Patent ID: 7441336
Filing Date: 2008-10-28
Classification: A61C,B26B

Abstract:
1. A hand held appliance comprising a handle; a safety razor blade unit configured to be detachably connected to said handle, said unit comprising a guard surface, a cap surface, and a plurality of blades comprising elongated sharp cutting edges, wherein the blades are disposed between the guard and cap surfaces; an electrically operable vibration generating device operable to vibrate the blade unit; and a control device to control operation of the vibration generating device, wherein the control device is in proximity or is touch sensitive and comprises a sensor element located at the blade unit, the sensor element comprises two electrodes, whereby the vibration generating device is actuated in response to a user of the appliance moving the blades into close proximity to, or into contact with, the user's body for cutting hair, wherein the control device is sensitive to a change in an electrical parameter between the electrodes, wherein said control device comprises a signal generator arranged to generate a pair of electrical signals, and a comparator arranged to compare said pair of electrical signals and to provide an output indicative of a predetermined change in the relationship between said pair of signals, there being an output produced to actuate said vibration generating device; wherein said electrodes are arranged such that movement of the appliance by the user into a condition where both electrodes are in close proximity to or in contact with the body causes said predetermined change.