This application is a national stage application of International Application No. PCT/EP2021/054455, filed on Feb. 23, 2021, now published as WO/2021/197714 and which claims benefit from European patent application EP20166674.0 filed on 30 Mar. 2020, the entirety of the '455 application is incorporated herein by reference.
The present disclosure relates generally to the field of skincare, and in particular to shaving. More specifically, the present disclosure relates to a coupling mechanism for connecting a replaceable shaving cartridge of a shaving device to a handle of a shaving device.
A typical handheld shaving device includes a handle and replaceable shaving cartridges or heads which are configured to connect to the handle via a coupling mechanism. The coupling mechanism should allow for engagement and disengagement of the shaving cartridge to and from the handle. However, many presently available coupling mechanisms are unable to maintain engagement of the shaving cartridge to the handle when force is applied to the shaving cartridge, which leads to unintentional disengagement of the shaving cartridge from the handle.
It is desirable to provide an improved coupling mechanism for engaging and disengaging a shaving cartridge of a shaving device to a handle of a shaving device, while also reducing unintentional disengagement of the shaving cartridge from the handle.
According to aspects of the present disclosure, a coupling mechanism for engaging and disengaging a shaving cartridge of a shaving device comprises a first coupling element having one or more first engagement surface configured to pivot about a pivot axis, a second coupling element including one or more second engagement surface configured to contact the one or more first engagement surface, the second coupling element being capable of moving in a first direction from a first position to a second position and in a second direction from the second position to the first position, a stop positioned inwardly of the first coupling element configured to impede pivoting of the first coupling element, and wherein, the stop impedes pivoting of the first coupling element when the second coupling element is in the first position and the stop no longer impedes movement of the first coupling element when the second coupling element is in the second position.
The pivot axis is located external to the coupling mechanism. The coupling mechanism further comprises a third coupling element that is configured to support the first coupling element and the second coupling element.
According to aspects of the disclosure, the second coupling element may be positioned inwardly of the first coupling element.
According to aspects of the disclosure, the first coupling element may include one or more first coupling member, the one or more first coupling member may include a peripheral attachment portion configured to be received by a shaving cartridge of a shaving device, and the peripheral attachment portion may be offset inwardly of the pivot axis.
According to aspects of the disclosure, a difference in a first distance between the peripheral attachment portions and a second distance between the pivot axes may be in the range of 2.1 mm and 2.3 mm.
According to aspects of the disclosure, the second coupling element may include a ramp and movement of an actuator along the ramp may cause the second coupling element to move in the first direction from the first position toward the second position.
According to aspects of the disclosure, the one or more second engagement surface may come into contact with and apply a force on the one or more first engagement surface when the second coupling element is moving in the first direction.
According to aspects of the disclosure, application of the force on the one or more first engagement surface may cause the one or more coupling member to pivot and the peripheral attachment portion to move inwardly.
According to aspects of the disclosure, the third coupling element may be configured to be arranged in a stacked relationship with the first coupling element and the second coupling element.
According to aspects of the disclosure, the first coupling element may be configured to pivot along a surface of the third coupling element.
According to aspects of the disclosure, the second coupling element may be biased toward the first position by a bias member.
According to aspects of the disclosure, the stop may be included on the second coupling element.
According to aspects of the disclosure, the first coupling element may include a pair of opposing coupling members.
According to aspects of the disclosure, the one or more second engagement surfaces may be projections extending from the second coupling element.
According to aspects of the disclosure, a shaving device may comprise the coupling mechanism according to any aspect described above.
In the manner described and according to aspects illustrated herein, the coupling mechanism may allow for engagement and disengagement of the shaving cartridge while also improving retention of the shaving cartridge to the handle to avoid unintentional disengagement of the shaving cartridge from the handle.
Aspects of an embodiment will be described in reference to the drawings, where like numerals reflect like elements:
An embodiment of the coupling mechanism according to aspects of the disclosure will now be described with reference to
The term “exemplary” is used in the sense of “example,” rather than “ideal.” While aspects of the disclosure are amenable to various modifications and alternative forms, specifics thereof have been shown by way of example in the drawings and will be described in detail. It should be understood, however, that the intention is not to limit aspects of the disclosure to the particular embodiment(s) described. On the contrary, the intention of this disclosure is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the scope of the disclosure.
Various materials, methods of construction and methods of fastening will be discussed in the context of the disclosed embodiment(s). Those skilled in the art will recognize known substitutes for the materials, construction methods, and fastening methods, all of which are contemplated as compatible with the disclosed embodiment(s) and are intended to be encompassed by the appended claims.
As used in this disclosure and the appended claims, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” include plural referents unless the content clearly dictates otherwise. As used in this disclosure and the appended claims, the term “or” is generally employed in its sense including “and/or” unless the content clearly dictates otherwise.
Throughout the description, including the claims, the terms “comprising a,” “including a,” and “having a” should be understood as being synonymous with “comprising one or more,” “including one or more,” and “having one or more” unless otherwise stated. In addition, any range set forth in the description, including the claims should be understood as including its end value(s) unless otherwise stated. Specific values for described elements should be understood to be within accepted manufacturing or industry tolerances known to one of skill in the art, and any use of the terms “substantially,” “approximately,” and “generally” should be understood to mean falling within such accepted tolerances.
When an element or feature is referred to herein as being “on,” “engaged to,” “connected to,” or “coupled to” another element or feature, it may be directly on, engaged, connected, or coupled to the other element or feature, or intervening elements or features may be present. In contrast, when an element or feature is referred to as being “directly on,” “directly engaged to,” “directly connected to,” or “directly coupled to” another element or feature, there may be no intervening elements or features present. Other words used to describe the relationship between elements or features should be interpreted in a like fashion (e.g., “between” versus “directly between,” “adjacent” versus “directly adjacent,” etc.).
Spatially relative terms, such as “top,” “bottom,” “middle,” “inner,” “outer,” “beneath,” “below,” “lower,” “above,” “upper,” and the like, may be used herein for ease of description to describe one element or feature's relationship to another element(s) or feature(s) as illustrated in the drawings. Spatially relative terms may be intended to encompass different orientations of a device in use or operation in addition to the orientation depicted in the drawings. For example, if the device in the drawings is turned over, elements described as “below” or “beneath” other elements or features would then be oriented “above” the other elements or features. Thus, the example term “below” can encompass both an orientation of above and below. The device may be otherwise oriented (rotated 90 degrees or at other orientations) and the spatially relative descriptors used herein interpreted accordingly.
Although the terms “first,” “second,” etc. may be used herein to describe various elements, components, regions, layers, sections, and/or parameters, these elements, components, regions, layers, sections, and/or parameters should not be limited by these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish one element, component, region, layer, or section from another region, layer, or section. Thus, a first element, component, region, layer, or section discussed herein could be termed a second element, component, region, layer, or section without departing from the teachings of the present disclosure.
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Each coupling member 22 may include a first engagement surface 34 and a second engagement surface 36 configured to engage and disengage surfaces 52, 58 included on the second coupling element 40. In the disclosed embodiment, the first coupling element 20 may include a pair of opposing first engagement surfaces 34 and a pair of opposing second engagement surfaces 36. Each first engagement surface 34 may function as a cam surface by which energy is received from surfaces 52 of the second coupling element 40. Each first engagement surface 34 and each second engagement surface 36 may project inwardly toward the axis A-A. Each first engagement surface 34 may be positioned between the second engagement surface 36 and the root 24. When each second engagement surface 36 is engaged with complementary surfaces 58 of the second coupling element 40, unintentional disengagement of the shaving cartridge 102 from the handle 104 may be blocked, as each coupling member 22 is then blocked from pivoting inwardly. When each second engagement surface 36 is disengaged from the complementary surfaces 58 of the second coupling element 40, disengagement of the shaving cartridge 102 from the handle 104 may no longer be blocked. Additionally, the first coupling element 22 may include a gap 38 extending from the first engagement surface 34 to the root 24 of the first coupling element 20. The gap 38 may allow for movement of the second coupling element 40 between the first coupling element 20.
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The second coupling element 40 may include one or more engagement surface (second engagement surface) (projection) 52 configured to come into contact with and apply a first force on a corresponding first engagement surface 34 of a corresponding coupling member 22 of the first coupling element 20. In the disclosed embodiment, the second coupling element 40 includes a pair of engagement surfaces 52. Each engagement surface 52 of the second coupling element 40 may extend perpendicular to the axis A-A. Each engagement surface 52 may extend from a corresponding arm 42 of the second coupling element 40. The wall 56 of the second coupling element 40 may be located between the engagement surfaces 52 of the second coupling element 40 and the base 44 of the second coupling element 40. The second coupling element 40 may also include one or more stop 58 extending transverse to the axis A-A. In the disclosed embodiment, the second coupling element 40 may include a pair of opposing stops 58. Each stop 58 may extend from a corresponding arm 42 of the second coupling element 40. Each stop 58 may be positioned inwardly of a corresponding second engagement surface 36 of each coupling member 22 of the first coupling element 20. As discussed above, each stop 58 may be configured to engage and disengage each corresponding second engagement surface 36 of each corresponding coupling member 22. When each stop 58 is engaged with the corresponding second engagement surfaces 36 of the first coupling element 20, pivoting of each coupling member 22 may be impeded, thereby further maintaining retention of the peripheral attachment portions 26 within the shaving cartridge 102. When each stop 58 is disengaged with the corresponding second engagement surfaces 36 of the first coupling element 20, pivoting of each coupling member 22 may no longer be impeded, thereby allowing detachment of the shaving cartridge 102 from the handle 104
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Although the present disclosure herein has been described with reference to particular embodiments, it is to be understood that these embodiments are merely illustrative of the principles and applications of the present disclosure.
It is intended that the specification and examples be considered as exemplary only, with a true scope of the disclosure being indicated by the following claims.
Additionally, all of the disclosed features of an apparatus may be transposed, alone or in combination, to a method and vice versa.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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20166674 | Mar 2020 | EP | regional |
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
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PCT/EP2021/054455 | 2/23/2021 | WO |
Publishing Document | Publishing Date | Country | Kind |
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WO2021/197714 | 10/7/2021 | WO | A |
Number | Name | Date | Kind |
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4739553 | Lazarchik | Apr 1988 | A |
5953824 | Ferraro | Sep 1999 | A |
11679523 | Kopelas | Jun 2023 | B2 |
11931911 | Kopelas | Mar 2024 | B2 |
20160101531 | Bunnell | Apr 2016 | A1 |
20210354321 | Kopelas | Nov 2021 | A1 |
20230143109 | Kopelas | May 2023 | A1 |
Number | Date | Country |
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0402105 | Dec 1990 | EP |
9836878 | Oct 1998 | WO |
2010037418 | Apr 2010 | WO |
2017174120 | Oct 2017 | WO |
Entry |
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International Search Report and Written Opinion dated Jun. 14, 2021 of the of the Application No. PCT/EP2021/054455, filed on Feb. 23, 2021. |
Number | Date | Country | |
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20230143109 A1 | May 2023 | US |