This application claims benefit from European Patent Application EP 19219253.2 filed on 23 Dec. 2019, its content being 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 system 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 system. The coupling system should provide for a safe and secure coupling and decoupling of the replaceable shaving cartridge to and from the handle, while also ensuring that the coupling and decoupling of the replaceable shaving cartridge to and from the handle is a smooth and seamless experience for a user. A given shaving device may utilize a coupling system which is specific to that given shaving device, which can complicate the assembly process when a manufacturer offers a wide variety of shaving devices.
It is desirable to provide an improved coupling system for connecting a replaceable shaving cartridge of a shaving device to a handle of a shaving device that fulfills one or more of the needs described above.
According to aspects of the present disclosure, a coupling system for a shaving device comprises a first connector, a second connector, a retainer, and a plunger, the first connector is configured to couple with the second connector which defines a channel, the second connector includes an engagement surface within the channel, the retainer is configured to be positioned between the first connector and the second connector, and the plunger is configured to transition between a first position and a second position, the engagement surface of the second connector is configured to engage the retainer when the plunger is in the first position and the engagement surface of the second connector and the retainer are configured to disengage when the plunger is in the second position.
According to aspects of the present disclosure, the first connector may include a guide portion and the plunger may move within the guide portion between the first and second positions.
According to aspects of the present disclosure, the plunger may include a support surface and a relief surface, the support surface may be distanced a first distance D1 from the guide portion, the relief surface may be distanced a second distance D2 from the guide portion, and the second distance D2 may be greater than the first distance D1.
According to aspects of the present disclosure, a gap may be defined between the first connector and the relief surface when the plunger is in the second position.
According to aspects of the present disclosure, the plunger may be configured to support the retainer when the plunger is in the first position and the plunger may not support the retainer when the plunger is in the second position.
According to aspects of the present disclosure, the first connector may include a window allowing the retainer to be supported by the plunger when the plunger is in the first position.
According to aspects of the present disclosure, the retainer may be capable of projecting to a position below the window when the plunger is in the second position.
According to aspects of the present disclosure, the engagement surface of the second connector may be located within a groove of the second connector within the channel of the second connector.
According to aspects of the present disclosure, the retainer may be elastically deformable.
According to aspects of the present disclosure, the retainer may be positioned radially about the first connector.
According to aspects of the present disclosure, the retainer may be secured within a groove included about an exterior of the first connector.
According to aspects of the present disclosure, the second connector may include an inner wall and the plunger may exert a force on the inner wall in the second position.
According to aspects of the present disclosure, the first connector may be configured to be received within the channel of the second connector.
According to aspects of the present disclosure, the second connector may include a displacement surface configured to elastically deform the retainer.
According to aspects of the present disclosure, transition of the plunger from the first position to the second position may be caused by a user manipulating a button.
In the manner described and according to aspects illustrated herein, the coupling system may be configured to connect a replaceable shaving cartridge of a shaving device to a handle of a shaving device while addressing one or more needs such as making the coupling and decoupling a smooth and seamless experience for a user and simplifying the assembly process of the coupling system, and thus a handheld shaving device, for a manufacturer.
Further aspects of the present disclosure provide for a coupling system for a shaving device that comprises a first connector configured to couple with a second connector defining a channel, the second connector including an engagement surface within the channel. The coupling system further comprising a retainer configured to be positioned between the first connector and the second connector; the retainer being elastically deformable such that the retainer allows the first and second connector to transition between a coupled state and uncoupled state.
In examples, in the coupled state, the first connector may be securely coupled to the second connector in a locked relationship and in the uncoupled state, the first connector may be decoupled from the second connector and the second connector may be ejected or released from the locked relationship with the first connector.
In examples, the coupling system may further comprise a plunger configured to transition between a first position and a second position, the engagement surface of the second connector may be configured to engage the retainer when the plunger is in the first position and the engagement surface of the second connector and the retainer may be configured to disengage when the plunger is in the second position.
According to still further aspects the present disclosure provides for a handle for a shaving device is provided. The handle comprises a coupling system substantially as disclosed herein that is configured to connect a replaceable shaving cartridge to 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 system 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.
The coupling system 10 may be configured to couple parts of a product (hereafter, “the product”), such as a handheld shaving device having a handle (first part) 2 and a head/replacing shaving cartridge (second part) 104. As shown in
As shown in
The first channel 24 of the first connector 20 may include a first guide portion 26 having a first width W1 leading to a second guide portion 28 having a second width W2 (see
The second opening 42 of the second connector 40 may include an angled face 46 to provide clearance to allow the retainer 80 to be received within the second channel 44. The second channel 44 may extend from the second opening 42 to an inner wall 48 of the second connector 40. The second connector 40 may include an engagement surface 50 located within a second groove 52 within the second channel 44. The engagement surface 50 and/or the second groove 52 may be configured to receive and securely engage the retainer 80 when the plunger 60 is in a first position and disengage the retainer 80 when the plunger 60 is in a second position. Between the second groove 52 and the angled face 46, the second connector 40 may include a displacement surface 54 configured to elastically deform the retainer 80 when coupling or decoupling the first connector 20 and the second connector 40. An opening extending between the displacement surface 54 may have a width W3 that is equal to or less than a height H1 of the retainer 80 around the first connector 20 to allow the displacement surface 54 to elastically deform the retainer 80 and thereby provide for a smooth and seamless coupling and decoupling of the first connector 20 and the second connector 40. The second connector 40 may include one or more axially extending slits 56 extending from the second opening 42 to at least halfway between the second opening 42 and the inner wall 48 to allow for outward and inward flexure of the second connector 40 when receiving or being ejected from the first connector 20 and the retainer 80. In the disclosed embodiment, the second connector 40 may include a pair of slits 56 on a top (first) side 58a and a pair of slits 56 on a bottom (second) side 58b.
Referring to
In the first position, the support surface 68 may align with the window 34 to support the retainer 80 at or inward of the window 34 and maintain the position of the retainer 80 within the window 34 and/or within the second groove 32 (see
As illustrated by
To decouple the first connector 20 and the second connector 40, the user may depress or rotate the button 6 (see
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.
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19219253 | Dec 2019 | EP | regional |
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Number | Date | Country | |
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