Patent Description:
Electric shavers and trimmers utilize various mechanisms to provide hair cutting functionality. Some electric shavers include a perforated shear foil cooperating with an undercutter movable relative thereto so as to cut hairs entering the perforations in the shear foil. Such shear foil type shavers are often used on a daily basis to provide for a clean shave wherein short beard stubbles are cut immediately at the skin surface.

On the other hand, other cutter systems including a pair of cooperating cutting elements with comb-like edges including one or more rows of comb-like or rake-like cutting teeth reciprocating or rotating relative to each other, are often used for cutting longer beard stubbles or problem hair that is difficult to cut due to, for example, a very small angle to the skin or growing from very resilient skin. The teeth of such comb-like or rake-like cutting elements usually project substantially parallel to each other or substantially radially, depending on the type of driving motion, and may cut hairs entering into the gaps between the cutting teeth, wherein cutting or shearing is achieved in a scissor-like way when the cutting teeth of the cooperating elements close the gap between the finger-like cutting teeth and pass over each other.

Such cutter systems for longer hairs may be integrated into electric shavers or trimmers which at the same time may be provided with the aforementioned shear foil cutters. According to the invention cutting elements include two rows of comb-like cutting teeth arranged at opposite sides of the cutting elements and a field of shear foil-like cutting perforations between said rows of comb-like cutting teeth.

For example, <CIT> shows a shaver with a pair of long hair trimmers integrated between shear foil cutters. Furthermore, <CIT> and <CIT> disclose hair trimmers having two rows of cooperating cutting teeth arranged at opposite sides of the shaver head, wherein the cutting teeth of the upper comb-like cutting element are provided with rounded and thickened tooth tips overhanging the tooth tips of the lower cutting element so as to prevent the projecting tooth tips from piercing into the skin and from irritating the skin.

A similar cutter system is shown in <CIT> wherein in such cutter system the lower comb-like cutting element is fixed and the upper comb-like cutting element is movable.

Shavers and/or trimmers combining rows of comb-like cutting teeth at opposite edges and shear foil-like cutting perforations between said rows of comb-like teeth sometimes include C-shaped outer cutting elements the edges of which are dog-eared to form limbs bent inwardly like the limbs of a C or a U, wherein such dog-eared limbs are held by a support frame. The transitional edge portion connecting the dog-eared limbs with the central portion of the outer cutting element is contoured or configured to form a row of comb-like teeth for cutting longer stubbles, whereas the central portion of the cutting element is provided with at least one field of perforations for cutting short hair. Said outer cutting element cooperates with an inner cutting element which may be plate-shaped and may include rows of comb-like teeth at opposite edges to cooperate with the comb-like teeth of the outer cutting element, and furthermore at least one field of perforations or other cutouts between the comb-like toothed edges for cooperating with the perforations in the outer cutting element.

Thus, shear foil like cutting perforations for cutting short hairs and comb-like cutting teeth for cutting longer hairs or stubbles are integrated into the same cutting elements, wherein the inner cutting element may be biased against the outer cutting element usually by means of a spring device which may include a pair of flexible spring arms extending from a central base portion of the support structure towards the inner cutting element. Said spring arms may have a sort of V-shaped configuration and may contact the inner cutting element at sections between the central field of perforations and the opposite toothed edges. Due to such biasing of the inner cutting element against the outer cutting element, tugging and pulling hairs to be cut in the perforations can be avoided, but, on the other hand, the friction between the cutting elements is rather high what causes high energy consumption by the drive unit and furthermore heating of the cutting elements what is often felt unpleasing or uncomfortable. Such cutter systems are shown in documents <CIT> and <CIT>.

A similar cutter system is disclosed by <CIT>, wherein the support structure includes an outer frame holding the outer cutting element at opposite edge portions thereof, wherein such outer frame includes, at its inner surface, a step-like projection forming a shoulder for supporting the inner cutting element at the toothed, comb-like edges. The support structure includes a four-bar linkage mechanism connecting the cutter system to a handle of the trimmer and allowing the cutting elements to pivot about a pivot axis parallel to the axis of reciprocating. Due to the four-bar linkage system, said pivot axis is no fixed axis, but may move along a path defining the possible positions of the instantaneous center of rotation. Such four-bar-linkage tends to be flexible and thus, may affect the transmission of driving action to the cutting elements via a drive train bridging the gap between the handle and the cutter head.

Closest prior art document <CIT> discloses the preamble of claim <NUM>.

Such beard stubble trimmers and shavers need to address quite different and diverging functional requirements and performance issues such as closeness, thoroughness, good visibility of the cutting location, efficiency and pleasant skin feel, good ergonomics and handling. Closeness means short or very short remaining stubbles, whereas thoroughness means less missed hairs particularly in problem areas like the neck. Efficiency means less and faster strokes suffice to achieve the desired trimming result. Pleasant skin feel depends on the individual user, but often includes less irritation in form of nicks, cuts or abrasion and better gliding onto the skin. Visibility of the cutting location is particularly important in case of styling or edging contours to accomplish hair removal with local accuracy.

From <CIT> it is known to provide a hair trimmer cutter system having one row of comb-like cutting teeth for cutting hairs and another opposing row of comb like cutting teeth embedded within a head housing. The head housing is rotatable and pivotable relative to the handle due to a ball and socket type arrangement between handle and head. This ball and socket bearing serves for both coupling the head to the handle and allowing rotational and pivotal movement of the head. Such head movement need to be adjusted and positioned by an operator or technician in the desired angular orientation and has no fixed pivot axis. The center of the ball and socket bearing may be understood as point of a pivot axis and said pivot axis is positioned offset from a middle plane which extends perpendicular to a center section of a skin facing surface of the cutting elements and thus closer to a first one of said rows of comb-like cutting teeth than to a second one of said comb-like cutting teeth.

Fulfilling such various performance issues at the same time is quite difficult. Meeting such needs becomes even more difficult when different types of cutting contours such as shear foil-like perforations and comb-like rows of teeth are integrated into the same cutting elements such as C-shaped cutting blades reciprocating relative to each other since such multiple-function cutter elements may not be adapted exclusively to one specific cutting function.

It is an objective underlying the present invention to provide for an improved cutter system avoiding at least one of the disadvantages of the prior art and/or further developing the existing solutions. A more particular objective underlying the invention is to provide for a close and thorough cutting of hair and longer stubbles including a good control of edging contours and, at the same time, avoiding skin irritations. A further objective is a good adaption of the cutter system to the skin contour without posing risks of skin injuries due to uncontrolled pivoting of the cutting elements. Another objective underlying the present invention is a reliable and clean cutting action of the cooperating cutting teeth and cutting perforations to avoid pulling and tugging of hair, without sacrificing low friction between the cutting elements, low temperatures of the cutting teeth and low energy consumption and thus long energy storage life. At least one of the above objectives is addressed by the features of claim <NUM>. Advantageous further features are set for by the subject matter of the dependent claims.

The cutter system may pivot relative to a handle about an eccentric pivot axis which is not arranged symmetrically with respect to the opposite rake-like cutting edges for cutting longer hairs so pivoting the cutting elements about said pivot axis causes larger movements of one of said rake-like cutting edges in comparison to the other rake-like cutting edge. More particularly, said pivot axis is positioned offset from a middle plane which extends perpendicular to a center section of the skin contact surface and/or skin facing surface of the cutter elements so that said pivot axis is closer to a first one of said rows of comb-like cutting teeth than to a second one of said rows of comb-like cutting teeth. When pivoting, the first row of comb-like cutting teeth which is closer to the pivot axis, makes less or shorter transverse movements, whereas the second row of comb-like cutting teeth further away from the pivot axis makes more or larger transverse movements. Said transverse movements follow a circular path around said pivot axis, wherein the length of the movement depends on the lever arm or pivoting arm, i.e. the distance from the pivot axis.

More particularly, the pivot axis may be arranged closer to the row of comb-like cutting teeth which is usually used as a leading edge going ahead when moving the cutter system along the skin to be shaved. Depending on certain aspects of the shaver and/or trimmer such as position and/or orientation of the cutting elements relative to a handle and/or the position and orientation of the skin contact surface relative thereof in a home position of the cutting elements and/or protrusion of the cutting elements towards a certain side of the handle and/or an offset and/or cranking of the cutter head vis-à-vis a longitudinal axis of the handle and/or the arrangement of operation keys such as an on/off key at the handle suggesting a certain way of gripping the handle, the cutter system may have a common moving direction or preferred moving direction in which a major number of users intuitively move the cutter system over the skin to be shaved so that one rake-like cutting edge is the leading edge and the other rake-like cutting edge is the trailing edge, it is moved in such moving direction of preference of most users.

Offsetting the pivot axis towards the preferred leading edge of the cutter system, i.e. to the row of comb-like cutting teeth forming the leading edge when moving the cutter system in said common moving direction of most users, makes movements of the leading edge transverse to the skin to be shaved and occurring due to pivoting above the pivot axis, smaller and thus, makes the user feel more comfortable and reduces the risk of skin irritations or injuries like small cuts. The larger transverse movements at the opposite side, i.e. at the trailing edge, due to such pivoting of the cutter system is less critical and does not have a negative impact on comfort or risk of injuries and skin irritations.

In a home position or neutral position or initial position of said cutting elements relative to the pivot axis, said cutting elements may be inclined relative to a longitudinal handle axis at an acute angle so that the skin contact and/or skin facing surface of the cutter elements faces towards a front side of the handle of the shaper/trimmer. Considering such inclination of the cutting elements towards said front side in a home position, the pivot axis is positioned closer to the row of comb-like teeth positioned at said front side whereas the opposite row of comb-like cutting teeth positioned at the backside of the handle is further away from said pivot axis.

Many users pull the cutter system along the skin to be shaved with said front-side row of cutting teeth forming the leading edge so that positioning the pivot axis closer to said front-side row of comb-like teeth may improve the user's feeling of comfort and may reduce the risk of skin irritations or even skin injuries such as cuts that may be caused when the comb-like cutting teeth move into the skin due to pivoting or the pitch angle towards the skin becomes too steep.

These and other advantages become more apparent from the following description giving reference to the drawings and possible examples.

So as to allow for more comfortable shaving and/or trimming with self-adaption of the cutter blades to the skin contour and, at the same time, to reduce the risk of skin irritations or even skin injuries, an improved pivot support structure is suggested to reduce transverse movements of a leading cutting edge into the skin due to pivoting of the cutting elements when moving the cutter system along the skin to be shaved and adapting the pitch angle of the cutter system to the skin contour.

More particularly, it is suggested the cutter system may pivot relative to a handle of the trimmer/shaver about an eccentric pivot axis which is not arranged symmetrically with respect to the opposite rake-like cutting edges for cutting longer hairs so pivoting the cutting elements about said pivot axis causes smaller movements of one of said rake-like cutting edges in comparison to the other rake-like cutting edge. More particularly, said pivot axis is positioned offset from a middle plane which extends perpendicular to a center section of the skin contact surface and/or skin facing surface of the cutter elements so that said pivot axis is closer to a first one of said rows of comb-like cutting teeth than to a second one of said rows of comb-like cutting teeth. When pivoting, the first row of comb-like cutting teeth which is closer to the pivot axis, makes a shorter transverse movement, whereas the second row of comb-like cutting teeth further away from the pivot axis makes a longer transverse movement, wherein such transverse movements follow a circular path around said pivot axis, wherein the length of the movement depends on the distance of said rows of teeth from the pivot axis.

More particularly, the pivot axis may be arranged closer to the row of comb-like cutting teeth which is usually used as a leading edge going ahead when moving the cutter system along the skin to be shaved. Depending on certain aspects of the shaver and/or trimmer such as position and/or orientation of the cutting elements or the skin contact surface thereof in a home position of the cutting elements and/or protrusion of the cutting elements towards a certain side of the handle and/or an offset and/or cranking of the cutter head vis-à-vis a longitudinal axis of the handle and/or the arrangement of operation keys such as an on/off key suggesting a certain way of gripping the handle, the cutter system may have a common moving direction or preferred moving direction in which a major number of users intuitively move the cutter system over the skin to be shaved so that one rake-like cutting edge is the leading edge and the other rake-like cutting edge is the trailing edge, it is moved in such common moving direction intuitively preferred by most users.

Offsetting the pivot axis towards the preferred leading edge of the cutter system, i.e. to the row of comb-like cutting teeth forming the leading edge when moving the cutter system in said common moving direction of most users, makes movements of the leading edge transverse to the skin to be shaved and occurring due to pivoting above the pivot axis, smaller and thus make the user feel more comfortable and reduces the risk of skin irritations or injuries like small cuts. The larger transverse movements of the trailing edge due to such pivoting of the cutter system is less critical and does not have a negative impact on comfort or risk on injuries and skin irritations.

In a home position or neutral position or initial position of said cutting elements relative to the pivot axis, said cutting elements may be inclined relative to a longitudinal handle axis at an acute angle so that the skin contact and/or skin facing surface of the cutter elements faces towards a front side of the handle of the shaper/trimmer. Considering such inclination of the cutting elements towards said front side in a home position, the pivot axis is positioned closer to the row of comb-like teeth positioned at said front side whereas the opposite row of comb-like cutting teeth positioned at the backside of the handle is further away from said pivot axis. Many users pull the cutter system along the skin to be shaved with said front-side row of cutting teeth forming the leading edge so that positioning the pivot axis closer to said front-side row of comb-like teeth may improve the user's feeling of comfort and may reduce the risk of skin irritations or even skin injuries such as cuts that may be caused when the comb-like cutting teeth move into the skin due to pivoting or the pitch angle towards the skin becomes too steep.

Basically, transverse movements of the leading cutting edge could be completely eliminated when the pivot axis is positioned directly at said leading cutting edge since such position would eliminate the leverage arm or pivoting radius in terms of the distance from the pivot axis. Thus, depending on the aggressiveness of the comb-like cutting teeth and the desired level of comfort, it may be desired to position the pivot axis relatively close to said leading edge. For example, the pivot axis could be positioned in-between the row of comb-like teeth and the field of perforations formed in the skin contact surface.

However, offsetting the pivot axis too much from the center of the cutter system may impair comfort and safety when moving the cutter system in the opposite or non-preferred moving direction over the skin to be shaved. So as to achieve a good compromise, the pivot axis may be spaced apart from said first row of comb-like teeth at a distance which is about <NUM>% - <NUM>% or <NUM>% - <NUM>% or <NUM>% - <NUM>% of the distance between said pivot axis and the opposite second row of comb-like teeth.

Thus, the pivot axis may be positioned about <NUM> - <NUM>% closer to one row of comb-like cutting teeth than to the other row of comb-like cutting teeth.

So as to achieve good responsiveness of the pivoting of the cutting element and, thus, good adaption to the skin contour for different users which may apply different levels of skin contact pressure, the pivot axis may be positioned close to the skin contact surface so as to reduce the torque and thus pivoting effect of friction. When the cutter system is pressed against the skin and moved along the skin, the friction caused between the skin contact surface and the skin to be shaved tends to or tries to pivot the cutter system about the pivot axis, wherein the leverage arm of such frictional forces becomes the smaller the closer the pivot axis is to the skin contact surface.

More particularly, the pivot axis may be positioned slightly under the skin contact surface and/or within a cutter head chamber encompassed by frame portions of the support structure holding opposite edges of one of the cutting elements and said cutting elements. Such position significantly reduces the leverage of frictional forces relative to the pivot axis and, thus, pivoting torque caused by such frictional forces on the one hand and allows for a compact, space-saving arrangement of the support structure on the other hand.

So as to allow for easy, intuitive use of the shaver/trimmer, the support structure may be configured to provide for a pivoting range of the cutting elements which is asymmetrical with regard to a longitudinal handle axis. In other words, the pivot range may be larger towards one side of the handle than towards the opposite side of the handle. More particularly, the pivot range may be configured such that the skin contact and/or skin facing surface of the cutting elements faces towards the same side of the handle over at least <NUM>/<NUM> or <NUM>/<NUM> of said pivot range.

A natural shaver feeling and easy, intuitive use may be achieved when said pivot range allows for various pivoting positions of the cutting elements with an angle of inclination ranging from -<NUM>° to +<NUM>° or <NUM>° - <NUM>° +/- <NUM>° or +/- <NUM>°, said angle of inclination being defined between a virtual plane extending perpendicular to the longitudinal handle axis and another virtual plane tangential to the skin contact/facing surface of the cutting elements.

So as to urge the cutting elements into a specific home position, a biasing device may be associated with said pivot axis. Such biasing device may be configured to bias the cutting elements about said pivot axis towards an end of a limited pivot range. In other words, the biasing device which may include a spring device, does not urge the cutting elements into a neutral middle position from which it may pivot into opposite directions, but the biasing device tries to urge the cutting elements into an extreme pivot position or an end pivot position from which the cutting elements may pivot only in one direction.

More particularly, the biasing device may be configured to bias the cutting elements into an angular pivoting position with a smallest possible angle of inclination of the skin contact surface vis-à-vis the longitudinal handle axis. If the cutting elements pivot out of said biased home position, the plane tangential to the skin contact surface gets more and more transverse to the longitudinal handle axis and/or tries to approach a position perpendicular to said longitudinal handle axis.

Due to such biased home position in which the skin contact surface is inclined at a rather small angle relative to the longitudinal handle axis, users intuitively pull the cutter system with the aforementioned first row of cutting teeth going ahead over the skin to be shaved. Thus, the eccentric or offset pivot axis allows for fine adaption of the cutting elements to the skin contour and avoids uncontrolled transverse movements potentially posing a risk of skin irritations.

Irrespective of such preferred direction of moving the cutter system, biasing the cutting elements into said home position at the end of the pivoting range may also reduce the risk of skin irritations or even skin injuries when the cutter system is moved over the skin to be shaved in the non-prefered opposite direction, i.e. when the second row of comb-like cutting teeth is the leading edge since said second row of comb-like teeth may deflect due to pivoting rather easily and gives way to the skin, wherein only very low skin contact forces are necessary at such opposite edge as the distance to the pivot axis is rather large and, thus, the leverage of such skin contact forces at the opposite edge is large.

So as to avoid too much flexibility detrimental to efficient transmission of driving forces and/or torque to the cutting elements, said pivot axis may have a fixed position relative to a non-reciprocating one of said cutting elements and/or a fixed position relative to a handle of the shaver/trimmer. Such fixed pivot axis position allows to avoid yielding and bulky bar-linkage mechanisms.

Said support structure may include a rigid pivot axis holder having a mounting portion for fixedly attaching the pivot axis holder to a handle or a chassis portion of the shaver/trimmer, wherein said pivot axis holder may include two frame portions extending into or towards a cutter head chamber defined by said cutting elements and outer frame portions of the support structure (<NUM>) holding opposite edges of one of the cutting elements.

More particularly, said pivot axis holder may include a U-shaped or V-shaped holding frame element made from metal.

So as to achieve a smooth, comfortable cutting action, it is helpful to avoid separating the cutting elements and thus, the cooperating comb-like teeth and/or the cooperating cutting perforations from one another so as to avoid that hair is no longer properly cut or even clamped between the teeth moving relative to each other or between the cutting perorations moving relative to each other. Basically, this can be prevented by means of pressing the cooperating cutting elements against each other, for example by means of spring devices such as flexible support ribs urging the teeth/perforations of one cutting element against the teeth/perforations of the other cutting element.

In the alternativ or in addition to such flexible support ribs, one of the cutting elements may be sandwiched between the other cutting element and support elements or a support structure like a support frame which may include rigid ribs or web-like flanges precisely and rigidly supporting and guiding the inner cutting element at a predetermined position under the outer cutting element and sufficiently close thereto, said rigid support ribs and the outer cutting element defining a gap in which the sandwiched cutting element is slidably and/or movably received, wherein said gap may be slightly thicker than the sandwiched cutting element to provide for some play at least during non-use to reduce friction and heat generation. When the outer cutting element is pressed against the skin or at least contacts the skin during operation of the shaver/trimmer, it may deflect and at least then closely fits onto the inner cutting element. Although the sandwiched cutting element may move relative to the other cutting element without friction or at very low friction, it is nevertheless prevented from deflection even when the thickness of the sandwiched cutting element is very small.

More particularly, one of the cutting elements may be sandwiched between the other cutting element and said flexible or rigid support ribs or web-like flanges supporting and guiding the inner cutting element at a predetermined position under the outer cutting element and sufficiently close thereto, said rigid or flexible support ribs and the outer cutting element defining a gap in which the sandwiched cutting element is slidably and/or movably received, wherein said gap may be slightly thicker than the sandwiched cutting element to provide for some play at least during non-use to reduce friction and heat generation when said ribs are rigid. When the outer cutting element is pressed against the skin or at least contacts the skin during operation of the shaver/trimmer, it may deflect and at least then closely fits onto the inner cutting element. When flexible ribs are used, said gap, without accomodating a blade therein, may be zero or at least smaller than said blade thickness to provide for some biasing. Although the sandwiched cutting element may move relative to the other cutting element without friction or at very low friction, it is nevertheless prevented from deflection even when the thickness of the sandwiched cutting element is very small.

To achieve low friction and avoid clamping of hairs between the cutting teeth at the same time, said gap from the tip portions of the supporting ribs to the outer cutting element may have a thickness which is larger than the thickness of the sandwiched cutting element only by an amount smaller than the thickness of hair to be cut.

More particularly, the amount by which the width of said gap exceeds the thickness of the sandwiched cutting element may be less than <NUM>. For example, it may range from <NUM> to <NUM>. Such configuration is a good compromise between still easy manufacturing and sufficiently small risk of pulling and tugging hair to be cut.

Said skin contact/facing surface defined by the outer cutting element may be substantially plane or flat. In the alternative, said skin contact surface defined by the outer cutting element may be slightly convex or slightly dome-shaped when viewed in a cross section taken perpendicular to the reciprocating direction. When viewed in a cross sectional plane parallel to said axis of reciprocation, the skin contact surface may be linear. Thus, the skin contact surface may be slightly, smoothly convex in terms of a shallow chute-like or trough-like shape.

Both the outer cutting element and the inner cutting element may have such shape corresponding to the skin contact surface.

So as to keep the inner and outer cutting elements snugly fitting onto each other in the region where the cutting perforations are formed, it may be helpful when the rigid or flexible support ribs, with their support edge, extend directly adjacent to or closely neighbouring an outer boundary of the field of perforations. The support ribs, with their support edges, may contact the inner cutting element immediately along the outermost rows of perforations.

In the alternative, said support edge of the support ribs may contact the inner cutting element along a line spaced apart from the outermost rows of perforations. Nevertheless, the support edges of the support ribs may be positioned closer to the outermost rows of perforations then to the cutting teeth at the opposite edges of the cutting elements. More particularly, the distance of the support edges of the support ribs from the field of perforations may be less than <NUM>/<NUM> or less than <NUM>/<NUM> of the distance of the support edges from the comb-like cutting teeth.

So as to take up the skin contact pressure induced in the inner cutting element via the outer cutting element in a balanced way, the support edges of the support ribs facing the inner cutting element may be spaced from each other at a distance ranging from <NUM>% to <NUM>% or <NUM>% to <NUM>% of the distance defined between the rows of comb-like teeth at the opposite edges of the cutting elements. Depending on the user's preference, different portions of the skin contact surface defined by the outer cutting element may be pressed against the skin with varying forces so that varying skin pressure may arise. So as to balance such varying pressures, it is helpful when the inner cutting element is supported by said rigid support ribs at about <NUM>/<NUM> and about <NUM>/<NUM> of the span width of the inner cutting element when considering a cross sectional view thereof.

Said support ribs and/or their supporting edges contacting the inner cutting element may extend parallel to the axis of reciprocation and /or parallel to the rows of comb-like teeth at the opposite edges of the cutting elements.

The support ribs may be anchored at the base portion of the support structure in different ways. For example, the support ribs may be welded to said base portion or embedded in the material of said base portion. For example, when there are separate support ribs, each of the ribs may be inserted into a slot-like recess in said base portion to hold the support ribs in the desired orientation and position.

In the alternative, the support ribs inclined to each other at an acute angle, may be connected to each other in one piece and/or form integral parts of a support rib element. More particularly, the support ribs may be formed by V-like or dog-eared limbs of a support frame insert that can be inserted into the support structure supporting the cutting elements and/or attached to the base portion of such support structure. Such support rib insert may have a chute-like or trough-like configuration including a strip-like bottom portion from which the two support ribs extend at the described inclination. Such chute-like insert can be inserted into the support structure and fixedly attached to the base portion thereof. For example, the bottom portion of the insert may be seated onto the inner surface of a bottom portion of the outer support frame at a center portion thereof, wherein the central bottom portion of the outer support frame may form a seat for the support rib insert. Seating the support rib insert onto the bottom portion of the outer support frame may take up the support forces and pressure induced into the support ribs, thereby pressing the support rib insert onto the bottom portion of the outer support frame.

Said inner support frame insert may be fixedly attached to the outer support frame, e.g. glued and/or welded and/or form-fitted thereto.

Said outer support frame portions holding the outer cutting element at opposite edge portions thereof, together with the outer cutting element may define a cutter head chamber which may be configured tube-like or barrel-like with open or closed end faces. So as to allow hair dust or cut hair stubbles to be discharged from such cutter head chamber, the axial end sides of said cutter head chamber may be open.

More particularly, such cutter head chamber defined by the outer frame portions and the outer cutting element may be divided into a plurality of sub-chambers by the aforementioned support ribs of the inner support frame. More particularly, the cutter head chamber may be divided by the rigid support ribs into an inner sub-chamber for collecting short hair particles from the cutting perforations and a pair of outer sub-chambers for collecting long hair particles cut by the comb-like cutting teeth.

The hair dust collected in the inner sub-chamber and coming from the perforations as well as the cut hair stubbles collected in the outer sub-chambers may be discharged from the respective subchambers via at least one open end face, wherein each of opposite ends of said subchambers may be open to enhance cleaning of said subchambers and discharging collecting hair dust therefrom.

The sandwiched cutting element may be driven by a driver which is connected to the inner cutting element and coupled to a drive train transmitting a driving action of a drive unit, wherein the aforementioned inner support frame including the rigid support ribs and the outer support frame including the outer frame portions holding the outer cutting element and the base portion backing the inner support frame, may include one or more central, elongated or slit-like throughholes in which a portion of said driver and/or said drive train is slidably received. In other words, the driver and/or drive train extends through said throughhole in the inner and outer support frames and is slidably received therein to allow for reciprocating of the driver and thus, the sandwiched cutting element relative to the other cutting element.

The driver may include an elongated rod-like portion attached to opposite end portions of the inner cutting element and accomodated in the inner sub-chamber defined between the rigid support ribs and the inner cutting element.

The sandwiched cutting element may be the driven cutting element which may reciprocate or rotate, depending of the type of drive.

Basically, each of the cooperating cutting elements may be driven. However, to combine an easy drive system with safe and soft cutting action, the upper or outer cutting element having the skin contact surface may be standing and/or may be not reciprocating and not rotating, whereas the lower or inner cutting element which may be the sandwiched cutting element, may reciprocate or rotatorily oscillate.

As can be seen from <FIG> and <FIG>, the cutter system <NUM> may be part of a cutter head <NUM> which may be attached to a handle <NUM> of a shaver and/or trimmer <NUM>. More particularly, the shaver and/or trimmer <NUM> may include an elongated handle <NUM> accommodating the battery <NUM>, the electronic and/or electric components such as a control unit <NUM>, an electric drive motor <NUM> or a magnetic drive motor and a drive train <NUM> for transmitting the driving action of the motor to the cutter system at the cutter head <NUM> which cutter head <NUM> may be positioned at one end of the elongated handle <NUM>, cf.

The cutter system <NUM> including a pair of cooperating cutting elements <NUM> and <NUM> may be the only cutter system of the cutter head <NUM> as it is the case with the example shown in <FIG>. On the other hand, the cutter system <NUM> may be incorporated into a shaver head <NUM> having other cutter systems such as shear foil cutters, wherein, for example, the cutter system <NUM> having at least one row of cooperating cutting teeth <NUM>, <NUM> may be positioned between a pair of shear foil cutters, or, in the alternative, may be positioned in front of such a shear foil cutter.

As shown by <FIG>, the cutter system <NUM> may include elongated rows of cutting teeth <NUM> and <NUM> which may reciprocate relative to each other along a linear path so as to effect the cutting action by closing the gaps between the teeth and passing over each other. On the other hand, the cutter system <NUM> also may include cutting teeth <NUM> and <NUM> which are aligned along a circle and/or are arranged radially. Such rotatory cutting elements <NUM> and <NUM> may have cutting teeth <NUM> and <NUM> projecting substantially radially, wherein the cutting elements <NUM> and <NUM> may be driven to rotate relative to each other and/or to rotatorily oscillate relative to each other. The cutting action is basically similar to reciprocating cutting elements as the radially extending teeth, when rotating and/or rotatorily oscillating, cyclically close and reopen the gap between neighboring teeth and pass over each other like a scissor.

As shown by <FIG>, the drive system may include a motor the shaft of which may rotate an eccentric drive pin which is received between the channel-like contours of a driver <NUM> which is connected to one of the cutting elements <NUM> which is caused to reciprocate due to the engagement of the rotating eccentric drive pin with the contours of said driver <NUM>.

As shown by <FIG>, <FIG> and <FIG>, the cooperating cutting elements <NUM> and <NUM> basically may have - at least roughly - a plate-shaped configuration, wherein each cutting element <NUM> and <NUM> includes two rows of cutting teeth <NUM> and <NUM> which may be arranged at opposite longitudinal sides of the plate-like cutting elements <NUM> and <NUM>, cf. <FIG> and <FIG>. The cutting elements <NUM> and <NUM> are supported and positioned with their flat sides lying onto one another. More particularly, the cutting teeth <NUM> and <NUM> of the cutting elements <NUM> and <NUM> touch each other back to back like the blades of a scissor.

In addition to such comb-like cutting teeth <NUM> and <NUM>, the cooperating cutting elements <NUM> and <NUM> is provided with at least one field of cutting perforations <NUM> arranged between the rows of cutting teeth <NUM> and <NUM> in a middle portion of the cutting elements <NUM> and <NUM>. More particularly, the outer cutting element <NUM> defining a skin contact surface of the cutter system <NUM> may include at least two rows of cutting perforations <NUM> which may be formed as small sized throughholes having a circular, oval, elliptical or polygonal shape.

In particular, such small sized throughholes forming the cutting perforations <NUM> may have a hexagonal shape, wherein the long axis of such hexagonal throughholes, i.e. the axis going through opposite corners of the hexagonal shape, may be oriented transverse to the reciprocating axis <NUM> of the cutting elements <NUM> and <NUM>.

As can be seen from <FIG>, the cutting perforations <NUM> may expand towards the skin contact/facing surface, i.e. the crossectional area of the cutting perforation <NUM> becomes larger towards the skin contact surface. Such trompet-like or conical or truncated pyramide-like shape helps hair to enter the cutting perforations (<NUM>), as can bee seen from <FIG>.

As can be seen from <FIG>, the cutting perforations <NUM> may not be distributed all over the center section of the skin contact surface, but are arranged in limited areas only. More particularly, the cutting perforations <NUM> for cutting short hair may be restricted to areas <NUM>, <NUM> of the skin contact surface or skin facing surface <NUM> of the cutting element <NUM> following the comb-like cutting teeth <NUM>, <NUM> when the cutter system <NUM> is moved along the skin to be shaved with one of the rows of comb-like teeth <NUM>, <NUM> moving ahead, whereas a middle portion <NUM> of the skin contact/facing surface defined by the cutting elements in-between said opposite rows of comb-like teeth may be unperforated.

Such arrangement of restricted areas <NUM>, <NUM> of cutting perforations <NUM> spaced apart from each other takes into account that very short hair is cut by the cutting perforations <NUM> immediately following the leading one of the rake-like cutting edges, whereas the cutting perforations <NUM> further away from the leading comb-like cutting edge are less effective in cutting very short hairs. Due to the elimination of cutting perforations in areas of the skin contact surface <NUM> less effective in cutting very short hairs reduces the friction between the cutting elements <NUM>, <NUM> without sacrificing efficiency in cutting very short hairs. Friction is reduced as less cutting edges of less cutting perforations need to pass each other when the cutting elements move relative to each other and, thus, hair particles already cut or hair dust coming from the cutting perforations moving ahead over the skin to be shaved is not cut or grinded once again so frictional losses are reduced.

More particularly, the cutting perforations <NUM> may be arranged in two separated elongated fields <NUM>, <NUM> of perforations which are separated from each other by an elongated unperforated center section <NUM> of an outer one of said cutting elements <NUM> defining a skin contact surface <NUM>, and which include each at least two rows of perforations <NUM> extending along and/or parallel to the rows of comb-like cutting teeth <NUM>, <NUM>.

So as to allow for sufficient support of the cutting elements moving relative to each other without interfering with the cutting action of the comb-like teeth <NUM>, <NUM> and perforations <NUM>, said fields of perforations <NUM>, <NUM> also may be separated from or spaced apart from the rows of comb-like teeth <NUM>, <NUM> by elongated, unperforated side sections <NUM>, <NUM> of said outer cutting element, wherein the support structure may include a pair of flexible or rigid support ribs <NUM> supporting an inner one of said cutting elements <NUM> under said unperforated side sections <NUM>, <NUM> adjacent to or along outer boundaries of said fields of perforations <NUM>, <NUM>.

So as to reduce friction due to engagement of the support structure <NUM> with the moving cutting element <NUM>, the inner cutting element <NUM> may extend unsupported under said unperforated center section <NUM> between said fields <NUM>, <NUM> of cutting perforations <NUM>.

Said elongated unperforated center section <NUM> of the skin contact surface <NUM> defined by the outer cutting element may have a size or width which is larger than a size or width of each of said fields <NUM>, <NUM> of cutting perforations. More particularly, the unperforated center section of the skin contact surface may extend over an area ranging from <NUM>% - <NUM>% or from <NUM>% to <NUM>% of the area defined by each of said fields of cutting perforations, cf.

More generally, more than <NUM>/<NUM> or more than <NUM>/<NUM> of the area of the skin contact surface <NUM> of the cutter element <NUM> between the comb-like cutting teeth may be unperforated. In other words, only <NUM>/<NUM> - <NUM>/<NUM> of the skin contact surface <NUM> between the opposite rake-like toothed edges of the cutter system <NUM> may be perforated, as it is shown by <FIG>. Such limitation of the area of cutting perforations <NUM> may significantly reduce the friction when the cutting elements <NUM>, <NUM> move relative to each other.

Such cutting perforations <NUM> in the outer cutter element <NUM> may cooperate with perforations <NUM> in the inner cutting element <NUM> when said cutting elements <NUM> and <NUM> reciprocate relative to each other along the axis of reciprocating <NUM>. Said perforations <NUM> in the inner cutting element <NUM> also may be formed as small sized throughholes of a shape corresponding to or differing from the shape of the cutting perforations <NUM> in the outer cutting element <NUM>. However, as can be seen from <FIG>, the perforations <NUM> in the inner cutting element <NUM> do not need to be small sized throughholes, but may be larger sized cutouts each cooperating with more than one cutting perforations <NUM> in the other cutting element <NUM>. More particularly, the perforations <NUM> in the inner cutting element <NUM> may be formed as longitudinal, slot-like cutouts extending, with their longitudinal axis, transverse to the axis of reciprocation <NUM>. Thus, each elongated transverse perforation <NUM> in the inner cutting element <NUM> may cooperate with each row of perforations in the outer cutting element <NUM>.

Said cutouts in the inner cutting element <NUM> overlap with the cutting perforations <NUM> in the outer cutting element <NUM> and, depending on the reciprocating action, close said cutting perforations <NUM> to effect a shearing action and/or cutting-off of hairs introduced into the perforations <NUM> and <NUM>.

So as to support the cutting elements <NUM> and <NUM> in the aforementioned position lying and/or seated onto each other back-to-back, but still allowing reciprocating movement of the cutting teeth <NUM> and <NUM> and the perforations <NUM> and <NUM> relative to each other, the inner cutting element <NUM> is sandwiched between the outer cutting element <NUM> and a support structure <NUM> which includes an inner frame supporting the inner cutting element <NUM> and an outer frame <NUM> holding the outer cutting element <NUM>.

More particularly, said support structure <NUM> may define a gap <NUM> in which the inner cutting element <NUM> may move relative to the outer cutting element <NUM>, wherein the inner cutting element <NUM> is slidably guided in said gap <NUM>.

More particularly, as can be seen from <FIG> and <FIG>, the outer cutting element <NUM>, when viewed in a cross section, may have a substantially C-shaped configuration with edge portions 4a and 4b which are bent away or curved away from the skin contact surface and form holding flanges attached to or fixed to said outer frame portions <NUM> of the support structure <NUM>. Said edge portions 4a and 4b may be folded back or bent around the edge portions of said outer frame <NUM>, as it can be seen from <FIG>. However, in the alternative, it also would be possible to seat said holding flanges 4a and 4b of the cutting element <NUM> onto the inner side of said outer frame <NUM>.

The cutting element <NUM> may be rigidly or fixedly fastened to said outer frame portions <NUM>. For example, the cutting element <NUM> may be welded or glued to the outer frame <NUM>.

As can be seen from <FIG> and <FIG>, said outer frame portion <NUM> of the support structure <NUM> may include a pair of diverging legs forming a shallow chute or trough, wherein the edge portions of said support legs of the outer frame <NUM> may be provided with slot-like cutouts <NUM> forming a toothed edge basically corresponding to the cutting teeth <NUM> and <NUM> of the cutting elements <NUM> and <NUM>. More particularly, said cutouts <NUM> in the edges of the outer frame <NUM> allow hair to be cut to enter into the teeth <NUM> and <NUM> of the cutting elements <NUM> and <NUM>, but at the same time provide for support to the cutting teeth <NUM> of the outer cutting element <NUM> to some extent.

The cutting teeth <NUM> of the outer cutting element <NUM> may be formed in the transitional region between the folded back support flanges 4a and 4b and the front side of the cutting element <NUM> defining the skin contact surface of the cutter system <NUM>.

Said outer cutting element <NUM> may form a C-shaped, plate-like cutting element the edges of which are dog-eared to form limbs bent inwardly like the limbs of a C or a U, wherein such dog-eared limbs 4a and 4b are held by said outer support frame portions <NUM>. The transitional edge portion connecting the dog-eared limbs with the central portion of the outer cutting element is contoured or configured to form a row of comb-like teeth <NUM> for cutting longer stubbles, whereas the central portion 4c of the cutting element <NUM> is provided with said field of perforations <NUM> for cutting short hair.

As can be seen from <FIG>, the outer cutting element <NUM>, together with the outer frame <NUM> of the support structure <NUM>, defines a chamber <NUM> which is surrounded by the outer cutting element <NUM> and the outer frame <NUM>.

Within such chamber <NUM>, the inner frame <NUM> for supporting the inner cutting element <NUM> is arranged. Said inner frame <NUM> includes at least one pair of rigid support ribs <NUM> which extend from a base section <NUM> of the support structure <NUM> towards the inner cutting element <NUM> lying, back to back, onto the outer cutting element <NUM>.

More particularly, as can be seen from <FIG>, said rigid support ribs <NUM> originate from a center section of the outer frame <NUM> where the diverging support legs of the outer frame <NUM> join each other. Said support ribs <NUM> of the inner frame <NUM> extend from said base section <NUM> towards the inner cutting element <NUM> at an angle β which is considerably steeper than the angle ϕ between the outer frame <NUM>. As can be seen from <FIG>, the support ribs <NUM> of the inner frame <NUM> may define an angle β from <NUM> x <NUM>° to <NUM> x <NUM>° or <NUM> x <NUM>° to <NUM> x <NUM>° between each other, wherein said rigid support ribs <NUM> may be arranged symmetrical with regard to a center plane going perpendicular to the skin contact surface and parallel to the axis of reciprocation <NUM>.

So as to give the rigid support ribs <NUM> sufficient rigidity, said ribs <NUM> may have a straight longitudinal axis when viewed in a cross sectional view as it is shown in <FIG>. In other words, the inner and outer surfaces of the support ribs <NUM> may be plane and flat so as to achieve buckling stiffness. These support ribs <NUM> may define a V-shaped configuration originating from the base portion <NUM>.

In the alternative, said ribs <NUM> may be configured flexible and/or elastically so as to bias inner the cutting element <NUM> onto the outer cutting element <NUM>, as shown by <FIG>. For example, the ribs <NUM> may have a flexing, curved contour when viewed in cross-section, cf. <FIG>, so as to elastically urge the cutting element <NUM> against the other cutting element <NUM>.

As can be seen from <FIG>, the support ribs <NUM> may be part of a supporting insert and/or formed in one piece with each other. More particularly, the inner frame <NUM> may have a chute-like or trough-like configuration including a strip-like bottom portion from the edges of which said pair of support ribs <NUM> extends. For example, said inner frame <NUM> including the support ribs <NUM> may be formed from a substantially rectangular metal plate, wherein strip-like edge portions may be bent relative to a middle-section so as to form the inclined support ribs <NUM>.

Said inner frame <NUM> may form an insert that can be inserted into the chamber <NUM> defined by the outer frame <NUM> and the outer cutting element <NUM>. More particularly, said insert forming the inner frame <NUM> may be seated onto the base portion <NUM> of the outer frame <NUM> which base section <NUM> takes up the forces and pressure induced into the inner frame <NUM> when the cutter system <NUM> is pressed against skin to be shaved.

The inner frame <NUM> is configured such that the aforementioned gap <NUM> is defined between the support edges of the rigid support ribs <NUM> on the one hand and the inner side of the outer cutting element <NUM> on the other hand. More particularly, the height of the support ribs <NUM> is configured such that said gap <NUM> between the support edges of the ribs <NUM> and the outer cutting element <NUM> substantially corresponds to the thickness of the inner cutting element <NUM>, wherein the gap <NUM> may be configured to be slightly wider than the thickness of the plate-like cutting element <NUM> so as to reduce friction and to provide some play between the inner cutting element <NUM> and the support ribs <NUM> and the inner cutting element <NUM> and the outer cutting element <NUM>. Such play may be given when the cutter system <NUM> is unloaded, i.e. not pressed against a skin to be shaved. In the operational state, when the outer cutting element <NUM> is pressed against the skin to be shaved, such play is eliminated and the cutting elements <NUM> and <NUM> are snuggly fitted onto each other to achieve smooth cutting of hair.

Despite such possible play provided by the support structure <NUM>, the support ribs <NUM> are configured such that the gap <NUM>, in its width, exceeds the thickness of the inner cutting element <NUM> by an amount which is smaller than the thickness of hair to be cut. For example, the width of the gap <NUM> may be larger than the thickness of the sandwiched cutting element <NUM> by an amount smaller than <NUM> or ranging from <NUM> to <NUM>.

As can be seen from <FIG>, the inner and outer cutting elements <NUM> and <NUM> may have a slightly convex contour. More particularly, the skin contact surface defined by the outer cutting element <NUM> may have a slightly convex, substantially chute-like configuration. When viewed in a cross section taken perpendicular to the axis of reciprocation <NUM>, the outer surface of the outer cutting element <NUM> may be slightly dome-shaped, cf.

The inner cutting element <NUM> substantially corresponds to the shape of the outer cutting element <NUM> in terms of said slightly convex chute-like shape.

As can be seen from <FIG>, the support edges of the support ribs <NUM> facing the inner cutting element <NUM> may be spaced from each other at a distance ranging from about <NUM> % to <NUM> % or <NUM> % to <NUM> % of the distance defined between the rows of comb-like teeth <NUM> and <NUM> at the opposite edges of the outer cutting element <NUM>. Thus, the rigid support ribs <NUM> may support the inner cutting element <NUM> at about <NUM>/<NUM> and about <NUM>/<NUM> of its span width, when viewed in a cross-section perpendicular to the axis of reciprocation <NUM>. More particularly, the support edges of the ribs <NUM> may extend directly adjacent to the outer boundaries of the field of perforations <NUM>, wherein said support ribs <NUM> may contact the inner cutting element <NUM> along the outer longitudinal contour of the cutouts forming the perforations <NUM> in the inner cutter element <NUM>.

Due to the configuration of the support ribs <NUM> extending from the base portion <NUM> of the support structure <NUM> at an angle steeper than the support legs of the outer frame <NUM>, the chamber <NUM> defined by the outer frame <NUM> and the outer cutting element <NUM> attached thereto, is divided by said support ribs <NUM> into an inner sub-chamber 17i and a pair of outer sub-chambers 17o, cf. <FIG>, wherein the outer sub-chambers 17o together may have a volume substantially corresponding to the volume of the inner sub-chamber 17i.

The rigid support ribs <NUM> of the inner frame <NUM> may extend substantially parallel to the axis of reciprocation <NUM>. More particularly, the support edges of the ribs <NUM> contacting the inner cutting element <NUM> may extend parallel to the axis of reciprocation <NUM>.

As can be seen from <FIG> and <FIG>, the cutter head <NUM> including the cutter system <NUM> may be pivotably supported relative to the handle of the shaver/trimmer <NUM> about a pivot axis <NUM> which may extend substantially parallel to the axis of reciprocation <NUM>.

Said pivot axis <NUM> may be positioned close to the cutting elements <NUM> and <NUM> and/or within the chamber <NUM> surrounded by the outer cutting element <NUM> and the outer frame <NUM>. As can be seen from <FIG> and <FIG>, the outer frame <NUM> of the support structure <NUM> holding the outer cutting element <NUM> may include a pair of pivot bearing sections 12a and 12b which may be spaced from each other and/or positioned at the opposite end faces of the outer frame <NUM>. On the other hand, a pair of support flanges may be provided at the cutter head side of the handle <NUM>, wherein said pivot bearing flanges may be rotatably connected to said pivot bearing sections 12a and 12b of the outer frame <NUM> to form the pivot axis <NUM>.

More particularly, so as to avoid too much flexibility detrimental to efficient transmission of driving forces and/or torque to the cutting elements, said pivot axis <NUM> may have a fixed position relative to a non-reciprocating one of said cutting elements <NUM> and/or a fixed position relative to a handle <NUM> of the shaver/trimmer <NUM>. Such fixed pivot axis position allows to avoid yielding and bulky bar-linkage mechanisms.

Said support structure <NUM> may include a rigid pivot axis holder <NUM> having a mounting portion <NUM> for fixedly attaching the pivot axis holder <NUM> to the handle <NUM> or a chassis portion <NUM> of the shaver/trimmer <NUM>, wherein said pivot axis holder <NUM> may include two frame portions <NUM> extending into or towards a cutter head chamber <NUM> defined by said cutting elements <NUM>, <NUM> and the outer frame portions <NUM> of the support structure <NUM> holding opposite edges of the outer cutting element <NUM>, as it is shown by <FIG>.

More particularly, said pivot axis holder <NUM> may include a U-shaped or V-shaped holding frame element <NUM> made from metal, cf.

A spring device <NUM> may be associated with said pivot axis <NUM> so as to urge the cutter head <NUM> in a desired, mutual pivot position or orientation which may be a middle orientation allowing pivoting into opposite directions or, in the alternative, an end position or end orientation allowing pivoting into one direction only.

Said spring device <NUM> may be engaged with the support flanges <NUM> of the pivot axis holder <NUM> attached to the handle <NUM> on the one hand and the outer frame <NUM> of the support structure <NUM> on the other hand.

More particularly, said pivot axis <NUM> is not arranged symmetrically with respect to the opposite rake-like cutting edges for cutting longer hairs so pivoting the cutting elements <NUM>, <NUM> about said pivot axis <NUM> causes smaller movements of one of said rake-like cutting edges in comparison to the other rake-like cutting edge. More particularly, said pivot axis <NUM> is positioned offset from a middle plane <NUM> which extends perpendicular to the center section <NUM> of the skin contact/facing surface <NUM> of the cutter elements <NUM>, <NUM> so that said pivot axis <NUM> is closer to a first one of said rows of comb-like cutting teeth <NUM> than to a second one of said rows of comb-like cutting teeth <NUM>. When pivoting, the row closer to the pivot axis <NUM> makes a shorter transverse movement, whereas the row further away from the pivot axis <NUM> makes a longer transverse movement, wherein such transverse movements follow a circular path around said pivot axis <NUM>, wherein the length of the movement depends on the distance of said rows of teeth from the pivot axis <NUM>.

More particularly, the pivot axis <NUM> may be arranged closer to the row of comb-like cutting teeth <NUM> which is usually used as a leading edge going ahead when moving the cutter system <NUM> along the skin to be shaved. Such common moving direction <NUM> intuitively preferred by a majority of users may depend on, inter alia, the inclination of the skin contact/facing surface of the cutter system <NUM> relative to the handle <NUM> in a home position of the cutting elements <NUM>, <NUM> relative to said pivot axis <NUM>. Alternatively, or in addition the preferred movement direction <NUM> by a majority of users may be towards the on/off button <NUM> of the handle.

As can be seen from <FIG>, in a home position or neutral position or initial position, in which said cutting elements <NUM>,<NUM> are kept without external forces caused by a user, said cutting elements <NUM>, <NUM> may be inclined relative to a longitudinal handle axis <NUM> at an acute angle δ so that the skin contact and/or skin facing surface <NUM> of the cutter elements <NUM>, <NUM> faces towards a front side <NUM> of the handle <NUM> of the shaper/trimmer <NUM>. The front side <NUM> of the handle is the same side of the handle at which the on/off button <NUM> for switching the operation of the motor on/off is located and/or a location <NUM> at which a user's thumb may be rested. Considering such inclination of the cutting elements <NUM>, <NUM> towards said front side in a home position, the pivot axis <NUM> is positioned closer to the row of comb-like teeth <NUM> positioned at said front side whereas the opposite row of comb-like cutting teeth <NUM> positioned at the backside of the handle <NUM> is further away from said pivot axis <NUM>.

Many users pull the cutter system along the skin to be shaved with said front-side row of cutting teeth <NUM> forming the leading edge, as it is indicated by the arrow in <FIG>, i.e. downwards in <FIG>, so that positioning the pivot axis <NUM> closer to said front-side row of comb-like teeth <NUM> may improve the user's feeling of comfort and may reduce the risk of skin irritations or even skin injuries such as cuts that may be caused when the comb-like cutting teeth <NUM> move into the skin due to pivoting or the pitch angle towards the skin becomes too steep.

Basically, transverse movements of the leading cutting edge <NUM> could be completely eliminated when the pivot axis <NUM> would be positioned directly at said leading cutting edge since such position would eliminate the leverage arm or pivoting radius in terms of the distance from the pivot axis. However, offsetting the pivot axis <NUM> too much from the center of the cutter system <NUM> may impair comfort and safety when moving the cutter system in the opposite or non-preferred moving direction over the skin to be shaved. So as to achieve a good compromise, the pivot axis <NUM> may be spaced apart from said first row of comb-like teeth <NUM> at a distance Li which is about <NUM>% - <NUM>% or <NUM>% - <NUM>% or <NUM>% - <NUM>% of the distance L<NUM> between said pivot axis and the opposite second row of comb-like teeth, cf.

Thus, the pivot axis <NUM> may be positioned about <NUM> - <NUM>% closer to one row of comb-like cutting teeth <NUM> than to the other row of comb-like cutting teeth <NUM>.

So as to achieve good responsiveness of the pivoting of the cutting elements <NUM>, <NUM> and, thus, good adaption to the skin contour for different users which may apply different levels of skin contact pressure, the pivot axis <NUM> may be positioned close to the skin contact surface, cf. <FIG>, so as to reduce the torque and thus pivoting effect of friction. When the cutter system is pressed against the skin and moved along the skin, the friction caused between the skin contact surface <NUM> and the skin to be shaved tends to or tries to pivot the cutter system about the pivot axis <NUM>, cf. <FIG>, wherein the lever arm of such frictional forces becomes the smaller the closer the pivot axis <NUM> is to the skin contact surface <NUM>.

More particularly, the pivot axis 21may be positioned slightly under the skin contact surface <NUM> and/or within a cutter head chamber <NUM> encompassed by frame portions of the support structure <NUM> holding opposite edges of the outer, C-shaped cutting element <NUM> and said cutting element <NUM>. Such position significantly reduces the leverage of frictional forces relative to the pivot axis <NUM> and, thus, pivoting torque caused by such frictional forces on the one hand and allows for a compact, space-saving arrangement of the support structure <NUM> on the other hand.

So as to allow for easy, intuitive use of the shaver/trimmer, the support structure may be configured to provide for a pivoting range <NUM> of the cutting elements which is asymmetrical with regard to a longitudinal handle axis <NUM>, as it is shown by <FIG>. In other words, the pivot range <NUM> may be larger towards one side of the handle <NUM> than towards the opposite side of the handle <NUM>. More particularly, the pivot range <NUM> may be configured such that the skin contact and/or skin facing surface <NUM> of the cutting elements faces towards the same side of the handle over at least <NUM>/<NUM> or <NUM>/<NUM> of said pivot range <NUM>.

A natural shaver feeling and easy, intuitive use may be achieved when said pivot range allows for various pivoting positions of the cutting elements with an angle of inclination ranging from -<NUM>° to +<NUM>° or <NUM>° - <NUM>° +/- <NUM>° or +/- <NUM>°, said angle of inclination α being defined between a virtual plane <NUM> extending perpendicular to the longitudinal handle axis <NUM> and another virtual plane <NUM> tangential to the skin contact/facing surface <NUM> of the cutting elements <NUM>, <NUM>.

So as to urge the cutting elements <NUM>, <NUM> into their pivoting home position, the aforementioned biasing device <NUM> may be associated with said pivot axis <NUM>. Such biasing device <NUM> may be configured to bias the cutting elements <NUM>, <NUM> about said pivot axis <NUM> towards an end of a limited pivot range. In other words, the biasing device which may include a spring device, does not urge the cutting elements into a neutral middle position from which it may pivot into opposite directions, but the biasing device <NUM> tries to urge the cutting elements into an extreme pivot position or an end pivot position from which the cutting elements may pivot only in one direction.

More particularly, the biasing device <NUM> may be configured to bias the cutting elements <NUM>, <NUM> into an angular pivoting position with a smallest possible angle of inclination δ of the skin contact surface <NUM> vis-à-vis the longitudinal handle axis <NUM>. If the cutting elements pivot out of said biased home position, the plane <NUM> tangential to the skin contact surface <NUM> gets more and more transverse to the longitudinal handle axis <NUM> and/or tries to approach a position perpendicular to said longitudinal handle axis <NUM>.

Due to such biased home position in which the skin contact surface <NUM> is inclined at a rather small angle δ relative to the longitudinal handle axis <NUM>, users intuitively pull the cutter system <NUM> with the aforementioned first row of cutting teeth <NUM> going ahead over the skin to be shaved. Thus, the eccentric or offset pivot axis <NUM> allows for fine adaption of the cutting elements to the skin contour and avoids uncontrolled transverse movements potentially posing a risk of skin irritations.

Irrespective of such preferred direction of moving the cutter system, biasing the cutting elements <NUM>, <NUM> into said home position at the end of the pivoting range may also reduce the risk of skin irritations or even skin injuries when the cutter system is moved over the skin to be shaved in the non-prefered opposite direction, i.e. when the second row of comb-like cutting teeth <NUM> is the leading edge since said second row of comb-like teeth <NUM> may deflect due to pivoting rather easily and gives way to the skin, wherein only very low skin contact forces are necessary at such opposite edge as the distance to the pivot axis <NUM> is rather large and, thus, the leverage of such skin contact forces at the opposite edge is large.

So as to drive the cutting elements <NUM> and <NUM> in a reciprocating manner relative to each other, a driver <NUM> may be connected to the inner cutting element <NUM>, wherein such driver <NUM> may include a rod-like driving element attached to opposite end portions of the inner cutting element <NUM>. On the other hand, said driver <NUM> may include a coupling section 18c to be coupled with a driving element extending from handle <NUM> to the cutter head <NUM>. More particularly, the inner frame <NUM> and the outer frame <NUM> of the support structure <NUM> may include an elongated recess <NUM> or cutout extending through the base section <NUM> of the support structure <NUM>, wherein the aforementioned coupling section 18c of driver <NUM> may extend through said elongated cutout <NUM>, cf. <FIG> and <FIG>, to allow coupling with the driving element of the drive train coming from the motor in the handle <NUM>.

Said driver <NUM> may be slidably guided at the inner frame <NUM> and/or outer frame <NUM>. For example, one or more guiding blocks <NUM> or bearings <NUM> may be provided at the outer frame <NUM>. For example, such guiding blocks <NUM> may be inserted into the central, elongated recess <NUM> extending in the base portion of the outer frame <NUM>, wherein said guiding blocks <NUM> may include slot-like groves <NUM>, in which the rod-like driver <NUM> may be slidably guided.

Said driver <NUM> may be accommodated between said rigid support ribs <NUM> of the inner frame <NUM>. In particular, said driver <NUM> may be accommodated within the inner sub-chamber 17i and thus, may be surrounded by the chute-like insert forming the inner frame <NUM> including the rigid support ribs <NUM>, wherein the coupling section 18c of the driver <NUM> may extend through the central, elongated recess <NUM> in the bottom portion of said insert forming the inner frame <NUM>.

Claim 1:
Cutter system for an electric shaver and/or trimmer (<NUM>), comprising a pair of cooperating cutting elements (<NUM>, <NUM>) with two rows of comb-like cutting teeth (<NUM>, <NUM>) at opposite edges thereof and a skin contact surface (<NUM>) or skin facing surface of said cutting elements (<NUM>, <NUM>), wherein said cutting elements (<NUM>, <NUM>) are movably supported relative to each other by a support structure (<NUM>) which provides for a pivot axis (<NUM>) about which said cooperating cutting elements are pivotable to follow the skin contour, said pivot axis (<NUM>) extending substantially parallel to a longitudinal direction of said rows of comb-like cutting teeth (<NUM>, <NUM>), characterised in that said pivot axis (<NUM>) is positioned offset from a middle plane (<NUM>) which extends perpendicular to a center section (<NUM>) of said skin contact/facing surface (<NUM>) of the cutting elements (<NUM>, <NUM>) and thus closer to a first one of said rows of comb-like cutting teeth (<NUM>) than to a second one of said comb-like cutting teeth (<NUM>) and wherein at least one field of cutting perforations (<NUM>) between said rows of comb-like cutting teeth (<NUM>, <NUM>) is provided, which cutting perforations (<NUM>) are formed in a skin contact surface (<NUM>) or skin facing surface of said cutting elements (<NUM>, <NUM>).