EP1005404B1 - Electric razor - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention is directed to a dry shaving apparatus with a housing (1) in which an electric drive mechanism (2) is provided having a drive element (3) for the transmission of a driving motion to at least one reciprocatory cutting element (4), and with at least one shaving head (6) oscillating in a horizontal direction and formed by a shaving head frame (7, 55) in which at least two cooperating cutting elements (4, 5) are provided, wherein the electric drive mechanism (2) is mounted for oscillation in the housing (1) and is adapted to be set in oscillation by the inner forces necessarily occurring in operation of the dry shaving apparatus, and wherein the oscillatory motions of the electric drive mechanism (2) are transmitted to the shaving head (6) in order to set said shaving head in oscillation as well.

Description

The invention relates to a dry shaver, the type specified in the preamble of the main claim.

A dry shaver of the type mentioned is known from DE 36 10 736 C2. The shaving head frame of the shaving head having cutting elements is mounted on two supporting arms of a supporting frame so as to be pivotable about a pivot axis Z. The swivel bearings are formed by a cylinder element pivotably mounted in a bearing bore, which can be part of a cylinder pin or a fastening screw.

The invention has for its object to improve the storage of a pivotable about a pivot axis shaving head in a device of the type mentioned. The storage should permanently withstand the pressure forces acting on the cutting elements and the movements of the shaving head when using the dry shaving apparatus. In addition, it should be possible to easily assemble and disassemble the shaving head with or from the support arms.

According to the invention, this object is achieved in a dry shaver of the type mentioned by the features specified in claim 1.

The solution shown above guarantees one. permanent play-free storage of shaving heads movably mounted on support arms. The cone bearings under the action of a spring force of a spring element compensate for the pressure forces acting on the shaving head during use without the components of the cone bearing including the fastening elements being separated. The wear that occurs on the components of the conical bearing over the life of the dry shaver is automatically compensated. In the case of a screw connection, for example according to the DE 36 10 732 C2 mentioned at the outset - see FIG. 11-, movement of the shaving head can cause the screw connection to come loose, it being known that a loosened bearing screw no longer automatically returns to the originally screwed-in position. The function of the shaving head is therefore more or less impaired or even overridden.

Another advantage that can be derived from the invention consists in the use of a cone bearing that can be produced in a simple and inexpensive manner and that can be easily assembled with the associated spring element within the shaving head frame of the shaving head by means of a plug connection. The connector provided also ensures easy disassembly, should such be necessary.

A preferred embodiment of the invention is characterized in that, deviating from the pivoting movements about the pivot axis, one of the other directions of movement is determined by the directions of movement of a cutting element. This further movement of the shaving head associated with the swiveling movement of the shaving head about the swiveling axis Z favors the threading of hair into the cutting area of mutually associated cutting elements. Swinging movements and / or swiveling movements of shaving heads represent a permanent load which are advantageously compensated for by the solutions according to claims 1 and 2.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention it is provided that the cone-shaped bearing is formed by an outer surface of a cone and by an annular surface of a cone-shaped recess. This configuration of the conical bearing distributes the pressure forces acting on the shaving head to the outer surface of the cone and the annular surface of the conical recess. In a further embodiment of the invention, the depression is preferably provided in an end wall of an end face of the shaving head frame. According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the depression is provided in an inner wall of an outer end wall of the shaving head frame.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the cone is attached to the support arm.

According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the spring force can be produced by a spring element which bears against at least one wall of the shaving head frame and on the support arm. In order to make the interaction of the cone-shaped recess with the cone and support arm and spring element particularly advantageous, a contact surface for the spring element is provided opposite to the cone on the support arm.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, a receiving chamber for the support arm and the spring element is provided in each end face of the shaving head frame. This measure ensures easy integration of the support arms in the shaving head frame. Accordingly, the outer walls of the shaving head are free of support elements and can be used for the use or the arrangement of other devices or devices on the shaving head.

In a further embodiment of this embodiment, it is provided that a stop for the spring element is provided on opposite end walls of the receiving chamber.

Another advantage of the invention results from the fact that an opening is provided in the end wall of the end face. This opening can be used in many ways. For example, it can considerably facilitate the assembly and / or disassembly of the plug connection of the support arms with the shaving head frame in connection with the spring element and can be used as a latching element for the spring element.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the spring element is designed as a leg spring.

In a further embodiment of this embodiment, a locking element is provided on the spring element. The locking element is preferably designed as a locking arm.

For the purpose of a locally definable transmission of the spring force of the spring element to the support arm, an essentially hemispherical projection is provided on the spring element as a pressure element. In a further embodiment of the invention, the leg spring has at least two spring legs which run in a substantially triangular manner with respect to one another on. In a further embodiment of this embodiment, two spring legs are assigned to one spring leg. In a further embodiment of this embodiment it is provided that the projection on the spring leg and on the spring leg each have a stop nose arranged in the opposite direction to the projection and projecting from the spring leg. In this embodiment, one end of the spring leg can preferably be placed against the stop of the end wall and the opposite end can be placed against a first stop of the opposite end wall via the stop lug. According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, in the installed state of the spring element, a distance is formed between a second stop of the end wall and the stop of the spring leg. This embodiment is further characterized in that the depth of penetration T of the cone in the cone-like recess is greater than the distance W. The dimensioning of the depth of penetration T and distance W enables the support arm to be introduced into the receiving chamber until the cone engages in the cone-shaped recess for the purpose of forming a cone bearing and, after clipping on the leg spring, ensures permanent, secure mounting of the shaving head on the support arms.

By means of another resilient locking arm provided on the leg spring, which in the assembled state deflects into an opening provided in the inner end wall and is supported there on an inner wall of the opening, the mounting of the shaving head on the support arms is secured in such a way that only by intentional means brought about pressure on the resilient locking arm disassembly of the shaving head from the support arms can be carried out.

This type of plug connection permanently withstands the stresses acting on the shaving head, simplifies both the assembly and disassembly of the shaving head and is also inexpensive to manufacture.

According to one embodiment of the invention it is provided that at least one support arm is resilient. According to a further embodiment of the invention, the spring force can be produced by the action of pressure from opposite walls of the shaving head frame on the support arms.

Fig. 1

einen Schnitt durch das Gehäuse und den Scherkopf eines Trockenrasierapparates mit einem sowohl schwenkbar als auch schwingbar gelagerten Scherkopf,

Fig. 2

eine perspektivische Darstellung eines Tragrahmens mit daran vorgesehenen Tragarmen,

Fig. 3

ein als Schenkelfeder S ausgebildetes Federelement,

Fig. 4

eine perspektivische Darstellung eines Scherkopfes mit in den Stirnseiten eingreifenden Tragarmen sowie einen Teilschnitt durch eine Stirnseite zwecks Einblick in die. Aufnahmekammer mit darin angeordnetem Federelement,

Fig. 5

einen Querschnitt durch eine Stirnseite des Scherkopfrahmens sowie Tragarm und Federelement im Bereich der Schwenkachse Z,

Fig. 6

einen Teilschnitt durch eine Stirnseite des Scherkopfrahmens im Bereich vor der Schwenkachse Z,

Fig. 7

einen vergrößerten Teil aus dem Teilschnitt nach Fig. 6 im Bereich des zweiten Anschlages der Stimseitenwand und dem Anschlag des Federschenkels,

Fig. 8

einen Querschnitt durch einen an Tragarmen sowohl schwenkbar als auch schwingbar gelagerten Scherkopfrahmen eines Scherkopfes durch die Schwenkachse Z sowie ein x, y und z-Diagramm,

Further advantages and details of the invention emerge from the following description and the drawings, in which a preferred exemplary embodiment of the invention is shown, namely:

Fig. 1

3 shows a section through the housing and the shaving head of a dry shaving apparatus with a shaving head which is mounted so as to be pivotable as well as swingable,

Fig. 2

2 shows a perspective illustration of a support frame with support arms provided thereon,

Fig. 3

a spring element designed as a leg spring S,

Fig. 4

a perspective view of a shaving head with support arms engaging in the end faces and a partial section through an end face for the purpose of viewing the. Receiving chamber with spring element arranged therein,

Fig. 5

3 shows a cross section through an end face of the shaving head frame and the support arm and spring element in the region of the pivot axis Z,

Fig. 6

a partial section through an end face of the shaving head frame in the area in front of the pivot axis Z,

Fig. 7

6 in the region of the second stop of the front side wall and the stop of the spring leg,

Fig. 8

2 shows a cross section through a shaving head frame of a shaving head, which is pivotably and pivotably mounted on support arms, through the pivot axis Z and an x, y and z diagram,

1 shows the housing 1 of a dry shaving apparatus with support elements 16, 17, on which an electric drive 2, which is fixedly arranged in a bearing cage 18, is mounted such that it can be pivoted about a pivot axis 8 by means of a pivot bearing. The electric drive 2 shown is in an oscillating position in which the reciprocating shaving head 6 is in a reversed position from the direction of movement B in the Has reached direction of movement A.

The shaving head 6 is mounted on the support elements 16, 17 in the directions of movement A and B so as to be able to oscillate via a support frame 40 and also via swing arms 14, 15 having joints 21, 22, 23, 24. The support frame 40 is coupled via a driver device to a housing part 20 of the bearing cage 18 for transmitting the oscillating movement of the electric drive 2 about the oscillation axis 8. The driver device consists of a pin 43 which engages in a recess 42, the recess 42 being formed in a wall 30 - see FIG. 2 - of the support frame 40 and the pin 43 being provided on the housing part 20 of the bearing cage 10. The electric drive 2 consists of an electric motor with a drive element 3 designed as a rotating shaft, to which an eccentric 27 designed as a double eccentric 44 is fastened in order to drive the drive movement from the drive element 3 through the opening 31 in the wall 30 of the support frame 40 to an im Shaving head frame 7 of the shaving head 6 provided swing bridge 25 to transfer. On the swing bridge 25, a dovetail-shaped slot is provided, into which the pin of the eccentric 27 designed as a double eccentric 44 engages. The dovetail-like design of the slot ensures wear-resistant transmission of the drive movement from the drive element 3 to the swing bridge 25 as a result of the adaptation of the angle of the dovetail design to the swing position of the electric drive during operation. The support frame 40 with the support arms 28, 29 provided thereon - see FIG. 2 - ensures a swinging movement of the shaving head 6 in the directions of movement A and B and, in addition, via cone-shaped joints, a pivoting movement of a shaving head 6 equipped with one or more cutting systems about the pivot axis Z.

Fig. 2 shows a perspective view of the support frame 40 with support arms 28 and 29 provided thereon. The support arms 28 and 29 can be formed directly on the support frame 40 or - not shown - manufactured separately and fastened to the support frame 40, for example by means of a welded connection. In order to ensure a coupling of the electric drive 2 with at least one of the cutting knives, an opening 31 is provided in the upper wall 30 of the support frame 40.

At the ends of the two identical support arms 28, 29 there is a cone 33, 34 provided such that the pivot axis Z runs through the cone tips in the assembled state of the shaving head 6. The cone 33, 34 can be formed as part of the support arm on the support arm 28, 29 or stamped into the support arm by means of an embossing process or manufactured separately and then attached to the support arm, for example by means of a riveting process.

3 shows a perspective illustration of a spring element 50 which is in the tensioned state. The spring element 50 is constructed as a leg spring S. The leg spring S consists of three spring legs 51, 52, 53 which are arranged relative to one another in such a way that the spring legs 51 and 52 as well as 51 and 53 assume a substantially triangular position with respect to one another in the bent and relaxed state. A recess is embossed in the spring leg 51, through which an essentially hemispherical projection 36 is formed as a pressure element on the opposite side - see FIG. 7. The spring leg 51 is recessed in a U-shape on its side opposite to the recess 35, so that two spring arms are formed which merge into the spring leg 52 and 53 in the bent state. Starting from the U-shaped recess, two cuts are provided in the spring leg 51. The sheet formed by these incisions is slightly bent outwards to form a resilient locking element. The locking element is designed, for example, as a locking arm 59.

In the relaxed state - not shown - the ends of the spring legs 52 and 53, which are subject to a spreading effect in the mounted state, are in contact with the spring leg 51. In this position, the stop lugs 54 and 55 provided on the spring legs 52 and 53 project beyond the outer contour of the Spring arms of the spring leg 51 also. On both sides of the recess 35, a stop 56 and 57 is provided by appropriate shaping of the spring leg 51. Each of the stops 56 and 57 is assigned a second stop 61 in a receiving chamber 11 provided in the respective end faces 9 and 10 - see FIG. 4 -.

FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of the shaving head frame 7 with a housing wall 37 connecting the end faces 9 and 10, in the middle of which an opening 32 is provided for coupling a cutting element 4 to a swing bridge 25 - see FIG. 1. The end face 10 is with the support arm 29 and the end face 9 with the Support arm 28 coupled.

In the end faces 9 and 10 of the shaving head frame 7 structurally matching receiving chambers 11 are provided for arranging and coupling the shaving head frame 7 with the support arms 28 and 29 and the required spring elements 50. One side of a receiving chamber 11 is represented, for example, by a partial section through the housing wall of the end face 9 and is explained in more detail below. This partial cut means that only one-sided, i.e. an arrangement lying on one side of the pivot axis Z and of the assignment of stops of the spring element 50 to counter-stops provided in the receiving chamber 11 are clearly shown. The same arrangement and assignment of comparable stops of the spring element 50 - see Fig. 3 - and their counter-stops in the receiving chamber 11 is also provided on the other side of the pivot axis Z in the receiving chamber 11 - not shown -. A configuration of the receiving chamber 11 and the opening 80 which corresponds to the end face 9, and the assignment of stops of the spring element 50 and counter-stops is provided in the end face 10 of the shaving head frame 7.

The receiving chamber 11 consists of an outer end wall 12 and an inner end wall 13, both of which are brought together upwards to form a closed housing and are arranged opposite to one another on an open side, ie at least partially have such a distance from one another that the introduction of the respective support arms 28 and 29 and the spring elements 50 guaranteed. A first stop 60 and a second stop 61 for the spring element 50 designed as leg spring S are provided on both sides of the pivot axis Z on the inner wall side of the inner end wall 13, with a distance between the stops 56 being shown in the installed state of the leg spring under spring tension and 57 of the spring leg 51 and the second stops 61. The end of the leg spring S opposite the stops 56 and 57 are located with the spring legs 52 and 53 in contact with two third stops 62, which are provided on the inside of the outer end wall 12. The latch arm 59 of the spring element 50 is spring-loaded into the opening 80 provided in the end wall and is located there against a side wall of the opening 80.

The support arms 28 and 29 are mounted and held pivotably about the pivot axis Z by means of a conical bearing in the outer end face wall 12 of the end faces 9 and 10 under the action of the spring force of the spring element 50 with the shaving head frame 7. Further details of the bearing design are shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 and are described in more detail below:

5 shows a cross section through the shaving head frame 7, the support arm 28 and the leg spring S in the region of the end face 9. In the inner wall 70 of the outer end face wall 12 of the end face 9, a cone-like recess 71 is provided, into which the cone provided on the support arm 28 is placed Action of the spring force of the leg spring S is stored and held. The spring leg 51 of the leg spring S transmits the spring force via the projection 36 formed by the recess 35 to the contact surface 72 of the support arm 28, whereby the outer surface of the cone 33 abuts the ring surface of the conical recess 71 in a sliding manner. The depth of penetration of the cone 33 into the cone-like recess 71 is indicated by T.

FIG. 6 shows the shaving head frame according to FIG. 5 with a partial section lying in front of the pivot axis Z through the wall of the end face 9. The section illustrates the contact of the spring leg 52 with the third stop 62 and the stop nose 54 with the first stop 60 for the purpose of FIG Generation of the spring tension acting on the support arm 28.

FIG. 7 shows the upper end of the leg spring S with the stop 56 lying in the region of the pivot axis Z - see FIG. 6. In the installed state, the stop 56 is at a distance W from the second stop 61, which on the inner wall 74 of the inner end wall 13 is provided.

The pressure forces which occur on the shaving head 7 - see xyz diagram for FIG. 8 - in the radial direction, ie in the y and z directions, lead to a resulting force in the positive x direction in the conical bearing K of the end face 9. These pressure forces are transmitted at the pressure point 100 via the projection 36 into the leg spring S, which is supported via the spring legs 52 and 53 against the third stop 62 and via the stop lugs 54 and 55 against the first stops 60 in the receiving chamber 11 of the shaving head frame 7 , The pressure forces are up to a predetermined size compensated by the spring tension of the leg spring S in the tensioned state. If the pressure forces exceed this, the pressure point 100 moves in the positive x direction. The leg spring S is then deformed by the amount of the dimension W. The leg spring S comes to rest with the stops 56 and 57 against the second stops 61 on the inner end wall 13, thereby preventing further deformation of the leg spring. Since the size of the dimension W is smaller than the depth of penetration T of the cone 33 into the cone-like recess 71, the cone 33 cannot be pushed out of the cone-like recess 71 by the action of pressure forces which occur during shaving. the same situation also applies to the cone bearing K provided in the end face 10, but with the opposite sign, ie positive = minus and minus = positive.

Claims (24)

1. A dry shaving apparatus with a housing (1) in which an electric drive mechanism (2) is provided having a drive element (3) for the transmission of a driving motion to at least one reciprocating cutting element (4), and with at least one shaving head (6) mounted on two support arms (28, 29) of a supporting frame (40) for pivotal movement about a pivot axis Z within a shaving head frame (7), said shaving head being formed by at least two cooperating cutting elements (4, 5) disposed in the shaving head frame (7, 55), characterized in that the shaving head (6) is mounted and held for pivotal movement about the pivot axis Z by means of a conical bearing (K) acted upon by a spring force of a spring element (50).
2. The dry shaving apparatus as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the shaving head (6) is mounted and held for oscillation in at least one other direction of movement.
3. The dry shaving apparatus as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that one of said other directions of oscillating movement is determined by the directions of movement (A-B) of a cutting element (4, 5).
4. The dry shaving apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the conical bearing (K) is formed by an envelope surface of a cone (33, 34) and by an annular surface of a depression (T) shaped in a conical configuration.
5. The dry shaving apparatus as claimed in claim 4, characterized in that the depression (T) is provided in an end wall (12, 13) of an end cheek (9, 10) of the shaving head frame (7).
6. The dry shaving apparatus as claimed in claim 4 or 5, characterized in that the depression (T) is provided in an inner wall (70) of an outboard end wall (12, 13) of the shaving head frame (7).
7. The dry shaving apparatus as claimed in claim 4, characterized in that the cone (33, 34) is fastened to the support arm (28, 29).
8. The dry shaving apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the spring force is producible by a spring element (50) abutting at least one wall (12, 13) of the shaving head frame (7) as well as the support arm (28, 29).
9. The dry shaving apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that an abutment surface (72) for the spring element (50) is provided on the support arm (28, 29) on the side facing away from the cone (33, 34).
10. The dry shaving apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a receiving chamber (11) for the support arm (28, 29) and the spring element (50) is provided in each end cheek (9, 10) of the shaving head frame (7).
11. The dry shaving apparatus as claimed in claim 10, characterized in that at least one stop (60, 61, 62) for the spring element (50) is provided on opposed end walls (12, 13) of the receiving chamber (11).
12. The dry shaving apparatus as claimed in claim 11, characterized in that an opening (80) is provided in the end wall (13) of the end cheek (9, 10).
13. The dry shaving apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the spring element (50) is constructed as a leg spring (S).
14. The dry shaving apparatus as claimed in claim 13, characterized in that a detent element is provided on the spring element (50).
15. The dry shaving apparatus as claimed in claim 14, characterized in that the detent element is constructed as a detent arm (59).
16. The dry shaving apparatus as claimed in claim 13, characterized in that a substantially hemispherical projection (36) acting as pressure element is provided on the spring element (50).
17. The dry shaving apparatus as claimed in claim 13 or 14, characterized in that the leg spring (S) includes at least two spring legs (51, 52, 53) extending towards one another in substantially triangular shape.
18. The dry shaving apparatus as claimed in claim 15, characterized in that one spring leg (51) has two spring legs (52, 53) associated with it.
19. The dry shaving apparatus as claimed in any one of the claims 13 to 18, characterized in that the projection (36) is provided on the one spring leg (51), and the spring legs (52, 53) are each provided with a stop nose (54, 55) which is arranged in a direction opposite to the projection (36) in a manner protruding relative to the spring leg (51).
20. The dry shaving apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that one end of the spring leg (52, 53) is engageable with the stop (62) of .the end wall, and the opposite end is engageable through the stop nose (54, 55) with a first stop (60) of the opposite end wall (13).
21. The dry shaving apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, with the spring element (50) in installed condition, a distance (W) is present between a second stop (61) of the end wall (13) and the stop (56, 57) of the spring leg (51).
22. The dry shaving apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the penetration depth (T) of the cone (33, 34) into the conical depression (71) is greater than the distance (W).
23. The dry shaving apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one support arm (28, 29) is of an elastic configuration.
24. The dry shaving apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the elastic force is producible by pressure exerted by opposed walls (12, 13) of the shaving head frame (7) on the support arms (28, 29).