Patent ID: 12186925

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

A first example of a shaving apparatus1according to the invention is shown inFIGS.1A,1B,2-5,6A,6B,7A and7B.

The having apparatus1has a main housing2accommodating a motor3, a rechargeable battery4and a driving output member5in the form of a pinion wheel coupled to the motor3. Electrical circuitry connecting the battery4to the motor3is not shown. The shaving apparatus1further has a shaving unit6composed of a first shaving unit portion7and a second shaving unit portion8. The first shaving unit portion7is connected to the main housing2in a stationary position relative to the main housing2and accommodates a single driven input member9which is connected to the driving output member5via a drive shaft14and a gear wheel15rotationally fixed to the drive shaft14. The driven input member9is rotationally suspended in the first shaving unit portion7, and the drive shaft14and the gear wheel15are rotationally suspended in the main housing2such that the driven input member9, the drive shaft14and the gear wheel15are rotatable about a common axis of rotation10. The second shaving unit portion8has a support structure11, three hair-cutting units12supported by the support structure11, and a drive unit13connected to the single driven input member9and to each of the hair-cutting units12. The hair-cutting units12each include an external cutting member18with hair-entry apertures and an internal cutting member19which is rotatable relative to the external cutting member18of the respective shaving unit12so that cutting edges of the internal cutting member19slide along an internal surface of the external cutting member18in which the hair-entry apertures are provided. The external cutting members18each project through an opening42provided in a skin-supporting surface25of the respective hair-cutting unit12surrounding the external cutting member18.

As is best seen inFIG.5, the drive unit13has a central gear wheel16in toothed engagement with three pinion wheels21. The central gear wheel16is coupled to the single driven input member9. Each of the pinion wheels21is coupled to a respective one of three drive members17of the hair-cutting units12. The drive members17each have a coupling head20coupled to a respective one of the internal cutting members19of the hair-cutting units12. The drive unit13is thus arranged to transmit a driving force from the single driven input member9to each of the internal cutting members19. The drive members17are each provided with a spring22(seeFIG.4) for telescopically urging a distal drive member portion23, which includes the coupling head20of the respective drive member17, in axial direction towards the external cutting member18of the respective hair-cutting unit12. Thus, the internal cutting member19of each hair-cutting unit12is biased against the internal surface of the external cutting member18of the respective hair-cutting unit12, so that the external cutting member18is biased outwardly by the internal cutting member19. During shaving, the external cutting members18are pressed inwardly against the biasing force exerted by the internal cutting members19. The external cutting members18project relative to the skin-supporting surfaces25of the hair-cutting units12. In view of the elastic deformability of a skin surface being shaved, the distance over which the external cutting members18project relative to the external skin-supporting surfaces25of the hair-cutting units12influences the effective normal pressure at which the external cutting members18are pressed against the skin during shaving.

The shaving apparatus1further has an adjustment system24configured to adjust an operational parameter of the shaving apparatus1. In this example, the adjustable operational parameter of the shaving apparatus1is the effective pressure at which the external cutting members18are pressed against the skin during shaving.

For setting the operational parameter, the first and the second shaving unit portions7,8are mutually connected by means of a connection mechanism26,27which is configured to allow manual rotation of the second shaving unit portion8relative to the first shaving unit portion7about a rotational axis coinciding with the axis of rotation10of the single driven input member9, as is best seen inFIGS.1A,1B and3.

According to the invention, the adjustment system24generally includes a sensing unit which is configured to have an output property which varies in dependence on an angular position of the second shaving unit portion8relative to the first shaving unit portion7about the rotational axis10. In the present example, the sensing unit is of a mechanical type and is formed by a set of planetary pinion wheels28in toothed engagement with a stationary toothed rack29. The toothed rack29is a first gear wheel of the sensing unit which is arranged in a fixed position relative to the first shaving unit portion7and extends along a circle concentrically about the rotational axis10. The planetary pinion wheels28each constitute a second gear wheel of the sensing unit which is arranged in the second shaving unit portion8and is rotatable relative to the support structure11about a gear wheel axis43extending parallel to the rotational axis10. If the second shaving unit portion8is manually rotated relative to the first shaving unit portion7about the rotational axis10, the planetary pinion wheels28are rotated about the respective gear wheel axes43by their engagement with the toothed rack29. The adjustment system24is configured to adjust the operational parameter of the shaving apparatus1in dependence on the output property of the sensing unit. In the present example, the output property of the sensing unit may be considered as the rotational positions of the pinion wheels28about the gear wheel axes43and/or the number of rotations of the pinion wheels28about the gear wheel axes43. In the present example, rotations of the pinion wheels28about the gear wheel axes43result in an adjustment of the operational parameter. For this purpose, rotations of the pinion wheels28are converted into axial displacements of parts of the adjustment system24by helical transfer mechanisms each coupled to a respective one of the planetary pinion wheels28. The helical transfer mechanisms each comprise an internally threaded bush member30and an externally threaded shaft member31in threaded engagement with the internally threaded bush member30. Rotation of the bush members30relative to the shaft members31about the gear wheel axes43, driven by the planetary pinion wheels28, causes the shaft members31to move axially relative to the gear wheel axes43. For this purpose, the shaft members31are prevented to rotate about the gear wheel axes43in a manner described hereinafter. This axial movement of the shaft members31is used for adjusting the operational parameter. It is noted that the internally and externally threaded members could also be reversed, i.e. by rotational fixation of the planetary pinion wheels28to the externally threaded shaft members and by causing the internally threaded bush members to move axially if the externally threaded shaft member is rotated.

In the present example, adjustable hooks32are coupled to the axially movable shaft members31via a coupling ring34. The coupling ring34is displaceably guided relative to the support structure11in a direction parallel to the gear wheel axes43, and the shaft members31are fixedly connected to the coupling ring34to prevent rotation of the shaft members31about the gear wheel axes43. The hooks32each limit outward movability of a respective one of the external cutting members18by engaging an annular flange33thereof. By limiting external movability of the external cutting members18, the axial distance over which the external cutting members18project relative to the skin-supporting surfaces25and the normal pressure exerted during shaving are reduced. Thereby, the shaving result is influenced.

Because the adjustment system24is operable by manually rotating the second shaving unit portion8relative to the first shaving unit portion7and the main housing2about a rotational axis coinciding with the axis of rotation10of the single driven input member9, the operational parameter of the shaving apparatus1can be adjusted without interfering with the functionality of the drive train from the motor3to the internal cutting members19. Since the shaving unit6is a distinct unit separate from the main housing2, and rotation of the second shaving unit portion8relative to the first shaving unit portion7and the main housing2is provided about an axis coinciding with the axis of rotation10of the single driven input member9, setting of the operational parameter of the shaving apparatus1is allowed without requiring, for this purpose, an additional seam in the main housing2or an operating member such as a switch.

Such operation of the adjustment system is of particular advantage in a shaving apparatus in which, as in the present example, the second shaving unit portion8includes at least two hair-cutting units12supported by the support structure11, in which the hair-cutting units12each include an external cutting member18with hair-entry apertures and an internal cutting member19which is rotatable relative to the external cutting member18, and in which the drive unit13is arranged to transmit the driving force from the single driven input member9at least partially to the internal cutting member19of each of the at least two hair-cutting units18, because the rotation for adjustment of the adjustment system is a rotation about the axis of rotation10of the single driven input member9via which all internal cutting members19are driven. It is also possible to provide the shaving unit with only one hair-cutting unit or a number of hair-cutting units other than three (as in the present example).

For influencing the shaving result, the adjustable operational parameter can alternatively be a maximum projection distance of at least a portion of the external cutting members18relative to the skin-supporting surfaces25.

Such a maximum projection distance can for instance be adjusted by means of abutments, in this example each formed by one of the hooks32, limiting the maximum projection distance, positions of the abutments being adjustable for adjusting the maximum projection distance.

The sensing unit is provided in a simple manner and can also drive the adjustment system24, because the sensing unit includes a first gear wheel, in the example shown the toothed rack29, which is arranged in a fixed position relative to the first shaving unit portion7and concentrically about the rotational axis10, and a second gear wheel, i.e. the planetary pinion wheel28, which is arranged in the second shaving unit portion8, is rotatable relative to the support structure11about a gear wheel axis43extending parallel to the rotational axis10, and engages the first gear wheel, while the second gear wheel is arranged in the adjustment system such that rotation of the second gear wheel about the gear wheel axis43results in an adjustment of the operational parameter.

This can be implemented in a simple manner for influencing the shaving result by providing that the operational parameter is a position of a part, in the example shown the external cutting member18of the or each of the hair-cutting units12, wherein the adjustment system24has a conversion mechanism, in the example shown comprising the internally threaded bush member30rotationally coupled to the pinion wheel and the externally threaded shaft member31in engagement with the or each hair-cutting unit12for converting rotation about a center line of the conversion mechanism into linear motion of said part of the or each hair-cutting unit12.

For providing a limited number of predefined settings of the adjustable operational parameter and for avoiding accidental changes of the setting, the adjustment system24includes an indexing mechanism35,36,37,38for positioning the second shaving unit portion8relative to the first shaving unit portion7in any of at least n indexed positions mutually rotated about the axis of rotation10, wherein n is a natural number and at least 2. In the present example, the indexing mechanism has been implemented by providing the first shaving unit portion7with a spring35engaging an annular recess37with axially sloping surfaces provided in a central bushing36of the second shaving unit portion8concentrically arranged relative to the axis of rotation10. Furthermore, a side of the first shaving unit portion7facing the second shaving unit portion8is formed as a generally triangular recess38, and a side of the second shaving unit portion8facing the first shaving unit portion7is formed as a generally triangular protrusion39and has three positions in which it fits most deeply in the recess38. By engaging the recess37, the spring35urges the second shaving unit portion8into engagement with the first shaving unit portion7, thereby also urging the second shaving unit portion8towards a nearest of three indexed positions.

To cause a user to intuitively set the adjustable operational parameter in one of the predefined settings, an end portion44of the main housing2facing the second shaving unit portion8and the second shaving unit portion8have similar contours of an at least n-fold rotational symmetry, wherein n is a natural number and at least 2, and the contours of the second shaving unit portion8and of the end portion44of the main housing2facing the second shaving unit portion8are in mutually best matching orientations when the second shaving unit portion8is in any of the n indexing positions relative to the first shaving unit portion. In the present example, this has been implemented by providing that the end portion44of the main housing2facing the second shaving unit portion8and the second shaving unit portion8have similar generally triangular contours, i.e. are of a threefold rotational symmetry.

The second shaving unit portion8is releasably coupled to the first shaving unit portion7and the drive unit13is releasably coupled to the single driven input member13. This allows the second shaving unit portion8to be dismounted from the shaving apparatus1and to be remounted thereto quickly and easily. The second shaving unit portion8may for example be replaced by a different functional unit, for example a rotatable skin cleansing brush or a long hair trimming unit. In the present example, the second shaving unit portion8is held snapped in place in axial direction of the axis of rotation10by the spring35of the first shaving unit portion7engaging the recess37in the bushing36of the second shaving unit portion8. Alternatively, the first shaving unit portion7may be releasably coupled to the main housing2, and the single driven input member9may be releasably coupled to the drive shaft14. In this embodiment, the shaving unit6as a whole can be decoupled from and coupled to the main housing2.

InFIGS.7A and7B, an adjustment system74of a second example of a shaving apparatus according to the invention is shown. Parts and portions that are identical to corresponding parts and portions of the shaving apparatus according to the first example described here before are designated by the same reference numbers as used for the corresponding parts and portions of the shaving apparatus according to the first example.

In the second example, the operational parameter adjustable by the adjustment system74is a biasing force of resilient elements82, which are arranged in the second shaving unit portion8for urging the external cutting members18outwardly. Thus, the force required for pressing the external cutting members18inwardly is adjustable, and thereby the shaving result is influenced.

For adjusting said biasing force, the second shaving unit portion8is provided with a support member84. The resilient elements82are compressed between the support member84and the external cutting members18, and the annular flanges33of the external cutting members18are urged against surrounding supporting rims that are provided with the skin-supporting surfaces25. The position of the support member84is adjustable in a direction parallel to the rotational axis10for adjusting the biasing force of the resilient elements82. In the present example, this has been implemented by providing helical springs82each being compressed between the support member84and one of the external cutting members18. The position of the support member84is adjustable towards and away from the external cutting members18by rotation of the planetary pinion wheels28and the internally threaded bush members30connected thereto, which causes the externally threaded shaft members31, which are fixed to the support member84, to move axially towards or away from the cutting members18.

The external cutting members18are each suspended relative to the support structure11for allowing the external cutting member18to be at least partially displaced relative to the skin-supporting surface25by shaving pressure having a directional component opposite to the biasing force exerted by the associated one of the resilient elements82. The force required for pressing the external cutting members18fully into a position in which the upper surfaces of the external cutting members18is flush with the adjacent portions of the associated skin-supporting surface25determines the maximum shaving pressure that can be exerted. This force is adjustable by adjusting the position of the support member84towards and away from the external cutting members18.

InFIG.8, a third example of a shaving apparatus101according to the invention is shown. The shaving apparatus101has a motor103and a rechargeable battery104accommodated in a main housing102. At one end of the main housing102, a shaving unit106comprising a first shaving unit portion107and a second shaving unit portion108is provided.

The second shaving unit portion108has a hair-cutting unit112and a drive unit113coupled to an internal cutting member (not shown) of the hair-cutting unit112for driving movement of the internal cutting member. The first shaving unit portion107has a single driven input member109coupled to the motor103and to the drive unit113. Thus, rotation of the motor103will drive movement of the internal cutting member via the single driven input member109and the drive unit113. The single driven input member109and the drive unit113are rotatable about an axis of rotation110. Like the second shaving unit portion8in the first and second examples of the shaving apparatus1according to the invention as described here before, the second shaving unit portion108is manually rotatable relative to the first shaving unit portion109about the axis of rotation110. As in the first and second examples of the invention, by application of an adjustment system124manual rotation of the second shaving unit portion108results in an adjustment of an operational parameter of the shaving apparatus101in dependence on an angular position of the second shaving unit portion108relative to the first shaving unit portion107about the axis of rotation110. Whereas in the first and second examples of the invention the sensing unit, configured to have an output property which varies in dependence on an angular position of the second shaving unit portion8relative to the first shaving unit portion7, is of a mechanical type, the adjustment system124includes a sensing unit of an electronic type including a sensor128configured to measure the angular position of the second shaving unit portion108relative to the first shaving unit portion107about the rotational axis110. The adjustment system124further includes an electrical controller141configured to receive an output signal of the sensor128and to adjust the operational parameter based on the output signal. Thus, in this example the output property of the sensing unit may be considered as the output signal of the sensor128. This embodiment allows to adjust a wide variety of operational parameters and to define the relationship between the rotational position of the second shaving unit portion108and the value of the operational parameter as desired. Examples of such operational parameters are the speed of the motor103, the on-off status of the shaving apparatus101, or the contents of an information display provided on the main housing102. The controller141may also activate and control, in dependence on the output signal of the sensor128, one or more electrical actuators that can effect, instead of the planetary pinion wheels28, adjustment of the operational parameters as described here before in relation to the first and second examples of the invention. For detecting the rotational position of the second shaving unit portion108, the first shaving unit portion107is provided with a number of encoder elements140evenly distributed in rotational sense along a trajectory of the sensor128along the first shaving unit portion107when the second shaving unit portion108is rotated relative to the first shaving unit portion107.

Several features have been described as part of the embodiments shown in the drawings or of other embodiments of the invention. However, it will be appreciated that the scope of the invention also includes embodiments having combinations of all or some of these features other than the specific combinations of features of the examples.