Rotary shaver with improved support structure for shaving heads

Abstract

A shaving device comprises a head structure (2) and a base structure (4). The head structure (2) is configured to retain and support at least one shaving head (30A, 30B, 30C). The head structure (2) is releasably retainable on the base structure (4). The base structure (4) is free of support elements in an area of an outer circumference of the head structure (2) such that the head structure (2), when coupled to the base structure (4), is not supported in the area of its outer circumference. The head structure (2), when coupled to the base structure (4), is substantially only retained on the base structure (4) by a retaining force provided by a retaining structure of the base structure (4). When an overloading force is exerted on the head structure (2), the force is transferred to a coupling element (8) arranged in a central area (2A) of the head structure (2) such that the coupling element (8) is released from the retaining structure of the base structure (4) in order to prevent damage to the head structure (2).

Claims

.[.1. A shaving device comprising a base structure and a head structure, wherein the head structure comprises: a head support structure configured to hold at least one shaving head; a coupling element arranged in a central area of the head structure; and wherein the base structure comprises: a retaining structure configured for releasably retaining the coupling element for coupling the head structure to the base structure; and the base structure being free of support elements in an area of an outer circumference of the head structure such that the head structure, when coupled to the base structure, is not supported in the area of its outer circumference, and the head structure, when coupled to the base structure, being substantially only retained on the base structure by a retaining force exerted by the retaining structure on the coupling element, wherein the coupling element is a shaft-like element protruding from the central area of the head structure and comprising, at a distal end thereof, a sloped surface facing the head support structure, wherein the retaining structure comprises a retaining recess for receiving the coupling element; and a spring element at least partly provided in the retaining recess, the spring element being arranged for engaging the sloped surface of the coupling element such that the coupling element is retainable in the retaining recess, and wherein the sloped surface protrudes from the shaft-like coupling element..].

.[.2. The shaving device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the head structure, when coupled to the base structure, is solely supported by the coupling element..].

.[.3. The shaving device as claimed in claim 1, wherein a drive shaft for driving the at least one shaving head extends between the base structure and the head structure through the coupling element..].

.[.4. The shaving device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the head support structure is configured to support at least two rotary shaving heads, the coupling element being arranged in a center of a substantially circular area, the substantially circular area being restricted by a rotary shaft of each rotary shaving head..].

.[.5. A head structure for use in the shaving device as claimed in claim 1, the head structure comprising: a head support structure configured to hold at least one shaving head; a coupling element arranged in a central area of the head structure; wherein the head structure, when coupled to the base structure, is retainable on the base structure substantially only by a retaining force provided by the coupling element..].

.[.6. A shaving device comprising a base structure and a head structure, wherein the head structure comprises: a head support structure configured to hold at least one shaving head; a coupling element arranged in a central area of the head structure; and wherein the base structure comprises: a retaining structure configured for releasably retaining the coupling element for coupling the head structure to the base structure; and the base structure being free of support elements in an area of an outer circumference of the head structure such that the head structure, when coupled to the base structure, is not supported in the area of its outer circumference, and the head structure, when coupled to the base structure, being substantially only retained on the base structure by a retaining force exerted by the retaining structure on the coupling element, wherein the coupling element is a shaft-like element protruding from the central area of the head structure and comprising, at a distal end thereof, a sloped surface facing the head support structure, wherein the retaining structure comprises a retaining recess for receiving the coupling element; and a spring element at least partly provided in the retaining recess, the spring element being arranged for engaging the sloped surface of the coupling element such that the coupling element is retainable in the retaining recess, and wherein a collar is provided around the coupling element for abutting on an edge around the circumference of the retaining recess..].

.[.7. The shaving device as claimed in claim 6, wherein the coupling element is substantially cylindrical and the sloped surface is provided in a coupling recess in the coupling element..].

.[.8. The shaving device as claimed in claim 7, wherein an inner diameter of the retaining recess and an outer diameter of the substantially cylindrical coupling element are substantially equal..].

.[.9. The shaving device as claimed in claim 6, wherein the distal end of the coupling element is at least partly beveled for forcing the spring element aside when the coupling element is being inserted in the retaining recess..].

.[.10. The shaving device as claimed in claim 6, wherein a drive shaft for driving the at least one shaving head extends between the base structure and the head structure through the coupling element..].

.[.11. The shaving device as claimed in claim 6, wherein the head support structure is configured to support at least two rotary shaving heads, the coupling element being arranged in a center of a substantially circular area, the substantially circular area being restricted by a rotary shaft of each rotary shaving head..].

.[.12. A head structure for use in the shaving device as claimed in claim 6, the head structure comprising: a head support structure configured to hold at least one shaving head; a coupling element arranged in a central area of the head structure; wherein the head structure, when coupled to the base structure, is retainable on the base structure substantially only by a retaining force provided by the coupling element..].

.Iadd.13. A shaving device comprising: a head structure comprising a head support structure configured to hold at least two rotary shaving heads, the head structure further including a shaft-like coupling element arranged in a central area of the head structure; a base structure that includes a retaining structure configured for releasably retaining the coupling element in a retaining recess to couple the head structure to the base structure, the base structure being free of support elements in an area of an outer circumference of the head structure such that the head structure, when coupled to the base structure, is not supported in the area of its outer circumference, and the head structure, when coupled to the base structure, is substantially retained on the base structure by a retaining force exerted by the retaining structure on the coupling element; a collar shaped and configured to abut the base structure at an edge around the retaining recess; and a spring element that engages a sloped surface to retain the shaft-like coupling element in the retaining recess, wherein the engagement between the spring element and the sloped surface is overcome where the head structure receives a sufficiently large load, thereby disengaging the spring element from the sloped surface to release the head structure from the base structure..Iaddend.

.Iadd.14. The shaving device of claim 13, wherein a drive shaft for driving the at least one shaving head extends between the base structure and the head structure through the coupling element..Iaddend.

.Iadd.15. The shaving device of claim 13, wherein the at least two rotary shaving heads comprise three rotary shaving heads..Iaddend.

.Iadd.16. The shaving device of claim 13, wherein the base structure is mounted on a handle..Iaddend.

.Iadd.17. The shaving device of claim 13, wherein spring force applied by the spring element on the sloped surface pulls the coupling element inwards into the retaining recess, and the spring force is overcome where the head structure receives the sufficiently large load..Iaddend.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) Hereinafter, the present invention is elucidated with reference to non-limiting embodiments as illustrated in the appended drawings, in which

(2) FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a shaving device according to the present invention;

(3) FIG. 2A shows a sectional perspective view of a part of a first embodiment of a shaving device according to the present invention;

(4) FIGS. 2B-2C show a perspective view of the part of the first embodiment shown in FIG. 2A;

(5) FIG. 2D shows a partly sectional perspective view of a base structure of the first embodiment shown in FIGS. 2A-2C;

(6) FIG. 3 shows a sectional view of a coupling element and a retaining structure of a second embodiment of a shaving device according to the present invention;

(7) FIG. 4A shows a view of the coupling element and the retaining structure of the second embodiment as seen from the retaining recess;

(8) FIGS. 4B-4C show a perspective view of the coupling element according to the second embodiment;

(9) FIG. 5A shows a sectional perspective view of the second embodiment of the present invention; and

(10) FIG. 5B shows a further perspective view of the retaining structure and the head structure according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXAMPLES

(11) In the drawings, like reference numerals refer to like elements. In FIG. 1 a perspective view of a shaving device according to the present invention is shown. The shaving device comprises a head structure 2 and a base structure 4. The head structure 2 supports and retains three rotary shaving heads 30A, 30B, 30C. A space A between the head structure 2 and the base structure 4 is substantially open to the surroundings and substantially free from obstacles. Optionally, the open space A may be interrupted by one or more conduits 38 belonging to a shaving lotion supply system, as described in e.g. international application WO2006/067710 by the current applicant. The conduit 38 may run from a reservoir in the base structure 4 to an outlet nozzle 32 arranged in or near the shaving heads 30A, 30B and/or 30C. The shaving heads 30A, 30B, 30C comprise hair entry apertures 34 and a cover plate 36. A cutter means arranged below the hair entry apertures 34 is configured to be driven by a motor means arranged in the base structure 4 in order to rotate and cut a hair entering through the hair entry apertures 34.

(12) Referring to FIGS. 2A-2D, in a first embodiment according to the present invention, the head structure 2 is releasably connectable to the base structure 4. The base structure 4 as shown is to be mounted on a handle structure of a device, such as a shaving device as shown in FIG. 1. As used herein, the base structure may be an element to be mounted on a handle structure, as shown in FIGS. 2A-2D, or the term base structure may refer to a handle structure as a whole, as shown in FIG. 1.

(13) It is noted that a similar assembly of a head structure and a base structure may be applied in similar devices, such as a trimming device, tooth brush device, a grooming device, and the like. Further, the construction of the assembly may as well be advantageously employed for using a number of different head structures, such as a trimming head structure, a shaving head structure, a grooming head structure, a tooth brush head structure, and the like, in combination with a single base structure.

(14) In FIGS. 2A-2D, a part of a shaving device is illustrated. The head structure 2 of the shaving device has a central area 2A and comprises a head support structure 6 for supporting a shaving head, in particular a rotary shaving head (not shown). In the illustrated embodiment, three support structures 6 for supporting three rotary shaving heads are arranged around the central area 2A. The head structure 2 further comprises a coupling element 8. The coupling element 8 is, in the illustrated embodiment, a shaft-like element. The coupling element 8 comprises a protrusion 12 at its distal end. The protrusion 12 comprises a sloped surface 12A facing the head support structure 6. The opposite side of the protrusion, coinciding with the distal end of the coupling element 8, is also beveled.

(15) The coupling element 8 further comprises a collar 14. The collar 14 is configured to abut the base structure 4 at an edge around a retaining recess 18 in which the coupling element 8 is to be inserted. The retaining recess 18 in the base structure 4 is a part of a retaining structure. The retaining structure of the embodiment as illustrated in FIGS. 2A-2D further comprises a first spring element 10A and a second spring element 10B. The spring elements 10A and 10B are arranged such that the spring elements 10A and 10B are engagable with the sloped surface 12A of the protrusion 12, for clamping the coupling element 8 in the retaining recess 18 of the base structure 4. The spring elements 10A and 10B thus pull the coupling element 8 inwards into the retaining recess 18 by applying a spring force on the sloped surface 12A. The collar 14, however, blocks further insertion of the coupling element 8. Thus, the coupling element 8 is solidly retained in the retaining recess, thereby providing a solid coupling of the head structure 2 and the base structure 4. The coupling between the head structure 2 and the base structure 4 is sufficient to allow normal use of the device without the head structure 2 being uncoupled from the base structure.

(16) In accordance with the present invention, the head structure 2 is releasable from the base structure 4, if a relatively large load, i.e. force or torque, is applied to the head structure 2, e.g. due to an accidental misuse or fall of the device. For this reason, the base structure 4 is free of any supporting elements in an area of an outer circumference of the head structure 2, such that the head structure 2 is not supported in the area of its outer circumference. Moreover, in the illustrated embodiment, the head structure 2 is solely retained and supported by the coupling element 8. To this end, the head structure 2 and the base structure 4 are configured in such a way that a space restricted at one side by the head structure 2 and at its opposite side by the base structure 4 is substantially open at its remaining, surrounding side.

(17) The coupling element 8 protrudes from the central area 2A. When a relatively large load is applied to a part of the head structure 2, the load is transferred through the central area 2A to the coupling element 8, resulting in a torque on the distal end of the coupling element 8. The resulting torque is transferred to the sloped surface 12A of the protrusion 12 at the distal end of the coupling element 8. The spring element 10A or 10B engaged with the sloped surface 12A is forced aside, thereby shifting over the sloped surface 12A. If the load is sufficiently large, the spring element 10A or 10B is shifted off the sloped surface 12A and the protrusion 12 is enabled to move past the spring element 10A or 10B, thereby releasing the coupling element 8 and the head structure 2 from the base structure 4.

(18) In the above-described first embodiment, the retaining recess 18 has an inner diameter which is larger than an outer diameter of the protrusion 12 at the distal end of the coupling element 8. Consequently, when inserted, the coupling element 8 is not supported against an inner wall of the retaining recess 18, as the outer diameter of the coupling element 8 is smaller than the outer diameter of the protrusion 12.

(19) In a second embodiment, as illustrated in FIGS. 3-5B, the outer diameter of the coupling element 8 is substantially equal to the inner diameter of the retaining recess. Referring to FIG. 3, a head structure 2 comprises a coupling element 8 provided with a coupling recess 16 having a sloped surface 16A. The distal end 20 of the coupling element 8 is beveled.

(20) As illustrated, the coupling element 8 is inserted in a retaining recess 18 of a base structure 4. A spring element 10 engages the sloped surface 16A, thereby clamping and retaining the coupling element 8 in the retaining recess 18. A collar 14 prevents that the coupling element 8 is further inserted into the retaining recess 18.

(21) FIGS. 4A-4C illustrate an insertion of the coupling element 8 into the retaining recess 18. As the spring element 10 is to engage the sloped surface 16A of the coupling recess 16 in the coupling element 8, a distance between a first arm 10C and a second arm 10D of the spring element 10 has to be smaller than an outer diameter of the coupling element 8. When inserting the coupling element 8, the arms 10C, 10D of the spring element 10 need to be forced aside in order to insert the coupling element 8 as far as required for engaging the sloped surface 16A with the spring arms 10C, 10D.

(22) The substantially cylindrical coupling element 8 has a beveled distal end 20, as shown in FIG. 4B. The beveled end 20 forces the spring arms 10C, 10D aside, thereby increasing the distance between the spring arms 10C, 10D. As illustrated in FIG. 4C, if the walls of the coupling element 8 are not sufficiently thick, the wall may be partly removed in order to provide sufficient bevel.

(23) Referring to FIG. 5A, a drive shaft 22 for driving the shaving heads arranged in the head structure 2 may extend through the shaft-like coupling element 8. Such an arrangement of the drive shaft 22 may also be employed in the first embodiment as illustrated in FIGS. 2A-2C.

(24) Referring to FIGS. 5A and 5B, the spring element 10, comprising a first spring arm and a second spring arm (10C and 10D, respectively, as shown in FIG. 4A-4C), is arranged at an outer circumference of the retaining recess 18. The retaining recess 18 is provided with slits extending through the wall of the retaining recess 18. The spring element 10, in particular its arms, are positioned in the slits, thereby being partly arranged in the retaining recess 18 for engaging the sloped surface 16A in order to retain the coupling element 8.

(25) In operation, the second embodiment as illustrated in FIGS. 3-5B functions substantially similarly to the first embodiment as illustrated in FIGS. 2A-2C. Compared to the first embodiment, the tight fit of the coupling element 8 and the retaining recess 18 assists the spring element 10 in retaining the coupling element 8. A torque or other load exerted on the head structure 2 and transferred to the coupling element 8 is countered by the spring force of the spring element 10 and by the disability of the coupling element 8 to tilt in the retaining recess 18. Thus, a threshold or critical value of a force or torque is determined by the spring force and the disability to tilt. Therefore, a load applied during normal use may be large.

(26) Although detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosed herein, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention, which can be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variably employ the present invention in virtually any appropriately detailed structure. Further, 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.

(27) Further, the terms and phrases used herein are not intended to be limiting, but rather to provide an understandable description of the invention. The terms a or an, as used herein, are defined as one or more than one. The term another, as used herein, is defined as at least a second or more. The terms including and/or having, as used herein, are defined as comprising (i.e., open language). The term coupled, as used herein, is defined as connected, although not necessarily directly.