SHAVING APPLIANCE

Abstract: The invention relates to a shaving appliance with a housing (1) provided with a detachable holder (2,3) for at least one cutting unit (4), which cutting unit (4) comprises an external cutting element (5) with hair-­ catching openings (6) and an internal cutting element (7) that can be driven with a rotating movement relative to the external cutting element (5). The holder (2) contains an adjustable retaining element (3) for the cutting unit (4), which also functions as a stop for the cutting unit (4), that can be pressed in. The holder (3) can be placed at different positions on the housing (1), and in each position there are different places of contact between retaining element (3) and housing (1), so that the axial distance between retaining element (3) and holder (2) is variable.

Description: The invention relates to a shaving appliance with a housing provided with a detachable holder for at least one cutting unit, which cutting unit comprises an external cutting element with hair-­ catching openings and an internal cutting element that can be driven with a rotating movement relative to the external cutting element, containing in the housing a drive mechanism which, by means of an axially resilient drive spindle, can be coupled with the internal cutting element and in which the holder contains an adjustable retaining element for the cutting unit. A shaving appliance of this kind is known for example from the American Patent 3,233,323 (PH 17548). In this known embodiment the retaining element forms a stop by means of which the distance in the axial direction over which the cutting units can be pressed inwards is adjustable. The displacement of the retaining element is effected by means of a relatively complicated and therefore costly mechanism with an operating element which is accessible from outside. The object of the invention is to provide a simple solution, which is therefore easy to manufacture, and is characterized by the fact that the holder can be placed in different positions on the housing with in each position different places of contact between the retaining element and the housing, so that the axial distance between retaining element and holder is variable. A particular embodiment is presented in Claim 2. The invention will be explained in the following with the aid of a description of an embodiment illustrated in the Figures. Figure 1 shows in perspective an exploded view of a shaving appliance in accordance with the invention. Figure 2 gives a schematic outline of the different positions of the retaining element relative to the housing. The shaving appliance as represented in Figure 1 comprises a housing 1, a holder 2 and a retaining element 3 with three cutting units 4. The cutting unit 4 comprises an external cutting element 5 with hair-catching openings 6 and an internal cutting element 7 which is driven with a rotating movement relative to the external cutting element. When the appliance is fully assembled, the edge 8 of the holder 2 fits against the intented part 9 of the housing 1. In this situation the cutting units 4 lie in the opening 10 of the holder and the drive spindles 11 engage the internal cutting elements 7. Via these drive spindles 11 the cutting units 4 are coupled in the known way with an electric motor, not shown, contained in the housing 1. The cutting units 4 have a flanged edge 12 whose cross-section is larger than that of the openings 10, so that the cutting units in the assembled state of the appliance are enclosed between the holder and the retaining element. The drive spindles are provided with sprung elements 13 and can be pressed in against the action of these sprung elements in the axial direction. In the unloaded state these sprung elements 13 ensure that the external cutting elements 5 are kept pressed with the flanged edges 12 against the holder 2 by the drive spindles 11 via the internal cutting elements 7. Due to the forces produced during shaving, the cutting units 4 can be pressed in against the action of the sprung elements 13 until they rest against the retaining element 3. The distance over which the cutting units 4 can be pressed in can be varied by varying in the axial direction the position of the retaining element 3 in the holder 2. The holder 2, the retaining element 3 and the cutting units 4 form a unit which can be removed from the housing 1. In the assembled state the retaining element 3 possesses relative to the holder 2 a certain freedom of movement in the axial direction, which is limited by the stops 14 on the inside of the holder 2. The stops 14 prevent the retaining element 3 and the cutting units 4 falling out of the holder when the holder is removed from the housing 1. The retaining element 3 and the holder 2 are constructed in such a way that the retaining element fits in the holder 2 in only one way. The combination of holder 2, retaining element 3 and cutting units 4 can, however, be mounted in three different positions on the housing 1 by rotation around an imaginary central axis 15. In each position the retaining element and housing have different places of contact. Consequently, the axial distance between retaining element 3 and housing 1, and hence between retaining element 3 and holder 2, can be varied. These places of contact are formed by the stops 16, 17 and 18 on the housing 1 and the sides of the recesses 19, 20 and 21 cut at the corresponding places in the wall 22 of the retaining element 3. The recess 20 consists of two parts, shown as 20A and 20B in Figure 2. Figure 2 shows a schematic development in a flat plane of the wall 22 of the retaining element 3 and the part 9 of the housing 1. The three positions are indicated by I, II, III. In position I the stops 16, 17 and 18 rest respectively against the parts of the wall 19', 20B' and 21'. Since these parts of the wall define the deepest part of the recesses 19, 20 and 21, in this position the retaining element 3, seen in the axial direction, lies closest to the housing 1. By removing the combination of holder 2, retaining element 3 and cutting units 4 from the housing and turning it for example 120°, position II is obtained. In this position the stops 16, 17 and 18 lie respectively against the parts of the wall 21", 19" and 20A' which define the part of the recesses 19, 20 and 21 that lie less deep than the previous part. Finally, by a further rotation, a third position 3 can be reached where the stops 16, 17 and 18 rest against the wall 22 of the retaining element 3. In the three positions the retaining element, seen in the axial direction, lies at different distances from the housing 1, and so too therefore does the holder 2. In this way a simple construction can be obtained with which it is possible to vary the distance over which the cutting units can be pressed inwards.

Claims: 1. Shaving appliance with a housing provided with a detachable holder for at least one cutting unit, which cutting unit comprises an external cutting element with hair-catching openings and an internal cutting unit which can be driven with a rotating movement relative to the external cutting element, containing in the housing a drive mechanism which, by means of an axially sprung drive spindle, can be coupled with the internal cutting element, and in which the holder comprises an adjustable retaining element for the cutting unit, characterized by the fact that the holder can be placed in different positions on the housing with in each position different places of contact between the retaining element and the housing, so that the distance between retaining element and holder is variable in the axial direction. 2. Shaving appliance as claimed in Claim 1, characterized by the fact that the housing is provided with stops and the retaining element is provided with places of contact corresponding to the stops by means of recesses lying at different levels in the axial direction.

Inventors: BERGSMA, WIJTSE C/O INT. OCTROOIBUREAU B.V., LABRIJN, HANS C/O INT. OCTROOIBUREAU B.V., STERK, OLIVIER C/O INT. OCTROOIBUREAU B.V.
Applicants: N.V. PHILIPS' GLOEILAMPENFABRIEKEN
Application year: 1986
Main classification: B26B19
IPC codes: B26B19