting from the pressure between the cutting unit 17 and the skin acts on the drive spindle 24. The respective torque Tc is equal to the torque T.sub.d acting on the drive 16 transmitted by the toothing 28. The abutment suefaces 38 or bosses are arranged at an angle α with respect to the axis of rotation 35 of the drive spindle 24 that is defined by the longitudinal axis.

(27) The angle α is shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. The plane, wherein the angle α is defined, is formed by “unwrapping” or unwinding over the cylinder of the first spindle part 30. The angle α is the angle between the abutment surface 38 shown in FIG. 4 and the straight line extending parallel to the axis of rotation 35.

(28) At the contact surface between the abutment element 36 or boss and the respective abutment surface 38 the torque T.sub.d is transmitted from the first part 26 onto the second part 30.

(29) When a torque T.sub.d is exercised on the drive spindle 24, the abutment surfaces 38 in the lower segment of the first part 26 will exercise a rotational force F.sub.d=T.sub.d/r onto the abutment elements 36 or bosses of the second part 30. As a result of the slope (angle α) an axial component F.sub.i is created. The axial component F.sub.i can be computed using the angle α, the driving force F.sub.d and the resulting force F.sub.n depicted in FIG. 4.

(30) The following relations result:
F.sub.d=T.sub.d/r
F.sub.n=F.sub.d/cos α
F.sub.i=F.sub.n.Math.sin α
F.sub.i=F.sub.d.Math.tan α

(31) Thus it can be seen that the axial component F.sub.i is proportional to the applied torque T.sub.d and to the resulting rotational force F.sub.d.

(32) The configuration of the abutment elements 36 and the corresponding abutment surfaces 38 is selected so that there is no self-locking.

(33) The spring 46 exerts an additional axial force F.sub.s, and acts as an offset to F.sub.i, Together these forces provide the closing force F.sub.c onto the cutting elements or the cutting head 14:
F.sub.c=F.sub.i+F.sub.s.

(34) The spring 46 ensures the extension of the drive spindle 24 and a minimum closing force.

(35) Consequently, as shown above, when the cutting system encounters beard hairs, the torque T.sub.c will increase, and the closing force F.sub.c will instantaneously increase as well. With heavier beards, the torque will increase more, and the closing force accordingly. This will improve cutting performance with heavier beards, while unnecessary skin irritation with lighter beards is avoided. When the shaver is running idle, the torque will decrease, and the closing force F.sub.i will be decreased accordingly. Thereby, friction, wear, energy loss and noise are reduced, and battery life is extended.

(36) The ratio and the torque T.sub.c and the axial force F.sub.i can be tuned by setting the angle α. The offset F.sub.s to the axial force F.sub.i can be tuned by the properties of the spring 46.

(37) Friction forces between the second part 30 and the first part 26 have been neglected so far, since such friction forces are inherent in any kind of drive spindle consisting of two parts movable with respect to each other. The angle α should have a minimum value so that dynamic friction forces are overcome so that there will be a continuous movement of the second part 30 with respect to the first part 26 under pressure exerted by the cutting unit 17. The friction is dynamic due to the angle between the first part 26 and the second part 30. The critical minimum angle α can be derived from sin (α)=friction coefficient. The minimum angle α to overcome dynamic friction forces is estimated to be on the order of 3° to 8°.

(38) In an alternative embodiment, the spring 46 can be omitted. In that case, the drive spindle 24 is permanently attached to the axle of the cutting unit 17. The closing force will then be exercised by the torque-induced mechanism alone. Some minimum friction should be provided to ensure a minimum torque in operation, and a closing of the cutting system.

(39) In another alternative embodiment, the slope of the abutment surfaces 38 varies along the extension range of the drive spindle. Such a situation is shown in FIG. 8. The slope or angle α of the abutment surface 38 of the drive spindle 24a is not constant, but varies in axial direction.

(40) In FIGS. 9 to 11 a shaving unit 20b including a contour following mechanism is shown as known from PCT/EP2018/051763 (not published yet) which is fully incorporated by reference herewith.

(41) Apart from the shaving unit 20b and the drive spindle 24b the same reference numbers are used for corresponding parts.

(42) The shaving unit 20b includes two cutting units 17. Each cutting unit 17 comprises an external cutting member 18 having a plurality of hair entry openings 54 and an internal cutting member 19 that is arranged rotatably relative to the external cutting member 18.

(43) The internal cutting member 19 comprises a plurality of cutting elements 52, a carrier 58 carrying the cutting elements 52 and a first coupling element 56 that engages with a second coupling element 34 for driving the internal cutting member 19 by means of the drive spindle 24b.

(44) Each cutting unit 17 is movably suspended relative to a support structure 60 by means of a suspension structure 62. The suspension structure 62 comprises a pivot structure 66 that for each cutting unit 17 connects a supporting member 68, on which the cutting unit 17 is supported, pivotably to the support structure 60.

(45) According to the invention the drive spindles 24b are replaced by drive spindles 24a with varying slope as shown in FIG. 8 or 12.

(46) The support structure 60, whereon the two cutting units 17 are supported, is commonly driven via an external drive or actuator that is coupled to a central coupling 70 from which the drive motion is transferred onto each drive spindle 24a driving each cutting unit 17.

(47) In FIG. 9 the shaving unit 24b is shown in a first position, while the shaving unit 24b in FIG. 10 is shown in a second position, wherein the cutting units have pivoted downwardly (due to a possible contact to a skin of a user). Thus the shaving head 20b allows for a contour following along a user's skin.

(48) The shaving unit 20b is driven by the drive spindle 24a via a coupling that consists of the first coupling element 56 that drives the carrier 58 for the cutting elements 52 of the internal cutting member 19, and of the second coupling element 34 provided on the drive spindle 24a.

(49) When the shaving unit 20b performs a pivoting motion relative to the support structure 60, then at each drive spindle 24a the first coupling element 56 is displaced in the axial direction whereby the first and second spindle parts 26, 30 are displaced relative to each other in the axial direction, and wherein the angle α of the abutment surface 38 (see FIG. 8) varies in the axial direction.

(50) In the downwardly tilted position according to FIG. 10 the drive spindles 24a are shortened, i.e. the second part 30 of the drive spindle 24a is more downward than in the lifted position of the shaving unit 20b shown in FIG. 9.

(51) Since the slope or angle α of the abutment surface 38 of the drive spindle 24a at the upper section thereof is greater than at the lower section, the relationship between the torque and the closing force is varied by the position of the shaving unit 20b with respect to the drive spindle 24a.

(52) While the invention has been illustrated and described in detail in the drawings and foregoing description, such illustration and description are to be considered illustrative or exemplary and not restrictive; the invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments. Other variations to the disclosed embodiments can be understood and effected by those skilled in the art in practicing the claimed invention, from a study of the drawings, the disclosure, and the appended claims.

(53) In the claims, the word “comprising” does not exclude other elements or steps, and the indefinite article “a” or “an” does not exclude a plurality. A single element or other unit may fulfill the functions of several items recited in the claims. The mere fact that certain measures are recited in mutually different dependent claims does not indicate that a combination of these measures cannot be used to advantage.

(54) Any reference signs in the claims should not be construed as limiting the scope.