Abstract:
An electric rotary shaver including a substantially circular disk form outer cutter, which has hair entry openings, and an inner cutter, which rotates while making sliding contact with the inner surface of the outer cutter; and the inner cutter including an inner cutter base, which is made of a synthetic resin and comprised of a boss that engages with a rotary shaft of the shaver and cutter blade supports that extend radially outward from the boss, and a plurality of cutter blade sections, which have a cutter blade and are installed on the cutter blade supports. The cutter blade sections can be formed in a shape of a ring to make a cutter blade ring so that the cutter blade ring is disposed on the cutter blade supports.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The present invention relates to an electric rotary shaver that includes an inner cutter that rotates while making sliding contact with the inner surface of a substantially circular disk form outer cutter that has a plurality of openings formed on the top surface. 
   2. Prior Art 
   In a typical electric rotary shaver, numerous small hair entry openings (e.g., slits) are formed in the top surface of a substantially circular disk form outer cutter that has in its inside a circular track (groove), and an inner cutter is provided so that it rotates while causing its blades (cutter blades) that are integrally disposed on this inner cutter to make sliding contact with the inner surface of this outer cutter. Such an electric rotary shaver is disclosed in, for instance, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (Kokai) No. 06-238070. 
   More specifically, in the conventional inner cutter disclosed in the above prior art, an inner cutter main body made of metal is fastened to a boss that is made of a synthetic resin. 
     FIG. 10  is a perspective view of the inner cutter disclosed in the above-identified prior art.  FIG. 11  is a perspective view of the outer cutter that is used with this inner cutter  10 .  FIG. 12  is a side view of the inner cutter with a part of the inner cutter omitted.  FIG. 13  is a partially sectional side view of this inner cutter.  FIG. 14  is a cross sectional side view of an assembled inner cutter and outer cutter of the prior art. 
   The outer cutter  12  is, as seen from  FIG. 11 , made of metal and in a substantially circular disk shape. In other words, this outer cutter  12  is made so that a circular plate is bent at the circumferential edge so as to have a shallow substantially dish-form shape or substantially inverted dish-form shape, numerous small hair entry openings constituting slits  14  are formed in this outer cutter  12  in a radial pattern, and an annular groove  16  is further formed in this outer cutter. This groove  16  extends across the slits  14  in the vicinity of the midpoint of each slit  14 . As a result, the outer cutter  12  has two annular sections (or annular tracks)  12 A and  12 B (see  FIG. 14 ) on either side of this groove  16 . A structure in an outer cutter that has such two tracks  12 A and  12 B is called a double track structure. 
   The boss  18  (see  FIG. 10 ) of the inner cutter  10  is made of a POM (polyoxymethylene) resin, e.g., “Delrin” (Registered Trademark), a product of DuPont, etc.; and the lower portion of the boss  18  has an inverted dish form portion that opens at the bottom. As seen from  FIG. 12 , an engaging hole  22  with which a rotary shaft (not shown in the drawings) of the shaver is engaged from below is formed in this inverted dish form portion  20 . A columnar center projection  24  is disposed in the center of the upper surface of the boss  18 . 
   The inner cutter main body  26  (see  FIG. 10 ) is obtained by stamping and bending a metal plate, and it has a substantially pinwheel-form shape. More specifically, the inner cutter main body  26  has ten mutually separated raised portions  30 , which are raised from the outer circumference of a circular plate portion  28 , and blade portions  32 , which are formed by further bending the raised portions  30  in the radial direction of the boss  18 . The center projection  24  of the boss  18  passes through the center of the circular plate portion  28  and is securely fastened by hot-crimping to the upper surface of the inverted dish form portion  20  of the boss  18 . 
   The upper portion of each one of the blade portions  32  of the inner cutter main body  26  is formed into a bifurcated shape, and the ends of the bifurcated blade portions respectively form cutter blades  34 . The two cutter blades  34  are respectively set from below (i.e., from the inside) in the two annular sections  12 A and  12 B of the double-track outer cutter  12 . Accordingly, when the inner cutter  10  comprising substantially the boss  18  and inner cutter main body  26  is rotated by the rotary shaft (not shown in the drawings) connected to the motor installed in the shaver main body (not shown in the drawings), the cutter blades  34  run while being in contact with the inner surfaces  12   a  and  12   b  of the annular sections  12 A and  12 B of the outer cutter  12  (see  FIG. 14 ). As a result, hair (whiskers, etc.) entering through the slits  14  of the outer cutter  12  is cut by the cutter blades  34  of the rotating inner cutter  11 . 
   The upper end portions of the cutter blades  34  of the inner cutter  10  shown here are inclined so that these upper end portions are offset further in the direction of rotation of the inner cutter  10  than the lower portions of the blade portions  32 . In other words, the upper end portions are inclined toward the front in terms of the rotating direction of the inner cutter  10 . 
   Furthermore, as shown in  FIGS. 12 and 13 , recesses  36  are formed in the surfaces of the respective cutter blades  34  so that the recesses  36  face the counter-rotation direction, so that a part of each of the recesses  36  reaches the upper end surface (i.e., the cutting surface that makes sliding contact with the inner surface of the outer cutter  12 ) of the each cutter blades  34 . These recesses  36  prevent shaving debris and dirt from adhering to the cutter blades  34 , and it also functions to decrease the area of contact between the cutter blades  34  and the outer cutter  12 , reducing the driving resistance (see the above-described cited prior art). In the present invention, however, the recess  36  can be omitted. 
   The above-described inner cutter  10  and outer cutter  12  make a pair; and, for instance, three pairs of such cutters are provided at the vertices of an equilateral triangle in the cutter head of a shaver. Three inner cutters  10  are rotationally driven by a motor installed in the main body of the shaver. A shaver with two pairs of inner and outer cutters and a shaver with only a single pair of such cutters are also possible. 
   As seen from the above, in the conventional inner cutter, the entire inner cutter main body  26  is made by press-stamping a single metal plate and then bending this plate approximately 90° at the two places A and B as shown in  FIGS. 12 and 13  and  14 . When the number of locations where such bending is performed is thus large, the distance from the center of the inner cutter  10  to the cutter blades  34 , especially the distance to the inner circumferential edges and outer circumferential edges of the cutter blades  34 , tends to become non-uniform, resulting in that the inner and outer circumferential edges of the cutter blades  34  contact the inner and outer circumferential walls  12   c  and  12   d  and the inner and outer circumferential walls  12   e  and  12   f  of the respective annular sections  12 A and  12 B of the outer cutter  2 . This leads to problems such as an aggravation of operating noise and deterioration in sharpness due to an expansion of the annular sections&#39; width of the outer cutter  12 . Furthermore, it is necessary, for making inner cutters, to use a special metal material that has good pressing characteristics and that can be hardened. 
   Furthermore, in rotary shavers, a frictional resistance force generated by the sliding motion between the cutter blades  34  of the inner and the outer cutter  12  and a resistance force that generates when hair is cut are applied to the cutter blades  34 . Accordingly, the inner cutter main body  26  must have a sufficient thickness and a high rigidity so that the cutter blades  34  do not vibrate by such resistance forces. Ordinarily, an SUS420J2 metal plate with a thickness of 0.5 mm is used for inner cutters of rotary shavers. In cases where such a thick metal material is pressed (subjected to stamping and bending), the working precision tends to be poor, and problems such as the occurrence of vibration, increase in operating noise, deterioration of sound quality and deterioration of sharpness due to biased wear of the cutter blades tend to occur. 
   In order to increase the working precision, it is desirable to make the length of the bent portions (A, B) formed by pressing as small as possible. However, if the length of these portions is shortened, the width of the raised portions  30  is naturally reduced, which is disadvantageous from the standpoint of preventing vibration of the cutter blades  34 . If the distance between the tip end portions of the cutter blades  34  to which a resistance force is applied and the bent portions (A, B) is large, the stress applied to the bent portions (A, B) increases; and this is disadvantageous from the standpoint of vibration. However, in inner cutters having the conventional structure, there are limitations in shortening this distance. 
   Thus, because of the structural problems such as poor pressing precision, a large number of bent portions and the like, problems such as vibrations in the cutter blades, resonance of various parts, an increase in operating noise and a deterioration in sound quality have been unavoidable. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention was made in light of the facts described above. 
   The object of the present invention is to provide an electric rotary shaver in which, with a new structure of the inner cutter main body, the pressing precision during the making of the inner cutter is high due to the reduced number of places where bending is performed by pressing, the deviation of rotation of the respective cutter blades of the inner cutter from a true circle is prevented, the operating noise is suppressed and the inner cutter&#39;s rotating sound quality is high due to the reduced vibration of the cutter blades, and a deterioration in sharpness of the cutter blades caused by biased wear of the cutter blades is prevented. 
   The above object is accomplished by a unique structure of the present invention for an electric rotary shaver that includes a substantially circular disk form outer cutter, which has hair entry openings in its top surface, and an inner cutter, which rotates while making sliding contact with the inner surface of the outer cutter; and in the present invention,
         the outer cutter is formed inside thereof with an annular track; and   the inner cutter is comprised of:
           an inner cutter base which is made of a synthetic resin and is comprised of a boss that engages with a rotary shaft of the shaver and cutter blade supports that extend outward from the boss, the boss and the cutter blade supports being formed integrally, and   a plurality of cutter blade sections which are formed with a cutter blade that makes sliding contact with the annular track and which are provided on the cutter blade supports.   
               

   In the present invention, the boss and cutter blade supports are formed as an integral unit of the inner cutter base that is made of a synthetic resin and a plurality of cutter blade sections of metal-made are securely held on the cutter blade supports. Accordingly, the need to support the respective cutter blade sections on a circular plate portion or raised portions as in the conventional inner cutter main body is eliminated, and the formation of numerous press-bent portions (A, B) seen in the conventional inner cutter main body becomes unnecessary, and in addition the inner cutter has a high pressing precision by the reduction of the number of bent portions. 
   Furthermore, the present invention provides several advantages. Not only that the working precision is high but also the vibration of the cutter blades is reduced and a vibration absorbing effect by the synthetic resin made cutter blade supports is assured. Thus, operating noise is reduced, and the sound quality of the rotating inner cutter is high. Furthermore, biased wear of the cutter blades caused by vibration of the cutter blades is suppressed, and deterioration in sharpness is also prevented. Moreover, since the cutter blades tend not to vibrate, it is possible that the cutter blades have a reduced thickness, so that the amount of special expensive metal materials used is reduced. 
   The cutter blade supports can be formed by a plurality of arms that extend radially from the boss. This structure reduces the weight of the inner cutter; and since shaving debris, etc. made by the cutter blades drops between the radial arms, the shaving debris tends not to adhere to the inner cutter, facilitating the cleaning of the inner cutter and the shaver. The cutter blade supports, however, can be formed as a circular plate as a whole. Furthermore, the number of radial arms can be less than the number of cutter blades; and in this structure, each arm holds more than one (or a plurality of) cutter blade section. 
   For an electric rotary shaver that has an outer cutter formed inside thereof with a single annular track, the plurality of cutter blade sections can be connected in a ring form to form a cutter blade ring, and this formation of the cutter blade sections facilitates the working (forming) of the cutter blade sections and the attachment of the cutter blade sections to the cutter blade supports. In addition, by way of setting the portion near the cutter blade sections of the cutter blade ring to be held on the upper surfaces of the cutter blade supports, it is possible to prevent the cutter blade sections from vibrating more efficiently. For an electric rotary shaver that has an outer cutter formed inside thereof with a plurality of concentric annular tracks, each of the cutter blade sections has cutter blades that are disposed side by side in the radial direction of the inner cutter, and such cutter blade sections are connected to each other to form a cutter blade ring, and this cutter blade ring is provided on the cutter blade supports. Each of such cutter blade sections can be in a letter Y-shape, the cutter blades are provided in the bifurcated portions of this Y-shaped cutter blade section, and such cutter blade sections are connected to each other at their connecting portions thus forming the cutter blade ring. 
   The plurality of cutter blade sections can be respectively provided on the respective cutter blade supports. A plurality of cutter blade sections can be combined so as to form a group, so that a plurality of cutter blade groups are provided on the cutter blade supports. The cutter blade supports can be in the shape of a plurality of arms, so that the cutter blade sections in the same number of the cutter blade supports are respectively provided on the respective cutter blade supports. A plurality of cutter blade sections can be combined to form several groups, the cutter blade supports are formed in the same number as the number of groups. The cutter blade sections are provided on the cutter blade support by hot-crimping, or they can be insert-molded on the inner cutter base when the inner cutter base is formed by injection-molding. Furthermore, fastening of the cutter blade sections by means of a bonding material or a combined use of a bonding material is also possible. In addition, inner cutter holding members for holding the cutter blades can be inserted in the inner cutter base, so that the cutter blades are held on the inner cutter holding members. 
   When the cutter blade sections take the form of the cutter blade ring, the inner circumferential portion of this cutter blade ring can be held on or fastened to the boss. In this structure, since the cutter blade ring is held by the boss and by the cutter blade supports, the cutter blade sections are fastened much more securely, and the vibration of the cutter blades is reduced even further. 
   The outer cutter that is used with the inner cutter described above can be formed with numerous slits that extend in the radial direction of the outer cutter. An outer cutter in which the slits are obliquely oriented with respect to the radial direction of the outer cutter or an outer cutter in which the slits are curved or bent into a wave shape running more or less in the radial direction can also be used. 
   For an electric rotary shaver that has an outer cutter formed inside thereof with a single annular track, the inner cutter can be designed so that a part of the central portion of each one of the cutter blade sections of the cutter blade ring that is obtained from, for instance, a metal plate, is cut (by, for instance, press-die-stamping) in the circumferential direction of the cutter blade ring and bent upward to form the cutter blade. In the actual manufacturing process of such a cutter blade ring, the cutter blade ring is formed by press-die-stamping a metal plate into a substantially ring-form shape and by subsequently or simultaneously bending upward the portions that constitute the cutter blades. 
   For the electric rotary shaver that has an outer cutter formed inside thereof with a single annular track, the inner cutter can also be designed so that a part of the outer circumferential edge of each one of the cutter blade sections of the cutter blade ring is cut in the circumferential direction of the cutter blade ring and bent upward to form the cutter blade in a somewhat cantilever configuration. 
   In addition, for an electric rotary shaver that has an outer cutter formed inside thereof with two annular tracks, the inner cutter can be designed so that the cutter blade ring is comprised of a plurality of cutter blade sections connected to each other to form a cutter blade ring, and a part of the outer circumferential edge of one of the cutter blade sections is cut in the circumferential direction of the cutter blade ring and bent upward to form the cutter blade and a part of the inner circumferential edge of the next cutter blade section is cut in the circumferential direction of the cutter blade ring and bent upward to form the cutter blade. In other words, the cutter blade sections of the cutter blade ring are alternately cut along the inner and outer circumferential edges, so that the cutter blade ring has the outer circumferential cutter blades and inner circumferential cutter blades that are alternately displaced. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a partially cat-away top view of the inner cutter according to one embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 2  is a sectional view taken along the line  2 — 2  in  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 3  is an exploded perspective view of the inner cutter of  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 4  is a top view of the cutter blade ring according to another embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 5  is a sectional side view of the overall inner cutter taken along the line  5 — 5  in  FIG. 4 ; 
       FIG. 6  is a partially sectional side view of the inner cutter of still another embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 7  is a partially sectional side view of the inner cutter of still another embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIGS. 8(   a ) and  8 ( b ) are respectively perspective views of a part of the inner cutter of still another embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 9  is a perspective view of a part of the inner cutter of still another embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 10  is a perspective of a conventional inner cutter; 
       FIG. 11  is a perspective view of a conventional outer cutter; 
       FIG. 12  is a side view of a part of the conventional inner cutter; 
       FIG. 13  is a partially cross-sectional side view of a part of the conventional inner cutter; and 
       FIG. 14  is a cross sectional side view of the assembled inner and outer cutters of prior art. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   In  FIGS. 1 ,  2  and  3 , the reference numeral  100  denotes the inner cutter according to one embodiment of the present invention, and this inner cutter  100  comprises an inner cutter base  102  and a cutter blade ring  104  that are joined to form an integral unit. 
   The inner cutter base  102  is comprised of a boss  106  and eight cutter blade supports  108 . The cutter blade supports  108  are in the shape of a plurality of arms that extend radially outward from the boss  106 . The boss  106  and the arm-shaped cutter blade supports  108  are integrally molded from a synthetic resin. A POM (polyoxymethylene) resin is an ideal material for the synthetic resin that is used for the boss and cutter blade supports. The tip ends of all of the arms or cutter blade supports  108  are bent upward, and the upper surfaces of the cutter blade supports  108  are on an imaginary plane Y that is perpendicular to the rotational axis X ( FIG. 2 ) of the inner cutter  100 . 
   Projections  110  and  112  protrude from the upper surface of each one of the cutter blade supports  108 . The projections  110  secure the cutter blade ring  104  on the cutter blade supports  108  by hot-crimping, and the projections  112  are used for positioning the cutter blade ring  104 . 
   A columnar center projection  114  protrudes from the center of the upper surface of the inner cutter base  102 . The center projection  114  engages with a recessed portion (not shown in the drawings) formed in the center of the inner surface of the outer cutter (such as one shown in  FIG. 9 ) when the inner cutter  100  is set in the outer cutter and thus prevents eccentricity of the inner cutter  100  with respect to the outer cutter. In other words, the center projection  114  prevents rotational wobbling of the inner cutter  100 . 
   As best seen from  FIG. 3 , the cutter blade ring  104  is comprised of substantially Y-shaped cutter blade sections  116  connected in a ring shape; and each one of the substantially Y-shaped cutter blade sections  116  is comprised of a connecting portion  120  and a pair of cutter blades  118  that are to be positioned in two concentric circular sections (see, for instance,  FIG. 14 ) of the outer cutter. The two cutter blades  118  in a bifurcated shape or letter Y-shape are tilted forward in the direction of rotation y of the inner cutter  100 , and a recess  122  is formed in the surface of each cutter blade  118  so that it faces the direction opposite from the direction of rotation y. The Y-shaped cutter blade sections  116  are connected to each other by the connecting portions so that the connecting portions extend between the bifurcated cutter blades  118 , thus forming the ring shape. 
   This cutter blade ring  104  is formed by press-die-stamping a metal plate into a substantially ring-form shape and subsequent or simultaneous bending of the portions constituting the cutter blades  118 . Furthermore, the recesses  122  are formed in the cutter blades  118  and cutter blade fastening holes  124  are formed in the cutter blades  116 ; and this working for the recess and fastening holes is performed at the same time as the press die stamping, and it can be dome in a separate process. 
   Due to the structure described above, the cutter blade ring  104  is obtained with a small number of press-working. Furthermore, since the cutter blades  118  are bent (raised) upward by small angles as can be seen from  FIG. 3 , the stress applied to the metal material for the cutter blade ring  114  is small, and the characteristics of the metal material (especially the press-working characteristics) are low. In the present invention, furthermore, as will be described below, since the cutter blade sections  116  are directly fastened to the cutter blade supports  108 , vibration of the cutter blade sections  116  is suppressed. Accordingly, thin metal plate can be used for the cutter blade ring  114 , and the press-working characteristics are high in this regard as well. 
   The cutter blade ring  104  described above is fastened to the cutter blade supports  108  of the inner cutter base  102  by hot-crimping. More specifically, the cutter blade ring  104  of the shown embodiment has a total of eight inner cutter fastening holes  124  formed at positions that correspond to the projections  110  of the arms or cutter blade supports  108 , and these projections  110  are passed through the inner cutter fastening holes  124  of the cutter blade ring  104 , and the upper ends (protruding ends) of the projections  10  are crimped (hot-crimped) by compressing these upper ends while applying heat thereto. In  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the reference numeral  110 A indicates the hot-crimped portions. The other projections  112  on the cutter blade supports  108  are used for positioning the cutter blade ring  104  by being contacted the side edges of the connecting portions  120  as shown in  FIG. 1 . 
   After the cutter blade ring  104  has thus been fastened in place, the tip ends of all of the cutter blades  118  are ground to form cutting edges. Of course, the cutter blade ring  104  is heat-treated at an appropriate time following the press-working. 
   The boss  106  of the inner cutter base  102  of the inner cutter  100  is formed with an engaging hole  126  (see  FIG. 2 ) that is to be engaged with a corresponding rotary shaft (not shown in the drawings) of the shaver; and after being covered by the outer cutter (see  FIG. 9 ), the inner cutter is rotationally driven in use of the shaver. 
   In the above embodiment, the cutter blade supports  108  extend radially or they are spacedly provided in the circumferential direction of the inner cutter  100 ; and when the cutter blade ring  104  is provided on the inner cutter base  106 , a pair of cutter blades  118  are located between two adjacent cutter blade supports  108 . Accordingly, the shaving debris made by the cutter blades  118  smoothly fall down through the gaps between the cutter blade supports  118 , so that shaving debris tends not to adhere to the cutter blades  118 , and cleaning is facilitated. 
     FIGS. 4 and 5  show another embodiment of the present invention 
   As shown in  FIG. 4 , in the cutter blade ring  202  of this embodiment, the portions that correspond to the cutter blade sections  116  in  FIGS. 1 and 3  are connected and integrated by a flange portion  204  located on the inner side of the ring  202 . 
   A small-diameter portion  206  which is formed into a substantially cup-form shape by deep-drawing is formed in the center of the flange portion  204 , and an opening  208  is formed in the bottom of this small-diameter portion  206 . In the edge of this opening  208 , as seen from  FIG. 4 , two different circular arcs are alternately formed at equal intervals, with four of each of these two types of circular arcs being formed. Cutter blades  210 , connecting portions  212  and cutter blade fastening holes  214  are formed in the cutter blade ring  202  in the same manner as those in the cutter blade ring  104  shown in  FIGS. 1 and 3 . 
   As shown in  FIG. 5 , the inner cutter base  216  has cutter blade supports  220  and projections  222 . The cutter blade supports  220  radially extend from the boss  218 , and the projections  222  protrude from the upper surfaces of the tip ends of the cutter blade supports  220 . The cutter blade ring  202  is carried on the cutter blade supports  220  with the cutter blade fastening holes  214  aligned with the projections  222 . The tip ends of the projections  222  that protrude from the cutter blade fastening holes  214  are hot-crimped so that they hold the cutter blade ring  202 .  FIG. 5  shows the state after the hot-crimping of the projections  222  is done. A columnar center projection  224  of the boss  218  is passed through the central opening  208  of the cutter blade ring  202 , and the inner circumferential rim of the opening  208  is fastened to the projection  224  by hot-crimping. The reference numeral  226  in  FIG. 5  indicates the hot-crimped portion. 
   In the structure shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5 , when the cutter blade ring  202  is mounted on the inner cutter base  216 , the portion of the cutter blade ring  202  located near the outer circumference is supported from beneath by the cutter blade supports  220 , and the portion located near the inner circumference is fastened to the vicinity of the boss  218 . Accordingly, the connection of the cutter blade ring  202  and the inner cutter base  216  is greatly strengthened, and the anti-vibration effect of the cutter blade ring  202  is high. 
     FIG. 6  shows, in cross-section, still another structure of the inner cutter of the present invention. 
   In this structure, the cutter blades  302  of the inner cutter  300  are in an individual form and do not formed into a cutter blade ring, and the individual cutter blades  302  are inserted in a circular cutter blade support  306  provided on the inner cutter base  304 . More specifically, all of the cutter blades  302  are fixed in place in the mold prior to the resin-molding of the inner cutter base  304 , and the inner cutter base  304  is injection-molded in this state (insert-molding). 
     FIG. 7  shows, in cross-section, still another structure of the inner cutter of the present invention. 
   In the structure of  FIG. 7 , each one of the cutter blades  352  of the inner cutter  350  are fastened by way of hot-crimping to the cutter blade support  356  of the inner cutter base  354 . More specifically, the lower portions  352 A of the cutter blades  352  are bent so that the lower portions  352 A take a horizontal configuration and come into contact with the upper surface of the cutter blade support  356 , and projections  358  formed on the upper surface of the cutter blade support  356  pass through holes formed in the lower horizontal portions  352 A of these cutter blades  352 , and the protruding ends of the projections  358  are hot-crimped.  FIG. 7  shows the state after the hot-crimping of the projections  358  is completed. 
   When individual cutter blade sections  302  and  352  are provided on the inner cutter base as shown in  FIGS. 6 and 7 , a plurality of cutter blade sections  302  or  352  can be combined to form several groups. When the cutter blade sections form groups, the inner cutter is formed with arms (or the cutter blade supports) in the same number as the number of the groups, so that each group of cutter blade sections is provided on each arm (cutter blade support). In this structure, the top surface area of the arms differ from each other so as to match the size of the combined cutter blade sections. 
     FIGS. 8(   a ) and  8 ( b ) respectively show a part of the cutter blade rings according to the embodiment of the present invention. Each of these cutter blade rings is for an inner cutter that is used in a shaver that includes an outer cutter formed inside thereof with a single annular section (or a single annular track, not shown). 
   In the structure of  FIG. 8(   a ), the cutter blade ring  400 ′ has a configuration in which a plurality of cutter blade sections  400  are connected to each other in a ring shape at the connecting portions  402  to form a cutter blade ring  400 ′; and in each cutter blade section  400 , a cutter blade  404  is formed by being cut in the circumferential direction of the cutter blade ring  400 ′ and bent upward at substantially the center of the cutter blade section  400 , leaving an opening  406  that remains after cutting of the cutter blade  404 . Since each cutter blade section  400  surrounds the opening  406 , the cutter blade ring  400 ′ has an increased rigidity. 
   In the structure of  FIG. 8(   b ), a plurality of cutter blade sections  420  are connected to each other in a ring shape at the connecting portions  422  to form a cutter blade ring  400 ″; and in each cutter blade section  420 , a cutter blade  424  is cut in the circumferential direction of the cutter blade ring  400 ″ and bent upward along the outer circumferential edge in a somewhat cantilever configuration. This cutter blade ring  400 ″ is narrow in width, and thus it is small in size and light in weight. 
     FIG. 9  shows a part of the cutter blade ring according to still another embodiment of the present invention. The cutter blade ring  400 ′″ of  FIG. 9  is for an inner cutter used in a shaver that includes an outer cutter formed inside thereof with double concentric annular sections (or double concentric annular tracks, not shown). 
   This cutter blade ring  400 ′″ has a configuration in which a cutter blade  426  is further formed in the cutter blade section  420  of the cutter blade ring shown in  FIG. 8(   b ). In other words, in this cutter blade ring  400 ′″, a cutter blade  424  is formed by being cut in the circumferential direction of the cutter blade ring  400 ′″ and bent upward along the outer circumferential edge of a cutter blade section  420  of a ring shaped metal plate, and another cutter blade  426  is formed by being cut and bent upward along the inner circumferential edge of a cutter blade section  428  which is next to the cutter blade section  420  of the ring shaped metal plate, so that the outer circumferential cutter blades  424  and the inner circumferential cutter blades  426  are alternately displaced circumferentially and radially. In this structure, one cutter blade section (for instance, the cutter blade section  428 ) for one cutter blade is a connecting portion for the next cutter blade section (for instance, the cutter blade section  420 ), and such one cutter blade section (for instance, the cutter blade section  420 ) for one cutter blade is a connecting portion for the next cutter blade section (for instance, the cutter blade section  428 ). In use, the cutter blades  426  on the inner circumferential edge of the cutter blade ring  400 ′″ come into contact and slide along the inner surface of the inside annular section (track) of a two-track outer cutter, and the cutter blades  424  on the outer circumferential edge come into contact with and slide along the inner surface of the outside annular section (track) of such a two-track outer cutter.