Abstract:
A shaver includes an improved locking mechanism for securing a shaving head to the shaver while allowing for simple and convenient removal thereof. The shaver further includes an adjustable shaver head that effectively follows the contours of the face or body. The shaver can be extended to use with a backshaver that has a first handle portion connected to a second handle portion by a joint assembly that allows the handle portions to be adjusted to varying angles and locked at a desired angle.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to shaving apparatus, and in particular, to improvements in shaving components that are used with shavers. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     The market has seen many new shavers that are directed to shaving different parts of the body. Face shavers have long been popular, and now shavers designed for use in shaving a user&#39;s leg and back have also become popular. 
     The advent of these new types of shavers also brings with them different needs and requirements. 
     For example, backshavers are used to shave a user&#39;s back, so the user must be able to reach the desired locations in the back. 
     In addition, the shaver head must adapt to the contours of the user&#39;s face or back. 
     Also, depending on the part of the body on which the shaver is being used, the shaver head may need to be changed, and shaver heads need to removed for cleaning or replacement. As a result, convenience in changing and locking new shaver heads have also become important. 
     Thus, there remains a need for improved shaving components. Specifically, there is a need for an improved shaver where the shaver head can be conveniently changed and locked in place, and where the shaver head can follow the contours of the user&#39;s face or body. In addition, there is a need for a backshaver that provides improved access to all areas of the user&#39;s back. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved locking mechanism for securing a shaving head to a shaver while allowing for simple and convenient removal thereof. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide a shaver head that follows the contours of the face or body. 
     It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a backshaver that has a handle that allows the user to reach any desired location in the back. 
     To accomplish these objectives, the present invention provides, in one embodiment thereof, a shaver having a shaver head and a handle base. The shaver head has a lower end that has a recess, and a circular raised ring extending from the lower end having at least two spaced-apart L-shaped grooves. The handle base has a mounting base that includes a circular groove having at least two spaced-apart bumps provided in a wall of the circular groove, with each of the bumps being fitted inside a corresponding L-shaped groove when the shaver head is connected to the handle base, and the mounting base further including a locking projection that is fitted inside the recess of the shaver head when the shaver head is connected to the handle base 
     The present invention provides, in another embodiment thereof, a shaver head having a head portion and a base portion. The head portion includes a shaving element, with a connection shaft extending from a lower end, the connection shaft having opposing transverse rotating shafts extending therefrom, and opposing baffles adjacent the rotating shafts and extending from the connection shaft. The base portion has a housing, with positioning racks extending in the housing to receive corresponding rotating shafts for rotation therein. The base portion further includes a plurality of springs positioned adjacent the positioning racks, and each spring is aligned with a corresponding baffle so as to be biased against the corresponding baffle for providing a restoring force to the circumferential rotation of the connection shaft. 
     In yet a further embodiment of the present invention, a backshaver has a first handle portion with a shaver head carried at a first end, a second handle portion, and a joint assembly. The joint assembly has housing that includes a first joint housing connected to the first handle portion and a second joint housing connected to the second handle portion, the first and second joint housings pivotable with respect to each other. A first circle of inner teeth are arranged inside the first joint housing. Two blocks are retained inside the first joint housing, each block having one group of raised teeth that is adapted to be meshed inside certain teeth of the first circle of inner teeth. A biasing element is arranged between the blocks and biases the blocks away from each other to push the groups of raised teeth against the certain teeth of the first circle of inner teeth. A second circle of inner teeth is arranged on an opposite side of the first circle of inner teeth. A raised tooth plate is provided inside the second circle of inner teeth, the raised tooth plate having at least two groups of teeth along its periphery. The raised tooth plate is movable up and down with respect to the second circle of inner teeth to first and second positions, respectively, the at least two groups of teeth of the raised tooth plate being meshed with certain teeth of the second circle of inner teeth in the first position, and the at least two groups of teeth of the raised tooth plate being separated from the teeth of the second circle of inner teeth in the second position. A driving block is secured to the raised tooth plate, and functions to move the raised tooth plate up and down with respect to the second circle of inner teeth. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is an exploded front view of a shaver system showing a removable shaver head and a shaver handle base according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a top view of the handle base of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is an exploded perspective view of the shaver system of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIGS. 4-6  illustrate how the shaver head of  FIG. 1  is locked to the shaver handle base of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 7  is a front view of the shaver head of  FIG. 1  showing the internal components of the shaver head. 
         FIG. 8  is an exploded perspective view of the shaver head of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 9  is a side view of a backshaver according to one embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 10  is a side view of the front face of a first handle portion of the backshaver of  FIG. 9  showing the construction of the joint. 
         FIG. 11  is a side view of the rear face of a first handle portion of the backshaver of  FIG. 9  showing the construction of the joint. 
         FIG. 12  is a cross-sectional view of the joint of the backshaver of  FIG. 9 . 
         FIG. 13  is an exploded view of the joint of the backshaver of  FIG. 9 . 
         FIGS. 14A and 14B  illustrate the relative movement of the raised tooth plate with respect to the inner limiting teeth in the joint of the backshaver of  FIG. 9 . 
         FIGS. 15A and 15B  illustrate the operation of the joint of the backshaver of  FIG. 9 . 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     The following detailed description is of the best presently contemplated modes of carrying out the invention. This description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating general principles of embodiments of the invention. The scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims. 
     Detachable Shaver Head and Locking Mechanism 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1-3 , the present invention provides a detachable shaver head  2  with a locking mechanism for locking the shaver head  2  to a handle base  1 . The handle base  1  is provided with a mounting base  3  for mounting the shaver head  2 . The upper end of the mounting base  3  provides a connection end face between the mounting base  3  and the shaver head  2 , and is provided with a circular groove  4  that has a plurality of spaced-apart bumps  5  provided in the sidewall of the groove  4 . The lower end of the shaver head  2  is provided with a round raised ring  6  that has a corresponding number of L-shaped grooves  9  provided on its outer side wall. The shaving head  2  is rotatable with respect to the mounting base  3 . 
     A locking projection  7  is arranged on the upper end face of the mounting base  3 , and is capable of moving upwardly and downwardly. A sliding switch  10  is provided along the body of the handle base  1  and is connected to the projection  7  and is adapted to move the projection  7  up and down through its sliding motion. The bottom end face of the shaver head  2  is provided with a corresponding locking recess  8  that is aligned to the position of the projection  7 . 
     The shaver head  2  is rotatable with respect to the mounting base  3 . To secure the shaver head  2  to the mounting base  3 , the shaver head  2  is lowered onto the mounting base  3  so that the raised ring  6  enters the circular groove  4  in a manner such that each bump  5  is aligned with a corresponding L-shaped groove  9  so that each bump  5  enters the short leg of the corresponding L-shaped groove  9 . See  FIG. 4 . The shaver head  2  is then rotated (see  FIG. 5 ) so that the bumps  5  are now moved along the long leg of the corresponding L-shaped grooves  4 , locking the shaver head  2  to the mounting base  3 . The output shaft  12  of a motor passes through the mounting base  3  to be in transmission connection with the shaver head  2 . Next, as shown in  FIG. 6 , the sliding switch  10  is moved upwardly to cause the projection  7  to be inserted into the locking recess  8  so as to prevent the shaver head  2  from further rotating with respect to the mounting base  3 . 
     The shaver head  2  can be conveniently and quickly removed by reversing the steps shown in  FIGS. 4-6 . 
     The locking mechanism shown and described in  FIGS. 1-6  is unique in its function because the shaver shaves in a pulling motion, so the shaver head  2  needs to be maintained in place, and not rotate or twist off while the user is shaving. This is especially important if the shaver head  2  is used in connection with a backshaver, since backshavers often have very long handles, so there is a large amount of torque or force that is paced put on this locking joint between the shaver head  2  and the handle base  1 . 
     Adjustable Shaver Head 
     The present invention also provides a shaver head  2  that has adjustable-angles on multiple planes. This shaver head is more adaptable to different angles on the surfaces of a human body, and provides a better shaving result. 
     The shaver head  2  shown and described above can be provided with the capability of shaving along adjustable-angles on multiple planes. Referring now to  FIGS. 7 and 8 , the shaver head  2  has a rotating base  22  and a head portion  21 . The head portion  21  is formed by two covers  21   a  and  21   b  that house conventional shaving components, such as a blade  28  and springs  29 , among other components. An elastic band  30  is fitted between the head portion  21  and the rotating base  22 . 
     The rotating base  22  is formed by assembling a front base cover  22   a  and a rear base cover  22   b  to form a base housing. The lower end of the head portion  21  is provided with a connection shaft  23  for mounting with the rotating base  22 . Left and right transverse rotating shafts  24  extend from opposite sides of the connection shaft  23 . Corresponding left and right rotating positioning racks  25  are provided in the rotating base  22  at locations that are aligned with the rotating shafts  24 . Left and right baffles  26  are arranged on opposite sides of the connection shaft  23 , below the rotating shafts  24 . Return springs  27  are positioned in the rotating base  22  below the racks  25 , and are aligned with the two baffles  26 . The rotating base  22  is provided with four return springs  27 , with two return springs  27  positioned in each of the covers  22   a  and  22   b , and aligned so that they form left and right pairs. Each return spring  27  is positioned to be biased against a corresponding baffle  26  for providing a restoring force to the circumferential rotation of the connection shaft  23 . The left and right rotating positioning racks  25  are arranged on the left and right portions of the inner side of the base cover  22   b , respectively, for rotatably receiving and fixing the corresponding rotating shafts  24 . 
     The connection shaft  23  is cylindrical and capable of rotating on the rotating base  22  along its own circumferential direction. The return springs  27  provide a restoring force to the circumferential rotation of the connection shaft  23  through the baffles  26 . The rotating positioning racks  25  and the rotating shafts  24  are provided, with the rotating shafts  24  driving the shaver head  2  to rotate longitudinally about the rotating positioning racks  25 . The interactions between these components allow the shaver head  2  to have adjustable-angles on multiple planes, so that this shaver head  2  is more adaptable to different angles on the surfaces of a human body, and provides a better shaving result. 
     Backshaver with Adjustable Handle 
     The handle base  1  and the shaver head  2  of  FIGS. 1-8  can be used with any type of shaver, but can also be used with a backshaver.  FIGS. 9-15B  show the use of this shaver  2  and handle base  1  with a backshaver that has a pivoting handle that can be pivoted to different angles, and which has multiple sections to allow the handle to have a varying length. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 9-13 , the backshaver has a first handle portion  32  that is pivotably connected to a second handle portion  33  by a joint  31 . The shaver head  2  and the handle base  1  are carried on an upper end of the first handle portion  32 . A movable handle  47  is sleeved outside the second handle portion  33 . A guide rail  48  is provided on the second handle portion  33  in an axial direction, so that the movable handle  47  can move along the guide rail  48 . 
     The joint  31  is illustrated in greater detail in  FIGS. 10-15B . The joint  31  allows for the angle between the handle portions  32  and  33  to be adjusted on a lock-step basis to any angle between zero degrees and a maximum angle (e.g., 135 degrees), and then to be retained securely at the selected angle. 
     The joint  31  includes a first joint housing  61  and a second joint housing  62  that are pivotably secured together to be pivotable with respect to each other. A circle of inner teeth  34  is arranged on a connection face between the first handle portion  32  and a connection end of the second handle portion  33 . Two semi-circular blocks  57  are retained inside the first joint housing  61 , and each block  57  has one group of raised teeth  36  that encircles a driving block  35 . Each group of raised teeth  36  is adapted to be meshed inside the inner teeth  34 . Return springs  37  are arranged between the blocks  57  so that the two opposite groups of raised teeth  36  can be rotated with respect to the inner teeth  34 . This rotation is accomplished with the blocks  57  pushed against each other against the bias of the return springs  37 , so that the groups of raised teeth  36  can be rotated and meshed into different groups of corresponding inner teeth  34 . 
     A circle of inner limiting teeth  38  is arranged on the other surface of the first handle portion  32 . A raised tooth plate  39  is provided inside the inner limiting teeth  38  (see  FIGS. 14A and 14B ), and the raised tooth plate  39  is able to move up and down, so that the raised tooth plate  39  is limited in movement inside the inner limiting teeth  38  to be meshed with the inner limiting teeth  38 , or separated from the inner limiting teeth  38  The driving block  35  is secured to the raised tooth plate  39 , and the middle part of the driving block  35  is hollow. The raised tooth plate  39  is a generally round panel, and the edge of the raised tooth plate  39  is provided with a tooth profile that is adapted to be fitted with the inner limiting teeth  38 . 
     Thus, the raised teeth  36  move along the inner teeth  34  when force is applied to pivot the handle portions  32  and  33 . The return springs  37  exert pressure along the raised teeth  36 , causing the lock-step turning of the joint  31 . This is possible because the teeth on the raised tooth plate  39  are disengaged from the inner limiting teeth  38  (as shown in  FIG. 14B ). 
     The outer side face of the first handle portion  32  is provided with an ON switch that comprises a button  41  and a push rod  42 . The push rod  42  is positioned inside the hollow part of the driving block  35 . The output end of the push rod  42  is connected with an actuating rod  43  which is vertically connected with the raised tooth plate  39 . The button  41  drives the raised tooth plate  39  to move up and down through the push rod  42  and the actuating rod  43 . An OFF switch  44  is arranged on the outer side face of the second handle portion  33 , and the OFF switch  44  is vertically connected to the raised tooth plate  39  to enable the raised tooth plate  39  to move up and down. 
     Two sets of raised sub-teeth  45  are carried on the blocks  57 . The two raised sub-teeth  45  are coupled to each other through the return springs  37 , The outer side faces of both raised sub-teeth  45  are provided with tooth profiles that are adapted to be inserted into corresponding slots in the second joint housing  62  (see  FIG. 12 ). 
     This provides a locking force so that the block  57  remains stationary relative to the second joint housing  62  while the first handle portion  32  and the teeth  34  move around the teeth  36  and the block  57 . 
     A fixing cover  49  is provided outside the ON switch for fixing the button  41  of the ON switch on the outer end face of the driving block  45 . Similarly, another cover  46  is provided outside the OFF switch  44  for fixing the switch  44  on the opposite end face of the driving block  35 . A retainer piece  53  is provided between the cover  46  and the second joint housing  62 , and has a bore which receives a portion of the driving block  35  and the switch  44 , so as to align and retain the switch  44  within the joint  31 . 
     A washer  51  is provided between the raised tooth plate  39  and the teeth  34  and  36 . The washer  51  enables the push rod  42  to slide in and out of it, thereby creating a locking function. In addition, the washer  51  will keep the push rod  42  in complete alignment within the joint  31  so when either side of the lock button  41  is pushed, it will cause the joint to lock or unlock. 
     The joint  31  works based on the following basic principles. First, as the inner teeth  34  and the raised teeth  36  rotate with respect to each other, the relative rotation of the first handle portion  32  and the second handle portion  33  is a click-type rotation which provides a lock-step, so that a continuous rotation (i.e., with no lock step) is avoided. This allows the user to accurately select the desired angle between the handle portions  32  and  33 . Second, the raised tooth plate  39  and the inner limiting teeth  38  are configured so that the raised tooth plate  39  can move up and down through actuation of the ON switch and the OFF switch  44 ; as a result, the raised tooth plate  39  can enter into or be separated from the inner limiting teeth  38 , thereby limiting the relative rotation between the first handle portion  32  and the second handle portion  33 . This allows the joint to be locked at the desired angle.  FIG. 15A  shows the two handle portions  32  and  33  oriented at a maximum angle of about 135 degrees, with the two ends  59  of the handle portions  32 ,  33  acting as stop members to prevent the handle portions  32 ,  33  from being pivoted beyond that maximum angle. 
     In addition, the movable handle  47  is sleeved outside the second handle portion  33 , so that the length of the second handle portion  33  can be adjusted. 
     While the description above refers to particular embodiments of the present invention, it will be understood that many modifications may be made without departing from the spirit thereof.