JPH0686875A - Blade unit for cutting body hair - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide a blade unit which is operational in a safe and simple manner and easy to manufacture at a low cost. CONSTITUTION:A blade unit is equipped with a blade 11 having at least one cutter 11.1 and a guide/protection constitution element 10 having at least one row of finger shaped projections 10.1, and the top edge parts 10.2 of the projections form a line in each row, and the shape substantially corresponds to the line of the cutter 11.1, and projects on the cutter 11.1. The blade 11 is attached on the guide/protection constitution element 10, and fixed by rivets or tightened. The projection 10.1 fulfills the function for guiding the cutting interval, and prevents the biting of the cutter 11.1 into skin, and prevents the dangerousness of incised wound even in any type of operation.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a blade unit for cutting hair, particularly for shaving, according to the preamble of claim 1. This blade unit can be used as a surrogate cutting means in the corresponding instrument or alone.

[0002]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION There is a great variety of needs for instruments for cutting hair, especially shavers. The device must cut the hair in a satisfactory manner, requiring a specific geometry of the skin and the cutting blade (cutting geometry), which can differ as a function of the surface to be shaved. The device must be very universally usable, ie with a wide variety of different surface types and for a wide variety of different hair and skin types. However, it is also required to be easy to handle and operate. The risk of any damage to its use and all other operations must be virtually eliminated. The device must be able to be easily and thoroughly cleaned and should have no place in particular where cut hairs are retained or clogged. Meeting all these different requirements is not an easy task, as it leads somewhat to the design requirements of appliances that cannot be combined.

Modern shavers are usually compromise products realized by the extent to which their individual requirements are met in their priority order. Thus, for example, in various prior art shavers, a constant cutting geometry is achieved,
The bearing surface is placed in the shaving direction upstream and downstream of the single blade or multiple blades. The skin is pulled between these two sides, thus presenting the most favorable position for shaving with respect to the blade. A good shave is only possible with both support surfaces engaging the skin, ie only one instrument position with respect to the skin allows good results to be achieved. Therefore, the freedom of movement of the user is very limited, and the surface formed so that both supporting surfaces cannot be supported in substantially the same plane cannot be shaved in an optimal manner.
Therefore, between its supporting surface and the cutting blade of the blade,
It is necessary to keep the cutting blade free and to have the shortest distance to carry away the cut hair. This distance should be as large as possible to minimize the risk of easy cleaning and bristling, but it should also be as small as possible to ensure minimal injury risk. The risk of this injury is particularly high if the instrument is moved over the skin parallel to the cutting blade and not in the normal state of being perpendicular to the cutting blade, as in normal shaving. It is also often not possible to tame small skin inhomogeneities between support surfaces, such as old cuts, pimples or mosquito bites, sufficiently that they are not damaged by the blade. If the shaving is done on a very convex surface, the skin will get into the blade section as a result of the significant curvature between the two bearing surfaces and will be injured as a result. This is especially true when the protruding bone is just below the skin, that is, when it is often shaved by a woman, as well as near the mandible.

To provide additional protection against injury, instruments have been developed that wrap a thin wire around the blade so that only objects of very small size can get into the vicinity of the cutting blade. While such wire wrapping provides considerable protection against injury, it causes hygiene problems because hairs and bristles are clogged between the wire and the blade and cannot be removed with a simple cleaning procedure. Occurs. It is also not possible to guide the blade directly onto the skin in the vicinity of the wrapping wire, and thus an optimal deep shave.

Heretofore, each development step to better perform one requirement has involved a step backwards with respect to another requirement.

The object of the present invention is to be able to be mounted as a substitute in a corresponding instrument or used alone and to achieve cutting geometry, safety and hygiene requirements in an optimal manner. It is possible to provide a blade unit for cutting hair, in particular for shaving hair. Therefore, apart from the clipping function,
The blade unit must assume the function of sticking to the blade and positioning it appropriately. This blade unit shall not constitute a risk of injury during any normal operation. It must also have no place where the hair or hair part can become clogged or blocked and must be capable of very thorough cleaning by simple means. This blade unit should be simple and inexpensive to manufacture.

This object is solved by a blade unit according to the characterization of claim 1 which comprises at least one cutting blade and a blade with guiding / protecting components, which will be explained in more detail below.

[0008]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The blade unit of the present invention includes a blade having at least one cutting blade and a rake-like guiding / protecting component. This blade and guide / protection component must not be separable by the user, either for replacement of the blade unit of the corresponding cutting instrument or for use of the blade unit alone.
These are interconnected in such a way that means not normally present in the use of the blade unit are required for its separation. The guide / protection component includes a rear portion having at least one row of fingers. The guide / protection component has a flat shape that substantially corresponds to the shape of the blade, and the tips of the fingers form a line or lines similar to a cutting blade single blade or blades. . Blades and guidance /
The protective component is arranged so that the finger points project on the cutting blade and the line of these points and the cutting blade are substantially parallel, so that the blade engages the guide / protective component. Fixed. As a result, the points or tips of the protrusions ensure that the cutting edge of the blade does not bite into the skin,
Apply pressure on the skin and guide the cutting blade of the blade during shaving.

The blades and the guide / protective components, which are preferably plastic or metal, are interconnected by rivets, adhesives or fasteners or joints.

The projection tip protruding above the cutting blade of the blade allows only an object whose dimension in at least one direction is smaller than the distance between the two projections to pass therethrough,
As a result, the cutting edge of the blade is covered so that it no longer presents a risk of injury. During shaving, the blade unit has a guide / blade that faces the skin and projects above the blade.
It is pushed over the skin so that the projections of the protective component are guided over the skin upstream of the cutting blade of the blade. Optimal cutting geometry is obtained as a result of the action of the tips of the protrusions on the skin. The cut hair is removed from between the projections and can be easily removed by the fact that the risk of injury is eliminated, for example with a cleaning comb, by rinsing or by hand. Skin inhomogeneities greater than the spacing between the two protrusions, i.e. highly convex surfaces, cannot pass near the cutting edge of the blade and are thus protected from injury. Movement of the blade unit on the skin that is parallel to the blade's cutting blade and not perpendicular to the cutting blade as in normal shaving also guides the cutting blade
It does not lead to injury because it is so close to the protrusions of the protective component that it cannot penetrate into the skin. The blade unit is attached to the shaver or shaving head,
Regardless of whether used alone, injuries are unlikely to occur in the blade unit of this invention.

This blade unit can be used as a replacement or replacement device for the corresponding shaver, like a conventional razor blade. It can also be used alone, as it creates a good cutting geometry in itself and does not present a risk of injury.

[0012]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 illustrates the principle of shaving using the blade unit of the present invention and specifically the cutting geometry. This blade unit has a finger 1
Guide / protection component 10 with 0.1 and cutting blade 1
The blade 11 with 1.1 is shown in the figure as a portion along the axis of the protrusion 10.1 and at a right angle to the cutting blade 11.1. The blade unit is guided on the skin H,
The blade against the skin is applied to the skin in the direction of the arrow with slight pressure. Therefore, the skin H rises slightly upstream of the protrusion 10.1 (region H.1), so that it can be more easily taut in the cutting direction behind the protrusion. The array of protrusions acts in the manner of a spatula. Protrusion 10.
1 can be easily pushed into the skin, so that in the shaving direction the skin tightly engages the end or side 10.3 (region H.2) of the protrusion after the protrusion tip 10.2. ,
There the pressure no longer has an effect, whereby the cutting blade 11.1 is moved directly over the skin, allowing an optimal deep shave.

From FIG. 1, the operational reliability of the blade unit depends on the set angle (general direction) between the unit and the skin H.
It turns out that it doesn't depend much on. Therefore, it is not so important for the blade unit to be guided to a specific position on the skin. The set angle can be selected virtually arbitrarily. The set angle towards the apex is limited by the fact that the cutting angle between the hair to be cut and the blade must be minimal and that the skin to be shaved must be sufficiently elastic, that By means of the set angle, the end of the projection on the cutting blade can be closely engaged. It is known that a set angle between the skin and the blade of 10 ° to 50 ° gives good shaving results. From FIG. 1 it can be seen that the blade unit alone, i.e. using other parts of the shaver, for cutting hair, in particular for shaving hair, eliminating any risk of injury and any positioning problems. It will also be appreciated that it can be used without.

Tests have shown that a second bearing surface 12 on the surface to be shaved which does not have a difficult shape to shave facilitates optimum positioning. However, such bearing surfaces are not critical and may or may not be used if provided. The second bearing surface may be part of the blade unit, facilitating the mounting of a flat blade on the guiding / protecting component as a further function, or of the shaver on which the blade unit is mounted. possible. If the second bearing surface is part of the blade unit, riveting the three parts (guide / protection component, blade and second bearing surface) or the guide / protection component to the second Manufacturing is advantageous by welding to the bearing surface of the, interposing the blade and providing a mold of the clamping connection between the blade and the other two parts.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the embodiment of the blade unit of the invention shown in FIG. 1 showing the guiding / protecting components. As mentioned above, the guidance / protection component is a rear part 1
0.4 and finger-like protrusion 10.1. Blade 11
Is fixed to the guide / protection component (after the guide / protection component in the drawing) so that the tip 10.2 of the projection projects above the cutting blade 11.1. The distance a between the protrusions is 0.2 to 3 mm, and the width b of the protrusions (in the direction of the cutting blade) is 0.
It has been found that an embodiment of 2 to 2 mm and a spacing c between the cutting blade and the tip of the projection of 0.4 to 3 mm gives very good shaving results. If the distance a is smaller or the thickness b is larger, the cutting action is inferior, while if the distance a is larger, the range of the cutting blade covered by the protrusion is increased, which may cause injury. The thickness of the protrusion (perpendicular to the cutting blade) must be chosen so that there is no risk of the tip of the protrusion penetrating the skin. The shape of the tips of the projections is advantageously rounded for the same reason and must, of course, have no sharp points or edges.

For special applications, the tips of the protrusions 10.
The lines of 2 and the cutting blade 11.1 may be in the form of curved lines. For example, the cutting edge of a flat blade can have a concave or convex shape, or is shaped like a portion of a cylinder jacket instead of the entire blade being flat. If the blade unit is to be used as a substitute device, the rear part 10.4 and possibly also the blade 11 should also be provided with corresponding fastening means, eg holes.

FIG. 3 shows a further illustrated embodiment of the blade unit of the present invention. The embodiment shown in Figure 3a includes a blade having two cutting edges facing each other and a guide / protection component that supports two rows of protrusions facing each other. It is also possible to use blades with more than two cutting blades, for example substantially square or pentagonal blades with 4 or 5 cutting blades as shown in Figures 3b and 3c. Corresponding guide / protection components also have a substantially square or pentagonal shape with finger-like protrusions at each end. Such a blade unit is rotatably positioned on a corresponding cutting instrument,
As a result of rotation, for example, the next sharpened blade can be moved rotationally to the cutting position (example according to FIG. 3b). If the individual blades are different, for example straight or slightly concave or convex, they can be rotationally moved into a cutting position for shaving different types of surfaces (according to FIG. 3c). Example).

FIG. 4 shows an embodiment of the blade unit of the present invention which is replaceably placed on the shaving head. The shaving head comprises an applicator 40, for example as described in commonly assigned Swiss patent application 1131 / 90-5. The applicator 40 has a supply groove 41, through which the product provided for shaving is fed to the applicator roll 42.
The applicator roll 42, which rotates during the shaving movement, dispenses the product directly on the skin H upstream of the blade units 10 and 11. FIG. 4 shows the center position P.P. of the blade unit with respect to the applicator 40. 2 is shown by a solid line. This position P.I. also shows the general position of the skin H during shaving. 2, the applicator roll 42 is guided on the skin together with the blade unit,
The result is a normal shaving position in which the shaving product is dispensed directly onto the skin prior to cutting. The hair that is cut off when shaving in this position is moved between the applicator and the blade unit. In order to remove the bristles and to clean the blade unit and the applicator, the blade unit is in position P. Moved to 3 (indicated by the dashed line),
The spacing between the guide / protection components of the applicator roll 42 and the blade unit is then considerably spaced, as is preferred for corresponding cleaning. Position of the blade unit with respect to the applicator P. 1 (indicated by the dashed line) is suitable for shaving longer hairs because the cut hair does not get caught between the applicator and the blade unit. However, no application is possible in this position.

The shaver suitable for mounting the blade unit of the present invention is such that the shaving head having the blade unit is mounted on the handle in a replaceable manner while the applicator is fixed to the handle or the applicator is replaced by the handle. It can be designed in any way, either fixedly fixed, while the shaving head is fixedly mounted on the handle with the blade unit.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram of the working principle of the blade unit of the present invention with respect to the illustrated embodiment.

2 is a plan view of the embodiment according to FIG. 1, looking at the guiding components, FIG.

FIG. 3 is a diagram of a further embodiment of the blade unit of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a view of a blade unit of the present invention replaceably attached to a shaving head.

[Explanation of symbols]

 10 Guidance / Protection Components 10.1 Protrusions 10.2 Tips 11 Blades 11.1 Cutting Blades

Claims (15)

[Claims] 1. Used as a substitute for a corresponding cutting instrument, in particular a shaver, or used alone.
Blade unit for cutting hair, in particular for shaving, at least one cutting blade (11.1)
(11) with blades and guide / protection component (10) with at least one row of fingers (10.1)
Characterized in that its tip (10.2) forms a line substantially corresponding to the cutting blade, and further that the blade (11) and the guide / protection component (10) are protrusions (1).
Blade unit, characterized in that the tips (10.2) of (0.1) are fixed together so as to project above the cutting blades (11.1). 2. Blade unit according to claim 1, characterized in that the guide / protection component (10) and the blade (11) are interconnected by adhesive bonding. 3. Blade unit according to claim 1, characterized in that the guide / protection component (10) and the blade (11) are both riveted. 4. Blade unit according to claim 1, characterized in that it additionally has a second bearing surface (12). 5. Guidance / protection component (10) and second
Blade unit according to claim 4, characterized in that the bearing surfaces (12) of the blades (11) are interconnected such that the blades (11) are blocked between them. 6. Guidance / protection component (10) and second
Bearing surfaces (12) are welded together,
The blade unit according to claim 5. 7. A cutting blade (11.1) for the blade (11).
The blade unit according to claim 1, wherein is a straight line, a concave shape, or a convex shape. 8. A blade according to claim 1, characterized in that the blade is in the form of a part of a cylinder jacket and the guide / protection component is a corresponding shape.
Blade unit described in one. 9. Blade unit according to claim 1, characterized in that the blade (11) has two cutting blades facing each other, which are straight, concave or convex. . 10. The blade according to claim 1, wherein the blade has a substantially polygonal shape with more than two cutting edges, and the cutting edges are straight, concave or convex. The blade unit according to one. 11. The spacing (a) of the protrusions of the guide / protective component is 0.2 to 3 mm and the width (b) of these protrusions in the direction of the cutting edge of the blade is 0.2 to 2 mm, Blade unit according to any one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the tip (10.2) of the projection projects 0.4 to 3 mm above the cutting blade (11.1). 12. Blade unit according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it has fixing means for helping to be fixed to the shaving head of the corresponding cutting instrument. 13. The method according to claim 1, further comprising fixing means for fixing the blade unit.
A shaver for using the blade unit according to claim 1. 14. Shaver according to claim 13, characterized in that it has an applicator with an applicator roll (42) and the position of the blade unit with respect to the applicator (40) is adjustable. 15. A shaving head for using a blade unit according to any one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that it has fixing means for the blade unit.